This gets 3 stars because I loved the MMC Jonah, and what I felt the FMC Lauren lacked in emotion and my ability to connect with her, Jonah made up for. He was super sweet and filled with so much love and emotion. I loved the idyllic New Hampshire location so much that it made me want to book a trip, and I thought the overall storyline was decent, and I really did like the epilogue; BUT the amnesia trope has just been done one too many times, which is a huge contributing factor to why I found it so hard to engage with this book, as well as the very basic writing style. It read very much like a Hallmark Movie which I normally enjoy, BUT with 10 extra scoops of sugar- so if you're into that sweet of a romance, you'll love this. This story was very one-note for me, and some parts of the plot seemed rushed or completely unnecessary.

Overall not the worst book I've read this year, but sadly not up there with the best. Definitely do give this one a look when it debuts on September 10th if you like
-enemies to friends to lovers
-small town/workplace romance
-happily ever afters
-VERY sappy sweet (and clean, no spice or language) love stories
-city girl/country boy

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing this ARC for me to read and review!!

I enjoyed this book. I can’t imagine how devastating it would be to be about to propose only to have your girlfriend get amnesia and forget all the good parts about your relationship. I appreciated Jonah’s wisdom and patience with the situation. I didn’t understand Lauren’s response at all. I’d be talking to people, looking at my phone, trying to figure things out, whatever it took and come what may.

I loved the setting of this book. It reminded me of working at a camp and of times when I went and stayed in a cabin somewhere. I also like event planning so that was a plus for me too even though there weren’t too many details about all that.

One thing that was missing for me was having people who love them really speak truth into their lives. They each had someone to talk to but it wasn’t really an emphasis or a help to them. They were just on their own to figure things out. Still, it was an a quick read with an usual take and I appreciated that.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

City girl, Lauren Wentworth, just took a job as temporary manager of a rustic resort on a lake in New Hampshire. It is supposed to be the springboard to her dream job in Boston. Well, she falls in love with the owner's son, Jonah, and plans change. Then she falls off a ladder and suffers a brain injury that wipes her whole memory of the summer clean. She has no memory of falling in love with Jonah. Jonah is heartbroken and hoping she remembers eventually. Will Lauren fall back in love with Jonah and give up her prestigious dream job to work out in the sticks? Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I enjoyed it.

Very cute and enjoyable book. It was alittle slow paced for my liking but the storyline was enjoyable to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

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Before We Were Us
Author: Denise Hunter
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date:  September 10, 2024

Before We Were Us is a standard Denise Hunter romance, meaning it is a Hallmark-type love story with no detailed sex or blazing chemistry. Lauren works in hotel marketing at a New Hampshire retreat owned by Jonah’s family. This job was only supposed to be a 7-month position for Lauren, but she falls hard for Jonah, and he is preparing to ask her to marry him when she falls from a barn loft and loses her memory. Suddenly, the new concussed version of Lauren is not very nice, but our boy Jonah is up for the challenge. This is a traditional, cozy, and cute romance with all the feels and adoration. Some things are worth waiting for, and Jonah is up to the challenge. #romance #cozyromance #cozy #newhampshire #BeforeWeWereUs @thomasnelson @netgalley #concussion #memoryloss
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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This is a very sweet and inspirational story. It is told in alternate timelines from the points of view of the two main characters Jonah and Lauren. It is a romantic story but also one of family and resilience. The plot is very well thought out and gives the reader an opportunity to get to know the characters well. The characters are wonderful and rely on the strength of their faith and friends and family to get them through the difficult times. This will be a great book to relax with and read.

This story is set in New Hampshire at an older cozy resort. Lauren is brought on to give new life to the resort and get some experience for her dream job that she starts in 9 months. Jonah is the owners son and is looking to take over the reins once he graduates from college, something his parents insisted on. The story really starts in September, but after Lauren's fall and subsequent memory loss of the last 4 months, we are taken back to April, when she first arrived in town. Jonah is very patient and considerate of her needs, while still worrying about losing her due to her memory loss. Solid plot and writing. A very enjoyable story and hard to put down. Loved the resort and the upgrades Lauren did, as well as learning about these two characters.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn't make it very far through the book before I decided to DNF. Unfortunately the writing style was a little juvenile and I had a hard time getting past it and immersing myself in the story. Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for my copy!

This is a good contemporary romance. It is light and heartwarming. It is also a little annoying. Lauren studied event planning hotel management in college. She has a dream job waiting for her at Glitter. She just needs experience and she gets it at a family owned lodge. She also meets the lover of her life Jonah. All is beautiful in her life until it isn't. She falls off a ladder and wakes up in a hospital with no memories for the last 4 months. Jonah is there and she doesn't want him there because what she remember of him is that he is her arrogant boss. This book is a fun read but to tell you the truth, I did not like Lauren. Even at the end I just couldn't relate to her. I loved Jonah and his whole family. Even Graham, the dog was more likeable than Lauren. But the concept of the book and the love story is very compelling.
Thanks to #netgalley, #thomasnelson and @deniseahunter for an ARC of this book

auren Wentworth worked her way through college on her own. No parent to help her with her dream career. Living in Boston, she could have this dream job. Till that dream job came around, she applied for a job that ran from April through December. It was to manage a resort with cabins in the New Hampshire mountains. There were the two owners, their son and daughter. She had a degree and were looking for someone who knew how to handle the job. What am amazing place to work, although she did not think so at first. She was more of a city girl. So many trees, the lake and quiet was all new to her. There were so many details about running this resort, although it was not a lot of cabins.

She found a barn on the property that she asked if she could explore. So the son, Jonah, found the way into the barn. A huge barn with a lot of things store away from years ago. She had an idea, to make this place into a venue for parties and or weddings. What a beautiful place to have a romantic wedding. In the Fall, the trees change color and make it so beautiful. Lauren and Jonah went up into the loft using a ladder. It was amazing up there, so much space. Then they decided to go down the ladder, but Lauren decide to go down first. She ended up in the hospital and had no clue why she was even there. You see, all memory was lost of the past 4 months.

She recalled nothing. Jonah was with her at the hospital, but she did not understand why. Well, he was her boyfriend and did not remember any of it. The time spent together and the places he took her to around New Hampshire. Doctor was very unsure she would get her memory back at all. What heart break for Jonah. Her only hint of memory would been texts and photos in her phone. But she was not to look at those, and doctor said she needed to rest her brain before doing so. As this would cause her to work her mind in trying to remember.

What an amazing story, the details of the area, how a resort was run and the beautiful descriptions of the area. Denise writes amazing romance novels with details. Now this is only my 2nd book I have read of hers. But you know, I need to read more and more of them. The reason I wanted to read the book was, the first book I read was amazing. Thank you to Denise, Thomas Nelson publishing and Net Galley for allowing me to read this before publishing.L

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. This amnesia storyline has been done a thousand times, so there is nothing original or interesting in this book.

The backdrop of this easy read came right out of a Hallmark movie. The divine scenery made me want to get in my car and drive to New Hampshire to locate it. As much as I enjoyed the background of this story, I had a hard time relating to the characters. Throughout the book, I felt bad for Jonah and wanted to shake Lauren and ask her... WHY? I could not connect with her at all throughout this whole story.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this heartwarming novel.

The story revolves around Lauren and Jonah, a couple who work together at Jonah's family-owned cabin resort in rural New Hampshire. After a dangerous fall, Lauren loses her memory of the past few months. The only thing she really remembers is arriving at the resort and her ice cold interactions with Jonah. She has no memory of them ever falling in love. The narration alternates between the present and the summer when they fell in love.

I felt a lot of sympathy for Jonah, at times Lauren's behavior towards him sometimes seemed overly harsh. It was an enjoyable and relaxing read that ended up with a happily ever after in the end too!

This was such a great book! The storyline was so much fun. Being from New England originally myself, I loved the setting being in NH.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Beautifully written story of love - found and lost - lost and found. Memorable characters set in a wonderful place add to this story. Another sigh worthy inspirational love story. Definitely worth the read. This book was provided by the author Denise Hunter and publisher through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

This is a carefully plotted romance about a young woman who loses her memory and breaks the heart of the man who loves her because she doesn’t remember him at all. Lauren Wentworth is a newly graduated events planner and goes to New Hampshire to work at a small family camp while she waits for her the date when she will report to her dream job. She never counted on the fun and flirty relationship that started with the owners’ son, Jonah Landry. The novel goes back and forth in time between the current time after Lauren got injured and lost her memory and the past when she and Jonah were getting to know each other and courting. The conflict is very realistic in that Lauren cannot remember Jonah but she does recall that she has a dream job waiting for her in Boston after the first of the year. This is a slam dunk great love story, with a well-crafted plot and appealing characters characters. I really enjoyed the dog Graham, too, who acted as a buffer of sorts between the couple who seem to be fated to separate. The story is satisfying, engaging and heartwarming, with family and relationships that matter front and center.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

ARC Book Review!

Before we were us by Denise Hunter


4 / 5⭐️

This book immediately hooked me which was such a relief after my last read. It gives about time with Rachel mcaddams and Channing Tatum vibes - a movie I adored! The MMC is so dedicated to returning the FMCs memories it will make you swoon.


The book does tend to switch narratives mid way through the chapters which I didn’t love. I personally prefer when the dual POV alternates chapters. Switching midway through the chapter caused me confusion a couple times.

With that being said, the pace was excellent and I can understand why 3 of this authors novels have been turned into halmark movies!


This book is for you if you like :

Dual POV
Enemies to friends to lovers
Small town romance
Forbidden romance
Panic attack rep
Cute dog
HEA



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Neither bad, nor great. It was just ok for me. It’s a clean - no sex, no swearing - perfect for a Hallmark movie, kind of story. An easy, quick read of found family and realizing what you really want in life.
What I didn’t like was the predictably, which was eye-rolling at time. As well as the lack of flow, disjointed and missing details that then were sometimes addressed later. It left me wondering each time something didn’t feel right if it was going to filled in later. I don’t like to be disturbed while reading, especially by the story that I’m suppose to be reading.

Side note… I was not aware until I read the author’s acknowledgements that this is considered a christian book. If I had known that I would not have picked it. I prefer to read books without references to church and a bible. It should be mentioned in the summary or the book page somewhere.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity to read this book.

I found Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter to be a predictable story. It begins the day of Lauren’s accident. It does not give readers a chance to get to know the characters or their history before the main event. The story goes back and forth between the present and the months leading up to the Lauren’s accident. I was not a fan of Lauren. I found her attitude and behavior frustrating. Lauren was unkind to Jonah (I am being kind with my phrasing). I felt bad for Joanah who was being very patient. I liked Dr. Carson, and there was potential for this character. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Pinehaven Lodge and the surrounding area (sounds like a beautiful place to reside and vacation). I wish the author had captured New Hampshire because, based on the descriptions, the lodge could have been located in any New England state. The Christian element is light. There are repetitive details, and the ending was rushed. I wanted to like Before We Were Us, but I did not. Unfortunately, Before We Were Us is a forgettable tale.

Denise Hunter has written a beautiful love story about Lauren and Jonah an unlikely pair that work together and slowly fall for one another. As all love stories they face the unthinkable an accident that pulls them apart in the most heartbreaking way. This is a book for all Hallmark lovers. A sweet story that pulls at your heart. It’s not hard to get truly invested in these characters and root for their love story.
A perfect quick read and a few tears maybe shed. This was my first book by Denise Hunter and I can’t wait to read more.