This was a heart wrenching read, told in alternating points of view from both Zoe and Edward. The time period moves back and forth between present day when they are on a trip to Paris meant to bring them back together, and the past when they first met, and fell in love. We also learn in these flashbacks how the loss of their child ripped them apart and left them in the precarious state they are currently in. Zoe and Edward thought they were going to be a happily ever after story, but real life got in the way. Fate seemed to put them together, but the loss of their child tore them apart. Each dealt with their grief in their own way, never quite able to come together and share how they truly felt. Edward was left feeling shut out, while Zoe was left feeling Edward blamed her and that he did not grieve as deeply as she. This was a heart breaking story of loss and the dissolution of a marriage, but where there is love, there is still hope.

I received a complimentary copy for review ( )

The book was just okay. What I didn't like was that sometimes the book became too wordy. I skipped over most of the past between Edward and Zoe. I couldn't really connect to them for some reason. I hated Edward! He didn't really care about Zoe enough to find her. I just feel as if the author could have left out the chapters of how Edward and Zoe met and then how they got married and all that. Just explain it in the chapters as a quick flashback. It also bothered me that how Milo died wasn't mentioned until over halfway through the story. I wish that information could have been somewhere in the first 2 or 3 chapters.

I did like the plot. I have an (almost) 2 year old, so my heart was aching over the loss of Milo. Besides the chapters describing the past, the book was well written.

This is a quick read (although that could be because I skimmed some chapters), but it is a decent read. I'd recommend it. ( )

The worst thing imaginable has happened to Edward and Zoe: they lost their 2-year old son in an auto accident two years ago, and of course things have never been the same between them. Zoe blames herself and in the first heartbreaking moments after he learned of Milo’s death Edward blamed Zoe, too. He doesn’t really blame her but she blames herself enough for both of them. Neither one of them has coped with the loss – Zoe has almost completely shut down; Edward has pushed to move on – and they’ve drifted so far apart it looks like there is no hope for them for the future.

I loved this story. The setup of Zoe and Edward on a weekend trip to Paris, with changing POVs and times works so well. I understood how Zoe felt, then I understood how Edward felt, and watching their relationship develop and their family grow in the past provided the perfect amount of backstory.

Zoe’s wallet and phone are stolen from her bag as soon as they arrive in Paris and they become separated almost at once when Edward goes to a cash machine. Watching each of them lost and alone and trying to find their way back – literally and figuratively – and deciding if they even want to go back or ahead together is so suspenseful I couldn’t put the book down and read it in almost one sitting. Highly recommend. ( )

This book deals with the aftermath of the death of a child. Zoe and Edward have been dealing with the grief of losing their only child for over a year ago and it is driving them apart instead of bringing them together. Zoe's parents gift them with a weekend trip to Paris, hoping that the trip will help bring them together. I felt this story moved too slowly at times and became frustrated with Zoe and Edward for some of their decisios. In the end, I wanted to read on to discover if this couple could survive this tragedy and find their way back to each other. Where there is love, is there still hope? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. ( )

At first I was torn about whether or not I wanted to request Who We Were Before on NetGalley. Emotionally-charged books are always on my radar, but some topics are hard for me to read, especially when they deal with cruelty to children, vulnerable people and animals. I also struggle with topics about losing a loved one to illness or accident, since it is something that I am unfortunately too familiar with. I don't choose to read too many books like these as they usually leave me emotionally drained for a few days after I read them. But after some debating, I decided that it sounded like a book worth trying.

The first line totally punched me in the stomach, It was like that first drop on a rolleroaster - you know it's coming, but it still catches you off-guard every time. As adults, we are often faced with baggage that we just can't let go of, no matter how much we want to. We feel we deserve that pain and the guilt that this baggage gives us. When this involves the loss of a loved one, there is no "getting over it". Ever. But when you are the cause of the loss or even believe that you are, the burden becomes unfathomable.

This is where the book begins. A child is gone and all the should-haves and could-haves will never change the outcome or bring them back. All you have is the heavy blanket of grief.

The author, Leah Mercer certainly knows how to use words to grab you by the heart and squeeze. Her writing is power-packed with raw emotion. As I sat in the living room reading, my fiance told me that I looked like I was about to cry. I probably was...

Who We Were Before is a story of grief. But, it is also about trying to learn to heal. It got inside my head and caused me to rethink some things. While I can't tell you that this was an enjoyable read, I can say that I feel it was a necessary one. At least it was for me. I feel like it made me look at things a little differently . So, if you choose to read this one, be prepared to have a big dose of "the feels". I think the author did a great job and I think you should give it a try.

I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate the opportunity to discover this book. ( )