I picked this book because of the interesting premise. Two patients in a hospital room where they cannot see each other but form an unlikely friendship. Or relationship or whatever was possible. The question I was asked in the book blurb was “can you fall in love with someone you’ve never seen”. I was very curious how this book would tackle that question. I was definitely invested in the plot and questioned myself was it possible to love someone that you cannot see?

Alice and Alfre had serious accidents that landed them in the hospital for several weeks. We learned their emotional and at times painful backstories. I admit I had tears over the sad and heartbreaking stories. Alfre used humor and positivity to tackle his emotions and experiences. He was an amazing person to try to befriend Alice who has been traumatized from her past and current accidents that she always had a curtain surround her. They form this beautiful relationship that made me wonder what will happen next. I couldn’t put it down because of it. The side characters were amazing and a joy to read. . I especially loved Nurse Angel. To be gifted with someone so loving among tragedy was a gift.

Now to my question of mixed genders in the same hospital room. Is that a reality? I had no idea, so I assumed in London that it was. I was also very disappointed in the ending. There wasn’t an epilogue or a proper ending. I felt cheated!!!! I literally had to sit for a while to grasp that that was it. I wished for a better ending.

Overall, it was a good book that pulled me in from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this book to others and forewarned though that this was more than just an ordinary romance book.

I received the ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars
Before I Saw You is an interesting read on a subject that is very deep both emotionally and physically. The story is set in a hospital ward where two patients are in the cubicles next to each other, recovering from serious accidents. The extent of Alice's injuries means that the curtains remained closed around her and Alfie's mission is to get to know her through the curtain wall.

The story is told from the point of view of both patients and is predominately set in the hospital ward. Alfie's chapters were easier to read in terms of the dept of his character whereas I did struggle to get through Alice's chapters as they did seem to drag on a bit.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book and I was invested in the outcome. Like a lot of reviewers, I was hoping for an extra chapter or an epilogue to see how they made it out in the real world so was left a little disappointed.

I adored this story of boy meets girl, and it absolutely deserves 5 stars.

A rom-com with a difference, this book tells the story of Alfie and Alice, who meet on a rehabilitation ward in hospital while he recovers from a leg amputation and she recovers from serious burns It sounds as if laughter and romance couldn't stem from such a scenario but the author gives us warmth, love and gentle humour by the bucket load.

Alice is initially a very spiky character and reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant. She is so traumatised by her injuries that she will not allow anyone to see her, shielding herself from the rest of the ward with her cubicle curtains and refusing to speak at all. Alfie, lying next to her, is determined to get to know his ward mate and as the weeks go by, the pair who have both been through so much, find themselves growing closer and more supportive of each other.

With a cast of wonderful supporting characters - Nurse Angles must surely be in for the 'Nurse of the Year; award, Alfie's lovely parents, Sarah - the best friend a girl could have and of course their fellow ward mates, this story at times brought a lump to my throat, and I did cry at one point (happy tears!)..

I think my favourite quote of the book was "Our scars are simply the mark of our stories. They show we've lived our life, and most of all that we have survived it. Don't hide your story away in the shadows." Beautifully put.

Now I will be honest and say that as I work in the NHS I had to suspend some disbelief for the story as it would be highly unlikely to have a mixed sex ward with men lying next to women, or in fact to have burns patients, amputees and stroke patients altogether on the same ward but if you allow for a little artistic licence you are in for a treat.

Must read!

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There are books that truly tug at your heart strings. Of the ones I’ve read this year, I can count them on one hand. Oh, but this? This one needs to be counted twice.

The book is set in a hospital ward for long-term patients. One where the residents are a sprightly lot and the nurses willing to occasionally overlook their whimsies. I have a fondness for ninety-two-year-old Mr. Peterson—sharp as a tack and always needing to be put in place.

Alfie and Alice are struggling with PTSD; Alice more - her accident being recent and the memories horrifyingly vivid. With little to no information on the extent of her injuries, Alfie is persistent in breaking down her walls, if only by the sound of his voice, while fraught with worry about his future.

This story is heartbreaking, tragic, crushing you with pain and longing. At more than a few places my eyes welled up. Inspite of that, it is the power of faith and the brightness of hope that makes the novel beautifully romantic. Once you finish, you’ll be caught between wishing you could turn back time and wondering what happened next.

This ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Transworld Publishers.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Before I Saw You in exchange for an honest review.

The book, split between two POV's - that of a man who has lost his leg in an accident and that of the woman in the neighbouring hospital bed who has been badly burned in a fire - offers a heartwarming look at recovery, romance and psychological trauma following an accident.

The chapters written in the male POV - a teacher named Alfie - are enjoyable reads, showing a complex battle between the desire to remain positive and the inner trauma following an accident. His relationships with the other ward members are touching, particularly when Mr P is involved and, as a result, he is a lovable character and one which the reader enjoys learning about.

The other chapters, from the POV of Alice, a businesswoman, are less enjoyable. Not due to the complex trauma which the reader learns about, but due to the writing style. Alice is often presented with little redeeming qualities and the writing can seem long winded, with little action.

The ending, however, is what lets the book down. Predictable and rushed, we see a new side to Alfie, which makes for an intriguing read, though it is quickly pushed aside in a matter of three or four chapters. The pacing of the novel changes and it makes it an unsatisfying end.

Houghton does provide an easy read, but it is not a particularly memorable one. Her characterisation of Alfie is wonderful and shows promise throughout, but her pacing is erratic and some chapters can seemingly drag on.

Before I Saw You is a book with much more depth than it first seems. It follows Alfie and Alice, both recovering from accidents which have changed the course of their lives. Alfie has lost a leg following a car crash, and Alice's office building caught fire leaving her with severe burns.

This book is marked as a romance, but there's much more than that in this book. While Alfie and Alice's relationship growing is lovely to see. It chronicles Alfie and Alice's rehabilitation, physical therapy after their respective accidents. There's also a lot of camaraderie between the residents on the ward. When there's not a lot of change in scenery, having such a rich cast of characters is a perfect addition.

One downfall of this book for me was the ending. It felt quite rushed and undeveloped. I think even an epilogue would have helped this, as the moment was built up to so much over the course of the novel. However, the ending feels rather anti-climatic and unrewarding.

This book felt like a long, heart aching journey. But in a good way. I could feel all the way with Alfie‘s and Alice‘s pain, their laughter and anxiety. It’s a emotional rollercoaster that you don‘t want to miss.


Alice is very strong headed and stubborn but doesn‘t has a chance against Alfie‘s boyish charme and his witty behavior.
Alice and Alfie both deal with their own issues but try to get through the day.
I loved the deep conversations between them and how they both individually deal with different but not so different problems and seek each other out to feel some comfort even through a curtain.
They start to get to know each other and start building a connection even though they don‘t know how the other one looks.
I especially loved this aspect because it shows that you don’t need to know how someone looks to get to know and like them and how superficial things can get even before you get to know another person.

This book proofed how deep a connection between two people can go and I adored it so much.

Before I Saw You had a twist on the normal romance novels in that the two main characters Alice and Alfie have never seen each other and are both recovering from life altering traumas.

I felt like the depression, anxiety, PTSD, struggles the characters go through after their respective accidents are an accurate portrayal of what it is like to live through a physical trauma. They were honest in those emotions and that you can’t always be positive or strong and sometimes it feels easier to be stubborn and wallow in your grief.

The dynamic in the recovery ward with other patients added a cute additional storyline especially how people in those situations can form a close bond with each other. Also, the focus on the relationship between patient and nurses and the incredibly amazing job nurses have to do everyday being not only a physical caregiver but also emotional support.

While I really enjoyed this book what it needed was an Epilogue. You spend the whole book waiting for this one moment and then that’s it, book over. I wanted to know more about life after the hospital as usually that is when it can get tough for a patient and you have to integrate back into normal life. But really, I needed more at the ending.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Before I saw you was an engaging and entertaining read; gripping from the start.

Pacy and readable I was invested in the characters from the off, and even shed a tear at the death of one of the minor characters.

I was rooting for the main characters and had a small cheer at the ending.

I would recommend this book to others.

I really liked <i> Before I Saw You </i>. It's very real in a way that all of the characters have some sort of trauma and are trying to overcome their inner demons and I thought that a lot of the things that were being said were incredibly relatable. Especially to people who have a "before and after" of some kind (hi, hello!). And I absolutely loved that aspect of it.

I also really liked the way the love story slowly grew and changed and that their friendship wasn't just one straight line but that there was hurt, there were fights, there were mistakes. As many of the other reviewers, I also wished that there was another chapter at the end. An Epilogue of some sort because I feel like we have just spent so much time with these characters and I felt a bit left hanging.

Nevertheless, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for absolute ROMANCE (there are love letters involved, people!!!) that isn't your typical kind of girl meets boy.

Loved this so much. Not your stereotypical rom com but two incredibly likeable main characters and a gorgeous story wrapping them up. Not a lightweight read - it covers some difficult topics, but an absolute joy and a love story about falling in love but also overcoming diversity and trauma and allowing yourself to be loved.

Reading the. blurb for this book truly enticed me to read the story of two people who find themselves side by side in a hospital recovery ward, building a friendship, a relationship, almost, without ever seeing each other.
Alfie is the life of the ward, keeping the spirits of his two longterm roommates up, developing bonds with everyone he encounters, and is coming to terms with his own tragedy, and being a recent addition to the world of the amputee.
Then, one day the spare bed next to him is filled, but the curtains are drawn. The secret roommate intrigues them all.
Alice is a successful career woman, but her world comes tumbling down after a freak accident at her work leaves her injured beyond recognition. She finds herself in a dark place, shutting herself away from the world, refusing to see anyone she knows, and even baulking at the idea of the health professionals coming in to check on her.
What follows is a story filled with ups and downs, as Alfie tries his hardest to break down the barriers between this invisible woman and the rest of the world.
I loved Alfie's relationship with his fellow patients. He is such a positive character, but with shadows that loom over him.
After reading what happened to Alice, it made me wonder how I would feel, in her situation. Would I end up wanting to become a recluse?
Many deep issues explored in a captivating read.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Random House Uk and Transworld Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Alice is a young woman who has been involved in a fire, leading to terrible burns on her body. She refuses to see friends and family and when she's put in a shared ward she insists the nurses never open the curtain. Alfie, is a patient in the next bed who is very curious about he new arrival to the ward. He starts to speak to Alice through the curtain and while she's resistant at first, they slowly build a friendship. This book is a little predictable but its quite a lovely read. I'd been in a bit of a reading funk and couldn't really get into anything and this sorted me right out. It's a really nice read with characters you care about.

Wow! Wow! Wow! This is the most emotional book I have read in a very long time! I absolutely loved everything about it from the very first page. As I kept reading, I fell more and more in love with Alice and Alfie! I think the characters are so relatable and true to life that you sympathise immensely with them. There are many people who will see lots of Alfie in themselves and reading this will really help them.

I am desperate to know what happens next and think this book would be the perfect movie! I am definitely patiently awaiting a sequel!

Alice and Alfred are strangers who sleep next to each other every night in the hospital ward both trying to heal from their dark pasts and scars

Alice is a workaholic girl who enjoys solitude and hates letting other people in her life , she’s always confident and in control but when she’s caught in a fire and it severely burns her body she loses confidences and hides behind her beds curtains deteremined to not let anyone see her

Alfrie Mack is a charming, lovable boy who never stops talking , after a car accident which causes his leg amputated, he stays in the hospital for months recovering and when he gets a new neighbor on the next bed , he’s determined to break Alice from her silence vow .

The story isn’t like other rom-coms as it carries a very dark theme and important lessons showing how it is to be the one who survived and how a perfect life can be changed overnight also how strangers can be the people who save you and end up being the most important people in your life

Throughout the book , you can see the characters growth and their journey into accepting the hard reality of their lives

It was a great and quick read that I couldn’t put down once i started it and I look forward to reading more books from Emily houghton

The romance is too notch amazing , it’s a story full of all types of emotions ... it was funny , sad , complicated but also full of love

It’s a 5 full stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟from me and a lot of thanks to NetGalley and Bantam press for sending me the Arc copy in exchange for an honest review And allowing me to experience such a beautiful world

Before I Saw You is a sweet and addictive read which delves deep into the emotional and psychological impacts for Alice and Alfie, the two main characters after they both survive after extremely traumatic incidents and are left physically and mentally altered. I loved all the lessons a reader can gain from this book and how heartwarming the tone is, from Alfie's consistent and unconditional support for Alice to the friendships all the patients on the ward share. I especially liked the unlikely friendship between Alfie and Mr Peterson, a slightly gruff older man with a soft spot for our resident chatterbox. The romance in the book was believable at all times and so incredibly cute, I liked the fact that neither party sees each other and the fact that they have little things they share, like crosswords and puzzles and I loved the letter Alfie wrote Alice towards the end too,

I feel like this book explores the psychological impacts of surviving a traumatic event really well and doesn't brush off just how difficult this can be, while also maintaining a hopeful ending. While there is a lot to like about this book I have to say that the ending did leave me a tad underwhelmed because the rest of the book was developing the relationship between Alice and Alfie so it would have been nice to get a greater payoff. I think even an epilogue would have been good and would have proved satisfying to me. I also think that some readers may be put off by the fact that the vast majority of the novel takes place in one setting ie; the hospital so some scenes do feel a tad repetitive but it makes sense in the context of the novel.

A well written romantic story with good, well developed characters, not my usual genre but I thoroughly enjoyed it for a change.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This was a beautiful and romantic story by a master storyteller. The main characters are sympathetic and believable and the storyline flows seamlessly, depicting their health crisis that brings them together. Highly recommended.

I immediately liked the bright, fun cover of this book. Actually, this is actually quite a moving book in places and I enjoyed it much more than the escapism I thought it was going to be.

Alice and Alfie are the central characters of this story and they 'meet' when they're both in a long-term rehabilitation ward; Alice after she was burned badly in a terrible fire, and Alfie following a traumatic car accident. Alice hides herself behind curtains and is unwillingly to connect with anyone. Alfie makes it his mission to bring Alice out of her shell.

It was an easy read, and very simple. Most of the characters were engaging and well-developed. Some of the minor characters were excellent: Alfie's mum, Alice's best friend, and Nurse Angles spring immediately to mind. The character of Alice was too flat for my liking. She was incredibly damaged, but this didn't come across well enough, and she just seemed rude and haughty for large portions of the book. Alfie was a much more likeable character and the relationship between him and the elderly man across the ward was beautiful.

Overall, this is an enjoyable, quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I found myself crying and reading at 3am I knew this going to end up one of my favourite 2020 reads. Alfie and Alice were wonderfully crafted, complicated, messy, funny, broken and human characters. Loved, loved, loved them both so much as well as their separate and joint journeys through their respective traumas. The author does an incredible job weaving a love story between two people who have not laid eyes on each other. The connection and the affection that grew between Alice and Alfie was real, engaging and very beautiful.

Such a great setting in the hospital ward and a wonderful mix of supporting characters including Mother A, and Mr Peterson. Sarah was a joy of a best friend and her friendship and love for Alice was a delight. Funny, emotional, heart breaking, well written read and I really hope to see more from this author.