Alfie is in the rehab ward when he gets a new neighbour, Alice. She doesn’t talk, she doesn’t want to be seen. How can Alfie get through to her?

I read this in one day which is impressive as I was at work too! Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Alfie is such a loveable character and I desperately wanted to see what would happen to him and Alice.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I enjoyed this book, it is a lovely story that deals with hard topics very well.

Alice has been moved into the rehab ward following a fire that left her with horrific burns. There, her bed-neighbout is recent leg amputee Alfie. As Alice hides behind her curtains, they slowly talk to each other and find that they can help build each other's strength, resilience and determination back up.

Between the casual banter that balances out the very somber moments and the intimate portrayal of what it can mean for someone to experience life changing injuries, this book is an excellent debut.

For me, this was a little too long and Alice's progress towards the end seemed rushed in comparison to the rest of her story arc, but overall I was very invested in a story about what it means to be in love with who a person is - because you have helped them and been helped by them through the worst months of your lives- before you even technically meet them face to face.

For me this is just the kind of book that is easily worth 5 stars, and more, because of the sensitive and compassionate way a complex and traumatic subject matter is handled. And yet I am not a fan of real life survivor tales or harrowing memoirs. This is a work of fiction and it is the the minutely observed and acutely perceptive emotions and interplay between a cast of amazing characters that heralds the triumphant arrival of debut novel Before I Saw You.
Mainly set in the Moira Gladstone rehabilitation ward at St Francis Hopspital, this book is funny, heart wrenching and uplifting.
It charts the recovery, both physically and mentally, of two patients side by side in their beds, each unseen by the other. Alfie Mack is a gloriously cheeky, upbeat and charming young man and Alice is the opposite, a lonely young woman, who has isolated herself from human contact as a result of a troubled childhood and a grim determination to make her ambition and career a substitute for friends and love.
Through dialogue, physio, family visits and lots of puzzle solving we are treated to an epic journey of self discovery and healing. The ward is populated with some colourful characters, not least of all Mother Angel or Nurse Angles to give her her proper title, and Mr P, a 92 year old and very wise man who pretends to be grumpy and fed up of Alfie's relentless good cheer, but in reality loves the young man like a grandson. There is also Sharon and Jackie and Ruby, Jane and Robert Mack, Mr Warring and Sarah as well as Darren, to meet in this family of patients, staff and visitors.
There is sadness and loss which will bring tears to the eyes of many a reader but mostly this is all about Hope. The very thing every single one of us needs with which to survive, live, adapt and try again. It is funny and beautiful, profound and a very easy to read engaging story. I was mesmerised from the very beginning and fell in love to the extent that I found it very hard to let go at the end.
I am astounded quite frankly at the talent of Emily Houghton to produce this, a debut novel, which has such an emotional depth and accuracy to it, revealing the very personal way in which tragedy affects us in varying degrees to shape the way we cope and carry on.
It is still very early on in a new year, but it will take a lot for subsequent books I pick up to match the quality and beauty of this novel. I will confidently predict this will be a top 5 read of the year for me.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Find out what I am talking about and fall in love with life itself.
Thank you to Emily Houghton, the publisher and Netgalley and Pigeonhole for allowing me to read ahead of publication in exchange for this honest review.
Take care Alfie and Alice, keep on holding hands, and Emily Houghton, I look forward to your next genius novel!

Alice and Alfie meet in the Moira Gladstone ward of St Francis’ hospital after both suffering life changing injuries. Who is the girl behind the curtain?


I had high hopes for this ( blurb & cover ) but it didn’t quite meet me where I wanted it to. It isn’t a bad book, but I was expecting more. It’s quite slow in places, then sped up towards the end. I enjoyed Alfie’s character ( more than Alice’s) and the friendship he formed with Mr. P. I may have also shed a tiny tear at one part. I loved the way it went from Alice to Alfie. I enjoy this format a lot. I picked up on a few discrepancies with the care received, it felt more 1980’s ish. A cute story if you don’t look too closely. All in all, a good debut from Emily Houghton. Would read more from her in the future.

‘Who was the girl hidden behind the curtain?’

Alfie Mack has been on the Moira Gladstone (rehabilitation) ward at St Francis’s hospital in London for some weeks. His left leg was amputated after an accident, and he is undertaking extensive physiotherapy. There are other patients on the ward as well, and Alfie does his best to fill in the time around his physiotherapy sessions by keeping them amused. But Alfie’s life changes when a new patient is moved into the bed next to him. Alice Gunnersley has been so severely burned that she cannot look at herself and does not want others looking at her either. Alice has not spoken a word since she was admitted to hospital. The curtains around Alice’s bed are kept firmly closed. Alfie cannot imagine someone being silent for so long, and he is sure that being on the Moira Gladstone ward will make a difference. Why? Because people stay on the Moira Gladstone ward to recuperate, and over time (in his experience) they become family.

But Alice has always valued solitude, and she is deeply traumatized.

The story shifts between Alfie and Alice, between past and present. Alfie talks to Alice through the curtains and slowly she responds. Alfie has his own fears, as the time for him to re-join the outside world comes closer. And their most intense conversations occur at night when insomnia and nightmares intrude. Alfie has his fears but is mainly positive. Alice is hoping that surgery will provide her with a face she can be seen with.
Ms Houghton has developed her two main characters and their concerns well. At different times, the story is bleak, heartbreaking, and sad. But there are also flashes of humour, and hope.

‘Our scars are simply the marks of our stories. They show we’ve lived our life, and most of all that we have survived it.’

This is Ms Houghton’s debut novel. I became so caught up in the story that wanted more: what will happen next?

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Alfie and Alice are at a point in their lives in which they need the biggest support from their loved ones. Both being bed neighbors at a London hospital they have to face their new lives and in this big turning point where no light seems to be, they found a genuine friendship.
What a heartwarming story "Before I Saw you" is. First of all, I love the fact that there are no "perfect" characters, but broken souls who seem to have lost everything. Both characters couldn't be more different. One is lying on the ground not having the power to put yourself together, while the other seems to not want to give up.
The book doesn't hide the negative emotions and doesn't try to turn something bad into something good and doesn't rush through the turning point when someone realizes that there is an end to the suffering when you just try to give it a chance.
Because of the cut, you don't know how Alfie and Alice will continue with their lives and how they will cope with the things ahead of them. I think it is a beautiful way to give them your imagined happy ending instead of being given one.

3.5★s
Before I saw You is the first novel by British author, Emily Houghton. The woman behind the curtain isn’t talking. Alfie Mack has been in rehab on the Moira Gladstone ward of St Francis’s Hospital for some time since his amputation and, in between punishing physio sessions, focuses on entertaining the other patients: “People do say I’m like therapy, but better and free”. But he’s been warned that Alice Gunnersley is so traumatised by her injuries that she has stopped talking weeks ago: he’s to leave her alone. Alfie just can’t imagine not talking…

“Alfie lived for conversation. He thrived off connection. In fact, one of the only things that got him through his days was annoying Mr Peterson or catching up on the gossip with Sharon. Conversations were the fabric of his existence on the ward, and without them Alfie could only imagine what a lonely place it would be.”

Perhaps Sister Martha Angles (aka Mother Angel) gives Alfie that warning because she knows he won’t stick to it for long. And it does take a while, but eventually, he and Alice are batting quips and insults at each other, and sharing some intense chats when insomnia or nightmares dog their nights. If Alfie is a little terrified of rejoining the outside world, Alice is depending on surgery to solve her biggest problem: letting herself be seen by anyone at all.

This is very much a character-driven story, and Houghton is talented at portraying the different stages of grief that ensue after a disfiguring traumatic experience. It’s clear that, as well as being further along his grief journey, well into the acceptance stage, Alfie possibly has a much more positive attitude than Alice. The (very abrupt) ending is fairly predictable, and a feel-good one, but something about these characters doesn’t quite connect.

The vehicle that Houghton uses to facilitate the interaction between the two protagonists, a lengthy stint in a rehab ward, also lacks some credibility: the story is clearly set post-2016, but some aspects of the hospital care feel more 1980s, and this might distract a reader with experience in the health system. A sweet story if you don’t look too closely at the details.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld.

Oh my goodness, one of the most amazing books I have read in a long while. I fell completely in love with Alfie & Alice and their tale.
What a beautiful story. It has everything you want in a good, proper love story.
And what a gorgeous, positive person Alfie was despite his injury and the guilt he carries with him over the accident.
No matter how he is feeling, you can see he wants to help people. There is so much goodness in him.
Even though Alice was struggling with her injuries , he was there and ready to help her and what was so important was that he went at her pace all the time.
It is hard to find people in this life with such a good heart, beautiful on the inside and out and that's what we got in Alfie.
I am on the blog tour for this book next month so when I have my post done and up on my page, I will come back and add the link to it.
Thank you for taking the time to give me a copy of this wonderful book. I very much appreciate it and will try shout from the rooftop about this book.
Well done to Emily, a great and highly emotional read. I laughed and cried at her story x

Undoubtedly one of my favourite reads of 2020.

I fell in love with Alice and Alfie and their stories . Alfie was involved in a horrific crash which lost him two of his friends and his leg. When a fire destroyed Alice’s office, she was left with severe burns. Ashamed of her scars, Alice asks for her hospital curtains to remain closed. In the bed next to her, Alfie works hard to lift her spirits and they begin falling for each other.

I loved the message that looks are not important and that you can fall in love only from words.

The author did a great job alternating betwern the perspective e of Alfie and Alice. Both characters were engaging from the beginning.

I didn't want the story to end. Hoping there will be a sequel and will definitely look out for more by this author.

Such an easy to read book, very absorbing and a good time waster in the long dark nights. It made me smile, cry, laugh and worry. Don't think a novel could be more easy read really!

Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton is an emotional romance following Alice Gunnersley who has been badly burned in an office fire and Alfie Mack who had a leg amputated after a car accident. They reside in neighbouring cubicles in the rehabilitation ward, where they begin talk, share and develop a connection. All while never having seen the other face-to-face.

The story is told in third person, alternating between the two main characters' perspectives, which I thought really benefitted the story. It helps to demonstrate how contrasting their personalities were and I really loved seeing how they each were able to help the other. We also get a switch on one of my favourite tropes with a sunshine hero and gloom heroine and I really love seeing opposites like this attract.

All the characters on the ward that we got introduced to also completely stole my heart and I loved how quickly that community atmosphere that was created. This is definitely an emotional read as you can probably tell from the description itself but it was also very uplifting at times and reminded me of all the things I am so grateful for that I often take for granted.

My only gripes with this surrounded the pacing. I did sometimes find the story dragging, until the end where it felt rather rushed leaving me with a less than satisfying ending.

**Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.**

GENRE: contemporary romance/women fiction
TROPES: friends to lovers
CLIFFHANGER: no
TRIGGER WARNINGS: grief, loss of a loved one, an accident with a burn victim, and prolonged medical stay, loss of a limb


Alice and Alfie "met" in a hospital. He just survived a horrific car accident where he lost a leg and she survived a fire in her office, which left her with 40% burn scars on her body. They don't meet face to face for the longest period of time. Instead, Alice is sectioned behind a curtain. Per her choice because she has to come to terms with her situation. She is also not spoken since it happened. That intrigues chatty Alfie to reach out and try to cheer her up and get to know her. understandably, they both have mental scarring from the things they suffered. However, there are some issues from their past and from their personal life they have to deal with.

Marvelous debut. I enjoyed the story and the premise is quite intriguing. I admit I was more interested in their personal journey than romance. It is one of those books that walks the line between contemporary book and woman fiction. I believe you will enjoy it more if you don't go expecting much of a romance story.

Why not five stars?
- the ending
I wish the ending wasn't so abrupt. Very unsatisfying.
- emotions
For such a heart hitting book I didn't cry. I wish I connected more with the characters.

I would recommend to all readers enjoying women fiction books.

Warning, make sure you have tissues nearby!!! Life altering accidents leave Alice and Alfie in the rehabilitation ward of the local hospital. In their normal life's their paths would of not crossed but they support each other other and the other residents on the ward.
Be prepared for the bumps in their story and read to the last full stop to find out what happens. Enjoy, I did through my tears.

This book felt very long in the second half, I think it could have done with some editing. I had some trouble connecting with the characters and didn’t find Alice very likeable so I wasn’t very invested in her story.

The book, split between two POV's - that of a man who has lost his leg in an accident and that of the woman in the neighbouring hospital bed who has been badly burned in a fire - offers a heartwarming look at recovery, romance and psychological trauma following an accident.

The chapters are written in the male POV - a teacher named Alfie - are enjoyable reads, showing a complex battle between the desire to remain positive and the inner trauma following an accident. His relationships with the other ward members are touching, particularly when Mr P is involved and, as a result, he is a lovable character and one which the reader enjoys learning about.

The other chapters, from the POV of Alice, a businesswoman, are less enjoyable. Not due to the complex trauma which the reader learns about, but due to the writing style. Alice is often presented with little redeeming qualities and the writing can seem long-winded, with little action.

The ending, however, is what lets the book down. Predictable and rushed, we see a new side to Alfie, which makes for an intriguing read, though it is quickly pushed aside in a matter of three or four chapters. The pacing of the novel changes and it makes it an unsatisfying end.

Houghton does provide an easy read, but it is not a particularly memorable one. Her characterisation of Alfie is wonderful and shows promise throughout, but her pacing is erratic and some chapters can seemingly drag on.

Before I Saw You follows both Alfie and Alice, two strangers who are in the same hospital ward, with clashing personalities they both slowly form a relationship even though they do not know how the other looks like.

The book is a slow-paced read, honestly, I really enjoyed the writing style and the pace of the book it really suited the story which was told in alternating perspectives of both Alfie and Alice. The two main characters have very different personalities but through their close physical proximity, form a close bond – this happens slowly and with reluctance on Alice’s behalf which is why I liked the slow pace because it was more real. I liked the main characters, but my favourite characters were actually all the side characters, I liked how they added to the atmosphere of the book and how each of them helped both Alfie and Alice heal.

The plot of the book is slow, the focus is on the dialogue between Alfie and Alice – which I really liked, and I did enjoy the friendship between them and how they helped each other be more open and honest. The only thing I did not like was the romance, I liked their friendship, but I just did not see any romantic chemistry between them, also the romance side of the book felt really rushed. The ending in general did feel rushed, I liked how Alice and Alfie were dealing with things and slowly starting to accept some truths about their lives, but I did think in the end that things happened a bit too quickly.

3/5

Actual rating 3.5 stars

Love and friendship can blossom in the most unusual of circumstances and Before I Saw You questions whether it’s possible to fall in love without meeting face to face. Welcome to the rehabilitation ward at St Francis hospital where Alfie Mack is recuperating from a life changing injury, a cheeky upbeat chappie who has assumed the role of ward comedian, booster of morale and friend to the likes of elderly Mr Peterson. His favourite nurse, Nurse Angles believes he is just the man to coax his newly arrived neighbour in the next cubicle back to life. Alice Gunnersley hasn’t spoken since her admittance to hospital following her injuries sustained during an office fire and her arrival on the rehabilitation ward is received with much curiosity. The blue curtains surrounding Alice’s cubicle and dividing her off from the rest of her fellow patients are permanently closed. No one, apart from the nurses is allowed to breach her privacy. Yet Alfie Mack, full of banter and responsible for much of the camaraderie amongst the folk on this ward is unused to silence. His natural curiosity means he starts conversing with Alice, despite her lack of response and as you will discover his perseverance to engage with Alice slowly begins to pay off.

I absolutely loved Alfie and his witty repartee with the grumpy Mr Peterson. His positivity and relentless good cheer make him a favourite amongst patient and staff alike and he’s a character you can easily warm to. Yet underneath all his good humour lies a man devastated and haunted by the tragedy that has cost him a leg ( thankfully not also an arm!) compelling him to try and fix and save anyone who crosses his path. With Alice he has his work cut out but if anyone is up for the challenge it’s Alfie. With his fondness for puzzles and love of Harry Potter plus an insatiable appetite, Alfie is going to pull out all the stops to encourage Alice back into the land of the living. Mostly through late night conversations the reader learns more of both Alfie and Alice’s past and the giant hurdles they need to overcome in their journeys back to ‘normality’ whilst witnessing a tentative and beautiful relationship develop, albeit through closed curtains. You can expect the usual mix of likeable characters, great friendships, love, humour and angst in what is a fairly predictable storyline. So far so good.

Having immediately warned to the characters on the Moira Gladstone ward I was expecting great things from this novel, convinced the storyline was worthy of at least 4 stars. Unfortunately much of the initial lightheartedness and the humorous banter between the patients fell away so that the sole focus is on Alfie and Alice, their conversations taking on an air of repetitiveness and dare I say a touch too self pitying tone? As other characters such as Mr Peterson and Sharon fade into the background the reader is left with only the saintly guardian angel Nurse Angles and Alice’s best friend Sarah to provide some relief from the intensity of this couple’s developing and often strained relationship but even their empathy and kindness becomes cloying. The same can even be said for Janet Mack, Alfie’s mother, with her excessive baking and delivery of Sunday roasts. If Alfie and Alice ever reach a point where they are ready for discharge, diabetes might just be the death of them! I appreciate these characters are designed to alleviate the seriousness of the hurdles our two protagonists face as an amputee and a burns victim and to a certain extent it does work. However the narrative seems to stall at this point trapping Alfie and Alice in a loop of either deep meaningful conversations or a complete absence of communication altogether which I’m afraid to say I found a trifle boring. I think because of this the motivational and inspirational tone that runs through the storyline loses its strength, instead becoming rather trite. At this point I was urging the author to execute the much longed for face to face meeting to move the storyline along. From the very beginning there is always that question looming of whether Alice will ever summon up the courage to draw back that blue curtain and properly see the man behind all the love, humour, kindness and support. In my opinion the author builds up this ‘tension’ beyond a reasonable length of time so I found my patience with this pair was at breaking point. The abrupt and hasty ending left me with mixed feelings, wondering if it been worth the wait which is a shame as potentially this storyline has the power to tug at your heartstrings. I desperately wanted to say I loved this unusual love story but sadly it failed to press all the emotional buttons for me. Maybe there’s another story in the pipeline for Alfie and Alice? Part of me hopes so as I felt their journey was only just beginning. Before I Saw You is a sweet, humorous and at times emotional novel whose overwhelming message is that beauty comes from within;what matters most is what’s on the inside and ultimately that’s a lesson both Alfie and Alice come to learn together, even if they are permanently separated by a piece of blue fabric! If you’re looking for an emotional yet heartwarming page turner as your next read then this could be the book for you. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, Netgalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, and Bantam Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton is one of the sweetest romance novels I have read in a while. I have been reading so many Historical Fiction lately that it has been tearing my heart out and leaving me melancholic afterward. Not that I am complaining.. But this one was a welcome change.. It tells us the story of two people who fall in love as they are recuperating in the hospital from life-threatening accidents. Life brings them joy and love in unsuspecting and unexpected places. Who would imagine love is possible while in recovery at the hospital, without even seeing each other?? Not me!! But that is exactly what happens to Alfie Mack and Alice Gunnersley.

Everything about this story was just so good. I loved all the characters and their relationships. Most of them had great dynamics, and the interactions were fun, entertaining, and full of joy. The camaraderie in the ward is something to be around. The overall atmosphere in the hospital is not something you would see normally. It was a highlight for me in this story. Charming, is the word that comes to mind when I think of the story.

The book is slower-paced, taking time to establish the setting, characters, and also relationships. The author does take her time in developing the perfect setting for a love story to flourish. I loved that about this book. I didn't mind the pacing or the slow growth of the relationship. The story is focused on building an emotional connection rather than on a physical bond.

I have given the book 4 stars, and I wish the ending was written differently. I would have loved seeing the two in the future to see how their relationship progressed. Maybe, that's just me. But if you love slow-paced and slow-burn books with excellent focus on characters, you will love this book. I recommend checking it out and decide for yourself if it's the right book for you. I really enjoyed this charming story about Alfie and Alice.

This novel had an interesting premise and drew me in the further I got into it. It is the story of Alfie and Alice, both who have suffered horrific accidents resulting in injury and loss and how they come to terms with themselves and others. It is well written and the characters are well drawn. I enjoyed it very much. Well worth a read. Thanks to Penguin Random House UK and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.

This is a lovely read that managed to dodge being cheesy and succeed at being heartwarming. Told alternately from the points of view of hospital patients Alfie and Alice as they come to terms with their life changing injuries and their different ways of dealing - or not - with their lives and futures now. Alfie is a lovely cheeky chappy spreading joy amongst his fellow patients on the rehabilitation ward whereas Alice just wants to hide from the world, I loved the complexity of both characters and the way their characters gradually interacted, both are characters that stay with you after the story ends and you wish you could find out how they move on.