Book Review – Before I Met You

Lisa Jewell has a gift. She writes beautifully.

After her grandmother dies, Betty Dean leaves Guernsey for London to find Clara Pickle, the mysterious beneficiary in Arlette’s will. The novel flips between Arlette’s youth in 1920s bohemian London and Betty Dean’s adventures in Soho in the 1990s. Arlette, a stunning beauty, followed her heart, found a job, found a great love, and lost it all. She returned to Guernsey, settled down, married and never told anyone she had even lived in London.

Betty also follows her heart, finds a job, stays in a dingy apartment, and is wooed by the wrong sort of man. She is determined to find Clara, and her grandmother’s story unfolds as she pieces together the clues. Betty, who adored her grandmother, finds out how strong her grandmother was, and how important love is. Effortlessly written, and easy-to-read, Before I met you is a guaranteed good summer read.

3.5/5