Fade to black, male female, 1st person multiple point of view, contemporary romance with magical realism. This was an engaging and emotional story; I really enjoyed it. There were dual timelines and the mystery kept me hooked. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The One Before the One is an emotionally charged novel by Emma Cooper. that explores first love, true love and what ties people together. When Liv's long-term boyfriend, Kit, disappears 7 years ago her world is shattered. Finally climbing out of the abyss she has fallen in love again and is about to be married. While Kit's disappearance remains a mystery, officials and his family accept that he most likely passed away in an accident at his favorite hiking spot. Liv put the pieces back together and has begun a new life. Right before her wedding she is stunned when she is sure she sees Kit-alive. He's also left her a present proving he's still here. What if you were given the opportunity to turn back time and save the love of your life? Liv is faced with this dilemma and having to come to terms with the truth about Kit, their relationship and her future. Told from alternating perspectives and timeline, this is more than a romance novel. With layered storytelling, twists and unexpected events, Cooper has crafted a winning story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is a heartwarming and uplifting novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy romance, second chances, and the complexities of love, making it a perfect fit for fans of emotional, character-driven stories that explore the power of relationships and personal growth.

Three slightly disappointed stars for a love triangle that has a seven-year differential.

Present day: Olivia (Liv) is marrying James. Seven years ago they both consoled each other as they waited for Kit to return from a hike. Back then Liv was in what she thought was a forever relationship with Kit. Kit never came home and the ones left behind finally became a couple. It is their wedding day when Liv opens a door and finds herself in the past.

Seven years ago: The time travel is done in an interesting way. Liv pokes around and tries to find answers, to make a difference. Once she falls asleep the timeline resets. That would be majorly frustrating!

Meanwhile there is a mystery timeline with a man running away from Liv to the Highlands. What the heck?

I have two majoy quibbles with this one: 1)Basing this around the Easter holidays just to take advantage of time off for Liv not to have to go to work? Sorry, but Easter is much more than days off at our house. 2) Too many different triggers for this many pages: (view spoiler)

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy Publication Day!

Emma Cooper’s The One Before The One is a captivating blend of mystery, romance, and time travel that keeps readers hooked. The story follows Liv, who puts on a necklace, steps through a doorway, and finds herself in 2016—seven years in the past. She has six days to uncover the truth about her missing boyfriend before her wedding day. The novel’s alternating timelines and multiple POVs create suspense, making it hard to put down.

Cooper crafts flawed yet compelling characters, and while Liv’s journey is engaging, a deeper backstory of her relationship with James would have added more depth. The writing is lyrical and engaging, capturing the raw complexities of love and fate. The unexpected twist was a standout moment that truly surprised me.

More than just a romance, this novel is reflective and hopeful, emphasizing personal growth and self-discovery. With its fast-paced chapters and immersive storytelling, The One Before The One is an emotional and thought-provoking read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a different approach with this one. I felt some of the information given was kinda flat but otherwise thus was such an emotional book! Thank-you

📚 Review: First off - I loved the premise of this one. My favourite romance trope is a time jump or time loop, and I was really intrigued by the description of this book. That, along with the multiple POV narrative made me really excited. While I liked some of the characters, this didn’t hit the mark for me personally. I wouldn’t classify it as a romance, as I felt there wasn’t really any romance happening, just the main character talking about her already existing feelings. Nothing really built up thoughout the book, and I felt things happened without any context or lead-up. It turned into what felt like a thriller about 30% through, but didn’t have high stakes. For most of the book, I felt like I was being spoon fed what was happening instead of being shown it, and there were a few plots going on that took away from each other. I think overall, the story and premise were interesting, and the writing just maybe wasn’t my style. This was a quick read and I think the unknowns about the characters may pull you in!

2.5 Stars

Wow, what a breathtaking emotional rollercoaster of a read. I feel like I’ve lived everyday of this story with Liv, James and Kit.
What a superb premise for a story. A love story mixed with a little mystery is always a catch for me.
For Liv to relive those days before Kit leaves - to try and understand why and maybe change things - it’s such an emotional ride for her and you could feel her angst in the situations she’s having to relive.
I loved seeing Liv change as she relives those days, to understand what had happened and to realise what and who were really important.
The love story that rolled through the years that is full of history and connections.

"What if you had the chance to turn back time?" Typically a million dollar question, but for Liv, that chance is real and she has a decision to make! Living the 6 days before her boyfriend Kit disappeared 7 years ago, just as she is about to get married, can she change things, and does she really want to?

I think I felt every emotion possible during this book, I was so invested and I felt as conflicted as Liv about what she should do! Emma Cooper delivers such realistic characters, they are complex and multi-faceted, like all of us, without needing to see anyone as completely good or bad. They are relatable, likeable even, doing their best in some really challenging situations. I really admire how she incorporates mental health and difficult emotions as part of normal life, not for dramatic effect, using compassion and acceptance.

While the plot may sound similar to classics such as 'Sliding Doors' (cleverly referenced within the book!) or 'In Five Years', this is a fresh take on the genre and keeps you guessing throughout. The use of varying perspectives adds to this and creates a few "WHAT?!" moments - I gasped out loud on a train!

I'd actually read Emma's previous novel, 'Songs of Us' last year, but not realised until after! 'The One Before The One' was a completely different story, but confirmed her skill in developing characters you really root for, even if they have acted in a way you don't necessarily approve of!

I'm already looking forward to her next release... No pressure!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC, what a great start to the year!

What an amazing book! I’ve never read a romance like this before, jam packed with mystery, an emotional romance, loss and some time travel in there for good measure. It sounds complicated and in a way, it is but I adored the way this story played out!

I was so invested in the characters! Liv is a strong and caring woman with a sad past, who has been upended by the disappearance of her first love Kit. She rebuilds her life and finds love again but on the morning of her wedding day 7 years later, she is thrown back into the past and has to relive the week prior to Kit’s disappearance. We experience Liv’s relationship with Kit through her fresh eyes, delving into her past life. We also meet James, Liv’s new partner and get to see the love and support he has given her through her loss.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t have a clue where this book was going. But I loved that it kept you guessing the whole way through and it wasn’t until around 80% that things started to make sense. It’s such a clever concept and something we don’t often see in romance. It’s definitely worth reading if you fancy something different!

Read if you enjoy
🩷Mystery romance
🩷Love at first sight
🩷Time slip romance
🩷Dual timelines
🩷Multiple POV

Emma Cooper writes with a smooth and open writing style that makes this book an engaging read. The story is an emotional ride – and not as predictable as you might think. It brings to mind stories like ‘In Five Years,’ ‘One True Loves,’ and ‘Sliding Doors’ [which, to my amusement, the MC also referenced]. It’s a thoughtful look at love and loss, guilt and forgiveness. And one of the things I really liked about it is the acceptance of its characters as they are – issues of agoraphobia, addiction, jealousy and insecurity are treated with compassion and a sense of normalcy. It surrounds you in warmth, even as it tears at your heart.

This is my first Emma Cooper book. Certainly it will not be my last. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for introducing me to Emma Cooper - and for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Honestly, I picked up this book because of the title and the cutesy “romantic” cover. The blurb and beginning of the book gave me “One True Loves” vibes, but this was so much better! I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of it all! The characters were relatable and showed so much growth. The plot was well structured and clever. I was devouring page after page and it literally kept me on the edge of my seat! I loved it. I can’t wait to read another Emma Cooper book.

This is a love story with the craziest twists. Liv is in love with Kit, a fairy tale love story, but then the unthinkable happens. Kit disappears leaving Liv and Kit’s brother, James, to begin a search for him that will span years. I loved how the author developed these characters through a very creative story line. I can’t say that I’ve ever read anything quite like it! I couldn’t put the book down as I needed to know how things would play out between Liv, James and Kit.

I would definitely recommend this book to others!! Thank you to Goodreads and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

CW: bearavement, gambling, familial estrangement, abandomnent, organised crime

Seven years after her boyfriend Kit disappears, presumed dead, Liv is preparing to get married - to James, Kit's brother. But on the morning of her wedding, she finds proof that Kit is still alive, and falls through a slip in time back to 2016, a week before Kit's disappearance. Can she change the past?

What follows is a 2-person POV of Liv trying to unravel the mystery of what happened to Kit and prevent it happening again, and the POV of a man who leaves his girlfriend, and why.

There's a LOT going on in this one, and the many twists and turns keep the reader guessing until the end. We have the main plot of Liv's search for answers; the sub plot of the man in the cabin; and the periphery plots of Liv's mum's agoraphobia and the minutia of the day-to-day romcom that exists outside of the main plotlines.

It's sort of hard to categorise this one - both a contemporary romance and an mystery, with time slips thrown in for good measure.

An entertaining read

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

If you were a fan of: Seven Year Slip or Maybe In Another Life you will love this book!
If you enjoy time travel and love triangle tropes you will love this book!
And if you like to get fully immersed in a book and not be able to put it down you will definitely love this book!

The One Before the One by Emma Cooper is a heartwarming and emotional contemporary romance that explores love, loss, and self-discovery. The story follows Liv, a woman who believes she has already met—and lost—her true love. As she tries to move on, she navigates new relationships, friendships, and personal growth, all while questioning whether fate has something different in store for her.
Cooper’s writing is engaging, with a mix of humor and poignant moments that make the characters feel real and relatable. The novel delves into the complexities of love, the impact of past relationships, and the journey to finding happiness in unexpected places. Fans of emotional, character-driven stories with a touch of romance will enjoy this heartfelt read.

Received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review
#TheOneBeforetheOne #NetGalley

The love of Liv’s life goes missing for seven years. She’s forced to move on. During the time of her wedding to her new fiancé, she finds herself questioning if she’s ready to move on. She has a chance to relive those “six days” before Kit went missing and change things. Honestly, I am not a big magical realism person and I was invested in this book until half way to the end and I just thought the book really dragged on.
Thanks netgalley and publisher for the chance to read this for free in return for my honest opinion.

I’ve long been obsessed with the idea of “the one before ‘the one’”. Must be experience every type of love and heartbreak we experience before finding that special someone we are supposed to spend the rest of our lives with? Do we ever really know who THE one is?

When I saw a book titled The One Before the One I knew I needed to read it, even if it fell a little out of my realm of normal reads. Thankfully, my request for an arc came through and I was able to sit down and read this book in one fell swoop. This is a story of heartbreak, love, suspense, trauma, happiness, and mystery. An air of magic can be found in both the love experienced between our main characters and the mysterious time slip that takes place to help us find clarity not only in the lives of our characters but the hearts.

Synopsis:

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 Kit: 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?


To say I devoured this book in one sitting wouldn’t justify the pace at which I read or the frantic messages I was sending to the only other person I know who might have had early access to this book. I hit 34% read and NEEDED answers, sleep be damned.
The Perfect Bits:
The prose was lovely. The way the story was told had me desperate for more. The suspense was perfectly timed and had me, a chronic plot predictor, engaged and desperate for more. The side characters lend the right amount of support to our main characters and their motivations.
The Less Than Perfect Bits:
I wanted a little bit more. Obviously, the story is focused on Liv’s time in the past and her figuring out what has truly happened to Kit; but I would have lapped up more scenes with Liv and James. I went in to this book expecting a little more romance, based on the title alone, and so was a bit sad to not have a little more of that.
Overall opinion:
This book will not become my entire personality, but did do something that some of my favorite books don’t do, it reminded me of life lessons. This book is a perfect reminder that we don’t always have the full story or the insight in to the lives of truly anyone around us. It reminds us that we can still care about our first loves without them being the person we want to spend the rest of our lives with. I think this book is perfect for anyone holding on to something (someone) in their past while searching for happiness in the present and future.

Wow, this book blew me away. This was not fluff! Loved the short chapters and the pov and multiple timelines. Honestly, the ending could not have been more perfect.

“Liv is given the chance to live one life-changing week over but can she change her future? And does she want to?”

The One Before The One was such a surprise of a book. If you’re one to judge a book by its cover (guilty at times!) then I do think this one will be very different than what you expect. It was such a sweet blend of romance and mystery and not as “fluffy” as I anticipated. There were times I flipped back and forth on who to root for but I love how each timeline was revealed and was a fan of how it wrapped up in the end. I don’t want to give too much away with this one but want to say Bravo Emma!