I have to admit I don’t get the title here. This was an easy read but it seemed like two stories mashed together that didn’t really fit with each other. The story of young Violet and what happened to her Uncle Kevin and then the story of older Violet and her struggles in life, love, and work. I think these would have worked better as separate stories. It also felt forced that Kath picked up on the plot but for the rest of the book she was out of touch with young folks etc. It just didn’t seem feasible what she came up with in the end and so that felt overly forced. Overall though a decent story to read and obviously one close to the author’s heart.

I've reviewed a lot of books by Samantha Tonge, and I'm glad she has another one out. I really liked Violet and Bella. I felt they were good friends and I liked Violet's makeover, as I love clothes. I love her taste in fashion after the makeover. I like the way she likes scented candles and perfumes, and grows to like makeup. I loved her makeup table. Bella's support as a friend is amazing.

I liked Casey too and his interest in Violet as well as in her book promotion. I hoped he could get published. Flint was supportive.

I was annoyed at Violet's ex, Lenny, for cheating on her.

Self care is important to me, too, so the theme was interesting, and I wanted to witness the changes in Violet, whether it was clothes or on a deeper level. I love any book where a person tries to change their life, and I felt invested in Violet's story and life. I felt very sad about the death of her uncle Kevin. The dual timeline with past chapters from her childhood and life with him (which were very heatfelt) and the present makes for an interesting storyline.

I enjoyed all the references to Violet's purple glasses, as I love purple. I felt Alice was really cruel to her.

All Violet's work in book promotion is interesting. I was interested in the author-publisher bond and the importance of that. The plot of this book is a good way to learn more about publishing and writing in general. The reference to Foyles' was good, as this is related to books too.

I enjoyed following Violet's writing career, as well as her work as a hairdresser.

I liked how supportive Irfan and Felicity were of Violet.

Her social life was fun, and all the restaurants and bars in the book were original (as well as the cocktails/mocktails).

I really like Star Trek, so I also enjoyed the reference to that in Felicity's backstory.

I liked the Chapter Battle event. The reference to Grease when Violet and Casey were on the way to it was fun, as I like Grease.
I also like the name of Violet's publisher, Alpaca Books. Both the event and the publisher name seem very original.

Romance, books, publishing, loss, the struggle to move on, the ups and downs of life and a fun plot make If You Could See Me Now a great book. The pace is quick, but I never feel lost.

If You Could See Me Now is for romance and book lovers alike, and would make a great gift for anyone who likes these things. It's my seventh Samantha Tonge book and I want to experience more of her books in the future.

Thanks to Samantha Tonge and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. As someone who reviews books a lot, I really enjoyed this.

4 stars

This is a difficult book to review. Although I originally thought it did have potential, it fell very flat for me, resulting in its near abandonment. Alas, I continued on in order to fulfill my agreement for being awarded this ARC. Perhaps this novel needs to be marketed to young adults or even mid-to-late teens, as it is quite possible that this is the audience with which it will resonate.

Fairly decent character and plot development, but when the story unfolded and did its "big reveal", it did nothing for me as a reader. It is, however, a very brisk read.

Thank you to author, Samantha Tonge; publisher Boldwood Books; and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own.

I received a free copy of, If You Could See Me Know, by Samantha Tongue, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Violet is trying self care after, her ex cheated on her. Though Violet seems to be taking it to the extreme. This was a very heavy read, with a lot going on.

A very lovely, heartwarming & at times emotional book. I enjoyed reading Violet’s story of self-discovery, rebuilding her self-esteem and self-worth after a tough break up. Initially I did find myself a little concerned about some themes which were arising during the book; however, the reason for this all became clear as the twist in the take was exposed.
Sensitive subjects are handled in thoughtful & compassionate way and the whole book is written in a way that brings the reader into Violet’s daily life, her innermost thoughts and worries, and has you willing Violet on.
An enjoyable read that takes an alternative route to happy ever after.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Violet Vaughan, 32, is a literary agent who works at Thoth Publishing, London. She is happily shacked up with Lenny, or so she thinks. On Valentine's Day of all days he confesses to be in love with Beatrice, a rival literary agent.

This betrayal sends Violet over the edge into a mental health crisis. She feels the fact that everyone leaves her is down to her not being worthy enough, not slim enough, not fashionable enough. So when her new flatmate Bella turns out to work in a spa and to be full of beauty tips, she overhauls her lifestyle completely with her help. But is Bella all that she seems or does she have secrets?

Soon, Violet's friends get concerned about her transformation into this thin, groomed woman who has less and less time for them. There is her book club with octogenarians Kath, Nora and Pauline, her boss Felicity, her colleagues Irfan, Farah and Hugo and debut author Casey who she falls for.

This beautiful story about complex characters is told over two timelines, now and 2001 when Violet was 7, and both her beloved Uncle Kevin died in the 9/11 atrocity and then her childhood friend Flint left, plus classmate Alice relentlessly bullied her and called her a Shrinking Violet.

First, I didn't like Violet too much, she seemed shallow, constantly posting filtered photos of herself on social media, but the more we learned about her deep-seated childhood trauma and how it had manifested itself, the more I understood and felt for her. Also, she is a big book lover and therefore obviously a good person! This is more about friendship and self-discovery than romance, and it's all the better for it.

Altogether, this is an intelligent, heartbreaking and powerful read with some unexpected twists, a beautiful cover and great characters, incorporating mental health issues including eating disorders with knowledge and skill.

This is not the story you thought you were getting at the start of the book - it's better! This won't be my last book by this smart author. Even the title is clever. Make sure you have tissues ready for the ending!

4.75 stars

This book was incredibly uplifting and heartwarming! I loved the themes of self awakening and loving yourself. Everyone should have wonderful friends in their lives like Violet!

Samantha Tonge’s *If You Could See Me Now* is a gripping mix of self-discovery and a little suspense. It’s about Violet, a sweet woman who has always had a hard time fitting in. When her ambitious boyfriend, Lenny, starts to drift away, she finds comfort in her mysterious new flatmate, Bella. With Bella’s encouragement, Violet decides to reinvent herself, but her long-time friends, Kath and Farah, start to worry about her changing ways.

What makes this book special is the way the characters are developed and the unexpected twists that keep you hooked. It dives into themes like self-worth, toxic relationships, and childhood trauma without feeling heavy. Plus, the ending catches you off guard, adding extra intrigue.

Overall, *If You Could See Me Now* is a fun and thought-provoking read that keeps you guessing until the end. It’s definitely a story that sticks with you!

I loved If You Could See Me Now. It shows the impact friends can have on us. Violet goes through a break up and with the help of a new friend, overhauls her image. Heartbreaking and empowering.

What a twist!!! Seriously, can I leave the review at this? No. Well, I've been a fan of this author for a while now and she's never let me down. The description of a page-turner could be made for this book and as usual, my one regret is that it ended. Honestly Sam, can you do something about that? Thank you, thank you Boldwood for the reading copy!

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge is a heartwarming and uplifting read about self-discovery and empowerment. The protagonist’s journey of embracing her true self is both relatable and inspiring. The characters are well-developed, and the story strikes a balance between humor and emotion. While the pacing could be faster at times, the overall message of confidence and self-love shines through. A feel-good novel perfect for anyone needing a boost of positivity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Violet is going through a hard time so it’s perfect for her when she gets a vivacious roommate, Bella, who helps her get past her ex who cheated on her by focusing on her health and fighting for herself. But Violet’s friends aren’t so supportive and Violet herself seems to be using her focus on her appearance and job as a shield against her troubling past and the recent heartbreak. Alternating with past and present, If You Could See Me Now starts off fun and light but it quickly becomes apparent that Violet is going through some stuff she’s not really addressing and becoming someone that she might not actually want to everyone to see. This read became a bit of a mystery towards the end, and the realizations that are dropped are really shocking in context of the setup. I appreciated the light shed through Violet’s struggles but this didn’t read very smoothly to me, as I expected one thing and got another very serious one. An honest story and one that explores mental health and how it manifests in different ways, readers can expect a journey of realization for Violet that is sad but hopeful.

This was a difficult read. I loved the book and its premise but it made me feel deeply uncomfortable - and I think that’s a good thing! Friends like Bella are not what any of us want but unfortunately it can impact on anybody and it’s a topic that is so relevant no matter the timeline. Also, another sad topic in there regarding Uncle Kevin, so so sad, and so much for a young child to understand.
I would highly recommend everybody reading this book. Mental health is so relevant and affects so many people.

I'm honestly having a really hard time rating If You Could See Me Now. The story was great. Violet got cheated on and broke up with her boyfriend and then had a "self awakening" kind of moment and started working on herself. With the help of her new roommate Bella, she started exercising, changing the way she ate, paying more attention to appearances, etc. She told her friends she was taking care of herself and getting through the breakup with Lenny but it became pretty much the sole focus of her life and started to cause problems with friends and work.

I really did enjoy the journey that Violet took and the flashbacks to her childhood provided a deeper insight. I feel that the message of learning to love yourself for who you are and not what you look like is one that resonates with a lot of people. But there was just something about the book that seemed to drag a bit for me. It was a weird combination of wanting to finish it because I was engrossed in the story but at the same time, I found myself frequently setting it down and taking a break. It took me longer than anticipated to finish it but I'm glad I did and the ending was handled well, imo. I do wish there was mention of the content that the book contains. I didn't think to check for trigger warnings on this one and I wish I had. Overall, glad I read it but probably wouldn't pick it up for a reread...

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to read an ARC of If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge, in exchange for my honest review.

4 1/2 stars!

"A true friend doesn't want you to change." This was a wonderfully written story of finding a friend in yourself, and embracing your differences. Sensitive and sensible writing of some sensitive issues.

Violet is a lovable and relatable main character, and the secondary characters were all interesting and realistic.

I highly recommend If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Tonge, as well as wearing mismatched socks.

I first read this book when it was originally published under the title "Knowing You". Cleverly written with an extra depth that's revealed throughout the story and flashbacks to Violet's childhood. There is a raw, heartbreaking storyline that weaves throughout Violet's current transformation following a bad break up and it hits hard. I am so pleased this excellent story gets a glow up and second chance at release because it deserves glowing praise!

Another fabulous read by Samantha Tongue, which I couldn't put down! Make sure you have tissues for this one!
The main character is Violet, whose life has been turned upside down with her boyfriend Lenny cheating on her and how her new friend Bella helps her get the life she thinks she wants.
The book flits between Violets childhood and her life now. The storytelling is powerful and thought-provoking and will make you be grateful for those real friends in your life! Thank you, @NetGalley_UK and @BoldwoodBooks, for this advance copy. It's definitely a book I won't be forgetting anytime soon!

If You Could See Me Now by Samantha Longe.

I’ll admit, majority of the storyline is pretty standard and nothing wild. But the themes of mental illness, eating disorders, bullying and trauma from real-life events we have witnessed in the past actually made this book fantastic. As someone who struggles with every theme I mentioned, I was not triggered or at all feeling like I would DNF this book. If you would like more info on the triggers before reading, please send me a message!

Overall, the book was a pleasant read. Definitely makes me want to read more of Samantha’s work!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc,
I really enjoyed this story, it was a sweet feel good read about romantic relationships, family relationships, friendships, break ups and new beginnings, How Violet transformed herself into the person she thought she should be with the help of her new room mate Bella and some hidden secrets...!!!
It was a great ending, I didn't want it to end.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I did enjoy this story and loved every single unique character involved! I do appreciate how the topics of discussion were brought up and it made me remember how quickly one can lose themselves. While I do feel it seemed to drag a little I was still invested especially when Vi was having flashbacks to 2001. I believe the flashbacks were written so well and I was extremely intrigued in them. My only comment would be some details were unnecessary and I felt we could have done without. I will say it took me a while to realize what was the plot twist so I enjoyed that! I’d def recommend this to other people :)