My first from this author and although I wouldn't necessarily categorize it as romance, I enjoyed it just the same. Reading other member reviews, I honestly was dreading the ending, realizing it would be an HFN as opposed to the HEA we all crave. However, this character-driven book was beautifully written and I had tears rolling down my cheeks more than once as I got to know the enthralling Alfie and Alice through their thoughts and words.

I found the premise of this book quite brilliant. The fact that two patients in a rehab hospital ward never lay eyes on each other yet form a bond that is immeasurable. I couldn't put it down once I started, desperate to know if Alice would ever let anyone but the nurse and doctors see her scarred face. Or if she would ever get to see the man behind the curtain who kept her spirits up even when she didn't want him to.

It's a delicate story with strong-willed yet very vulnerable characters and the fact that there is no real physical contact between Alfie and Alice, I still fell hard for their unconventional romance simply through the late-night talks and the rare moments of confession that tethered their souls tightly.

Despite the what-ifs felt as those last lines were read, I'm happy knowing where Alfie and Alice are now after weeks and months of indecision and hesitance. Overall, Before I Saw You is a lovely testament to the strength we all possess and how sometimes it's the smallest of gestures that get us to realize just how resilient we are. No matter the circumstances.

I'm filled with a deep love for this book and I know it will stay with me for a long while. My emotions clearly got a workout and I couldn't be happier. It was almost cathartic as I enjoyed every high and low amongst this wonderful crew of characters who became family when they least expected it. Truly a treat, I happily give Before I Saw You a huge 5 stars!

First, I want to say that the comparison to Me Before You in the synopsis isn’t really valid, and probably isn’t doing the book any favors. Certain readers are going to see that and run for the hills. So yeah, ignore the comparison. This is not that story.

Before I Saw You is what I call a quiet book. It’s not filled with action or loads of dramatic events. And, if I’m honest, the pacing is a bit slow. But the journey is so worth it. Getting to know Alice Gunnersley and Alfie Mack is worth it. Patients in the same hospital rehabilitation ward, separated by only a curtain, they got off to a rocky start. Affable, people-pleasing Alfie was the darling of the eight-person ward, liked by all, so he didn’t understand his new neighbor’s utter silence. Alice did not talk or interact with anyone on the ward and would not even allow the others to see her – all curtains were closed when she was taken to her physical therapy sessions. But not even stand-offish Alice could withstand Alfie’s infectious charm and slowly a friendship formed. And maybe more.

Both Alfie and Alice had been shaped by traumas that long pre-dated the accidents that landed them in the hospital. They had been shaped by childhood events that had, in many ways, held them back. Even while I laughed at Alfie’s attempts to break down Alice’s barriers, soaked up the love and affection from his parents when they visited, and delighted in the visits from Alice’s friend (we should all have a friend like Sarah), my heart still broke for Alfie and Alice and all that they’d lost.

While I wished for a bit more from the ending (it was rather abrupt), I was still completely taken – and completely moved – by Alice and Alfie’s story of overcoming adversity and new beginnings. I will say that this leans more toward women’s fiction so a heads-up to those expecting a traditional romance.

If you have health issues, this is one book that you have to brace yourself for, Not because it's overly graphic, but because the writer did a great job in capturing the despair that permeates hospital wards.
People face tragedy in different ways and here we see two opposite sides of a coin. Alfie has a glass half full, Alice has smashed the cup.
The story is poignant and definitely needed to be written
However, this is a case of wanting more and not getting it. I wanted more romance and was left wanting. .

I really loved this book! From the characters, to the writing, I couldn’t put it down! This story is a little hard at times dealing with real life issues such as grief, loss, guilt and pain, but it was touching to see how the characters dealt with it all.

Told from alternating point of views, both characters were extremely likeable. You could feel the connection they had with each other.

This book was something that got me out of a reading rut. I needed something that just wowed me and this one did just that!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Before I Saw You is a really cute and sweet story. It was a fast and easy to read book. I enjoyed the characters and their banter. Definitely recommend if you are looking for a light romance story.

What I didn't like- it was really predictable and I'm not happy with the ending. I wanted a lot more from this story. But, like I said- it's a light romance novel. I just like my romance books with a bit more depth.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this gifted copy.

3.5 Stars
Because My personal knowledge of hospital ways in the States, this premise was a bit difficult to relate to...I did appreciate the theme of the tale, making what you experience no matter what, trying to see it from a positive view. Hope is always important.

For readers who don’t know the ins and outs of English hospitals, this book is an eye-opener. After being in one many moons ago, I realised that little has changed. And much to my charagin, I kept comparing primary care with that offered in the country where I live. However, the author did a great job explaining teamwork in different departments, the coordination and her descriptive mood writing most certainly caught my attention.

Foremost, Houghton gives the upsides and downsides of hope. The story revolves around two characters who, unfortunately, don’t have much of it. At times, I found it difficult to read, but I was intrigued to see how their story would pan out. I have to add that I think the author is a brave storyteller. She’s delved into some pretty delicate issues, pulling it off convincingly.

Whilst the plot didn’t grab me as soon as I would have liked, the dialogue is sharp, sarcy and made me smile and gasp out loud. And if were possible, I’d have gladly given a good talking to the nosy parkers on the ward. What also stands out is the author’s usage of English idioms. I’m a sucker for sayings and even highlighted some of them.

My feelings for the protagonists. Alfie had a misfortune, feels sorry for himself, but he lights up everyone’s day. By the way, mine too! However, his immaturity annoyed me to the point of exasperation. Trying to understand why he concealed his feelings was hard work, and what would occur behind the curtain separators seemed senseless after reaching the ending. That said, I adored his mum, the Sunday lunches she served, and her way of making him see that all was not lost.

I don’t think the reader is supposed to like Alice that much. She’s closed off, and at times, plain rude. Like Alfie, she’s suffering monumentally, which resulted in me getting annoyed with myself for not being able to connect with her. Also, why she didn’t defend herself in one scene, knowing how self-demanding she’d been at work frustrated me. She deserved better and that better she finds in Alfie--slowly. Her bestie is a breath of fresh air, Nurse Angles is a hoot and a half and Mr Peterson is quite a character.

The hardest part is when Alfie and Alice have to face the future. Here, I felt the plot’s strength waver, and I would have liked more sense of closure. However, Before I Saw You is eloquently written and I enjoyed reading both points of view in third-person.

ARC received from Gallery Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet friendship and more develop between two patients in beds next to each other in a rehab hospital. Both Alfie and Alice have had life changing injuries so they have to deal with both the physical and emotional healing from these events. Alice, who is fierce independent is having the harder time and Alfie slowly and tenderly gets Alice to begin to open up and see the possibility of life beyond the hospital, and thus begins a budding romance between the two. I enjoyed the friendship between the two, but I feel the middle part of the story dragged on unnecessarily and made the ending feel a bit rushed, which was disappointing to rush a would be good ending. My second critique is that I felt Alice was written a bit too harshly and bitterly. Aside from her best friend flying in and staying with her, it's hard to believe that in that many months, no other friend or acquaintance came to visit.

Overall, a good read about friendship, overcoming hardships and a budding romance.

After Alice is injured in a fire, she doesn't want anyone to see her damaged face nor does she want to communicate with anyone at all. Then, Alfie, who occupies the hospital bay next to her, starts talking to her and drawing her out of her shell. They develop a deep friendship that slowly starts turning into something else even though they've never even laid eyes on each other. This is a beautiful, beautiful book. These heartbreakingly damaged characters and their story will touch you to your core. It will make you smile and cry sometimes even at the same time.

This was a really a really bittersweet story. Very emotional and heartbreaking, but in the end hopeful as well. I really enjoyed both Alfie and Alice's stories. The way that they bonded without ever seeing each other was incredibly powerful and very sweet. I really enjoyed this story overall and that the chapters moved quickly, but the ending felt very abrupt. Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.

I did not yet have time to read this novel before the archive date. I am looking forward to reading the book and once I do, I will come back and leave a proper review!

I loved the story line for Before I Saw You. Although I felt it dragged at some parts, overall I thought it was a unique and refreshing slow burner that showcased intriguing characters Alice and Alfie.

Both have been hurt in tragic incidents and must learn to cope with their new lives - mentally, physically, and emotionally. Sharing a room in the rehab ward as they recover, these two are opposites on the personality scale but form a bond over talking which turns into a deeper connection.

This story was sweet, emotional, and funny at times, and my only real gripe was that the ending felt rushed and undeveloped.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I Saw You was a sweet book about two people getting to know one another without ever seeing the other person. They had both been in life-changing accidents where their physical appearances have been forever altered. This book gives the reader the ability to believe that people can find love without the benefit of physical attraction coming to play.

I think this book had a positive message about how important it is to support one another. The secondary characters made it even more enjoyable to read and lent to the substance of the storyline.

One negative for me was that there was a small factual discrepancy with a piece of the storyline. Most people won't pick up on it which means it won't detract from the plot for the majority of readers. However, because of my own personal experience, I knew that a particular statement was inaccurate and it took me a minute to get past that and continue with the book.

Overall, this was a lovely book about overcoming adversity, finding a new normal and falling in love with who people "really are" not how they look.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I keep surprising myself whenever I read a book that I was hesitant to read at first that I ultimately fall in love with. It's the best romance book to read. It will surprise you along the way without having any expectations. And boy, did Before I Saw You surprise me the whole way. It's different from what I am used to with romance books. I usually read a steady pace romance story with a particular trope in mind. But Before I Saw You is something else. I do not know how to describe it. It's a slow paced yet emotional build-up yet powerful journey yet ugly cries. That's how I felt when I finished Before I Saw You. I do not know what else to say but I have to say that Emily Houghton did incredible with Alice and Alfie. They have both experienced terrible tragedies and surviving the best they can. It may be sad at first but that's life. And I know you will understand once you finished Before I Saw You. P.S. I took a star away because I can believe how Emily Houghton left the ending like that.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I’m going to be honest, I struggled on what to rate this book. Part of me absolutely loved it and it was ALMOST a 5 star...which surprises me since it’s a debut novel for this author. I guess I will just break it down with with what I loved about it and then state why it didn’t hit the full 5 stars for me. First off, I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the description of the book. I loved so many of these characters, especially Alfie. His relationship with the other patients on the ward (especially Mr. Peterson and the nurses) was a joy to read. I liked Alice but did find myself annoyed at times with her character. Although that is not a reason for dropping a star from the rating. I totally understand WHY the author wrote her character as she did. I also loved the chapters when Sarah (Alice’s best friend) was visiting. I loved how the author truly made you feel how special their friendship was, and how much they cared for each other. As far as the story goes, I immediately felt as though this book could be a movie. I can see why it was compared to Me Before You. It was written so well that at times I forgot it was the author’s first book. It made me smile, it made me laugh and it made me want to cry so many times. It was a book filled with so many emotions. Now to talk about why it wasn’t a full 5 stars for me. I felt like there were some parts that were slow. I kept waiting and waiting for them to finally see each other and it just seemed to take forever. And the ending....I don’t want to say what happens but I just felt like it was disappointing in a way. I wanted and hoped for so much more as far as what would happen between Alfie and Alice. I guess in a way the ending was supposed to represent “the defining moment” in the book. But it happens and then it’s just done...the end. I wanted so much more. I will say that I’m hoping it ended this way because the author plans to write a sequel! If that’s the case then I would probably change my rating to a 5 star and look forward to reading the second book! Overall, I really did enjoy this one...I just wanted to read more about Alfie and Alice. I feel like it wasn’t complete.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Hallmark sweetness of the book made it an easy read. I think I was expecting a deeper read than what I got. However, I love the characters, their journey separately and together. The ending was a bit rushed for me but overall, I would recommend this one and would consider reading more from Houghton.

Before I Saw You, started out strong. I was enjoying it....and then. I felt like we were stuck in a cycle. I put it down hoping when I pick it up again it would work. Sadly, it did not. I am putting this title down. The writing was well done. The story is a great idea. I needed it to move a bit quicker.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books and Emily Houghten for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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What is one thing you love about someone important in your life, that has nothing to do with their appearance? Our society is hyper fixated on appearances, this is no secret. Obsessed would be the word I would use, personally. And if you are even a little bit outside of the ‘norm’, well you might as well just quit now. At least that’s what we’re taught to think. Every day I see stereotypes and trends changing and flexing to fit a more diverse narrative, a more authentic look at the world. Reading books like Before I Saw You is just another example of how beautifully different we all are, and how connected we have the ability to be, if we just give ourselves the chance.
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If you couldn’t already tell, I obviously loved this book. I binge read this one in one sitting, unable to tear myself away from these amazing characters. Emily Houghten took what could be an extremely depressing and dark theme and kept things balanced and light when needed while still giving her characters so much depth. I loved the witty banter, clever little quirks each patient brought to the story. And of course Alfie completely stole my heart. Alfie is exactly the kind of person everyone needs by their side during their hardest times. His vulnerability, sense of humor and loyalty were all a perfect blend to mix up one heck of a guy. I’m pretty sure everyone who reads this one is going to swoon over sweet Alfie. And Alice. Alice is a tough character. She has walls that are nearly indestructible and she’s spent her life silently screaming LEAVE ME ALONE. At first I read a few reviews on Goodreads and worried this was going to be too heavy of a book for my current reading mood, but man was I wrong. Do NOT let the heavy topics steer you away from this gorgeous book! A must read for 2021 and beyond, I can’t recommend this one enough!
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Book Blurb:
Alice Gunnersley and Alfie Mack sleep just a few feet apart from one another. They talk for hours every day. And they’ve never seen each other face-to-face. After being in terrible accidents, the two now share the same ward as long-term residents of St. Francis’s Hospital. Although they don’t get off to the best start, the close quarters (and Alfie’s persistence to befriend everyone he meets) brings them closer together. Pretty soon no one can make Alice laugh as hard as Alfie does, and Alfie feels like he’s finally found a true confidante in Alice. Between their late night talks and inside jokes, something more than friendship begins to slowly blossom between them. But as their conditions improve and the end of their stay draws closer, Alfie and Alice are forced to decide whether it’s worth continuing a relationship with someone who’s seen all of the worst parts of you, but never seen your actual face.

This book was beautiful, from the way it was written to the story and the characters. The story was so moving, and I just loved it!

"Our scars are simply the marks of our stories. They show we've lived a great life, and most of all that we have survived it. Don't hide your story away in the shadows."


Alice Gunnersley and Alfie Mack have both been horribly injured and are long term residents of St. Francis’s Hospital. They are extremely near yet separated by a curtain. Alice does not want to be bothered but Alfie is social and a big talker, eventually he wears her down and the two begin talking. There are there for each other (really, where else can they be, they are in beds next to each other), They confide in each other, provide encouragement, and even share some laughs.

A friendship blooms...and keeps blooming. But will they continue their friendship outside of the hospital?????

This is a charming book but deals with real issues such as grief, loss of friends, survivors’ guilt, embarrassment, pain, healing, fear of leaving the hospital, and looking at the beauty within someone. I thought it was touching how they held hands to support each other with dealing with painful issues as well as physical pain. I loved that the liked each other without even seeing each other. This is beneficial to both as both have a lot of healing to do both physically and emotionally.

"So you want to pretend to be happy for other people? To get friends? Popularity? At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what other people think of you if you're cut up and bleeding on the inside."

The book is told through Alice and Alfie's alternating POV chapters. Both were likeable characters. Alice was guarded and distant in the beginning but who could blame her? Not me. Alfie is instantly likeable with is wit and personality. I enjoyed watching both interact and often had a smile on my face while reading. When not smiling, I felt them as the struggled with recovering, moving on and leaving the hospital where they felt safe.

This book was a nice and refreshing change of pace. It drew me in, and I enjoyed spending time with these two characters. This was an enjoyable debut novel by Houghton. I thought she did a tremendous job showing what each character was going through. I found this book to be thought provoking, charming and hopeful.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.