The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson is unlike anything I have ever read before. The premise is that when a baby girl is born, her ‘almosts’ come into existence. Those entities cannot be seen but are the future potential children that could be born.

When Becca Valentine is born, Samuel, Thomas, Lucy and Eliza come into existence. All of the ‘Almosts’ love their mother and are keen to exist and they are all given one chance to alter fate.

I found myself fascinated by the relationship between the ‘Almosts’, which were very sibling orientated with competitiveness and jealousy affecting their interactions with one another.

Becca’s story was familiar story of a teenage pregnancy followed by her putting her son Sam’s relationship with his father over what was best for her. The relationship Becca had with her father was solid, dependable and loving. I wanted her relationship with her mother to improve once she was a mother herself, but her mother struggled with parenthood and not even a grandchild altered that. Still, her relationship with her dad made up for the failings of her mum.

I loved the way that the ‘Almosts’ put aside their sense of competition to one side to make sure their conceptions happened.

The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine asks the question of what sacrifice you would make for the people you love. This enchanting novel will be one I think about for years to come, it is so exceptional.

I love Laura Pearson- her novels are always beautifully written and the topics within them are always done with dignity.

I really loved the whole concept of this story and I have bored some of my friends and family to tears constantly talking about it- a few of them have gone on to buy it and we have excitedly spoken about it together.

This story does have some trigger warnings of domestic violence, teenage pregnancy/parenting, and difficult parent/child relationships. The topics are handled well and with care but something to be mindful of going into this book.

I always recommend Laura’s books and this is another one to add to my list of recommendations.

Thank you for the ARC! Sadly unable to read as this was downloaded onto an old device I no longer have access to and the book has since been archived.

This was a beautifully written story that will bring you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It will have you thinking about love, loss and self discovery

Another corker from Laura Pearson! I love her writing style, and the concept of this one was super interesting. It was also really well executed, can't wait for future releases!

The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that skillfully weaves together themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.
What stands out in this novel is its unique premise and the depth of its storytelling. Pearson artfully explores the mysteries of memory and identity, taking readers through Eliza’s complex emotions and experiences with grace and sensitivity. The writing is both lyrical and captivating,
Pearson's ability to craft a compelling narrative while delving into profound questions about life and choices makes The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine a standout.
Overall, this is a poignant and unforgettable read, The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine will stay with you long after the final page. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel.

I've read a lot of books by the author and really enjoyed them. I will continue to pick them up. Told story however was not for me. The idea that the person is all ready and formed by conception didn't sit right with me. Also there is this idea that the possible future children manipulate their mother seemed too callous when seen in execution, especially of a school girl! I did not finish the book and therefore can't give a more detailed review.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the concept of reincarnation. The idea that a soul has been here before and one of the ways I have explored this concept, is the idea of a baby choosing its parents before it is born. In fact, I’ve read a lovely book all about this concept, that there are babies who want you to be their parent, so when I saw this novel I was enchanted by the idea.

There is a wealth of research out there about this belief and I feel that the writer could have leaned a little more into that. She seems to assume that she is the only one who has come up with the idea of it and that made me a little sad. Sad that the idea wasn’t as well executed as it could have been. We follow Eliza who can see her mother and her potential brothers and sisters, she can tell who is going to be her father but is concerned that all the siblings don’t seem to have the same father. It was interesting in that she can affect what happens to her or her siblings but gets to watch the story of her mother’s life before she’s a parent.

I did wonder what the point of the mother having children so young was and I felt the whole thing was a little rushed. Overall, it was an intriguing hook for a novel, but I’m not convinced it worked as well as I would have liked.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me an ecopy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.

I found this book really thought provoking. The concept is fascinating- that as women, the children we could conceive are tethered to us from the moment of our own birth and wait to see if they are born or not.

I enjoyed the story while feeling desperately sorry for Becca. As the mother of a similarly aged child (and I do think she's a child for the majority of this book) I hated the decisions she made and the impact it had upon her.

I read the whole thing in one sitting and have been thinking about it ever since. It's one of these books where the plot, for me, was secondary to the concept and I'd love to read another book with the same idea and different characters to see how it could be explored further.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for my copy of this book.

This was such a unique premise, and it came together very well. I loved the idea of the before life made up of almost lives and possibilities. It was truly thought-provoking and beautifully written.

This story of what ifs and what could have been was emotional, and I enjoyed Laura Pearson's writing style very much. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of her books.

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

This book is very different from Lauran Pearson’s other novels I have read. That doesn’t make it bad but for me it didn’t sit quite right. I am always a bit wary of magic realism in books. It really I think depends on the premise. In this case, a group of ‘almost’ watch over their mother, but not all of them will be born and be a child.

The four ‘almost’ are like siblings themselves, but at various points they will lose each other as one is born and the rest disappear. Becca is the mother of the almost and we see the choices she makes in her life, a young mother who has the support of her own father but not mother, but the father of the children seems to be different person and the almost can perhaps see what way their life is going to go. Can they make a difference?

I found this book quite difficult to like, the characters were not particular loveable and even the ‘almost’ which were harsh in places. This book handles lots of emotions and the story maybe a trigger for some people, so I would approach with care.

That said, this would not put me off picking up another Laura Pearson novel, as each one is so unique.

Thank you to Boldwood books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a very unique and thought provoking book. It took me a bit to get into it. I think this is a book you have to be in the mood for. I did end up enjoying it and recommend.

Eliza Valentine has not been born. She can see her potential mother Becca alongside her other three possible siblings. They are 'Almosts', the potential babies that Becca might have with one of two possible fathers. As Becca's life progresses, her Almosts hit their conception date and they either develop or disappear. As Eliza's conception date nears, she realises that her birth might not be the best thing to happen to Becca.
I was trying to describe the plot of this book to a friend and when I did it sounded preposterous, in reading it works so well. There are a small group of authors who write solid fiction that I love. It's not worthy or highbrow enough to be called literary fiction but to call it romance or chick-lit is to demean it. This writer fits into that group. It's a Sunday afternoon book, curl up, read and enjoy!

This book is so different it is hard to explain without giving away the plot
Safe to say Laura again tugs on the heartstrings with a thought provoking book about love, duty, teen pregnancies and what ifs

“You’ve heard of the afterlife, welcome to the beforelife”
Loved the concept of exploring people “before birth”, the Almosts.
As soon as a female is born these almosts are attached to her, watching her grow up
All they know is the name of their father and the date of their potential conception
The story is of four potential almost siblings - Eliza, Samuel, Lucy & Thomas and Becca navigating her life through the lens of her potential children
You feel all their emotions - so incredibly beautiful and powerful, leaves you with a ‘what if’ kind of feeling
Thanks @laurapauthor @boldwoodbooks & @netgalley for the emotional read

The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine by Laura Pearson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Eliza Valentine exists in the Beforelife where she is the could be child of Becca Valentine. She has 4 other siblings that may or not be born. The only information Eliza knows is her conception date and who her father is. She watches as 2 men enter her mothers life, one not so great and the other not so available. Her siblings have another father and this means not each of them could be born. I really enjoyed this story of love and sacrifice. Such an interesting concept.

I love Laura Pearsons work. Thank you for the wonerful ARC.

The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine will suck you in, tear you apart while giving you faith in people and make you ask yourself deeply emotional questions that you never considered. Laura Pearson yet again goes above and beyond in this book immersing you in a world where you exist, before physically existing - that is if you even get your chance at all.

What if you got to watch your mother go through her life from the very beginning, see her struggle and grow, watch her make decisions that just "might" bring you into existence with your "possible" siblings. You know from the start the when you will be born, so you have a countdown and you will know when she meets your father. But there are a million chances in life, but not every one of them is taken - will the chance that would lead to you be taken, and if you could change it so that chance happens to the detriment of others would you? This is the predicament that Eliza finds herself in with her potential siblings, Samuel, Lucy and Thomas.

This book! I have read almost everything that Laura Pearson has written, and I do not know how she does it because every single time the plot is so original and she writes in a way that has a lasting affect on you. You will remember her books, you will continue to think about them and the emotions you felt while you were reading them. They pull you in from the very beginning and then spit you out at the end - battered and bruised, but not broken and better for having read it.

The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine is like all of Laura Pearson's books in that they will change you and leave lasting affects on your heart. I cannot praise the author enough or describe how beautiful this book is. I think everyone would benefit from reading this book - you will learn things about yourself and it will make you contemplate life in a completely different way. I will be praising this book and recommending to all readers and nonreaders alike. Thank you to the author for writing this beautiful book, as always, I can't wait to see how you alter my world next.

Wow! What a thought provoking, unusual story. I was hooked immediately to the realism and the magical realism of this book. The struggles of Laura Pearson's characters were so realistic and relatable. I love Pearson's books and this one did not disappoint. Thanks #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

Wow! I adored this book. The way the Author writes stories is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The premise of this one grabbed me right away. We get to know “the almosts “ these are future children watching their mother waiting for a chance to be conceived. Like what? This was so interesting and thought provoking while being heartwarming and beautiful. Laura Pearson, please keep writing!! A HUGE thank your Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

A unique story that will tug at your heart strings. I've never read a book like it. Beautifully written with a fresh voice. Highly recommended.