Ugh-This book started off strong. But, WHAT was the ending?! I was so bummed by it. The story follows Alex and Dani, a couple that have been together for twenty years. Their marriage has finally reached it's breaking point and the couple decide to divorce. To make things easier for everyone, they rent an apartment that they take turns staying at when one parent isn't with the kids in order to keep their children in the childhood home.

Listen, first of all Dani annoyed the heck out of me! WHY ARE YOU CRYING so much? Literally this chick cried constantly. Alex was just a jerk. Neither of them communicated well at all. Idk- I was a bit disappointed in this one. The end was just-abrupt!

I wasn’t ready for the heartbreak this story brings. It really unleashed a whirlwind of emotions for me. This is far from a light read; it's intense and be sure to check for any trigger warnings. And yes, you'll need a Costco-sized box of tissues.

This isn’t your typical love story. It's about losing yourself during a divorce and then rediscovering who you are beyond the roles of parent or spouse and understanding what initially drew you to each other. I found the characters incredibly relatable, as if I were witnessing someone I knew navigating this complex dynamic. Renee Carlino masterfully guides you through a profound emotional journey, making each feeling resonate deeply with every page. I only wish we could have seen more of Dani and Alex's younger selves and their initial romance. We got occasional glimpses, but their love story was so enchanting that I wanted more. Their passion was magnetic, even as they worked through their new reality post-divorce.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.

My expectations were different based on other Carlino books that I have read. I can appreciate the realness and the raw truth that comes from two people when their marriage is falling apart. But this was just plain sad and depressing. I would have loved more flashbacks to temper the present day disgust these two characters felt for each other. Tough to get through for me.

Renee Carlino is an author I've been wanting to read more by (after only reading Blind Kiss), and having a few of them on my bookshelves. This Used to Be Us really caught my eye when I read the synopsis because I don't think I've ever read a book like this. Reading about a couple after they divorce after over 20 years of marriage.

Alex and Danielle just can't seem to get along anymore, and it seems to be a pile of things that just pushed them both too far. This Used to Be Us is told in dual POV and feels realistic and raw. I have to say at certain moments I didn't like either one of the main characters, and I felt that was fitting for this story. It was interesting see both of them try and get into a new normal after their divorce and all of their history. Add in some looking back at their marriage and happy moments, and I was really hoping they'd find each other again.

This Used to Be Us seemed to be heading in a direction I was expecting and then took a turn and hit me in all the feels. I can tell you I wasn't expecting to be tearing up as I finished this book. Renee Carlino has such a way with words and how she creates her characters, and I know I'll be thinking about Alex and Danielle for a very long time. One of my favorite elements was they way music played a role in this story. Music is an outlet for me, and I loved how it connected everything in this story.

This Used to Be Us is a book you should go in and experience for yourself because the journey of both characters is quite the read. I'll definitely catch up with Renee Carlino's backlist!

My review will also be posted on https://thebookdutchesses.com on September 28th.

I am a huge Renee Carlino fan and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to have read the ARC of This Used To Be Us. At times laugh-out-loud funny and at times rip-your-heart-out devastating, this is an honest look at a beautiful marriage and what happens when it falls apart.

Dani is a passionate, vibrant writer, wife and mother who wears her heart on her sleeve. Alex still loves Dani but struggles to show any emotion. They mutually decide to separate and co-parent their wise-beyond-their-years boys, but the logistics are much easier on paper. Dating disasters, miscommunication, and surprisingly hilarious brushes with the law become part of their everyday lives. Will their time apart show that not all seemingly perfect marriages are meant to last, or will it bring them back together?

Get ready with a box of tissues -or two- to devour this modern classic in one sitting. Music lovers will especially love the role that songs play throughout the timeline of Alex and Dani's relationship. Five stars and a big thank you to NetGalley.

I never go into books blind so I knew this was going to be an emotional read and it certainly delivers on that front, but what I loved most was the realness of the story and characters - Alex and Dani are characters that I felt like I could have known in real life . The writing and character development was great and I loved how memories of their early relationship were shared through music. As for the ending while I was prepared for it, it still surprised me. Also, I thought the ending was very rushed.

Overall, this was a great read that hooked me from start to finish.

I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of Renee Carlino’s latest release, This Used to Be Us, especially after hearing such wonderful things about her previous book, Before We Were Strangers. However, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The story centers around a couple dealing with marital issues and divorce, and unfortunately, it felt like I was stuck in the middle of their constant fighting for the majority of the book. By the time I reached 60%, it was still all about the arguments, which became quite exhausting. The ending also left me baffled and unsatisfied. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback, and Renee Carlino for the eARC.

This Used to Be Us is out now.

Absolutely not!!!!! This was awful on so many levels. Toxic relationship taken to the next level. No. I can’t with good conscience even finish this book. It was a DNF

Possible spoilers……..

What a unique love story! It starts with a divorce, and the reader tries to figure out what happened along with the main characters, Dani & Alex. Why did they fall out of love? Where do they go from here? Now that they’ve grown apart, they have the ability to be more objective about themselves and the relationship. And maybe find their way back to each other.
I didn’t love the ending, but this is a love story, not a romance. I would still recommend this powerful, emotional story.

Oh my heavens. This is a book that shows how easily miscommunication and misunderstandings can happen in a marriage not to mention most relationships. This is a book that will rip your heart out and stomp on it. While sitting on a cruise deck, I was trying desperately not to sob too loudly and draw attention to myself.

I will say that Carlino has earned my readership with This Used to Be Us.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read most of Carlino’s backlist and she never disappoints! Her books are romances but with such heart. Rom-com’s have their place but sometimes I want a romance that is reflective of real life. Where I can connect with the characters and what they are going through and this is what she does best!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸:
Alex and Danielle have divorced after 22 years of marriage and decide to get a nesting apartment, a place where one of them stays while the other is home their boys. It is here in their apartment that they start to find themselves again and wonder if it is too late for a second chance.

What I Loved:
❤️I appreciated the reality of this book and that marriage is not perfect but that perfection can be found in unexpected places

❤️The songs!! I loved how Carlino uses music to connect the past and present and how Alex and Danielle each had their own memories tied to certain songs. This really let us know each character as individuals.

❤️The history between Danielle and Alex. You could feel the love they once had for each other and sometimes it just takes some time apart to remember that the good will always out way the bad.

Get your tissues ready and prepare your heart because this book is definitely worth investing time into. If you like Kennedy Ryan’s type of storytelling this one will be for you!

This Used to be Us is an story about forgiveness and second chances. Told from both Dani‘s and Alex’s point of view, the story takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions, from petty fights and deep hurt, to remembering what love used to look like, self-reflection and forgiveness.
The story pulled me in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. It was a 4-star read for me.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and to Netgalley for my ARC.

In the aftermath of their twenty-two-year marriage, Danielle and Alex navigate divorce by sharing an apartment while co-parenting their teenage sons. As they reenter the dating world and pursue new paths, unexpected circumstances draw them back together, challenging them to confront their history and redefine their future in a heartrending conclusion.

I’ve long been a fan of Renee Carlino and her books always leave me a sobbing mess. Naturally, This Used to be Us was no exception. Though tedious and frustrating at times, I loved the relationship between Danielle and Alex. I enjoyed watching them navigate their chaotic divorce and ultimately figure out what’s next.

If you are a fan of second chance, divorce romances, this book is for you. But consider yourself warned, it’s a tearjerker.

Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I read and loved so many of Carlino's books years ago, so when I saw that she had finally written another one, I could not have been more excited and jumped at the chance to read an ARC. Wow, just wow on this one!

I had forgotten how gut-wrenching and real all of her books are until I got pretty far into this one. It dives super deep into the lives of a couple in the midst of their divorce, showing both sides in alternating perspectives, while also going back in time and showing snippets of the best times of their lives together when they were still very much in love.

Simply put, this book was fantastic. The storytelling was unique, the characters felt so incredibly real to me, the dialogue was absolutely on point, and I just couldn't put it down. Did it make me feel very sad at times? Yes! Did it absolutely break my heart in multiple ways, multiple times? Also, yes! Was it all worth it to read this incredible love story? Absolutely! Read this if you want to dive deep into a family drama/romance and feel all the feels!

4! Renee Carlino!!! She is a mastermind and there is not a single book of hers that I do not enjoy. This was an emotional rollercoaster and I honestly am traumatized by this book but all in a good way! If you're looking for something painstakingly beautiful, you must read!

Thank You to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for this eARC

It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once I was in, I really enjoyed it. It felt real and raw, how a divorce would go with a couple who had been married over 20 years. The only thing I didn’t like was how quickly everything happened in the end. It was wrapped up way too fast after spending an entire book over just a short period of time. I wish the ending would’ve been different, then I probably would’ve bumped it up to 5 stars. Thanks NETGALLEY for the ARC!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you!

I haven't read a Renee Carlino novel in a while, but I'm glad I picked this one up. I appreciated reading about a couple in their 40s, and I thought the feelings of Alex and Dani were so well written. It sucked me in, and I really wanted to know what happened to them. The character development was beautiful. I saw the twist coming, but I didn't quite know what it was about, and it wasn't my favorite ending for this story, but I think it did work for this novel.

This Used to Be Us was a roller coaster of emotion and I thought that I was ready for it but clearly I wasn’t.
I went through a range of emotions throughout Danielle and Alex’s story. From the beginning until the final chapter.

The story alternates between past and present, showing how they went from being someone’s everything, to being each other’s enemies.

None of the characters were likable to me but the author managed to underline the challenges of married life, somehow along the way, Danielle and Alex got lost, tried to fight and it wasn’t enough. No one is perfect in a relationship. Somehow it could resonate with me.

I felt the complexity of their relationship throughout the ups and downs, loving each other still but having a fierce battle of hating the other at the same time. Certainly no easy ride. However, I've tried to explore it and I did finish this book emotionally drained.

I had mixed feelings mostly for not being connected with the characters in spite of good storytelling. Heartbreaking from the beginning to the end. After taking some time to process my thoughts, I might not have it another way but I wished for more development, especially towards the final chapters.
It felt rushed to me.

Nonetheless, Renee Carlino is still a favorite author of mine.

After reading some reviews, I don't think my heart could handle this book. At least not at the moment, I'll be shelving this book for now and hoping to come back to it in the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to read. Hoping to be at a better place to read this one.

You all know my rule, right? If a book makes me cry, it immediately gets 5/5 stars. Simple as that. Some people ask me why this is. What is my reasoning behind it? If an author’s words can bring me to tears, then they’re obviously doing something right. If they can craft and develop characters that I grow to love and care about, that’s a big plus for me. That’s true talent right there. And honestly, THIS USED TO BE US by Renée Carlino would’ve received 5/5 stars anyways—no tears required. It was just that good.

THIS USED TO BE US is an emotional story about a couple in their 40s, and shows how their relationship grows, evolves, and completely changes over decades spent together. If you’ve been with your partner for a long time, chances are very high that you’ll relate to a lot of this. These characters really pulled at my heartstrings. I could feel everything that they were feeling, even though I didn’t necessarily relate to all of their experiences. Alex and Dani were both frustrating AF at times, but that’s what made me love them so much. They were raw, real, and oh so refreshing to read about.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Marriage and divorce stories
- Complicated relationships
- Family drama and dynamics
- Reflections on motherhood
- Emotional reads
- Epic love stories
- Second chances
- Well-developed characters
- Self-discovery
- Tween/teenage behavior
- Music and TV references

Every now and then, a reader finds a writer who they completely mesh with, and Carlino is definitely that writer for me. This is the second book that I’ve read (and loved) from the author, so I’ll definitely be checking out her backlist. I just love her style.

5/5 fantastic stars for THIS USED TO BE US! It’s out now!