Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this incredible book. Here is my honest, 5-star, spoiler-free review!

This book was an absolute masterpiece that had me captivated from start to finish, combining romance, mystery, and the emotional pull of second chances in a way that felt entirely fresh and deeply moving. Liv, the protagonist, is a character I connected with instantly. Her resilience, vulnerability, and determination to make sense of her past while navigating her present made her journey both compelling and relatable. On the morning of her wedding to James, Liv discovers a sentimental gift tied to her first love, Kit—James’s brother—who disappeared seven years earlier. This moment plunges Liv back in time to six days before Kit vanished, giving her a chance to change the course of her life and uncover the truth about what happened.

What struck me most about this story was how deftly the author handled the potentially complicated dynamics of Liv’s relationships. The book addresses the delicate situation of Liv falling in love with Kit’s brother, James, in a way that feels authentic and understandable, especially considering the years of grief and healing that followed Kit’s disappearance. As Liv revisits her life with Kit, Cooper paints a vivid and heartfelt picture of their relationship, making it easy to see why Liv was so deeply in love with him. At the same time, the story doesn’t shy away from the complexity of Liv’s current feelings for James, adding layers of tension and emotional depth.

The time-travel aspect of the book is handled masterfully. Cooper avoids the usual pitfalls of this trope, keeping the story grounded and focused on Liv’s emotional journey. The six-day window adds a sense of urgency and tension, and as Liv digs into the events leading up to Kit’s disappearance, the reader is drawn into an intricate web of love, loss, and unanswered questions. Every twist and turn feels earned, and the final chapters are packed with revelations that took me completely by surprise. I found myself flipping back through earlier pages to see how the author had so cleverly laid out the clues.

The ending, while bittersweet, is a lovely ending. It may not be what every reader expects, or what every reader wants ship wise, but it ties the story together beautifully, offering closure while leaving room for reflection. The emotional weight of Liv’s journey stayed with me long after I turned the final page, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the choices she made and the lessons she learned along the way.

I cannot recommend The One Before the One enough. From the very first page, it hooks you and refuses to let go, keeping you up late into the night as you race to uncover how everything unfolds. Every moment I couldn’t continue this magnificent story felt like a small heartbreak. Emma Cooper has crafted something truly extraordinary, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!!

Aww, The One Before the One was such a great read. This was the first Emma Cooper book I’ve read, but hopefully it won’t be the last.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book! I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. The author has such a good writing style. This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last! I enjoyed the characters. They had good chemistry.

I had no clue what this book was about, but I loved the mystery! I was totally hooked, the plot was awesome, and it really got me thinking. I'd totally recommend it to a friend. I'll be reading more by this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I enjoyed this arc a lot, I was not expecting the mystery to the romance. I enjoyed Liv as a character- I thought she was driven and passionate about those who she lived. I was not a fan of kit- I thought he lacked chemistry with Liv. Overall, I thought this was a sweet read and I enjoyed the story!

Book Preview and Review: The One Before the One by Emma Cooper
Emma Cooper’s The One Before the One promises to be a deeply emotional and thought-provoking tale about love, loss, and the elusive power of second chances. With a unique premise that combines romance and speculative elements, this forthcoming novel for 2025 seems poised to captivate readers who enjoy stories of heartbreak, healing, and the complexities of human connection.

A Time-Bending Premise
At the heart of the story is Liv, a woman on the cusp of new happiness with her impending wedding, only to be thrust into a surreal and life-altering experience. On her wedding day, Liv steps through a doorway and finds herself transported seven years into the past, just days before her first love, Kit, disappeared during a hike.

This clever narrative device sets up a high-stakes emotional journey: Liv is given the chance to prevent Kit’s disappearance and rewrite the most devastating chapter of her life. However, the novel’s central conflict lies not only in unraveling the mystery of Kit’s disappearance but also in forcing Liv to confront her deepest emotions. Does she want to change the past and her future? And even if she succeeds, can she reconcile the love she had with Kit with the new love she’s built in the years since?

The Emotional Core
Cooper excels at writing characters with emotional depth, and Liv’s story is no exception. The novel’s exploration of grief and healing feels genuine, and the time-slip premise adds layers of complexity to Liv’s choices. The reader is invited to empathize with her impossible dilemma: Should she risk altering her hard-won happiness with her fiancé to save the man she once thought was her forever?

This duality—between love lost and love found—creates a poignant emotional tension that will likely resonate with fans of authors like Shari Low and Paige Toon. Liv’s journey isn’t just about navigating romantic relationships but also about self-discovery and understanding what truly defines a life well-lived.

Themes of Love, Loss, and Fate
At its core, The One Before the One explores universal themes of love, destiny, and the human desire to rewrite history. The story raises intriguing questions about fate: Was Kit’s disappearance meant to happen to lead Liv to the life she has now? And if given the chance, would we all make the same decisions twice?

Cooper skillfully balances these weighty themes with moments of levity and tenderness, ensuring that the narrative remains uplifting even as it delves into heartbreak.

Comparisons and Audience Appeal
With its blend of romance, heartbreak, and speculative elements, The One Before the One is likely to appeal to fans of Beth O’Leary’s The Love Hypothesis and Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife. Like those novels, it uses an unconventional narrative structure to explore deep emotional truths about love and the choices that shape our lives.

Anticipated Strengths
Character-Driven Narrative: Liv’s internal conflict promises to be as compelling as the time-travel mystery, with richly drawn relationships at the story’s heart.
Relatable Themes: The universal longing to undo past mistakes or revisit pivotal moments will strike a chord with readers.
Poignant Writing: Emma Cooper’s previous works have been praised for their lyrical prose and heartfelt storytelling, and The One Before the One appears to continue that tradition.
Potential Challenges
The premise’s success hinges on Cooper’s ability to balance the speculative and emotional aspects of the story. Time-slip narratives can sometimes become convoluted, and the resolution of Liv’s dilemma will need to feel both satisfying and authentic. Additionally, readers with a preference for linear, straightforward plots might find the temporal shifts disorienting.

Final Thoughts
The One Before the One is shaping up to be a beautifully crafted exploration of love, memory, and the paths we take. Emma Cooper’s skill in portraying authentic emotional journeys ensures that this novel will leave a lasting impression, whether it makes you laugh, cry, or reconsider the choices that have shaped your own life.

With its unique premise and universal appeal, The One Before the One is a must-read for fans of heartwarming yet bittersweet romances. Prepare to be swept away by Liv’s journey and the thought-provoking questions it poses about love, fate, and the life-changing moments that define us.

Anticipated Rating: 4.5/5
Highly recommended for readers seeking an emotional, time-bending romance with unforgettable characters and an inspiring message about the resilience of the human heart.

I loved this one! I really wanted something a bit less thriller, as that’s my favorite genre. So this was perfect.it had a bit of romance, sci-fi and mystery. Exactly what I needed. I loved that there was even a twist, that had me going back and reading a bit to see how I missed it. I don’t like giving a lot away in reviews, because I’ve had books spoiled that way. This is a great red, quick and fun in so many ways. I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Liv's boyfriend Kit vanished seven years ago without a trace on a hike. After grieving for years, she is now getting married to James until, the morning of the wedding, everything changes again. She finds a familiar necklace in her groom's suit pocket and is transported back to her old flat with Kit, six days before she disappeared and able to relive that time. Can she change history, and more to the point, does she want to?

There are twists applenty, far more than I was expecting in a romance - but it wasn't just a simple romance. We get two timelines and POVs in which several mysteries are explored - what happened to Kit and is he still alive, and whatever relevance does hermit Connor McDonald have to the family? The second timeline is so cleverly written that I didn't realise at first who it was about, just that something didn't quite add up.

I liked both Liv who is strong and knows her mind, and kind James, who got a raw deal with his parents and didn't deserve what they, or at least his horrible mother, put him through. Liv's relationship with her mother and how she deals with her mother's agoraphobia was beautifully explored.

This is a story of love, loss, redemption and second chances, with a dash of magical realism, and is far less predictable than I thought it might be, and far superior to recent similar offerings about a woman torn between two men. I read this book in one sitting and highly recommend it. This is a well-written and captivating emotional rollercoaster of a story that will stay with you. The epilogue was something else!

Thank you NG & Boldwood Books for an e-arc!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Liv's boyfriend, Kit, disappears on a hike, she thought her life was over. Her family and friends helped her with the grief. Eventually, she found love again. On the morning of her wedding, Liv steps through a door way and finds herself in a flat, seven years earlier, with her boyfriend Kit. She has six days to figure out what's going on with her boyfriend, and try to stop him from leaving.

I enjoying reading this book, read it in one day! It was an emotional rollercoaster for me. There were so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.
This book contains a mix of romance and mystery. The dual timeline was engaging, offering a fascinating look at the characters' past and present.

I recommend this book!

where to start? This book pulls you in from the beginning. loving each character and invested in Liv’s love stories and her heartbreak. Twists and turns and unexpected developments take the reader on a roller coaster of emotions. A bit of time travel where you’d least expect. And an ending that ties it all up neatly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The One Before the One had that touch of turning back time that I love to read about it. The ability to actually impact that timeline is always 50/50 depending on the author and in this story I was curious which way it would go given the premise. The story focuses on Liv, who is about to get married to James. James just so happens to be the brother of Kit, the boyfriend that Liv was deeply in love with when he disappeared seven years ago. When moments before her wedding Liv finds sentimental gift that harkens back to her relationship with Kit, along with a note that seems to indicate he is alive, our timeline rewind occurs.

From the jump it’s important to note that the possible ick at James and Liv’s relationship is addressed and as a reader it’s easy to understand after four years of Kit missing how Liv and James could begin a relationship leading to a wedding a further three years down the line. And getting to see Liv go back to her life with Kit 6 days before his disappearance was helpful in setting the stage as to why she was so in love with him as I thought our look back might reveal he wasn’t so great. What it instead reveals is why Kit disappeared along with helping Liv feel confident in which of the brothers she really loves. Towards the end we get a twist that may or may not have been anticipated, but what follows will warm your heart.

A hard book to reveal and not spoil, but if you’re into stories focused on looking back to the past, romances, and a little mystery sprinkled in this is a solid book to pickup.

This book was interesting and drew me in at first, but it didn’t blow me away by the end.

I would say the first 45% of this novel keeps you on your toes, but after that it seems to drag on. I liked the whole mystery aspect but it could have been played out better. The flashbacks for Kit were also a bit boring and I wanted more substance to them.

I did like the overall concept. It’s very interesting to get to relive a week of your life with someone you lost. I hope to go back and reread this one someday and maybe I will get more out of the experience.

I can see myself reading other works by this author in the future.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

read it in one day! it was very interesting and it felt like multiple plot twists in one. it definitely kept me on my toes the entire time. i will say it was pretty wordy. so because of that i did skip a bit and still felt like i wasn’t missing anything. i definitely think the book could’ve done without a few chapters. other than that i did enjoy it. i loved seeing everything unfold and finding out the truth about kit. also james mom is such a ugh mom! i also wished we’ve gotten more of Liv with her true love (i won’t spill the beans on that) you’ll have to read to out! thank you again for allowing me to be apart of this ARC and allowing me to give an honest review ! it was a good one.

wow. this book was something, it got me stunned for real if this is the unedited version i can’t even imagine what will be the edited one, it was so GOOD.
This book mixed up mystery and romance so well and it got so many plot twists especially during the last 10 chapters it got me shock so many times that i had to go back to see the clues the author gave in the book.

the characters are just so well written, i seriously love the protagonist, she was such a girl boss in so many ways especially after every thing she endured, her true love (I’m not going to say who 👀), at first i was kind of septic but when you compared the first few chapters and the middle to the last one, it makes so much sense.

overall i COULDNT put down this book, i really recommend it, read it asap !!

thanks netgalley & boldwood books for this incredible arc !!

Triggers: addiction

I was very intrigued by the premise, and I was not disappointed! This book is an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and I was not prepared for the twists and turns. There were many moments where I was mindblown and just stared at the words with a shocked look on my face. I read this in one sitting: it was a page turner (I wanted to know what happened to Kit), and there were a lot of tears and heartbreaking moments.

Liv was having a seemingly amazing life with her boyfriend Kit, until one day he disappears and is presumed dead. Seven years later, she has found a second chance at love with... Kit's BROTHER (not a spoiler, but I was like OH.), James. On the morning of her wedding day, Liv suddenly finds herself back in time, a week before Kit disappears. She decides to use this opportunity to save Kit and stop him from going on that hike that led to his disappearance. But what does this mean for her current relationship with James? As she relives the days before Kit's disappearance, there is so much more than meets the eye.

This book combines romance, mystery with a paranormal twist, has a dual POV, and makes you go through emotional hell. At first, I was thrown off by James and Liv's relationship born from their shared tragedy, but their connection and relationship was portrayed as very intertwined with Kit's disappearance but also kind of separate and somehow, it worked. Liv is such a strong character and I loved how she was bold and a fighter but also still full of love for the people she cares about. She knew what her path was and never wavered from her purpose. She's struggled with a lot of tragedy in her life, and I was first and foremost rooting for her happiness. The author leaves small clues throughout the book that really come together during the last few chapters, but I was NOT expecting this book to go the way it did. This book is ultimately about redemption, healing, and second chances. I was very happy with the ending and with the character arcs (no spoilers), and I definitely need several days to process this book.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

When Liv’s boyfriend Kit disappeared on a hike, seven years earlier, she thought her life was over. But with the help of their family and friends, she’s pushed her way through the grief, and now, miraculously, she's found a way to love again.

Until the morning of her wedding, when Liv steps through a doorway, and finds herself, somehow, back at the flat she shared with seven years earlier, six days before he left. Now, Liv has a chance to live those six days over, and change everything. If she gets this right, she can find out why Kit leaves and stop him.

But can she save him? And if she does, how will she choose, between the man she loved then, and the one she loves now?

Loved it. Will recommend to others.

Wow, just wow. I haven't read a book that gave me goosebumps. If the unedited version gave me chills, I could not imagine reading the full, clean version for the first time.

GET THIS BOOK. It has romance, mystery, and an unreliable narrator. It's just so good and would guarantee give you a book hangover.


Edit: This is a reminder to write a full analysis review. Thank you, Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Liv y Kit estaban enamorados, muy enamorados. Su vida era maravillosa hasta que un día él desaparece en un viaje, nunca es encontrado y es dado por muerto. Años después, ella logra sanar e incluso se vuelve a enamorar. El día de su boda, descubre algo sobre Kit que podría cambiarlo todo. Cuando intenta descubrir la verdad, es transportada siete años atrás, seis días antes de la desaparición. Ahora tiene la oportunidad de cambiar el pasado, pero, si lo hace, ¿qué ocurrirá con su futuro con James?


Me encantó. Desde el principio, la historia empezó con fuerza y nunca perdió intensidad. Estuve atenta todo el tiempo, tratando de no perderme ningún detalle. Por ejemplo, cuando llega el capítulo en que se revela quién es la otra persona que está narrando, tuve que regresar a los capítulos anteriores para ver si había pistas que me había pasado por alto.

Me hubiera gustado leer más escenas de Liv con su gran amor (no diré quién es), pero solo de ellos dos.




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The One Before the One by Emma Cooper is a charming and heartfelt story that blends humor, emotion, and romance in just the right proportions. It’s a story about finding yourself after heartbreak, and Ava’s journey feels both relatable and inspiring.

Ava is such a likable protagonist—flawed, funny, and trying her best to move forward when life doesn’t go as planned. Her experiences, both messy and meaningful, are written with a level of honesty that makes her growth feel genuine. The supporting characters are equally engaging, adding warmth and humor to the story without overshadowing Ava’s personal evolution.

While the overall arc is satisfying, some parts of the story felt a bit predictable. That said, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment. Cooper’s ability to inject humor and tenderness into even the most bittersweet moments kept me fully invested in Ava’s journey.

This book is an uplifting reminder that even in life’s chaos, love—whether it’s for another person or for yourself—can be rediscovered. The One Before the One is a perfect pick for anyone who loves stories of self-discovery with a touch of romance.