Who We Were Before is a gripping tale, listed under women’s fiction. The two main characters are Zoe and her husband Edward, who live in a small village outside of London. Their story takes place during a weekend trip to Paris two years after the loss their first and only child, their two-year-old son Milo.
The story is told through a series of flashbacks. These are merged in with their reasons for not trying to find each other after they become separated upon arriving in Paris. If that sounds confusing, it’s because it is. In fact, at times, it’s hard to tell what’s a flashback and what’s happening during their weekend. Also, the flashbacks are scattered throughout their relationship so, at times, you’re not sure what’s pre-marriage, pre-Milo or after Milo died.
In many respects, the story is a heart-wrenching account of what it’s like to lose a child. One that they never thought they could or would have. Then, after they’ve had two years to make him the center of their life and relationship, he is torn from them by an accident.
What is clear is that Zoe blames herself for Milo’s death and, in many ways, so too does Edward. At times, the description of how they torture themselves, and each other, over Milo’s death will rip your heart out. But, as time goes on you begin to question whether a person would really react to their child’s death in that way and for that long. Also, coming into question is their inability to deal with each other and help one another through their grief.
But, the biggest lack of believability is Zoe’s wandering around Paris like a space cadet after they get separated; lost with no money or phone and not caring if she finds Edward or not.
Then, there’s Edward whose first thought when he realizes his wife is lost is to call a woman he works with and has the hots for and ask her to come to Paris.
The intent here is to have you believe that they both have given up on their marriage and each other. But, wasn’t their intent in going to Paris to try and recover some kind of relationship? Obviously, that intent disappeared the instant they arrived and lost sight of each other. Which, for me again, made their actions and explanations more and more difficult to believe; especially after having had two years to deal with the loss of their son.
I don’t want to give any of the story away, but even during the good times in their relationship, they each tell several critical lies with the feeble excuse of not wanting to build up the others hopes or hurt them. And here again, the excuses are weak at best and frankly not what a normal person would do.
All of that aside, I actually enjoyed the story. It is well written (minus the excessive drama), has a unique plot, and has very few errors. Frankly, were it not for the authors attempt to build excessive drama and throw far more chaos into their relationship than needed, it would have gotten five stars.
Definitely worth reading but could have been a lot more believable.