A literal sucker-punch to the heart!

This was my first ever book by Laura Pearson. The main thing that drew me to this book was the interesting premise. The beforelife, where potential children that may one day be conceived (called ‘Almosts’) exist. They spend their time watching their future mother navigate her way through life from her difficult childhood to the messiness of romantic relationships. The only thing these ‘Almosts’ know for sure, is who their father is and their potential conception date.

This book had a fascinating concept that was executed perfectly. You can’t help but get attached to Samuel, Thomas, Lucy and Eliza and root for them, even though you are unsure of their fate. To say this book sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions is an understatement. I felt joy, loss, hope, rage, sadness and love.

I was intrigued the whole way through, especially with the ‘twist’ in the middle. I honestly didn’t know how everything was going to wrap up, but wow, that ending was just perfect, chefs kiss.

I can’t wait to read more from the mind of this brilliant author!

Big Thank-you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed previous works from Laura Pearson, so I was excited to get the chance to read this one.
The cover is beautiful, stunning!
The concept of this book really caught my attention though and intrigued me. Certainly one of the most unique storylines I’ve come across in a long while.
The author has given us another wonderful, flowing, well thought out and executed story. Characters that are complex and flawed.
When all of that is combined, we’re given an engrossing, immersive and subtly emotive read.
I’ll finish this as I started and that is with beautiful, stunning!
Highly recommend.

I love this authors, other books, but I found that I couldn’t really get into this one. I found it really difficult to connect to the “almosts”—beings who haven’t been born yet. It would’ve been easier to connect with them and with the whole story if the opening chapters were from the point of view of Becca instead of the “Almosts.”

I did find it totally unique and creative and for that I give the author lots of credit!

Wow what a book I have read all of Laura books and I think this one is my favourite
I loved the concept of this book and loved all the characters and wish Laura all the best with this book and I would highly recommend it to read

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review

This book is a strong contender for my favorite book of 2024.

First of all, what an intriguing concept for a book- something so novel and delightfully fresh! The children that one might have, the potential children, living a Beforelife that we know nothing about. Utterly captivating and immediately captured my imagination.

Sometimes book storylines have a great potential and then fall flat. This book kept me up at night, reading when I would roll over in the middle of night and find myself thinking about it, and picking it up whenever I could resume reading. I read it in a short period of time, which has not been happening for me this year because my concentration has been wonky.

I truly enjoyed this book and would love to do this with my book club. Highly recommend!

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A great book . It is the first book I had the pleasure to read from the Laura Pearson and it had left me amazed . It made me laugh and cry , gave me lot to think about life and about our choices .
Eliza, Samuel, Lucy and Thomas are the Almost , the children every woman will have in her life depending which man they have . Becca is having two potential men Antony and Ryan . Antony is the father of Thomas and Lucy & Ryan is Samuel and Eliza's . Each one have one chance to change Fate . Which man will she choose and will all her children will be born ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

I was recently introduced to this author and read a couple of her books and have been pleasantly surprised. Once again, I have thoroughly enjoyed this storyline too. It’s a completely different concept to anything i have read before. It kind of reminded me a bit of “Sliding Doors” and time travel and also a kind of romance all rolled into one. I devoured it within 24 hours as it was one of those where you just needed to know how it was going to end. I appreciated this heartwarming story very much and can’t wait to read more!!

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

This a really original and heartwarming story of the many possibilities of children a woman can have, we hear from their future offspring who can only be born if everything falls into place. Becca's future children have learned how to influence fate and make Becca take the path they choose, to an extent. When she's torn between the two men in her life, Anthony and Ryan, it's down to the future siblings to help out. Such a clever story and well written, another great book by Laura Pearson.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Having read books by Laura Pearson before I was looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed, it was very different but the characters were great and it was an unusual story. I would definitely recommend this book.

I love Laura Pearson's books, she writes the most beautiful stories. The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine, is so original and unique, and whilst the concept is different from what Laura has written before, the wonderful characters and style of writing is pure Laura which is brilliant.
Those in the beforelife come into being when their mother is born. They remain there until their conception date (which they know on the date they come into being). They follow their mother throughout her life until their conception date. But they can change fate, so they may not be conceived, or the pregnancy may not go full term so they may not get to live. This means that it is not certain whether all of the four siblings who we meet at the start of the book will get to live alongside their mother, Becca.
Whilst we may not have heard of the beforelife in this way, Laura made it so real, that I quickly accepted the concept. Eliza is a brilliant main character and together with Becca I loved the strong female leads.
Another brilliant book by Laura, that I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a absolutely delightful book! And such an original idea. I've not come across Laura Pearson before but I shall certainly make a point of reading more of her books if they're as good as 'The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine'. I read it in one sitting, easily losing myself in the Almosts' race to be conceived.....or not. Not a concept I believe in, but if we're happy to accept the existence of an afterlife then why not a beforelife? A great way to pass a few hours be it on the beach or in front of a nice fire. A definite 5* recommendation from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

What a beautiful story. I thought this was a bit different to Laura's previous novels and wondered if I was going to like it but it was amazing and I absolutely loved it. Bacca's relationships with Anthony and Ryan is difficult as they are both complete opposites and the decisions she makes will lead to heartbreak for Eliza and her existence if she chooses one over the other. Beautifully written and very emotional that will have you reaching for tissues and the story is interesting with friendships, love and family relationships that will keep you wanting to read more a really page Turner A 5⭐read

Before I had started to read the very first word, I was intrigued and hooked by the premise. It felt so fresh, unlike any other book I had read.

Eliza Valentine is a tricky book to summarise. Our narrator is Eliza, one of four ‘almost’ siblings, potential siblings, patiently waiting for their time, their single chance of life. The moment their mother is born, their consciousness begins, and so does their decades long hopeful journey.

Laura’s books always feel like they are written with kindness. Even when the subject matter is intense, or hard to face, I feel I am reading through a filter of gentle kindness; but the writing is never saccharine sweet. I feel the author is trying to convey that we will face difficult, challenging situations, it is inevitable; but compassion can soften the edges a little.

I have always loved the knowledge that I was quite literally a part of my maternal grandmother. The book takes that thought a step further. Further from our existence merely being a possibility, to having a pre-destined date of potential conception, and a name.

The book is a new twist in sibling rivalry. The usual love, hate, jealousy seen through a different lens. Ultimately, for me, it is a story of sacrifice for those we love, from both mother and child. The book is a little under 300 pages, and I found Eliza’s story so compelling, I read from cover to cover in just 24 hours. Laura, thank you for this beautiful, intriguing and thoughtful book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book was so lovely! I really was drawn in by the premise and I read it in two days because it was so good. I was so invested in their lives and story. There were twists and surprises, and I love the way it ended. I really want to read more from this author. This book was sweet, heartwarming, sad, and emotional. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

What an original and heartbreaking compelling story! I read it all in one night and couldn't put it down. The story is told from the perspective of 4 'Almosts' - potential children that could be born to Becca Valentine by two different fathers. The story follows all the twists and turns as the children try to control events so they will be conceived and born. I loved the concept that everyone has their potential children in spirit with them and the ideas behind how they are conceived and where they go if that conception doesn't happen. It was such a brilliant idea and beautifully told. I wish Becca had had some awareness of them, Eliza, the narrator was especially endearing and brave!

the concept of the “beforelife” was so intriguing to me and i was thrilled when i was selected to receive an ARC of laura pearson’s latest book.

eliza valentine is one of becca’s “almosts” - potential children she may carry and give birth to during her lifetime. becca has four total “almosts” and they are as close as siblings might be after birth. (maybe even closer!) eliza, lucy, samuel, and thomas watch becca from afar as she moves through her life. as their conception dates approach, the stakes ramp up - will becca make the decision(s) that will lead to their births or will they be lost to the potential, left to wonder what life would have been like?

i’ve never seen the movie “inside out”, but this book is similar to what i’d expect it to be - small beings (not yet human) who watch scenarios play out and try to occasionally have an impact on them.

will the choices becca makes lead to a human life for eliza and her potential siblings or will they remain her “almosts” for all eternity?

thank you to Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. all opinions are my own.

Wow, I loved this book. The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine was both heartbreaking and uplifting and beautiful.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NG for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’m amazed at how a relatively unexceptional relationship can be forever altered to sheer brilliance by offering only a slightly different perspective. The story follows Becca Valentine on her life journey told through the eyes of her “almosts.” Eliza, Thomas, Samuel, and Lucy are the children who may potentially be born to her within her lifetime but are watching in purgatory awaiting to see if they become real. The premise reminds me of the “the land of unborn children” scene from the movie The Blue Bird, which is one of my all time favorites. The storyline is nothing short of devastatingly beautiful. The “almosts” are heartbreaking, but also wonderfully uplifting and supportive. It’s found family. It’s pain and love and a gorgeous story of hope and choices. I absolutely loved it.

Yes, yes, yes, please read this book. One mother, 2 fathers, 4 children. How will destiny play out? What a concept and so well done. For a complex plotline that could have been botched up, Laura's just waved her story telling magic wand to deliver this outstanding book. Written eloquently, you get to see how 4 kids: 2 boys, 2 girls, 2 sets of siblings, make it into their mother Beccas life. I was moved to tears, by this love story. Just simply well done.

#netgalley #thebeforelifeofelizavalentine

Becca Valentine Is followed throughout her life by the four potential children she may have. They know who their father is and their date of birth. Things are complicated because pairs of the children have different fathers but their date overlap. This sometimes causes doubt and tension as they feel as if they are in some sort of competition. We follow one child, Eliza as she describes their lives. Interesting concept and quite gripping.