So, this lovely book was sent to my cousins and I at Novel Nerds by the wonderful Najma Finlay from Random House so thank you very much!
I haven’t done a book review in ages; feel a bit rusty, so here it goes!
Book Synopsis
Having grown up on the quiet island of Guernsey, Betty Dean can’t wait to start her new life in London. On a mission to find Clara Pickle – the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother’s will – she arrives in grungy, 1990s Soho, ready for whatever life has to throw at her. Or so she thinks…
In 1920s bohemian London, Arlette – Betty’s grandmother – is starting her new life in a time of post-war change. Beautiful and charismatic, Arlette is soon drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. But less than two years later, tragedy strikes and she flees back to Guernsey for the rest of her life.
As Betty searches for Clara, she is taken on a journey through Arlette’s extraordinary time in London, uncovering a tale of love, loss and heartbreak. Will the secrets of Arlette’s past help Betty on her path to happiness?
Review
I was reading Before I Met You along with my required reading for uni so it was a breath of fresh air to read something simply for the sake of reading. I felt this book really tugged at the heartstrings in certain places. It’s one of those how well can you ever know someone type of books mixed with some soul searching. I just really enjoyed this novel; it was entertaining, interesting but heartbreaking too.
With two different lives in play, for me there were two main characters but Arlette was the real protagonist- in my eyes. I preffered Arlette’s life to Betty’s just because I felt Arlette had a lot more depth in her life. That might just be a personal thing though; I found I’ve tired from reading about contemporary lifestyles. It’s so much interesting going back in time to live in a different lifetime that isn’t obsessed with sex, alcohol and vampires.
One thing that irritated me was the cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. When you go with Betty to figure out who the mysterious Clara Pickle is, the story flips between Arlette’s life in the 20′s to Betty’s life now. Just when you think you’ve found the real truth BAAM it switches narratives. Infuriating but totally compelling. I also kind of hated what Arlette went through when she came to London. Like seriously, talk about ripping the sunshine out of her life. But then again, nobody’s life is perfect!
Final Thoughts
Before I Met You is a sad but enjoyable book about life, love and mistakes. Not everything works out for the best reasons; but sometimes it does. Whatever happens, you just keep going which is a message I found really came across in the book. Had we not been sent this book, I would have been happy to buy it. It’s a great read; not too heavy and dark but not light and trashy at all.
