This is my first book by Brooke Beyfuss, Before You Found Me is an emotional read about trauma and healing. A dark and trigging read however the author did a wonderful job on focussing on the hope and love of healing. 4 stars

Wow! Such a beautiful story of survival, overcoming, love and family.

Rowan is attempting to recover from an abusive relationship, her own other past trauma and discovers someone else in need along the way. Her bond with Gabriel is very unique and must be kept a secret. Loved the back drop of Oklahoma for a good chunk of the book and her descriptions about the tornado were spot on! My second book by the author and i have loved them both!!

Thanks to netgalley for my advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a new Author for me and not my typical genre, I enjoyed the characters ( most of them) I did find the book to drag a bit and I did stop and start a few times. It wasn't a binge worthy one for me.

Not really a book that I felt captured my attention, however I do believe it will resonate well with others.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Finally circled back to this one. This is a deeply moving story of found family, surviving adversity, and what it means to redefine life for yourself and on your own terms. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I sat on my review for a bit with this one because while I liked it, there was just something missing that I can’t put my finger on. It’s potentially the entire premise that feels, to me, incredibly unrealistic to start off, and I just couldn’t get past this to really enjoy the characters. There were also some parts (like not being able to name their relationship) that made me question some of the drama in the story that just didn’t need to exist. I’m also not sure if Rowan’s source of income was ever explained which really confused me. Otherwise, I did find the relationship of two very damaged and struggling people very touching and I liked how the story played out.

I do think this book will work for many other readers, but unfortunately did not work for me. There were some TW's I simply could not look past. That is no fault to the author, as she perfectly lays them out, but I could not continue.

4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars.
Rowan has left her abusive fiance after he nearly kills her. With nowhere to go, she stays at an old friends until she can move back to her family home. Rowan senses being watched by someone and is shocked to discover an eleven year old boy called Gabriel watching her from his basement window. The pair strike up a friendship and Gabriel confides in Rowan about the abuse he's been subjected to by his father. Rowan knows she needs to do something and takes Gabriel and runs after he's brutally beaten by his father.
The pair don't just develop a friendship but also a strong family bond and safe haven within each other. I loved the strength of Rowan and how she'd do anything to keep Gabriel safe and also loved Celia and the development of her and Rowans sisterly bond after Gabriel brings them both together. This is a beautifully told story that's handled really sensitively and well and was heartbreaking and from the heart. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the addition of Dell to the story - I couldn't warm to him at all and felt it threw the story off a little.

Before You Found Me
by Brooke Beyfuss
5 stars

Rowan just went through so much and she has finally physically escaped her ex. While she is staying at her friend's house on her way back to her hometown in Oklahoma. Rowan meets Gabriel, the boy locked in the basement that no one knows about.
As Rowan's days get closer to her leaving, she decides, she is taking Gabriel with her.
As they work through, trying to explain how they came together and nightmares. It creates a strong bond between them. Two strangers become family

I cried so hard during this book, I didn't think this was going to be my kind of book, I DNF'd it at one point and figured I better try again. I fell in love after I got over a few tough spots. The abuse they both have overcome and have learned so much along the way. Becoming a family and learning why Rowan and her sister are so estranged. I just 100% recommend it.

Before You Found Me was emotional and moving. The mental and physical abuse Gabriel faces as a child at the hands of his biological father is brutal and the safe haven Rowan (an abuse victim herself) tries to provide him is a stark contrast to that. The only thing I didn't like was Rowan and Dell's romantic storyline which began and ended abruptly and I particularly didn't like how Rowan handled the whole situation. Some may feel that the resolution to the danger Rowan and Gabriel's face from her fiancé and his father respectively was anticlimactic but I felt the quicker both these men were 'out of sight and out of mind' the better.

I received both an e-Arc and ALC of the book and ended up reading/listening to both simultaneously. more The audiobook was narrated extremely well by Jeremy Carlisle Parker .

My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Sourcebooks Landmark/ Highbridge Audio and the author Brooke Beyfuss for providing the ARC/ALC.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Before You Found Me is a captivating book that draws you in from the very start. Rowan wakes up in the hospital after escaping her abusive partner, only to find that he isn't done with her yet. As she tries to recover in a faraway town, she uncovers the sinister next door neighbor Lee is not all that he's cracked up to be. What happens next, is so unreal but so desperately needed that you can't help but cheer them on. I loved the storyline, the characters, up to a point. The ending, well, not what was expected and definitely not necessarily my favorite, but that's my own personal view. Overall, a story of hope, resilience, and love in the face of pain and trauma. Very well done.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

This emotional read will pull on your heartstrings. Rowan and Gabriel have both been victims of abuse but together they can support each other to a new and happy life. The characters in this have deep traumatic pasts that some may find difficult to read about but I love how delicately the author has written and created this story that I could not tear my eyes away from. Emotional, absorbing and heartfelt

An absorbing read that has a few triggers such as domestic abuse. I thought the author handled these subjects well..It is a very good story.
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before You Found Me
Brooke Beyfuss
Fiction
464 pages

Short Synopsis

After Rowan escapes her abusive fiance, she discovers the child next door is being abused. She knows she has to help, but what is the best way to do it?

My Thoughts

Such a good read! Would I do the same as Rowan? I doubt it. What she did made for a great story though. I was captivated right from the beginning. I love a unique storyline, and this book has it in spades.

Before You Found Me focuses on an abused child and the aftermath of his abuse. It also involves lots of love as a family tries to resolve their issues. A lot was thrown into the mix with Rowan’s family, which kept me glued to the story.

There is a great deal of tension between characters, which had me gritting my teeth at times. This was a story I couldn’t put down, even when I was irritated with certain characters’ choices. I would love to know how their lives turn out beyond the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review. 💕

~Check out all of my reviews at Latishaslowkeylife.com

This emotional book will pull on your heartstrings from beginning to end. The main characters have been through so much in their short lives. Rowan is a twenty-two year old woman that is trying her best to escape a extremely abusive relationship while Gabrial is eleven and has not been loved or treated well in many years. His life has been a nightmare because of the physical and emotional abuse that his father has been putting him through. Rowan doesn't know much about this new life that she is embarking on but she does know that Gabriel needs her to save him and in the process he may save her, too. So, she leaves her old life behind to help him in any way that she can.

The journey that Brooke Beyfuss takes the reader on through her amazing writing is unforgettable. The emotions that this book provoked went from sadness, to joy and to fear and many more in-between. Is the story a bit far fetched? Maybe, but it is so well-conceived and flawlessly written that you don't think how believable the scenario is while you are emerged within the story of this self-made family.

I hope you enjoy this compelling story as much as I did. Although there are many trigger warnings for this book because of the abuse that these characters endure overall this is an inspiring story about surviving.

I am extremely grateful to SOURCEBOOKS - Landmark and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this beautifully inspiring book in exchange for an honest review.

"Before You Found Me" is an emotionally charged and beautifully written novel that tugged at my heartstrings from the very first page. Brooke Beyfuss has crafted a story that explores the complexities of human connection, loss, and resilience in a way that is both touching and thought-provoking.

The characters are deeply relatable, each carrying their own burdens and secrets, and I found myself fully invested in their journeys. The author's prose is eloquent, drawing you into the world she's created and making you feel the characters' joys and sorrows.

This book is a poignant reminder that life is a delicate balance of pain and joy, and it showcases the strength of the human spirit. "Before You Found Me" is a must-read for anyone who appreciates evocative storytelling and richly developed characters.

I was not able to get to this book before it was no longer available. I am so sorry for this. I am rating it three stars since I do have to provide a rating, but providing a neutral rating seems like the best option for the book and author.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

A story of an abused person rescuing another abused person, escaping and making their lives go forward together. Seems slightly far fetched as to how a few things occurred, but I enjoyed the characters and relationships between families and new friends.