BEFORE I KNEW by Jamie Beck

​Definitely five stars for this emotional, well-written and beautiful story that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.
 
Jamie Beck isn’t afraid to tackle the hard issues in her stories, which is why she’s one of my favorite storytellers. Her characters and the problems they face are real, true-to-life complications that so many of us know. This story touched close to home for me with Colby Cabot Baxter’s backstory and I didn’t know if I’d make it past my own pain, but once I started, I didn’t want to put it down until it was done.
 
The story is complex, layered and pulls at your heartstrings making you root for these two characters. Can they work out their issues—not just with each other, but also with their families who have been torn apart by tragedy? It’s a question you have to read until the end to find out.
 
I loved watching Colby grow and not only regain her confidence and strength, but find her purpose in life throughout this book. As one person put it, “she doesn’t always get it right, but even failing is a part of learning.” Alec has his own guilt and pain to overcome, not to mention a family holding on by a very thin thread. But this story isn’t just about Colby and Alec and their feelings for each other. It’s about the pain families go through when they lose a loved one, and the toll they pay. It’s about relationships between siblings, children and their parents, and longtime friends. It’s about overcoming loss and finding love and happiness.
 
Highly recommend.