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⭐️

Renée Carlino has done it again with her latest novel, This Used to Be Us! From the very first page, this captivating book had me hooked with its moving story. Renée Carlino is a true master at writing romance novel that stay with long after you've finished. Her novels have a way of taking readers on an emotional rollercoaster, and This Used to Be Us is no exception.

I finished reading This Used to Be Us early in the year, and I knew right away that it would be one of my top favorite romance novels of 2024. Renée Carlino has once again outdone herself with this magnificent novel. As a fan of her work, I went into this book blindly, and I am so glad that I did because it surpassed all my expectations.

Whether you are a casual reader or an avid one, you don't want to miss out on this fantastic novel that deserves a spot on everyone's reading list. I highly recommend This Used to Be Us to anyone who loves a good romance with a strong emotional pull. I can't wait for Renée Carlino's next masterpiece!

I am a huge Renee Carlino fan! After reading Before we were strangers I did a deep dive and read most of her books.

This one follows a couple in duel POVs with flashbacks. Like all of her books this one is highly emotional and character driven. It was refreshing reading a novel about characters in their forties. Though I do wish we had gotten a bit more of the happy "before" times.

Thanks so much for the ARC.

Renée Carlino has written a heart wrenching story of being young falling head over heels in love and getting married.Then as we turn the pages years pass their in their forties and filing for divorce,True emotions nasty arguments love turns to turmoil,a book to read with tissues by your side.Will be catching up with other books by this author.#netgalley #randomhouse

Who doesn’t love a good break up story? This Used To Be Us is an emotional roller coaster ride that will have you feeling all of the feels. This was my first book by Renee Carlino & I immediately fell in love with her unmatched storytelling ability. It was such a breath of fresh air to see main characters in their 40s & I think this will make this story appealing & very relatable for a wide audience. Be warned though - this one will guarantee a good cry. I can’t recommend this book enough!!

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group- Random House for an ARC copy of this book.

Renee Carlino's storytelling skills shine brightly once again in her next release. As a committed Renee Carlino fan, l've always turned to her books for an emotional experience, and this one did not disappoint.

In This Used to Be Us, Dani and Alex find themselves at a crossroads in their marriage, grappling with the painful decision to end it. However, their commitment to co-parenting leads them to a unique arrangement: sharing an apartment where they can still be present for their children, albeit separately. It's a concept that intrigued me.

Throughout the book, Carlino skillfully portrays Dani and Alex's raw emotions, allowing readers to feel their struggles and perspectives. The alternating viewpoints provide insight into the interworkings of their relationship, making the journey all the more compelling.

As I continued to read and became a part of their story, Renee Carlino's storytelling tugged at my heartstrings, breaking me apart and piecing me back together with each turn of the page. This Used to be Us captures the essence of second chances, highlighting the imperfections in marriage, parenthood, and the human experience. It was profoundly relatable and stayed with me long after the final chapter.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and my goodness, did it live up to my expectations.

Renee Carlino is one of my most favorite storytellers. And while she generally has written incredibly emotional romances, This Used to be Us shines brighter than all her others... and that's saying something because Swear on This Life has been a top read of mine since the day it released!

This Used to be Us brings us Dani and Alex. After 22 years together, they are filing for divorce. They have a "nest" apartment they share when they are splitting their time with their children. From there, we are taken on an incredibly relatable journey through falling in love, marriage, career successes and failures, parenthood, and even forgiveness and second chances.

I don't want to give anything away as I think everyone needs to experience this story from beginning to end. And while the journey through this story was my favorite part, I still appreciated the ending. The dual perspectives added such an essential layer to the story and the interworkings of Dani and Alex's relationship.

Renee Carlino just leaves her mark with another beautifully compelling story that will hit you in all of the feels, and with those characters sitting in their 40s, I was completely pulled in by just how incredibly relatable this story was. This story really sat with me long after I finished reading. I highly recommend.

⭐️ 4.5

Wow. I thought the first 75% of this book was pretty solid. But the last 25%? It absolutely ruined me. What a beautiful book that encapsulates the duality of relationships — both the messiness and the beauty.

This book will stick with me for a long time and I cannot recommend it enough. Just be prepared and have your tissues ready!

I am not sure how I want to rate this book, I have so many thoughts! First off, I really appreciated characters in their 40s, I read so many with the main characters in their 20s. This is a second chance romance, so you know what you are going into when you start it. Dani and Alex are getting divorced, they have a messy, heartbreaking history and two sons they are trying to do right by, so I understand and found interesting their arrangement with the shared home and nesting apartment. There were times I didn’t really care for either character, but they came back around for me. Bits of the book dragged in the mundane, but I did feel like I got to know everyone really well and see the complicated depth there. I LOVED the bits of writing in the albums we got to see, and the overall flow of the book.

But then we got to near the end and it took a turn. And I am not sure how I feel about that turn!?!? I didn’t love it. I wish it was different. I can appreciate that it didn’t go where I thought the book was heading. But again, it wasn’t my favorite either. I am curious to hear what you think if you have read it!

Bottom Line: Read it.

This one comes out July 9, 2024

**I received a copy of This Used to Be Us from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

This Used to Be Us is my 4th Renée Carlino book. I’ve loved every book of hers that I’ve read and this book was honestly no exception. However, at times because of the subject matter, it was really hard for me to read. It was raw and real and honest and heart wrenching. I loved it!

A huge thank you to Random House, Renée Carlino, and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange of my honest review.

I’ve been a huge fan of Renee Carlino for many years and have read just about every novel she’s written. I was so beyond excited when I found out she was almost finished a new book and even more ecstatic when I was approved to read an ARC!

When I read Renee’s novels, the characters come to life so much that I feel as though I’m watching a film. She has this beautiful way of writing that makes me see everyone and everything so clearly that I forget I’m reading a book.

This Used to Be Us was no exception. To be honest, when I read the premise of the book I wasn’t too sure about it initially. However, I knew that with Renee writing it, there’s no way I could possibly dislike it. After finishing it today, that couldn’t be more of an understatement.

Being a child of divorce myself, I wasn’t sure how experiencing Alex & Dani’s impending divorce would affect me. I remember much of my parents divorce, but seeing it through the lens of a 5 year old is very different than experiencing it as an adult. This book was such a real, heartbreaking, and sometimes even infuriating testament of what navigating a divorce must feel like. I found myself really invested in this relationship from the beginning and was blow away by the evolution of all the characters that takes place.

This Used to Be Us will make you feel such a span of emotions. It’s heartfelt, poignant, sometimes frustrating, sometimes raw and absolutely stunning. I loved it so much that I jumped on here to write my review with the tears still fresh on my face. Thank you, Renee, for another brilliantly beautiful novel! And so many thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for allowing me the honor of reading the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to @thedialpress @randomhouse and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 7/9/24.

This was definitely a heart-wrenching romance novel that left me in tears. The story felt so real and raw, and I could feel every emotion the main characters and their children felt. Definitely grab the tissues and a glass of wine for this book, as I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to this story, whether it's from the children's side or the parents.

Dani and Alex were the perfect couple until they weren't. They had the perfect marriage, house, careers, and kids. After 22 years of marriage, they decide it's time to divorce. I loved how the story was told through both Dani and Alex, and we were able to get both their POVs. I will definitely be reading more of Renee's books in the future.

This Used To Be Us is the perfect contemporary romance that really balances lighthearted topics as well as serious ones. This book made me emotional and i absolutely love that in all of Renee Carlino’s books. I preordered the physical copy because i am in love with this story. Please please pick this book up on release day!