Before Everything did not hold my interest. From the description it sounded interesting, but when I got into the book, it wasn't to my liking. The story bounced around a lot and it was hard to follow along in places.

3.5 They met in the school yard, the five young girls that would remain friends, having children together, staying in touch even when their lives went off in different directions. They helped each other through life's many problems and difficulties, but now they are confronted by something they can neither change nor solve. Annie has fought her cancer for years, treatments, medications, bone marrow transplants, remissions and hope renewed. Her cancer though has come back and she has decided enough is enough and has started home hospice.

This is ultimately a book of friendship, friends who are there through thick and thin, new friends and old friends, friends who now arrive in force trying to change her mind, convince her to continue fighting her illness. We hear from each of them in turn, including the husband who though connected emotionally has been living separated from his wife but is now her principle caretaker. The tone is not maudlin, it is more melancholy as they each remember times Annie was integral to their lives, she is very loved.

While I appreciated this I also found it unrealistic as none seemed to confront the hard truths, except maybe the husband. Only one time, when they take her on a field trip in her weakened condition to a wellness spa and see how bad her condition is by the look on the receptionists face do we see how bad off she really is, how blind to this they actually are. So a good story but one that I felt was missing some base reality, or maybe it is just my feeling and others readers won't feel the same. Read it and see.

ARC from publisher.

Here we go again, a group of old female friends, the ups, the downs, the babies, the illnesses and divorces. To this familiar mix the author adds some quirks and irritants. The tale is told in short chapters, the characters are one-dimensional, even in their flaws. Central, beloved figure Anna is maddening in her irresistible charms. An air of smiley benignity hangs over everyone. Too syrupy for its own good.

I’m looking forward to reading Before Everything by Victoria Redel soon. What appealed to me was the long-standing group of best friends and their middle age challenges. Friendship, love, loss, this book encompasses these universal themes.

Synopsis:

Before Everything is a celebration of friendship and love between a group of women who have known each another since they were girls. They’ve faced everything together, from youthful sprees and scrapes to mid-life turning points. Now, as Anna, the group’s trailblazer and brightest spark, enters hospice, they gather to do what they’ve always done—talk and laugh and help each other make choices and plans, this time in Anna’s rural Massachusetts home. Helen, Anna’s best friend, and a celebrated painter is about to remarry. The others face their own challenges—Caroline with her sister’s mental health crisis; Molly with a teenage daughter’s rebellion; Ming with her law practice—dilemmas with kids and work and love.

The others face their own challenges—Caroline with her sister’s mental health crisis; Molly with a teenage daughter’s rebellion; Ming with her law practice—dilemmas with kids and work and love. Before Everything is as funny as it is bittersweet, as the friends revel in the hilarious mistakes they’ve seen each another through, the secrets kept, and adventures shared. But now all sense of time has shifted, and the pattern of their lives together takes on new meaning.

Victoria Redel is a new author to me and what a treat it was to read her work Before Everything. I am a reader who has no problem reading books that have a familiar or sometimes overused story line if, I repeat IF the writing is good. The writing in this novel is not good, it is brilliant. Poetic and raw I found myself crying and feeling joy simultaneously. Before Everything is at times terribly sad but sometimes life is just plain sad. I loved these characters and had no problem following all 5 POV. I would recommend you pre-order this now. When it comes out June 27th and you sit back in your favorite reading spot and dive it, you will thank me for the recommendation. I am sure of it.

This a wonderful portrayal of friendship that lasts a lifetime. I felt as if I knew these women, as the author describes them so well. There is also the sense of place that was meaningful to me, as I grew up in that area. As an older woman, I could empathize with Anna as she faces mortality along with her friends. All in all, a great book to discuss with your women friends.

Absolutely loved this book. Characters are so likable and well defined. So refreshing to find that.

What a book! Really enjoyed! Highly recommend. Perfect book club pick!

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

Before Everything is a very moving and thought provoking novel! This book centers around 5 childhood best friends as one of their own is in the final days of her life. Now in their fifties, Helen, Molly, Caroline and Ming all gather at Anna's home while she starts hospice. I knew going into this novel that it would be emotional given the subject, but I enjoyed how Victoria Redel time-hopped throughout the book to give us a full story of each friend and their history with one another. The writing was so descriptive that I felt like a fly on the wall observing the 5 women. We not only learn about Anna's current situation, but the choices and circumstances that lead all of the ladies to their current place in life. Growing up with a close knit group of friends is always complicated and intricate, not to mention mixing "old friends" and "new friends", but I felt Before Everything does a wonderful job of portraying those complexities realistically. If you are in the mood for a great women's fiction novel than definitely check out Before Everything!

A wonderful read about friends who come together as they have been doing ever since being young, to help their friend who is dying. "Ya gotta have friends."
She has opted for "no more" and the "old friends" just can not accept this.
There are flashbacks of past times and experiences as they learn to understand how to let go of of Anna and Anna says good-bye now.
Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read and provide and honest review.

A loving look at the bonds of friendship. There wasn't just a fluffy look at friendships but got down to the nitty gritty ups and downs you go through with real friendships. I loved this book and my only complaint, it was too short. Beautiful