This book was incredibly uplifting and heartwarming! I loved the themes of self awakening and loving yourself. Everyone should have wonderful friends in their lives like Violet!

Samantha Tonge’s *If You Could See Me Now* is a gripping mix of self-discovery and a little suspense. It’s about Violet, a sweet woman who has always had a hard time fitting in. When her ambitious boyfriend, Lenny, starts to drift away, she finds comfort in her mysterious new flatmate, Bella. With Bella’s encouragement, Violet decides to reinvent herself, but her long-time friends, Kath and Farah, start to worry about her changing ways.

What makes this book special is the way the characters are developed and the unexpected twists that keep you hooked. It dives into themes like self-worth, toxic relationships, and childhood trauma without feeling heavy. Plus, the ending catches you off guard, adding extra intrigue.

Overall, *If You Could See Me Now* is a fun and thought-provoking read that keeps you guessing until the end. It’s definitely a story that sticks with you!

I loved If You Could See Me Now. It shows the impact friends can have on us. Violet goes through a break up and with the help of a new friend, overhauls her image. Heartbreaking and empowering.

What a twist!!! Seriously, can I leave the review at this? No. Well, I've been a fan of this author for a while now and she's never let me down. The description of a page-turner could be made for this book and as usual, my one regret is that it ended. Honestly Sam, can you do something about that? Thank you, thank you Boldwood for the reading copy!

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge is a heartwarming and uplifting read about self-discovery and empowerment. The protagonist’s journey of embracing her true self is both relatable and inspiring. The characters are well-developed, and the story strikes a balance between humor and emotion. While the pacing could be faster at times, the overall message of confidence and self-love shines through. A feel-good novel perfect for anyone needing a boost of positivity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Violet is going through a hard time so it’s perfect for her when she gets a vivacious roommate, Bella, who helps her get past her ex who cheated on her by focusing on her health and fighting for herself. But Violet’s friends aren’t so supportive and Violet herself seems to be using her focus on her appearance and job as a shield against her troubling past and the recent heartbreak. Alternating with past and present, If You Could See Me Now starts off fun and light but it quickly becomes apparent that Violet is going through some stuff she’s not really addressing and becoming someone that she might not actually want to everyone to see. This read became a bit of a mystery towards the end, and the realizations that are dropped are really shocking in context of the setup. I appreciated the light shed through Violet’s struggles but this didn’t read very smoothly to me, as I expected one thing and got another very serious one. An honest story and one that explores mental health and how it manifests in different ways, readers can expect a journey of realization for Violet that is sad but hopeful.

This was a difficult read. I loved the book and its premise but it made me feel deeply uncomfortable - and I think that’s a good thing! Friends like Bella are not what any of us want but unfortunately it can impact on anybody and it’s a topic that is so relevant no matter the timeline. Also, another sad topic in there regarding Uncle Kevin, so so sad, and so much for a young child to understand.
I would highly recommend everybody reading this book. Mental health is so relevant and affects so many people.

I'm honestly having a really hard time rating If You Could See Me Now. The story was great. Violet got cheated on and broke up with her boyfriend and then had a "self awakening" kind of moment and started working on herself. With the help of her new roommate Bella, she started exercising, changing the way she ate, paying more attention to appearances, etc. She told her friends she was taking care of herself and getting through the breakup with Lenny but it became pretty much the sole focus of her life and started to cause problems with friends and work.

I really did enjoy the journey that Violet took and the flashbacks to her childhood provided a deeper insight. I feel that the message of learning to love yourself for who you are and not what you look like is one that resonates with a lot of people. But there was just something about the book that seemed to drag a bit for me. It was a weird combination of wanting to finish it because I was engrossed in the story but at the same time, I found myself frequently setting it down and taking a break. It took me longer than anticipated to finish it but I'm glad I did and the ending was handled well, imo. I do wish there was mention of the content that the book contains. I didn't think to check for trigger warnings on this one and I wish I had. Overall, glad I read it but probably wouldn't pick it up for a reread...

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC of If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge, in exchange for my honest review.

4 1/2 stars!

"A true friend doesn't want you to change." This was a wonderfully written story of finding a friend in yourself, and embracing your differences. Sensitive and sensible writing of some sensitive issues.

Violet is a lovable and relatable main character, and the secondary characters were all interesting and realistic.

I highly recommend If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge, as well as wearing mismatched socks.

I first read this book when it was originally published under the title "Knowing You". Cleverly written with an extra depth that's revealed throughout the story and flashbacks to Violet's childhood. There is a raw, heartbreaking storyline that weaves throughout Violet's current transformation following a bad break up and it hits hard. I am so pleased this excellent story gets a glow up and second chance at release because it deserves glowing praise!

Another fabulous read by Samantha Tongue, which I couldn't put down! Make sure you have tissues for this one!
The main character is Violet, whose life has been turned upside down with her boyfriend Lenny cheating on her and how her new friend Bella helps her get the life she thinks she wants.
The book flits between Violets childhood and her life now. The storytelling is powerful and thought-provoking and will make you be grateful for those real friends in your life! Thank you, @NetGalley_UK and @BoldwoodBooks, for this advance copy. It's definitely a book I won't be forgetting anytime soon!

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Longe.

I’ll admit, majority of the storyline is pretty standard and nothing wild. But the themes of mental illness, eating disorders, bullying and trauma from real-life events we have witnessed in the past actually made this book fantastic. As someone who struggles with every theme I mentioned, I was not triggered or at all feeling like I would DNF this book. If you would like more info on the triggers before reading, please send me a message!

Overall, the book was a pleasant read. Definitely makes me want to read more of Samantha’s work!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc,
I really enjoyed this story, it was a sweet feel good read about romantic relationships, family relationships, friendships, break ups and new beginnings, How Violet transformed herself into the person she thought she should be with the help of her new room mate Bella and some hidden secrets...!!!
It was a great ending, I didn't want it to end.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I did enjoy this story and loved every single unique character involved! I do appreciate how the topics of discussion were brought up and it made me remember how quickly one can lose themselves. While I do feel it seemed to drag a little I was still invested especially when Vi was having flashbacks to 2001. I believe the flashbacks were written so well and I was extremely intrigued in them. My only comment would be some details were unnecessary and I felt we could have done without. I will say it took me a while to realize what was the plot twist so I enjoyed that! I’d def recommend this to other people :)

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge is a sweet, feel-good read that’s perfect for anyone in need of a cozy escape. With a mix of romance, personal growth, and a touch of magic, the story follows a woman who unexpectedly starts seeing a mysterious man—who may or may not be a figment of her imagination. Tonge has a knack for creating charming, relatable characters, and the book is full of heart and light humor. It’s an uplifting reminder that sometimes, love and change come in the most unexpected forms. Perfect for curling up with on a lazy afternoon!

Thank you netgelly for this arc

I was intrigued to see how would take form since the description of the book reveals that Violet has a secret
I honestly didn’t thought this would be dealt with an eating disorder since it didn’t specify in any part of the book. The story progresses is a fast paced one in which we as a reader are taken between the past and present in her life story, while it explores different topics and moments of he life

Is a nice book which can be read in one sitting in an afternoon, definitely recommend this for people who want something different to their usual read!

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge is an uplifting, heartwarming story of self-discovery and transformation. Violet, a kind-hearted woman struggling with a breakup, embarks on a journey of personal reinvention with the help of her quirky new flatmate, Bella. As Violet revamps her life, career, and image, she meets the magnetic author, Casey, and starts to believe that happiness is within her reach. However, hidden secrets from her past begin to surface, threatening to unravel her progress. Tonge’s charming narrative explores themes of love, identity, and healing, with a relatable protagonist who reminds readers that true happiness comes from embracing who we really are.

“If You Could See Me Now” by Samantha Tonge is the first book I’ve read from this author. While the story started off a bit slow, I found myself increasingly engaged as I delved deeper into Violet’s journey. The flashbacks to her childhood were instrumental in developing her character, providing depth and context that made her more relatable. Without these insights, Violet’s character might have felt less substantial. The novel beautifully conveys the message that true friendship comes in various forms and that we often overlook the people who care about us the most, even when they’re right in front of us.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author, Samantha Tonge, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t resonate with me the way I hoped it would. While the characters were well-developed and the fast-paced nature of the story kept me turning pages quickly, something about the overall experience left me feeling mixed.

The most significant issue for me was the focus on Violet’s eating disorder. While I understand that this was central to the plot, I was disappointed that it wasn’t mentioned in the book’s synopsis. A heads-up would have been helpful, especially since eating disorders can be a sensitive topic and very triggering for some readers. Given my own experience, I wasn't particularly sensitive to it, but it would have been useful to know what I was diving into before starting.

For the first half of the book, I felt like the narrative was primarily centered around weight loss, and this focus didn’t sit well with me. It felt like an unhealthy message without a clear understanding of the deeper issues Violet was facing. Only once I realized that the book was going to explore her eating disorder in a more complex and sensitive way did I begin to connect with the story. But even then, the lack of a warning at the outset made the journey uncomfortable at times.

Once the book delved deeper into Violet’s struggles, I found myself more engaged. The emotional depth increased, and I genuinely felt for Violet as she faced the challenges of her disorder. It was definitely a raw, sometimes difficult read, but by the end, it was moving. Still, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with the pacing and the way the themes unfolded.

Ultimately, I think the book has its merits, but it could’ve been more thoughtful about the sensitive material it covered. I’d recommend it to readers who are okay with this subject matter, but I do wish the author had been more transparent about the focus of the story from the beginning. While the book touched on important themes, I found myself feeling indifferent about the characters and the plot. It wasn’t a bad read, but it wasn’t as impactful as I expected it to be.

Decent 2 ⭐ read.

Another lovely, thought provoking, emotional story from Samantha.
This story was compelling and very moving.

We meet Violet, after splitting from her boyfriend we watch her come to terms with this and decide to move on and change herself into the person she feels she should be. A new room mate encourages this, but just how far will they push these changes?

I don’t want to give much away as you need to read this to follow Violets journey, meet her friends, her colleagues, see where she works and what she likes to do.

The flashbacks to Violets youth are imperative to the story, as you will find out as the story reveals its secrets.

What I love in this book are the friendships. It shows that friendships aren’t just made with people your own age and in similar situations to you. Anyone can be friends, any age, any background, any religion. It shows the importance of friends, of sticking by someone, even when they push you away, as you never really know what that person may be going through.

The book is incredibly well written. The author develops the characters and plot in a very informative yet sensitive way.

Definitely a must read.