One minute Lauren was on a ladder and the next she had fallen to the ground. Jonah rushes to her side and calls 911 and off they go to the hospital. Her memory is fuzzy, has a big gap from April-November that she remembers nothing? Does her memory come back? I liked this story and I loved everything about New Hampshire. The Pinehaven Resort sounded so cozy with their cozy cabins that I pictured myself being in one of them! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A woman falls off a ladder and can't remember months. Her boyfriend was not her boyfriend then but now he is devastated that she can't remember their relationship. Give her time, they said.

NOTE: I previously sent this same review for the audiobook. I had applied for both. I left out the part where I mention the stellar narrator in this one.

REVIEW: I’ve read many novels by this author but this is my favourite. It is her BEST work, in my opinion and it releases September 10, 2024. From the gorgeous autumn cover to the epilogue that makes your heart feel like it will stretch right out of your body, this book is a must-read.

This novel has joy and heartbreak, beauty and ugliness, tears and laughter, emptiness and fullness, strengths and weaknesses, low valleys and mountain-top moments. And she does it all with the reader feeling fully invested and immersed in the characters and community. 

They are not perfect characters with a Cinderella story. There are flaws. There are missteps. There are moments you want to scream in utter frustration, cry in despair, and cheer with jubilance. And swoon??? Oh, YES, there is heart-palpitating swoon that is so full of depth and meaning.

There are so many layers to this story and it keeps you reading as you peel them back one by one. I would love to see this become a series (hint-hint!!!) because I love the people and community of Pinehaven. I am, therefore, firmly invested in what comes next: 
- Jonah’s sister? 
- The handsome doctor returning home? 
- Lauren’s best friend visits or takes a job there? (Maybe her AND the doctor!)

Two or three more books would be juuuuust right! After all, that stunning barn venue is just waiting expectantly, in all its splendor, to be the amazingly romantic setting for endless weddings to come!

*** HUGE thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson (publisher) for an advanced copy of the audiobook. My honest review is voluntary and in my own words.  #BeforeWeWereUs

Thank you netgalley for the chance to review this!
This is such an interesting concept: Lauren has an accident on the night of her proposal to Jonah and wakes up completely forgetting their relationship. They had started as enemies only a few months before and the 'enemies to lovers' trope is completely lost with her amnesia. In alternating timelines we get to watch them fall in love the first and time while figuring out how they relate to each other in the current timeline. It's also incredibly closed door if its something you like!
I thought this had so much potential and I ended up liking it, but I wouldn't say loving it. I struggled a bit with Lauren's lack of interest in understanding the part of her life that is missing. I am also incredibly type A and a go-getter and I just see myself wanting to know so badly who I was. I also struggled a bit with how they fell back together in the current timeline: I think it relied a little to heavy on the nostalgia in the past timeline and not alot of actual action in the current timeline. Lauren fell in love with Jonah's love for her, not really him, if that makes any sense.
It was enjoyable but not something I'll reach for again.

I liked the premise of the story, I thought it would be a lovely read about finding love again. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Although I could feel Jonah’s pain and heartbreak when Lauren can’t remember him or their love after her accident, I didn’t really like Lauren and how she handled everything. I felt I wanted deeper dialogue but Lauren’s character felt flat. It felt abrupt when she all of a sudden was in love with him again. Overall it was a quick, mostly enjoyable read I was just waiting for more.

i’ve been a fan of Denise for years and while this is not my favorite of her books, I do recommend it if you enjoy second chance, forced proximity, or no spice romances!! Jonah’s love for Lauren was so sweet and he did everything right towards her in a impossible situation. i loved the ending and was so happy about the resolution of a very important relationship.

i listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great, i was just confused frequently when it switched from past to present because the flashbacks were to just a few months prior in the same setting, but besides that it was a good book!!

thank you so much to the author and publisher for the e-arc & audiobook arc!!!

This book was cute and has an interesting premise just a but poorly executed.

Lauren is a city girl who moves to a small lake town for work to get some event planning experience under her belt. She falls in love with the owner’s son and the day he plans to propose she falls off a ladder in a freak accident.

She wakes up and has lost her memories from the entire Summer. Essentially going back in time to when she first met Jonah and they didn’t get along.

The story moved well as far as pacing but the dialogue was very off. It seemed very fake and not how anyone actually speaks. Also, everyone calls everyone honey all the time and it felt very disingenuous. Also, Lauren seemingly falls back in love with Jonah even though she avoids him like the plague.

This was going to be a solid 3 stars from me until the end when it took a 50 First Dates sort of turn. That was when it lost me.

Overall it was an ok read. If you like small town, clean and cozy romance this may be for you!

I loved the setting of this story. I don't usually consider the seasons much when I read, but it played an important part in this story, and I enjoyed it!

I don't think I have ever cried so much for a male character. The emotional pain he was experiencing was heartbreaking for me, too.

I love when a romance novel can incorporate more than one trope, and this one did. I love these characters and recommend this book!

I received this eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

In one day, two worlds were shattered. One has no memories and has completely forgotten the past four months of her life. The other remembers everything in vivid detail, which only causes pain now due to the loss of something so precious.

City girl Lauren Wentworth is moving to New Hampshire to be the temporary manager of Pinehaven Lodges. It is quite a shock to Lauren's system going from Boston to this small little town in New Hampshire where her designer clothes and shoes are not even given a second glance. She decides she can make it. After all it is only temporary so she can earn her big chance at her dream job back in Boston. She does not count on falling in love.

Jonah Landry is the owners' son, and he is definitely not Lauren's type of man. That's just what she thinks. They do end up in love, but everything changes overnight when Lauren falls and has a concussion. When she wakes up she remembers nothing of their relationship. The last memory she has is when she arrived in town. She only remembers Jonah as being the guy who got on her nerves when she first arrived at the lodge. Needless to say Jonah is crestfallen, but he vows to give her time.

This book was deeply emotional. Jonah was heartbroken and tried so hard to make her remember. I wanted to cry for him. Lauren was more than a little rough on him. I really wanted to pinch her, but I had to remember that losing her memory was more scary than she wanted to admit. She was also carrying around some major baggage from her past that needed to be dropped off and never picked up again. Jonah's patience and understanding with Lauren was the stuff of a fairy tale romance. This was more than a second chance romance. It was a chance to wipe the slate clean and learn from your mistakes. You may want to have a few tissues on hand. The sweet dog named Graham added another layer of charm and sweetness to this story.

The vibrant descriptions of the property and landscape where the lodge was located sounded breathtaking, which just added more to experiencing this book in full, living color. This book would make an awesome movie.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'll read anything by Denise Hunter. She writes small town romances about characters who are relatable yet realistically flawed. There is always a happy ending even if the road to get there is bumpy. Add in some light=hearted faith and the result is an heartwarming, inspirational gentle read that makes you feel like you have watched a sweet Hallmark movie.

I received a copy for review purposes; all opinions are honest and mine alone.

Written in the third person with two main characters and an almost, (there’s only a few months between timelines and the use is minimal and clunky), dual timeline, BEFORE WE WERE US is a predictable love story that’s perfect for a two hour movie.

Early in the story, the female protagonist has an accident that causes her to lose her memory. She also forgets that she was a nice person. Her boyfriend, the male protagonist, is too nice; really. They live and work at or near his family’s rustic resort in New Hampshire where she was hired as general manager for the season. It’s a big deal for Lauren, a recent college graduate preparing for her dream job that’s due to start in January.

Prior to the accident, Jonah and Lauren were headed in a definite, agreed upon direction; not so much post knock on the noggin. Jonah’s family, the bulk of the secondary characters, and a weak feign at an alternative romantic interest, spend the bulk of this story trying to bolster up Jonah and make things better, in the present timeline.

In the past timeline, we do get a better look at Lauren’s BFF and her Mother. I found both of these characters far more interesting than the too nice resort family. Author, Denise Hunter, missed an opportunity to develop these strong women. Perhaps they will play a prominent role in future volumes.

Hunter is known for being a Christian Fiction writer. This story is clean with respect to language and sexual content. It’s also very light in religious content. I’d be surprised if most readers would identify that classification just by reading the story. Was that purposeful to join the crossover crowd?

Easy to read and forgettable but there is some nice fall scenery, if you’re ready for a leaf peeping moment or two📚

This gets 3 stars because I loved the MMC Jonah, and what I felt the FMC Lauren lacked in emotion and my ability to connect with her, Jonah made up for. He was super sweet and filled with so much love and emotion. I loved the idyllic New Hampshire location so much that it made me want to book a trip, and I thought the overall storyline was decent, and I really did like the epilogue; BUT the amnesia trope has just been done one too many times, which is a huge contributing factor to why I found it so hard to engage with this book, as well as the very basic writing style. It read very much like a Hallmark Movie which I normally enjoy, BUT with 10 extra scoops of sugar- so if you're into that sweet of a romance, you'll love this. This story was very one-note for me, and some parts of the plot seemed rushed or completely unnecessary.

Overall not the worst book I've read this year, but sadly not up there with the best. Definitely do give this one a look when it debuts on September 10th if you like
-enemies to friends to lovers
-small town/workplace romance
-happily ever afters
-VERY sappy sweet (and clean, no spice or language) love stories
-city girl/country boy

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing this ARC for me to read and review!!

I enjoyed this book. I can’t imagine how devastating it would be to be about to propose only to have your girlfriend get amnesia and forget all the good parts about your relationship. I appreciated Jonah’s wisdom and patience with the situation. I didn’t understand Lauren’s response at all. I’d be talking to people, looking at my phone, trying to figure things out, whatever it took and come what may.

I loved the setting of this book. It reminded me of working at a camp and of times when I went and stayed in a cabin somewhere. I also like event planning so that was a plus for me too even though there weren’t too many details about all that.

One thing that was missing for me was having people who love them really speak truth into their lives. They each had someone to talk to but it wasn’t really an emphasis or a help to them. They were just on their own to figure things out. Still, it was an a quick read with an usual take and I appreciated that.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

City girl, Lauren Wentworth, just took a job as temporary manager of a rustic resort on a lake in New Hampshire. It is supposed to be the springboard to her dream job in Boston. Well, she falls in love with the owner's son, Jonah, and plans change. Then she falls off a ladder and suffers a brain injury that wipes her whole memory of the summer clean. She has no memory of falling in love with Jonah. Jonah is heartbroken and hoping she remembers eventually. Will Lauren fall back in love with Jonah and give up her prestigious dream job to work out in the sticks? Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I enjoyed it.

Very cute and enjoyable book. It was alittle slow paced for my liking but the storyline was enjoyable to read.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Before We Were Us
Author: Denise Hunter
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date:  September 10, 2024

Before We Were Us is a standard Denise Hunter romance, meaning it is a Hallmark-type love story with no detailed sex or blazing chemistry. Lauren works in hotel marketing at a New Hampshire retreat owned by Jonah’s family. This job was only supposed to be a 7-month position for Lauren, but she falls hard for Jonah, and he is preparing to ask her to marry him when she falls from a barn loft and loses her memory. Suddenly, the new concussed version of Lauren is not very nice, but our boy Jonah is up for the challenge. This is a traditional, cozy, and cute romance with all the feels and adoration. Some things are worth waiting for, and Jonah is up to the challenge. #romance #cozyromance #cozy #newhampshire #BeforeWeWereUs @thomasnelson @netgalley #concussion #memoryloss
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookish

This is a very sweet and inspirational story. It is told in alternate timelines from the points of view of the two main characters Jonah and Lauren. It is a romantic story but also one of family and resilience. The plot is very well thought out and gives the reader an opportunity to get to know the characters well. The characters are wonderful and rely on the strength of their faith and friends and family to get them through the difficult times. This will be a great book to relax with and read.

This story is set in New Hampshire at an older cozy resort. Lauren is brought on to give new life to the resort and get some experience for her dream job that she starts in 9 months. Jonah is the owners son and is looking to take over the reins once he graduates from college, something his parents insisted on. The story really starts in September, but after Lauren's fall and subsequent memory loss of the last 4 months, we are taken back to April, when she first arrived in town. Jonah is very patient and considerate of her needs, while still worrying about losing her due to her memory loss. Solid plot and writing. A very enjoyable story and hard to put down. Loved the resort and the upgrades Lauren did, as well as learning about these two characters.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I didn't make it very far through the book before I decided to DNF. Unfortunately the writing style was a little juvenile and I had a hard time getting past it and immersing myself in the story. Thank you so much to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for my copy!

This is a good contemporary romance. It is light and heartwarming. It is also a little annoying. Lauren studied event planning hotel management in college. She has a dream job waiting for her at Glitter. She just needs experience and she gets it at a family owned lodge. She also meets the lover of her life Jonah. All is beautiful in her life until it isn't. She falls off a ladder and wakes up in a hospital with no memories for the last 4 months. Jonah is there and she doesn't want him there because what she remember of him is that he is her arrogant boss. This book is a fun read but to tell you the truth, I did not like Lauren. Even at the end I just couldn't relate to her. I loved Jonah and his whole family. Even Graham, the dog was more likeable than Lauren. But the concept of the book and the love story is very compelling.
Thanks to #netgalley, #thomasnelson and @deniseahunter for an ARC of this book