What a great book to start off the new year! This is one that stuck with me all day until I could pick up where I left off again. The cover is beautiful and heavily influenced my decision to read it.

There's romance. There's suspense. There's time-traveling. There's heartbreak. There's HEA.

Liv's world was turned upside down when her boyfriend, Kit, disappears. After years of searching for him, both Liv and Kit's brother, James, accept that he's really gone. But in the process of their search, they find each other. Seven years later, they're getting married! Until, on their wedding day, Liv gets catapulted back in time to before Kit left. Now, she has the chance to find out what happened to him and why.

I loved everything about this book. The characters were well-built and extremely likeable. I loved seeing the relationships that Liv had with both Kit and James. Although, I found myself rooting for James more. It gives you a dual POV and timeline of Liv's time spent in the past and the days after Kit's disappearance. It's a mix between Groundhogs Day and The Butterfly Effect.

The only thing that I'll say I didn't care for much, was that the last couple chapters were a little too cheesy. But overall, I enjoyed this book! I mean, I hadn't even finished it before recommending it to my coworker.

This was a really interesting read. I requested for it because the title and the cover got my attention, and the synopsis made me want to get into it. Don’t be fooled by the cutesy cover, folks! I went into this book expecting a lighthearted romance, but there was a mystery plot to this that kept me reading. I was so convinced I already knew how this was going to end, and it was just a matter of reading to know how they get there… but I was wrong, and there was a twist in this book that certainly caught me by surprise!

However, while I liked the premise of the book, some parts felt a bit dragged out and were too descriptive. It also seemed like some metaphors were inserted to make the writing feel lyrical, but it often felt out of place than impressive. There were also unresolved plot threads and plot points that were overly emphasized but felt unnecessary to the story.

Overall, the book was interesting and the premise did hook me, but I do agree that it could have undergone a few more rounds of editing. This was definitely a unique read, and I would recommend if you’re looking for a story with a romance and mystery plot that touches on themes of grief.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for a review!

I really enjoyed this one! Not as much of a chick lit book as the cover or title may suggest. I do wish there was even more of a focus on James/Liv, but that's just because I loved the two of them.

When I read the first few chapters and realised there was going to be some 'time travel' I was not really sure if this was going to be my kind of story. I I couldn't have been more wrong! After this point I couldn't put it down and devoured it within a day and a half.

It's the story of Liv, trying to piece back together her life after her boyfriend Kit disappears on a hike. 7 years later, she's taking a stab at happiness with the man who's helped her heal - Kit's older brother James. As strange as it might seem to outsiders, their relationship really works and they are both looking forward to the wedding. Only - the morning of the wedding Liv opens the door and realises she has travelled back in time to the week before Kit's disappearance. Can she work out why he goes? Can she stop him? What about her fiance James?? Will she have to choose between them?
As she lives each day again, she sees the clues she missed the first time and we as readers try to work out the mystery alongside her.
I really enjoyed this book and was both relieved at the ending and sad because it meant the book was over! I am now on the look-out for more of Emma Cooper's novels and will definitely recommend this one. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t even know where to start because The One Before You by Emma Cooper completely floored me. Picture me standing up slow clapping because this book deserves every ounce of applause. It’s like a homier, more heartfelt version of 13 Going on 30, but so much more. Honestly, it’s been years since I’ve truly connected with a romance novel, and this one just renewed my love for the genre in a way I didn’t expect.

I went in blind, intrigued by the title but not expecting much. Let me tell you, this book didn’t just live up to its name—it surpassed it. Why isn’t this a movie already? It’s everything a romance should be. The flow was effortless, the twists caught me completely off guard, and the POV shock (IYKYK)Genius. The shock and confusion I felt (in the best way possible) kept me glued to the page.

The characters had so much life. Liv, Kit, James—I felt all their emotions right alongside them. The happiness, the heartbreak, the anger, the joy—it was all so real. And Mac? Absolutely hilarious. He added so much charm to the story; I found myself laughing out loud at his antics. And let’s talk about Liv for a second—girl, I was rooting for her so hard to make the right choice because it was so obvious where her heart truly belonged. The way it all unfolded was just beautiful.

I stayed up all night because I couldn’t bear to put this down. Every chapter pulled me deeper into their story, and by the end, I was a complete wreck in the best way. This book is pure magic. It’s heartwarming, emotional, funny, and unforgettable. I’m so happy I read it—The One Before You is truly something special.

First, can we talk about how gorgeous this cover is?
I requested this arc based on the cover as well as the intriguing synopsis. I was expecting a sweet romance, and this was a romance, but this book was also SO MUCH MORE.
On her wedding day, Olivia somehow finds herself seven years in the past. As she tries to unravel the mysterious disappearance of her first love, she experiences many new revelations in her past. The story is told from a dual pov, which adds to the mystery element of the story. There was a fantastic spin on the story that had me actually going back a couple pages to make sure I hadn’t misunderstood! Wow. This was an emotional story that I couldn’t wait to get back to.

Emma Cooper is a new to me author, but now I feel the need to go read her backlist, asap!

My suggestion is to go into this book without reading the blurb. The author did a fantastic job at hooking you into the storyline, that’s why I’m not going to say. A lot about what it’s about. A woman discovers her boyfriend missing and the story unravels from there. You find out more about the woman and who she is as the story progresses.
There weren’t many mistakes in this copy either and it read like a full length novel (although more on the easier side).

Thank you to the publishers and author for sending me this copy

- ARC Review -

When I say I DEVOURED this book in less than 24 hours I mean it!!

No Spice/Closed Door Romance/Mystery isn’t my go to genre, and so I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this, but I have never been so glad to be wrong! 😍

The first 4 chapters were a little bit slower paced than I’m used to and then all of a sudden BAM! I couldn’t put the book down! 🤯

I absolutely loved the time travel element of this book and feel as though it was done so well! It’s quite a niché that not all authors get right, but boy did Emma Cooper get it right 👏🏼

I experienced an entire rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed (mostly at Mac), I felt angry, I felt relieved. I feel like I went through all of the emotional turmoil with Liv! Having to choose between your first love & your current love isn’t a situation anybody would want to go through. Seeing her make her decisions was heartbreaking and satisfying at the same time! 💔

The twists and turns this book takes genuinely had me questioning everything, especially Chapter 30! Iykyk! 👀 I legitimately had to put the book down and process for a good 10 minutes. Then go back and reread an earlier chapter, then go back and reread that chapter 😂

Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the opportunity to ARC read this wonderful book 💖

જ⁀➴ 4.5/5 ★

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎꒰🧾꒱ 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎

“𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭; 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵.”

arc review 💌
release date: jan 31

꒰ 🌼꒱ 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 - liv’s boyfriend kit disappeared 7 years ago without a trace, she’s been through grief, sorrow, and heartbreak. now it’s the morning of her wedding and she finds herself back 7 years prior - a few days before his disappearance. she has the chance to fix everything and find out why he left all those years ago. she has to choose between the man she loved then and the one she loves now.

꒰ 💔 ꒱ 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 - this book was so insane. it had magical realism, second chance (kinda), and thriller elements in this romance. i don’t want to say too much because it’ll spoil the story. there is spice in this book but it’s brief and you can skip it. this book had me speeding through the pages and anticipating what was going to be uncovered next. i’d definitely recommend this book. the last 15/20% had me STRESSING, like and i was so shocked. this book would be great to get out of a slump. it’s a romance but it felt more like a thriller/women’s fiction with mystery and magical realism.

⁀➴ this quote stood out to me and i liked the message the book gave in the end
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “ask for help. live in the now. not in the past where all your mistakes are, not in the future where you see yourself winning the big bet, but now. the present is such a gift. living is such a gift. don’t let it slip through your fingers. you’ve all been braver than i have ever been, because you’re all here.”

At first, I thought this book would be another "One True Loves," or at least have some similarities, but I was pleasantly proved wrong. This book was simply phenomenal and kept my attention the entire time!

4+ rounded up.

What an intriguing read! I don't think I have a read a time slip romance since I began my reading journey. If you are looking for a lot of romance/smut, this probably isn't the read for you. However, if you are looking for mystery based on a little romance this is definitely worth picking up.

I am not even sure how to review this without giving anything away! On her wedding day Liv comes to a revelation about her ex-boyfriend, with the shock of the news she ends up slipping back in time as her present self, 7 years prior to her wedding day, 7 years before what she thought her world was ending, 7 years before everything she thought she knew about her ex, Kit, was questioned. The time slip takes her back exactly 6 days prior to the last day she saw Kit and she is determined to break down everyday leading up to the final day to determine what happened and most of all why?

Emma Cooper held my interest throughout the entire book, obviously I wanted to know how this all ended but while reading about Liv's time in the past, she compares subtly between the love she shared with Kit to the love she has in present with her fiancé. Liv can see, feel, the different kinds of love that can be had in relationships, and she knows which love is the forever kind, there was never a doubt.

There were a few twists, some I was able to concluded leading up to the discovery, some I surely did not. This book definitely ended with a HEA, but I can't tell if I am disappointed or happy about it? Let me know what you think if you choose to read!

Thanks, NetGalley, Emma Cooper, and Boldwood Books for my copy of an e-Arc!

I was crying and laughing at the same time!! Emma Cooper really has a way with words. There was also a bit of a taylor jenkins reid essence to this so that was really good.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a delightful mix of romance, magical realism, and mystery, genres I don’t believe I’ve read all at once before. This book kept you guessing until the very end! There were twists, shocking reveals, and it kept me interested and turning the pages. I loved to see the character development and true love story unfold between Liv and the one she’s meant to be with.

Tropes:

Enemies to lovers
Love at first sight (swoon)
Second chance romance
Magical realism

This book took me on a journey that I wasn't expecting. Liv's boyfriend went out for a hike 7 years ago and she wasn't sure how she would survive. During that time, Liv becomes closer to her boyfriend's brother and the book starts on their wedding day.

However, before Liv walks down the aisle, she gets a chance to go back in time and see if she can change the fateful day her boyfriend disappears Does she save Kit, her boyfriend or does she end up with his brother.

This is my favorite book this year. The author takes you on a journey on the history of Liv and Kit, she takes you back 7 years to try and save Kit, and at the same time, there is another story of one of the characters that have left Liv behind. The twist and turns in this book were unexpected and I sat and read this in one sitting because I couldn't wait to see how it ended.

I have never read Emma before, but I hope there are more books like this from her to come in the future.

Well, this was a roller coaster. It has a lot of potential but the back and forth, not knowing who POV I was reading, confused me a great deal. However, the plot was still pretty interesting and it ended perfectly.

Seven years ago, Liv's boyfriend Kit went on a hike and never returned. Now, she's moved on and is preparing to marry the man who helped her move on. On the morning of her wedding, Liv finds herself seven years in the past reliving the week that Kit disappeared. Can she figure out what happened to Kit? Can she keep him from leaving the house that morning? If she does, what happens to future Liv? Can she make a choice between the man she loves most and the man she loved first?

The One Before the One combines magic, mystery, and romance into one captivating story. Told from a dual point of view, this story sucked me in from the very start. Every time I thought I had the mystery unraveled, the author threw in another twist that took me in a completely different direction. I thought I was in for a "Sliding Doors" type story, but this went in a completely different direction. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this title prior to publication.

I absolutely loved this book and read it over two days. I could see it being made into a tv film or show quite easily as it draws you into liking Liv and James so much. The characters were so well written I disliked Ava from no more than a few comments which k knew she meant well but sounded so “off” haha!

Seven years ago Liv's partner Kit disappears without trace and now she is about to marry his brother James which has caused all sorts of issues with his family. Then suddenly Liv gets a second chance to find Kit as she is transported back the week before Kit,'s disappearance. She can't alter what happens but can find out and understand why Kit did what he did, and is all it seems?? This is a rivetting story that leaves you hoping Liv will choose her forever love, and but which brother is that? An engrossing read

Thank you to NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

When this started I thought, God I really hope this isnt going where I think it’s going. But it didn’t. It surprised me in a nice way, it was really cute and I basically devoured it because I needed to know what happened and how it was gonna end. Didn’t disappoint!

OMG this is the first book by Emma Cooper and is definitely not going to be my last. It started off a tiny bit slow but I am guessing that's building uo and that's ok because when it got into it it was so amazing. I loved Liv, Kit and James. I love that Liv goes back to 2016 a week before Kit goes missing and has to go through the week knowing what will happen and feeling like she can't help but then James is on board and they work it all out and argh I loved it. everything about it was amazing.

Seven years ago Liv's partner Kit disappears without trace and now she is about to marry his brother James which has caused a rift in his family. Then suddenly Liv gets a second chance to find Kit as she is transported back the week before Kit,'s disappearance. She can't alter what happens but can find out and understand what did. A rivetting read leaving you second guessing what Liv will do and which brother she will want to spend the rest of her life with. Excellent read