Before We Were Strangers

by Renee Carlino

[whisperingchapters]

This 4.5 stars review was first published on Latte Nights Reviews on August 3, 2015.

I will start off by saying that I wasn't expecting this to be as good as it was. I haven't read anything by Renée Carlino so I didn't know what to expect but this was not it. I was pleasantly surprised because I ended up adoring this book, adding it to my 2015 favorites and to my wish list.

This story was told in dual points of views, both set in present and past. I enjoyed reading about Matt's and Grace's past: when they met, their time in college, their friendship and lastly, what drove them apart. Their friendship was instantaneous, they clicked immediately and I loved reading how close they were, how much they trusted one another. Fast-forward to the present and they aren't close. They don't know anything about each other or where they are until one day, they see each other for one second and that's all it takes for all the memories to come rushing back full force. I felt for both of these characters because life dealt them a very ugly card, which lead to their separation.

The friendship was immediate but the romance took time to build, which made it all the more realistic. We have Matt who comes from a wealthy father and Grace who comes from a very poor family that has left her to deal with life on her own. What I liked about this story was that nothing was rushed. Everything was set to happen on it's own as it would happen in real life. Matt and Grace are both very determined characters for what they want and they go for it. They deal with so many things that they are made to feel so real to the reader and it's easy to connect with them.

I was in the middle of the city I loved, back in her arms again, but we were strangers. I was still hanging on to the past and I didn't know why.

I'm glad Matt kept thinking of the past because this drove him to figure out why Grace and him had fallen out and his answer was a bit surprising. Not only that, Matt gets a surprise that he wasn't expecting (I was in between of expecting it and not) and he was crying while I was trying to hold back my tears because my emotions were going crazy. Seriously, I think that specific part made it more emotional to me. I was glad to see that these characters had grown and matured so much over the years (15 years!) and they were mature of the situation and everything that they were dealing with. The only downfall for me was Grace's best friend, Tati. I liked her but I just disagreed with her on so many things and she would frustrate me a bit sometimes but she also did some character development in the story and I ended up liking her more.

When I finished this book, I just stood there with a grin on my face because the last chapter has another point of view that had me so happy and emotional. I wanted more of this book. I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters that really grew on me. I can see myself re-reading this book in the future, which is why I need to buy it as soon as it comes out in paperback!