The One Before The One by emma cooper it not your typical love story, and it is not a even the tiniest bit predictable!

Olivia is about to marry James, the love of her life, when her ex, Kit, who also happens to be James's brother, suddenly reappears after having been missing (and presumed dead) for 7 years! If that sentence isn't trippy enough for you, just wait. After she sees Kit through the fog, and sees a necklace he bought her in James's things, she is desperate to know what happened, so she is taken back in time 7 years to the week before Kit went missing! Now, normally a time traveling story is a little too sci fi for me, but it was easy enough to follow that I didn't feel like I needed perseverate on the oddity of someone going back in time. There are lots of twists and turns though, and lots of puzzle pieces spread out through the entire story so that you don't get the whole picture until right near the end. As we dive in to Olivia's first love story, she shows us how much she has grown, changed and embraced the parts of herself that she may have ignored or hidden in her past, making her ready for the life she is currently living, 7 years in the future. Cooper does an excellent job telling this story in it's many intricate parts and keeping the reader interested right until the final pages. Part mystery, part love story, The One Before the One is definitely a book I would recommend checking out!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher, boldwood for giving me the chance to read and review this awesome book. It is out now!

I wouldn't call this a complete time travel romance, but it had some aspects of it. This whimsical story of finding love again and helping those in need was too precious.

I loved seeing the chapters from both Liv & the MMC's perspectives. And I must say the MMC's chapters were written in a very clever way.

This story was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions and i enjoyed the suspense of "who's gonna end up with Liv?" A few revelations didn't make sense to me but I ended up enjoying this a lot.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVED The One Before the One. It was beautifully written.
It was full of romance, intrigue, mystery, and emotion.

Liv, James, and Kit were great main characters. They were all interesting, charismatic, and complex.
Liv was faced with a massive curveball and had to make a huge life-changing decision. Her angst and confusion were conveyed perfectly.

This is the first book I've read from Emma Cooper, but it definitely won't be the last. Her writing is full of emotional depth.

If you're a fan of Rebecca Yarros, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Beth O'Leary, then you should read The One Before the One.

I very highly recommend this book.

5 well deserved stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Emma Cooper for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What would you close if you could change one of the worst days of you life? Liv is given the chance to relive the week leading up to her fiancé’s disappearance Seven years prior. And oh yeah, she’s currently engaged to her old fiancés brother. This book could have been so over the top or even campy but it never veered that way. I thought the FMC stayed grounded and her emotions felt relatable and dare I say, somewhat believable. This was my first book by Cooper but based on this it won’t be my last.

Unfortunately not for me. While the premise was fun, I found the characters falling flat and the overall love triangle was not fun

A Moving and Beautifully Written Time-Bending Love Story

⏳​ Time Travel | ​❣️​ Romace / Mystery Plot | ​🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿​ Scotland

Seven years ago, Liv’s world shattered when her boyfriend Kit vanished during a hike. After enduring immense grief, she found solace and the possibility of love once again. But just before her wedding, Liv steps through a doorway and finds herself back in the flat she shared with Kit, six days before his disappearance. Now, Liv has the chance to relive those six days and uncover the truth behind Kit’s sudden departure. If she can change the past, she may be able to save him. But as she faces a choice between the man she once loved and the one she has come to love, Liv must decide: Can she save Kit, and at what cost?

The One Before The One” by Emma Cooper is an emotional, gripping, and beautifully written novel that pulls at the heartstrings. This was my first book by the author, and I was immediately drawn in by her wonderful writing style—beautiful and full of raw emotion. The premise is both intriguing and heartbreaking: Liv, on the verge of a new life, is suddenly thrust back into the past, given the impossible chance to change what once was.

I was hooked by this storyline and read the book in just 2 days. It kept me on the edge of my seat as I desperately needed to know what happened to Kit. The tension of reliving those six days before his disappearance was so well-executed, and I found myself questioning what I would do in Liv’s place. The emotional depth of her journey—between love, loss, and fate—was beautifully explored. And the twist in the last 20% of the book? I had my jaw on the floor! I couldn’t believe it. So well done!

I also loved the title; it perfectly encapsulates the story’s themes of love, second chances, and the weight of our choices. The time travel aspect added an intriguing layer to the plot, and the multiple POVs helped deepen the emotional connection to the characters. The mystery plot kept me guessing, and the wholesome romance was just the right balance to the heartbreak.

While I adored the writing and the premise, there were moments when I wished for a slightly faster pace. However, the novel’s emotional depth and thought-provoking storyline more than made up for it. A heartfelt, bittersweet read that lingers long after the last page. I will definitely be reading more from Emma Cooper!

I kindly received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Boldwood Books.

Spoiler free!

I did not expect to get sucked in to this book and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it!

Liv and Kit are head over heels in love, until the day Kit goes for a hike and doesn't return. Liv pushes through unimaginable grief and seven years later is engaged to a wonderful man. But the morning of her wedding Liv is somehow transported back to the week before Kit disappears. As she tries to stop his disappearance from happening, Liv learns more about Kit's life at the time, including the secrets he kept from her. While she tries to save Kit and get back to her present time, she also spends time with the man she eventually becomes engaged to and grapples with which man she ultimately wants to spend her life with.

A little bit romance and a bit mystery, mixed with dual timeline and magical realism, this book and Emma Cooper's writing got me from the start. I loved the author's storytelling. Chapters alternate between characters and timelines, but keep a good flow for an easily readable story. I thought I knew where the book was going and then, a twist that I never saw coming. Ultimately the book ended how I thought it would, but the creative and unpredictable in between kept me fully engaged.

"The One Before the One" is a solid four stars for me. This is my first Emma Cooper and definitely not my last.

TY NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free digital book!

This was a cleverly written book which takes us on a rollercoaster of a journey. We first meet Liv just before her wedding to James. However, Liv's previous partner was James' brother Kit. Kit went missing seven years before and has never been found. In searching for him, Liv and James found themselves falling in love and decide to get married. On the eve of their wedding day, Liv wakes up to find herself back with Kit, seven years previously. Is this her chance to find out what happened to him and stop him from going missing - or does she want to get back to James and marry him?

The story is told from different points of view and different timelines, however it's written really well and whilst it may sound complicated, it really isn't! I liked James and Liv's characters but wasn't expected the twist when Liv wakes up back with Kit seven years before. The storyline flows at a steady pace, building up the intrigue and mystery as to what really happened to Kit all those years before. There are lots of surprises and shocks, which Liv didn't know at the time, and I really liked how she had to keep trying to explain everything every day when it reset! It had a likening to Groundhog day, but with a more serious and romantic feel to it!

I became hooked into this storyline very quickly and couldn't put it down once started. I do enjoy a time-travel story and this had enough mystery to keep me wondering where it was heading! A beautiful, heart-warming and emotional read. Would definitely recommend.

I really liked this story and how it was written. A woman’s husband goes missing and she ends up falling in love with the brother years later. Right before their wedding she’s transported back 7 years to see if she can find out what happened to her first love. If he wasn’t gone who would she chose?

The writing was really well written. Life can be messy and complicated. But it’s like that for everyone. I liked how the book ended and came together with a good closure. The child/parent relationship was also good to read about. It’s a back and forth timeline but it wasn’t confusing.

A wonderful read
This book had me laughing and crying
You will not want to put this book down
I devoured it in one sitting
Thanks Netgalley

This was cute but implausable. I guess I just wanted a little more explanation of what was happening and why. Liv is getting married to James, the brother of Kit, who disappeared seven years ago and is presumed dead. Yet, somehow she flashes back to the week before Kit disappeared to relive it in order to determine why/how he disappeared.

Why? How? These questions were never actually answered.

Instead it goes back through that week and we do get answers but it seems really far fetched. The end is equally far fetched. There is no real love story - it is a family mystery/drama with a time travel element. I think that I was hoping for more of a romance/love connection.

The writing was okay. My biggest issue was the love triangle. I feel some sort of way about you trying to marry his brother. There were moments I thought pages dedicated to description and exposition could have been used to tighten up the plot and dialogue.

The One Before The One is One book I'm not going to forget any time soon. The way this book had kept me on the edge of my seat with the urge of wanting to just get in it and solve everything is undeniable.

It's also safe to say that I have fallen in love with Emma's writing and I'm adding all her books to my TBR right away.

Based on my least explore genre of time travel this book had got my attention in an instant with it's attention seeking and mysterious blurb. Based on Dual time line and multiple POV you are in for a ride.

The book opens to the days leading to Olivia's wedding to James ( who is brother of her ex boyfriend Kit) but just on the day she's about to exchange her Vows she's sent back 7 years to the time leading to her then boyfriend Kit's disappearance after he went on a hike.

Now having only days to unravel each secrets hidden from her and each clue she missed then the has to stop the past from happening. But is it possible?? What happens when the trust is unveiled???

The story is twisty, suspenseful and emotional which will leave you bewildered from the turn of events. The ending will get you shocked but will also not disappoint. So if you like a good, mind boggling story which is not overly complicated and is fast paced then this one's for you.

Do not miss this one.


Toodles 💕

The One Before The One by Emma Cooper is a page turner of a story that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. One of my favourite genres to read is time travel fiction so as soon as I read the blurb I knew it was a book I would love – and wow, it did not disappoint!

This is a difficult book to review without giving too much away, so all I will say is that this is a story that needs to unfold organically, so the less you know about it going in the better. The story is told from two alternating points of view, beginning on the day Liv and James are due to get married and then moving back to the time before Kit disappeared.

Emma Cooper’s writing is as beautiful as always, with the story taking me on a twisty rollercoaster journey of emotions as the truth of what happened to Kit is slowly revealed. There are surprising twists and turns along the way as Liv relives her life from seven years earlier, finding out things that really do shock her to her core – changing everything she thought she knew.

The One Before The One by Emma Cooper is everything I hoped it would be and more. A fabulous time travel mystery that kept me guessing right up until the final page had been turned, this is a book that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

This book is a fantastic read with a slight time travel twist. Liv’s boyfriend disappeared seven years ago, now on the day of her wedding she is sent back 7 years to 7 days before her boyfriend’s disappearance. The characters and world in this novel were compelling and sweet, it was hard to stop reading. The twists in the end caught me by surprise but were fantastic. On the whole an fantastic read I would highly recommend.

At the start of the book I felt like I was reading Taylor Jenkins Reid book One True Loves. The concepts were very similar, girl loses love of her life and years later finds comfort in someone new only to then be confronted by her first love and have to choose. From there though the books do diverge and I really loved the magical realism woven though this book, some people complained about it not being explained but I think that's the beauty of the genre. It was also super suspenseful and mysterious with what happened to Kit and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how everything would fall into place. I was legit shocked and loved the ending!

Hard to rate and hard to review without giving anything away. And the “aha” moment for me was comical because I’m cussing the book, cussing my f’d memory, going back a few chapters, then boom I figure it out and it makes sense. Haha
There is a time travel element but it’s easy to follow.
All in all I enjoyed the premise and zoomed through the chapters.
Thanks NetGalley for the book in exchange for my thoughts.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

This book kept me in suspense on how I was going to feel about it when all was said and done. In the early pages I was intrigued but then I became skeptical.. in the end I actually considered giving it 5 stars but there’s one aspect of the story that keeps me from being able to. I can’t really say what here without being really spoilery so instead I will focus on some overall thoughts below. I received an ARC of this one prior to its release earlier this year. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved the love story. I usually have a harder time with anything resembling a love story but my favourite trope of he fell first and pined hard is in these pages so I had a clear favourite male lead.

At one point I wasn’t sure if I liked any of the characters but I came around to all of them, some faster than others.

Very unique premise within this story and it kept me wondering how this could all end.

I laughed a lot out loud, especially in the final portion of the book.

Overall a great read, I just wish the one element made more sense to my logical brain, but I did love how everything wrapped up.

Thank you Boldwood and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this romance / part time-travelling book.

Liv is about to get married, however she’s given the opportunity to live one week over again. Will she take the opportunity? What will the outcome be if she does?

A thought provoking concept and a fabulous book to dive into and escape for a while.