❤️BOOK REVIEW❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#beforeisawyou by @emilyjaynehoughton @transworldbooks @penguinrandomhouse

This book was like a big warm hug! I felt like this was one of those books you can’t help but love!

It’s a story told from the perspectives of Alfie and Alice, two patients who are recovering in a rehab ward. The story takes you on a journey of tragedy and loss but also of hope and love. I loved how on each chapter the story changed between Alfie and Alice perspectives allowing you insights into each of the characters as the plot developed.

Alfie and Alice we both very realistic and portrayed well and I found myself invested in both of their stories. The writing was easy to read and I flew through the pages.

One aspect I found very clever was that this book is literally a conversation between two characters in one room and for the author to keep the reader entertained, engaged and emotionally present throughout was no mean feat!

I also found the way the author covered the serious issues of the plot and brought in the fractured backgrounds of both characters in through their conversations was really genius. The author ensured sensitive information was almost drip fed to the reader while ensuring enough time was taken with the issues to make it a satisfying conclusion.

Anyway I could go on and on but fair to say I loved it! And I look forward to more from this author!

As this was a #arcread thanks to author #emilyhoughton #transworldpublishers #penguinrandomhouse and #netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Sorry I’m a little late getting round to to!

Out now in Hardback and Ebook!

-Emily

@the_book_girls_1

This story had a lot of promise, but just moved a little too slowly for my liking. I had a hard time with the characters and didn't connect with them as much as I would have liked. Overall, this is fine, just I was looking for a bit more. This is one of the rare books that I would have really enjoyed an epilogue. 💫💫💫 I recommend for anyone looking for a slow burn, thought provoking, closed door romance.

I am not one for spoilers. This is marketed as a romantic novel but it is so much more. It is an incredibly well written, easily readable, and vivid portrayal of hospital life, recovery from trauma, and the emotional supports supplied by hospital staff, friends, family and fellow ward-mates.
I have to say that I have never been so invested in a couple coming together. Alice and Alfie are both traumatised by both their physical pain and recovery, but also by events in their past. The bond they forge as bed neighbours gives them both support, fun and an opportunity to share, and somewhat move on from their traumas.
The depth of characterisation made these people likeable and believable. Times I wasn’t reading this, was spent thinking about Alfie and Alice and what might happen next.
I really enjoyed this book. Well done to Emily Houghton.
And thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story follows Alice and Alfie who strike up a friendship and become close after finding themselves in the same rehab ward in hospital.
Alice has been badly burnt in an office fire and Alfie was in an accident which left him having his leg amputated. They talk through the curtain that separates their beds and the story poses the question of whether you can fall in love with someone without actually ever having seen them.
The story is told from alternating views which works really nicely and gives a very rounded view.
It's not the most fast paced book - it's more of a slow burn. I also had an idea of what would happen right at the start but that's fine; sometimes you need steady and predictable...!
The ending is a bit rushed and I would like to have read a couple more chapters, particularly from Alfie's perspective but I appreciated the happy ending.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton is a heartwarming debut novel from an author I would definitely read more from.

Alfie is a happy go lucky extrovert injured in a car accident that sees the amputation of his leg. Alice is an overworked introvert badly injured in an office fire. The story mostly takes part in Saint Francis Hospital’s Moira Gladstone Wing. With a colourful cast of lovable characters like elderly Mr Peterson and motherly Nurse Angles this story definitely tugs at the heartstrings.

How could he love her without ever seeing her?

How could he bear to love her after seeing her, when she can’t even love herself?

Side by side, hand in hand, falling in love with a curtain between.

An enjoyable 4.5 star read.

*3.5 stars
This was a really cute read, Alfie was soo sweet and the whole story was so heartwarming. I loved the premise of the story but it was a bit of a slow read, with some parts dragging on.

If you are in a mood for sharing some tears, this is a good place to start. Personally, I wouldn’t call it for lovers of Me before you, because this story has a HEA but it’s definitely a book with interesting and intriguing characters and a story that shows how much ones life can change in a second.
Close proximity and their own journey of trying to accept and deal with the healing and consequences of the trauma that will hunt them forever, the love story behind the curtains that separate them in the ward, will start slowly and blooming step by step.
I really enjoyed that this book shows how love doesn’t care about disabilities and it can bring two strangers together when least expect.

Emily Houghton has become one of my new favourite authors! I'm so pleased that this book caught my eye and I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read an advanced review copy.

This début is a truly beautiful story. Set mostly in St. Francis Hospital's Moira Gladstone rehabilitation ward, Alfie Mack is recuperating from a life-changing injury. Friendly with the other patients on the ward such as the elderly Mr Peterson, and generally upbeat, Nurse Angles believes he is the ideal person to coax his newly arrived neighbour in the next bed back to life. Alice Gunnersley hasn’t spoken since her admittance to hospital following injuries sustained during an office fire. Alice's curtains surrounding her bed are permanently kept closed at her insistence. Not given to extended bouts of silence, Alfie Mack, banterer extraordinaire, and a man responsible for most of the camaraderie on the ward, gradually starts conversing with Alice.

As soon as I began reading Before I Saw You I knew it was going to pull at my heartstrings. Told by Alfie and Alice in alternating chapters there wasn't anything in this novel to dislike. As the story progressed I came to care about them tremendously; both individually and as a couple. Whilst they were both lovely people, there was something extra special about Alfie and I can’t imagine anyone disliking him, with his spark, brand of humour and general sunny demeanour. I loved how they were polar opposites and the way he attempted to slowly bring Alice out of her torment whilst she fought to resist.

Emily Houghton's writing was truly magical in the way she portrayed all manner of moods and emotional states. I became rather smitten with all of the characters and wanted nothing but better things for them. The secondary characters brought so much to the storyline, too, particularly Mr Peterson and Sarah (Alice's best friend from Australia). Their input and thoughts into Alice's and Alfie's rehabilitation were marvellous. Doesn't everyone need a friend like Sarah in their life?

Before I Saw You is rich in emotion, a truly outstanding début, and I cannot wait to see what Emily Houghton writes next. A fabulously untypical romance that is not all hearts and flowers.

A special thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/Bantam Press, Emily Houghton, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I apologize for the late review!

I actually put this down because the pace was too slow for me. I was just waiting and waiting for the story to begin. The writing was great though :)

Emily Houghton’s Before I Saw You is a charming, uplifting, poignant and life-affirming novel that will break your heart and make you laugh out loud on the same page.

Alfie Mack has been in hospital for months recovering from a very serious accident. Life is not exactly a laugh a minute and he must not let the monotonous dullness overwhelm him even more than it already is. Due to his current circumstances, Alfie takes his excitement wherever he can get it, so when a new patient is admitted onto the ward, Alfie is eager to make a new friend and hopes that it can alleviate some of the boredom. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Alice Gunnersley is in no mood to make new friends and that she firmly intends to keep the curtain around her bed firmly closed. Will Alfie manage to penetrate the wrought iron defenses Alice has built around herself? Or will Alice’s determination to be left alone end up not just hampering her recovery, but also cause her even more pain and upheaval?

Having been badly burned, Alice simply cannot bring herself to look at her own face, let alone allow anybody else to look at her. She fully intends to spend her entire stay in hospital hiding behind the curtain around her bed and nothing and nobody is going to persuade her otherwise. But Alice hadn’t counted on Alfie Mack. Despite her aloofness, Alfie refuses to leave her alone. Alice is initially annoyed, but with each passing day, she finds herself warming to him and as she begins to open up to him, she quickly realizes that she could use a friend to help make her stay in hospital a little bit more bearable.

As a tentative friendship quickly gives way to something far deeper than the two of them had ever imagined, Alfie and Alice cannot help but wonder whether this could be the start of something meaningful for the two of them…but only if they are ready to embrace their fears and insecurities and take a leap of faith and a chance on happiness.

Emily Houghton’s Before I Saw You might well be 2021’s Me Before You. This is a wonderfully moving, highly enjoyable and beautifully told tale about learning to live again, grabbing life by the horns and healing from the past that I simply couldn’t read fast enough. Full of flawed and believable characters you will instantly take to your heart and packed with with pathos, humour and intense emotions that will give you all the feels, Emily Houghton’s Before I Saw You is a must-read you will want to tell all your friends about.

This is an emotional read, sweet and sad but full of hope and friendship; maybe you’ll drop some tears, but the story deserves it, believe me. I wasn’t sure of what to expect of this book, a man (Alfie Mack) and a woman (Alice Gunnersley) who met at a hospital ward and fall in love without seeing each other faces, seems a little bit weird, that’s what spikes my curiosity. What made them fall in love? It was not their chemistry but something more, their friendship and trust to each other, something much more deeper than being pretty or handsome, the real inside beauty.
The story is told between both characters perspectives, Alice and Alfie, they are both recovering in the hospital from very deep wounds, the recovery will not be easy for neither of them, not only physically but emotionally. And that’s where this book takes a step further, it tries to show the reader the pain and wounds that you have inside and no one can see, the ones that are not easy to heal and need more strength and will than some medicines and exercises.
I loved this story, it was difficult to read sometimes, you could feel the pain of the characters and their sadness, the need to hug them and comfort them was so real! But as I said, this is a book of love and friendship, so don’t worry, there are plenty of happy and funny moments during the story, but never forget that they will meet without seeing their faces, with the only touch of holding hands but with some emotive and large conversations during the night… Let’s be honest, it doesn’t matter if someone is attractive when you can’t see them, the important thing is that you have affinity and similar beliefs, don’t you think?
Ready to discover “Before I Saw You”?

Before I Saw You is a winsome contemporary novel from debut author Emily Houghton

Badly burned in a fire and deeply traumatised, Alice Gunnersley, can’t even bear to look at herself, and has refused to speak since she woke. Moved into a rehabilitation ward, she insists the curtain around her bed remain closed at all times, but that wont stop Alfie Mack from getting to know the girl in the bed next door. Alfie has been in St Francis’s Hospital for months, recuperating after his leg was amputated due to a car accident. He rarely stops talking, determined to keep both his own, and his fellow ward mates spirits high, and he’s sure if he asks enough questions, Alice will eventually answer.

Told from the alternating points of view of Alice and Alfie, this is very much a character driven story primarily taking place in the one location. It’s focus is on the connection that slowly forms between the two protagonists, both of whom have experienced life changing events but are very different personalities, and therefore have very different approaches to coping. Alice, a workaholic with no family to speak of and only one close friend who has relocated to Australia, used to being alone, has withdrawn further into herself. Alfie, a passionate teacher with loving parents and a large group of friends tries to remain positive by using humour and focusing on the needs of others, despite his private grief and pain.

As their first tentative conversation progresses to a late night sharing of secrets, It’s no surprise that deeper feelings develops between them. That neither know what the other looks like adds a layer of interest to the attraction, particularly since they are both physically scarred, and worried about the reaction of others to their injuries.

I thought Houghton was sensitive to the trauma her protagonists have, and continue to experience. She doesn’t minimise their darker emotions, but neither does she dwell in them, at least until the last 20% or so where the story gets quite bogged down in the self pity of both characters - honest perhaps, but dull reading particularly when whatever sense of anticipation you may have is poorly rewarded if you are expecting a traditional romantic HEA ending.

Though I thought there was a misstep or two with regards to the plot, Houghton’s skilful portrayal of character and emotions in particular meant I found Before I Saw You to be a moving and engaging read.

In Before I Saw You we meet Alfie and Alice. Alfie has been in the hospital for a while recovering from a bad accident when a new patient, Alice, is admitted to the bed next to him. Eager to get to know his new neighbor Alfie tries his best to get to know her but that isn't easy. Alice has been badly burned in a fire and won't let anyone see her, including herself. But this doesn't stop Alfie from trying to be friends.

Before I Saw You is a good and enjoyable read. It features a lot of internal dialogue which took a while to get used to for me. Even though I liked the story and the characters and their growth, I would've prefered a bit more action-driven parts. At times the story also felt a bit too predictable. My favorite part was the banter between the two main characters, Alfie and Alice, and their development. And the notable side characters gave the story more dept. The ending was well-written and I was happy with the way it ended.

“And just so you know . . . I love being stuck in the bed next to you.”

CW: Graphic description of car accident, burn injuries, amputation, unhealthy relationship with parent, sibling grief, suicidal thoughts, mentions of Harry Potter books

Oh my god, I loved this book. I picked it up, predicting a 5 star rating and was so glad it could live up to those predictions. I’ve also already made my partner buy it because I know he’ll appreciate this as much as me.

My favourite romances are romances where the romance isn’t the only story. Where the love interests have relationships and a world outside the other. Where they want to live for the other but, you know, if they don’t, they’ll still survive without them.
This book is about recovery and finding yourself again in a new setting. I think this is why Alfie and Alice so quickly bond: because they’re making their own new lives and the other slots right in. I loved their emotional exchanges and how the other was vital for their recovery, showing that making a mental recovery is just as important as a physical one.
I am also apparently a fan of the falling-in-love-before-they-really-meet trope. The intimacy, the communication, really make my heart flutter. I know it may be slow to some people because, in essence, it’s just two people talking and holding hands for 350 pages, but that’s what I love about it. It shows that romances don’t always have to involve embracing and staring at each other, it shows that you can fall in love without seeing someone.
I thought Alice and Alfie were both delightful characters. I think their personalities together worked really well and I enjoyed getting to see where they both grew. I also loved seeing them interact with other characters, like Mr Peterson and Nurse Angles. I particularly loved Alfie, this huge ball of sunshine who would do all that was possible to smother any dark cloud.
I want to say my only quibble is I wish it had been longer, but I’m not even sure I do feel that. I saw enough of their relationship from what we get of their story anyway. Sure, I’d happily spend more time with them and spend more time with them as they navigate the new parts of their relationship, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything from what I did get of their story.

This novel was unlike anything I’ve ever read. Even though some parts of the story left me a bit disappointed, I’m still really glad that I got the chance to read it. 💚

Readers, I’d like to let you know that my eyes are “puffy like cotton balls” right now, because Before I Saw You made me cry like a baby. I got approved to read the e-ARC back in September, and transferred it to my kindle back then too. So yeah, when I picked it up a few days back, I’d obviously forgotten that this book was being compared to Me Before You. 🙄 I wasn’t prepared for such an intense, emotional ride. But did I love reading it anyway? A hundred times YES!

In Before I Saw You, we join Alfie and Alice as they recover in a hospital ward after tragic accidents turn their worlds upside down. In the days that follow, Alfie and Alice get to know each other, and form a special kind of friendship, without seeing the other even for once.

Things I loved about the book :
The friendship that blossomed between Alfie and Alice was so pure. They were two broken people who connected by not only sharing happiness but also through their deepest sorrows. The conversations that they had were so thoughtfully written. I was enchanted by their relationship, and cheered for them through and through. Sometimes you find the best version of yourself in an unexpected place, a hospital for instance – the heart of Before I Saw You beats with this very message.

The book was filled with meaningful quotes, which made reading it a very memorable ride. The side characters, especially Nurse Angles, Mr. Peterson, Sarah, and Alfie's mom were the best additions to the story. I loved how each of the characters shaped the story of Before I Saw You in their own ways My heart broke seeing how cruel life had been to both Alfie and Alice. The brightest smiles hide the deepest pain – I never felt this saying so strongly before meeting Alfie. I loved him with all my heart. I lived for his puzzle solutions, humor and kindness. Alice was an equally complex character, and I loved how she came out of her shell as the story went on. The author wrote the story in such a fascinating manner, I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages to see what route the characters’ lives take.

Things I didn’t like :
Before I Saw You’s storyline dragged for a few times in my opinion, since some events kept being repeated. I understand that this book dealt with heavy and emotional topics, which is why light-hearted moments were needed, but some conversations felt too cheesy for my liking. I’m a fluffy, cheesy book lover, so if I’m saying this, you should know that I’m being very sincere. The ending was abrupt too, and I didn’t get the closure I needed from the story.

Don’t let the things I didn’t like discourage you from reading the book though. It’s a must read for all, I promise!

Going on the first part of the blurb I was imagining a story along the lines of Flat Share. What I got was something deeper and more emotional that hit me with all the feels.
Can you fall for someone you've never met? Well Alfie and Alice are going to take us on that journey and what a journey it was. I did wonder at times how much of a story I was going to get based on 2 people being stuck in hospital and was hoping it wasn't going to be repetitive and dull. Was it hell! This was such a beautifully heartbreaking story I was glad how it developed it never felt rushed or false. I loved the inner monologues of Alfie and Alice. They are both going though their own pain and are complete opposites yet they both help each other without ever laying eyes on one another. What a beautiful debut. I would definitely advise having tissues to hand with this one you will need them.

CAN YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN
Alfie and Alice are strangers but they meet and sleep next to each other on a rehab ward but never physically see each other.
This book isn't your usual boy meets girl story as it follows the emotional rollercoaster of their friendship with highs and lows and even tears along the way.
I would definatley recommend this book.

This book warmed our hearts and uplifted our spirits! Completely unputdownable had no choice but to read the whole thing in one go! The cover just looks like one of those scrummy fruit salad sweets and the contents inside were just as addictive as sugar!

The novel follows Alfie and Alice, two hospital patients side by side in a hospital ward. Alfie is the life and soul of the ward, having been there for three months after a leg amputation. Alice has severe burns, has the bed curtains drawn constantly refusing to show her face or even talk to the others on the ward and becomes a bit of a mystery.

Alfie slowly starts to coax Alice's personality out with help from Sarah, Alice's best friend and an unlikely friendship forms.

Reading this while stuck indoors made this book really resonate with me more than perhaps it would have done before as we are currently getting to know others without seeing each others faces! Bit like bookstagram too! It shows how much of much of a connection can be made when we learn about who people really are rather than based on our initial judgements determined by appearance!

It made me laugh out loud, it made me sad, it made me think and reflect - a whole collection of emotions throughout! I don't think I will forget this book in a hurry and highly recommend it to everyone! I hope there will be a sequel because that ending left me wanting so much more in a good way!

Thank you to @NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This book was beautiful, from the way it was written to the story and the characters. The story was so moving and I just loved it!

The story managed to stay so heart-warming whilst dealing with tough subjects around trauma, depression and isolation. I found myself crying a few times because I cared so much for Alice, Alfie and all of the other characters on the ward.

I sat down to start reading this and barely moved until I had finished! I would highly recommend!

A wonderfully potent read which is quite enchanting!

Alfie Mack has been in the hospital's rehabilitation ward for quite some time and has struck up friendships among the other patients; then a new person joins them, but behind closed curtains. Alice has been badly burned in a fire and not only doesn't want to see other people, she doesn't want to talk to them either but Alfie is a friendly guy and won't let a closed curtain stop him from reaching out the hand of friendship. Might there be more?

This is a book which will get right under your skin - it certainly did mine. The story is simple, yet complex; the characters are beautifully drawn and it all melds together so well. I particularly loved Alfie's mum - she is the epitome of caring mothers. Emily Houghton is an author who knows what she is doing and this one has been polished to perfection. Altogether this is a spellbinding novel and one I wallowed in. So very different and tremendously enjoyable that I recommend this novel without hesitation. 4.5*

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.