What an rollercoaster of emotions
Instant auto buy author for me the beautiful heartfelt laughter tears the writing brings the characters !! This did not disappoint

2 ⭐️

I feel like this book just wasn’t for me.

It had so much potential to be deep, emotional, and to showcase two people trying to find themselves/work through trauma as adults…. And fell really short. All the emotional stuff is saved for tiny flashbacks (which were the best parts of the book), and the ending that felt too quick. I also don’t know that I ever really liked Dani and Alex, except for those tiny flashbacks and the ending. I definitely don’t really feel like I connected to them as characters ever either.

Thanks to Random House Publishing for the ARC copy of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Renee never fails to break my heart. This book was real and raw which I feel like we don’t always get in romance books. I love these characters and the journey we went on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced E-Copy of This Used to be Us, in exchange for an honest review.

Renée Carlino once again delivers a poignant and unforgettable novel in 'This Used to Be Us.' This latest offering delves into the complexities of divorce as it unfolds through the lives of Alex and Danielle.


The story unfolds from alternating perspectives, giving readers an intimate glimpse into the inner turmoil and raw emotions of both parties. Alex and Danielle, once a couple deeply in love, now find themselves navigating the uncharted territory of divorce. With two young sons to consider, they decide to share an apartment, swapping custody on a weekly basis.

Carlino's writing is masterful, capturing the nuanced dynamics of a disintegrating marriage. She delves into the pain, anger, and confusion that accompany divorce, while also exploring the lingering hope and longing that can persist even after the relationship has ended.

The characters are beautifully drawn, with their flaws and vulnerabilities laid bare. Alex struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family, while Danielle grapples with guilt and the realization that she may have made a mistake. Their children, caught in the crossfire, endure their own emotional turmoil.

The story progresses at a steady pace, initially setting the scene with meticulous detail. As the narrative gains momentum, it becomes increasingly difficult to put the book down. Carlino's ability to evoke empathy and connection is truly remarkable.

The ending of the novel is both heartbreaking and cathartic. It leaves readers with a profound sense of loss and a lingering sense of hope for both Alex and Danielle.

Overall, 'This Used to Be Us' is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of divorce or who simply appreciates a well-crafted story about the complexities of human relationships. Carlino's ability to convey the rawness of emotion and the enduring power of love makes this novel an unforgettable literary experience.
This was a 4.75 Star read for me!

I’ve enjoyed other books by this author and this one was no exception. I loved the character development and had a great time following the relationship and plot. Will recommend!

Renee Carlino knows how to write a deep and honest story about love, marriage and family. I was
So invested in Dani and Alex and so emotional while reading it. This is one not to be missed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to @thedialpress @randomhouse and @netgalley for this e-arc copy. All thoughts are my own.


Danielle and Alex were married young and have been so for 22 years. After all these years, they’ve grown apart and can’t stand each other. They have a shared apartment where they alternate their time, so their children can have a solid home.

In the apartment, both of them are reflecting on the past, and in doing so, they are rediscovering themselves.

As time passes, they find themselves being drawn back to each other. Maybe distance does make the heart grow fonder. Just as they’re figuring things out, a family crisis brings them firmly back.


This book isn’t labeled a romance for a reason! I think that while yes it does have some romance vibes, romance is not the focus of the book, the journey is. So, to me this is more of women’s fiction. This book ends in a way I wasn’t fully expecting and wow, just wow. I don’t want to say too much because it would be a spoiler, but if you’d like to discuss and have read this one – just message me. This book is an emotional journey that’s for sure. I was not only happy and sad, but also annoyed as heck at the characters, because yup you guess it – miscommunication. I think it would be a struggle to have a book focusing on a breakup without miscommunication. I really enjoyed this book and getting to know the characters. They were both messy and flawed and I hated certain parts about them, but that made them more real to me.

I think that this book is really going to resonate with readers who have been, or are, married. And, even more so for those married or in a long-term relationship for a while.

I can confidently say that I’ve never read a romance book quite like this one before. Dani and Alex’s story was written with so much emotion and compassion.

The first handful of chapters were written in the past tense, while the rest of the book was written in a pretty standard nonlinear timeline, with some flashbacks scattered throughout. The first person dual POV allowed me to feel like I was along for the ride with each character.

This book was messy — and I mean that in the best way possible. There were certain times when the characters (especially Dani) would do/say certain things that would make me wonder, “Why is Carlino making this character so self-deprecating?” But the further I got into the story, the more I realized how relatable the characters were. This also speaks volumes as to how much growth the characters experienced from the beginning of the story to the end.

I cannot wait to dive into Carlino’s backlist after reading this one. I also read and loved Before We Were Strangers, but now that I know that she’s such a dynamic author, I would absolutely consider myself a Renée Carlino fan.

I received an ARC ebook of this story thanks to NetGally. The book caught my attention within the first few pages and it was all that I could think about, I had to know how it would end. I really enjoyed the dual POV. Reading their journey really brought to attention things that happen when you have been married for a long time and the reader is able to easily connect with the chatacters. Highly recommend this book!

I’m so glad that I was given the opportunity to read this! I loved swear on this life so I jumped at the opportunity to read another Renee Carlino book. A ‘will they won’t they’ trope will always pull me in, but the entire book was so well developed that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t handle the ending but I need to get over my self. Overall this book was amazing,such a pleasure to read. I truly can’t say enough.

hank you NetGalley for letting me read this. when this book comes out, get your hands on it !!!! i have never been so emotional while reading a book. What a beautiful story.

It’s taken me a few weeks to really let this book sink in. It was heart-wrenchingly beautiful and I didn’t want it to end. Renée Carlino knows how to write complex and relatable characters.

This was a one of a kind second chance romance which made it memorable. I saw this described as an emotional romance and that is the perfect way to put it. This Used to be Us will make you feel everything in the best way.

I am a huge Renee Carlino fan so I dove into this immediately after getting approved. I flew through it, it was super easy to read and kept me entertained the entire time wondering what was going to happen next.
The premise is extremely unique and unlike anything I've ever read before. I typically like to read about young adults and people in their 20s and 30s because I feel that I can relate to them the most, so reading about more middle aged couple in the middle of a divorce threw me off at first just because its so foreign to me. However I came to really understand how a couple could get to that point in their lives, even after being madly in love at a previous time, and I think Carlino did an excellent job of conveying that.
I wish the ending wasn't so rushed, that made me rate this lower than I would have. Both the main characters were unlikeable at parts, but I think that was important and helped me not choose a side in the divorce. Overall a really unique read that kept me entertained, not going on the favorites shelf but I feel like I learned a lot about relationships and dynamics and just overall understand divorce better and how it comes so easily these days!

I am exhausted. This Used To Be Us has brought every emotion I can think of to the surface. I felt as if I was experiencing life with Dani and Alex. There were ups and downs and a twist I could never imagine that gutted me. And I wouldn't change a thing!

Renee Carlino writes amazing and beautiful stories. This one will certainly put you through your paces - in a great way. With full disclosure I must say that I bawled at the end. And I never cry!

I absolutely recommend This Used To Be Us!

5 stars

#AuthorReneeCarlino #ThisUsedToBeUs #Dani&Alex #drama #romance #emotional

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I had high hopes for it, as I had just finished another Renee Carlino book, so I was trying to ride that excitement into this one. That wasn't the case. This wasn't the typical book from the author, and I was frustrated with the characters the whole book. There were parts of their story I connected to and did get teary eyed, and that speaks to how well of a writer Carlino is. However, I debated on DNF'ing, but wanted to give it a chance considering I like the authors previous work. By the end, I wished I had because not only was it abrupt with no glimpse into the future, but the MCs went through their whole situations for it to end up like that?! Just no.

I appreciate the ARC opportunity and look forward to future releases from the author.

GOD. I haven’t cried over a book in and while and this one did me in. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL story of marriage, the trials, and redemption. Perfectly written. Well done. I cannot think of a single thing I’d change.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

3 ⭐️

I read this book in less than a day. I think it was beautifully written and I really enjoy Renee Carlinos writing, it’s very unique. This book however was not my favorite of hers. It’s raw, it felt realistic and what I imagine divorce to be like for many people. I think this had a lot of potential to impact me emotionally because it’s a sad book, but I didn’t feel much for them because 80% of it focused on how bad their marriage was and the resentment and anger they felt toward each other. The last 10% took a massive turn and I just feel that it wrapped up way too quickly in the end. I do love how old fashioned their love felt in the happy parts, it reminded me of Before We Were Strangers which I loved. The record player notes were definitely my favorite part.

Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the arc!

Contemporary romance is always a hit or miss with me. It’s hard finding one that I really like and that keeps me reading. Sadly this wasn’t one of them.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my first ARC and to say I died of excitement seeing it was Renée Carlino’s new novel is an understatement.

It’s taken me too many Renée Carlino books to realize why I’m so absolutely obsessed with her writing style but it finally hit me like a bag of bricks on page one this time. I love happy endings. I rage when I don’t get one. I read romance for a reason so when I happen upon a “real life” ending, I die a little inside. I usually don’t allow myself to read heart-wrenching stories because I can’t possibly go through all the heartache only to be dropped off the side of a cliff when the characters part ways or die at the end. Renée sandwiches the heart-wrenching stuff in between the deliciously romantic flashbacks and it just does it for me. Every time. UGH. I will forever devour her books.

Boy oh boy am I laughing now that I’ve read this book.

THIS WAS NOT THAT TYPE OF BOOK. There were happy snippets here and there but this book was raw. You felt every moment of struggle between this couple on every single page and it definitely makes your heart ache.

This is not a fluffy book and if you need to read trigger warnings, I highly suggest you do it for this one.

I can’t say anything I want to say without giving it away but that ending had me sobbing. I do not like sobbing. But I do like Renée Carlino and, selfishly, I hope her next book is a very different story. This one was very rough for me but I still caught myself feeling every emotion these characters did. That is something Renée accomplishes with each and every book. By the end, I know the characters better than I know my own friends and that’s what makes these novels so believable and heartbreaking.

Thank you again for the ARC and for the opportunity to read this story. I will spend all my days hoping it is not an accurate depiction of someone’s reality.

I really enjoyed Renee Carlino’s writing style. As a mother and wife, this book was extremely heartbreaking. It’s not going to make you laugh out loud or swoon, but it will tug at your heartstrings.

Some of the dialogue felt a little unnatural to me and this definitely could have been wrapped up in <375 pages.

There are multiple trigger warnings that you should be aware of, if there are topics you need to avoid. I won’t list here as they will be spoilers.

4⭐️