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Before I Met You [Paperback]

Lisa Jewell (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Release Date: 19 July 2012

Having grown up on the quiet island of Guernsey, Betty Dean can't wait to start her new life in London. On a mission to find Clara Pickle - the mysterious beneficiary in her grandmother's will - she arrives in grungy, 1990s Soho, ready for whatever life has to throw at her. Or so she thinks...

In 1920s bohemian London, Arlette - Betty's grandmother - is starting her new life in a time of post-war change. Beautiful and charismatic, Arlette is soon drawn into the hedonistic world of the Bright Young People. But less than two years later, tragedy strikes and she flees back to Guernsey for the rest of her life.

As Betty searches for Clara, she is taken on a journey through Arlette's extraordinary time in London, uncovering a tale of love, loss and heartbreak. Will the secrets of Arlette's past help Betty on her path to happiness?Show More Show Less

Frequently Bought Together

Before I Met You + The Making of Us + After the Party
Price For All Three: £17.36

Buy the selected items together
  • The Making of Us by Lisa Jewell Paperback £3.86
  • After the Party by Lisa Jewell Paperback £5.51

Product details

  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Century (19 July 2012)
  • Language: Unknown
  • ISBN-10: 1846059232
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846059230
  • Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 3.2 x 23.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 40,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Lisa Jewell Page
Lisa Jewell
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Product Description

Review

"Beautiful, moving and unputdownable" (Jojo Moyes )

"Heartbreakingly good" (Marie Claire )

"Must read" (Express )

"Warm and moving with a nostalgic touch" (Star )

"Lisa Jewell just gets better and better" (Grazia )

Book Description

An uplifting, warm and unforgettable story of two women in two different times from the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 62 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting new direction for one of my favourite authors 25 Jun 2012
By Denise4891 TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
If you look at my other reviews you'll see that I'm not a great reader of `chick-lit' (hate that term but can't think of a better one), but I've always had a real soft spot for Lisa Jewell. She tends to get lumped in with the chick-lit writers, but I think there's much more substance to her novels compared to some of that genre, and hopefully the new direction she's taken with her latest book will win her a whole new group of fans.

It's the mid-1990s and Betty Dean is spreading her wings following the death of her beloved step-grandmother, Arlette. She leaves Guernsey on a mission to find a mysterious woman who features in her grandmother's will, the gloriously named Clara Pickle. All she has to go on is an ancient last known address and a copy of Polyanna which Arlette had inscribed with the dedication "To Little Miss Pickle".

Betty is adorable - bright, resourceful and funny, she manages to stay just the right side of quirky without becoming irritating. She arrives in Soho at an exciting time and those of us of a certain age will have fun spotting all the 90s references - Britpop and Nirvana, Primrose Hill and the Groucho Club etc. Betty's story is interspersed with flashbacks to Bohemian 1920s London, with its jazz clubs, Bright Young Things and artists painting in garrets (well a cottage in Gideon`s case). Arlette is pretty green when she arrives from Guernsey to stay with a friend of her mother`s. She soon immerses herself into the wild and exotic Soho scene but, as Betty's search reveals, heartbreak and tragedy are never far away.

Jewell usually writes about real people in real situations, set in a period (the nineties and noughties) that I can identify with and look back on with affection. I think I'm right in saying that this is her first `historical` dual-timeframe novel and, thanks to Betty's investigations, the two threads blend seamlessly together. Having said that I could've happily read a whole book featuring either storyline (the sign of a good dual-timeframe story). So, thankfully this change of style for one my favourite authors has been a resounding success as far as I'm concerned - I loved it and am really looking forward to seeing which direction her next novel takes us in.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Surprisingly Lovely Read 23 July 2012
By Susie B TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
As a first time reader of Lisa Jewell, I was a little unsure about what to expect when I received this book as a gift; however, I was very pleasantly surprised with this lovely story, set in the 1920s and the 1990s, which I enjoyed from start to finish.

In the 1990s Elizabeth (Betty) comes to London from her home in Guernsey where she has spent the last few years caring for her step-father's mother, the elderly but glamorous Arlette, with her lacy stockings, her red silk shoes and her well-hidden secrets. After Arlette's death, Betty is puzzled when she discovers that Arlette has left a large sum of money in her will to the deliciously named Clara Tatiana Pickles, of whom no-one in the family seems to know anything about. Betty, who discovers that Clara's last known address was in Soho, sets off from Guernsey and arrives in London, takes a studio flat right in the heart of Soho and begins searching for the elusive Ms Pickles. Whilst searching, Betty meets a variety of interesting people including the tall, dark and gloweringly handsome market trader, John, and the infamous Dom Jones, lead singer of the band 'Wall', both of whom are attracted to the lovely Betty. As Betty says to herself as she looks around her new studio flat: "Real life has finally begun."

In the 1920s we learn about Arlette's life as a young woman - of how she left her family on Guernsey and moved to London, how she got a job in Liberty's, became the muse of a rising artist, became intimately involved with a man who would not have been considered suitable by her family, and became part of the bohemian group of people known as the 'Bright Young Things' with their parties, jazz clubs and drinking dens. But, ultimately, do we learn who Clara Pickles is, and why she was so important to Arlette?

Lisa Jewell sets her scenes beautifully and writes descriptively well of the fashions and music of the times, and she has created some wonderful characters for her novel, particularly Betty who is a lovely creation: pretty, bright, slightly kooky and always the optimist - and, although I enjoyed reading about Arlette and her interesting life, I was always glad to get back to the sections about Betty to see how her life was progressing in 1990s London. This is not a novel of great literary weight - and it's not meant to be one - but it is a lovely summer read to entertain you while you relax by the pool, laze in the garden or curl up on the sofa.

4 Stars.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Class Act 2 July 2012
By Sukie TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite authors and I am always excited to read a new book of hers. I love how visual her writing is; the descriptive passages are always rich and sensual, packed with colourful details - and her characters feel so real you can imagine seeing them walking down the street.

This novel is something of a departure for Jewell as it features a historical narrative, as well as one set in the 90s. Betty Dean, the present-day character, spends a large part of her childhood on Guernsey, when her mum's boyfriend moves the family there in order to look after his mother Arlette. Betty grows very close to Arlette and nurses her until her death but Arlette's will reveals a benefactor, Clara Pickle, that her son has never heard of.

Betty takes it upon herself to track down Clara Pickle and moves to London where she begins her investigation. We also have a parallel story running, that of Arlette, also in London in the exciting, glamorous 1920s.

I really enjoyed the two narratives, especially Arlette's story which was both intriguing and moving, with some wonderful bohemian detail. Lisa Jewell really brought this period alive for me.

This is a classy, well-written story, full of warmth, humour and long-buried secrets. Recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner
I have just finished reading this book. I couldn't sleep well last night so went from one read to another. I choose this one and finished it this morning. Read more
Published 11 hours ago by Sue
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
I had previously read 2 Lisa Jewell books and enjoyed so I thought I'd give this a go. I quite enjoyed, couldn't put it down. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Caroline Hector
4.0 out of 5 stars Between the war years
I read this book at the same time as 'Dancing on the Edge' was on TV, I seem drawn to this period, and was not aware of the 'black' bands playing jazz at that time, I liked the two... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Adam Ralph
5.0 out of 5 stars marvellous
A marvellous written novel. I would urge readers to treat your self and buy this page turning book. It would make a lovely present for any Mother, Nan or a friend. Read more
Published 5 days ago by bookmoviefanatic
5.0 out of 5 stars A heart touching tale...
Before I Met You by Lisa Jewell was for me a wonderful read and once I started I could not stop until I reached the end, I wanted to know what would become of Elizabeth lovingly... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Ms P. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant read
I just love Lisa Jewell books she be brings the characters to life In such a way you are drawn into the story within the first few lines. Read more
Published 10 days ago by General
5.0 out of 5 stars Mysterious and emotional
Firstly I'd like to thank the publishers for sending me this book to read and give an honest review. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Me, My Books and I
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read
Great, easy reading would recommend

Dont know why there has to be minimum word count..stops you from leaving feedback. Great
Published 15 days ago by Miss Collette Negre
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping story that takes you into another era
This was a well written book and captured the scenes very well, a happy and tragic tale unfolds, would recommend a read
Published 18 days ago by Ms. S. E. Warmley
4.0 out of 5 stars Different from her usual books but a great read
I tend to get around to Lisa Jewell's books a lot later than they are published and I make the same mistake every single time (doh!). Read more
Published 28 days ago by Best Books To Read
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