You Then, Me Now

This is the second book I have read by Nick Alexander and loved every page, well written with good characters and very descriptive.

I can recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A great fresh, funny and entertaining read. Fast paced, great characters and plot. Highly recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I loved this book. Really well written with strong characters. Told in two timelines with 25 years between them I loved the setting in Santorini and having been there could visualise every spot. A gripping story with some heart wrenching moments but some good humour also. I was very moved by some of the scenarios of how Laura felt while being with Conor and what she owed him due to circumstances. It was so well written and hard to believe this is a male author. Growing up during this time this resonated with me. An excellent read.

You Then, Me Now is a tale told by two women - one mother and one daughter, both telling a story from age 23. Nick Alexander interweaves both stories towards the end of the novel when the big question is answered: who is Becky's father?

I found Laura's (the mother) chapters the most interesting and the ones I looked forward to. Becky's parts were not as compelling, which makes sense because she's not the one who holds the key to a mystery. To me, Laura came off as sympathetic and sheltered. Her response to abuse at first made sense to me, as many victims think, "It's the only time" or "It's the last time." I thought that the final few chapters told from Laura's perspective were the best pieces of writing in the entire book.

I felt that Becky's chapters were not as well-written, especially once they're in Greece. I felt like she was written as more of a 17-year-old than a 23-year-old adult. I did not feel as sympathetic towards Becky's actions as I did Laura's.

It also seemed like the last few chapters were rushed - which could have been on purpose to give the narrative the whirlwind experience that's happening to the characters. I enjoyed how the big reveal went and how the narratives came together, and, besides feeling rushed, I couldn't put the book down during it.

Overall, 4/5 stars! My first novel by Nick Alexander, and I doubt it will be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#YouThenMeNow #NetGalley

After reading Nick Alexander's The Things We Never Said, and loving every page of it, I just had to get stuck into You Then, Me Now.
It is a beautiful story of, love, loss and finding yourself.

Great story and settings. Love the characters. Will be looking at more from nick as this is my first

First, thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-galley of this book.

I loved this story, and have already recommended it to all of my reading buddies.

Laura (Mom) and Becky (daughter) have always been on their own. The story is told from one chapter being Laura's voice and another chapter being Becky's voice. For as long as she can remember, Becky has been told her father had died, so she has created ideas of who her father was, and the kind of man he was. Laura, as long as Becky can remember, has been a Mom who cared for her, and loved her, but there was something always missing. As Becky got older, she felt her Mom wasn't truthful with her, but she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

Somewhere in the story, something draws them to Greece. They are both at places in their lives where they're free to go, so they do, and come to see their true selves.
#NetGalley #YouThenMeNow

This is a beautifully written story about love and loss. A lovely book to curl up with for a few hours.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I have never read a Nick Alexander book before but I'm glad I read this one. I found it a nice easy read and one that I just couldn't put down.

The book is written in dual-narrative between mother and daughter, Laura and Becky. Laura's chapters depict her life in her early twenties and a holiday she took to Santorini. Becky's chapters in the present tell us of her holiday back to Santorini with Laura.

Throughout the chapters we learn what happened to Laura when she was younger, mistakes that were made by her and how her life was changed. Becky begins to understand who her mother was and why she is like she is today.

I have never been to Santorini myself, but a family member has. The way is was described in the book is exactly the same as the pictures I had the pleasure of viewing. I felt as if I was there, I could imagine the beaches and the sunsets vividly. In fact, I now want to go on holiday there.

All in all, this was a superbly written book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was definitely a page-turner for me.

I really liked this book a lot. It was well written with great characters both wonderful and evil. My only complaint would be that at times, it seemed like a travel brochure for the Greek islands. More story, less travelogue! I still thought the book was very good and would recommend it.

This was a slow burner for me, but buy the end I was truly invested! I was looking for a new light read and this fit the bill perfectly.

I loved the chapters alternating between the points of view of mother and daughter; it was a unique approach focusing on Laura's childhood and how it influenced the adult she became, and the mother she now is to Becky. I found Laura quite annoying at first, a bit dippy and without much personality, but learning about her past and her own strict, religious upbringing shed some perspective on this.

I felt that parts of the book reinforced the idea of a woman as a mother figure - Laura and Conor have both had tricky childhoods, but while Conor uses his as an excuse for his angry behaviour, Laura has to put her own scars aside and look after him; she feels sympathy for him, but why, when he treats her so badly? After Conor hits her, she says she needs to get home ASAP, and yet after leaving him at the bar, she goes back to their apartment and gets a full nights' sleep, before waking up, doing her makeup and standing admiring the view. Why would you not just grab your stuff and leave the second you got back to the apartment? Surely you'd be terrified of him turning up and attacking you again?

Laura's self esteem seems really low which isn't surprising given her oppressive upbringing. Given that, I can see why Becky finds her frustrating - she's withholding information about her real Father, and shuts down the subject every time it's raised. However I think Becky's attitude when she meets Lief is really quite childish. She's 24 but is in a mood because he's an 'ordinary guy' and not the superhero she'd hoped for? I could imagine that reaction from a child but not a young woman.

Some aspects seemed a bit far fetched - pushing someone off a cliff and there being zero repercussions - but overall I enjoyed this novel. One to be patient with - it gets better as it goes along! 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

A beautifully written book. This book transported me to the beautiful sunny island of Santorini.
The book is well constructed and the description of detail makes you feel like you are there in the places.
This is a true gem of a read and certainly one not to miss

Mother daughter travel In Greece some of it was too travel guide for me and less story but I loved it and I love travel books and mother daughter relationships so this was all I wanted in a book

This was an easy book to read. The story centres around a mother and daughter who go on holiday to Greece. As the holiday progresses, the relationship between mother and daughter begins to change. Becky the daughter realises that her mother has not been truthful regarding her father who she believes to be dead. Set on a Greek Island it weaves a story of love loss and sadness. The description of the island is magical and the reader gets a real sense of the setting. In essence this is a love story of the past and Becky gets to discover who her father really was.

A little far fetched in places especially around the discovery of her father on the island who is Norwegien but that does not distract from this happy easy to read book.

Like this book a lot. I struggles with the past and present for about four chapters but then got into it. I really enjoyed the character in it I wished I’d saved it for my holidays it’s a great Holliday read

This was a cool format, where the chapters alternated between the mother and the daughter. I very much enjoyed this story and the characters. Would highly recommend.

Growing up without knowing her dad, Becky had made up stories about him. Whenever she questioned her mum Laura about it, she'd clam up, make up excuses.
Laura had also grown up with just her mum but her mum had been deeply religious, even as an adult Laura didn't have freedom from the strict rules.
The story flits between Laura and Becky; we learn about their lives, loves, dreams and as time goes on their hopes.
The story is brought together when mum and daughter finally go on holiday together in Santorini. Incidently great descriptions of the island, the culture as well as it's hidden treasures.
A great easy read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Nick Alexander for the opportunity to read and review his latest novel. This is a new-to-me author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The title of the book explains the style of the writing - the "you then" part is the story of Laura in her youth, going on a vacation to a Greek island with a man she hardly new, and coming home pregnant. The "me now" part is the story from her daughter, Becky's point of view as she struggles with not knowing anything about her father except that he died and the story is off limits to discussion. When mother and daughter decide to go back to Greece for vacation, the past and present come together.

This was a very enjoyable read and the descriptions of the Greek island beauty make me want to go there now! I definitely felt transported to a different time and place.

Wow. Just wow. This book has taken me through every possible emotion and so much more: fear, hurt, heartbreak, loss, anger, frustration, love, warmth, humour, hope, encouragement and enjoyment. I simply couldn’t put it down because I was enthralled from start to finish! There are enough twists and turns that you can never be fully sure about the direction the story will go in next but not so many that you are on the edge if your seat and unable to enjoy the book. There is a perfectly crafted mixture of easy-read chapters and thrillingly surprising chapters. The descriptions are spellbinding and make me long to travel to Santorini! I would highly, highly recommend this book as it truly is a captivating read – 5*!

‘Sometimes the worst things make the best things happen.’

You then... Laura is on an adventure, exploring the beautiful Greek island of Santorini and finally letting her hair down for the first time in her life. But she has no idea that heartbreak is lurking just around the corner.

Me now... 25 years later, Laura and daughter Becky are at an impasse, their relationship struggling under the weight of the mystery of Becky’s unknown father. All Becky wants is the truth, but will she ever find it?

A return trip to Santorini for mother and daughter may be just the opportunity they need to heal their relationship and find the truth... and maybe even a little happiness.

This is honestly one of my favourite books of the year so far. I’ve never read anything by Nick Alexander before, and I don’t know how I’ve managed that - his writing is perfection, a perfect mix of realism, heartbreak and humour.

The dual narrative means you get to know the characters really well, and I have to admit I did have to check is Nick Alexander was actually a non de plume - I couldn’t believe a man had constructed two such real, relatable female characters. But he did, and they are lovely; two characters that you grow to love and care for so much that you end up finishing the novel in no time at all!

I won’t say too much about the plot, as there are some real unexpected moments, but I will say that while there are some truly heartbreaking moments, there are also some lovely turn of events that make it a really warm, romantic read.

I honestly can’t say how happy I am with this book, and I will definitely be looking at his backlist. For now, I’ll end on a quote that I feel sums up the heart of the novel -

‘I often think nice is underrated these days... we value cleverness and intelligence and strength. Money too. But nice is incredibly special.’

I’m a huge Nick Alexander fan and have read most, if not all, of his books (I think!). I never have to read the blurb as I know I’m going to enjoy it, and this one was no exception. He always manages to draw you into the story, and the fact he has tackled the issues of single motherhood, long lost love, domestic violence, alcoholism, and holiday romance is just reason to love his work more and more. This is the story of a mother and daughter, who take a trip of a lifetime for the mothers 50th birthday.
Becky is a 20-something who hasn’t really found her way yet in life; always feeling something was missing and not having had the best upbringing with her single mother, despite being well loved and looked after, she always felt her mother was hiding something. When she finds a ticket to Greece, the questions, and the journey, begin. For me, it took a little longer than I’d hoped to get my teeth into the story, but once I did I couldn’t put it down. It really grew wings, and when we meet Conor, it became a completely different story altogether. Reading the two women’s stories alongside each other was so cleverly done and really made the story what it was - moving, gripping, and completely compelling reading. I’m already onto my next Nick Alexander ARC and thank netgalley for the opportunity to review such wonderful books.

A lovely book thats easy to lose yourself in. Love, life and second chances. While some of it was quite predictable, I enjoyed it.

Bit of a slow burner but enjoyed by the end. Good read and would recommend. Thanks for the opportunity to read the book

3.5 stars

Nick Alexander was able to transport you to Greece with the level of detail that he put into this book. I could visualize the scenery so easily that it made me want to book a trip there myself! You Then, Me Now tells the tales of two women (mother and daughter) and flip-flops between their stories. I enjoyed how Alexander built the characters but at times questioned how practical some of it was. Some of the scenarios described was a bit far-fetched but Alexander almost read the readers minds because he would then rationalize the very questions that I had. Great summer read describing a mother-daughters search for love. Thanks Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

You Then, Me Now by Nick Alexander is the first book I've read by this highly acclaimed author, and I am of the firm opinion that the accolades are completely justified. This is a story that has it all; a compelling storyline, suspense, drama, secrets, intrigue, and a beautiful romance, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of Santorini. What more could you possibly ask of a novel?

Becky has spent almost twenty-five years being completely in the dark about the identity of her father. When her mother, Laura, plans a trip to Santorini, Becky decides to join her, and very quickly suspects that Laura is more familiar with the Greek island than she is letting on. Could Laura finally be ready to divulge some of her long-held secrets, or will Becky be left with only the memory of a lovely holiday, but no further ahead in solving the mystery that has plagued her for her entire life? Alternating between Laura's first visit to the island, and her return with her daughter, the truth begins to unfold. This is a wonderful story that is beautifully paced and crafted, and I am clamouring to read more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A really strong read - well paced and great, believable characters. Thoroughly enjoyable - some very amusing parts. I'll be looking into more by this author for definite.

I enjoyed the book. Loved the description of Greece. Santorini seemed beautiful, especially the beaches. I mainly had a problem with Laura and Becky. Laura had horrible judgment and made AWFUL choices. I hated how she made excuses about having a sheltered life and a strict, religious mother. Laura was twenty-five, not sixteen. How is going to a foreign country with a man you just met at a rave a good decision???? No one even knew where she was !!! Then she justified every horrible thing that happened to her. Conor is paying for the whole trip so it's OK if he is crazy and abusive. What did Laura expect? She knew nothing about Conor and he turned out to be the type of person you would see on a Most Wanted Poster for some type of crime. Also I couldn't understand her reluctance to tell Becky about her father. She made everything a secret and got mad if her daughter asked any questions. Laura wouldn't even tell Becky the nationality of her father. Becky was very unlikable. She never seemed happy. She was mad about not knowing her father and then was mad when she finally found out his identity. Leif was simply wonderful and the exact person you would want to meet for a holiday romance. Plus he didn't seem like the type of person to try to kill you while you were sleeping.

I enjoyed the book and recommend reading. Laura's decisions were simply scary. I just couldn't imagine going off somewhere with a stranger. I liked the story and writing style, especially how it alternated between Laura and Becky. This was the first book I read by the author and look forward to reading more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Told in the mom and the daughter’s perspective in the past and present, You Then, Me Now explores the relationship between a mother and daughter where the latter is in the dark about her father and all through her childhood she has invented her own version of her father. We see the mom navigating her teen life whereas we also simultaneously see the daughter trying to connect with her mother and to make her open up.

Saddening and interesting, You Then Me Now delves into the depths of hope, and happiness and family and love. We see the characters coming to terms with themselves and their circumstances. We come to see them accept and acknowledge fate.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for this review copy.

Good story told in a 2 person point of view. The POV of mother and daughter. I always enjoy reading these stories. It’s nice to see inside both characters heads. Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

Becky grew up with no father, an accident before she born she was told, but she soon learnt not to ask more questions.
Moving back home after college she discovers her mum, Laura, has booked a trip to Greece for her 50th birthday - something totally out of character, so she invites herself along suspecting this trip may hold the answers to her missing father.
Told in two voices, two separate years - Laura in 1994 & Becky in the present. We soon piece together what happened on Santorini in 1994 and how that changed Laura's whole life and by extension affected Becky too.
A beautifully written book filled with emotions set amidst some of the prettiest places in Greece.
The ending was beautiful, yes a bit schmaltzy, but who doesn't like a happy ending?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

Loved this book. Everyone should read this one. It talked a lot about depression. Real depression people go through in life. A man caught in between his wife (& two young sons) and and a beautiful young lover. He doesn’t want to live either of them. At the end he chose the easy path and gave it an end.
As the story progresses, we become aware of not only one but many who have been/ or going through a difficult phase in their life. A few decided to give it an end while others continued to live for their loved ones.
I mostly liked the book because of its approach to depression and it’s various forms. How these responded to each of their phase. It was a great time reading. No one talks about this depression and no one cares how it affects them.
My heart ached for each of them- Lily, Pippa, Harry, Celia, Claude, Marie, Julian.
Read it for those learning’s of depression. I would urge everyone to read it.

Rich descriptions bring the Greek settings to life in this mother/daughter story. I found it a bit slow to start, but an enjoyable read once I got into it.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

I love Nick Alexander and this was another awesome book by him. I enjoyed reading it, with a fantastic plot and deep well defined characters which lit up the page. Awesome!

Another fantastic nick alexander read, a heart warming story with great charecters, loved every page

You then, Me now by Nick Alexander was another beautifully written book I loved it from beginning to end. This book is great for a holiday read. I am so glad I found this author a few years ago. All his books have been brilliant from start to finish.

I highly recommend this book.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the arc in return for an honest review.

You Then, Me Now was such an engaging read - thank you so much for the review copy!

I loved the characters, despite them being frustrating - I found this made them more realistic to me and I could believe their decisions in the situations they found themselves. The island of Santorini was an excellent backdrop and I loved reading about it. Switching between characters didn't throw off the story - instead it only made me read faster. Nick Alexander has become a must buy for me and an author of comfort.

This story was an involving one. It is the story of Becky who grew up without a father and, with a mother, Laura, who does not want to talk about him. As the events of the novel unfold, Becky and her mother travel to Greece. Will this trip reveal important truths? Will it help Becky and Laura to become closer?

Secrets will be uncovered in beautiful Santorini. Enjoy this immersive dual timeline story as stories are discovered/uncovered.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 01 May 2019