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!

I knew this book would be heartbreaking but it was also uplifting. This book is definitely about divorce but it is about family and love. Dani and Alex have lost their way with each other in their marriage, so divorce was their option. By getting divorced, they found themselves again and maybe find their way back to each other. An important lesson is fighting for the people you love most.

Marriage is hard. And difficult. And sweet. And ever-evolving. And vibrant. Unless we pour ourselves into each other day after day, time after time, we experience a natural atrophy of kindness and consideration. I know: married 47 years.

The story narrates how perceptions of character, personality, and friendship shift with time. Can love be recaptured? As Dani and Alex consider the long investment and value of marriage and family, you'll hold your breath.

And when you finish the last page, you'll be glad you read it. Recommended for those who enjoy stories about our inner lives and relationships.

Wow, what a tearjerker. This was definitely a heavier novel, and why I am not sure I agreed at all with the ending, props to a book that can elicit that much emotion and feeling from me.

If you are looking for an "escape read", this is not it. This book isn't to escape life, but to dive right into all the messy pieces of it. The characters are so complex, it was hard to believe they weren't real. They were flawed and made mistakes, but loved each other throughout it. I loved how focused it was on the act of loving others and how that affects us as human beings. I have never liked a "second chance romance" type story until this one. This wrecked me, and I am going to take some time to recover, but thank you to Renee Carlino, NetGalley, and Random House for this beautiful ARC.

What an emotional journey😭

This story touches on the complexities of love in all its stages regarding marriage, family, and divorce. Danielle and Alex have been together for 22 years but find themselves divorcing as they fall out of love with each other. They have to co-parent two teenage sons, though, and navigate their new arrangement. It's challenging and bumpy, but it forces them to reflect on the past and rediscover themselves in the present while trying to stay apart. This is not a fluffy beach read. It's a deep story about fictional characters that feel extremely real and love. I've always been a big fan of this author and look forward to her next book!

What a world of emotions!! What happens when you grow apart? Do you stick it out or realize there’s no hope? Danielle and Alex have been together forever. But they can’t seem to get along. We are brought on a roller coaster with these two. That ending 😭

I’m a huge Renee Carlino fan and have always enjoyed all of her books, but This Used To Be Us might be my favorite from her. I absolutely loved everything about this book. This book hits pretty close to home because of all the ups & downs that we face while we are in a long term relationship. We forget to appreciate what we have until it’s gone.

This story definitely brought out every emotion possible. It was heartbreaking but so beautifully written.

This is a great love story but so sad. This book really tugs at the heartstrings. I love this author and all her books. The ending of the book is perfect and makes you think about what is really important in life. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

🥹🥲😭
Several people mentioned their feelings on this ending to me, which didn’t necessarily spoil it, but made me anticipate what I assumed would happen before I even got started.. sadly, I was correct. Wooh. 3/3 books of Carlino’s that have made me cry.
I loved both Swear on This Life, and Before We Were Strangers; gave them both 5 stars and still think about them to this day; this one wasn’t quiteeee as good, for me, but I did really enjoy it. I think it would’ve been a 5 star if we would’ve gotten more chapters of relationship development, love, & just getting to know the characters a bit more deeply (versus mostly chapters on their pending divorce, hardships, fights, etc.). I think it would’ve allowed me to emotionally connect to the MCs more, which is what I need for a book of this genre to be *perfect.*

Will post on Instagram soon!!