Dani and Alex had it all, great careers, wonderful kids, a nice house, and their dog, Louie Louie. But somewhere along the way, everything they loved about each other seemed to now be causing them turmoil.

I've read a few Renée Carlino books in the past and adored them, so I figured this was a no-brainer. Boy, was I wrong...

Right off the bat, every character in this book was unlikable, especially the MC's (but I imagine that was the point). The story really just trudged along as the couple goes further down the road to resentment with each other and acted like children. I'm a product of divorce, so I know this happens, but man, it was just dragged out and sometimes hard to push through.

At about 90% through, I figured it would end a certain way, but Carlino had other plans and pulled out such a heartbreaking twist. Normally, I would be all for that, but the characters had all been through such nightmares already. It really just felt unneeded (especially since it made me overly emotional).

I did finish the book, but I almost felt like I wasn't the target demographic, and that's why I couldn't love it. I won't rule out any of her future novels, but this one was only 2.5/5 for me (rounded to 3 on GR).

Read this if you like:
•second chance romances
•marriage in crisis
•emotional romance

Getting divorced after a 22 year marriage and all that comes with that. This book was a slow burn and I do feel like the book wrapped up too quickly in 3 short chapters. If you love an emotional romance, this one is for you!

Thank you Dial Press for eARC!

Good book that has a solid story in its pages. I liked the way the author laid the story out for the reader.

Thank you to Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Renee Carlino is one of my top authors, and her books are always a must-read. This Used to Be Us did not disappoint me! It was full of dual perspectives and emotional roller coasters, which are Carlino's bread and butter.

Alex and Danielle have gone through many challenges together, but for some reason, a build-up of many leads to a divorce. The two are at each other's throats until they finally call it quits, but they have the boys to think about within all the mess of things. Without truly being able to step away, the two are given space to reflect on the years that they were together.

Carlino pulled at my heartstrings because she made each of the characters so real and relatable. Relationships are not easy, and sometimes, you can get lost along the way. However, There's always a chance to find your way back to each other in some way or another if you want it enough.

Dani and Alex’s story had me both laughing and sobbing. This book chronicles their divorce, including how it impacts their sons and friends/family. I loved the dual POV and some tropes (like miscommunication) didn’t annoy me as much. It was so incredibly relatable in many ways, and the ending was both beautiful and tragic. I will say it can be triggering for anyone who has experience loss; it definitely was for me.

I'm such a HUGE fan of Renee Carlino's past work so I couldn't help but request this and pray that I actually get approved. Now combine Renee and second chance romance and what you have is a great book! Dani and Alex have been married for twenty years and their marriage is falling apart. Instead of working on their issues, the pair come to the decision to share a nesting apartment which avoids raising their two sons in a broken home. During this time, the pair reflect on how their marriage fell apart. This book will make you feel every emotion possible. I loved the dual POV because you're not just getting a one sided perspective on why their marriage fell apart. You get both sides of the story and where they differ. Just a beautiful story. Trying to avoid spoilers but I do suggest that everyone give this raw and emotional story a try.

This author always knows how to break my heart!!! I have to admit, it’s not uplifting and I almost stopped reading, but then I kept going and got invested. It was so darn sad, but I really enjoyed Dani and Alex’s story 😭

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for my e advance copy in exchange for my honest review

Publish date: July 9, 2024

Before We Were Strangers is one of my favorite romance books. I was thrilled to receive an ARC of This Used to Be Us. Renee Carlino knows how to write romance with raw emotions. I didn't want to put this down! She has a way of making the characters authentic and relatable.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good! It made me appreciate my husband so much more and shows you what it means to have your person. The ending made me sob while holding my newborn and truly made me appreciate my children and the life I have. Wonderful 5 star read!

not so thankful to netgalley for the early copy of this one - this book was good but also traumatizing.

Thank you NetGalley for this book! I absolutely loved this story. I was not expecting the ending it had me in TEARS but it truly was an amazing story and I loved everything about it. It showed how short life can be and to cherish your loved ones. Immediate 5 stars!!!

Renee Carlino is really such a stellar author, and while this wasn't the easiest book to read due to the heavy emotions, it's very well-written. You may need tissues, I know I did, as you journey through the ups and downs of a marriage in crisis. I think this will be received well by our patrons so we will be purchasing for the collection.

As of today this is my favorite book of the year.


This story follows Dani and alex. Through love, loss, heartbreak, and giving yourself a second chance these characters go on an unbelievable journey to find what is really important in the end.

I have laughed, gasped, sobbed my way through this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the privilege of reading a Renee Carlino book

Calling all COHO fans , this is a read for you !! Trust me when I say you will Devour this book!!

"I was so impressed by her, so enamored, even though she was never trying to impress me. She was literally just being in the moment. She was authentic and that's what I loved."

This Used to Be Us is a beautifully written story about new beginnings ,marriage struggles , divorce ,loss and hope.

Dani and Alex had everything going for them and a beautiful love for one another , nothing could tear them apart . Until 20 years later, married with two sons and things are falling apart ... and they couldn't hate each other more. For the sake of boys they decide to try the "bird -nesting approach " and get an apartment that Dani and Lexi will take turns staying in while the other stays at the house raising the boys with as little impact and disruption as possible to their lives .

This story will pull at your heart strings and will make you smile too !

So grab your favorite comfy chair and mug of tea , put a record on and light a candle , because you will be busy savoring this sweet little love story !!

Now if you feel this story is familiar , I did too. I could not stop thinking about Before I Let go the entire time !

Trigger warnings for some around miscarriage's.

Thank you so much Netgalley , Random House and Renee Carlino for this endearing ARC Read!

This was the best book I have read so far this year! I loved how the story alternated being told by Dani and Alex. Their love story hooked me in right away and I couldn’t stop reading. This book made me laugh and made me cry. I don’t want to say too much and risk spoiling it. But please, please, do yourself a favor and read this novel.

#ThisUsedToBeUs #NetGalley
After twenty-two years together, Danielle and Alex are getting a divorce. Once fiercely in love, they can barely stand the sound of each other’s voice. Instead of shuttling the kids between two broken homes, Alex and Dani decide to share a nesting apartment while swapping days with their two teenage boys at the family home. In the apartment, Dani and Alex, on their own, begin to reflect on the last two decades—why they fell in love and why the marriage fell, spectacularly, apart. With the newfound space and time, they are given a chance to rediscover their autonomous selves again. They both get back in the dating pool. Dani finds major success at work as a showrunner on her own TV project, while Alex faces the challenges of a new relationship. Still, they find that they just can’t stay away from each other, and somehow, the distance allows them to remember (for the first time in years) what each used to love about the other. When a family crisis draws them back into each other’s orbit, Dani and Alex are once again put to the test, which leads to a dramatic conclusion that will have readers weeping.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me an advance copy.

5 STARS for this book.

I've been married for 23 years and I felt like this was a real and heart wrenching description and depiction of a marriage with kids, and the damage that partners can do to each other, the roles they take on and the assumptions that are made about each other - I believed everything about taking space and seeing each other differently with some distance and making new realizations. It was raw, it was real and it was all believable.

I SOBBED through the last chapter - literally had tears falling on my iPad as I identified with Dani and her speaking to her boys and giving Andrew advice for the future.

Absolutely a fabulous book.

RENEE! Oh my heart. 😭

I was sucked into this one from the very beginning. A couple going through a divorce and figuring out how to navigate co-parenting, dating, and just being around each other in general. I found the story to be very real and raw and relatable for anyone that has been through a divorce.

As someone who has, I felt so much for Dani throughout the story. And Alex, while in some ways a “typical” guy, he really grew on me each chapter. I couldn’t decide if I wanted them back together or if I just wanted them to get along and find their “person.” And I love that the story was written in a way that I would be happy with either scenario.

The end shocked me. To be honest, I feel like it came out of left field completely BUT I felt so many things and bawled my eyes out. The story as a whole was just beautifully written and I truly hope people pick this one up when it comes out because it needs to be experienced.

Thank you so much to Renee, Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to check this one out. It has already earned its way into one of my favorites for the year.

This book was hard to put down. So many emotions hit me as I read this book. Divorce is never an easy subject. I found myself going down a rabbit hole with this book. I wanted a happy ending for Dani and Alex. They were such great characters, I felt like they a couple I once knew. I liked how the story went back and forth from past to present. I liked the idea of Dani writing on the album covers,that is something I wished that I had thought of years ago. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Have your tissues read.

This Used To Be Us!!!!

An Outstanding Masterpiece!!!!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of This Used To Be Us!

I absolutely LOVED this book! What a masterpiece with all the feels. This is a gut wrenching story that will stay with me for a very long time!

I enjoyed Dani and Alex’s journey from beginning to end! I felt this book in my soul!
I could relate to what transpired in the relationship and how the pieces fell apart.

I don’t want to say too much or give away any spoilers. This is a guaranteed tear jerker with so many emotions.

I gave this book 5 stars! If I could give more I would!

Well done Renee Carlino!