Fiction, Contemporary Romance, 384 pages
Published July 9, 2024 by The Dial PressThere are two sides to every love story—and every breakup. Get ready for an emotional roller coaster of family, marriage, and divorce that will have you both laughing and crying, from the bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers.
After twenty-two years together, Danielle and Alex are getting a divorce. Once fiercely in love, they can barely stand the sound of each other’s voice. Instead of shuffling the kids between two broken homes, Alex and Danielle decide to share a nesting apartment while swapping days with their two teenage boys at the family home.
In the apartment, Dani and Alex, on their own, begin to reflect on the last two decades—why they fell in love, and why the marriage fell, spectacularly, apart. With the newfound space and time, they are given a chance to find their autonomous selves again. They both get back in the dating pool, Dani finds major success at work as a showrunner on her own TV project, while Alex faces the challenges of a new relationship.
Still, they find they just can’t stay away from each other, and somehow, the distance allows them to remember (for the first time in years) what they used to love about one another. When a family crisis draws them back into each other’s orbit, Danielle and Alex are, once again, put to the test, which leads to a dramatic conclusion that will have readers weeping.
My thoughts about This Used to Be Us ~~
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)
First lines—"'I love you," I whisper to Dani. We are lying in bed... her back is to me. I can tell by the rhythm of her breath that she's sleeping."
Oh my gosh! What did I just read? A love story that isn't a love story, with the characters fighting and snipping at each other like you wouldn't believe. Because of their kids, they want to remain civil to each other, but it isn't easy, not with all the harsh feelings and distance between them.
I have to admit, witnessing their animosity for each other was a little hard for me, maybe a little PTSD from my own life and what my parents went through, I don't know. But as much as they were in love, now they aren't. But there's something still there that can't be broken.
I devoured this story and found myself racing to the end. Prepare yourself and grab a box of tissues. Tears will fall. This is a beautiful story full of love, caring, strife, and family. I will be thinking about this family's story for a long time. I loved This Used to Be Us and highly recommend it.
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About the author
Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA Today, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly.
She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.
Connect with Renée
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