A beautiful story about falling in love twice and the torturous ways your mind and past shape and affect your present, “Before We Were Us”, by Denise Hunter, is also a well written and researched depiction of amnesia.
I loved how Jonah and Lauren go from antagonism to love twice and how they deal with the effects of her concussion/traumatic brain injury and amnesia.
For Lauren, not always a nice character, it’s her past, her need for stability and roots, playing havoc with confusing decisions before the fall. The bewilderment of being told she’s in love with a man she’s supposed to dislike is amazing, as is her perplexity with other issues.
Jonah is such a wonderful character, with so much to lose because of Lauren’s memory loss. The pain, hurt and helplessness are poignant, and so is his thoughtful, selfless and caring nature.
I liked Lauren’s “city girl” dimensions showing how skilled she is with the limited resources she has.
This is also a story about homesickness, for a time, an amnesic loved one, a place or people you’re fond of.
I loved watching Lauren’s self-discovery and remembrance journey finding where her real home (and heart) is.
I also liked how the leads’ pasts and childhoods shaped their presents, particularly Lauren’s.
The story has great secondary characters and a sweet dog, too.

This is a wonderful love story. Lauren and Jonah meet and have a not great relationship until they do. After an accident, Lauren does not remember that she is in love with Jonah. She is shocked that she gave up her "dream job" to stay in NH and takes it out on Jonah. Bless his patience and love. This is a heartfelt love story and I highly recommend it. I was given an advanced reader copy and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this charming and heartwarming book.
The book is centered on couple Lauren and Jonah who work at Jonah's family resort of cabins in rural New Hampshire. Lauren has a dangerous fall and forgets the last several month. She remembers arriving to the resort and having a frosty start with Jonah but she doesn't remember them falling in love. The book goes back and forth in time between the present and them falling in love over the summer.
The book was very cozy and reminds me of a Hallmark movie with a more sad and deep plot. The descriptions of the resort were really nice and had a wonderful feel.
I felt bad for Jonah often because it felt like Lauren was being a little too harsh on him. I also felt like the doctor Carson could have been used as a bigger plot point. It was still an enjoyable and relaxing book to read.

"Once upon a time, before we were us . . . we were just two lonely people in search of one another.”

Before we were us is a sweet, contemporary romance story about Lauren and Jonah. After a freak accident where she falls off a ladder, she finds herself waking up in a hospital missing chunks of her memories. Lauren forgets the man she loves.

Jonah is a sweet character. He is the soon to be owner of his family run resort in New Hampshire. He is devastated when Lauren loses her memories and works hard to remind her of their love.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The blurb was spot on in terms of what the book was about and how it would flow. There weren't many jaw-dropping revelations. The characters were good- human. However, I guess I just wanted more. They experienced uncertainty and vulnerability, as would anyone in that situation. Personally, I would have liked a bit more drama. However, it was still a good read. Not to give anything away, but I almost expected a love triangle of sorts and felt slightly mislead by that. Merit is still given, however, for creating a story that was well written with good phrasing and grammer.

My rating is 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley, Denise Hunter, and the publisher for the ARC of Before we were us.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This was a sweet read about having faith will make all things right in the end. Jonah as such a sweet and patient man although he had doubts his and Lauren’s relationship would ever get back to where they were. By letting her have space and time and being a genuine nice guy he was able to make her fall in love with him all over again. I liked that there were some bumps in the road because no one’s story is all sunshine and roses. When you live someone set them free and they will return if it’s meant to be. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Denise Hunter is known for her sweet, clean, Christian romance novels, and her latest, Before We Were Us, once again, checks all those boxes. It is a sweet story set in New Hampshire about a young couple, Lauren and Jonah. Just as they were about to embark on their life together, an accident happens and Lauren loses her memory - partially. This is where the story takes a bit of turn. The memory loss is selective causing it to seem unrealistic. The characters lacked dimension, making it difficult for readers to connect with or invest in their journey, they just "don't have that "can't forget them" quality. Hunter is one of my very favorite writers but this particular novel felt a bit rushed and disorganized, leaving it a little hard to follow. If you never read a book by Denise Hunter, don't judge the writing solely on this book, her others are phenomenal. While this one wasn't for me, I'll still read anything Hunter writes.

This isn't my usual read but I was intrigued and it didn't disappoint. Seeing the accident have a toll on Lauren and Jonah was very hard but it showed how we can go through challenges that can make or break us. Beautiful read overall.

After putting herself through college, Lauren’s dream job as a corporate meeting manager at one of the most prestigious companies in Boston is within her reach. She first has to gain some experience at a rural family-owned resort where one can rent a cabin in the woods of New Hampshire. The Pinehaven Resort had been in the Landry family for several generations.
The owner’s son, Jonah and Lauren have become close over the months they have been working together. She is surprised she is actually enjoying herself, especially the company of Jonah. While describing her idea of converting an old barn into a wedding destination, Lauren falls off a ladder and is rushed to the hospital. Although Lauren recovers from her injuries, she has lost all memory of the last four months, including the growing relationship with Jonah. As she gets back into her work, she decides she doesn’t want to remember, and now is only interested in finishing her time there and moving back to Boston.
Jonah, however, is heartbroken about the state of their relationship, which is pretty much non-existent. He makes every effort to rekindle the friendship and love they had before she lost her memory. Slowly things improved, however, the move back to Boston gets closer every day.
As I read this charming, engaging story, the characters, the cabins, and even Graham the dog, came alive in my imagination. Not only did the story draw me in, the descriptions are vivid, characters are lovable and relatable. Although my heart hurt along with Jonah’s, I had great sympathy for the situation Lauren found herself in. I nearly read it straight through; just couldn’t put it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

BEFORE WE WERE US by DENISE HUNTER is a beautifully written love story that takes place in the wilds of New Hampshire at the lovely Pinehaven resort.
Tammy and Tom Landry, who own the resort, employ Lauren Wentworth to help their son Jonah run the place while they slow down due to Tom’s health. Jonah is finishing his degree before taking over the resort from his parents and Lauren is filling in the time and gaining experience before she stsrts her dream job in Boston in January.
They fall in love, after a bad start in their relationship, and all is going well until Lauren falls off a ladder onto her head and suffers from amnesia…….
I like the way the author shows how Lauren’s abandonment by her mother affects her emotions and how Jonah understands her and is desperate for her memory of their summer romance to return……..
Before We Were Us has all you need in a romance novel. There is depth of feeling, unrequited love, anger and hurt and also unconditonal love.
I highly recommend the novel as a great read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Before We Were Us is a challenging book to read, dealing with memory loss. It starts out with Jonah ready to propose to Lauren. Then an accident happens that takes away Lauren’s memory for the last four months. Naturally, that is the time frame in which Jonah and Lauren fell in love. Lauren wants nothing to do with Jonah and he is not only devastated, but heartbroken. The story has all the fear and frustrations trying to help someone regain their memory while that person doesn’t think she wants to ever recover the lost months. I recommend this book by Denise Hunter, one of my go-to authors.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Before We Were Us by new to me author D. Hunter, published by Thomas Nelson Fiction, is a full length stand alone. A suspenseful read that gripped me from start till the last page.
Lauren and Jonah are a couple, they're happy together - till an accident changes everything.
Lauren suffers from amnesia and doesn't remember being with Jonah. What she does remember is her crisu on Carson, the doctor. And Carson is available and kind of willing to give it a try.
So Jonah has his work laid out for him, hurt, confusion, determination. A beautiful story that gives all the feels, desrves all the stars.