DNF

The characters have not drawn me in, and thus I have no desire to continue on with the story. Also, I have a personal pet peeve against smoking in novels, so Betty constantly smoking up annoys me.

Enjoyed this book set then and now in London. The author’s vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the story. I liked the alternating stories of Betty and Arlette.

I received this advanced copy from NetGalley so all reviews are my opinion only. I love Lisa Jewell and have found her books to be rich and interesting. I just had difficulty getting into this historical story and being engaged so was very disappointed I could not enjoy it as much as I have with all her other stories.

I am sorry I was unable to read this book within the timescales of it being published, thank you for the opportunity, should I read it in the future I will review it online

I've read and enjoyed Lisa Jewell's books for more than ten years, and I highly recommend both One-Hit Wonder and A Friend of the Family. But Before I Met You left me cold. Jewell does a good job of portraying the combination of wide-eyed wonder, tinge of fear, and naive determination that both Betty, in the 1990s, and Arlette, in the 1920s, feel as young women on their own in a big city for the first time. She also keeps the pages turning to find out the mystery behind the beneficiary in Arlette's will who Betty is determined to find. But the narration is strangely distant from the characters, and I never felt fully connected to them. The object of Arlette's passion is more of a paragon than a real person. It was difficult to believe, even in those short "enlightened" years between the World Wars, that almost nobody batted an eyelash when Arlette became the lover of a black musician. ]In fact, none of the male characters work, with the exception of the taciturn young man who is one of the first people Betty encounters in her new life. All in all, not my favorite Lisa Jewell by far. (less)

This was interesting, but not one of my favorites by Lisa Jewell. It tells the story of Bette, a young woman who goes on a journey to find out more about her late grandmother's life after finding a letter in her belongings. I found that the story was slow for me in some places.