Renee Carlino

Oh, this book. There were times I was SO frustrated with Charlotte and times she actually had me crying. I actually cried through several parts of this book. And, when I finished, I cried some more.

This was such a heart rending story. I absolutely LOVED it. I knew something was up with Adam almost right away, but my guess about his issue was totally wrong. Yay!! The characters were so real and had me totally mesmerized and engrossed in their world.

A story about love, loss, growing up and show more somewhat cheesy at times that I absolutely loved and enjoyed.

Huge thanks to Atria Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. show less

5 "Missed Connections" Stars!

Lovers of first love and "the one that almost got away" themed romances will not want to miss Before We Were Strangers! This book blew me away, and transported me back to long ago college days and impossible choices between true love and career goals. I was so enthralled in this touching heart wrenching story, and the incredibly well developed characters, that I even found the time to binge read this page turner during a very busy vacation.

Grace was a struggling show more music student at NYU when she met her next door dorm mate, Matt, a photography transfer student from USC. Although Matt came from a rich family (well at least his father's side, who also were generally disappointed he hadn't followed in the lucrative footsteps of his lawyer father), Grace and Matt bonded over unconventional ways to scrimp and save to make a few bucks while earning their degrees--among other unique friendship overtures. They spent many days with Matt taking pictures of Grace, his first muse, and Grace serenading Matt while she practiced her cello.

Theirs was necessarily a relationship that emerged out of friendship, even as they each wanted more. But what could their future hold following graduation as they pursued their dreams? Perhaps it's just a case of meeting the right person at the wrong time?

Nonetheless their separation was unexpected and as life continued around them a frequent unsettling question presented itself from time to time: what if? A chance encounter 15 years later may allow them to explore that question. But can you ever go back to that incredible feeling of experiencing love for the first time or are you just doomed to continue failing to recreate that exceptional feeling?

This was my first read by Renee Carlino. Now I can't wait to go back and explore some of her backlist titles! show less

4.5 review: 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, show more 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! show less

Oh dear. The most painful of types of second chances.... The missed connection (EVERYTIME I will think of I looked for you of Julian and Emma. And now I just want to torture myself with THAT book.)

Well, this kind of starts with an actual missed connection...and leaves you wondering what the hell happened to them.

I am actually pretty impressed with Carlino's ability to weave together a story that spans 15 years where you get pissed and also forgive both characters. Matt would've been show more perfect, but he could definitely be cruel. He was easy to love though because he was so nice and smitten.

Grace was sparkly and vivacious. There's an angle with her life that sort of falls apart for me, or rather, a couple of them, but I guess I forgive the 22 year old version of her....

There was a plot device I don't care for. At all. In this book though, it gave me a bunch of over-the-top painful feels, as if their 15 years wasn't quite enough to be frustrating. The book is a 3.5 but I was ridiculously satisfied and entertained. I'm just that picky right now. show less