‘I Think We've Been Here Before’ was a very compelling and interesting read. it’s one of those books that make you raise an eyebrow as you keep on reading, creating questions and giving you no answers until it’s the right time – and when they finally come, it’s amazing. there’s a lot of foreshadowing and small things that you’re only able to notice after.

it may start a little slow, but it gains traction during the second half. i wasn’t able to connect with all the characters, but i was invested in their journeys and wondering what they were going to do until the very end. for a book that deals with topics such as the end of the world, mental illness, grief and family relationships, because of its writing, it ends being a very cozy and warm reading experience.

thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The world is ending. At least that is what NASA has predicted. It is all very unlikely, but yet, here they are. With only a few months left to live, families and individuals must determine what is most important. As they prepare for the inevitable end, they must still remember to live and connect with those around them. And although this series of events is unprecedented, they each keep have a strange sense of deja vu.

This novel is unusual and heart warming. Krause manages to instill a sense of humor into an otherwise terrifying and morbid concept. The characters are flawed and yet lovable, reflecting the best and worst of each of us. They struggle to make sense of this new world with which they are faced and yet still must remember to fully live their final days. How would you live your final days, what would be important. This unconventional novel about family and connections, will leave you wondering what is most important. After all, we never know what the future holds.

I was provided an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a real character study that deals with a lot of raw emotions right from the start. We meet Marlen and Hilda Jorgensen and their family who are dealing with some very sad news, in the midst of a potentially world ending event.

The point of view continually shifts in this novel, which at first confused me, but I think it made for better characterisation in the end. There is a lot of foreshadowing and non-linear elements, and overall it felt really human.

A really enjoyable read if you are looking for connection and character. My thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
3.5 stars

This was lovely! You will probably cry! The concept and ideas behind this were great and I really loved seeing the thought process behind the novel in the authors own review.

I loved the message of family and love being so important and being able to read each perspective together was new to me but very fun!

Thank you for the arc! I will be recommending.

4/5
such a beautifully written book. this was such a unique premise for a book. it kind of felt like a mix between the BBC mini series LIFE and the show The Society. the book discusses time, deja vu, family connections, regret, love and all in a way which i’ve never seen discusses before. the writing style was simple to follow and the little hints to the end were dispersed throughout the book so well. overall, i really enjoyed this book and will definitely be getting a physical copy as soon as it releases.

I don't often just browse Netgalley anymore (instead, I usually just go in looking for a specific title I've heard about), but this time I was just scrolling and came across an intriguing book that wasn't going to get released for 10 months, but was available now! And while I normally don't read a book until closer to its release date, this one was set during the months leading up to Christmas, so this holiday season seemed like the perfect time to read it!

And friends, it turned out even better than I had hoped.

Longtime married couple Marlen and Hilda are reeling from a recent terminal diagnosis for Marlen, which they have been keeping secret from their family until after their daughter, Nora, has moved across the world to spend a year in Germany trying to figure out her next steps in life. But when their health news is overshadowed by news that a cosmic blast is going to render human life on earth impossible within a couple of months.

I didn't realize that an apocalyptic, Inception-like story was what was missing in my holiday reading, but lo and behold, it was! This book read a lot to me like Fredrik Backman, a comparison I don't take lightly. Chapters flopped between following various, interrelated characters, jumping between Marlen, Hilda, their young adult daughter Nora, Hilda's sister, her husband, their son, and Hilda's father. Chapters often ended on powerful, sometimes cliffhanger sentences that had me underlining wildly. There were details woven in that you didn't quite understand as they were happening, but felt sure the pieces would be filled in later. It was all so eloquently constructed and captivating and full of so much heart, just like Backman. I loved these characters, I loved their evolutions, I loved the weirdness of it all. I can't wait for you all to read it.

4.5 stars

I will be posting this to my Instagram, blog, and Goodreads closer to time of publication and will come back to update this review with links at that time.

I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but I don't think I was expecting to love it as much as I did. I am seriously at a loss for words in such a good way.

This is a raw look at life and people and humanity.

I think what I loved the most is the beauty of this story. I don't want to give too much of the story away since its not coming out for a few more months, but trust me when i say have a box of tissues next to you.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for allowing me have the pleasure of reading this story.

A slow beautiful heartbreak. The story was masterfully crafted with an insightful look into endings of different kinds.

Of course I was drawn to this book by the reference to Saskatchewan, having lived in Saskatchewan for the past almost 50 years. The author definitely knows the people of Saskatchewan. The characters were so true to form that they could be living down the street from me. The premise is that our world will be destroyed by a double gamma ray blast from space. Plausible? Maybe, I know nothing of science. How people react, that was what drew me in. Their relationships, their time and how they did or didn't change was fascinating. For readers who love to read about people this is a book for you.
Thanks to #NetGalley#IThinkWe'veBeenHereBefore#LakeUnionPublishing for the eARC

I really enjoyed this book, I was definitely a little confused at parts and glad I saw a review that mentioned the 'mismatches' were on purpose and I should keep reading. I also have lots of family who live in Saskatchewan and really liked the small town Sask depictions. The end caught me off guard with how emotional and hopeful it made me. A beautiful book about living, dying, grief, and the end of the world.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this book for free in exchange for my review.

This took me a lot longer to read than expected. I really enjoyed the idea of this book and how different people react to the same news. It was difficult at times to keep the characters straight.

This book entertains the mind with a possibility of a disastrous cosmic event that would be the end of us – all of us. Everyone tries to make sense of what’s happening.

Scientists are always watching the stars to monitor activity and possible danger to the planet earth. It’s a story that’s been told before and this book makes the reader think and wonder what if there’s news that we all will die? It makes you pause and sort out your feelings about how you would react. It's cleverly written with vivid characters.

Nora from Canada is now 20 years old and has just started a work-abroad program in Berlin at a coffee shop. She meets her boss, Jacob, who she feels she’s met somewhere before. Of course, there has to be some romance involved. Her parents from a small Saskatchewan village miss her and when the news comes out that the world will end, everyone wants to be with their families. Is that possible with chaos in the world?

This is a fast-paced, engaging story with likable characters. It touches on some humor and some serious issues. However, there are many end-of-the-world interpretations and this is one with the author’s imagination. This would be a great book for a discussion.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of September 24, 2024.

What would you do if you knew the world was ending, but not for a few months? What if you already were terminally ill, or what if you'd just moved halfway around the world for a fresh start? What would your remaining days, weeks, months look like? Feel like?

This book was truly incredible. I I loved Suzy Krause's writing style, the way that her characters all felt so authentic and multidimensional. I loved the storylines & different-but-parallel POVs, and I especially loved the deja-vu-esque discrepancies/easter eggs woven between characters throughout the story (the cat, the necklace), leading you to understand that time and memories aren"t working in an entirely linear fashion. (No spoilers here, but it all made sense by the end & I thought it was a really fitting piece of the story ☺️)

More than anything, I truly loved the message of the book; the focus on living life to the fullest and prioritizing the things that matter when faced with the finality of the world & the truth of mortality - not just your own, but of those you love & even the people you've only met for a moment. It was refreshing and so much more compelling that the focus of this book wasn't the end of the world in a 'catastrophic, global panic' kind of way, but in a deeply personal, 'what matters at the end of the day' kind of way.

I really think anyone & everyone would take something away from this book, whether it be the simple enjoyment of a good book or a deeper meaning - I definitely recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

4.5 ⭐️s

I wanted to love this book. The premise was great but I couldn't get into it. This was a didn't finish for me. It never progressed and couldn't grasp my attention.

For reference, I am not typically a sci-fi reader and this book definitely gave a lighthearted Twilight Zone energy. It was incredibly slow for me and I was close to not finishing it, but I’m glad I pushed through to the end. The second half of the book was incredibly heartwarming and made me cry a few times. We are often so fixated on the stresses of the present-day that sometimes it takes the end of the world to remember how wonderful our lives truly are. It may not have been the book for me as I wasn’t able to fully connect with the characters and the ending left me feeling empty, but it was still very beautiful.

"Even at the end of the world, perspective makes a difference."

This book is a beautiful slow burn. Start to finish I found myself invested in each characters story. I just wish I understood what happened with the cat. 😊

Thank you for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

I recently finished reading "I Think We've Been Here Before" by Suzy Krause and was blown away by the emotional journey of Marlen and Hilda Jorgensen's family. The story follows the family as they receive two significant pieces of news: Marlen has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and a cosmic blast is set to render humanity extinct within a matter of months. As they prepare for the inevitable, they navigate their time together, channeling their energy into prophetic works of art and searching for missing loved ones.

What struck me the most about the book was the unsettling feeling that this unprecedented reality is something that the family remembers. As the planet holds its collective breath to see what happens next, the Jorgensens determine to live every moment as if it's their last. The story is emotional, thought-provoking, and a reminder to cherish the time we have with the people we love. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, emotionally charged story.

The description of the book seemed interesting, so I wanted to check the story out. Unfortunately, I have since lost my initial interest in the story. I may try and find a physical copy to add the my library when it is released, though, because I think my readers could like it!

This book has left me completely and utterly wonderstruck. I'm at a loss for words about how much I loved this book and how important it is to me.

I've always feared oblivion for as long as I can remember. My first panic attack was when I was 13 years old and the news said that the large hadron collider could lead to the creation of a black hole that would swallow the world. Since then, the thought of the end of times sent me into an absolute tailspin immediately,

I chose this ARC because I thought it would be interesting to face that fear head-on. Little did I know that I was picking up a book that would provide me a new perspective and some solace on a topic I've always feared. Krause's idea of humanity and what it means to live have shown me a comfort that I didn't know existed. I was forced to take an introspective look into myself, and in that I found a kernel of courage and peace.

Every character and their journey in this book was tear-inducing. But not in a sad way, more in that "that was so beautiful" way you cry when something has healed. Each member of this family captured a piece of my heart, and I love them all.

Thank you Suzy Krause for a beautiful story, and thank you NetGalley for the ARC! <3

This book is a slow-burn.

We meet several members of the same family as they navigate the last few weeks of planet earth - no really, they find out shortly after Christmas a cataclysmic event will mean the end of the world.

The writing of this novel is strangely compelling - I love the 'end of the world' genre and this one is particularly good; we get to know a couple of generations of the same family and follow them as they go through this difficult time, often with an odd sense of deja vu.

The deja vu does have a purpose (which I won't spoil here) which gives an element of hope to this book (and please read the author's comment on Goodreads which ties in nicely), but I have to say, as a mum of three it made me cry so much, with the silly realisation that I don't have enough hands to hold the hands of all my children and my husband when the time comes!

If you're looking for something to make you cry, make you think, then this might be the book for you. I give this 4 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read ahead of publication in exchange for my true thoughts.