Oliva is getting ready to wed Kit, the brother of her first love James, who disappeared seven years ago. she receives work James is alive, Is everything as it seems with Kit?

"The One Before the One" by Emma Cooper was a deeply moving and thought-provoking read. It explores themes of love, loss, and second chances with sensitivity and grace. The characters felt incredibly real, and I found myself empathizing with their struggles and triumphs. The story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, reminding us of the enduring power of human connection. It's a book that stays with you long after you finish the final page.

What I appreciated: The emotional depth and the exploration of complex relationships. The writing was beautiful and evocative.

What could have been improved: The pacing felt uneven at times.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Emma Cooper is the author who literally has me waiting with bated breath for any of her new novels.
The One before the One is an absolute triumph. It has you second-guessing what is going to happen to the characters right from the opening of the very first page.
On the verge of her wedding, Liv receives life-altering news, that her missing boyfriend Kit is alive.
As the story unfolds, the reader unravels many layers, Liv is marrying Kit's brother, why does Kit disappear, is all as it seems with James, is Liv marrying the right brother and has Liv time traveled into the past to save Kit?
Cooper's characters are realistic, the scenes are authentic and the book was devoured in a day.

Loved it!

My first book of 2025, and it's a good start because I really enjoyed reading it. I find time travel stories really fascinating, especially if it's a love story.

Olivia is getting ready to marry James, the brother of her first love, Kit. Kit went missing seven years ago, leaving both Olivia and James devastated. They conducted search operations for a year but to no avail. Over time, Liv and James fell deeply in love. Now, right on the wedding morning, Liv finds something in James' jacket that shakes her trust in him. And guess what? She finds herself living in the past, six days before Kit disappeared.Would she be able to change the course of destiny? Could she stop Kit from leaving? If yes, then what about James?The writing is so engaging, and the execution of the story is really smart. Conversations are natural. I really liked James and found myself rooting for him. His bonding or banter with Liv or Mac was endearing.

A couple of things, though:The conversations in the ending could have been a little crisper. Also, the epilogue and the extra chapter in the end are totally unnecessary, an attempt to tie the loose ends when there weren't any.

Nevertheless, I really like this book. Very intriguing, interesting, and super engrossing.

✨ARC Review✨
I completely devoured this book in one sitting! This is the first book of Emma’s that I’ve read, and I enjoyed every second of it. The plot line of this story gave me similar vibes to Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston which I also loved. The writing truly kept me on my toes and wanting to read more, which explains why I couldn’t put it down all day! Getting to see the different relationship between Liv and Kit compared to Liv and James was really great to read, the time travel situation was written so smoothly and easy to read. Thanks so much to Emma, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!
5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

I requested this book as a romance, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was quite a bit of mystery involved.

Seven years ago, Liv’s life was turned upside down when her boyfriend goes missing. Now on her wedding day, she finds herself literally stepping into the past as her hotel room turns into her apartment five days before her boyfriend goes missing. She now has to grapple with the idea that she’s somehow in the past with the chance to prevent her boyfriend from going missing. But as the days go on, the life she was living seven years prior begins to unravel.

This magical realism in this novel was executed so well and I loved the dual POV. The writing was done very well and the mystery kept me turning the pages quickly wanting to see what happened. At times it felt like the story dragged a bit, but overall I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys romantic mysteries.

Emma Cooper's The One Before the One is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and time-traveling intrigue that swept me off my feet. The premise was unique and immediately captivating, and the story absolutely delivered on its promise, leaving me hooked from start to finish.

The time-traveling element was handled masterfully, shrouded in mystery and originality. It added layers to the story and gave it a depth that made it stand out in the genre. As for the romance—swoon! I found myself falling head over heels for one of the brothers. The emotional connection and chemistry were palpable, making the romantic arc one of my favorite parts of the book.

Character development was another strong point. The dual points of view were wonderfully executed, allowing for an intimate understanding of the characters' emotions and motivations. However, I did notice early on which brother’s perspective we were following in the chapters set in Scotland, which slightly lessened the mystery. That said, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

This was my first read of the year, and what a way to start! It’s an absolute five-star book for me. I’m now eager to explore Emma Cooper’s backlist, hoping for more gems like this one. Highly recommend!

Big thank you to the publisher and netgalley to let me experience this story!

This was my first time reading this author. I was hooked on this story from the start!
The characters are likeable and relatable, it is a well written and not just a standard rom-com. There are twists and turns and I couldn't stop reading!
I would highly recommend this book, and will look for more by this author.

Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over, but can she change her future...? And does she want to? This is an amazing book, just buy it, and sit back and enjoy the ride. A massive five shiny stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was expecting an emotional read focusing on lost love. Instead, I got a gripping mystery wrapped up in a love story - definitely not what I expected but it was so good!

This was a great read with not so much a plot twist but a lovely curve twist that the clues were there to all along.

I was really invested in Liv's second chance opportunity the find out what happened when her boyfriend. Kit when missing - presumed dead.

Seven years later she finds out her answers and realises that maybe her destiny was always supposed to be where she ended up.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

A sweet time slip romance, a lovely blend of mystery and romance. The writing was well paced and the plot solid, resulting in an easy to read story.

Some of the characters were one dimensional, and would have benefitted from further development, but overall it was a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

Brilliant! There was so much thought, romance and mystery in this book. I was hooked early on, and couldn’t put the book down. There were twists that I absolutely didn’t expect- with a story so beautifully written.

This novel is a beautifully written blend of romance, mystery, and a touch of magical realism that keeps you turning the pages. The story follows Liv, who, on the morning of her wedding day, is inexplicably transported back in time to the week leading up to her boyfriend Kit’s mysterious disappearance seven years prior. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster as Liv navigates love, loss, and the delicate balance of fate.

The structure of the book is impressive. Each chapter builds suspense and keeps you guessing about Kit’s disappearance and the choices Liv must make. The emotional depth of Liv’s character is compelling, as she grapples with grief, self-discovery, and the possibility of rewriting her past.

While some parts were a bit descriptive and slowed the pace, the overall narrative was captivating. The balance between romance and mystery was spot-on, and the twists and revelations were both surprising and satisfying. Liv’s resilience and the relationships she builds—both in the past and present—make this a heartfelt and thought-provoking read.

If you’re looking for a story that combines emotional depth with an intriguing plot and a dash of the unexpected, The One Before the One is definitely worth picking up. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I can't say much without spoiling so just Wow. Wow Wow Wow! The One Before the One was so beautifully written, theres romance, mystery, and time travel. This all kept me glued to the book, I couldnt put it down because I just had to know what happened next. Though this was one of those books you don't really know what's going to happen next. I never expected the twist that was threw in and had to pause and reread a few chapters to make sure I was reading right😆

Anyway, perfect book, highly recommended, add it to your tbr you won't regret it I promise!

I love when a book makes me want to talk about it and tell others about what I am reading. This book had so many twists that I didn't see coming I just had to keep reading to find out what came next. Liv goes back in time and is able to learn more information about what happened during an important time in her life. No spoilers here, just grab this book and read it for yourself! You won't be able to put it down.

I've read a few of Emma Cooper's books before, and although I'm not usually a huge romance reader, I love how she subverts what I would expect from the genre to create some really interesting plot lines. The One Before The One is no different and it drew me in from the beginning and held my attention until the very end.

The heroine of The One Before The One is Liv, and there are large sections of the novel that are narrated by her. I loved the opportunity this gave me to get to know her. I really liked her character - she is loyal and kind, intelligent and has a warm sense of humour and I could easily see myself being friends with her. I couldn't stop reading to make sure she got the ending she wanted.

The One Before The One has two different time frames: 2016 and 2023. I found it fascinating to look more closely at Liv's relationships at these times. At first, I did find the timelines slightly confusing, but once I got my head around it, I found it to be a really inventive and engaging way of telling Liv's story.

It's really difficult to describe the plot in detail without giving away spoilers, but I loved that it went in a direction I wasn't expecting at almost every turn and I'll be thinking about this story for a long time to come.

This one started out making me think of the book One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which made me really love it in the beginning. It then took a turn when time travel happened and we ended up in the past. I was in suspense over the big mystery as to why Kit went missing/was presumed dead. I enjoyed getting to know him, Liv, and James. When the mysterious reason was finally revealed though, I felt pretty let down. Yes, it was what I assumed had happened, but it still felt disappointing. I was hoping for this huge, jaw dropping moment that just never came. The ending was exactly how I wanted it to go with what happened to Liv, so that made up some points for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Emma Cooper for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of The One Before the One in the return of an honest review.

This book had incredible potential. It gave mystery, a good love story, and tender moments. However… I felt so let down by the secret. :( It fell sooo flat for me… I am not sure what I was even expecting… but it was not that. I also was icked out when Kit came back and made a joke about being able to disappear fast when he was thinking about where James had went. There were also a good amount of conversations that I didn’t know which character was talking or saying what. All in all, still an entertaining read, I just felt like the ending was… not my favorite.

OMG, where do I start with this book?
First, I want to review with no spoilers, but that will be sooo hard to squeal about the twists and turns without giving things away!
So, can you imagine having the chance to go back to a 'better' time in the past and making some changes that could change the trajectory of your life?
Liv finds herself in that same situation, except on the eve of her wedding.
After losing her fiance, Kit, tragically, it has taken her years to come to terms with his disappearance finally. She has taken steps to move forward and seems happy until a freak moment takes her back seven years to the week before Kit's disappearance.
This is where the story takes off. There is a dual POV and a shifting timeline. Short chapters take us through Liv's experiences as she relives a week where she is not sure she can change anything, but she learns a lot about her own life that she had no idea about. And the experiences of one who left in the days after his disappearance.
I don't want to be cryptic, but I can't say too much other than I was gripped and confused in a good way. This romantic mystery, as I think it should be tagged, had many twists, which made me double-check things. It was so cleverly written that I didn't know what was going on for a while!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.