This was a cleverly written book which takes us on a rollercoaster of a journey. We first meet Liv just before her wedding to James. However, Liv's previous partner was James' brother Kit. Kit went missing seven years before and has never been found. In searching for him, Liv and James found themselves falling in love and decide to get married. On the eve of their wedding day, Liv wakes up to find herself back with Kit, seven years previously. Is this her chance to find out what happened to him and stop him from going missing - or does she want to get back to James and marry him?

The story is told from different points of view and different timelines, however it's written really well and whilst it may sound complicated, it really isn't! I liked James and Liv's characters but wasn't expected the twist when Liv wakes up back with Kit seven years before. The storyline flows at a steady pace, building up the intrigue and mystery as to what really happened to Kit all those years before. There are lots of surprises and shocks, which Liv didn't know at the time, and I really liked how she had to keep trying to explain everything every day when it reset! It had a likening to Groundhog day, but with a more serious and romantic feel to it!

I became hooked into this storyline very quickly and couldn't put it down once started. I do enjoy a time-travel story and this had enough mystery to keep me wondering where it was heading! A beautiful, heart-warming and emotional read. Would definitely recommend.

I really liked this story and how it was written. A woman’s husband goes missing and she ends up falling in love with the brother years later. Right before their wedding she’s transported back 7 years to see if she can find out what happened to her first love. If he wasn’t gone who would she chose?

The writing was really well written. Life can be messy and complicated. But it’s like that for everyone. I liked how the book ended and came together with a good closure. The child/parent relationship was also good to read about. It’s a back and forth timeline but it wasn’t confusing.

A wonderful read
This book had me laughing and crying
You will not want to put this book down
I devoured it in one sitting
Thanks Netgalley

This was cute but implausable. I guess I just wanted a little more explanation of what was happening and why. Liv is getting married to James, the brother of Kit, who disappeared seven years ago and is presumed dead. Yet, somehow she flashes back to the week before Kit disappeared to relive it in order to determine why/how he disappeared.

Why? How? These questions were never actually answered.

Instead it goes back through that week and we do get answers but it seems really far fetched. The end is equally far fetched. There is no real love story - it is a family mystery/drama with a time travel element. I think that I was hoping for more of a romance/love connection.

The writing was okay. My biggest issue was the love triangle. I feel some sort of way about you trying to marry his brother. There were moments I thought pages dedicated to description and exposition could have been used to tighten up the plot and dialogue.

The One Before The One is One book I'm not going to forget any time soon. The way this book had kept me on the edge of my seat with the urge of wanting to just get in it and solve everything is undeniable.

It's also safe to say that I have fallen in love with Emma's writing and I'm adding all her books to my TBR right away.

Based on my least explore genre of time travel this book had got my attention in an instant with it's attention seeking and mysterious blurb. Based on Dual time line and multiple POV you are in for a ride.

The book opens to the days leading to Olivia's wedding to James ( who is brother of her ex boyfriend Kit) but just on the day she's about to exchange her Vows she's sent back 7 years to the time leading to her then boyfriend Kit's disappearance after he went on a hike.

Now having only days to unravel each secrets hidden from her and each clue she missed then the has to stop the past from happening. But is it possible?? What happens when the trust is unveiled???

The story is twisty, suspenseful and emotional which will leave you bewildered from the turn of events. The ending will get you shocked but will also not disappoint. So if you like a good, mind boggling story which is not overly complicated and is fast paced then this one's for you.

Do not miss this one.


Toodles 💕

The One Before The One by Emma Cooper is a page turner of a story that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. One of my favourite genres to read is time travel fiction so as soon as I read the blurb I knew it was a book I would love – and wow, it did not disappoint!

This is a difficult book to review without giving too much away, so all I will say is that this is a story that needs to unfold organically, so the less you know about it going in the better. The story is told from two alternating points of view, beginning on the day Liv and James are due to get married and then moving back to the time before Kit disappeared.

Emma Cooper’s writing is as beautiful as always, with the story taking me on a twisty rollercoaster journey of emotions as the truth of what happened to Kit is slowly revealed. There are surprising twists and turns along the way as Liv relives her life from seven years earlier, finding out things that really do shock her to her core – changing everything she thought she knew.

The One Before The One by Emma Cooper is everything I hoped it would be and more. A fabulous time travel mystery that kept me guessing right up until the final page had been turned, this is a book that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

This book is a fantastic read with a slight time travel twist. Liv’s boyfriend disappeared seven years ago, now on the day of her wedding she is sent back 7 years to 7 days before her boyfriend’s disappearance. The characters and world in this novel were compelling and sweet, it was hard to stop reading. The twists in the end caught me by surprise but were fantastic. On the whole an fantastic read I would highly recommend.

At the start of the book I felt like I was reading Taylor Jenkins Reid book One True Loves. The concepts were very similar, girl loses love of her life and years later finds comfort in someone new only to then be confronted by her first love and have to choose. From there though the books do diverge and I really loved the magical realism woven though this book, some people complained about it not being explained but I think that's the beauty of the genre. It was also super suspenseful and mysterious with what happened to Kit and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how everything would fall into place. I was legit shocked and loved the ending!

Hard to rate and hard to review without giving anything away. And the “aha” moment for me was comical because I’m cussing the book, cussing my f’d memory, going back a few chapters, then boom I figure it out and it makes sense. Haha
There is a time travel element but it’s easy to follow.
All in all I enjoyed the premise and zoomed through the chapters.
Thanks NetGalley for the book in exchange for my thoughts.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

This book kept me in suspense on how I was going to feel about it when all was said and done. In the early pages I was intrigued but then I became skeptical.. in the end I actually considered giving it 5 stars but there’s one aspect of the story that keeps me from being able to. I can’t really say what here without being really spoilery so instead I will focus on some overall thoughts below. I received an ARC of this one prior to its release earlier this year. Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

I loved the love story. I usually have a harder time with anything resembling a love story but my favourite trope of he fell first and pined hard is in these pages so I had a clear favourite male lead.

At one point I wasn’t sure if I liked any of the characters but I came around to all of them, some faster than others.

Very unique premise within this story and it kept me wondering how this could all end.

I laughed a lot out loud, especially in the final portion of the book.

Overall a great read, I just wish the one element made more sense to my logical brain, but I did love how everything wrapped up.

Thank you Boldwood and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this romance / part time-travelling book.

Liv is about to get married, however she’s given the opportunity to live one week over again. Will she take the opportunity? What will the outcome be if she does?

A thought provoking concept and a fabulous book to dive into and escape for a while.

Loved this one! This was emotional with time slips, and I found this was more than just a romance. There was nuance and depth, and I really enjoyed it. Fans of Emily Henry, Paige Toon, and Ashley Poston will enjoy this!

The One Before the One by Emma Cooper is a emotional gut punch for readers that brings together a love triangle and time travel and the question about if you ever get over your first love. It's definitely one that I did not want to put down.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Very neat concept! Readers follow Liv in the final days before her wedding and she has the chance to live a single week over again. This is an emotional read that focuses on complex relationships. If you like time-slip romances, this might be for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh my heart. This is one of the most heart-wrenching books I have ever read. I wish I could give our main characters all big hugs to help them get through this. Emma Cooper did an amazing job exploring the complicated themes surrounding love, grief, and mortality. Olivia is such a lovable character and I love how despite the situation, she still stays strong.

This without a doubt is a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

Just finished The One Before The One by Emma Cooper and I’m still processing everything!

Liv is about to marry her new love when, suddenly, she’s back in time, six days before her boyfriend Kit disappears—seven years ago. But here’s the twist: Kit is actually thr brother to James the man she’s with now. Liv is given the chance to rewrite history, to figure out why Kit left, and to potentially save him. But doing so means confronting a heart-wrenching dilemma: does she choose the man she once loved, or the man who’s helped her heal? 😔💔

I thought I was picking up a light read, but this book is SO much deeper than I expected. Time travel, complex love triangles, and layers of emotional depth that will have you questioning fate, love, and the choices we make. The dynamics between the brothers and Liv are messy, raw, and beautifully written.

From the first page, I was hooked by the witty banter and genuine emotion. Emma Cooper explores love in all its complexities—sometimes the person you thought you were meant to be with isn’t the one you end up with, and that’s okay. 💭

Big thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC! Highly recommend if you love a story that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you guessing until the very end. 📚💫

Olivia is getting ready to marry James, the brother of her first love, Kit, who disappeared seven years ago and is presumed dead. When she starts to suspect that maybe he isn’t dead her entire world is turned upside down. How would her life look if Kit had never left and what does that mean for her and James?

I really liked this book. There was some time travel involved, which I typically don’t enjoy. However, this was done in such a way that it fit right in with the story and I loved it.

Seven years ago, Liv’s boyfriend, Kit, disappeared on a hike. With help from family and friends, she eventually moved on with her life. On the morning of her wedding with James (Kit’s brother), Liv steps out of the doorway and goes back in time - to six days before Kit disappears.

Liv is reliving those same six days again. She needs to get it right this time. Can Liv save Kit? And if she does, will she choose him or James?

The story comes from Liv and another character’s first-person POVs. It was well written but it all seemed strangely familiar, so much so that I kept checking if I had read it before. The idea is great but was much stronger than the execution. Sadly, I didn't love it, but it was a good quick beach read.