Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC of The One Before the One by Emma Cooper, in exchange for my honest review.

Mind-blowing perfection! Every single star!

You know a book is good when you're not paying attention to how long you've been on the dreadmill (<--that is not a typo).

This story was extremely well-written; the characters, the dialog, the twists! Oh my, the twists were amazing!

I will definitely be reading this book again.

Emma Cooper, you are remarkable! Phenomenal writing!

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC! I really enjoyed reading this romance with its little bit of mystery and suspense. There were some great twists and turns throughout this book! I enjoyed the characters and how Emma wrote them. Highly recommend if you want something to draw and keep your attention.

Seven years earlier…Liv’s boyfriend leaves on a hike to never be seen again.
Until her wedding day to none other than his brother: we’ve all read a trope like this except this features some time travel to the week he left with Liv trying trying to piece together what made him disappear: unlike many stories with this format, there is no confusion with our main character on who to end with. She is locked in her current relationship. The story is easy to consume, I read in a single setting.

I think at the time of release many will appreciate the nature of looking back, but powering forward with certainty.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes time travel in books can feel a bit confusing, but this was done really well by Emma. I was rooting for every character throughout the book and felt emotionally invested in each one we met, too! I started reading this book when I was in the middle of something and was genuinely upset when I had to step away. Read in one day because I just couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Liv thought her life ended the day her boyfriend Kit left for a hike and never returned. Presumed dead, Liv grieved his loss and fought hard to continue on. Seven years have passed and on the eve of her wedding she steps through a doorway that lands her back in time six days before Kit leaves. She now has the chance to change the course of events that take place. Can she save Kit, and if she does will she have to choose between him and the man she loves?

This book was really interesting and captured my attention. The mystery plot is fun, and I was invested in Liv’s search for answers. The romance left a lot to be desired. I wish we could have seen more scenes between James and Liv in the present timeline. We don’t really get to see their relationship, we’re just told about it. Because of this, I didn’t quite feel the connection between them.

I would say this falls more in the realm of women’s fiction. For the romance fans just know it’s light on the romance. That being said it’s still a good book with an interesting storyline.

I could not love this book more!
A fantastic combination of chasing the truth, questioning the reality of who you can trust, and a real love story that unfurls to be uplifting and hopeful.
There's one part that threw me so much I had to go back over it several times, so well written!

This was such a heartfelt and poignant story about love, loss, and finding the courage to move forward! The novel follows Freya, a woman struggling to let go of her past while grappling with the possibility of a new future. As she reflects on the relationships that have shaped her, Freya’s journey of self-discovery is both moving and relatable. Cooper’s writing is full of emotion, capturing the complexities of love and heartache in a way that feels authentic and deeply human.

The characters are well-developed and layered, with Freya’s internal conflict and growth being the emotional core of the book. The romance, while slow-burning, is tender and full of hope, making it a satisfying aspect of the story. Cooper expertly balances moments of humor and lightness with the heavier themes of grief and healing, resulting in a narrative that is both uplifting and thought-provoking. This book is a beautifully written exploration of second chances, making it an ideal read for fans of emotional, character-driven fiction.

A time-bending, well-written novel that grabs you from the first word but struggles a little to keep,you engaged until the end.

“The One Before the One” is a romance book (possibly a second chance - maybe?) with a bit of magic thrown in. Liv, on the day she’s to marry her husband, discovers that he’s disappeared - which was eerily similar to what happened to her seven years ago with her soon-to-be-husand’s brother. I thought Ms. Cooper deftly handed the whole “yes, I was dating your brother, but now I’m going to marry you” thing very well. I liked how the time travel worked and I liked how Liv and James worked together in the past timeline. I’m not sure how I feel about James and Kit’s mother, though - though her husband, Alan, seemed rather cool. Yes, they were minor characters, but the parents’ role was a part of this book. I cannot say that I loved this book, but I found the idea - and timelines - to be interesting ones to explore. Overall, an enjoyable read.

I received an ARC of The One Before The One from NetGalley. I haven’t read any of Emma’s books before but this one sounded interesting. I absolutely loved this book! It has many twists - some I saw coming and several that took me by surprise. It has a love story but there’s many bigger themes. I highly recommend this as a must read for 2025!

This was a really lovely read! It was nostalgic and romantic, and one I will remember for awhile.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this via Netgalley.

'The One Before The One' is an achingly beautiful read from Cooper. From the beginning, I knew I would love this book and the more I read the more it took of my heart. Cooper tells this in two time periods and although I did work out the twist early on, I relished reading about the goings on and seeing how the characters get there. Cooper portrays a lot of emotions in this book and does so spectacularly well. Most of all, love is captured simply and beautifully.
The characters really make this book, Liv, Kit and James are three characters whom I have taken into my heart and they will have a special place there. This was a complete joy to read and I cannot wait for Cooper to write another.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

ARC REVIEW - no spoilers (I promise) 🫶

Synopsis: Seven years after Kit’s disappearance, Liv has rebuilt her life and found love again—until her wedding day, when she’s inexplicably thrown back to the week before he vanished. With six days to uncover the truth and possibly save him, Liv faces an impossible choice: the man she loved then or the one she loves now.

This book is stunning—I READ IT IN ONE SITTING!! Overall, a perfect blend of mystery, romance, and tension. The twists, especially in towards the end of book I definitely did not see coming!!

I thought the character of Liv was written so well, and I really enjoyed her!

Would highly recommend 🤍⭐️

- thank you NetGalley for the ARC

The One Before the One by Emma Cooper is simply amazing.

When Liv’s boyfriend Kit disappeared on a hike, seven years earlier, she thought her life was over. But with the help of their family and friends, she’s pushed her way through the grief, and now, miraculously, she's found a way to love again. On the morning of her wedding, she steps through a door and has somehow gone back in time to the week before Kit disappeared. She can change fate, but will she?

Ms. Cooper put together a romantic, mystery, disappearance, true love and several other tropes together and somehow makes them work. I loved Liv and her loyalty and love for both male main characters and you can empathize with her through the entire story. She faces hard decisions no matter what she chooses and though the ending may be bittersweet to some (me included), I loved it.

This is my first Emma Cooper book, but most definitely won't be my last. I can't wait to be able to buy a physical copy of this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

this novel was truly lovely. the blend of mystery and romance was executed beautifully. the writing flowed smoothly, making the story easy to follow. i did wish for a bit more character depth, and at times it felt like it dragged on, but overall, i really enjoyed it.

The One Before The One by Emma Cooper

I am not usually a romance fan. Key word 'usually.' And yet, here I am doling out an easy 5 stars!

I discovered Emma's writing earlier this year when researching local authors and immediately became a fan. It's a great moment when a writer can pull you from your comfort zones and not only show you something different, but make you feel something too.

And so enter Emma's newest book, The One Before The One. One of them is Kit. The other is James... Kits brother. And if that isn't a tangle enough, then I implore you to pre-order your copy to discover in the New Year what brought them all together and what pulled them apart, as well as all the twists and intrigue along the way. Did I mention there's a travelling back to the past element too? I wasn't sure what I'd make of it, but it worked so well and felt so real.

This book is an emotive read that piques curiosity and makes you question what you would do in Livs position. I genuinely felt moved at times reading this and went back and forth a few times on my theories. For fans of romance and conundrums, this book will hook you from the start and keep you engaged until the very end. It's so well-written and I felt such a connection to the characters and the outcome that I devoured it in less than a day!

What a beautiful novel! It’s been a while since I was so enthralled by a book that I had to stay up all night until I finished it.

The premise, the twist, the writing style, the character development and the emotions this novel stirred in me are nothing short of magical.

Hopefully, this won’t be my last book by Emma Cooper.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher.

Not gonna lie, I picked this one solely based on the cover and title. I clearly have fantastic taste because this was soo good. Emma Cooper is a new to me author and I’m definitely going to be looking at her backlist after this one.

The book follows Liv who finds herself questioning the life she’s built and the choices that have led her there. Her boyfriend, Kit, vanished during a hike years prior. After enduring immense grief, Liv has rebuilt her life and is on the verge of marrying James. However, on her wedding day, she somehow finds herself transported back to the time just before Kit’s disappearance. Presented with the opportunity to alter the past, Liv faces a profound dilemma of if should she attempt to change history, and if so, what implications will it have for her present and future?

I did find some parts dragged a bit and there was a tiny bit of skimming as the book was quite descriptive. Other than that, this was the perfect blend of mystery, romance and magical realism. The book description might have you thinking you have this figured out but I promise you, you don’t. Recommend for anyone looking for an emotional rollercoaster.

This one had me hooked from the beginning. I can't wait to see what this author writes next. Thanks for the chance at the early read.

Wow this one had me hooked from the beginning. I liked Liv and her figuring out what she wants her life to look like after all this time. After all the heartache she's been through.
The trip into the past you learn a lot about her relationship with Kit and you learn more about James, as he was always there in the background.
There were some shockers, but they really helped Liv figure out who she is supposed to be with.

A book that keeps you hooked from the beginning.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.