“Before We Were Us” by Denise Hunter
A Sweet Contemporary Romance
A story that wrapped me up in its web and held me close to the very last punctuation mark. An excellent sharing of the trauma that can result from memory loss and the subsequent journey to put one’s life back together again. And, Yes, the tears flowed like a tsunami, and the smiles did abound, too. Happy Reading ! !

I really enjoyed reading Before We Were Us! Denise Hunter did a great job with character development. I was able to empathize with both sides of the story and want a positive outcome for each. I learned about traumatic head injuries as well. The ending was enjoyable as I was glad things were left a little messy because that's how life really is.

I loved this book and didn’t want it to end! A perfect happy book to escape into and I would recommend to anyone needing a feel good romance. Jonah is so patient with Lauren as she struggles with her loss of memory from the summer they fell in love. The setting of the mountain resort is dreamy and I can’t wait for Denise Hunters next novel!

This is a lovely book.its an unusual second chance romance. I liked the characters. Jonah is such a sweet man. He really puts his heart on the line with Lauren. Lauren has been hurt in life. We see her twice changing and transforming. It was a wonderful tale. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was such a heartwarming read. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, all of it. The writing was superb!! I can't believe I've never read anything from this author previously. She has such a beautiful way of weaving a story.

Before We Were us
by Denise Hunter
Pub Date: Sept. 10, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Such a sweet read!!!!
Lauren and Jonah’s story is so sweet. I couldn’t put this story down. The dual time line makes the story. You are able to see the before and after of Lauren’s accident.
You want her to get her memory back so bad the whole time.
The epilogue is the perfect end to the book.

This is a great summer read. Definitely recommend.

Admittedly, this wasn't my favorite Denise Hunter book. Very long on description and short on doing. I struggled with the flip flopping timelines but what I did get out of it is how our past informs our future and sometimes love comes around again, even if you don't remember it.

#BeforeWeWereUs #NetGalley

Jonah's world turns upside down when his girlfriend Lauren has a freak accident and loses the last four months of her memory. Lauren remembers nothing about the relationship that her and Jonah had. Her last memory is him as an enemy. This book felt ./a little off and read slowly.

He's proposing really soon.

What's in her past?

That escalated quickly.

At least she remembers everybody...

Wow, seven years in college.

That was not her day.

She really hated Jonah, didn't she.

Huh. I don't know if it is the right thing to do, the Boston job is giving her a sense of normalcy that no longer exists.

Ohh...Now their connection is starting to make sense.

Haha, he was cute in the awkward phase of their relationship.

He is still technically family, though.

Yep, a "fun" romance. Clearly that worked out.

I feel bad for the other candidate when she gets her memory back.

Everyone is so concerned about her job and her feelings, but he was willing to sacrifice his own dreams. That should be mentioned.

I'm glad for her and her mother.

Can she just leave like that?

Aw, that's a nice gift.

The amnesia after a brain injury! Similar story lines always get me! A second chance, and enemies to lovers story. Centered around Lauren and Jonah, they fell in love and Denise suffers a terrible accident that leaves her with a TBI and unable to remember, above all else, their love story. Lauren had to come the small town to prove her worth to the company she worked for and this is where she met Jonah. They needed to find their way back to each other and the perseverance from Jonah was so heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time.
Thank you for the ARC

What would you do if you fell in love but don't remember?

Theirs was an enemies to lovers story and only Jonah knows that. After a terrible fall Lauren is left with a traumatic brain injury and it's unknown how long it will be before she can recover the memories that Jonah assures her are true. I'm not sure many people would have Jonah's resolve to persevere and help Lauren regain her memory.

Denise Hunter's story - a topic I've not read before in the romance genre - kept me engaged and invested in the outcome. It's a story of discovering what's truly important.  

There was another second chance storyline near the end of the novel that drove home the point that everyone deserves another chance.

Recommended to fans of the author and a sweet romantic story.

What a sweet story!

Lauren and Jonah are happily in love and planning a big restoration of a barn for a venue. Lauren falls from the ladder and when she wakes up, she has no memory of the summer. No memory of falling in love with Jonah.

The story centers around this event with Jonah hoping Lauren recovers her memory and Lauren hoping she doesn’t. She has a dream job waiting for her back home — she doesn’t need the distraction of love!

Told with some flashbacks, you get to see how they fell in love in the first place as well as witness the aftermath of Lauren’s accident.

Well written and both Lauren and Jonah are super relatable.

A sweet love story of strength and recovery that draws you in and keeps you engaged until the very end. Bring your Kleenex because you will need it!

Before We Were Us was well written and definitely not one of those smarmy, sappy, unbelievable stories. This is really good and I have discovered that I like Denise Hunter and her writing.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from Thomas Nelson and Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

DNF

Writing and plot felt too simplistic and straightforward. Approachable but wanted a bit more.

I’m not usually a fan of memory loss love stories, however, I am a fan of Denise Hunter. Her writing style makes me love this story regardless. I particularly loved the ending. The wedding gift. The infusion of memories they had made to bring them to who they were. The concept was done well and beautifully.

First novel by Denise Hunter and I was glad I had the chance to read this one. Romantic novel that pulls at your heart. I am glad to say that I will look for more books by Denise Hunter.

Heartwarming read. Lauren is an ambitious young woman striving to over come her past. Goal oriented to achieve her dream job she is sidelined working at a small cabin living resort for 9 months to prove she is worthy for the premier job. Friction with the handsome son of the family owned business leads to sparks. Trauma brings kinks to the story. Fantastic read. Recommend. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

This was such a great literary fiction read! I loved this book from the very first page to the very last page.

This book made me ache but in the best way. I was feeling Lauren's confusion and discomfort and Jonah's pain right along with the story. Both of their characters were very sympathetically done so you felt the push and pull of both sides of their stories. The story worked, but Denise Hunter's always do. I enjoyed reading it despite the somewhat unpleasant topic. It was different from a lot of the romance books out there, which was a welcome surprise. I also liked how the ending was done and that it was kind of unexpected in how it was done.