I’m delighted to welcome you today to my stop on the blog tour for the heartwarming and poignant Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton. Thank you to Anne Cater and Transworld Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this warm and moving book.
About the book:
CAN YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN?
Alice and Alfie are strangers. But they sleep next to each other every night.
Alfie Mack has been in hospital for months recovering from an accident. A new face on the ward is about as exciting as life gets for him right now, so when someone moves into the bed next to him he’s eager to make friends. But it quickly becomes clear that seeing his neighbour’s face won’t happen any time soon.
Alice Gunnersley has been badly burned and can’t even look at herself yet, let alone allow anyone else to see her. Keeping the curtain around her bed firmly closed, it doesn’t stop Alfie trying to get to know her. And gradually, as he slowly brings Alice out of her shell, might there even be potential for more?
About the author:
Emily Houghton is an ex digital specialist and full-time creative writer.
She originally comes from Essex but now lives in London. Emily is a trained yoga and spin teacher, completely obsessed with dogs and has dreamt of being an author ever since she could hold a pen.
Emily is available for written features about her experiences and learnings on topics including; dating and the vulnerability of meeting people, self-love, body confidence, processing pain and the physical emotional body connection.
My Review:
From its beautiful cover to the warm and poignant story held within its pages, Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton is a debut novel to be proud of. Although tackling the difficult subject of injury and rehabilitation, there is a lightness to the story that draws you instantly into the world of Alfie and Alice as they slowly begin to get to know each other through the curtain of the hospital cubicle that separates them.
Alice has been badly burned in an accident and still hasn’t been able to look at her own reflection yet. Unable to bring herself to speak, she is moved on to the rehabilitation ward, where she meets Alfie who occupies the bed next to her. Alfie has been in hospital for months after an accident, so a new face on the ward is an event that causes much excitement. Alice doesn’t feel ready to face the world just yet, but will the outgoing and friendly Alfie be able to draw the severely traumatised young woman out of her shell? And is it possible that Alice could be exactly what the outwardly happy go lucky young man needs in return?
Before I Saw You is a beautifully written, heartwarming book that is filled to the brim with wonderful characters and a story that’s as lighthearted and warm as it is moving and poignant. I liked the fact that there were no easy fixes in this story, something that really bothers me at times when I read books that feature illness or disability. But here Alice and Alfie’s injuries are treated with the empathy and respect they deserve, with no sugarcoating of the upward battle they both face. But that being said, Before I Saw You is also a story of love and hope, with a warm humour running throughout that never lets the story become darker than it needs to be.
Emily Houghton has written a debut novel to be proud of and I can’t wait to read more from this talented new author in the future. Before I Saw You is a beautifully written story that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. I loved it!
Before I Saw You by Emily Houghton is available to purchase now: Amazon UK
Check out what these other lovely bloggers have to say about this book:
Cal Turner Reviews 
Huge thanks for the blog tour support x
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You’re so welcome, Anne ❤️ xx
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