Before I Saw You

by Emily Houghton Narrated by Nathalie Buscombe, Daniel Ings

Overview

“A charming page-turner” (Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop) for fans of Close Enough to Touch and Me Before You about two patients who fall in love as they recover from traumatic injuries in the same hospital ward...all without seeing each other.

Alice Gunnersley and Alfie Mack sleep just a few feet apart from one another. They talk for hours every day. And they've never seen each other face-to-face.

After being in devastating accidents, the two now share the same ward as long-term residents of St. Francis's Hospital. Although they don't get off to the best start, the close quarters (and Alfie's persistence to befriend everyone he meets) brings them closer together. Pretty soon no one can make Alice laugh as hard as Alfie does, and Alfie feels like he's finally found a true confidante in Alice. Between their late night talks and inside jokes, something more than friendship begins to slowly blossom between them.

But as their conditions improve and the end of their stay draws closer, Alfie and Alice are forced to decide whether it's worth continuing a relationship with someone who's seen all of the worst parts of you, but never seen your actual face.

“Equally humorous and tender, this tale of triumph over adversity is a moving celebration of the bravery it takes to show oneself to another” (Publishers Weekly).

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

03/22/2021

Houghton creates a unique meet cute in this debut contemporary romance brimming with heart. Alice Gunnersley is on top of the world, with a job she loves and a penthouse flat in London. Then disaster strikes in the form of an office fire, leading to burns on 40% of her body and landing her in the hospital. There she realizes that, having devoted all her time to her job, there’s only one person—her best friend, Sarah—whom she can call on in an emergency. Luckily, the recovery ward is home to a cast of colorful characters who barge into her life, though Alice refuses to let any of them see her, as she’s embarrassed by her burns. Alfie Mack, who’s recovering from a leg amputation and has appointed himself the ward’s Chief Entertainment Officer, is fascinated by Alice—but breaking through her walls requires that he first reckon with his own trauma. Though the story drags on a tad too long, Alfie’s enthusiasm is infectious and the romance is sweet. Equally humorous and tender, this tale of triumph over adversity is a moving celebration of the bravery it takes to show oneself to another. Agent: Jenny Bent, The Bent Agency (May)

From the Publisher

"Houghton creates a unique meet cute in this debut contemporary romance brimming with heart... Equally humorous and tender, this tale of triumph over adversity is a moving celebration of the bravery it takes to show oneself to another.”—Publishers Weekly

“Houghton makes the tough times worth it... One of the beauties of romance is how it shows the bright spots amid tough times, and Before I Saw You is a testament to why readers find this genre to be hopeful above all else.”—BookPage

A touching, humbling look at healing and learning to fully live again after trauma, readers will be hard-pressed to not fall in love with Emily Houghton’s emotional debut novel, Before I Saw You. Keep your tissues handy!”
—Harlequin Junkie

"A charming page-turner of a romance with characters I cared about enormously. I inhaled it!"—Laura Jane Williams, bestselling author of Our Stop

"Such a moving book about loving someone, both inside and out. Just lovely!"—Alice Peterson, bestselling author of Monday to Friday Man

"A beautiful, uplifting story with characters that made me smile on every page."—Jessica Ryn, author of The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside

"A beautifully-written, emotionally rich story about hope, love, and new beginnings."—Lynsey James, author of The Single Dad’s Handbook

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177205137
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	05/04/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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