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!

This was a great read with not so much a plot twist but a lovely curve twist that the clues were there to all along.

I was really invested in Liv's second chance opportunity the find out what happened when her boyfriend. Kit when missing - presumed dead.

Seven years later she finds out her answers and realises that maybe her destiny was always supposed to be where she ended up.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

A sweet time slip romance, a lovely blend of mystery and romance. The writing was well paced and the plot solid, resulting in an easy to read story.

Some of the characters were one dimensional, and would have benefitted from further development, but overall it was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

Brilliant! There was so much thought, romance and mystery in this book. I was hooked early on, and couldn’t put the book down. There were twists that I absolutely didn’t expect- with a story so beautifully written.

This novel is a beautifully written blend of romance, mystery, and a touch of magical realism that keeps you turning the pages. The story follows Liv, who, on the morning of her wedding day, is inexplicably transported back in time to the week leading up to her boyfriend Kit’s mysterious disappearance seven years prior. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster as Liv navigates love, loss, and the delicate balance of fate.

The structure of the book is impressive. Each chapter builds suspense and keeps you guessing about Kit’s disappearance and the choices Liv must make. The emotional depth of Liv’s character is compelling, as she grapples with grief, self-discovery, and the possibility of rewriting her past.

While some parts were a bit descriptive and slowed the pace, the overall narrative was captivating. The balance between romance and mystery was spot-on, and the twists and revelations were both surprising and satisfying. Liv’s resilience and the relationships she builds—both in the past and present—make this a heartfelt and thought-provoking read.

If you’re looking for a story that combines emotional depth with an intriguing plot and a dash of the unexpected, The One Before the One is definitely worth picking up. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I can't say much without spoiling so just Wow. Wow Wow Wow! The One Before the One was so beautifully written, theres romance, mystery, and time travel. This all kept me glued to the book, I couldnt put it down because I just had to know what happened next. Though this was one of those books you don't really know what's going to happen next. I never expected the twist that was threw in and had to pause and reread a few chapters to make sure I was reading right😆

Anyway, perfect book, highly recommended, add it to your tbr you won't regret it I promise!

I love when a book makes me want to talk about it and tell others about what I am reading. This book had so many twists that I didn't see coming I just had to keep reading to find out what came next. Liv goes back in time and is able to learn more information about what happened during an important time in her life. No spoilers here, just grab this book and read it for yourself! You won't be able to put it down.

I've read a few of Emma Cooper's books before, and although I'm not usually a huge romance reader, I love how she subverts what I would expect from the genre to create some really interesting plot lines. The One Before The One is no different and it drew me in from the beginning and held my attention until the very end.

The heroine of The One Before The One is Liv, and there are large sections of the novel that are narrated by her. I loved the opportunity this gave me to get to know her. I really liked her character - she is loyal and kind, intelligent and has a warm sense of humour and I could easily see myself being friends with her. I couldn't stop reading to make sure she got the ending she wanted.

The One Before The One has two different time frames: 2016 and 2023. I found it fascinating to look more closely at Liv's relationships at these times. At first, I did find the timelines slightly confusing, but once I got my head around it, I found it to be a really inventive and engaging way of telling Liv's story.

It's really difficult to describe the plot in detail without giving away spoilers, but I loved that it went in a direction I wasn't expecting at almost every turn and I'll be thinking about this story for a long time to come.

This one started out making me think of the book One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which made me really love it in the beginning. It then took a turn when time travel happened and we ended up in the past. I was in suspense over the big mystery as to why Kit went missing/was presumed dead. I enjoyed getting to know him, Liv, and James. When the mysterious reason was finally revealed though, I felt pretty let down. Yes, it was what I assumed had happened, but it still felt disappointing. I was hoping for this huge, jaw dropping moment that just never came. The ending was exactly how I wanted it to go with what happened to Liv, so that made up some points for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Emma Cooper for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of The One Before the One in the return of an honest review.

This book had incredible potential. It gave mystery, a good love story, and tender moments. However… I felt so let down by the secret. :( It fell sooo flat for me… I am not sure what I was even expecting… but it was not that. I also was icked out when Kit came back and made a joke about being able to disappear fast when he was thinking about where James had went. There were also a good amount of conversations that I didn’t know which character was talking or saying what. All in all, still an entertaining read, I just felt like the ending was… not my favorite.

OMG, where do I start with this book?
First, I want to review with no spoilers, but that will be sooo hard to squeal about the twists and turns without giving things away!
So, can you imagine having the chance to go back to a 'better' time in the past and making some changes that could change the trajectory of your life?
Liv finds herself in that same situation, except on the eve of her wedding.
After losing her fiance, Kit, tragically, it has taken her years to come to terms with his disappearance finally. She has taken steps to move forward and seems happy until a freak moment takes her back seven years to the week before Kit's disappearance.
This is where the story takes off. There is a dual POV and a shifting timeline. Short chapters take us through Liv's experiences as she relives a week where she is not sure she can change anything, but she learns a lot about her own life that she had no idea about. And the experiences of one who left in the days after his disappearance.
I don't want to be cryptic, but I can't say too much other than I was gripped and confused in a good way. This romantic mystery, as I think it should be tagged, had many twists, which made me double-check things. It was so cleverly written that I didn't know what was going on for a while!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

I loved this book. It wasn’t predicable to me. It surprised me. It had a great plot. Overall I am satisfied with this read.

I absolutely loved this book, sat up reading it until dawn as I was so enraptured with the story and the characters, I couldn’t bear to put it down.

Liv is the main protagonist in the story and the book features the relationship between her and her fiancé and his brother that disappeared one day without explanation. Liv gets the chance to go back in time to discover what, if any, explanation there could be and at the same time discovers things she may have missed the first time.

The book is so beautifully written with such care and depth of character that I was disappointed to get to the end. I could see this as a film and pictured the central characters clearly in my mind.

Will definitely be recommending this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what can I say another brilliant read from this fabulous author who has the capability to tear your heart into about a million pieces and put it back together again. This story drew me in from the start and was an emotional read with dual points of views and lots of twists and mystery about it. The time travel element worked beautifully and added to the brilliance of this book.

I will remember this book for a while to come

I told my husband about this book! Let me tell you, I read 2 books a week and rarely tell him about what I'm reading but this book! Wow!
The nostalgic feel, the mystery, the characters are all woven so intricately and to mention (no spoilers but a serious topic which comes to light during the book- when you read it you'll know what I'm talking about) in such a passionate way actually brought tears to my eyes. I personally after discussion with my husband (who wants to read it) think if this book changed the title, then this could potentially reach more readers...The title suggests that it's a romance story but this is so MUCH MORE! Definitely a don't judge a book by its cover, title or synopsis kind of book.

I love it that much I think this should be picked up and made into a movie!

When the worst happens, eventually life moves on in some way even though the life you now have, well that’s totally different. But what if everything you knew was wrong, what if the past played out differently, what if you knew things now you didn’t know then and got the chance to go back?

Love is complicated, hard and given in many ways to many people. This story challenges true love, forever love and the different paths a person can take if they know everything there is to know.

An intriguing story with a unique concept - almost sliding doorsesque which was interesting. I found my feelings towards certain characters changing throughout, not that I disliked any of the characters but who I was rooting for completely changed!

Heartfelt read! Would definitely recommend

My first book of 2025 and I started and finished it in one day! Once I started I could not stop. Emma gripped me from the very first page and didn’t let go…
The writing was fantastic. Characters very relatable and I didn’t see the twists coming! I don’t usually love back and forth storylines but this was done perfectly. I honestly don’t have a single bad thing to say!

There is such a lot going on in this book. Romance, mystery, time travel, betrayal and some really surprising twists that made me pause and have to re-read as I never saw them coming. This all kept me glued to the book and the ending was perfect. I shall certainly look out for further books from this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. This review is voluntarily given.

💌Arc review

The book revolves around Liv and her life's struggles as her boyfriend who she planned to marry, leaves her and is thought of by everyone to be dead.

A wonderful book including elements of time slip, slight love triangle and a wholeheartedly optimistic ending. Certain scenes which make you blush, and the fluff that the book contains are quite memorable and provides the reader a sense of hope, faith and optimism that life works out in the end, even when you think it doesn't. And that everything happens for the best.

A lesson I personally took from the book is that sometimes all we have to do when we are stuck is to retrace our steps and see what we missed out on. And that learning to differentiate infatuation with true love is necessary for a relationship, as much as communication is (which we have seen in the book, the lack of communication leading to the last few scenes).

[Spoilers from here on]

A book dealing with the struggles of addiction is one I have never been able to relate much to, however I felt extremely bad for Liv and felt her pain as my own when she realized the reason Kit left. I felt my own heart breaking alongside her.

Having rooted for James from the beginning, I spent time blushing as he confessed his love to her. The optimistic tone of the book gives me hope that we just need to pause for a minute and we may find that life isn't all that bad.


-Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for making this possible!

5/5

Liv's boyfriend, Kit, left for a hike one Friday morning and disappeared. With no indication from police that he would've ran away and evidence to suggest dangerous activities gone wrong, he is presumed dead. Now, seven years later, Liv is in love and preparing to get married. On the morning of her wedding day, she finds a clue that leads her to believe Kit may still be alive. But before she is able to answer all her new questions, she steps into the past...literally. One moment, she is walking through her hotel room door, and the next, she is stepping into her home, seven years ago, with Kit as alive and vibrant as he was before she lost him. Realizing she has been sent back in time to one week before his disappearance, Liv must figure out what truly happened the day of he left and what the repercussions of saving him must be.

This was such an unexpected five-star read for me! The premise is so unique, especially with the backstory of James, Kit, and Liv. The execution was so well-done! I found myself having doubts at the very beginning, but I absolutely devoured it, especially once Liv is transported back in time to being with Kit before his disappearance. I thought the writing was great. The two different POVs that we are given were amazing, especially with the reveal given towards the end. I love how Liv is given a different perspective on both James and Kit by going back in time. The mystery-solving portion of the story had me on my toes and wanting just to keep reading. The resolution was beautiful, and I was so very glad that there wasn't any back-and-forth or overthinking on Liv's part. I was happy to see the resolution for all the main characters as well as the healing that happened for the family members and side characters. I really loved the heart of this book, and would love to read more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC; all opinions are my own.