The One Before the One by Emma Cooper is a story that focuses on Liv, who lost her boyfriend Kit while on a hike 7 years ago. With the sudden loss, she is left heartbroken and alone, grieving for Kit and the relationship they had. She finds love in a place so unexpected...in his brother James. Right before they are about to say their "I dos", there is a shift in time and Liv finds herself back in her apartment she shared with Kit, 6 days before the day she lost him. I really liked the back and forth in time, however, sometimes I felt a bit confused by the sudden shift. This didn't deter me though and I'm glad I kept going because I really enjoyed the book, as well as the way the author ended the story. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who loves the element of time travel, romance, and the unknown!

This story captured my heart from the very beginning. The characters felt real, the pacing was perfect, and every chapter pulled me in deeper. It was an emotional, unforgettable ride that I couldn’t put down. Beautifully written and full of heart, this book is a must-read for anyone craving a truly moving experience.

Well, what can I say other than this is utterly heartbreaking!
The One Before the One is one of those books which are really hard to write a review for; you have so much to say about it, but you don't want to give too much away. There is so much emotion thrown into every page of this, it's uplifting and deeply moving, it's hugely original and a definite new classic, one which will be read and re-read for many years to come.
This is such a different book from what I usually read. I'm not a magical/time-travel reader; it has to be a really special book in this genre to fully capture my interest, and this is one of them. I loved that all is not what it first appears, and it makes you second-guess things.
This book is an emotional roller-coaster, highs and lows, and so many turns with a few surprises. I loved the short chapters, the characters are lovely and relatable, it's sweetly romantic and will leave you feeling so satisfied and a little raw but really happy.

Just stunning. I had been looking forward to reading this book by the wonderful Emma Cooper, for months - I wasn’t disappointed. It’s beautifully written, a page turner full of love, desperation, heartache and some wonderful twists woven throughout. I fell head over heels in love with Liv, who Emma managed to bring to life through her wonderful writing. Now I just have to wait for the next one

This would have been a 5 star reading for me but the ending ruined it. I don't think the epilogue was needed and it didn't really add anything more to the story, it didn't even answer any of the questions I had!

I really liked the time travel aspect of it with Liv going back to work out what happened to Kit, her first love, before he disappeared. Once she realised she couldn't change anything in the past, she was able to do whatever she wanted or needed to find out the truth. It also meant that she was able to have conversations with her friends that they wouldn't remember - but she would. It's how she learns the truth about James.

I do think James and Kit's mum needed to get her comeuppance. She punished James for being the son of a gay man, even though it was no fault of his and on top of that, she kept him from his dad. She really needed to be forced to see the truth about her behaviour and I think this was an important part of the story that was missing. It should have been part of the epilogue.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I haven’t read and enjoyed a romance (par a novella) for years so I was so excited to find myself really enjoying this and intrigued by where the story would go.

Told in multiple POVs and timelines and with time travel elements and a mystery to uncover, this book felt like much more than a regular run of the mill romance and I think that’s why it worked for me.

I think it could have been a bit shorter but the fact it gripped me at all is pretty much miraculous as I’m a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to romance novels. I can see myself reading and enjoying more of Emma’s books in the future.

Poignant, magical, and emotionally rich, The Second Chance Week is a beautifully told story about love, loss, and the impossible choices that shape our lives. When Liv is suddenly thrown back in time to the week before her boyfriend Kit disappeared, she’s given a heart-wrenching opportunity: change the past, or protect the future she’s built without him. Perfect for fans of Shari Low and Paige Toon, this uplifting novel explores the power of grief, healing, and what it truly means to move on. A tender and unforgettable read

This was a beautifully written romance with a little bit of mystery. It had well developed evolving characters and thought-provoking circumstances. I really enjoyed it and was surprised to change opinions on characters throughout the book. Thank you to Net Galley for this advanced copy!

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

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.