Before We Were Strangers is no doubt the best contemporary romance book I've read this year... What I loved? EVERYTHING... [E]very component of this book is perfect. -- The Book Enthusiast Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn’t sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound—the ominous thump before all went quiet. Kitty’s into you. You should give that little hottie what she wants. You know there’re rumors about her.” I grew so attached to all the characters that we were meant to love and also disliked fervently the ones we were supposed to hate. Matt with his passion for photography and capturing beautiful moments, his adventurer side and deep love for his mom, won me over. On the other hand, Grace was a character I was intrigued deeply by, her survivor tactics for being poor (I took close note), her musician soul, and her innocence felt realistic. The mix of both of them together taking their younger days one stride at a time had me highly entertained. But not only our main characters held my attention, Grace’s best friend and the professor Pornsake and Matt’s mother and of course their daughter, seriously she was one of my favorites, they contributed deeply in the story. Renee used the side characters output to make an impact in the storyline of our hero and heroine, reminding us that people surrounding us can make changes in our circumstances too. This cast made the story felt less fiction but realistic and relatable, which I was a huge fan of.

Three seconds doesn't seem like a long time, but when you're gazing into someone's eyes, it's long enough to make a silent promise.” It's truly unputdownable once you start it. Renee Carlino gave us a story we won't forget. We loved everything about it. Incredible, heart pounding, beautiful-pure perfection. -- Schmexy Girl Book Blog Matt and Grace are adorable people. Matt’s unrelenting love and beautiful personality with his incredible talent in creating photos that have a story telling quality is impressive. Grace’s selflessness is endless and awe-inspiring. Her passion for music and devotion for her family (no matter what the cost) will make your heart burst. It’s really hard to point out flaws. It’s hard to tell which of them was wrong because really, they’re both just victims of wrong timing and an evil scheming witch named Elizabeth. Before We Were Strangers is divided into then and now. I'll divide my review as such because my opinion is split almost as if it was two different books with two different sets of characters. but this is getting a high rating because it made me feel things. i wasn’t reading this to “escape from reality” as the entire book was a form of realism. so i went into it with an opened mind. 😃

Customer reviews

I usually like to read about “perfect” relationships, connections I know in real life one in a million has it, I love to leave my fantasy through characters. Amazingly I never knew until this book how much I appreciate and love to read about relationships that are realistic and still quite amazing. Matt and Grace’s relationship was that eye opener for me, from the start of the relationship to their difficulties and how they reunited years later, it reminded me of all the amazing love stories that are not perfect that surround me. My mom and that, great age difference, amazing love, but not a happily ever after, my dad died but even 18 years after my mom still loves him and has never married again. My uncle and aunt a second marriage, a relationship at a long distance, never could have kids but my aunt raised my uncle’s kids for the first marriage as if they were her own. The love of this near people is certainly to perfect or fairy tale like, but still hugely powerful and swoon-worthy. What I am trying to say is Before We Were Strangers reminded me, love doesn’t have to have a perfect course and it can be realistic. Matt literally stole my teenage heart, I really wish I am able to find a love like that in my college days. Someone real with flaws but that respects you, is open about their feelings and loves to be with you. Granted sometimes he was an ass, like when he opened the door of Grace’s room and stared at her while she changed, or perhaps that he never fought as hard as he wanted her to fight for him when they separated ways. But also someone like Grace, with an adventurer side, someone who doesn’t mind doing weird activities. I seriously fell in love with so many scenes of them together. Lying there beneath him, I felt more vulnerable than I ever had before. I wanted to ask him to stay, but how could I be so selfish? If I asked him, would he love me less, if he even loved me at all? I couldn’t take his dream away to make mine better. I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t destroy what we had created.

The only thing I feel like was missing is I would like to know more about Gracie's family in the present day. How was her relationship with her sisters, are they well or are they still strugling? Tell me that I’m not the only one who thinks that these two are so freakin toxic. Like really toxic.

New York Times–Bestselling Author: “I loved this twisty tale of friends, enemies, lovers, liars, and a family fractured by secrets.” —Susan Wiggs years later, they see each other on a subway platform but don’t have a chance to speak. Matt decides to write a “Missed Connection” post on Craigslist as he has no other way to get in touch with Grace again. Sidenote: My friends and I used to read missed connections as a form of entertainment in college — I will say, 10 years ago, most of the ones we read were much grittier than the note Matt writes.

During filming, Huston was asked to give Marilyn Monroe, then unknown, a screen test. As a result, he cast her in a small role in his next film, The Asphalt Jungle. [5] Reception [ edit ] When the tunnel is ready, a prominent government minister is assassinated as planned. As a munitions expert prepares to set the bomb in place, they learn that the burial will not take place in the family tomb as expected. They make plans for Fenner, who by now is well known to Ariete, to leave Cuba. China will get the necessary funds from Fenner's account at her bank. Fenner rages about his failure, about the disgrace of returning to the people who funded his trip with small donations, fleeing as he had as a boy with his father. Only in supporting him at this point does China declare her love for him. China obtains the funds but sends a fellow employee because she is being tailed by one of Ariete's men. But Fenner, unwilling to leave without her, comes to China's house. The film climaxes with a violent shoot-out sequence, followed by the outbreak of revolution and popular celebration. This is Renee Carlino's BEST. WORK. YET. This book broke my heart and built it up all over again and is complete and utter perfection. Just read it.... My words won't do it justice. This is most definitely one of my favorites of 2015 and a book that I will never ever forget <3. -- Shh Moms Reading Most importantly though this book brought gratitude to my heart for the life I have now. My boyfriend said I have not kissed him this often in the past week (while reading this book) since we first met six years ago. I am grateful to that pretty pixie girl who taught me how to love at the age of 16 and now to the beautiful man that loves me unconditionally at my old age of 44. To the Green-eyed Lovebird: We met fifteen years ago, almost to the day, when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House........Characters Development: I like how realistic the characters are. Regular jobs, some curveballs in their life, but regular people with normal dreams to whom life gave a second chance. Matt was a good guy, Grace was sweet and they together were a really nice couple. There was a character that I hoped that something bad happened because it deserved a good dose of bad karma, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. (And I had to take brownie points because of it.) I read this pretty much in one sitting. This book was equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking... This will be on my top books of the year. It was just so damn beautiful. -- A Book Whore's Obsession