Before We Were Us

This story takes you on an emotional journey through the complexities of love and loss. After Lauren suffers a fall that wipes out the memory of several important summer months, the gap between the past and present becomes almost unbearable. Jonah, heartbroken by the loss of those memories, chooses to support her, even if it means letting her go to follow her dreams.

The relationship between Jonah and Lauren is portrayed with a tenderness that makes their pain and hope feel very real. As Jonah quietly supports Lauren in rediscovering herself, and as she slowly lets him back into her life as a friend, the story captures how love can endure through change and time.

The narrative blends moments of sadness with glimpses of hope, showing that love sometimes means letting go. This story stays with you long after you finish it, highlighting the strength that comes from putting someone else’s happiness first.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Not only did Kim Churchill do a great job as a narrator, but the story was good as well. I had never read a book by Denise Hunter, but this one was good, if you are looking for a book with romance but hot a lot of spice, then this one is perfect for you. It's a nice quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Denise Hunter and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I always love Denise Hunter and her writing, but this might be my favorite one!! It was just SO beautiful! I loved the characters and the sweet journey they went on. So good! Highly recommend.

Before We Were Us

Y’all are going to love this one. This is the sweetest, most charming, heartwarming small town romance. This is the perfect cozy fall read!

This follows the story of Jonah and his beloved Lauren. Right before Jonah asks Lauren a very important question, she had an accident and loses her memory of their love story.

This story has the sweetest characters and I have no doubt that you will fall in love with them like I did.

I am sincerely thankful to author, Denise Hunter, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn’t stop listening to this book. The author captures you from the first sentence and doesn’t let you go until the end. FMC has an accident and can’t remember falling in love with the MMC. You get flashbacks of how they fell in love. So good. So sweet.

The narrator was fantastic!

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this sweet and heartwarming book. I really enjoyed the two main characters Jonah and Lauren throughout the whole book, although at times I did not like Lauren. It was really refreshing listening to their story without sex and violence that are in so many recently released books. The narrator did a fantastic job of holding my attention and keeping me engaged and entertained that I couldn't stop listening and finished it in a weekend. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a clean believable romance story.

Before We Were Us was a great listen. I highly enjoyed it and recommend it to women’s fiction lovers.

Contains an audiobook review.

I have read only a handful of Denise Hunter books, and I don't usually read book blurbs. Somehow I happened to see this one and glanced at the synopsis. I was immediately hooked when I got the impression that amnesia was featured in this story. For some reason, I love books that have amnesia as an element. I am so glad I found this book.

I thought that the amnesia element was very well done and the story flowed well. The flashbacks that were included helped show how the relationship between all of the characters had progressed. The story was well written and kept my attention from beginning to end.

The audiobook is narrated by a female narrator. I have only heard her read romcoms before but thought she did an excellent job in this contemporary story. I wasn't distracted by having her read other books, and she was able to get me immersed in this one.

Sincere thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of this book. I'm happily and voluntarily leaving an honest review and look forward to recommending it to friends.

Before We Were Us
Denise Hunter
Lauren Wentworth made her way to rural New Hampshire where she procure the temporary position of manager of Pinehaven Lodges. She had graduated with a hospitality degree just seven months previously. She and Jonah, the owners son and Lauren feel deeply in love. She loved his family and she loved her position at the rustic resort. She has decided the rural life with Jonah is life she wants. Then she fell.
Lauren was on a ladder one second and the next she was waking up in the hospital. She can’t remember the last few months. She recalls the first couple of months at the resort when she and Jonah relationship was antagonistic. She rememebers having a crush on the local doctor, Carson, who is already in a relationship. Everyone keeps telling her she is madly in love with Jonah and has decided to stay in the rural town rather than pursue her dream in Boston. It just doesn’t make sense to her. How could sh have made such decisions in a matter of a few months.
Despite the pain Jonah was suffering at her memory loss, he was determined to help her in any way possible, especially to remember their deep feelings for each other.
What a touching love story. The time line moves through the past 4 months and the present, off and on. My heart ached for Jonah through out this tale. It was difficult to like Lauren. She was rude to Jonah and I had to keep reminding myself she had amnesia. This is a sweet story and one readers will cherish.
Thank you NetGalley for the review copy.

I’ve read many novels by this author but this is my favourite. It is her BEST work, in my opinion. From the gorgeous autumn cover to the epilogue that makes your heart feel like it will stretch right out of your body, this book is a must-read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Kim Churchill, is fantastic! I had never heard her before but I wouldn’t hesitate to buy an audiobook with her name attached to it.

This novel has joy and heartbreak, beauty and ugliness, tears and laughter, emptiness and fullness, strengths and weaknesses, low valleys and mountain-top moments. And she does it all with the reader feeling fully invested and immersed in the characters and community.

They are not perfect characters with a Cinderella story. There are flaws. There are missteps. There are moments you want to scream in utter frustration, cry in despair, and cheer with jubilance. And swoon??? Oh, YES, there is heart-palpitating swoon that is so full of depth and meaning.

There are so many layers to this story and it keeps you reading as you peel them back one by one. I would love to see this become a series (hint-hint!!!) because I love the people and community of Pinehaven. I am, therefore, firmly invested in what comes next:
- Jonah’s sister?
- The handsome doctor returning home?
- Lauren’s best friend visits or takes a job there? (Maybe her AND the doctor!)

Two or three more books would be juuuuust right! After all, that stunning barn venue is just waiting expectantly, in all its splendor, to be the amazingly romantic setting for endless weddings to come!

*** HUGE thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson (publisher) for an advanced copy of the audiobook. My honest review is voluntary and in my own words. #BeforeWeWereUs #DeniseHunter

This book was beautiful 😭. The ending had me crying like a baby. *insert loud blowing of nose and wiping of eyes*

Absolutely loved the narrators and could not stop listening to this book. The voices matched the ones in my head perfectly, and they conveyed the emotions of the book so well! Bravo!

Title: Before We Were Us
Author: Denise Hunter
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Kim Churchill
Publisher: HarperCollins Christians Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction
Genres: Women’s Fiction, and Romance
Audiobook Release Date: September 10, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages 304

Lauren Wentworth and Jonah Landry are both working at Jonah's family resort ‘The Pinehaven Lodge’ in rural New Hampshire.
Jonah is healing from a break up and Lauren recently graduated college with a Hospitality degree and is training to be an event planner – she has a job lined up in Boston.
At first these two have nothing in common in fact they don’t even like each other.
In September Lauren had a dangerous fall which resulted in in a concussion as well as remember loss. She does not remember what happened that summer but does remember arriving at the resort and having a so-so start with Jonah She doesn't remember that they fell in love ~ thus the title “Before We Were Us’.

It didn’t take me long to fall in love with this story
In fact ~
I love the characters.
I love the title
I love the setting
I love the narrator Kim Churchill – she is amazing – her voice is so pleasant I could not put this down.
This was my first Denise Hunter but certainly not my last!

I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Christians Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Before We Were Us AUDIO by Denise Hunter is a moving enemies to friends to lovers story, twice. Lauren Wentworth had been “blackmailed” with the promise of her dream job if she would go and manage this remote New Hampshire resort for the next nine months. She was not enthralled but really wanted that job so she agreed. The first thing that happened was she got splashed by muddy water. Some intro. But as she settled in she came to love the place and Jonah, the son of the owners. On the very day he was going to propose, she fell off a ladder and hit her head. While the tests showed no injury, when she woke up she had no memory of the past four months, including falling in love with Jonah. The next few months proved to be challenging for everyone.

This was a nice twist on a contemporary romance. At its core is the old adage: if you love something, set it free… They said her memory could return in a day, a week, a month, or never… She had forgotten she loved him but he could never forget he loved her. He did his best to be a good friend, even when he showed up at her cabin to help pack her car, his heart breaking. This was a lovely story, full of feels, not spicy, but heartfelt. I love reading romance and especially love one with a new twist. This was it. Thanks Lauren Wentworth for a lovely book!

Kin Churchill was the reader and kept a steady pace even when hearts were breaking. She voiced all the characters and kept the book moving. She did a great job!

I was invited to listen to Before We Were Us by Harper Collins Christian Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarperCollinsChristianPublishing #DeniseHunter #KimChurchill #BeforeWeWereUs

What an interesting approach to a romance! I’ve never read anything like it and, wow, just upped the angst factor so much and had my emotions tied up in knots so that I was completely invested in the outcome. I mean, I knew there had to be a happily ever after, but what was that going to look like?! Rabid reading (well, listening in my case) ensued in order to find out!

So, the very first chapter reads like the happily ever after epilogue of a traditional romance. Jonah and Lauren are crazy in love and soooooo sweet together, I was already swooning. Then…bam! (and I mean that quite literally) Lauren falls from a ladder, conks her head, and loses several months worth of her memories. Like the falling in love with Jonah months!

She wakes up in the hospital thinking it’s April when it’s actually Labor Day weekend. And back in April, Jonah was the enemy. I mean she really didn’t like Jonah and with good reason because he was quite the brooding grump. And, oh my heart hurt, because, of course Jonah is still madly in love with Lauren, only she can’t stand him! So, an enemy-to-more/second chance romance! I think Denise Hunter invented a new trope!

And this is a bit of a dual timeline novel too, because Hunter takes us back to the falling-in-love-the-first-time moments through Jonah’s memories. All, while he is trying to win Lauren’s heart for a second time! Oh. My. Stars! This was soooooo good. Beautifully written, incredibly crafted. And that ending! Unexpected!

Kim Churchill did a fantastic job narrating Lauren and Jonah’s story. She captured their personalities and emotions perfectly. I really enjoyed my listening time and would definitely recommend the audio edition of ‘Before We Were Us.’

P.S. If you are as love triangle phobic as I am, have no fear, that tease in the synopsis really doesn’t have any bite. You can read easy on that angst score…though there are plenty of other tumultuous dilemmas you can stew over.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and Net Galley for providing me with an audio edition of this book.

If you ever watched or read The Vow, you will surely want to read this book. I was so hooked by this story. I listened to the audiobook version and was just taken in from the beginning and my heart was so invested in the romance. I think the narrator did a great job with both POVs and I did not want to stope listening, it easily drew me in.
Jonah was so patient and man, my heart went out to him after Lauren's accident and loss of memories. I liked that while this was reminiscent of The Vow, it still felt original and had it's own twist on the amnesia trope. Lauren fought against remembering Jonah which broke my heart, but I liked that she had to re fall in love with him all over again and the way she softened to him once more. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to before and then the current time. The ending made me smile and I am really happy I listened to this book. I recommend this story and audiobook.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel from Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan audio. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Audio Version via Netgalley
I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narration was spot on with 5 stars. This was an emotional enemies to lovers with amnesia thrown in. I was so anxious to find out if she gets her memory back. I loved the way this was written with some twists and dual time lines. The epilogue is the cherry on top!!
I look forward to more by Denise Hunter.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy of Before We Were Us, in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful book! I loved it! I had all the feels listening to this novel. The narrator did an amazing job! This book was so sweet and sad, the characters fit so well together.

I loved the setting of this story. I don't usually consider the seasons much when I read, but it played an important part in this story, and I enjoyed it!

I don't think I have ever cried so much for a male character. The emotional pain he was experiencing was heartbreaking for me, too.

I love when a romance novel can incorporate more than one trope, and this one did. I love these characters and recommend this book!

I received this eARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When Lauren first comes to work at the New Hampshire resort in the spring, she intends to only stay for the year. Then she's set to take her dream job in Boston. Her first encounters with Jonah, the son of the owners, are not pleasant. But, as the story begins, it's near the end of summer and it seems Jonah is about to propose to Lauren. But then, Lauren falls from a ladder and loses all memory of the past several months. She refuses to believe that Jonah is her boyfriend! The rejection hits Jonah hard, and Lauren can't wait to finish her job and move back to Boston. Is this how it will end? Well, you have to read the book to find out! But, I will say that I enjoyed this book--there is great insight into how each of them deals with this big change. The narration was also helpful in making the characters seem real. A big thumbs-up to this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

This was such a great book and was full of emotion. It was a HEA, but it didn’t appear as if things were headed that way. I was pretty aggravated with the FMC and I’d like to imagine things would have moved a bit smoother if this were a true story. But it was not and drama is way more interesting in fiction. Having said that, I highly recommend this cute romance/second-chance romance.

Loved this book! The story was so sweet. I loved the dual timeline as the stories came to the accident. The way it came together in the end was so good. I couldn’t hold back the tears! Great read! I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it!

Loved this book and the pace. This was the perfect fall romance book set in New Hampshire. The entire time I was reading this story it reminded me of a Hallmark movie or Gilmore Girls. Lauren is a fiery and type A go getter while Jonah is the rugged ranch type whose family owns the rustic resort. The pace of this book was great, the characters were well written, and I am glad that it ended with a happily ever after.

What a fun story! Imagine the evening you are planning to propose to the love of your life she falls and hits her head. At the hospital you realize she remembers you but has lost the memory of the entire span of your relationship and before your relationship started you were far from friends.

This felt like it took place right after the end of a small-town whirlwind romance novel. Genuinely when I first started reading I said wait is this a sequel? Haha that being said despite feeling like it was at the end of a romance novel and what could happen after the happily ever after in a book it felt real and emotional. To imagine yourself and your loved one not remembering each other or your relationship and asking yourself how do I replicate this amazing thing that already is so rare was amazing. At first I was wishing I knew what made them fall in love and the moments that really impacted them so they could replicate them but then I realized it felt like we were experiencing it like the female main character who lost her memory. So it made it special that they just wanted to fall in love again naturally verse trying to recreate moments.

Despite the wrap that many romances get these characters had depth and I found myself really understanding the thought process of the characters. They talk about abandonment issues, traumatic upbringings and family dynamics that made a lot of decisions the character makes make sense. Sometimes it doesn't seem realistic when they make certain decisions but it was very clear with more reading.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a contemporary romance with depth and heartwarming characters. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

Before We Were Us is a sweet Christian romance! Lauren and Jonah have spent a summer falling in love. Things are about to turn serious in their relationship when Lauren suffers an accident leaving her with partial amnesia! She forgets the last couple of months and her romance with Jonah. The book flashes back to their past as they fell in love while in the present they are both dealing with the fallout of her memory loss. The romance was adorable and the plot was really intriguing! I would highly recommend this book as I enjoyed it very much! This was my first Denise Hunter read and I can’t wait to try more! I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

This book, the storyline and the narrator are all a 10/10.
Lauren and Jonah are headed for a happily ever after until a freak accident takes away Lauren's memory, and with it their chance at happiness?
Set in New Hampshire at a peaceful family resort, Jonah is working toward his dream of running the family business. It's been his dream for as long as he can remember but that plan comes to an abrupt halt when his parents hire a temporary manager while Jonah completes business school.
In walks Lauren. She is the exact the type of woman he is trying to avoid and what makes it worse, she's really good at her job.
This second chance romance isn't your typical romance as we see Lauren and Jonah's love be suddenly taken away with a freak accident. Denise has the reader hoping right along with Jonah as we wait to see if Lauren will regain her memories of the love they once shared before she needs to make a decision about her future.

Before we were us is a sweet Christian romance that weaves the faith of the characters delicately throughout their experience.
Thank you to Denise Hunter, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the chance to listen to this early. I've loved getting to meet Jonah, Lauren and Graham. All thoughts and reflections are my own.