This was a rough one to read. The book itself was great, but that's the problem - Schwartz gets you to care about these characters and they are realllly going through it. Additionally, she throws the previously established balance of the novel askew very near the end, I still don't know if I like that choice, but I definitely respect it..

EJ Schwart’s novel Before We Were Blue follows two anorexic teenagers, Rowan and Shoshana who are patients at a in-patient eating disorder clinic. The story alternates between the two girls and examines their relationship and the effects it has on both of them as they try to get healthy.
This book has some intensely emotional content, such as eating disorders, sexual assault and suicidal ideations, but is done in a way that feels genuine and powerful. Rowan and Shoshana’s relationship with each other is fascinating, and I appreciated that Schwartz chose to tell the story from both of their perspectives, demonstrating how they both absorb aspects of the other as their relationship pulls them closer- almost as if they are becoming one.
Overall I think this was a fascinating read, well-written and thoughtfully structured and revealed aspects of eating disorder rehabilitation that aren’t usually portrayed in mainstream media, as well as exploring the ways in which friendships can be life-altering in both positive and negative ways.
Thank you for opportunity of reading Before We Were Blue!

I really wanted to like this book but the way it is written just is t for me. I couldn’t focus on the story.

***Thanks so much to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!***

I have such incredibly mixed feelings about this. I thought it was well written, especially considering it is a debut novel. However, having worked as a mental health professional in an eating disorder residential treatment program, I wonder if this impacted my ability to look at the storyline objectively. While we obviously cannot and should not avoiding triggering content in literature just because it’s triggering or hard to read (if anything it’s more of a reason to do so), but I’ve seen the ways (especially kids on the unit) would idealize depictions of poor coping skills and maladaptive behaviors in media. So that being said, I would say go into this if you feel that you are able to safely do so. I am very curious to read own voices reviews to get a better idea and understanding of the perception of the story!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read the eARC copy of, "Before We Were Blue." This book was outstanding and hard to read because of the realistic portrayal of eating disorders and the associated problems with mental health. Having struggled with eating disorders and having a history with competitive dance, this book was incredibly life-like in portraying the struggle and co-dependency of the characters. Overall it is a fantastic book worth reading, just be aware that the situations are realistic and could be triggers for people struggling.

Incredibly sad and hard to read at points. I loved it a lot but would be careful when recommending it so as not to accidental trigger the reader.

I would like to thank the publishers for giving me an advance copy of this book to review. I was very nervous going into this book as I haven’t read much surrounding the topic of eating disorders and have very little understanding on the topic. Debut author EJ Schwartz does a wonderful job of showing the realistic struggles that one faces when grappling with an eating disorder whilst also handling sensitive subjects like sexual assault and suicide. For me, Shoshana was a character that I was able to connect with, in comparison to Rowan, who I found to be a little manipulative and harsh at times. Given Rowan’s difficult past, it was understandable, however did not make it easier to empathise with her. The relationship that the two girls share is one of co-dependancy as they navigate their respective journeys to recovery. I really appreciated the insight we get into the treatment that the girls received and the life at the centre as they build, grow and move forward. Whilst this certainly wasn’t an easy read, I admire Schwartz for bringing this book together in a meaningful way for those who are facing the same challenges in their life whilst informing readers about an important topic, not often openly discussed.

I received my eARC from netgalley and would like to thank the author and publisher for it. This book mentioned and touched over a lot of topics that are very rarely ever written in books. It mostly takes place in a Eating Deficiency center and I honestly know very little about ED and so my comments or assessment of the matter has no significance at all.
I love how two people found each other amidst all their hardships and overcome it .
I really liked this book. I definitely had a lip quiver moment at the end. So would recommend for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions/Flux for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shoshana and Rowan don’t really make sense as friends. At least maybe not in the real world. But they met at Recovery and Relief, a treatment center for girls with eating disorders. To Rowan, it seems like Shoshana has everything: a loving, supportive family. But Shoshana has a secret that explains why she’s been struggling. Rowan on the other hand, has been in and out of treatment centers for years already. Her mom fuels her disordered eating and she’s just waiting for the nurses to give up on her. Both girls start in the “grey girls” section of the center, where nurses watch their every move. Will they stick together, become “blue girls” with more freedoms and stay together outside the center? Or will something tear them apart?

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book. It didn’t matter in the end as I was immediately enthralled with the story. Shoshana was so incredibly relatable to me, and everything about her experiences resonated with me. I had to know more! Rowan was, on the surface, the more troubled of the two. Her story was sad, but just as relevant. Both girls kept me flipping the pages until I finished the book—in one night!

There is a lot of serious talk about disordered eating, anorexia and bulimia. If these are serious triggers for you, I might avoid this book, or read it only with a great support system in place. Both girls talk very seriously about how they started and what their triggers were. Even many of the side characters (most of whom were fairly dimensional and interesting) discuss their behaviors, or Rowan and Shoshana talk about them. There is also mention of suicide and death.

All that notwithstanding, I truly think this is an important read. It’s gripping, but truly teaches you important lessons: what to look for, how to help or not to help, what can happen to you. It is certainly a book that could help someone and I think it could stand the test of time if enough folks read it that need to.

4/5 Stars

"Before We Were Blue" follows Rowan and Shoshana, two young women in residential treatment for their eating disorders. Rowan has been eating disordered her whole life, and is entrenched in unhealthy behaviours she learned from her mother. Shoshana, a cheerleader on a hit reality show, began starving herself to achieve peak physical performance. The girl are drawn together in an increasingly intense friendship, neither particularly wanting to get well.

While I enjoyed reading this book, it did fall a little flat for me - the author was clearly trying very hard not to glamorise eating disorders, which is commendable, but in doing so, leached away something vital in the understanding of eating disorders - that pull and promise that keeps so many young women (and, increasingly, young men) held within their thrall. While it was interesting to see the more banal, every-day detail of living with an eating disorder, that was all we got - I felt more of a balance between the two extremes would have made for a stronger and more realistic story.

That being said, the book was well-written, I enjoyed the cheerleading subplot which gave the book a new and original angle, and the characters were well-realised and increasingly sympathetic. Lots of people will love this book, and I can understand why they would - it''s purely from a point of personal preference that it didn't quite hit the mark for me, and not a measure of the storytelling itself.

Thank you to NetGalley, and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before We Were Blue did not grab me in the beginning but by the end I loved it. I liked how the multiple points of view reinforced the idea that everyone’s recovery from an eating disorder is different, happens on different timelines, and can’t be done successfully if it’s only undertaken only for another person.

I liked that eating disorders weren’t overly romanticized; both characters were more focused on their current relationships and overcoming and processing past trauma than on counting calories or obsessing about food for most of the book.

I also liked the sapphic relationship including the asexual representation and the way that Rowan and Shoshana’s relationship continued to grow after the revelation that Shoshana was asexual.

Thank you so much to Netgally for providing an arc for me to review!

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a great look into the realities of eating disorders/treatment, complex family relationships, and friendship dynamics. The character arcs didn’t feel predictable, and they were satisfying. I love that growth wasn’t portrayed as linear, and that setbacks, which are inevitable in life, were written in a way that made you feel like you were rising and falling with them, with a solid ending.

Overall I give this book a 3.75 or 4 out of 5 stars.

Brilliant protrayal of eating disorders, does not glamorize it in any way. Had heartbreaking moments but seeing the girls being able to stay strong and at times overcome battles was great to see! The writing style was interesting, I couldn’t believe this was the authors first debut.

I would like to disclaim that I have suffered from an eating disorder and have since recovered. My perspective of this is written as an Own Voices reviewer for eating disorders.
This book was one of the most beautiful contemporaries I have read in quite some time. Schwartz does a fantastic job as not sugar coating the mental illness. Additionally, it has good sapphic representation, not just alludes to it. The asexual representation surprised me, and the way it was described felt well thought out.
There is subtle anti-Semitic phrases in this book. The author is Jewish, and I am not, so I don’t feel it’s my place to say anything one way or the other about this. I do want to say that neither character is the most likeable, and that is entirely at the fault of their respective mental illnesses. Eating disorders tend to lean towards being manipulative as a form of self-protection.
The ways both girls went through the recovery system and their journeys was well written. Not all stories will end in recovery, and not all recovery stories are linear.
This book is not for everyone, as Eating Disorders are hard to read about. The people who experience them may frustrate you.
My full review will be posted on September 9th, 2021.

Before We Were Blue is a startling relatable story about two girls who meet in a eating disorder recovery unit. Shoshona is an all star cheerleader who believes her career is ruined, and Rowan is a snarky girl with a dark past.
The first thing in this book, before the story starts, is a content warning. I really appreciated this as it covers lots of dark topics, and most others wouldnt bother to include this.
The moment the first chapter began, I was invested. It’s written from the point of view of the two girls, and I loved seeing how they viewed things compared to each other. I did find Rowan’s POV a bit confusing at first because it’s letters to Shoshona that she’s writing, but after a bit I figured it out.
Shoshona made me feel seen. I found myself constantly thinking, “Wow, she put how I feel into words”. It was the first time I’d ever felt truly seen, and it was painfully real.
Throughout the first good bit of the story, Rowan is quite manipulative towards Shoshona. While I completely understand why this was included, and it was later explained, I almost felt invalidated at times because of things Rowan would say.
What makes the characters so relatable is that they’re far from perfect. You see all of their flaws, and it makes you realize that it’s okay to be flawed.
I went into this book with low expectations, thinking it would be another one of those generic stories about mental health. I finished it with a new outlook on life, and a feeling of validity that’s stuck with me sense. I can’t recommend this book enough, it’s everything you could want and more.
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3958533214

💫 Book Review 💫 ⁣
𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝗪𝐞 𝗪𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 by 𝘌.𝘑 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘻⁣
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Was looking through my NG and decided to sneak in a future release as I’m (𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵) on top of my TBR. I wanted another debut author book to share and I found it in “blue”.⁣
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𝘉𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 ⚠️ 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯.⁣
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This book may begin as triggering as you expect, as you follow Shoshana and Rowan’s dual POV while in a clinic for an eating disorder. Shoshana comes from a Jewish close-knit family who found reality tv fame for cheerleader but buckled under the pressure of other people’ expectations. Rowan is there with her own dark secrets. Pain & trauma as a young girl with very little support from her mother. ⁣
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The two girls couldn’t be more different. But beneath their stories is a magnetic pull to each other that helps unravel their true voices. ⁣
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I cannot believe that this is a debut book. The complexity of both girls’ personalities was thoughtful and raw without being cliché. ⁣
Personal growth within the pages with the clear goal but it was done is such a realistic way that a reader could sympathize with both young girls. ⁣
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I highly recommend this one. You can preorder it now but it’s due to come out September 14, 2021. I’m positive you’re going to see it all over Bookstagram this summer. ⁣
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𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦 𝘎𝘪𝘳𝘭, 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘑𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘙𝘺𝘥𝘦𝘳. 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 @𝘦𝘫𝘴𝘤𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘻 𝘢𝘯𝘥 @𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 ⁣

Before We Were Blue is a novel about two girls struggling through eating-disorder discovery. And initially, I thought this was all the book was going to be about, and that would have been fine. But the author made the book so much better by including other problems in the lives of the two girls and not giving them an easy, clear-cut solution to pretty much anything. It made the characters and the story feel much more real. I get that some people might find that a little bit unsatisfying, but in my opinion, it just makes the book so much better.
I also loved to see the way the characters change over the course of the book and over the course of their recovery and how their relationship changes while they are trying to get better.
Overall, the book was beautifully written and did make me quite sad in some parts. It’s definitely worth reading because it deals with the topic of eating disorders and what can cause them in a manner sensitive manner while not sugar-coating anything
(On that note, I also really appreciated that there was content and trigger warning at the beginning of the book.)

Before We Were Blue is the story of Rowan and Shoshana's friendship during their stay in a treatment for eating disorders, While they dream of escaping, we slowly learn about the pressures and trauma Rowan and Shoshana live with, and how it has affected their daily decisions. This book was hard to put down, and you will find yourself rooting for the girls to not only recover, but to discover who they really are. I hope to have this novel on my classroom shelf in the future.

Thank you to #NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #BeforeWeWereBlue

All i knew going in was this was gonna be about teens and eating disorders. I wasn't expecting to actually like it more than i thought i did. I was expecting something okay vut this book thre a punch and i was overwhelmed my grief. I definitely would recomment this to all teenagers who are having a hard time.

This book is super hard for me to rate. I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it, because it isn't something I'd reread for fun. Instead, it really made me think. I feel like it was exceptionally well written, and did what it set out to do in a sensitive manner.

I've seen it discussed in most of the other reviews, so I'll add onto it here. Rowan isnt a likeable protagonist. She's manipulative, unwilling to heal, and cruel. This is what made me appreciate her as a character though. Her arc was done extremely well, and I grew to enjoy her chapters more than Shoshona's by the end.

Out of the two, Shoshona was definitely the more likeable. I looked forward to her chapters for the first 80% but by the end, I was looking forward to Rowan's. Her characters was also written well, and she felt completely different from Rowan.

I also loved how the girls' healing journey was written. Neither one of them went through a magical awakening where they were just better. They each had to decide for themselves whether they wanted to make the choice to get better. This was something you don't see often, and I loved it for that. I also loved that their relationship wasn't the focal point of the story. They placed their own healing above their friendship, which I appreciated so much.

This is a very unique book, and a challenging read. It dealt with very difficult topics, and although they were written well, it was still hard to read at times. I don't see myself rereading this, but it'll definitely stick in my head.

Thanks to E.J. Schwartz and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review