“Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over but can she change her future? And does she want to?”

The One Before The One was such a surprise of a book. If you’re one to judge a book by its cover (guilty at times!) then I do think this one will be very different than what you expect. It was such a sweet blend of romance and mystery and not as “fluffy” as I anticipated. There were times I flipped back and forth on who to root for but I love how each timeline was revealed and was a fan of how it wrapped up in the end. I don’t want to give too much away with this one but want to say Bravo Emma!

Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over, but can she change her future...? And does she want to?

Liv's Boyfriend, Kit, disappears one day while out on a hike. No body is found but 7 years later after moving on with her life & on the morning of her wedding she finds herself back in time to before Kit disappeared.

Can she find out what happened to make him leave & in doing so can she save him?

I enjoyed parts of this but also found it quite confusing. I'm not a huge fan of time travel storylines so that's definitely a personal reflection nothing on the book itself!

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

What would you do if you stepped through a doorway and find yourself 7 years back in time???? That’s what happens to Liv on her wedding day of all days.
How will Liv decide to handle this unexpected curve in her life? Her tragic past plays a big part in her decisions.
Will she make the best decision for her happiness?
Can she figure out what is going on?
Will the truth about the past help her make the right decision?
I loved the mystery suspense as well as the romance aspect.
That ending? You are either going to love it or hate it ;)
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Synopsis:

Seven years ago, Liv experienced what no one ever wants to experience, her boyfriend Kit disappeared while on a hike and was presumed dead. Liv and his brother, James, searched for long periods of time trying to find him but finally moved on. Liv found love again and as she's about to marry the new love of her life, she is transported back seven years with the magic of time travel. She then has the opportunity to investigate what led up to Kit's disappearance.

Will she be able to change the future and save her first love, Kit? If so, how will this alter her current timeline as she's about to walk down the aisle?

There is an alternating timeline between present day and seven years ago and it surprises you for sure.

Thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book and read it very quickly once I had the time to read it. 4.5 stars! Would definitely recommend anyone who loves romance, mystery, and time travel to read this book. I had never read a book by this author before now but will definitely be checking out her other novels.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The One Before The One could end up being one of my favorite reads this year. Written by British author Emma Cooper, this contemporary novel spans multiple genres -- romance, mystery, suspense, women's fiction, literary fiction, magical realism, and family drama. This is the first book I've read from Emma Cooper but now she's a new auto-read author for me.

I believe it's best to go into this book blind and let the surprises start there. But, for a very short summary of the primary plot: Main character Liv's boyfriend Kit disappeared suddenly. Liv searches for Kit for years with the help of Kit's brother James. Eventually, life begins to move on, Kit is presumed dead, and James and Liv develop a romantic relationship. Then, on the day of James and Kit's wedding, there are signs that Kit is indeed still alive. Liv is determined to investigate this new evidence, ends up in a time-warp version of the past, and tries to figure out what happened and how to move forward. There are several other themes/plot points but I won't spoil them here.

This book took me on a journey. The settings (England and Scotland) were beautifully described, and, as an American reader, I enjoyed reading the British lingo and looking up a few new terms for everyday items. Example: I didn't know a lounge meant a living room until I looked it up.

The plot reminded me of One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but this book was its own unique story and stood on it's own two feet. The writing was compelling and I loved the multiple points of view and the way I had to assume/guess who was speaking to try to solve the mystery. That being said, I didn't figure it out at all on my own -- which I loved! I didn't pick up on the breadcrumbs and I love that the author got those past me!

The movie/pop-culture references were also just a fun way I connected with the book as a millennial. The length and pacing of the book felt just right.

Content Considerations: Moderate use of strong language. Romance is fade to black, and main characters live together before marriage. One LGBT side character with some brief discussion about being in a same-sex relationship. At least one heavy theme but could be considered a spoiler to write it here.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

This is a story about a woman whose first love disappears one day and 7 years later on her wedding day she goes back in time to solve the mystery of why.

I read this book in 24hours! Although the story can be confusing at times it did peak my interest and I couldn’t put it down! I just had to know what happened and how the story ended.

There is a lot of twists and turns, character growth, sadness and hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read this book before the release date.

This book was so much more than I expected. It is deep and emotional not lighthearted and fluffy. We meet Liv and she finds a piece of jewelry from her previous boyfriend. Cue the time travel. I was hooked from the start and if I could give this one 10 stars I would. I loved the multiple POVs, the mystery aspect and how it touched my heart. It's a tearjerker!

⭐3.5

I really enjoyed this book
It was fast Paced
Written well and an easy read
I love the cover
And overall such a good story

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I loved this one! If you're into books that grab your attention and won’t let go, The One Before the One by Emma Cooper is definitely one to check out. The story follows Olivia, who’s about to marry her fiancé... who also happens to be the brother of her long-lost boyfriend, Kit. Kit disappeared seven years ago, and just as Olivia's ready to start this new chapter, she’s suddenly thrown back in time. Now, she’s reliving the week before Kit vanished, armed with

the chance to change what happened. Can she stop him from going on that fateful hike? Can she uncover the truth? And how will this second chance impact her future?

This story had all kinds of feelings wrapped into it—heartbreak, hope, love, and suspense. It kept me glued to the pages as I tried to guess the answers to the mystery before Olivia did. The characters felt so real, like people you’d want to be friends with, and there’s something endearing about each of them. Emma Cooper's writing made the emotions hit home in the best way possible.

If you enjoy heartfelt stories with a touch of mystery and a lot of emotion, this might be your next favorite read. Fans of writers like Paige Toon will probably fall in love with this book, just like I did!
4.5 Stars!

What a lovely book! I was pleasantly surprised at how it had some unexpected turns and twists. This is not just any standard love story. The author wrote from two different time stamps- past and present, and did so wonderfully. It was easy to follow and the characters are great- I was not left wanting to know more about them. She covered everything you need to know. It took a few chapters to have me hooked, and wanting to know more. I would have read this in one sitting if life allowed me to.
I strongly recommend to anyone who enjoys past and present storylines, twists and turns but without it being completely shattering and not overly lovey dovey!
I would gladly pick up another book by this author.

4.5 stars. This was a very interesting book. The time travel thing had me a little hesitant to read it, but it really added to the depth of the story. The story is highly emotional and the storyline is a web of the characters' regret, love, mourning, confusion and hope.

Liv's boyfriend goes for a hike one day and disappears. She spends what turns out to be years trying to figure out what happened to him and making her way through the grief. Finally on the way to her happily ever after, she is suddenly confronted with new questions. She walks through a door on her wedding day and finds herself back seven years ago (six days before he leaves) in the flat that she shares with Kit. She has six days to try to figure out what happened and see if she can change it.

This was a really good story. I plan to read more by this author.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts are mine.

*4 stars rounded up*

When Liv wakes up on her wedding day only to find herself transported 7 years in the past, she's suddenly faced with a decision between the man she is about to marry, or the man she loved all that time ago just before he went missing.

There were so many twists in this book and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed finishing a segment and staring at the wall for half an hour every few chapters. There were some characters I loved, and a few that possessed defining traits that felt a little superfluous. Perhaps it's just me, but I didn't see the deeper meaning in Liv's mom's disorder. Typically when something is meant to stand out like that, I see a tie to it in another character. However, in this case it felt a little odd.

I do have to say though that this writing style was not for me. Honestly, I found myself annoyed (especially the last 1/3 of the book) by all the sentence fragments. For me, personally, I would rather read more run-on sentences than necessary than have. An exorbitant amount. Of sentences. Like this. It was frustrating to read, and I felt that, had it been used more effectively, I would have been more involved in the storyline mentally than finding myself having to take a break from it so often. It felt cold to me, and yet other times throughout the book I felt transported to the scene the author was describing. I could picture the vivid greens of the fields, and the depth and dangers of the caves and cliffs. It felt a little jarring at time to then be suddenly hit with so many staccato thoughts.

Overall, I enjoyed this read! On a list of yes, no, maybe...for me it would be a maybe. For those who like romances that have an edge to them and some mystery, this is a great choice! There was no spice, so if you're also looking for a story without any, this is a great option (because I think most romances without spice seem cringey when it comes to the flirting, but this didn't lose any of my attention without it). If you're an Outlander lover who likes a little taste of Lisa Jewell on the side, this is your #1 read of 2025!

LOOOOVED IT SOOOO MUCH OMG I absolutely love Emma Cooper and I was so excited to be given the chance to read this and omg I was literally OBSESSED!!!

LOVED it. 5 stars,
Really great, well written fluff - and I mean that as a compliment.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the time travel element but I really enjoyed it.
An excellent book club read and one to definitely pack for summer holidays.
I look forward to reading more from Emma Cooper.

I've often wondered if I could o back and relive times in my life with my experience and knowledge from now would I perceive this in the same way, or would I see things / do things differently and that's Liv gets the chance to do.
There's also the fact she can spend time with her first love who 7 years in the future she believes to be dead, and she has moved on with a new love - his brother. Now she has a week with both men that she loves - but if she can only have one who should she choose?
I love the twist in perspective we get half way through the book - that completely surprised me and made me want to go back and reread chapters to see if I gained better understanding.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I absolutely loved this! I do have a special place in my heart for time-travel romance stories but they can be tedious if not done correctly, or if the "science" behind it isn't just right. This hit the mark perfectly!

First off, the prose is fantastic. The words paint vivid images and that means a lot coming from me, since I think many books are wordy and/or overly descriptive. This book didn't waste time or words. I didn't find myself skimming past anything.

It had a little bit of everything! You get a lot of bang for your buck with this. There's time-travel, romance, angst, grief, intrigue, and to top it off, it's actually really funny. The two main characters are so quick-witted and they possess a self-awareness that fictional characters don't always have.

Liv is about to get married to the love of her life...'s brother. Her ex, Kit, vanished without a trace nearly a decade ago and since that time she's fallen in love with his brother, James. I know you're thinking "trauma bond" but they seem really in love.

Minutes before the wedding, Liv is catapulted into the past through forces unknown. Kit is here! But so is James, and he's her boyfriend's rude brother not her fiance. All those years they spent together don't exist yet to him. She has loved these two men differently but fiercely, so this is a little awkward.

What's a girl to do? She knows she has to save Kit if at all possible so she buckles into this timeline to try and solve the mystery and what the future holds romantically can be decided later.

There were so many layers to this. It's one of those books I'll be thinking about for a long time. I definitely recommend it and it would make a great book club read. Hint hint, I'm available to discuss this book.

On the day of her wedding to James, instead of walking down the aisle, Liv steps through a door into her past, seven years into her past. She finds herself in the old flat she shared with Kit and it's six days before he disappears, presumed dead. Can she live those last days again and find the answers she's searched for? Could she even change the past and save Kit? And if she can save him will she still marry James, who just happens to be Kit's brother?

This is a book that really captured my attention with its poignant and unique storyline. It dives deep into the complexities of grief, loss and learning to love again. The time slip element added layers of mystery and intrigue that had me gripped and kept me turning the pages.

Emma Cooper has delivered a heartfelt and thought provoking read that made me cry, laugh and all the feels inbetween.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance copy to review.

Much better than I expected as the story started off a bit cliche, but I was drawn in by all the plot twists and new events. Was so engaged that I finished it in a day

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

Seven years ago Liv's boyfriend Kit disappeared after going for a hike. Now, she’s getting married, to James, the brother of Kit.

Liv goes back in time to before Kit disappeared/died. Can she figure out what happened? What will happen to what she feels for James if she does?

The story had a mystery element to it and a twist. It kept you engaged.

I highly recommend this book.

A very original storyline which kept me intrigued from start to finish. I really enjoyed the way the story was narrated from various characters and at different stages in time and liked the well developed characters.
No spoilers in this review though.
I didn’t really know until the book finished how this would end. I enjoyed it a lot and I felt the life challenges it threw up were very realistic and effectively portrayed.
4 stars