Before We Were Strangers
- Downloads：5421
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-10-09 05:56:17
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Renee Carlino
- ISBN：1501105779
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
To the Green-eyed Lovebird:
We met fifteen years ago， almost to the day， when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House。
You called us fast friends。 I like to think it was more。
We lived on nothing but the excitement of finding ourselves through music （you were obsessed with Jeff Buckley）， photography （I couldn’t stop taking pictures of you）， hanging out in Washington Square Park， and all the weird things we did to make money。 I learned more about myself that year than any other。
Yet， somehow， it all fell apart。 We lost touch the summer after graduation when I went to South America to work for National Geographic。 When I came back， you were gone。 A part of me still wonders if I pushed you too hard after the wedding…
I didn’t see you again until a month ago。 It was a Wednesday。 You were rocking back on your heels， balancing on that thick yellow line that runs along the subway platform， waiting for the F train。 I didn’t know it was you until it was too late， and then you were gone。 Again。 You said my name; I saw it on your lips。 I tried to will the train to stop， just so I could say hello。
After seeing you， all of the youthful feelings and memories came flooding back to me， and now I’ve spent the better part of a month wondering what your life is like。 I might be totally out of my mind， but would you like to get a drink with me and catch up on the last decade and a half？
M
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years after they were separated in New York City。
We met fifteen years ago， almost to the day， when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House。
You called us fast friends。 I like to think it was more。
We lived on nothing but the excitement of finding ourselves through music （you were obsessed with Jeff Buckley）， photography （I couldn’t stop taking pictures of you）， hanging out in Washington Square Park， and all the weird things we did to make money。 I learned more about myself that year than any other。
Yet， somehow， it all fell apart。 We lost touch the summer after graduation when I went to South America to work for National Geographic。 When I came back， you were gone。 A part of me still wonders if I pushed you too hard after the wedding…
I didn’t see you again until a month ago。 It was a Wednesday。 You were rocking back on your heels， balancing on that thick yellow line that runs along the subway platform， waiting for the F train。 I didn’t know it was you until it was too late， and then you were gone。 Again。 You said my name; I saw it on your lips。 I tried to will the train to stop， just so I could say hello。
After seeing you， all of the youthful feelings and memories came flooding back to me， and now I’ve spent the better part of a month wondering what your life is like。 I might be totally out of my mind， but would you like to get a drink with me and catch up on the last decade and a half？
M
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years after they were separated in New York City。
Reviews
pat
，
WAAAAAH IT'S SO GOOD！ I just。。。 Fell in love reading this book~ Matt and Grace went through a lot but eventually， fate made them come back to each other's arms。 It's been very long time that this masterpiece has been in my tbr， I'm glad that this book has been part of my 2022 reads。 Kudos to the writer~🙇🏻♀️💕 WAAAAAH IT'S SO GOOD！ I just。。。 Fell in love reading this book~ Matt and Grace went through a lot but eventually， fate made them come back to each other's arms。 It's been very long time that this masterpiece has been in my tbr， I'm glad that this book has been part of my 2022 reads。 Kudos to the writer~🙇🏻♀️💕 。。。more
ash
，
“My life wasn’t real without you。 It was just a series of days all strung together by a bunch of regrets。” i’ve been trying to think of what words to say about this book but i’m struggling。 i wish i could take away the pain that grace and matt went through and return all the years that were lost :（（（（ i read it in 5 hours， my heart couldn’t put it down。 you could feel the chemistry that these 2 had， i refuse to believe they don’t exist irl somewhere。 also the NYC atmosphere was so comfy n warm i “My life wasn’t real without you。 It was just a series of days all strung together by a bunch of regrets。” i’ve been trying to think of what words to say about this book but i’m struggling。 i wish i could take away the pain that grace and matt went through and return all the years that were lost :（（（（ i read it in 5 hours， my heart couldn’t put it down。 you could feel the chemistry that these 2 had， i refuse to believe they don’t exist irl somewhere。 also the NYC atmosphere was so comfy n warm i want to live in this book and be besties with my girl ash plz n ty 。。。more
Sam Kennedy
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 omg talk about missed connections and second chance romance。 i was heartbroken halfway through cause they slipped away from each other。 i could barely handle the EXTREME plot twist 3/4 of the way in。 this is so well done and i was never bored like i usually am with second chance lovers。 10/10
Crystal
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5⭐️Everything about this book was a masterpiece， and I cried lmao haLLELUJAH 😭😭❤️❤️
Maichoua Vang
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Cute story， cute relationship。 And that’s it。 😅
Cally
，
4。5。 I loved this one。 It was somewhat of a slow burn but the last 100 were so happy and heartbreaking。
Jules
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This book y’all CRACK， absolute crack🫶🏼 from the moment they both saw each other in the subway and Matt chasing the train after Gracie， after 15 years I knew I was gonna be obsessed， and I was right :） the different “movements” to show the whole story of them in college to them as adults 💗 this is definitely being added to my favorite reads of the year！ I’m DEFINITELY reading more from Renee Carlino cause her writing HELLO is amazing！ 🤭
ines
，
3。8 ⭐️
Linnea Bonander
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I did not like the plot at all and it ruined the book for me tbh。 A few things didn't add up。 I did like the writing though but I hated the plot enough for it to be impossible for me to give it anything else than a 1/5 star。 I did not like the plot at all and it ruined the book for me tbh。 A few things didn't add up。 I did like the writing though but I hated the plot enough for it to be impossible for me to give it anything else than a 1/5 star。 。。。more
Jess O
，
4。5 rounded down
Audrey
，
Spoilers - But I would read this review to save you from this god forsaken book！！okay I thought at first I can see why people would like this book。 I’ve changed my mind because what the actual f is this。 I really like Matt in the beginning but his personality took a complete 180😃The beginning started off so strong。 He saw his old college girlfriend on a train but it took off before he could say anything so he goes on to rethink his choices that led him to his present life。 Their relationship was Spoilers - But I would read this review to save you from this god forsaken book！！okay I thought at first I can see why people would like this book。 I’ve changed my mind because what the actual f is this。 I really like Matt in the beginning but his personality took a complete 180😃The beginning started off so strong。 He saw his old college girlfriend on a train but it took off before he could say anything so he goes on to rethink his choices that led him to his present life。 Their relationship was very odd。 They were basically together but just “friends。” Also she got mad at Matt for going to the dark room because she heard a rumor that it was basically people just getting drunk and hooking up。 So she goes to dinner with her PROFESSOR。 idk very much a grey area there。 But it gets worse when she comes back he is taking body shots off of a girls tits。 Yeah。😐So to get back at him she goes to hook up with another guy。 Did I mention she is a virgin and in the beginning she was making such a big deal how she wanted it to be special。 Idk girl something just ain’t adding up。 Matt comes and stops her but it’s completely blown over like all the unnecessary conflict in this book。 ALSO I would like to address that when she asked him if he would stay （cause he was leaving to Africa） HE GOT SO MAD AND FOR WHAT。 “He bent over and gripped my face hard， glaring into my eyes。 “Fucking Christ， Grace this isn’t a goodbye”” there is more but omg when he’s abusive🥰😐He’s such an asshole and I’m getting tired of typing this out but one last thing。 The fact that he was mad at the MOTHER OF HIS CHILD when it was his EX-WIFES fault that he didn’t know he had a kid。 AND IT WAS JUST BLOWN OVER HE DIDNT TELL THE EX WIFE OFF。 OH AND ANOTHER THING HIS BROTHER I SHIT YOU NOT IS SUCH A STUCK UP ASSHOLE AND HE MADE A BET WITH TATI HOW THEY WOULD GET MARRIED FIRST AND HIS FIRST THOUGHT WAS “I need to get her drunker” BITCH WHATThe only good thing out of this book is Matt’s mom Sorry this review is all over the place but whatever I don’t know how I read the whole thing😐 。。。more
Lauren Atcheson
，
4。75 only because this one particular section really annoyed me
Judi Catherwood
，
3 1/2
Ava Kirchmer
，
I’m obsessed。 I’m telling you， non linear plots are the best。 Also， matt 🥰 a little plot twist in there。 Very predictable and very easy read。 Loved every second。
Savithmi ✨
，
“You’re my first muse， Grace。”
Christina
，
one thing about me is that i will eat up friends to lovers， second chance romance books any time any day ！！！！！！！ there were a lot of beautiful quotes in this book that made me want to rip my hair out。 boys like matt don't exist in real life 🥲 this would be a 5 star read for me but i found the ending a little rushed and the overall story quite fast paced。 on the bright side， it made me get over my reading slump and i found myself thinking about it when i wasn't reading it。 also made me sad bc WHE one thing about me is that i will eat up friends to lovers， second chance romance books any time any day ！！！！！！！ there were a lot of beautiful quotes in this book that made me want to rip my hair out。 boys like matt don't exist in real life 🥲 this would be a 5 star read for me but i found the ending a little rushed and the overall story quite fast paced。 on the bright side， it made me get over my reading slump and i found myself thinking about it when i wasn't reading it。 also made me sad bc WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN ⁉️🤸🏻♀️🚎 。。。more
Caitlin
，
3。25 for actual rating！
seerut （taylor’s version）
，
I cried。 I AM STILL CRYING。 it was so frustratingly good😭
Allison Taylor
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Ok I know a lot of people hate this book but I personally loved it and thought it was so sooo cute！ This was the fastest I have read a book in my reading slump so thank god！ I actually really liked Matt the only thing I did not like was how hI literally blamed Grace about the child that I was annoyed about。 For me personally I loved the chemistry they had and I felt it。 The only thing I had a problem was that I wished that they didn’t see each other literally like the 3 page I wanted them to see Ok I know a lot of people hate this book but I personally loved it and thought it was so sooo cute！ This was the fastest I have read a book in my reading slump so thank god！ I actually really liked Matt the only thing I did not like was how hI literally blamed Grace about the child that I was annoyed about。 For me personally I loved the chemistry they had and I felt it。 The only thing I had a problem was that I wished that they didn’t see each other literally like the 3 page I wanted them to see ratchet a little farther into the book I felt like it was missing this big moment like something was missing for me。I did how ever really like Grace but I just can’t stand the “I don’t see how guys like me” “I only wear lip gloss” like GURL I was getting mad at that “I’m not like the only girls” that was the only thing I didn’t like about her just annoyed me。 The ending of the together made me super happy though and I’m glad they got together I was worried that she author was going to turn this around and that the thought it was best if they just stayed as friend of some bull shit like that。Would I look recommend this yes！ 。。。more
Ariel Shalom
，
i rated this book 3。75 ⭐️ just bc the ending did feel a little rushed but the beginning and past chapters were amazing and grace and matt in college were everything。 🥰
alexislovestoread
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dnfing i’m so sorry 😭
Justess Maxwell
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 4 stars！ I really adored this book， but I did have a few issues with it。 “I feared there would be no healing us。 The scars were too deep。” This book is a second chance romance。 This book tells the story of Grace Starr， and Matt Shore。 They meet during their senior year of college of NYU。 Grace is a music major and plays the cello。 Matt is a photographer。 They instantly connect and soon their feelings develop into something more than friendship。 They fall in love but soon realize they both are go 4 stars！ I really adored this book， but I did have a few issues with it。 “I feared there would be no healing us。 The scars were too deep。” This book is a second chance romance。 This book tells the story of Grace Starr， and Matt Shore。 They meet during their senior year of college of NYU。 Grace is a music major and plays the cello。 Matt is a photographer。 They instantly connect and soon their feelings develop into something more than friendship。 They fall in love but soon realize they both are going on completely different paths。 They loose eachother along the way。 Until one day 15 years later， Matt sees Grace getting on the subway。 Graceland Marie Starr。 “She was wearing a pink flannel pajama set with Christmas trees on it。 It was May。” I love Grace so much。 She went through so much and I wish her character was further developed。 It made me sad how her parents made her send them money， and kind of relied on her。 She was such a beautiful character。 I did feel like she should’ve tried other ways to get ahold of Matt though。 Like for instance calling his mom。 I think she’s a really great mom though。 I did get annoyed because she would never say I love you back to Matt though。 Also i found it extremely wierd that she married her college professor？ I loved Grace but some things she did were questionable。 Mathias William Shore。 I really liked how he was into photography and into music。 Also I really liked how he called Grace beautiful any chance he got。 Although that’s about it。 I thought he was kind of a jerk。 This one quote really annoyed me。 “I wanted an award for the insane amount of restraint I had shown。” He wanted an award for being a decent guy？ and doing the bare minimum？ Also I found it really annoying that he married Elizabeth， knowing that he loved someone else。 I hate Elizabeth but nobody deserves that。 Also I hated how he took body shots off of that girl back when they were in college。 I thought the way he treated his mom was sweet though。 I did feel bad for how his dad and brother Alexander treated him。 As well as what happened with Monica。 I liked Matt， but he wasn’t an amazing guy。 Ash Porter。 I love Ash。 The best character in the entire book。 She has no flaws。 She is perfect。 I loved how she put together the entire scavenger hunt for her parents and how she put Matt’s photos in the museum。 I thought she was so funny and I loved how free spirited she was。 Dan Porter。 Honestly I found him pretty weird。 I thought it was nice that he bought Grace a new bow， but it was pretty obvious he was attracted to her。 He sounded like a good dad to Grace though。 Elizabeth Hunt。 I really hated her。 I found her very pathetic。 I totally understand being jealous of Grace， personally I would be too， but I wouldn’t destroy letters。 I also really hated how she took it upon herself to send Grace a letter。 Obviously Matt was still in love with Grace if he kept everything。 I would’ve never married Matt if I were her。 Tatiana: I love Tati。 I think she was an amazing bestfriend to Grace。 She was always there for her。 Also I found her really funny。Aletha。 （Matt’s Mom） I loved her so much。 She was so sweet and it makes me sad she passed away。 She deserved more。 Monica。 In the beginning I didn’t like her because of what she did to Matt， and how she treated Grace when they had dinner。 I do really like how her character improved though。 I thought it was sweet how she gave Grace the bassinet。 Overall I really liked this book。 I loved the writting style and I loved the ending， and how it was in Ash’s point of view。 The characters were flawed， but incredibly well written。 I really liked the concept of the story， and how it was written in both of thier point of views。 I loved Grace and Matt together and I’m very happy they got their happy ending。 I was so happy when I learned they had another kid。 They are really great parents。 I’m really glad they got a second chance。 Even if it was fifteen years later。 。。。more
Mariah Middleton
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4。5， i seriously loved this book。 wish the ending was longer。 🥹
Krista Kruger
，
I’m not sure words can adequately describe how much I love this book。It is a beautiful story about young love and reconnecting years later。 It’s a story about what could have been and what is possible。 It’s happy and sad。 There is lots of love and lots of heartache。It is a beautiful story。
Angel
，
I wish i read this when i was younger maybe i’ll like it more。
Filippa
，
I genuinely LOVEDD this book！！！ I loved the plot and their love story in college。 After the plot I did find some scenes a bit annoying but at the end I think it really was all worth it！❤️ this was my first time reading a Renée Carlino book and she definitely didn’t disappoint。 Favorite book of this year， and a all-time favorite！ Really enjoyed！
Breanna Abela
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Ugh loved this one。 Loved Grace and Matt。 Was so sad that she raised Ash without telling Matt。 She said she kept trying to reach him but if you wanted to find him， you would have。
Kelsey Johnson
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3。5。 Last 20% was redeeming
miranda
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 this book really made me happy AND sad because it felt so real to me like if i was actually Grace 😭 i don’t know it gave me high hopes as well。 i really like the trope also i was flabbergasted whenever matt found out about his daughter that broke my heart💔！
Valu Lantsov ࿐ྂ
，
—“La poesía es simplemente la evidencia de la vida。 Si tu vida se está viviendo bien， la poesía es sólo la ceniza。”tEnterró su rostro en mi cabello。 —Mi vida se está viviendo bien。”🦋🦋
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Before We Were Strangers
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Before We Were Strangers&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft