The Woman I Was Before: A gripping emotional page turner with a twist Paperback – March 19, 2019

This story begins with three families all moving into a newly built neighborhood on the same day. Kate is a paramedic, a single mom with a teenager and a secret past. For some reason, the clues to which spool out very slowly, Kate and her daughter are on the run and have changed their names. She cannot allow herself to become close to the other two women in the story--or anyone, for fear of her daughter's safety and her own sanity.Giselle is a privileged, wealthy SAHM, materialistic and unhappy; her two kids (a surly teen daughter and ever-more-absent young adult son) despise or avoid her, and her workaholic husband is distant.Sally, married more than a decade to fussy, perfectionist Chris, can no longer deny her urge to be a mother, but Chris is already moving on. Sally, like Giselle, is obsessed with posting fake-happy documentation of her perfect life on social media. Their hypocrisy is stunning. This is a theme of the story: things are not what they seem. Don't assume others have it so good because it might be a false front.In fact, all three of these families are in horrible turmoil behind the facade. The women need each other and the reader wants them to be honest and let the friendships bloom for mutual support, but this doesn't happen easily. When it does, and we get resolution to their difficulties, it's dramatic and satisfying. A good story about coming to terms with reality in midlife.

This came up on my Kindle Daily Deals and it sounded interesting. It's set in England and written by an English author. I read another review where the reader complained about sayings she didn't understand, I'm not sure why she doesn't just Google them. Anyway, I will say this story was very compelling but a bit on the depressing side. Basically we have three main characters Kate, Gisela and Sally, who live in the same gated community. Each of them have secrets, while on the outside they seem to have normal lives. Gisela has a big home and lots of money and is very social. Kate is a single mom and is fiercely private and not social at all. Sally is married without kids but she desperately wants a baby while her husband does not. They all get to know each other when Gisela throws a housewarming party and invites all her neighbours. Gisela and Kate's daughters become friends as they are similar ages. Daisy is Kate's daughter and is in her final year of school while Gisela's daughter Hannah has finished school but doesn't get the marks she needs to go to university. Hannah is problematic and spoiled. Gisela's son Ollie is about to enter his final year at university and Gisela learns he has been keeping his new girlfriend a secret. The three women's stories are interesting and it was a good read but as I said, also a little depressing.

Three women neighbors…one is hiding from her past; the other two hiding behind their social media posts. All were wary about coming out of hiding; one was fearful for her life, while the other two were afraid of what people might think.I totally relate to the author as someone who grew up when the internet was still unheard of. While I know of a number of my contemporaries who seem to post everything that’s happening to them everyday, most still don’t. One can really never be certain if what was posted represents what’s real, so I love how the the social media posts of the story’s characters were put side by side with what was actually happening in their lives.Beautifully worded, good chapter transitions, but I’d have preferred if Becky and Kate met again, even though what would happen to them was already implied. It’s just my OC self wanting all ends tied up.

First, I will admit that it took me a while to settle into this British author’s writing and prevalent use of British colloquial/slang throughout, but it wasn’t surprising, just unexpected since I didn’t know going in she was British. That being said, it didn’t effect the understanding of the book, just the smooth reading of it initially, but I did get used to it. Also, initially again, I found the writing to be so “wordy”, that it was hard to get into at first, and actually put it down, but I did come back to it, because I’m stubborn and typically give books at least a 20% read before I decide to abandon. I am so glad I did, as I ultimately really enjoyed it and the journeys of these 3 women, each struggling with their own shattered expectations of the dream life they were expecting to live. I also loved the use of the illusionary social media posts at the end of each chapter, as they tried to boost the facade of their crumbling lives, while buying into the lies of their neighbors perfect lives. So, I highly recommend this book, even with the initial frustrations of the first chapters, go for it!

This is a cautionary tale for the 21st century. Three families, three different lives. On the surface everything is perfect but just underneath the social media pics and hashtags, there are secrets and lies that will eventually be exposed.As always, Kerry's unique voice makes this book roll along, using three main characters and their families to explore what happens when lives flip to the dark side and how friendships endure.Her sharp observations and emotional descriptions are witty, wise and poignant, all at the same time.I loved this book and raced through it, because I genuinely wanted to know what was going happen. I cared for all the characters and found myself nodding in recognition.Thank you, Kerry, for such a great story!

I have just finished reading "The woman I was before" and have to say, once again this amazing author didn't disappoint. I was torn between wanting to sit and read it in one sitting and not wanting to rush to the end because I didn't want it to finish!The book is beautifully written, with intriguing characters who have intriguing lives. The author presents an extremely relevant, relatable plot, with extremely relevant, relatable characters.The plot of the book feels fresh, not like an idea that's been recycled and rewritten time and time over. Alongside plenty of twists and turns that leave you with that 'I'll just read one more chapter' feeling.I am a huge admirer of Kerry Fisher's work and had been excitedly awaiting her latest publication. I have to say, it did not disappoint! If you are already a fan of her work I'm convinced you will enjoy this book as much as her others and if you are new to Kerry's writing I urge you to have a read, you can't fail to enjoy it!

I make no secret of the fact I love Kerry Fisher's books - and this latest release was no exception. I read it in two sittings, my reading enjoyment only interrupted by the pesky requirement to sleep!The story follows three women whose lives are thrust together when they move onto the same housing development.Gisela - happily married with the requisite two children and, from the outside, appears to have the perfect life. But inside the bubble of Gisela's existence, the embers of a devastating fire are burning. Problem is, Gisela is completely oblivious to the looming disaster.Sally - the young, successful career woman with the equally (if not more so) successful, gorgeous husband. Yet the one thing she wants more than anything is the very thing she can't have.Kate - the quiet, withdrawn, single mum who keeps herself to herself - for very good reason.Ms. Fisher has the most delicious way of crafting sentences, each one so fluid, so real. I don't know whether she ruminates over them for hours and hours, choosing every word carefully, or whether the words pour onto the paper with ease. Whatever the truth, the result is sublime.This book is very 'now', its central premise focusing on how we all live our lives in the glare of social media, yet the image we work so hard to portray to the outside world, the 'perfect life' is far from the truth. The old adage 'never judge a person until you have walked a mile in their shoes' rings loud through the pages of this book.Highly highly recommended.

I love all Kerry Fisher's books and this is the best yet. Kerry has such an honest and clever way of depicting her characters. They are totally believable, very real and completely engaging. I had to manage myself carefully while I was reading this book - getting the balance between turning the pages as fast as I could to see what happens, and slowing down, knowing I would be disappointed when I finished reading. It is a real page-turner and I am hoping there will be a sequel! While the crux of the story has been resolved, there are so many off-shoots I'm dying to know more about. Full marks again for another great read

The Woman I was Before is a wonderful combination of intense emotions and glorious humour. Three families move onto a gated housing estate and we get to know them as they try to work each other out. The juicy characters with intriguing secrets curate their social media lives, whilst their real lives tell a different, more complicated story. This plot is so perfectly paced that I couldn’t bear to put it down. Another absolute belter from Kerry Fisher. It’s soooo good!