Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishing for the gifted copy of Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter. This story had a lot of heart and I found myself relating to the characters. It was a beautiful story about second chances and the ability to overcome struggles through love.

The book was fast paced and kept my attention. My only complaint is that it seemed to go too fast - I wanted more of a slow burn for the characters to learn their lessons along the way instead of it feeling rushed the last 20% of the book.

Overall I enjoyed this romance read and would recommend it.

I really enjoyed this story that follows a love story that follows second chance, amnesia as we follow a couple fall in love for second time. The push and pull of will her memories come back or will he be patient enough to stay? It was on the edge of my seat of hope. This actually went in a different direction in what I thought and that pleasantly surprised me.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter is a heartwarming and emotional story that explores love, memory, and second chances. The novel follows Lauren Wentworth, who wakes up in a hospital with a memory loss that erases the past four months of her life. As she tries to piece together the mystery of her forgotten time in New Hampshire, Lauren is shocked to find that her former nemesis, Jonah Landry, is now her boyfriend—and the one person who can help her recover her lost memories.

Jonah, devastated by Lauren's amnesia, is determined to help her remember their summer together, even though Lauren seems intent on moving on from both their relationship and the rustic resort life she’s embraced. As they work together, old feelings start to resurface, but Lauren struggles with the choice between the life she thought she wanted and the love she’s starting to remember.

Hunter skillfully blends romance and self-discovery in this touching tale of healing and reconciliation. The tension between Lauren’s amnesia and her growing emotional connection with Jonah makes for a compelling read. The slow-burn romance and themes of rediscovery tug at the heartstrings, while the beautiful New Hampshire setting adds an idyllic backdrop to the unfolding drama.

This book is perfect for fans of sweet, romantic reads with a touch of emotional depth. Before We Were Us is a lovely exploration of how love can heal, even when memories fade, and how sometimes, the most profound connections are the ones that change us forever.

Before We Were Us 🏠❤️‍🔥
By: Denise Hunter
Story: ✨ ✨ ✨ 3 /5
Narration: N/A

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an e-arc of “Before We Were Us”. Lauren and Jonah were living a perfect storybook romance. He was finishing up school to earn his degree and take over the family business. She turned down her dream job to stay in New Hampshire with the love of her life. And unbeknownst to Lauren, Jonah even has plans to propose very soon.

Then tragedy struck. After taking a terrible fall, Lauren loses the last four months of her memory. And included in that, is the moment Lauren told Jonah she would give up her own dreams to be with him.

The last interaction Lauren remembers having with Jonah wasn’t a pleasant one. And as a result, she believes Jonah is not the love of her life. Caught in between right or wrong, Jonah must decide if reminding Lauren about their relationship and the life they had planned is a good idea at all. She must be convinced because if not, the life he looked forward to may vanish. Is it possible to fall in love with someone not once, but twice? Find out in Before We Were Us.

For those who don't know me, my name is Chanel and I'm everyone's favorite self-proclaimed Book Tea Spiller.

What did I think of this book? See below for my Final Sip ☕️:

This book was very Sweet Home Alabama meets The Notebook in the best way. I really enjoyed the plot and for the most part how the story progressed throughout. That was until it got to the beginning of the end. I found my self whispering “slow down” as I clicked each page. It felt as if someone hit the ⏩ button out of nowhere. Overall, if you’re looking for a cozy love story, this one’s for you.

I received a ARC from Netgalley, and absolutely loved this book. It was a sweet romantic novel, and second chance at love. My chest hurt a few times during this book and some small tears. I recommend this standalone book for anyone who enjoys a clean romance story.
4.5 STARS!

This story is so intriguing. Yes, we've all read amnesia plot lines, but Denise Hunter brings a whole different spin to this one. Before We Were Us is well written, has a beautiful setting, characters with depth and layers, humor, and a few twists I didn't see coming. So grab yourself a good drink and settle in, because you won't want to stop once you begin!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. Book was fine, really good if you like the genre! I would read more from this author.

I loved this book. It was sweet and sad, with a feeling of real life. The characters bared their heartache and their love, making the story feel so real.

This is a sweet story with a major hurdle the main characters must overcome. Though unavoidable challenges faced, love still comes through.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Hallmark story that I’ve heard before and wasn’t keeping my interest. It wasn’t for me but I think others might enjoy the cozy story and easy going story.

A sweet story of rediscovering love when everything pushes a couple apart. A quick developing love between Lauren and Jonah screeches to a halt in the face of an accident that leaves her with no memory of the prior months. All she remembers is a strong dislike of Jonah. All he wants is her to remember their love for each other. Jonah is left to wonder if they can reclaim what they had. The author deftly pulls readers into an emotionally compelling story with characters you root for. A sweet love story.

This was a sugar sweet romance, very Hallmark movieesque, so it didn’t surprise me to see in the “About the Author” that 4 of her books had been made into Hallmark movies. The idea of lost memories is always intriguing and makes you want to read on to find out what happens, which I did. However, I didn’t feel the need to do so at breakneck speed, which made this book just a comfort read for me. This book is considered a Christian Romance, but beyond the occasional mention of praying I didn’t see much of a difference between this & other fluffy romances. I recommend this for lovers of the Hallmark channel.

A heartwarming story of love and trust.... I enjoyed listening to the audio version of this beautifully crafted storyline.

A young woman looses her memory after she falls from a ladder. She struggles with trusting those close to her, especially after she finds out specifics about what she had planned to do for her career.

I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley, the publisher and the author. I thank you.

All of the little flashbacks of them falling in love were really cute. I just wish the book was longer because I don't know that I believe she fell back in love with him. They needed more time together in the present.

Event planner Lauren goes to work at a small resort in New Hampshire to strengthen her resume in order to land her dream job in Boston. On her short-term assignment, she digs into so many aspects of the business and gives some great suggestions to the owners. Her role is challenged by the owners’ son, Jonah, who envisions his own self running the family resort.
An accident leaves Lauren with memory loss; her recovery journey changes the course of her life. Jonah vows to be by her side, no matter where the changes take Lauren.

Another beautiful romance from Denise Hunter. Loved this beautiful story of second chances and falling in love.

Cute story! It wasn’t my favorite but I found myself rooting for the characters and wanting Lauren’s memory to return. It did feel a little anticlimactic though which was a little disappointing. Denise Hunter’s stories are usually more impactful. This one felt like it didn’t quite get there. But it was still cute. I’m glad I read it.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

3.75 ⭐️ no spice
this book would be perfect to read in the fall, but still I enjoyed reading it in the winter time! if you want cozy hallmark vibes that will make you smile and swoon but also with a little bit of depth I’d recommend this as a quick and easy read!
I love that it was fast paced and the mmc was very sweet and head over heels for the fmc ❤️
thank you Netgalley for an audio ARC for review.

3.5 ⭐️

The beautiful cover drew me to this book and it was a good one to read in the Fall.

Jonah and Lauren don’t like each other much when she is hired for temporary work on his family’s rustic resort in rural New Hampshire. But they quickly fall for each other! Then Lauren falls from a ladder and loses the past several months of her memory. She doesn’t remember any of their romance and is eager to get back to her big city life.

I liked the dual timeline (pre/post accident) style. I also really enjoyed the topics of foster care and adoption from an adult perspective. However, it was hard for me to relate to Lauren and I wasn’t extremely invested in their love story. I loved the setting, but could have used a little more of it. Loved the dog and Jonah’s family! 😊

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review.

After a devastating heartbreak, Jonah Landry doesn’t expect to fall deeply in love with another city girl. When Lauren Wentworth shows up at his family’s small New Hampshire resort to help generate more business, Landry knows that the prickly (but pretty) woman will never be more than a thorn in his side. Until she isn’t. They slowly forge a friendship, which leads to love. Jonah has a ring in his pocket, and the scene is set for a romantic proposal when an accident changes everything.

Lauren wakes up in the hospital room surrounded by beeping machines and a man she can’t stand—Jonah Landry. Even more terrifying? He claims he is her boyfriend! Her only memories of Jonah involve mud-splashing, stonewalling, and derision. She reacts with panic, and surprisingly, Jonah graciously removes himself from the room. Despite forgetting four months of her life, Lauren knows her objective—finish her internship at the Landry’s and take up the event-planning position promised to her in the city.

Will she ever remember how she and Jonah fell in love? Jonah must navigate Lauren’s amnesia by giving her space and allowing their relationship to start again. At what point does he break the news that she gave up the offered position in the city so she could stay in New Hampshire?

Lauren might not remember an entire summer, but she does remember her birth mother and growing up feeling abandoned and unwanted. In her vulnerable state after her brain injury, she must navigate the old hurts while dealing with the new reality—Jonah isn’t at all as she remembered. Maybe her mother isn’t what she remembered, either.

Can two star-crossed lovers ever find their way back to each other when one can’t remember the story of how they went from enemies to lovers?

What I Loved About this Book

Denise Hunter takes on the enemies-to-lovers trope by adding a fresh twist. Readers who have lost sight of what made them fall in love with their significant other will relate to Jonah's problems as his dedication remains constant even though Lauren has no good memories of him.