This Used to be Us by Renée Carlino – 368 pages
ARC from Dial Press and Netgalley for an honest review
Book Blurb:
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 Review: 4.25 stars
This Used to be Us by Renée Carlino is such a perfectly penned romance that had me hooked from the minute I started reading it. It’s a combination of women’s fiction, coming of age and divorce that will hold you captive once you start reading.
Renée Carlino has written many novels, and this is the first one of hers I’ve read based on a recommendation from a friend. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book; it was a departure from my usual genres. The story is told in past and present with POVs switching between Dani and Alex. By using this technique to share the story we really get to know the heart of each of our main characters. The characters were flawed, faceted and memorable.
It’s really easy to spoil the twists that this book offers so I’m writing a rather short review in order to contain myself. You can see by the amount of quotes I’m including that there is plenty of meaningful dialogue. Kudo to the author and can’t wait to read more from her.
Quotes I liked:
It’s impossible for one person to be your everything.”
“Kids are not our clones. They grow and change and we have to get to know them all over again at every new juncture.”
“When you don’t have to remember things, you don’t try to.”
“Do you guys see how it all boils down to communication?
“I’m a firm believer in messing up your kids just enough to give them a sense of humor.”
“I actually really like you, which I think is just as important as loving you.”
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