From the Bookshelf of 2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge…

Before We Were Yours

Lisa Wingate

Start date: April 1, 2019

Finish date: April 30, 2019

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What Members Thought

Jun 22, 2019 Jenny Podesta rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book so much!!

This book reminded me of “Where the Crawdads Sing,” which is another five star book (IMO). I loved the characters, and the book drew me closer and closer to them. Although heartbreaking, we saw once again a story about the resilience of children.

I had no idea going into this book that it’s premise is true. While these specific characters are fiction, the story is based on a real place, a real person, and real events. I’m just mind blown.

I recommend this book to anyo ...more

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Apr 29, 2018 Ren rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, audiobooks, library-book

I enjoyed this one for the most part. There were moments I sort of tuned out, but overall, a pretty good story.

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May 25, 2019 Meera rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

This was a mixed bag for me. I read this after having read some really good historical and contemporary fiction and this just seemed average in comparison. I liked it but it wasn’t special to me. I didn’t feel emotionally connected and I found Avery somewhat annoying. I wish the synopsis hadn’t revealed so much because the chapters of the past lacked suspense. What I liked was how the story kept moving at a fast pace.

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Apr 16, 2018 Ali rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Disclaimer: I did not finish this book. I do not enjoy reading about child abuse and dare I say torture, even if it did happen and it’s a story that needs to be told. I gave it three stars for the writing.

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