≫ PDF Before We Were Strangers A Love Story edition by Renée Carlino Literature Fiction eBooks

Before We Were Strangers A Love Story edition by Renée Carlino Literature Fiction eBooks

Download As PDF : Before We Were Strangers A Love Story edition by Renée Carlino Literature Fiction eBooks

Before We Were Strangers A Love Story edition by Renée Carlino Literature Fiction eBooks

Before We Were Strangers is a difficult book to review without giving away elements of the plot. Though it's clear in the description that this is a second chance love story about two adults who fell in love in college, and fifteen years has gone by. I absolutely love this trope. Childhood/young adult love and second chance love stories are in my top five favorite types of romance story lines. I've read a lot of them! The plot itself depends on one huge element... the "why" of the separation. The very idea of romance, and the hero and heroine, is that their love is once-in-a-lifetime glorious. So what could possibly keep these lovers apart? What reasons came between them? What took them so long to find each other again?

That's where this book ultimately failed to me. I was absolutely heartbroken by this story. The reasons for their separation started okay. But ultimately there was absolutely no sense to it all. No logic. Their reasons for being apart were only temporarily acceptable. There were EASY ways to solve their issues. EASY. There was nothing keeping them apart. UGH.

Unfortunately I cannot reveal this level of awfulness without major spoilers. See two star review by Danker if you want that. Though that review actually left off the BIG huge yuck which was the biggest issue ever. I digress....

I ended up DESPISING the heroine for what she did. The hero made some awful mistakes himself and should have tried harder. But the heroine.... totally unforgivable. Interestingly, some of the negative reviews were more angry at the hero. But I can't see him as the majorly guilty one. But the heroine. UUUUGH. I walked away from this one sad and forlorn. I'm really surprised with the incredibly high ratings. Of course, there's an HEA (that's no spoiler, this is a romance after all). But I didn't like it. I didn't believe it.

I struggled with the rating on this one because the college romance part was so incredible. Which is probably why I was so devastated. I fell in love with this couple. Like I became so utterly attached to them. But at the 60% mark I was dismayed, betrayed... depressed. And then frustrated, more and more frustrated, as each element reveals itself. There are some major, major plot holes in this book and decisions that are beyond horrible. Huge fail. Two days later I'm still so annoyed by it. Especially when it would have been easy enough to fix some of these issues in the plot. UGH. I need to find a forum I can talk these things out on!

The college romance between Matt and Grace = 1000 stars of awesomeness. The plot itself = 1 star.


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Before We Were Strangers A Love Story edition by Renée Carlino Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

I knew it would have to be a very special story to surpass my love for Sweet Thing, but I now have a new Renee Carlino favorite! Before We Were Strangers has all of the characteristics that I love to see in a contemporary romance. I love the friends-to-lovers scenario, and if it is done right, they can be so very satisfying. Carlino had me wrapped around her little finger with Matt and Gracie. I just love how they dance around each other as their feelings for each other evolve. Before We Were Strangers is also a second chance romance. These are characters that I absolutely adore, and I fell in love with them, their relationship, not once, but twice.

In many ways, Matthias William Shore and Graceland Marie Starr are a typical college couple. They meet at the beginning of their senior year at NYU. They are kindred, free spirits. A photographer and cellist, both having extremely artistic souls. Their relationship is lighthearted and sweet. Matt and Gracie are fast friends, confidants, and before the year is over, lovers. It is a whirlwind year, but graduation closes in around Matt and Gracie, and they are pulled in separate directions. Fast forward fifteen years. Matt and Gracie have been living completely separate lives. That is, until the day Matt sees Gracie on the subway train that is pulling away, and his heart aches to reconnect with her.

There is something very special about Matt and Gracie, and more specifically, how these two interact to each other. Their college relationship is playful, and their personalities are buoyant. They enjoy each other’s friendship, but there is a real tension which sparks between them. In reality, they face problems like all college kids do, but it’s the way they respond to their problems which sets this couple apart. I really connected with these characters, and I found myself fully invested in their story. I felt all of the emotions you are supposed to feel when you read a really good book – everything from pure joy to sadness and loss.

Renee Carlino included some very profound passages in Before We Were Strangers. You’ll find beautiful descriptions, including one which stood out to me that describes the intensity and importance of the first time you feel loved by another person. Another excerpt that caught my attention focuses on the passing of time. So many of us spend too much time focusing on memories or looking forward to the future, and we miss out on the beauty and opportunities of the now. Renee Carlino inserted a ton of wisdom into this story. Her writing has always been exceptional, but in my opinion, it continues to strengthen with each new novel. The writing in Before We Were Strangers is Carlino’s best yet.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Before We Were Strangers. It’s a solid 5-star novel. That’s the truth. It’s firmly on my list of 2015 favorites, and it may even make my top novels at the end of year. I highly recommend this contemporary romance!
Before We Were Strangers is a difficult book to review without giving away elements of the plot. Though it's clear in the description that this is a second chance love story about two adults who fell in love in college, and fifteen years has gone by. I absolutely love this trope. Childhood/young adult love and second chance love stories are in my top five favorite types of romance story lines. I've read a lot of them! The plot itself depends on one huge element... the "why" of the separation. The very idea of romance, and the hero and heroine, is that their love is once-in-a-lifetime glorious. So what could possibly keep these lovers apart? What reasons came between them? What took them so long to find each other again?

That's where this book ultimately failed to me. I was absolutely heartbroken by this story. The reasons for their separation started okay. But ultimately there was absolutely no sense to it all. No logic. Their reasons for being apart were only temporarily acceptable. There were EASY ways to solve their issues. EASY. There was nothing keeping them apart. UGH.

Unfortunately I cannot reveal this level of awfulness without major spoilers. See two star review by Danker if you want that. Though that review actually left off the BIG huge yuck which was the biggest issue ever. I digress....

I ended up DESPISING the heroine for what she did. The hero made some awful mistakes himself and should have tried harder. But the heroine.... totally unforgivable. Interestingly, some of the negative reviews were more angry at the hero. But I can't see him as the majorly guilty one. But the heroine. UUUUGH. I walked away from this one sad and forlorn. I'm really surprised with the incredibly high ratings. Of course, there's an HEA (that's no spoiler, this is a romance after all). But I didn't like it. I didn't believe it.

I struggled with the rating on this one because the college romance part was so incredible. Which is probably why I was so devastated. I fell in love with this couple. Like I became so utterly attached to them. But at the 60% mark I was dismayed, betrayed... depressed. And then frustrated, more and more frustrated, as each element reveals itself. There are some major, major plot holes in this book and decisions that are beyond horrible. Huge fail. Two days later I'm still so annoyed by it. Especially when it would have been easy enough to fix some of these issues in the plot. UGH. I need to find a forum I can talk these things out on!

The college romance between Matt and Grace = 1000 stars of awesomeness. The plot itself = 1 star.