I've long been a fan of Renee Carlino, from the moment I read my first book of hers, Swear On This Life. It was an easy five star read for me, and was only added to by further five star reads Before We Were Strangers, Sweet Thing and Wish you Were Here. I hit a bit of a snag by then reading two Carlino books that I didn't enjoy nearly as much, and I started to wonder if maybe my luck with the author had run out.

Carlino's writing is quite straightforward. It's not lyrical in the same way as I've seen from a lot of other authors I love. It's direct and often quite blunt, and I think that's partly why there are a couple of books from Carlino previously that I haven't loved. Looking at their publication dates, I think it's the earlier books that I haven't been able to connect with, because the direct writing didn't have the depth of feeling to really make the writing style work. In This Used To Be Us, the story was so full of emotion and feeling that the writing only highlighted its beauty.

I fell in love with the story so quickly. It very much reminded me of After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, although it did have a number of differences; the main difference being the actual intentions of our estranged couple, Dani and Alex. There was a very delicate balancing act to make the characters just likeable enough for the reader to root for them, but also making the reader understand exactly how they would have come to resent each other. It's not easy to do, and I've read many books in the past that haven't been successful. Yet in this book, Carlino succeeded. It was easy to see exactly how Dani and Alex would have come to love each other, and also how they would have grown apart. Neither character is perfect and both have very real flaws, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters in all their messy glory.

This is a beautiful book about love, and about how it is honest and ugly and very special. This Use To Be Us is the end of the love story, the happy never after, and that can be very difficult to take in for the romantics among us. It's hard to accept that there isn't always a happy ending, and I did find this book painful to read at points for that reason. But it also packed a heck of an emotional punch. The regular switch between a young Dani and Alex and the couple in the midst of a separation made it even more real, and my connection with them only grew as the story went on.

I think it's hard to say that this is romance book, but it is definitely a love story. As the book went on, I laughed and I cried, and my heart shattered into hundreds of pieces over and over again. It's beautiful, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Renée Carlino has always been one of auto buy author, so I was excited to be able read and e-arc of This Used to Be Us.

Dan and Alex after 20 years of marriage are getting divorced and with a lot of divorces it can getting messy. I honestly really disliked both of the main characters for more than 50% of the book. Dani more so than Alex. I'm glad they found their way back to each other but was disappointed with how their happiness was short lived The ending felt rushed and I really wish there was actually epilogue. I was left with just wanting a little more.
3.75 stars

This Used to Be Us is a heartbreaking novel. It is a beautifully written love story. This story follows Alex and Dani, a couple trying to navigate their way through a very tough divorce, while trying to keep things as normal as possible for their two children. As they navigate this new life, they rediscover their love story and realize it is not over. The author does a fantastic job really exploring the messiness of divorce…pain, sadness, anger and love. I found myself rooting for both main characters as they tried to find their way in what is their “new normal.” There was a gut-wrenching twist at the end which brought me to tears. I loved this book for its realness, its love story and was heartbroken at the conclusion for all of the characters. This was a 4.5 star read for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a long time Renee Carlino fan, Before We Were Strangers is one of my all time favorite books. I was so excited to see she was publishing a new book, but sadly this one didn’t resonate with me as her previous work has.

Right from the start, I found both MC’s very unlikeable. And that didn’t change throughout the story. This story is about the demise of a married couples relationship and their impending divorce, so I can only assume this characterization was intentional. But hardly seeing any of their good times and why they loved each other in the first place was the downfall of the story and the characters.

Even though I didn’t like these characters, I liked their ending even less. The last few chapters are so rushed, came out of nowhere, and just didn’t feel like it fit.

I am terribly sad this book wasn’t for me, but I can see many people enjoying this particular journey. I’m still a huge Carlino fan and will always pick up anything she writes and recommend her books to everyone I know.

A full circle of love, revenge, remorse, regret, and love again stuffed with sweet memories… A poignant book of love and love and life that is both uplifting and sad. A beautifully written story…

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Renee’s writing and storytelling is unlike the typical authors I read. It’s deep and rooted in reality and practicality and highlights all the raw issues that are typically skimmed over for lack of fun or escapism some read for.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read.

I’ve never read a Renee Carlino book before, but I will definitely be reading more now! This book had a lot of conflict between the two main characters. Navigating parenthood and coexistence during a bitter divorce. It was interesting to read and learn about their relationship pre marriage, during marriage, and post divorce.

I was happy and entertained the first 90% of the book. When I got to about 80%, I decided to finish the rest of the book in that same sitting. I was not expecting the ending! I finished the book in tears, it’s not often books have me weeping!


Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

Such a sad love story. I really enjoyed this book, there are a few things I would’ve changed but overall I really enjoyed it. I love Renee Carlino’s writing so much.

What an rollercoaster of emotions
Instant auto buy author for me the beautiful heartfelt laughter tears the writing brings the characters !! This did not disappoint

2 ⭐️

I feel like this book just wasn’t for me.

It had so much potential to be deep, emotional, and to showcase two people trying to find themselves/work through trauma as adults…. And fell really short. All the emotional stuff is saved for tiny flashbacks (which were the best parts of the book), and the ending that felt too quick. I also don’t know that I ever really liked Dani and Alex, except for those tiny flashbacks and the ending. I definitely don’t really feel like I connected to them as characters ever either.

Thanks to Random House Publishing for the ARC copy of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Renee never fails to break my heart. This book was real and raw which I feel like we don’t always get in romance books. I love these characters and the journey we went on.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced E-Copy of This Used to be Us, in exchange for an honest review.

Renée Carlino once again delivers a poignant and unforgettable novel in 'This Used to Be Us.' This latest offering delves into the complexities of divorce as it unfolds through the lives of Alex and Danielle.


The story unfolds from alternating perspectives, giving readers an intimate glimpse into the inner turmoil and raw emotions of both parties. Alex and Danielle, once a couple deeply in love, now find themselves navigating the uncharted territory of divorce. With two young sons to consider, they decide to share an apartment, swapping custody on a weekly basis.

Carlino's writing is masterful, capturing the nuanced dynamics of a disintegrating marriage. She delves into the pain, anger, and confusion that accompany divorce, while also exploring the lingering hope and longing that can persist even after the relationship has ended.

The characters are beautifully drawn, with their flaws and vulnerabilities laid bare. Alex struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family, while Danielle grapples with guilt and the realization that she may have made a mistake. Their children, caught in the crossfire, endure their own emotional turmoil.

The story progresses at a steady pace, initially setting the scene with meticulous detail. As the narrative gains momentum, it becomes increasingly difficult to put the book down. Carlino's ability to evoke empathy and connection is truly remarkable.

The ending of the novel is both heartbreaking and cathartic. It leaves readers with a profound sense of loss and a lingering sense of hope for both Alex and Danielle.

Overall, 'This Used to Be Us' is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced the pain of divorce or who simply appreciates a well-crafted story about the complexities of human relationships. Carlino's ability to convey the rawness of emotion and the enduring power of love makes this novel an unforgettable literary experience.
This was a 4.75 Star read for me!

I’ve enjoyed other books by this author and this one was no exception. I loved the character development and had a great time following the relationship and plot. Will recommend!

Renee Carlino knows how to write a deep and honest story about love, marriage and family. I was
So invested in Dani and Alex and so emotional while reading it. This is one not to be missed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to @thedialpress @randomhouse and @netgalley for this e-arc copy. All thoughts are my own.


Danielle and Alex were married young and have been so for 22 years. After all these years, they’ve grown apart and can’t stand each other. They have a shared apartment where they alternate their time, so their children can have a solid home.

In the apartment, both of them are reflecting on the past, and in doing so, they are rediscovering themselves.

As time passes, they find themselves being drawn back to each other. Maybe distance does make the heart grow fonder. Just as they’re figuring things out, a family crisis brings them firmly back.


This book isn’t labeled a romance for a reason! I think that while yes it does have some romance vibes, romance is not the focus of the book, the journey is. So, to me this is more of women’s fiction. This book ends in a way I wasn’t fully expecting and wow, just wow. I don’t want to say too much because it would be a spoiler, but if you’d like to discuss and have read this one – just message me. This book is an emotional journey that’s for sure. I was not only happy and sad, but also annoyed as heck at the characters, because yup you guess it – miscommunication. I think it would be a struggle to have a book focusing on a breakup without miscommunication. I really enjoyed this book and getting to know the characters. They were both messy and flawed and I hated certain parts about them, but that made them more real to me.

I think that this book is really going to resonate with readers who have been, or are, married. And, even more so for those married or in a long-term relationship for a while.

I can confidently say that I’ve never read a romance book quite like this one before. Dani and Alex’s story was written with so much emotion and compassion.

The first handful of chapters were written in the past tense, while the rest of the book was written in a pretty standard nonlinear timeline, with some flashbacks scattered throughout. The first person dual POV allowed me to feel like I was along for the ride with each character.

This book was messy — and I mean that in the best way possible. There were certain times when the characters (especially Dani) would do/say certain things that would make me wonder, “Why is Carlino making this character so self-deprecating?” But the further I got into the story, the more I realized how relatable the characters were. This also speaks volumes as to how much growth the characters experienced from the beginning of the story to the end.

I cannot wait to dive into Carlino’s backlist after reading this one. I also read and loved Before We Were Strangers, but now that I know that she’s such a dynamic author, I would absolutely consider myself a Renée Carlino fan.

I received an ARC ebook of this story thanks to NetGally. The book caught my attention within the first few pages and it was all that I could think about, I had to know how it would end. I really enjoyed the dual POV. Reading their journey really brought to attention things that happen when you have been married for a long time and the reader is able to easily connect with the chatacters. Highly recommend this book!

I’m so glad that I was given the opportunity to read this! I loved swear on this life so I jumped at the opportunity to read another Renee Carlino book. A ‘will they won’t they’ trope will always pull me in, but the entire book was so well developed that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t handle the ending but I need to get over my self. Overall this book was amazing,such a pleasure to read. I truly can’t say enough.

hank you NetGalley for letting me read this. when this book comes out, get your hands on it !!!! i have never been so emotional while reading a book. What a beautiful story.

It’s taken me a few weeks to really let this book sink in. It was heart-wrenchingly beautiful and I didn’t want it to end. Renée Carlino knows how to write complex and relatable characters.

This was a one of a kind second chance romance which made it memorable. I saw this described as an emotional romance and that is the perfect way to put it. This Used to be Us will make you feel everything in the best way.