As always, I’m left wanting more—and that’s a good thing! I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the Landry family. I want to spend more time with Jonah and Lauren. To make sure Tom’s health stays good.

To hopefully see Meg happy one day with her HEA. There’s so much more I want to know about these imaginary people. They make my heart smile.

I received an advance copy from the publisher. All opinions are mine and have not been solicited.

Lauren wakes up in the hospital after falling off a ladder. she knows who she is but can't remember the last four months. Love Denise Hunter .books/

Denise Hunter likes writing about the east coast small towns and while this is a departure from the North Carolina area of the Appalachian Trail, it is just as engaging as her novels taking place in those areas. The crux of the plot of this book is when Lauren gets amnesia the day Jonah was going to propose to her. She falls off a ladder in the barn that she is converting to a wedding venue and hits her head, giving herself a concussion and amnesia. She only loses four months, but it's the four months of her relationship with Jonah. She remembers the early stages of "I don't like you," but has forgotten the stages where he grew on her to the point that she fell in love with him.

The way Denise handled the amnesia is a breath of fresh air compared to how other authors I've read have handled it. I appreciated how she didn't try to "fix" everything but allowed it to flow organically, as real life would.

I really appreciate the way that Denise brought about the love story between Lauren and Jonah. His love never waned and he worked to rekindle the emotions within Lauren.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a magical barn wedding venue.

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Can you fall in love twice with the same person? That’s the question you’ll be asking yourself when you read Before We Were Us. I love finding a book where the characters feel so relatable. My heart broke for Jonah when Lauren couldn’t remember their love. Even though I hoped she would get her memory back, I couldn’t have predicted how this story would end. But it was good!
Sweet romance, a country setting and lovable characters put this book on my list of favorites for 2024. It’ll give you all the feels!
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

first book i've read from denise hunter and won't be the last!!! i thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish!!!

Denise Hunter always write big stories with big emotions. This one is felt a little different as it’s a present day dual timeline. It starts off so warm and fuzzy and I was instantly in love with Lauren and Jonah. Then a tragic accident and I felt myself reeling with the characters. It was so hard to watch the story play out (in a good way). Trying to imagine myself in Jonah’s shoes, the love of my life there before me every day with no memory of us. My heart was shattered. There is redemption though, as we catch glimpses of early days through flashbacks. Tenderness, sweetness, and playfulness balance out all the hard emotions. Watching Lauren dredge through her memory loss, trying to pick up where she thought she left off, and processing through new emotions, was sorrowful. Seeing two hearts so full of love, yet feeling so alone and forgotten definitely took my emotions for a ride. But true to Hunter’s fashion, big love and romance perfectly outweigh any sadness. The sparks and deep love between these two characters is breathtaking. And I loved every minute of it.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

My thoughts: Before We Were Us is Ms. Hunter's latest release and as per usual, we have a winner. Laurel has her plans for the future mapped out in advance and nothing is going to stop her. Not even a handsome man in the middle of nowhere. Jonah knows what he wants to, but he feels it all slipping away.... This is a great romance and would make a great Hallmark movie. If you love romance grab your copy while its on preorder.... Highly recommended. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

In true Denise Hunter fashion, this story has a way of wrapping you up like a cozy blanket. It is not overly preachy but the faith elements are a nice, calm addition to this story. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the two stories, it was like reading two love stories go at once.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! I really enjoyed it and it was a bonus it took place in New England! I love reading books about where I live. This book did give me “The Vow” vibes with the accident and memory loss. I felt like Lauren was a little too mean to Jonah. He had to live with knowing how things were before the accident and there relationship and Lauren was rude and tried to brush him off like he must’ve done something to make her actually like him. I do wish happiness didn’t wait till like the last 10 pages.. Overall a beautiful and cozy story that takes place in NH and Boston! Id love to read more by this author

Before We Were Us is a sweet romance novel…Lauren fell in love with Jonah and then fell and hit her head the day he was going to propose. Losing all memory of the summer they fell in love, she only remembers Jonah as the guy she didn’t like, let alone love. Jonah is a really understanding guy…maybe a little too perfect? But no complaints here! His love and patience shine through while Lauren tries to piece everything together that fall. But fall will soon be over, the snow will start to come, and Lauren has to decide if she’s going to stay. Very sweet and touching, I loved this book.

I received an advance copy from netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Such a sweet story, it kind of reminds me of the movie, While You Were Sleeping! I love how the author mixes in little unexpected surprises throughout the story. Jonah and Lauren were great characters as well as Sydney, Graham, Meg and Jonah's parents.



The resort sounds like a place that I would want to vacation at! The author does a great job of making you feel that you are there!



Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I always love Denise Hunter! This book was super! I cannot imagine what life would be like to lose a part of your memory. Lauren lost not only her memory, but a very significant part of her relationship with Jonah. He has amazing patience with her and lets her find her own way. First impressions aren't always what they seem. Luckily they get beyond it, not once but twice!

Another novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I simply couldn't put it down.
I loved the quirky characters and they eventually became my friends. I really hated to say goodbye to them.
I highly recommend! 5 stars for an engaging novel
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I really enjoyed this sweet, but at times heartbreaking, romance! On the day Jonah was going to propose, Lauren falls and loses her memories of the last 4 months of falling in love with him! Jonah’s patience and unconditional love are really put to the test and she just puts more distance between them, even as they work together! The reader is on pins and needles as we read with intense emotions. Will she ever remember? Can he ever forget? Character development is great. I love this author's books! Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. My review is my own personal opinion.

Before We Were Us starts off with a romance between main characters Lauren and Jonah. We learn early on that their romance was a kind of enemies to lovers evolution, and just when Jonah is ready to propose, Lauren falls off a ladder, hits her head, and develops amnesia. She can’t remember anything about their falling in love—her brain has no memory of the summer months when they became a couple and she can only remember her initial attitude towards Jonah, putting him back in the time of their first meeting and firmly in the enemy camp.

The book then takes on a dual timeline, with flashback chapters that show how their romance developed the first time around. Jonah works hard to hide his anguish, and his patience and quiet support of Lauren as she grapples with her new normal eventually makes her fall in love with him again.

But Lauren, originally from Boston, is in New Hampshire on a temporary assignment in the hospitality business as she waits for her dream job to start at the beginning of the new year. Before her accident, she had decided to give up on her dream job in order to stay in New Hampshire with Jonah and his family. With no memory of this decision, she is determined to go back to that dream job and the life she wanted before meeting Jonah. Of course, she starts the job, is a smashing success at it, but is miserable and homesick and makes an impulsive decision to return to New Hampshire and her life with Jonah. Compounding Lauren’s complicated emotions are childhood abandonment issues, instability as a young girl in the foster care system, and a determination to be free and independent as an adult so as not to end up like the mother who left her. Upon Lauren’s return to Boston, her mother re-enters the picture and there is a chance for healing and forgiveness here, too.

This book was okay for me. The shining parts are Jonah and his family, who provide Lauren with the warmth and close-knit, secure environment she has been searching for all her life. Pinehaven, the New Hampshire lakeside ‘resort’ that Jonah’s family owns and operates sounds like an ideal place to vacation. We know the book takes place in New Hampshire because the author tells us so, but there is very little ‘New Hampshire’ about the setting. The book could take place at any lake in any mountainous area in the country. I was drawn to the book for the setting and was disappointed that the author missed the chance to really anchor the story in all that NH has to offer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Before We Were Us was such a feel good book with mystery, romance intertwined into a pageturner that I couldn't put down and couldn't wait to get back to. This is my first book written by Denise Hunter but will be seeking her others books to read this summer. She is truly an author of heartwarming, small town love stories.

Before We Were Us Denise Hunter The story seems implausible because the memory loss was so selective. The paced of the story seemed rushed and disjointed making it difficult to follow. The characters lacked depth and it was hard to relate to them. Lauren comes across as unlikable . All in all an good read for Denise Hunter's fans.
Thank you to the author, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Ok. To be tertotally honest, I chose this book on NetGalley
for the chance to review this book early. I knew nothing about the author or the book, except for a shorty blurb that promised a fast exciting adventure. Well...The book it a breezy, light Christian tale of a Woman in the hotel biz & her unexcting love interest. My biggest problem with this story is the oddest case of amnesia the woman suffers after a accident. It's a fifty/fifty dice roll on when & who she remembers. I had to bite my tounge most of the way, but I finKnock Knock.pdf.pngished the book. Although not for me this book would appeal to fansof cosy mysteries.

Before We Were Us has an idyllic setting and wonderful characters. It’s a heartwarming and emotional love story about the fear and frustrating of overcoming adversity and moving forward, and of not giving up.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter is a beautiful story of finding your way back to love. Lauren wakes up from a fall only to discover that several months of her life are missing from her memory. In those memories is her falling in love with Jonah, the man that she once couldn't stand. In Lauren's new reality she one again can't stand Jonah and can't comprehend what could've possibly changed in order for her to fall in love with him. Jonah has to use great amounts of patience to show Lauren why she fell in love with him the first time.
This is a lovely story that would make a great Hallmark film. The characters are written well and the flashback scenes are integrated well to give you some back story.