Enjoy Before I Saw You By Emily Houghton Visible In Textbook

Menschen die schwer am Leben zu tragen haben und deren Körper aus unterschiedlichen Gründen entstellt sind Bettnachbarn auf der Rehastation eines Krankenhauses, verlieben sich ineinander, ohne sich jemals gesehen zu haben.
Das klang nach einer Geschichte ganz nach meinem Geschmack etwas das sich abhebt und mit

bestimmten Stigmata aufräumt.
Schon nach ein paar Seiten wurde mir allerdings klar, dass ich meine Erwartungen sehr weit zurückschrauben muss.
Über die komplett unrealistischen Zustände auf der Rehastation konnte ich ja gerade noch so hinwegsehen, aber das Nebencharaktere eingeführt werden, die dann im Laufe der Geschichte einfach sang und klanglos im Nichts verschwinden hat mich genauso gestört wie die Tatsache, dass die Autorin bestimmte Details auslässt.
Der Schreibstil ist bestenfalls oberflächlich, es scheint nicht so, als hätte die Autorin besonders viel Recherchearbeit betrieben.
Auch mit den beiden Protagonisten Alice und Alfie bin ich nicht warm geworden, ihre Stimmungen springen so oft hin und her und sind so übertrieben dargestellt, dass ich die beiden ab irgendeinem Zeitpunkt nicht mehr ernst nehmen konnte.
Die Handlung des Buches findet hauptsächlich auf der Rehastation statt, wobei Emily Houghton den Fokus auf die Gespräche zwischen Alice und Alfie legt, die aber kaum Tiefe haben.
Auch setzt sich die Autorin zu wenig mit dem Thema Selbstakzeptanz auseinander eher mit dem Gegenteil, was ich schade finde, weil es einen Eindruck vermittelt, der einfach schon zu oft besprochen wurde.
Zum Ende hin bekommt die Story dann zwar etwas mehr Dynamik, aber das lief bei mir ins Leere, da ich zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits gedanklich mit dem Buch abgeschlossen hatte.

Es passiert selten, dass ich nur einen Stern vergebe, weil alleine schon die Tatsache, dass jemand überhaupt Bücher schreibt, Bewunderung und Dankbarkeit verdient, aber ich kann über dieses Buch absolut nichts Gutes sagen, so schade das auch ist.
В Преди да те видя“ се запознаваме с Алис и Алфи двама души, които се намират в отделение за възстановяване след тежки физически травми. Постепенно, без дори да се виждат един друг, те започват да разговарят и да изграждат едно красиво приятелство и връзка помежду си.
Емили Хоутън ни представя двама различни главни герои. Докато Алис е сдържана и пази мислите и чувствата си за себе си, Алфи е общителен и успешно влиза под кожата на хората. Хареса ми, че любовта в историята се поражда от това какви са те като характери и личности, а не от това как изглеждат. Връзката, която изграждат е специална и успя да стопли сърцето ми.
Макар, че е роман, поголямата част от сюжета се развива в болница, което позволява на авторката да изгради наистина реалистично психологическите аспекти от тежка физическа травма. Друго нещо, което ми направи силно позитивно впечатление беше колко добре са очертани героите и на заден план всички пациенти в отделението, сестрите, семействата и приятелите им.
Давам на книгатаи определено препоръчвам на читатели, които харесват добре развити главни герои, които си помагат в трудни времена и успяват да изградят онази дълбока връзка, която като хора всички копнеем да имаме.
"Our scars are simply the marks of our stories, They show we've lived a great life, and most of all that we survived it, Don't hide your story away in the shadows, "

Sometimes you're just in the mood for a book that is sweet, but also explores deeper emotions.

Both Alice and Alfie are residents on a rehabilitation ward after suffering terrible accidents, Alice survived a fire and doesn't want anyone to see her face, The two become friends and forge bonds on adjacent sides of curtained cubicles, They both struggle with different thingssurvivor's guilt, fear, shame, and loss both emotional and physical, Through humor and tenacity the two move forward toward healing,
I loved Alfie throughout this book and Alice kind of grated on me, I can't even begin to imagine what she was experiencing, so maybe I'm judging her reactions a bit harshly.
This book is told through their alternating points of view, and so the reader gets insight into their unique perspectives.
I liked the ending but wanted a bit more! I want to know the rest of the story! Maybe the author could write a follow up featuring some of the other characters and we can get a few glimpses at Alfie and Alice down the road.
Hint!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own,.
Esperaba una historia más romántica, algo más parecido a lo que estoy acostumbrada a leer, pero no ha sido así.
. . no obstante, me ha gustado,
Se lee super bien, es sencillita, y engancha, tanto, que no me ha durado nih,
Es una historia con sus dramas, una historia de superación, de amistad y de amor,
Recomendable. Without a doubt the worst book I have read this year,

Underwhelmed is probably the best word to describe how I was feeling towards this novel, I cant believe this book hasrating on Goodreads given that it was aggressively boring and unbelievably average.
I was very disappointed because the synopsis was really interesting: After being in terrible accidents, Alfie and Alice share the same hospital ward as longterm residents of St Francis Hospital.
Although they dont get off to the best start, something more than friendship begins to slowly blossom between them despite the fact that they have never seen each other face to face.
It was something, right But mix together a bland romance, overused exclamation marks seriously this is so annoying, characters who sound like whiny teenagers and unrealistic setting, you will get this book.


Basically, Im not impressed, But if you are curious about the book and are able to suspend any belief and just be entertained, go ahead and read it.
For me this is just the kind of book that is easily worthstars, 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, ayear 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 topread 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! Stars

I love finishing a debut novel and thinking, I cant wait to read what this author writes next.
For me, that speaks volumes, not only to my enjoyment of the story, but also to an authors in this case Emily Houghtons writing style and “voice”, as it were.


sitelinkBefore I Saw You had one of the most enticing synopses of the year, The story follows two strangers, Alice and Alfie, as they meet in a hospital recovery ward, healing in adjoining beds, divided by only a curtain, after both have had their lives irrevocably altered by injuries that caused major physical harm and emotional upheaval in their lives.


Needless to say, my interest was piqued by this premise, I couldnt wait to not only read about these two people growing close during a time that is undoubtedly the toughest of their lives, but also to witness their individual journeys through what was undeniably a gruelling and emotional trek through thestages of grief, as personally experienced by each of them posttrauma.


I feel Houghton handle the hurt and healing themes here beautifully, Although Ive never experienced something as lifealtering as the physical and emotional ordeals Alice and Alfie experienced, I have had my fair share of experience dealing with chronic illness for the past decade.
As such, I found myself relating on a deep and personal level to some of the thoughts and feelings Alice and Alfie experienced during the various stages of their recovery, especially in terms of those emotional hurdles that came after the physical parts of their recovery was donewhen most people expect you to be fine because youre physically fine, or so it seems.


Frankly, the mental health and chronic health rep here, in relation to issues relating to anxiety, depression, inclusion and even body image, for me, were thoughtfully and knowledgeably executed, obviously by an author who was pulling from honest lifeexperience.
That in itself went a long way to making this story more nuanced and remarkable,

Alice and Alfies story was a true pleasure to read, and Im sure theirs will be a story that wont stray far from my thoughts any time soon.
Set for release on theth of February
I want to thank NetGalley amp Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for eARC.


.starsrounded to

Two patients at a hospital Alice amp Alfie, . strangers who are next to each other day in and out,

If you take the book as a cute romcom youre dead wrong but also dead right.
This book is funny and a fresh take on the whole “hospital romance” genre thats plagued the YA its not YA scene for a while.
Hey I aint complaining their so, so good!

Emily Houghtons Before I Saw You is a book about healing and needing others surrounding you to do some, that its okay to let someone in when youre at your lowest and that also the people you love the most can and will disappoint you.


Alfie Mack is in St Francis Hospital for Rehabilitation after a horrid car crash that left him with an amputated leg while Alice Gunnersley is in after being badly injured in an office fire.

Both protagonists struggle with the outcomes of their situations with differing approaches Alice is not talking and does not want company.

While Alfie is making as many friends as possible and WILL NOT shut up,

This is a pretty slow read I will admit but Im not mad at it, their contrast in personalities is so interesting and they being out the emotion and physical pain in each other.

The supporting characters are a stand out with Sharon and Mr, Peterson as well as the nurse staff they become a family and its really lovely to see that play out.


Lets talk Pros amp Cons shall we


Okay as always first up the CONS:
the pacing was horrible bloody hell
The book was just sitting and talking, lots of inner monologue which Im not saying isnt completely bad but you do get a little sick of it, I wont lie.

WHERES THE ROMANCE PLS CMON
the romance felt forced, one second their having a couple of deep convos and then the next theyre in love.
Um
Slooooow burn, slower than your favourite fan fic,
Spoiler they didnt kiss Im not mad, reasoning in my pros but this story probably needed the KISS.


The PROS spoilers amp unpopular opinionssss:
I LIKE THAT THEY DONT KISS, Felt so Jane Austen to me and I wont lie I love the whole “you dont need to kiss to prove your feelings” trope.

The characters back stories, you feel like you know them because you do really get to know them.
They riches backstories Ive seen in romance novel for a while actually, Not shade
It was really funny, laughed out loud a few time and got my giggle on.

Sarah, man I liked Sarah a lot, We all need a friend like her
If you want a little tear up sesh you will probably have one in here somewhere at just how real the parts where theyre both trying to recover is okay so be prepared theyre so good though.


Overall thoughts:


I appreciate this story for what it is, its a light heart read about a meaningful topic and Im okay with that.

The writing was pretty good and if I see another book by the author on NetGalley Id request it or Id buy it in store.


Recommend it for a sunny day, .