**Book Review: Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter**

*Published by: HarperCollins Christian Publishing
Narrated by: Kim Churchill
Imprinted by: Thomas Nelson Fiction*

“Before We Were Us” is a captivating romance that perfectly balances heartfelt emotion and personal growth, making it an excellent candidate for a Hallmark movie—though with much more depth. The story follows Lauren Wentworth, a determined college graduate with a degree in hospitality, who faces a life-altering accident that erases her memories of the recent months, including her budding romance with Jonah Landry.

Jonah, who dreams of running his family's picturesque resort in New Hampshire, finds his plans derailed when Lauren loses her memory of their journey from enemies to lovers. The depth of Jonah's love shines through as he grapples with wanting the best for Lauren, even if it means stepping back from their relationship. The emotional stakes are heightened by Lauren’s difficult past—her tumultuous childhood and foster care experiences—which adds layers to her character and motivations.

Hunter’s use of flashbacks beautifully weaves together the couple's backstory, highlighting the progression of their relationship. The narrative is rich with details that illustrate their transformation from adversaries to supportive partners. The chemistry between Jonah and Lauren is palpable, making their journey both engaging and relatable.

I particularly appreciated how Lauren’s character arc emphasizes self-discovery and empowerment. While Jonah is a steadfast presence, he allows her the space to navigate her feelings and reclaim her identity. The light faith thread running through the story adds a meaningful dimension without overshadowing the romance.

The setting—a charming resort in New Hampshire—creates a warm backdrop for their evolving relationship, complemented by delightful supporting characters, including a lovable dog that adds an extra layer of charm.

Overall, “Before We Were Us” is a touching and uplifting story that Denise Hunter fans will adore. With its mix of heartfelt moments, well-drawn characters, and a compelling narrative, it’s a wonderful read for anyone who enjoys a romance that resonates on multiple levels.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for providing an early copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet romance of Lauren and Jonah but broken up by Lauren having amnesia from a fall off a ladder. The story of how the 2 fell in love not once but twice - I listened to this one fast because I didnt want to put it down!

4 Stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date 09/10/2024

That was so heartbreaking! The present/past was perfect in this story. I loved how the story is written and told, it made it real for me. I also really like the narator.

The best way to describe this book would be if Emily Henry wrote The Vow, in the best way possible. I really enjoyed it!

Ahh my heart hurt so much for Jonah during this book. I knew I was dealing with a memory loss plot, so I guess it’s my own fault. But seeing them go over past memories (mostly struggles) and trying to recreate the love story was still intriguing enough to keep going. I didn’t love Lauren for the first half of the book, but that might have been the point. Jonah’s patience and perseverance were hero-level. I just hope in their fictional post-book lives Lauren can endeavor to earn it.

As an audiobook, it was really well-read and easy to listen to. As a book, the story was well-written and the characters were well-developed. The characters just might have been so well written that they felt real to me and I got a bit frustrated by their decisions.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. Easiest 5 star rating ever! I loved this book. I fell in love with all the characters. The beautifully described landscape of the Landry property has me wanting to schedule a vacation! The narrator was perfect and gave life to the characters! This book covers all the bases including love, loss, found family, resilience, faith, triumph, second chances. The epilog could not have been a more perfect way to end this book and the story of Jonah and Lauren.
Thank you netgalley for the advanced readers copy of this book. My reading was all my own and in no way reflected by receiving this book as a gift.

**NetGalley Review:**

From the very first page, I was drawn into a charming world filled with endearing characters and a heartwarming storyline that kept me engaged until the very end.


The pacing was spot-on, with just the right mix of tension and resolution to keep me turning pages. The writing was engaging and flowed smoothly, allowing me to immerse myself completely in the story. I loved how the author expertly balanced the cute moments with deeper themes, making it a well-rounded read.

Overall, this is a cute, feel-good read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a charming escape. It’s a perfect addition to your TBR pile if you enjoy stories that warm the heart and leave you smiling. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

I found this book disappointing overall. The story felt unoriginal, with a pacing that was too slow to hold my attention. I struggled to connect with any of the characters, which made it difficult to care about what happened to them. While I can appreciate some aspects of the narrative, it ultimately fell flat on many fronts.

That being said, one standout element was the narrator—her performance was exceptional and truly elevated the experience. Unfortunately, despite her efforts, the story itself left much to be desired.

Lauren & Jonah had planned to spend the rest of their lives together. That is until one day when a freak accident took Lauren’s memory of the last 6 months. Jonah can’t forget the love they shared, does Lauren even want to remember? Jonah is persistent and reminds Lauren of their story. But is it enough?
A beautiful story of love, loss and rebuilding relationships. Told between alternating timelines of before memory loss and after. All the characters play an integral part in the story. They love and support the couple through all the ups and downs.
I could see all the natural beauty due to the details added by the author. Envisioning the barn that became the center of the story.
Really enjoyed this book and would recommend.

I listened to the audiobook version of Before We Were Us thanks to NetGalley. I love the different take on this romance novel. Lauren has a bad accident and loses her memory, forgetting her love for Jonah. Now he does everything he can to get her to remember even tho Lauren is hesitant. This is a very sweet and heartwarming story.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter

What a beautiful story! I could not put it down! Lauren Wentworth takes a job at a restricted resort to gain experience needed for her dream job. One day she takes a spill from a ladder and wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the entire summer. Her nemesis, Jonah, is there acting like a love sick boyfriend and she is at a loss as to how that happened or if it is real. Meanwhile, Jonah is patient, kind and heartbroken. He gives her space. The two continue working together and her memories remain hidden.
As her time to leave approaches, can he stand to let her go and can she bear to leave? His family and the whole package of “home” calls to her, It is something she longs for. Can she measure what she has with Jonah against the dream job of a lifetime in Boston? Will her past guide her or will her heart?
The audiobook narration was very well done by Kim Churchill. She brought the story to life and gave the characters their own voices. I think I loved the audiobook more because of her voice. Great job!
I would like to thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the privilege to review and ARC of this audio publication.

This was a phenomenal love story with so many layers. The char@caters are expertly crafted and the story draws you in from start to finish.
I give it 5/5 ⭐️s.

Before We Were Us, by Denise Hunter, is a well plotted story relating the repercussions to one’s life after experiencing a traumatic brain injury. Lauren Wentworth is working as manager of the family owned lakeside Pinehaven Resort in Pinehaven, New Hampshire. Having had dreams of working for the elite corporate event planning company in Boston, Glitter, when Lauren is offered a paid internship by the company owner working at the resort to get management experience after owner Tom Landry suffers a heart attack.

Lauren quickly takes the opportunity given her expecting a fancy resort. When Lauren arrives at the resort, however, she finds more of a family fishing camp. She tries to make the most of it with Glitter in her sights at the end of the year. While Tom and Tammy are lovely, and their daughter Meg is delightful, their son Jonah is an enigma that rather brings out the hate at first sight reaction until it doesn’t.

On the day Jonah plans to propose at a fancy dinner, they first go to the old barn on the property that they are renovating as an event space. Taking in the view below the old loft affords, Lauren and Jonah are already making future plans. That is until a misstep on the loft ladder finds Lauren crumpled on the barn floor unresponsive. With a quick 911 call it still seems like forever before emergency services arrives and transports Lauren, accompanied by Jonah, to the hospital. However, when Lauren finally awakes it is determined that she has lost the last several months of memory and remembers nothing of her relationship with Jonah and is still in the time before they were together. From there, the story evolves to tell what happens as Lauren returns to the resort as well as how she plans to leave at the beginning of the year.

This is another well written and heartfelt story by Denise Hunter. With wonderful characters, a lovely, well described setting, and a focus on the seriousness of head injuries, this is one more must read from this author. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Cute story of re-falling in love after a memory loss issue. It explores the idea of if you love something let it go. There are times where I felt like Jonah was too nice and sweet. When faced with the hardship there should be more frustration and deeper emotional rollercoaster on his end. It felt like it could have gone deeper to make the story feel a bit more real. It reminded me of a sad Hallmark or Lifetime movie because of this.

Lauren and Jonah have had an unexpected romance when she moved to rural New Hampshire to get job experience working at Jonah’s family’s resort. Starting out as hostile co-workers, the two slowly let each other in and fall in love. But things take an even more unexpected turn when Lauren gets in a freak accident causing her to loose her memory of the last few months and she completely forgets that she is in love with Jonah. She only remembers the hostility she felt toward him when she first arrived. The story gives current day and flashbacks to the past as you get a detailed look at their relationship. This story is filled with heartwarming moments, a good amount of emotional depth, lovable characters, and a rich setting that will leave you wanting to research a trip to New Hampshire.

I’ve been a fan of Denise Hunter for quite a few years now, but I think this may take the cake as my favorite book by her. If you are looking for a clean, fall romance with a rich setting and engaging story, then I would give this book a try! I know this book will be a huge hit at our library this fall as many of our patrons have fallen in love with her books over the last year.

The story was very engaging and I really appreciated her adding in a few more faith elements than her last few books- would love to see more of this! I also loved the different timelines and emotional depth to this story. I found myself getting really connected and invested into the story to where I didn’t want to put the book down (this is not a normal occurrence for me).

Content Notes: themes of abandonment/foster care/adoption, moderate panic attacks/anxiety representation, clean/kisses only

This is a heartwarming and romantic tale that will captivate readers who adore stories of second chances, self-discovery, and the transformative power of love, making it a perfect fit for fans of uplifting and emotional romance novels.

Aw, this was sweet! I liked that it was set in New Hampshire in the autumn. It made it feel very cosy.

Before We Were Us tells the story of a couple who is very much a case of enemies to lovers. An unexpected accident causes the woman to lose her memory shortly before the man is planning to purpose. Even worse, her only memories end at the enemy stage. Will her happy memories return? Will he win her back? Read it to find out!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook!

WOW! I was hooked from the beginning with this one! And although it was fairly predictable throughout, it was still very angsty and tugged at my heartstrings. I absolutely fell for the MMC and there's a valuable lesson in learning to truly love someone. This story is told in third-person POV from primarily alternating dual perspectives and I listened to the audio version which was had great narration. The story is clean (no swearing, kissing only without the "spice" but all the emotion). The ending caught me by surprise which, as an avid reader, pushed this book to a 5 star read/listen! I'm really looking forward to reading more by this author! *I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author/publishing company in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just as Jonah was about to propose to Lauren, a horrible accident happened to Lauren that caused her to lose all memories from the past couple of months. These memories included her entire relationship with Jonah. I loved this story. The characters felt real and Jonah’s determination to both help Lauren remember and to give her the space she needed was great. I loved the alternating chapters of Jonah and Lauren’s points of view. The side characters and the small-town setting were wonderful. I think everyone has an internal debate if you are making the right decision, whatever choice / decision you have. Lauren was very relatable because of this. It is fantastic when books take you on a memorable journey, this one is worth the ride.

A Hallmark Movie in book form.

Sweet and touching. A great beach read. Nice relaxing story. Great setting.

I liked how the main male character was so patient. All the characters seemed real to life with real reactions and feelings.

Thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the arc.

Oh I loved this story! Such a unique story line for amnesia. It held my attention all the way through the book. Such a good book and was glad to have read it. Hunter is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint in this latest release

The audiobook narrator was easy to listen for hours.