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Before and Again
Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends―and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made―though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.
Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself―or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.
Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself―or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.
405 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2018
4126 people are currently reading
8446 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Delinsky
301 books4,341 followersI was born and raised in suburban Boston. My mother’s death, when I was eight, was the defining event of a childhood that was otherwise ordinary. I took piano lessons and flute lessons. I took ballroom dancing lessons. I went to summer camp through my fifteenth year (in Maine, which explains the setting of so many of my stories), then spent my sixteenth summer learning to type and to drive (two skills that have served me better than all of my other high school courses combined). I earned a B.A. in Psychology at Tufts University and an M.A. in Sociology at Boston College. The motivation behind the M.A. was sheer greed. My husband was just starting law school. We needed the money.
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
Following graduate school, I worked as a researcher with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and as a photographer and reporter for the Belmont Herald. I did the newspaper work after my first son was born. Since I was heavily into taking pictures of him, I worked for the paper to support that habit. Initially, I wrote only in a secondary capacity, to provide copy for the pictures I took. In time, I realized that I was better at writing than photography. I used both skills doing volunteer work for hospital groups, and have served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and on the MGH’s Women’s Cancer Advisory Board.
I became an actual writer by fluke. My twins were four when, by chance, I happened on a newspaper article profiling three female writers. Intrigued, I spent three months researching, plotting, and writing my own book - and it sold.
My niche? I write about the emotional crises that we face in our lives. Readers identify with my characters. They know them. They are them. I'm an everyday woman writing about everyday people facing not-so-everyday challenges.
My novels are character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling rivalry, and friendship, and I’ve been blessed in having readers who buy them eagerly enough to put them on the major bestseller lists. One of my latest, Sweet Salt Air, came out in 2013. Blueprints, my second novel with St. Martin’s Press, became my 22nd New York Times bestselling novel soon after its release in June 2015. Making Up, my work in progress, will be published in 2018.
2018? Yikes. I didn’t think I’d live that long. I thought I’d die of breast cancer back in the 1900's, like my mom. But I didn’t. I was diagnosed nearly twenty years ago, had surgery and treatment, and here I am, stronger than ever and loving having authored yet another book, this one the non-fiction Uplift: Secrets From the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors. First published in 2001, Uplift is a handbook of practical tips and upbeat anecdotes that I compiled with the help of 350 breast cancer survivors, their families and friends. These survivors just ... blew me away! They gave me the book that I wish I’d had way back when I was diagnosed. There is no medical information here, nothing frightening, simply practical advice from friends who’ve had breast cancer. The 10th Anniversary Volume of Uplift is now in print. And the money I’ve made on the book? Every cent has gone to my charitable foundation, which funds an ongoing research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Connect with me on Facebook: facebook.com/bdelinsky
Look for my photos on Instagram: instagram.com/barbaradelinsky
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,401 reviews
June 27, 2018
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4.5 Stars!!!
I’ve enjoyed quite a few novels written by Barbara Delinsky and as soon as I read the description for “ Before and Again ”, I knew I had to read it. I’m thrilled to say that I really enjoyed this novel.
After a very heartbreaking beginning, I was immediately pulled into the story…
Mackenzie Cooper has a wonderful life. She is a talented artist, she has many good friends and above all, she has a wonderful husband and five-year-old daughter.
But in one moment she loses it all.
A shattered version of her former self, Mackenzie, now known as Maggie Reid, slowly begins to build a very different kind of life. She craves privacy and she finds it in a small town in Vermont. Four years later she lives a quiet life in her secluded little house with her beloved pets. Maggie has also found meaning in the work she now does. Helping people feel good about themselves is very healing.
“To live through trauma and thrive? That was my goal”
Though she likes to keep to herself, she has made a few good friends. She's become especially close with a co-worker, Grace. Grace also likes the privacy the town provides. By an unspoken rule, they don’t discuss the past….
“Our friendship was about the here and now”
But everything changes when Grace suddenly needs Maggie’s help. On top of that, people from her past start turning up; disrupting the life she has made for herself. There are three things Maggie avoids as much as possible “law offices, police stations, and the press – and now here they all were”
Will Maggie help her friend? Even if it means that her own anonymity may be threatened?
This was such a great read! The story was engaging and I thought the characters were wonderfully fleshed out. I loved Maggie along with many of the other characters, their stories captured my heart. Even the characters with smaller parts were intriguing.
“When you lose the most precious thing in your life, how do you go on?”
The story shows that no matter how old we, we continue to learn from all of our experiences… including trauma. We may try to keep things locked up in a box (real or imagined) but eventually, we will likely need to go through that box to confront things that may be painful to think about.
I love how Barbara Delinsky tells a story. The story was very emotional at times. However, this well-written novel also had many humorous moments that kept things from being too heavy for too long. “Before and Again” is a touching story about loss, grief, blame, love, and forgiveness.
This was a fantastic read that I won’t soon forget.
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars!!!
I’ve enjoyed quite a few novels written by Barbara Delinsky and as soon as I read the description for “ Before and Again ”, I knew I had to read it. I’m thrilled to say that I really enjoyed this novel.
After a very heartbreaking beginning, I was immediately pulled into the story…
Mackenzie Cooper has a wonderful life. She is a talented artist, she has many good friends and above all, she has a wonderful husband and five-year-old daughter.
But in one moment she loses it all.
A shattered version of her former self, Mackenzie, now known as Maggie Reid, slowly begins to build a very different kind of life. She craves privacy and she finds it in a small town in Vermont. Four years later she lives a quiet life in her secluded little house with her beloved pets. Maggie has also found meaning in the work she now does. Helping people feel good about themselves is very healing.
“To live through trauma and thrive? That was my goal”
Though she likes to keep to herself, she has made a few good friends. She's become especially close with a co-worker, Grace. Grace also likes the privacy the town provides. By an unspoken rule, they don’t discuss the past….
“Our friendship was about the here and now”
But everything changes when Grace suddenly needs Maggie’s help. On top of that, people from her past start turning up; disrupting the life she has made for herself. There are three things Maggie avoids as much as possible “law offices, police stations, and the press – and now here they all were”
Will Maggie help her friend? Even if it means that her own anonymity may be threatened?
This was such a great read! The story was engaging and I thought the characters were wonderfully fleshed out. I loved Maggie along with many of the other characters, their stories captured my heart. Even the characters with smaller parts were intriguing.
“When you lose the most precious thing in your life, how do you go on?”
The story shows that no matter how old we, we continue to learn from all of our experiences… including trauma. We may try to keep things locked up in a box (real or imagined) but eventually, we will likely need to go through that box to confront things that may be painful to think about.
I love how Barbara Delinsky tells a story. The story was very emotional at times. However, this well-written novel also had many humorous moments that kept things from being too heavy for too long. “Before and Again” is a touching story about loss, grief, blame, love, and forgiveness.
This was a fantastic read that I won’t soon forget.
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 28, 2018
I was blown away by this book. No really, I was assuming this would be your run-of-the-mill, standard type of women's fiction, but it was so much more. This was a character driven study involving detrimental loss and how to rebuild yourself after making a fatal mistake. I found myself floundering about in a wide variety of emotions, and for a novel that isn't intended to be plot driven, it has multiple twists and turns to keep the 400+ pages feeling like a breeze to flip through. So many important themes and issues are touched on, and I love how the cover captures the aspect of Maggie using her talents to cover other's scars while battling her own that are invisible to those who don't know her previous life story. Highly recommended to those looking for a summer read that is anything but light and fluffy. I dare you to not be moved by this novel.
*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
September 18, 2018
FULL REVIEW UP!
This is disappointing. Another review where I don't have much to say. There wasn't anything wrong with the story, per se. But like the movie, "I'm Just Not That Into You"..
Devon is a place where you can go to escape your past. And that's exactly what Maggie did.. until her ex-husband came knocking on her door.
Doesn't that seem like a nice, fat, juicy plot? Well, it does, or did to me! However, it took way too long for the story to get going. When it finally did, I had complete ambivalence to what happened next. There was too much "Blah, blah, blah" and not enough inital plot development. I just wanted the book to end.
I've read novels by Barbara Delinsky and I think she's a talented writer. Unfortunately, this one didn't cut it for me. Onward and Upwards my friends!
This is disappointing. Another review where I don't have much to say. There wasn't anything wrong with the story, per se. But like the movie, "I'm Just Not That Into You"..
Devon is a place where you can go to escape your past. And that's exactly what Maggie did.. until her ex-husband came knocking on her door.
Doesn't that seem like a nice, fat, juicy plot? Well, it does, or did to me! However, it took way too long for the story to get going. When it finally did, I had complete ambivalence to what happened next. There was too much "Blah, blah, blah" and not enough inital plot development. I just wanted the book to end.
I've read novels by Barbara Delinsky and I think she's a talented writer. Unfortunately, this one didn't cut it for me. Onward and Upwards my friends!
July 23, 2018
4.5 Stars* (rounded down)
Have you ever read a book that just stays with you? The more you think about it, the better it gets? Such is the case with Barbara Delinsky’s “Before and Again.”
It is the story of love, loss and most of all hope and forgiveness.
One day Mackenzie Cooper is driving her daughter Lily to a playdate when tragedy strikes. A car accident. Mackenzie survives, Lily does not. Before the accident, Mackenzie was happily married to Edward. Now she is not.
Years later, living in a small town called Devon in Vermont, Mackenzie Cooper has put the past behind her - she is now a single makeup artist and goes by the name Maggie Reed. She believes that her secrets are safe, until two things happen: 1) Her ex-husband Edward, arrives in town after having purchased the Inn and Spa where she works; and 2) her best friend Grace’s son, Chris, gets arrested for hacking and Maggie’s friendship with a known felon could have an effect on her own probationary status. Both of these things put her in a tizzy if you know what I mean! Her feelings for Edward are unresolved. They always have been. Now, she has no choice but to deal with them. When Maggie rebuilt her life, the only thing that kept her afloat were her friends. Now she must show her loyalty to them, even it if costs her.
It is been years since I’ve read a Barbara Delinksy novel, perhaps because the genre isn’t one I read much of anymore. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. The characters are rich, extremely well developed and full of heart. The character of Maggie stayed with me for days. I still feel her angst, her heartbreak and her need for love and peace. Maggie and Edward’s relationship seemed very real and that is what drew me to this story. Ms. Delinsky made me wonder why I stopped reading her novels and that my friends is a wondrous feat!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the fabulous Barbara Delinsky for a complimentary copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for reminding me what I have been missing!
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 7.23.18.
Have you ever read a book that just stays with you? The more you think about it, the better it gets? Such is the case with Barbara Delinsky’s “Before and Again.”
It is the story of love, loss and most of all hope and forgiveness.
One day Mackenzie Cooper is driving her daughter Lily to a playdate when tragedy strikes. A car accident. Mackenzie survives, Lily does not. Before the accident, Mackenzie was happily married to Edward. Now she is not.
Years later, living in a small town called Devon in Vermont, Mackenzie Cooper has put the past behind her - she is now a single makeup artist and goes by the name Maggie Reed. She believes that her secrets are safe, until two things happen: 1) Her ex-husband Edward, arrives in town after having purchased the Inn and Spa where she works; and 2) her best friend Grace’s son, Chris, gets arrested for hacking and Maggie’s friendship with a known felon could have an effect on her own probationary status. Both of these things put her in a tizzy if you know what I mean! Her feelings for Edward are unresolved. They always have been. Now, she has no choice but to deal with them. When Maggie rebuilt her life, the only thing that kept her afloat were her friends. Now she must show her loyalty to them, even it if costs her.
It is been years since I’ve read a Barbara Delinksy novel, perhaps because the genre isn’t one I read much of anymore. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. The characters are rich, extremely well developed and full of heart. The character of Maggie stayed with me for days. I still feel her angst, her heartbreak and her need for love and peace. Maggie and Edward’s relationship seemed very real and that is what drew me to this story. Ms. Delinsky made me wonder why I stopped reading her novels and that my friends is a wondrous feat!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the fabulous Barbara Delinsky for a complimentary copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for reminding me what I have been missing!
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon on 7.23.18.
April 13, 2018
This women’s fiction novel starts with a tragic accident in which Mackenzie Cooper is fiddling with her GPS and misses a stop sign. The truck that runs into them kills her five-year-old daughter. The DA wants to make an example out of Mackenzie, so as if losing her only child wasn’t enough, her face is splashed over national news. The grief and stress of the spotlight leads to divorce and renders her unable to sculpt with clay.
Mackenzie starts going by a derivative of her first name, Maggie, and her maiden name and hides out in a small town in Devon, Vermont, where the only person who knows her secret is another artist who has a secret himself. Maggie now makes things like teapots out of clay in the morning and does people’s makeup at a spa in the afternoon. Sometimes she’s helping brides feel beautiful on their wedding day, sometimes she’s helping burn victims cover their scars.
When her best friend’s son is thrust into the spotlight for computer hacking a famous journalist’s social media account, Maggie’s secret and other people’s secrets are uncovered bit by bit. For a character-driven novel, this book had a nice amount of twists and turns you don’t see coming.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
Mackenzie starts going by a derivative of her first name, Maggie, and her maiden name and hides out in a small town in Devon, Vermont, where the only person who knows her secret is another artist who has a secret himself. Maggie now makes things like teapots out of clay in the morning and does people’s makeup at a spa in the afternoon. Sometimes she’s helping brides feel beautiful on their wedding day, sometimes she’s helping burn victims cover their scars.
When her best friend’s son is thrust into the spotlight for computer hacking a famous journalist’s social media account, Maggie’s secret and other people’s secrets are uncovered bit by bit. For a character-driven novel, this book had a nice amount of twists and turns you don’t see coming.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.
For more reviews, please visit http://www.theresaalan.net/blog
June 7, 2018
Mackenzie Cooper and her husband led a luxurious, charmed life until she took her eyes off the road, which resulted in a vehicle accident that killed both her 5 year old daughter Lily, and the speeding driver of the other vehicle. She lost her marriage, family, and friends and endured non stop media coverage and was sentenced to 5 years probation. Mack then remade herself in the small town of Devon, where she went by the name of Maggie and nobody knew her past.
Flash forward 5 years and Maggie is happy with her 2 cats, dog, little cabin, and her job as a makeup artist at a fancy Inn. Then her ex-husband makes his entrance at the same time Maggie is thrown back in the spotlight due to a hacking incident by a friend's son and serious problems of that friend. All the while, Maggie is still dealing with the guilt of the accident, the grief of losing her daughter, marriage and relationship with family, and wondering if she can ever get past her past. With her ex-husband's arrival as the new manager of the inn and Maggie is thrown into a headspin of worry, shock, and dismay, Her carefully arranged new life is falling apart. Her ex husband wants to be with Maggie again while Maggie can't even imagine such a thing, due to her ever present feelings of guilt. I enjoyed every chapter of this book despite having no question in my mind about how it was going to end.
There was never really any tension in the book, other than that imposed by Maggie's refusal to forgive herself for the accident. That refusal led Maggie to think she could never do something that would really make her happy thus she was unwillingness to consider getting back with her husband, even though it was obvious they were made for each other and should never have divorced. The problems of her friend and friend's son, really took a back seat to Maggie's relationship with her ex, other than to be a way to add media exposure to her new life and put her probation into jeopardy for consorting with a suspected felon.
Much of the drama was due to Maggie's over thinking and self flagellation which could be tedious at times, Still, I enjoyed the book, and the characters of her ex husband and mother. This book is all about forgiveness and learning to forgive oneself. Very much worth a mostly stress free (for the reader) read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Flash forward 5 years and Maggie is happy with her 2 cats, dog, little cabin, and her job as a makeup artist at a fancy Inn. Then her ex-husband makes his entrance at the same time Maggie is thrown back in the spotlight due to a hacking incident by a friend's son and serious problems of that friend. All the while, Maggie is still dealing with the guilt of the accident, the grief of losing her daughter, marriage and relationship with family, and wondering if she can ever get past her past. With her ex-husband's arrival as the new manager of the inn and Maggie is thrown into a headspin of worry, shock, and dismay, Her carefully arranged new life is falling apart. Her ex husband wants to be with Maggie again while Maggie can't even imagine such a thing, due to her ever present feelings of guilt. I enjoyed every chapter of this book despite having no question in my mind about how it was going to end.
There was never really any tension in the book, other than that imposed by Maggie's refusal to forgive herself for the accident. That refusal led Maggie to think she could never do something that would really make her happy thus she was unwillingness to consider getting back with her husband, even though it was obvious they were made for each other and should never have divorced. The problems of her friend and friend's son, really took a back seat to Maggie's relationship with her ex, other than to be a way to add media exposure to her new life and put her probation into jeopardy for consorting with a suspected felon.
Much of the drama was due to Maggie's over thinking and self flagellation which could be tedious at times, Still, I enjoyed the book, and the characters of her ex husband and mother. This book is all about forgiveness and learning to forgive oneself. Very much worth a mostly stress free (for the reader) read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
May 27, 2018
One afternoon Mackenzie Cooper was driving her five year old daughter to a playdate when the unthinkable happened. Mackenzie had been glancing down at the GPS trying to find the home of her daughter's friend when she accidentally runs a stop sign and a truck crashes into them. As if losing her daughter wasn't punishment enough Mackenzie ends up splashed all over the media to be made an example.
Now on probation Mackenzie has changed her name to Maggie Reid and moved to Vermont to try to put her life back together. Losing her daughter, her marriage and friends Maggie takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist and the few new friends she's made. When one of her friend's son is accused of a crime Maggie risks breaking her probation to stand by her side knowing what the media attention can do to someone.
Before and Again is honestly one of those books that I know it's not a bad book at all but it's just not a me book. This was my second book I've read by Barbara Delinsky and I really expected to enjoy it but this one was just so slow it could barely hold my attention and turned into a struggle to read.
When the story joins Maggie in her current life it seemed that way too much time was spent describing and drawing out things that didn't progress the story. For example applying make up step by step by step. So while the idea of finding one's self in the aftermath of such a horrible tragedy seemed appealing the book just moved too slowly for my taste.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Now on probation Mackenzie has changed her name to Maggie Reid and moved to Vermont to try to put her life back together. Losing her daughter, her marriage and friends Maggie takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist and the few new friends she's made. When one of her friend's son is accused of a crime Maggie risks breaking her probation to stand by her side knowing what the media attention can do to someone.
Before and Again is honestly one of those books that I know it's not a bad book at all but it's just not a me book. This was my second book I've read by Barbara Delinsky and I really expected to enjoy it but this one was just so slow it could barely hold my attention and turned into a struggle to read.
When the story joins Maggie in her current life it seemed that way too much time was spent describing and drawing out things that didn't progress the story. For example applying make up step by step by step. So while the idea of finding one's self in the aftermath of such a horrible tragedy seemed appealing the book just moved too slowly for my taste.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 24, 2018
Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I've had this book since December, but intended to read it close to its June publication date. During all this time I've read early reviews lamenting that it doesn't measure up to author Barbara Delinsky's previous stellar offerings. I've never read any of Ms. Delinsky's other books, but this was indeed a lukewarm read.
Mackenzie Cooper was driving her 5-year old daughter Lily to a playdate when she was involved in a fatal accident. It took the life of her daughter and that of the other driver. The resultant legalities found Mackenzie on probation and her marriage in tatters. She bravely created a new persona and moved away to Devon, Vermont. Now living life as Maggie Reid, she relishes the peaceful surroundings and scents of the upscale spa where she works as a makeup artist and hairdresser. She also finds peace and comfort working with clay in a pottery studio. She lives alone in a quaint cabin along with her two cats and a dog. Mackenzie's made a nice new life for herself, but the circumstances involving the loss of her child is a pain that always ripples below the surface.
Now divorced several years, Mackenzie is also estranged from her mother. With only a few months to go until her probation ends, Mackenzie hopes things go as simply as they have been since moving to Devon. But, when friend Grace gets the fateful phone call that her son is accused of computer hacking, Mackenzie fears it could adversely affect her probation status. Then the shock of the new owner of the spa threatens to expose Mackenzie's true identity and make life much more complicated.
I rated this book 3 stars because I found some of the dialogue and passages in the book mediocre and boring. This book could have been edited down more. It was a good read, but not a great one.
I've had this book since December, but intended to read it close to its June publication date. During all this time I've read early reviews lamenting that it doesn't measure up to author Barbara Delinsky's previous stellar offerings. I've never read any of Ms. Delinsky's other books, but this was indeed a lukewarm read.
Mackenzie Cooper was driving her 5-year old daughter Lily to a playdate when she was involved in a fatal accident. It took the life of her daughter and that of the other driver. The resultant legalities found Mackenzie on probation and her marriage in tatters. She bravely created a new persona and moved away to Devon, Vermont. Now living life as Maggie Reid, she relishes the peaceful surroundings and scents of the upscale spa where she works as a makeup artist and hairdresser. She also finds peace and comfort working with clay in a pottery studio. She lives alone in a quaint cabin along with her two cats and a dog. Mackenzie's made a nice new life for herself, but the circumstances involving the loss of her child is a pain that always ripples below the surface.
Now divorced several years, Mackenzie is also estranged from her mother. With only a few months to go until her probation ends, Mackenzie hopes things go as simply as they have been since moving to Devon. But, when friend Grace gets the fateful phone call that her son is accused of computer hacking, Mackenzie fears it could adversely affect her probation status. Then the shock of the new owner of the spa threatens to expose Mackenzie's true identity and make life much more complicated.
I rated this book 3 stars because I found some of the dialogue and passages in the book mediocre and boring. This book could have been edited down more. It was a good read, but not a great one.
June 26, 2018
A gripping and emotional tale of one woman’s heartbreak, recovery and self-realization.
SUMMARY
MacKenzie Cooper was using her phone’s GPS, desperately trying to find the home of her five-year-old daughter’s friend. It was a narrow, dark and wooded road. She looked at her phone again for just a second. She didn’t see the stop sign, it blended with the fall foliage. A large van hit her hard. The accident killed her daughter, and the aftermath destroyed her relationship with her husband, family and friends. To escape the unrelenting pressure, she changed her name to Maggie Reid and moved to Devon, Vermont. There, she built a new life, made new friends and now has a job working as a make-artist at the local spa. She particularly loves helping clients hide visible signs of injuries and illness. She enjoys anonymity in the town, and her goal is to stay under the radar and make it though her remaining months of probation. But many people in this quaint town have stories of their own. When a friend’s teenage son is arrested for hacking a journalist’s computer and the national media turn their spotlight on the Devon, Maggie struggles with whether to become involved. She know better than most, the importance of friendships during trying times. But she also knows that if she becomes involved, her heartbreaking past will be revealed.
REVIEW
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. We hear it all the time. But for Maggie it really happened. It was an accident, but her world turned upside down. Her daughter died, her husband divorced her, her parents would not speak to her and her friends abandoned her. There is so much emotional pain at the start of this book that you are immediately drawn in and captured by the story. The story was in a word: masterful. It takes you from agonizing heartbreak and grief, down a road of carefully constructed recovery, toward a decision of life altering consequences. The writing is engaging and easy to read. You are easily transported to Devon, Vermont though vivid descriptions of the cold weather, the local shops and restaurants, and the encircling woods. The cast of characters are diverse and perfect and their underlying stories are entertaining. This 416 page book is easily devoured in no time, because once you start you can’t put it down. BARBARA DELINSKY, the best at strong women characters, writes about everyday people facing major challenges. She has written over 22 bestsellers and BEFORE and AGAIN is sure to be another. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher St. Martin’s Press.
Publication Date June 26, 2018.
Check out more reviews at www.bluestockingreviews.com
SUMMARY
MacKenzie Cooper was using her phone’s GPS, desperately trying to find the home of her five-year-old daughter’s friend. It was a narrow, dark and wooded road. She looked at her phone again for just a second. She didn’t see the stop sign, it blended with the fall foliage. A large van hit her hard. The accident killed her daughter, and the aftermath destroyed her relationship with her husband, family and friends. To escape the unrelenting pressure, she changed her name to Maggie Reid and moved to Devon, Vermont. There, she built a new life, made new friends and now has a job working as a make-artist at the local spa. She particularly loves helping clients hide visible signs of injuries and illness. She enjoys anonymity in the town, and her goal is to stay under the radar and make it though her remaining months of probation. But many people in this quaint town have stories of their own. When a friend’s teenage son is arrested for hacking a journalist’s computer and the national media turn their spotlight on the Devon, Maggie struggles with whether to become involved. She know better than most, the importance of friendships during trying times. But she also knows that if she becomes involved, her heartbreaking past will be revealed.
REVIEW
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. We hear it all the time. But for Maggie it really happened. It was an accident, but her world turned upside down. Her daughter died, her husband divorced her, her parents would not speak to her and her friends abandoned her. There is so much emotional pain at the start of this book that you are immediately drawn in and captured by the story. The story was in a word: masterful. It takes you from agonizing heartbreak and grief, down a road of carefully constructed recovery, toward a decision of life altering consequences. The writing is engaging and easy to read. You are easily transported to Devon, Vermont though vivid descriptions of the cold weather, the local shops and restaurants, and the encircling woods. The cast of characters are diverse and perfect and their underlying stories are entertaining. This 416 page book is easily devoured in no time, because once you start you can’t put it down. BARBARA DELINSKY, the best at strong women characters, writes about everyday people facing major challenges. She has written over 22 bestsellers and BEFORE and AGAIN is sure to be another. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher St. Martin’s Press.
Publication Date June 26, 2018.
Check out more reviews at www.bluestockingreviews.com
May 7, 2018
Heartwarming, poignant, and sweet!
Before and Again is a heartfelt, entertaining story about accepting the things you can’t change, letting go of the past, forgiving one’s self, surviving, taking chances, and moving on.
The writing is fluid and well turned. The characters are flawed, supportive, lovable, and real. And the plot is an emotional, engaging tale with a side of mystery that’s full of heartache, loss, grief, guilt, hope, friendship, relationship dynamics, family drama, romance, and second-chance love.
Before and Again, overall, is another beautiful, uplifting tale by Delinsky that ultimately reminds us that life is truly previous and even with the ups and downs, highs and lows, it’s definitely meant to be lived.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
Before and Again is a heartfelt, entertaining story about accepting the things you can’t change, letting go of the past, forgiving one’s self, surviving, taking chances, and moving on.
The writing is fluid and well turned. The characters are flawed, supportive, lovable, and real. And the plot is an emotional, engaging tale with a side of mystery that’s full of heartache, loss, grief, guilt, hope, friendship, relationship dynamics, family drama, romance, and second-chance love.
Before and Again, overall, is another beautiful, uplifting tale by Delinsky that ultimately reminds us that life is truly previous and even with the ups and downs, highs and lows, it’s definitely meant to be lived.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
June 28, 2018
These things can't be happening to me can they?
Maggie is a good person but still hasn’t healed from the emotional scars from the death of her daughter or the divorce from her husband.
Maggie moved away to make herself anonymous after the accident and hadn't seen her husband for four years. He now shows up in the new town she has moved to, but why?
Another problem besides her ex-husband then surfaces. Maggie is still on probation because of the automobile accident and is not to associate with other felons, but a criminal incident occurs that makes Maggie think about being there for her friend instead of thinking of herself. Her probation officer thinks differently.
We follow Maggie as she deals with her struggles and as she goes about her days as a makeup artist and an artist that works with clay. I definitely would want to go to the spa where Maggie works and be pampered.
All of the issues that were addressed and dealt with by Maggie were frightening, but handled well by her. The personal issues were more difficult, and the criminal issue addresses current problems that could occur with the digital world we live in.
Most of the characters are ones you would want to connect with.
Maggie was someone who had a heart and was a hard worker.
Kevin was a terrific friend and confidante.
Grace was a bit flighty.
Maggie’s husband Edward was someone who turned out to be great.
Maggie's mother was a strong woman.
Maggie’s brother Liam was a brother.
Ms. Delinsky's beautiful, pull-you-in writing style kept me reading as always.
I haven’t read a book by Ms. Delinsky for a few years, and it was a pleasure to re-connect with her marvelous style and terrific story lines.
BEFORE AND AGAIN always had some warmth coming from somewhere whether it was a character or situation.
This book deals with friendships, healing, emotional pain, and choices.
BEFORE AND AGAIN had some difficult situations, but the ending is heartwarming, very satisfying, and marvelous. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 29, 2018
This is my 10th Barbara Delinsky read and certainly not one of my favorites. Before and Again showcases what Delinsky does best which is contemporary family drama. In this story, readers are introduced to Mackenzie( Maggie Reid) Cooper trying to live her life anew in a small town that doesn't know her difficult past. What should have been an emotional rollercoaster was just an o.k read in my eyes. Although I realize that the character was in pain, I felt her really difficult to connect to and just didn't like how she treated everyone in the story. While I will still be looking forward to another story by this author, it's not a book that I overly enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2018
Before and Again
is the first novel of Barbara Delinsky that I've got to read, thanks to the publisher for providing a reading copy of the book. Maggie's traumatic past and on how she tries to handle her new life is an engrossing story, however, there are some parts that I found too slow or a bit boring to read. Perhaps those portions could have been omitted without making a big difference in the flow of the story.
Maggie's story will touch readers in some way, and it is also another great novel about loss, grief, friendship, moving forward and forgiveness. Several people could be able to connect with Maggie particularly on the aspects of loss and grief. Lastly, there are a handful of remarkable quotes that I think are really relatable such as,
Maggie's story will touch readers in some way, and it is also another great novel about loss, grief, friendship, moving forward and forgiveness. Several people could be able to connect with Maggie particularly on the aspects of loss and grief. Lastly, there are a handful of remarkable quotes that I think are really relatable such as,
"Parents can be narrow-minded when it comes to the dreams they have for their kids."
July 5, 2018
Driving her five-year-old daughter to a playdate, Mackenzie Cooper's life changes in a moment when she takes her eyes off the road to check her phone's GPS. In that second, she runs a stop sign, and as a result, the other driver and Lily are dead. In the aftermath, Mackenzie finds herself divorced, estranged from her mother and brother, on probation, and moving away from her friends and former life. She reinvents herself in the town of Devon, Vermont, now known as Maggie Reid. There, she does makeup for clients at the Devon Inn and Spa, while living alone in a remote cabin with her pets. Maggie has managed to build a new life for herself in Devon, where no one knows about her life as Mackenzie--plus, she likes her job and she has friends. So when one of them, Grace, finds herself in trouble: her fifteen-year-old son, Chris, is accused of hacking some powerful journalists, Maggie stands by her. It doesn't matter if this could affect her probation or her future. And that's not even the end of the trouble: some surprises from Maggie's past are coming back to her haunt her and threaten the private, quiet life she's worked so hard to create.
So, this was a tough one. Parts of this are a heartbreaking, emotional tale. Other parts I found to be far-fetched and so incredibly slow. The novel almost has two storylines, between Maggie's attempts to find some sort of peace in Devon and then the Grace and Chris tale. For me, it was tough connecting the two, despite the fact that both Grace and Maggie were being forced to confront their pasts and the sensationalism of the media. For most of the book, the two stories run parallel without really connecting, and I found it really hard to care or empathize with Grace at all. Her entire plot is a bit over-the-top. Both she and Maggie were difficult characters--prickly, with their protective shells up.
Of course, the book is also achingly hard to read at points, as Maggie's still reeling from the loss of her daughter. As a parent, I found those parts so difficult to read. But, there was so much talking and introspection from Maggie that it felt like the novel dragged on at points. With Maggie's constant reflection and rehashing, I sometimes just wanted to shake her or move things along. (Also, the endless descriptions of how makeup application worked were far too much for me.)
Still, there were definitely moments where the plot was compelling and moved along, especially near the end. I felt for Maggie, for sure, and enjoyed pieces of this novel. But overall, I found this one slow, disjointed, and hard to get into. Oh and for some reason, being someone even mildly into football, it bothered me that Maggie's probation officer was named Michael Shanahan (a former Redskins coach, among others). When things like that start bothering you, you realize it's probably not the book for you! However, this book is pretty much well-loved by most, so please realize it may have just not been a fit for me. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
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So, this was a tough one. Parts of this are a heartbreaking, emotional tale. Other parts I found to be far-fetched and so incredibly slow. The novel almost has two storylines, between Maggie's attempts to find some sort of peace in Devon and then the Grace and Chris tale. For me, it was tough connecting the two, despite the fact that both Grace and Maggie were being forced to confront their pasts and the sensationalism of the media. For most of the book, the two stories run parallel without really connecting, and I found it really hard to care or empathize with Grace at all. Her entire plot is a bit over-the-top. Both she and Maggie were difficult characters--prickly, with their protective shells up.
Of course, the book is also achingly hard to read at points, as Maggie's still reeling from the loss of her daughter. As a parent, I found those parts so difficult to read. But, there was so much talking and introspection from Maggie that it felt like the novel dragged on at points. With Maggie's constant reflection and rehashing, I sometimes just wanted to shake her or move things along. (Also, the endless descriptions of how makeup application worked were far too much for me.)
Still, there were definitely moments where the plot was compelling and moved along, especially near the end. I felt for Maggie, for sure, and enjoyed pieces of this novel. But overall, I found this one slow, disjointed, and hard to get into. Oh and for some reason, being someone even mildly into football, it bothered me that Maggie's probation officer was named Michael Shanahan (a former Redskins coach, among others). When things like that start bothering you, you realize it's probably not the book for you! However, this book is pretty much well-loved by most, so please realize it may have just not been a fit for me. 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+ ~ Instagram
July 4, 2018
5 emotional heart breaking stars
My reviews can be found here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
A split second can change your life. A glance away can be the moment when life does change. A heart refusing to heal can end a marriage. ....and guilt filling every portion of one's body can make life an unending torture.
Mackenzie Cooper has lost everything, a beloved daughter, a husband she loved, a mother who blames her, and the ability to forgive herself. For a moment in time she took her eyes off the road and a horrible collision happened, one that took the life of her child and the life she had grown accustomed to. She feels she is a outcast in her community as friends disappear, her mother shuns her blaming Mackenzie not only for the death of her grandchild but also for the death of her husband. Mackenzie's marriage falls apart to Edward as so many marriages do after the loss of a child. How can her life continue in this place where everything is a memory and all reminds her of what use to be?
Mackenzie moves away to a small town in Vermont where she buries the past and learns to move forward on her own. She acquires good friends, a job she loves, pursues her artistic passion and while not happy seems content. Then all that changes when a friend's son does something which will probably propel Mackenzie into the world she is so afraid to find herself in once again.
This story was told with much compassion and the spirit of how we can move forward and find meaning in both the life that has been lost as well as in our own selves. It was a poignant story that showed so well what it is like to lose a child and live a life in which guilt is ever present. Ms Delinsky did a wonderful job making all of her characters so vivid and real. As Ronald Reagan said, "When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn't a word to describe them."
Thank you to Barbara Delinsky, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for making a copy of this riveting book available to me.
My reviews can be found here: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
A split second can change your life. A glance away can be the moment when life does change. A heart refusing to heal can end a marriage. ....and guilt filling every portion of one's body can make life an unending torture.
Mackenzie Cooper has lost everything, a beloved daughter, a husband she loved, a mother who blames her, and the ability to forgive herself. For a moment in time she took her eyes off the road and a horrible collision happened, one that took the life of her child and the life she had grown accustomed to. She feels she is a outcast in her community as friends disappear, her mother shuns her blaming Mackenzie not only for the death of her grandchild but also for the death of her husband. Mackenzie's marriage falls apart to Edward as so many marriages do after the loss of a child. How can her life continue in this place where everything is a memory and all reminds her of what use to be?
Mackenzie moves away to a small town in Vermont where she buries the past and learns to move forward on her own. She acquires good friends, a job she loves, pursues her artistic passion and while not happy seems content. Then all that changes when a friend's son does something which will probably propel Mackenzie into the world she is so afraid to find herself in once again.
This story was told with much compassion and the spirit of how we can move forward and find meaning in both the life that has been lost as well as in our own selves. It was a poignant story that showed so well what it is like to lose a child and live a life in which guilt is ever present. Ms Delinsky did a wonderful job making all of her characters so vivid and real. As Ronald Reagan said, "When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn't a word to describe them."
Thank you to Barbara Delinsky, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for making a copy of this riveting book available to me.
July 9, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky was a very emotional book to read and I'm not even a mother. I think anyone with kids that reads this book will experience a wide range of emotions and if you've lost a child it may hit you even harder.
Mackenzie Cooper is a woman that has lost it all - her child, her marriage, her so-called friends, and the support of her parents all in the time it took to look down at her GPS while driving. She now goes by the name Maggie Reid and works at a spa in Vermont as a makeup artist while going to a pottery studio in her spare time. When her friend Grace's son is accused of hacking into Twitter and school records, it ends up putting Maggie in a whirlwind of media attention that threatens to bring out the past she so desperately wants to hide from the people of small town Devon.
There was so much heart to this story and I teared up more than once. Maggie is dealing with so much guilt and my heart just ached for her and what happened. The book did take me a little bit to get into but once I did I found myself fully invested in the story. This isn't a book that has a ton of action per say, but the story was enough to keep me reading and I loved so many characters. The characterization in Before and Again was enough that I felt connected to a lot of the characters, especially Maggie, but not to the point where I thought I was reading a bunch of unnecessary words. The book is a bit of a long one at 405 pages in the hardcover, but I think the pages go fairly quickly.
Before and Again touches on a lot of things including what a mother will do to protect her child, the guilt experienced after losing a child and you can't forgive yourself because it's "your fault", being estranged from family, and rekindling a relationship after the loss of a child. This book packs a powerful punch of emotions in more ways than one.
Final Thought: I don't really want to talk too much about the book because I think it speaks for itself. I ended up reading the blurb again when I was about 100 pages in, but for the most part I think it is fine to go into this book blind as long as you know what the basic idea of the story is. Different people with different experiences may find this book more stressful to read than others will. Either way it is a beautifully crafted story that touches on a lot of emotional topics. I look forward to reading more from Delinsky!
Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky was a very emotional book to read and I'm not even a mother. I think anyone with kids that reads this book will experience a wide range of emotions and if you've lost a child it may hit you even harder.
Mackenzie Cooper is a woman that has lost it all - her child, her marriage, her so-called friends, and the support of her parents all in the time it took to look down at her GPS while driving. She now goes by the name Maggie Reid and works at a spa in Vermont as a makeup artist while going to a pottery studio in her spare time. When her friend Grace's son is accused of hacking into Twitter and school records, it ends up putting Maggie in a whirlwind of media attention that threatens to bring out the past she so desperately wants to hide from the people of small town Devon.
There was so much heart to this story and I teared up more than once. Maggie is dealing with so much guilt and my heart just ached for her and what happened. The book did take me a little bit to get into but once I did I found myself fully invested in the story. This isn't a book that has a ton of action per say, but the story was enough to keep me reading and I loved so many characters. The characterization in Before and Again was enough that I felt connected to a lot of the characters, especially Maggie, but not to the point where I thought I was reading a bunch of unnecessary words. The book is a bit of a long one at 405 pages in the hardcover, but I think the pages go fairly quickly.
Before and Again touches on a lot of things including what a mother will do to protect her child, the guilt experienced after losing a child and you can't forgive yourself because it's "your fault", being estranged from family, and rekindling a relationship after the loss of a child. This book packs a powerful punch of emotions in more ways than one.
Final Thought: I don't really want to talk too much about the book because I think it speaks for itself. I ended up reading the blurb again when I was about 100 pages in, but for the most part I think it is fine to go into this book blind as long as you know what the basic idea of the story is. Different people with different experiences may find this book more stressful to read than others will. Either way it is a beautifully crafted story that touches on a lot of emotional topics. I look forward to reading more from Delinsky!
March 5, 2018
Gotta rest a bit after this one.
Review coming up in a few days. Honest.
My honest review or rather my opinion.
I didn't see this coming. A soap-Opera. I don't watch em on TV. OR Soap-Opera type books
The mother ran a stop sign. Crashed - killed her daughter - convicted - divorced and so the Soap-Opera begins. She changes her name to avoid publicity and exposure and moved to a different town.
I'd tell you more but that would be a crime and a Spoiler-Alert.
Once I started reading it the more it became apparent that I had to finish the story. Had many twists and turns. Every other chapter had a new character and more suspense. So, I had to finish the 500 or so pages. The ending was not what I expected but interesting.
Think the book will come out sometime in June 2018.
Got this book at no cost to me from Goodreads.com. I needed to get that in.
I would recommend this book to those that like this sort of thing. SOAP-OPERA.
Yes, it did deserve a 4. That's my honest review and opinion.
Review coming up in a few days. Honest.
My honest review or rather my opinion.
I didn't see this coming. A soap-Opera. I don't watch em on TV. OR Soap-Opera type books
The mother ran a stop sign. Crashed - killed her daughter - convicted - divorced and so the Soap-Opera begins. She changes her name to avoid publicity and exposure and moved to a different town.
I'd tell you more but that would be a crime and a Spoiler-Alert.
Once I started reading it the more it became apparent that I had to finish the story. Had many twists and turns. Every other chapter had a new character and more suspense. So, I had to finish the 500 or so pages. The ending was not what I expected but interesting.
Think the book will come out sometime in June 2018.
Got this book at no cost to me from Goodreads.com. I needed to get that in.
I would recommend this book to those that like this sort of thing. SOAP-OPERA.
Yes, it did deserve a 4. That's my honest review and opinion.
June 24, 2018
Maggie Reid has restarted her life in picturesque Devon, Vermont. She has completely immersed herself in her new life-- doing makeup at the town Spa & Inn. Can she really leave her past behind? Especially when the present threatens to expose her.
I liked this book, but didn't love it. The characters have their own flaws (don't we all?) but I found it hard to connect fully with them. Maybe the writing was too heavy, too many words clouding the characters true selves. Maybe it was the predictable plot, or the side characters that numbered too many to keep straight. Maybe it was the confusion between makeup and pottery (pick a lane!). I think this was just too many threads to connect it all together in a good way for me. This one could be a great summer beach read. It was nice to see the rebuilding of relationships. I loved the food aspects and the descriptions of Vermont-- I mean, I'm ready to move there! The setting became its own character and it was charming and magical to delve into.
Thank you to St Martin's Press for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Greatly appreciate getting to pick up another Delinsky novel, although Sweet Salt Air is still my favorite one.
I liked this book, but didn't love it. The characters have their own flaws (don't we all?) but I found it hard to connect fully with them. Maybe the writing was too heavy, too many words clouding the characters true selves. Maybe it was the predictable plot, or the side characters that numbered too many to keep straight. Maybe it was the confusion between makeup and pottery (pick a lane!). I think this was just too many threads to connect it all together in a good way for me. This one could be a great summer beach read. It was nice to see the rebuilding of relationships. I loved the food aspects and the descriptions of Vermont-- I mean, I'm ready to move there! The setting became its own character and it was charming and magical to delve into.
Thank you to St Martin's Press for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Greatly appreciate getting to pick up another Delinsky novel, although Sweet Salt Air is still my favorite one.
July 13, 2018
4.5 Fangs
I love when a book surprises me. Before and Again was a welcome unexpected revelation for me.
In a fraction of a second, Mackenzie Cooper loses everything she cared for. Before the accident, she was a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter and an artist. After the motor vehicle accident, she's left with nothing. The collision takes the lives of two people. One of them being her small daughter. Mackenzie can't let go of the guilt and the depression that follows. Her marriage crumbles and when her husband asked for a divorce, she's ready to sign on the dotted line.
With no one to help her through her pain, she packs her things and moves to Vermont. Five years later, she is a makeup artist working at the Devon Spa. She has friends, a job she loves, three pets and a new identity as Maggie Reid.
How has she dealt with her loss?
She has suppressed all her feelings. Only through panic attacks, dreams, and nightmares, she allows herself to remember her past and the life she left behind.
She won't date and the only men in her life are her gay friend Kevin and her parole officer who has shown a personal interest in her. She does not return the affection. He might be tall and dark but only her husband has been the one to trigger something in her. To her utter dismay, her new boss is none other than her husband and the soon-to-be new restaurant's chef is her brother. Even more upsetting is when her friend Grace and her son are implicated in a federal crime. Maggie knows how devastating it is to face the police, the reporters or a trial with no one in your corner. She can't let Grace go through it alone but stepping in could ultimately affect her own freedom.
Before and Again started slowly for me. It took a few chapters to get into the action. However, once I got over the first couple of chapters, it was impossible for me to put it down. I had to stay awake until I was done with it.
Before and Again is an amazing story about unresolved grief, forgiveness, hope, and love. I fell in love with the main characters.
Mackenzie had suffered so much but she was so strong. She was able to create a new life for herself. She was able to make real friendships although, she wanted her past to remain anonymous. Despite risking her own future, she was there for Grace and her son in every way it counts.
Edward Cooper was difficult to read from the first few glimpses but then it was crystal clear why he was there. Why he bought the Devon Inn and Spa, and why he had hired his ex- brother in law, Liam. As a romantic, I was rooting for him. I was jumping up and down and waving my imaginary pompoms hoping for a happy ending.
Grace's storyline is weaved through Maggie's present in such a way that there's no way to disconnect them from each other. I wasn't sure how Barbara Delinsky was going to come to a resolution and I was worried. Thankfully, I personally love how the story unfolds. Lastly, if you want to reinvent yourself, Devon is the place to go.
One of the best parts of Before and Again was the wonderful epilogue. I could feel myself sighing with pleasure.
I can't wait to read another novel by Barbara Delinsky.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of Before and Again in exchange for an honest review.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
I love when a book surprises me. Before and Again was a welcome unexpected revelation for me.
In a fraction of a second, Mackenzie Cooper loses everything she cared for. Before the accident, she was a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter and an artist. After the motor vehicle accident, she's left with nothing. The collision takes the lives of two people. One of them being her small daughter. Mackenzie can't let go of the guilt and the depression that follows. Her marriage crumbles and when her husband asked for a divorce, she's ready to sign on the dotted line.
With no one to help her through her pain, she packs her things and moves to Vermont. Five years later, she is a makeup artist working at the Devon Spa. She has friends, a job she loves, three pets and a new identity as Maggie Reid.
How has she dealt with her loss?
She has suppressed all her feelings. Only through panic attacks, dreams, and nightmares, she allows herself to remember her past and the life she left behind.
She won't date and the only men in her life are her gay friend Kevin and her parole officer who has shown a personal interest in her. She does not return the affection. He might be tall and dark but only her husband has been the one to trigger something in her. To her utter dismay, her new boss is none other than her husband and the soon-to-be new restaurant's chef is her brother. Even more upsetting is when her friend Grace and her son are implicated in a federal crime. Maggie knows how devastating it is to face the police, the reporters or a trial with no one in your corner. She can't let Grace go through it alone but stepping in could ultimately affect her own freedom.
Before and Again started slowly for me. It took a few chapters to get into the action. However, once I got over the first couple of chapters, it was impossible for me to put it down. I had to stay awake until I was done with it.
Before and Again is an amazing story about unresolved grief, forgiveness, hope, and love. I fell in love with the main characters.
Mackenzie had suffered so much but she was so strong. She was able to create a new life for herself. She was able to make real friendships although, she wanted her past to remain anonymous. Despite risking her own future, she was there for Grace and her son in every way it counts.
Edward Cooper was difficult to read from the first few glimpses but then it was crystal clear why he was there. Why he bought the Devon Inn and Spa, and why he had hired his ex- brother in law, Liam. As a romantic, I was rooting for him. I was jumping up and down and waving my imaginary pompoms hoping for a happy ending.
Grace's storyline is weaved through Maggie's present in such a way that there's no way to disconnect them from each other. I wasn't sure how Barbara Delinsky was going to come to a resolution and I was worried. Thankfully, I personally love how the story unfolds. Lastly, if you want to reinvent yourself, Devon is the place to go.
One of the best parts of Before and Again was the wonderful epilogue. I could feel myself sighing with pleasure.
I can't wait to read another novel by Barbara Delinsky.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of Before and Again in exchange for an honest review.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
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July 17, 2018
I received a free e-copy of Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky from NetGalley for my honest review.
A powerful and heartfelt story of a woman, (Maggie) who has a happy life, wonderful home, a handsome husband (Ned) and beautiful child. In one quick moment, while driving, gets distracted and looses what is most precious to any parent. Maggie's life changed in so many ways after that day. She had to live with the guilt of the loss, her shattered marriage, and the hate and anger of her family and even her friends. My heart ached with sorrow for all Maggie went through. She starts her life over in another town where only one person knows her story. Then one day her Ex-husband and brother move into her town and she has to face all of her fears head on. Maggie's before story, although so horrifically sad, gets to have an again story which can be beautiful and wonderful if she could only forgive herself. Beautifully and powerfully written. 5 Stars.
A powerful and heartfelt story of a woman, (Maggie) who has a happy life, wonderful home, a handsome husband (Ned) and beautiful child. In one quick moment, while driving, gets distracted and looses what is most precious to any parent. Maggie's life changed in so many ways after that day. She had to live with the guilt of the loss, her shattered marriage, and the hate and anger of her family and even her friends. My heart ached with sorrow for all Maggie went through. She starts her life over in another town where only one person knows her story. Then one day her Ex-husband and brother move into her town and she has to face all of her fears head on. Maggie's before story, although so horrifically sad, gets to have an again story which can be beautiful and wonderful if she could only forgive herself. Beautifully and powerfully written. 5 Stars.
May 27, 2018
A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.
Maggie Reid, a makeup artist at the Devon Inn and Spa is rebuilding her life after a horrifying event changed her life in every way possible five years earlier. Now in Devon she’s moved past the terror of the accident and seems to be living a simple and normal life. Then one day two things happen to her that could cause her new life to completely unravel. Her best friend’s son has been charged by the FBI with hacking and Maggie’s ex husband is in town and has purchased the Inn she works at. Life is spiraling out of control and she is trying her best to hold on for dear life. However, this might be the beginning of something very good.
It was a good book- a lot of slow spots that drug on for me as a reader but overall it was a good story of hope and redemption. I love happy endings!
Maggie Reid, a makeup artist at the Devon Inn and Spa is rebuilding her life after a horrifying event changed her life in every way possible five years earlier. Now in Devon she’s moved past the terror of the accident and seems to be living a simple and normal life. Then one day two things happen to her that could cause her new life to completely unravel. Her best friend’s son has been charged by the FBI with hacking and Maggie’s ex husband is in town and has purchased the Inn she works at. Life is spiraling out of control and she is trying her best to hold on for dear life. However, this might be the beginning of something very good.
It was a good book- a lot of slow spots that drug on for me as a reader but overall it was a good story of hope and redemption. I love happy endings!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2018
Before and Again was my first Barbara Delinsky book so I really wasn’t sure what to expect, when a book is labeled as women’s fiction it’s hard to know if it’ll be on the light, funny side or if it’ll be more serious and emotional. This one definitely fell on the emotional side, though it wasn’t too heavy, more thought provoking than depressing and definitely hopeful in the end.
Maggie had one of those life changing moments when she was in an accident, her daughter passed away and her marriage crumbled. Fast forward five years and she’s finally settled into a very different life from her old one, but if she’s not exactly happy she has found a small bit of peace in Vermont. Maggie as a character was highly complex with a host of issues and traumas and Delinsky did a great job of exploring her issues in a deep way. The growth and discovery she experiences throughout the book is outstanding and I was very empathetic to her, I can’t even imagine what she went through after her accident.
Besides Maggie there is a colorful cast of supporting characters that added so much life and vitality to the story, I really enjoyed them all. This read like a family saga with plenty of drama and a vast range of emotions and it took me on my own emotional roller coaster. If a book can make me feel something I’m happy and this one made me happy, angry, reflective and sad among many others. Recommended for a book club but also for anyone looking for a women’s fiction read that has tons of emotional depth.
Evocative, Deep and Moving
Maggie had one of those life changing moments when she was in an accident, her daughter passed away and her marriage crumbled. Fast forward five years and she’s finally settled into a very different life from her old one, but if she’s not exactly happy she has found a small bit of peace in Vermont. Maggie as a character was highly complex with a host of issues and traumas and Delinsky did a great job of exploring her issues in a deep way. The growth and discovery she experiences throughout the book is outstanding and I was very empathetic to her, I can’t even imagine what she went through after her accident.
Besides Maggie there is a colorful cast of supporting characters that added so much life and vitality to the story, I really enjoyed them all. This read like a family saga with plenty of drama and a vast range of emotions and it took me on my own emotional roller coaster. If a book can make me feel something I’m happy and this one made me happy, angry, reflective and sad among many others. Recommended for a book club but also for anyone looking for a women’s fiction read that has tons of emotional depth.
Evocative, Deep and Moving
January 31, 2018
In Before and Again, Barbara Delinsky has written a riveting, poignant story filled with the most amazing characters. Each of the characters has their own story...a past which they are trying to escape, scars they are trying to hide...trying to build a present and move forward with a future, but can they forgive each other and themselves? This story is filled with grief and guilt, but mostly love, and it tugged on my heartstrings with every word, every feeling, every touch. I lost myself in this story, as my emotions were overtaken by the emotions of the characters.
May 28, 2018
An emotional roller coaster from start to finish that asks can we really move on after tragedy? What if we feel we are to blame for the tragedy, if you can't forgive yourself, can others forgive you? After Maggie loses her 5 year old daughter in a car accident, where she admits she was distracted and ran a stop sign, her life is shattered and she moves to a small town and reinvents herself to start over. Years later, her life is thrown into a tailspin when her ex-husband moves to her new town and threatens everything Maggie knows - or does he?
This story will move you to pieces and tug at your heartstrings. I highly recommend for a heartwrenching family saga.
Thank you St. Martins for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
This story will move you to pieces and tug at your heartstrings. I highly recommend for a heartwrenching family saga.
Thank you St. Martins for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
January 1, 2018
Sadly, this novel begins with a tragedy, the death of a child, but it takes the reader through the slow rebuilding of love and hope.
Delinsky tells the story of Maggie who has rebuilt her life after the death of a beloved child. She carries all the guilt for the tragedy and ultimately watches it destroy her marriage.
As if the reader watches a lovely bloom unfold, we watch Maggie’s life blossom as each person she believes has abandoned her moves back into her life. Her guarded existence suddenly fills with love and, ultimately, life.
I was very taken by this story, I admit to being teary eyed through a large part of it. Delinsky tells the story beautifully and builds the character of both Maggie and her ex-husband with care. I wanted a happy ending for these haunted souls, so will every reader.
Delinsky tells the story of Maggie who has rebuilt her life after the death of a beloved child. She carries all the guilt for the tragedy and ultimately watches it destroy her marriage.
As if the reader watches a lovely bloom unfold, we watch Maggie’s life blossom as each person she believes has abandoned her moves back into her life. Her guarded existence suddenly fills with love and, ultimately, life.
I was very taken by this story, I admit to being teary eyed through a large part of it. Delinsky tells the story beautifully and builds the character of both Maggie and her ex-husband with care. I wanted a happy ending for these haunted souls, so will every reader.
February 14, 2018
This was decent tear-jerking chic lit. Delinsky does a great job with characters and setting so these characters and this town come alive. It was a little too long, and parts of the story dragged or were too repetitive but for the most part it was entertaining.
April 5, 2018
I could not get into this book. After the accident, you get endless pages of clay, makeup and scones and blah, blah blah...and I don't know or care where it was heading.
August 11, 2018
5 ☆ Woop! Woop! Another fabulous novel from Barbara Delinsky!
Mackenzie is involved in a car crash that takes her daughter’s life, ends her marriage and her friendships.
“To live through trauma and thrive? That was my goal”
She changes her name, moves to Vermont and rebuilds a new life and starts a brand new career that helps others feel good about themselves while she builds strong, solid friendships; she feels blessed to be part of her new found community which she loves and feels she belongs in! 4yrs later chaos erupts turning her life upside down once again. This is a beautiful story of loss, love and healing. ❤️
I’ve always enjoyed reading this author’s books so I was really thrilled to see her release this new novel. Her last book was Blueprints in 2015 so I’m hoping her next will be sooner than later!
Mackenzie is involved in a car crash that takes her daughter’s life, ends her marriage and her friendships.
“To live through trauma and thrive? That was my goal”
She changes her name, moves to Vermont and rebuilds a new life and starts a brand new career that helps others feel good about themselves while she builds strong, solid friendships; she feels blessed to be part of her new found community which she loves and feels she belongs in! 4yrs later chaos erupts turning her life upside down once again. This is a beautiful story of loss, love and healing. ❤️
I’ve always enjoyed reading this author’s books so I was really thrilled to see her release this new novel. Her last book was Blueprints in 2015 so I’m hoping her next will be sooner than later!
February 24, 2020
An interesting - and dark - romance (?) / chick lit novel. It was really slow going - a slog, really. But mainly because it was all so depressing in points. I really did enjoy the ending where she (Maggie, her brother, and mother get together and start to deal with their issues. Unfortunately, the main couple didn't have the best chemistry.
December 8, 2018
2.5*'s
The author half gets griefs and while it's different for everybody there were some that's not the way people react moments. The story also tied up to quickly and neatly at the end. Life isn't linear.
The author half gets griefs and while it's different for everybody there were some that's not the way people react moments. The story also tied up to quickly and neatly at the end. Life isn't linear.
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