I am a big fan of Renee Carlino’s writing and this book felt long overdue. The title kind of gave me an idea what this story is about. It takes two to tango in love and the dead of a marriage. This story followed Dani and Alex who have been married for 22 years. Once madly in love now they can barely stand being around each other. The only thing they have in common now is the love for their two sons. They wanted to make the transition as smooth as possible for the boys while moving on with their life. Dani blossomed with her career and Alex is navigating a new relationship after decades of being married. When a family crisis happened, will it distant Dani and Alex forever or will it draw the back together?
This story is definitely not rainbow and sunshine – very little happy love story between these two. The majority of the book is about Dani and Alex reflecting on the last two decades, how they fell in love and mostly how they grew apart. There are a lot of blames to go around. No one is perfect. What I like is that this story is relatable, realistic, raw and emotional. Sure maybe not everyone is divorced but we can all relate at some level – we are individual and we do grow and change sometimes together, sometimes apart. The last part of the book threw me for a loop – I can see where the author was continuing the “realistic” theme but I just wish it didn’t end that way. Dani and Alex’s story is a real portray of love, lost, romance, heartbreak and how you can grow from it. Beautifully written.

I think I am not really a fan of marriage in crisis books for the most part... however I am a fan of Renee so I wanted to give this one a chance. Both main characters were pretty miserable for the first part of the book and it was difficult to enjoy because of that. I could have used some more stories about them falling in love in the first place to give me a reason to root for them. I was actually ok with the ending unlike a lot of readers. Not my fave of hers but thats largely because its not a trope I enjoy often.

I loved this book! Until the ending. Listen, I love imperfect messy characters which was the epitome of Dani and Alex with the trope of marriage in crises but the ending came out of left field and felt VERY rushed to tie up all the loose ends. Terribly unfortunate the book wasn't for me but I can see others loving it. I will always pick up a Renee Carlino book and looking forward to what she comes out with next.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a beautiful love story about the ups and downs of a marriage. I loved all the peeks into their lives before the divorce. The characters were relatable, and this was a unique take on a love story. We don’t always get a story about after the happily ever after.

✨ 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞
💔 Second chance romances
💔 “This book will destroy you” type reads
💔 The author Colleen Hoover
💔 Dual POVs
💔 Books that make having tissues nearby a necessity
💔 MCs in their 40s
💔 Books about a marriage in crisis

So happy to have Renee back! I think this is her best yet!!! I absolutely loved every second of it!! Tears, laughter and love!

An entirely bingeable read that will leave you feeling understood, emotional and vulnerable.

Renee Carlino crafted an emotionally charged read that focuses on second chances, losing and finding yourself & your partner, loving life, falling back in love and the importance of the people in your life.

Dani and Alex were once disgustingly in love, the IT couple. Life, changes and loss have gotten in the way of that love and now they’re bitter, feeling alone in their marriage and constantly finding fault with each other. Their divorce is finalized, and an agreeable arrangement is made to split their time with their kids. In their newfound spaces there is time for reflection, rediscovery and dating. However, Dani and Alex are constantly reminded of each other, the memories they share and their love. Despite the years of therapists, and counselling they attempted- the finality, severity and space of a divorce was what made them realize how much they still loved each other and their own faults within their relationship.

Thankfully, Dani and Alex were able to come to this realization in time to face devastating news together. Through their struggle, resilience and love they were able to show their children how to overcome adversity, and live life to its fullest.

I will say I didn’t love the ending. It felt rushed in comparison to the rest of the book, but it was still very enjoyable.

Thank you @netgalley and @dialpress for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This Used To Be Us is set to be published July 9/2024.

3.5⭐️
Renee Carlino always writes a story that moves you. This Used to be us is no different and puts you on an emotional roller coaster throughout the book. This story is a slow burn and the story felt like it dragged on longer than necessary, although when it came to the ending, I felt it was rushed.
This is about Dani and Alex who decide after 22 years of marriage to divorce and now have to learn to navigate their lives and raise their two boys. The story switches from past and present and is told from both Dani and Alex.
Thank you so much Netgalley , Random House and Renee Carlino for this ARC!

Renee Carlino writes books with heart and soul in them-the joyfulness, the sadness, and the anger. She translates emotion into a real feeling that you experience while reading. This is an exceptional novel telling the story of a married couple whose relationship has eroded over time and fallen into daily conflict and resentment. The beauty of the story is in the way they learn about themselves and of the love they once held dear.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group & NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 review rounded down.

This one will send you on the most emotional rollercoaster of a divorce between two people on the brink of destroying each other in every way. Being together for so long, 22 years, the marriage struggles to move forward due to the lack of true communication and their kids.

Be prepared to feel every emotion.

I didn’t like this as much because of the degrading way the couple acted towards each other. The lack of communication really stopped it from being a 4 star read for me.

ғɪɴᴀʟ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★/5
sᴜʙ ɢᴇɴʀᴇs/ᴛʀᴏᴘᴇs:
• marriage in
• second chance
• emotional

𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 (𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲):
I’m so lucky to have been sent an ARC of this book early in January thanks to Random House Publishing. It’s one of my highlights of this year✨.

This book reminded me how much I love Renée’s writing and her characters. Each story just keeps getting better and better and with every read I learn something new💕.

This story is so heart-rendering and an absolute tearjerker (Renée never fails to make me cry). The journey Danielle and Alex go through is so moving and unexpected, one that just keeps you wanting to know more💓. It’s utterly emotional and an experience of itself. I have no idea how I got through it but I survived the emotional turmoil I lived while reading it. Seriously, I COULD NOT STOP CRYING😭😭. Your girl woke up with big puffy red eyes the next morning.

Going straight to my top reads of 2024!🩷

Thank you to Random House, Dial Press, and NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.
Yesterday I posted a review for a book that made me smile and laugh. Today I'm continuing the emotional reads by posting one that made me CRY. Happy publication day to This Used to Be Us - an moving book that dives into a couple breaking up and divorcing after 22 years together.
I recently read the author’s Before We Were Strangers, after having it recommended to me by a number of students and fellow book lovers. If you enjoy emotional reads that really get you in the feels, I highly recommend this book, her first release in five years.
Music plays a big role in the book, and I found myself turning on music to keep me company while reading this on my couch with this box of tissues.
It’s easy for the reader to get sucked into Dani and Alex’s story, as this dual POV is beautifully written and feels extremely relatable. After some short vignettes from prior years, the book picks up in the present as the couple are in the midst of facilitating their break-up. At first it’s hard to see how the two could have gone from being as in-love as they were in the earlier clips to being as hurt and angry as they are. But isn't that what happens in life? It’s not always evident where things are going until it’s gotten to a point of no return. Plenty of background is filled in as the book continues, and it feels realistic as they work to move on to a place where each can feel happy alone but keep their two sons feeling loved by both. The best words to describe it are raw and vulnerable. I felt like I was right there with Dani and Alex, and the final few chapters caused me to really sob - I had quite the ugly cry
My recommendation - grab a box of tissues for this one. There are some heavy topics in this one - I was surprised no content guidance was included.
Content Warnings: Miscarriage and Terminal Illness
If you have any hesitations on picking this one up due to content, please reach out to me for further information.

This book was a beautiful story of love, divorce, and how to love others in your life well while also loving yourself. The intricacy of the relationships made this story so much more than a simply story about divorce. This made me look at divorce from such a deeper, more insightful perspective as opposed to someone looking from the outside in. This book is the epitome of the quote, “this is your parents first time living too.” Such an enjoyable and and inspiring read on life, love, and how to love.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group for an early ARC through NetGalley!

This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful. I will admit it took a little bit for me to get into the story and connect with the two main characters but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. The story between Danny and Alex is beautiful and heartbreaking and everything in between. This was so well written, and I wish I could jump back into this world.

I loved this book until i got to the 92% mark. I loved both main characters so much and was rooting for them the entire time. The ending was something I truly hated and wish it ended differently. This went from being a 5 star book to a 3.75.

It’s so hard to read these books where marriage is in turmoil. They just tug at my heart! Renee Carlino has this ability to break your heart and put it back together and I’m excited every time she has a new book coming out.

The book starts off with a couple blissfully in love and you can’t imagine how things could possible go so far off the rails. What was really beautiful was watching them find their way back to one another.

As per Renee Carlino’s typical fashion, things do flip on their heads and will surprise you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This Used To Be Us
🗓️ 07/09/2024

Apparently @reneecarlino1 is known for gut wrenching reads and this one is no different.
Alex and Danielle’s story is about falling in love. Believing you will spend the rest of your life with that one person. Falling out of love and finding yourself while falling in love again. I think every married couple can relate to scenarios in this book. No marriage is perfect. Similar to After I do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this book makes you think.

Read if you like:
•Mature Romances. Both main characters over 40.
•Dual Perspectives. There is always two sides to every story.
•Second Chances
•If you need a good cry

Thank you @netgalley and @random for an early release copy in exchange for an honest review.

#thisusedtobeus #netgalley #randomhousepublishing #netgalleyreview #eARC #kindlereads #newrelease #reneecarlino #bookstagram

I loved Before We Were Strangers so I was thrilled to open This Used to Be Us by Renée Carlino.
This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions...it totally captivated me.
Read this in one sitting, simply unputdownable!

Thank You NetGalley and Random House | Dial Press Trade for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I absolutely loved this story!! This Used To Be Us is a story about two people who fell in love but over the course of twenty years the love is lost, needs rekindling to the fire. Dani and Alex’s story felt so raw, real, relatable. Married for over twenty years, kids and suddenly divorce. It’s heartbreaking, but a chance for second chance love. A chance of finding yourself again, a chance at second chances, life after divorce. I really enjoyed being able to have dual perspective on this. We get both Alex and Dani’s point of view while going through this divorce and how each other perceives the situation. There is always two sides to every story. Renee Carolino gets me every time with these emotional stories.

How in the world do you explain that a story mainly focused on a couple’s divorce is a deeply moving love story? That even if divorce isn’t part of your own story, so many of their hardest seasons, both individually and those shared as a couple, felt so relatable and familiar? As we navigate the dissolution of their marriage, we are learning of their love story. Slowly the hardest parts of their lives are revealed to us, and it’s easy (as a reader) to see where the anger, bitterness, and distance begin. But again, we still very much feel their love for one another because maybe after 22 years, even your anger, frustrations, and (sometimes) hate, are mixed up with the love.

A couple of things I couldn’t stop thinking about while reading-

After 22 years and 2 children, there is undoubtedly a comfort and deep level of shared intimacy. There is a scene where after a hard parenting night, their family ends up in the apartment where they take turns on their “off days”. When Alex takes the couch and Dani takes the bed, using his shirt to sleep in and then deciding sheets don’t have to be washed every 3 days, I couldn’t easily get past all that I felt was happening in those two gestures. The awareness of their shared comfort and history in these simple moments said so much. I just kept thinking of how incredibly difficult it would be to have so much shared history, and then have to navigate how to live outside of that.

I also couldn’t stop thinking about the really hard things we experience in the lifetime of a marriage. How we each process, cope, and mourn differently and how those events change us. Even without divorce being part of my own story, these shared experiences were so incredibly related and understandable, that it left my emotions raw.

To discuss too much would inevitably lead to spoilers. Just know it’s more than divorce even if the majority revolves around it. It’s all the good, bad and hard parts of life. One of those books that falls into the category of “this book destroyed me, you should absolutely read it!”

All the stars for this very emotional read. Renee Carlino is a new author to me and I'm excited to read more from her. This one hit all star marks for me including making me sob my eyes out at the end. Thank you to my friend Lauren for the emotional therapy.

This is a true testament to losing and finding yourself, second chances and falling back in love. This is not only an emotional read, but makes you think and evaluate your own marriage/relationship. What's important and what's not - Appreciating your life and who's by your side.

I truly fell in love with these well developed and mature characters and was fully supporting their journey apart and together. Their relationship was so relatable, raw and real. Just be forewarned that there are some emotional twists that rocked me to my core and left me a blubbery mess. You'll want some tissues handy.