Another excellent and thought provoking book from Laura. Great concept for a story. A book I didn’t want to put down.

I couldn’t put this book down ! Such an original storyline !

Becca Valentine has four almosts. These are her possible future children, who have to wait around and see if they are born . Each one Samuel, Thomas, Eliza and Lucy have their own distinct personalities each waiting for their conception date and possible birth.

Teenager Eliza’s story pulled at my heartstrings! Having been a teenage mother myself I could relate to her struggles! Whilst my friends were leading a completely different life I was looking after my baby but just like her the joy he brought to me was priceless.

The support of family is also very important and I loved how Eliza’s father’s solid support was never far away.

Eliza has to navigate motherhood whilst questioning her own emotions relating to the two men in her life ! The father of her child and the one who always seemed to be around for her. Who would she end up with ? I was so rooting for a happy ending for her.

This book makes you think how events and decisions in our lives shape our future. A unique book which I really enjoyed.

This book deserves five stars for sheer originality. I’ve read – and written – books about the afterlife, but never one about the ‘beforelife’. It’s an intriguing concept. The ‘almosts’ Samuel, Thomas, Eliza and Lucy, come into being as soon as their mother, Becca Valentine, is born and are constantly with her. Their devotion to their mother and each other is uplifting, as they all hope that they will be born. They are possible children though, and their conception isn´t guaranteed. It’s a riveting read of love, hope, mistakes and sacrifice told mainly from Eliza´s POV. Absolutely captivating.

As soon as o read what this book was about I knew I had to have it. It was such an interesting concept to me. I loved reading this book and really felt like I knew all the characters in it. It made me ponder if this was to be a real concept my own almosts. I enjoyed the ending even though I did see it coming and I’m sure this will be a book I think about for a long time to come.

when Becca Valentine is born, her future children come into being. they know their conception date. it is a different kind of story, once you get into it it is very enjoyable.

Another unique and heavily emotional winner from Pearson👍

What a great story! I could not put it down!
I was totally bowled over by the concept and execution of this novel about teenager Becca, the two men in her life and her four potential children. Eliza and potential siblings observe Becca's life from the Other Side and wonder how many of them will make it to conception, birth and beyond.

The devotion and love of the four children for each other and their mother really moved me, as did the descriptions of young Becca's tender, unwavering care for her first child and her father's solid support for her choices when she finds herself pregnant while still in school. This novel is a cauldron of emotional what ifs and the difficult journey Becca negotiates between Ryan and Anthony.

I discovered Laura Pearson's work in the past year and have loved each new book she releases. Her plots are incredible and out of the box unusual. When I saw this one included the Beforelife, I knew I had to read it because Pearson can weave such a great tale and unfailingly move me with the emotional content.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

In The Before Life of Eliza Valentine, Laura Pearson has done something entirely original, elevating a simple tale of girl-meets-boy, girl-loses-boy, girl-meets-boy-again into a beautiful, multi-layered story of hope, second chances and the redemptive power of love. Just beautiful.

What if……

From the moment she was born Becca Valentine had four “Almosts” around her. An almost is her possible future children. In Becca’s case they are Samuel, Thomas, Eliza and Lucy.
Some may be born, or maybe none of them. They have to wait and hope.
How will life turn out for Becca Valentine and the men in her life?

I imagined the four almosts siblings as ethereal beings. It is strangely enough something I have thought of in a similar way in the past. Could we possibly choose our own parents? Or a certain life? It certainly gets you thinking.
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It does have some sensitive issues.
I loved the relationship Becca had with her dad.
I really enjoy the authors writing style, and I get very excited when a new book comes along. Every book I have read from her has been so good, and I look forward to reading any future books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

This is the second book I’ve devoured by this author, and once again, it left a profound impact that lingers long after the final page. Told from the perspectives of four potential siblings, the story masterfully explores the complexities of love—whether new, enduring, or lost. It weaves together themes of relationships, second chances, missed opportunities, friendships, family, and the intricacies of parenting. The narrative is incredibly moving and powerful, making it impossible not to become deeply invested in the characters, flaws and all. You find yourself rooting for them, feeling every twist and turn of their journey. This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, gripping you from beginning to end. A big thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by this author, and I'm already a fan! The book was a joy to read, and the cover was particularly appealing. We are introduced to "The Almosts" - Samuel, Lucy, Thomas, and Eliza. They came into being when Becca Valentine was born and have shadowed her throughout her life, anticipating whether she will one day become their mother. They are aware of their potential conception dates, yet Becca's life doesn't always align with the plan, risking The Almosts' very existence. The plot is ingeniously crafted and utterly unique, captivating me from the start.

Initially, the concept of The Almosts was a little confusing, but it became clearer after a few chapters. The narrative is primarily from Eliza's point of view, offering us a window into Becca's life. Becca's story is compelling; she's an endearing and relatable character. It's heartbreaking to see how her life diverts from her plans, yet it's inspiring to see her resilience. The suspense of whether all her children will be conceived is heightened by the presence of two men in her life, complicating matters for Becca.

As the story progresses, we see Becca's character develop, and I love how she deals with everything life throws at her. Observing the lives of Eliza and the other Almosts is equally engaging, and their shared emotions are palpable. One can't help but root for the existence of all four Almosts. The author has a knack for writing a story that pulls on the heartstrings with every page turn. The book is cleverly written, with strong themes of family and friendship woven throughout. It features a cast of remarkable characters, not all of whom are likable or virtuous, yet each is crucial to the plot. Overall, it's an easy read but does have some trigger points. It captivated me completely and I enjoyed every single word!

2.5 stars, rounded up. This book's unique premise is what made me request an ARC: the story is narrated by one of four "Almosts;" unborn potential children who are with a woman from the day she is born. The Almosts know their date of conception and who their father is, and they have a one-time-only pass to inhabit any human to try to increase their chances of being conceived. For the first half of the novel, I just felt incredibly creeped out but couldn't put a finger on exactly why. I think it was partly because the mother of these potential children was just a teenager, and she was making really poor choices that the Almosts were rooting on. I was also disturbed at the thought of these unborn children observing everything their mother did and said. I did appreciate the book more fully by the end of it, and it was certainly a creative novel. A lot of people are loving this book and I encourage you to give it a try if the premise intrigues you. This was definitely a case of "It's me, not you," as the book is well-written. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a digital review copy.

This is my fourth book by Laura Pearson and I have loved every one of them. The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up, I Wanted You To Know and Missing Pieces have all been four or five star reads for me and The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine is no different. This one though was utterly unique…A group of children called The Almosts watch over their mother as she decides between two men and the children she may or may not have.

Full disclosure, I do not like love triangles because one way or another someone always gets hurt. I also did not like the way Becca flip-flopped between these two young men, it drove me mad. She kept claiming she had to keep doing what was best for her son Sam but dragging him back and forth between homes and having these men in and out of his life was not a good idea. But then I considered her age and realized it was probably true to life I was the same age as Becca 17 when I had my firstborn and while I didn’t flip-flop between men I also didn’t always make the best decisions. Also like Becca, I had a very understanding parent who was also very supportive…her dad and my mom.

The almost siblings act like real siblings, there is envy and fighting and I loved the idea behind this book…family isn’t always about blood. We don’t use the term step sibling or half sibling in my immediate family. Written with love without being too saccharine this story really touched my heart. The Almosts showed very real sibling rivalry but they grew to love each other the more time went on even sacrificing for each other before they were even born. This was such a wonderful take on siblings and a perspective that was so unique I was blown away.

I can always count on Laura Pearson to mess with my emotions through her characters. Once again they were all over the place, I laughed, I cried, I cheered them on…It was a roller coaster ride of emotions. This book asked the question “What would you sacrifice for the ones that let you love the most?” Beautifully written with a concept so different than anything I’ve ever read before The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine deserves all the stars.

Well, I’m pretty emotional after reading that.

Poor Becca, after having a mum who clearly didn’t love her and getting her future turned on its head completely the night she lost her virginity, didn’t really stand a chance. Especially when the person she lost her virginity’ to was Ryan.

I hated Ryan from the start. Loved Becca’s dad and poor Eliza too.

Anyway, I won’t give anything away, just go and read it, please.

P.s. I suppose if people believe in the afterlife then surely you can believe in the beforelife. It’s got me thinking now, haha.

4.5 stars

Well, I’m pretty emotional after reading that.

Poor Becca, after having a mum who clearly didn’t love her and getting her future turned on its head completely the night she lost her virginity, didn’t really stand a chance. Especially when the person she lost her virginity’ to was Ryan.

I hated Ryan from the start. Loved Becca’s dad and poor Eliza too.

Anyway, I won’t give anything away, just go and read it, please.

P.s. I suppose if people believe in the afterlife then surely you can believe in the beforelife. It’s got me thinking now, haha.

4.5 stars

I seem to be on a run of strange/different books. I'm not sure whether this one would be classified as sci-fi or fantasy. Neither one of these is a genre I read but somehow I got drawn into this one and a couple of others.

The premise is that “beforelife” is a place where one's “spirit” (for lack of a better word) or “Almost” exists before conception. The Almost knows what their conception date is and tries to steer fates to make it happen. They watch over their parents-to-be. This is outside the reality of my mind.

The earthly characters are realistic. They are teens and young adults, living in the moment, not always making the right choices. But, there are some lessons learned from the poor decisions. Their part of the story is easy to follow, easy to understand.

The Almosts are very interesting. They have their own distinct personalities. They're all looking forward to their conception date, which might or might not happen. They have feelings. Such an interesting concept. And, who knows, it might be possible in an alternate universe.

I enjoyed this book, more than I thought I would. I have mentioned before that my mind deals with logic and reality. But, sometimes it’s good to take a detour.

I think this could be also classified as a Young Adult book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Samuel, Lucy, Thomas, and Eliza were "born" when Becca Valentine was actually born. They are her potential children and they know their potential date of conception. They also recognize their father when he meets Becca. This is Becca's story mainly seen thru Eliza's perspective. It turns out the 4 potential children have two different fathers and that Lucy and Eliza's dates are too close together for them both to actually be born. As Eliza watches more of Becca's life, it becomes clear are can impact it and she'll have to choose how .

There are four of us: Samuel, Lucy, Thomas, and me – Eliza. We came into being the day Becca Valentine was born. We’ve been by her side ever since. What she doesn’t know yet, is that one day she might become our mother.

Then two men come into her life. Both seeking her heart. And then we realise: everything rests on Becca’s love story. Because one of the men is Lucy and Thomas’s father. And the other is mine and Samuel’s. And there’s simply no way we can all be born. We all want her to make the right choice. We all want to be born. To hold her hand one day. To feel her stroke our hair. To call her our mother.

Then we discover there is something we can do. We can change Fate. But we only have a single chance each. How would you make sure you were born? And what if doing that isn’t what’s best for the person you already love the most in the world – your mother?

This is the fourth book I've read by Laura Pearson, and she's become a must-read for me by this point. She always has a very unique premise, her writing is exquisite, and she always pulls all the emotions out of me. The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine did this in spades. Another brilliant gem from a superb author!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

After reading a couple of books by this author, I was delighted to get the chance to read this one.

It is a very different idea that starts the book and one that I had to get my head around quite quickly - teenaged Becca is born and her four possible babies come into being at the same time. For Becca, this is 4 possibles that will follow her life until their conception dates. The main problem for these future babies is that there are two different dads int he picture, meaning that all 4 are unlikely to be brought to life. What does that mean for Eliza?

I really enjoyed this book and Eliza’s story, with Becca’s too. I was rooting for them both throughout. A book to savour.

What an amazing book. I loved the premise of almost- future possible children of a woman who watch over her until it’s their time of conception. It was sad, heartbreakingly so, in places and so filled with love and hope. I needed that epilogue in order to tie up loose ends but, like Eliza, often felt like I wanted to intervene with Becca. An absolute must-read!!

This book truly is incredible! We talk about the afterlife, we write about the afterlife and we definitely speculate about the afterlife, but what about the beforelife?

In this story, Eliza and her potential future siblings are with their mother to be from the moment she is born. They watch her grow up and are with her at every moment. They even know the date they are due to be conceived. When Thomas and Lucy spot their future dad and Samuel and Eliza realise that he isn’t their dad as well, they realise that there is a strong chance that they won’t all get to be born and that it very much depends on their future mum’s choices.

Without drifting into spoiler territory, I can only say that it’s about so much more than a case of which dad will she choose and who will get to be born. As well as the love and rivalry between the four potential siblings, they watch their mum’s life unfolding and see the difficulties she faces as she becomes a woman and then a mother, for the first time. They see her laugh, cry, love, lose and fight.

Laura Pearson’s writing is as captivating as always and I went though every conceivable emotion while reading this amazing story,

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Laura Pearson and Boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.