I thought this book was slow to get going. I became more engaged in the story around half-way through. I thought the flashbacks were too wordy, boring in fact, and I skim read those parts. I didn't like being mislead regarding the brothers. I think we needed more scenes with Liv and James. Also, what James did . . . Not on, not when you think what Kit did. I'm surprised Liv wanted to be with either brother after that. I was rooting for the ending we were eventually given. With thanks to NetGalely for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, wow, wow! This book was so good!

The story pulled me in from the very start. Yes, there was no real explanation for the time-travel aspect but it worked and the story was well-executed with plenty of emotions, twists and turns.

The characters were wonderfully written. I loved how composed and level-headed Liv was. I loved how invested I was in rooting for Liv when she was trying to catch Kit out and I loved how she stayed loyal to her true love.

I got this book from NetGallery.

Wow, what a beautiful book! I really loved it!
It is a romantic story with a touch of mystery. You want to know what happened to Kit. And whether they will find each other again.

I really liked how the story was told from various times (before and after the disappearance) and from different characters. Halfway through I found out that the story after the disappearance was different than I had imagined. You automatically fill in something and then it turns out to be different. What a plot twist! The story remains exciting until the end.

You just feel throughout the book how she is tossed back and forth between the love she felt for both men.

Maybe I will read this book again in a while. The ending is clear, but I think that if you read the story again things will become even clearer, that things will stand out that you may have missed the first time.

I really enjoyed this book and can definitely recommend it. This was my first book of 2025 and if the rest of the year continues like this it promises to be a great book year!

Thank you NetGally for providing me with the ARC!

This book gave me “In Five Years” meets “One True Loves,” two books I throughly enjoyed and this was no different. A time traveling romance with a little mystery and “who will she pick” scattered throughout.

I loved the short chapters that kept me engaged and continuously saying “just one more chapter.” While I wish there was a little more character development, it was a really good book.

I loved this book so much! It was an easy read and it read it in about two days. The author, Emma Cooper, was phenomenal at character descriptions and the back and forth between present time, before he left her, after he left her etc. There's some unexpected twists which I loved. There's also romance in there. Highly recommend.

This book had me gripped from beginning to end. Stayed up late to keep turning pages. This was a fantastic, emotional and suspenseful story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t know how to review this book without being vague because I don’t want to spoil anything!

I went in thinking it was a cute little romcom, time travel story and I was completely surprised at how the book unfolded. It was really fun to read and totally unexpected!

I loved the pacing and the plot. It was one of those books where I kept saying “just one more chapter!”

While it wasn’t the romcom I was expecting, it still ended up being incredibly romantic and I highly recommend going in blind!

Romantic content: innuendo and vague descriptions

*Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC!

Overall, this was a good book with what I felt was a pretty original storyline. It was interesting enough to read in almost one sitting, but I didn't feel strongly connected to any of the characters. There were a lot of complex and interesting storylines happening at the same time, so it was easy to stay invested in what was going on. I would read other books by the same author as I found the writing style pretty easy to follow along, but I don't know if this is a book that would come to mind when someone is asking me for a recommendation.

I absolutely loved this book, and it was so different to anything I've ever read before. It had romance, mystery and time travel. Liv's ex boyfriend has disappeared 7 years ago and on the day of her wedding, she see's a mysterious gift and gets transported back to the past 7 years ago, six days before her ex disappears. Liv is then wanting to finally have answers to what really happened and if it will affect the future for her. The book is easy to follow with each chapter telling you if it's the past, the book honestly kept me on my toes and I wondered what was going to happen next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood for the ARC

I enjoyed the time traveling aspect of this book. I enjoyed the FMC coming to terms with the realization that her first love was not all she remembered and loved and that he in fact was quite flawed. I thought the characters were well written and developed and the ending was very satisfying. You always have Rose colored glasses on the memories of your previous relationships especially if they end in an abrupt/traumatic way so the way the FMC was able to piece together the truth was interesting and made for a fun quick read.

Oliva is getting ready to wed Kit, the brother of her first love James, who disappeared seven years ago. she receives work James is alive, Is everything as it seems with Kit?

"The One Before the One" by Emma Cooper was a deeply moving and thought-provoking read. It explores themes of love, loss, and second chances with sensitivity and grace. The characters felt incredibly real, and I found myself empathizing with their struggles and triumphs. The story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, reminding us of the enduring power of human connection. It's a book that stays with you long after you finish the final page.

What I appreciated: The emotional depth and the exploration of complex relationships. The writing was beautiful and evocative.

What could have been improved: The pacing felt uneven at times.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Emma Cooper is the author who literally has me waiting with bated breath for any of her new novels.
The One before the One is an absolute triumph. It has you second-guessing what is going to happen to the characters right from the opening of the very first page.
On the verge of her wedding, Liv receives life-altering news, that her missing boyfriend Kit is alive.
As the story unfolds, the reader unravels many layers, Liv is marrying Kit's brother, why does Kit disappear, is all as it seems with James, is Liv marrying the right brother and has Liv time traveled into the past to save Kit?
Cooper's characters are realistic, the scenes are authentic and the book was devoured in a day.

Loved it!

My first book of 2025, and it's a good start because I really enjoyed reading it. I find time travel stories really fascinating, especially if it's a love story.

Olivia is getting ready to marry James, the brother of her first love, Kit. Kit went missing seven years ago, leaving both Olivia and James devastated. They conducted search operations for a year but to no avail. Over time, Liv and James fell deeply in love. Now, right on the wedding morning, Liv finds something in James' jacket that shakes her trust in him. And guess what? She finds herself living in the past, six days before Kit disappeared.Would she be able to change the course of destiny? Could she stop Kit from leaving? If yes, then what about James?The writing is so engaging, and the execution of the story is really smart. Conversations are natural. I really liked James and found myself rooting for him. His bonding or banter with Liv or Mac was endearing.

A couple of things, though:The conversations in the ending could have been a little crisper. Also, the epilogue and the extra chapter in the end are totally unnecessary, an attempt to tie the loose ends when there weren't any.

Nevertheless, I really like this book. Very intriguing, interesting, and super engrossing.

✨ARC Review✨
I completely devoured this book in one sitting! This is the first book of Emma’s that I’ve read, and I enjoyed every second of it. The plot line of this story gave me similar vibes to Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston which I also loved. The writing truly kept me on my toes and wanting to read more, which explains why I couldn’t put it down all day! Getting to see the different relationship between Liv and Kit compared to Liv and James was really great to read, the time travel situation was written so smoothly and easy to read. Thanks so much to Emma, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!
5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

I requested this book as a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was quite a bit of mystery involved.

Seven years ago, Liv’s life was turned upside down when her boyfriend goes missing. Now on her wedding day, she finds herself literally stepping into the past as her hotel room turns into her apartment five days before her boyfriend goes missing. She now has to grapple with the idea that she’s somehow in the past with the chance to prevent her boyfriend from going missing. But as the days go on, the life she was living seven years prior begins to unravel.

This magical realism in this novel was executed so well and I loved the dual POV. The writing was done very well and the mystery kept me turning the pages quickly wanting to see what happened. At times it felt like the story dragged a bit, but overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic mysteries.

Emma Cooper's The One Before the One is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and time-traveling intrigue that swept me off my feet. The premise was unique and immediately captivating, and the story absolutely delivered on its promise, leaving me hooked from start to finish.

The time-traveling element was handled masterfully, shrouded in mystery and originality. It added layers to the story and gave it a depth that made it stand out in the genre. As for the romance—swoon! I found myself falling head over heels for one of the brothers. The emotional connection and chemistry were palpable, making the romantic arc one of my favorite parts of the book.

Character development was another strong point. The dual points of view were wonderfully executed, allowing for an intimate understanding of the characters' emotions and motivations. However, I did notice early on which brother’s perspective we were following in the chapters set in Scotland, which slightly lessened the mystery. That said, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

This was my first read of the year, and what a way to start! It’s an absolute five-star book for me. I’m now eager to explore Emma Cooper’s backlist, hoping for more gems like this one. Highly recommend!

Big thank you to the publisher and netgalley to let me experience this story!

This was my first time reading this author. I was hooked on this story from the start!
The characters are likeable and relatable, it is a well written and not just a standard rom-com. There are twists and turns and I couldn't stop reading!
I would highly recommend this book, and will look for more by this author.

Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over, but can she change her future...? And does she want to? This is an amazing book, just buy it, and sit back and enjoy the ride. A massive five shiny stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was expecting an emotional read focusing on lost love. Instead, I got a gripping mystery wrapped up in a love story - definitely not what I expected but it was so good!