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The Way We Were
A beautiful romance about fate and finding happiness, from the Number One bestseller
What if you had a second chance at first love?
Susannah and Rob were childhood sweethearts. But as with most early love affairs, they broke up, moved on and now find themselves in very different places.
And not entirely happy - who is?
A chance meeting between them sends shockwaves through their lives. What happens when your first love makes a surprise reappearance? Is fate telling you it's time for a second chance . . . or should you simply walk away and let the past become ancient history?
But Susannah and Rob just aren't able to forget the way they were . . . and the world is about to discover the consequences of their reunion.
What if you had a second chance at first love?
Susannah and Rob were childhood sweethearts. But as with most early love affairs, they broke up, moved on and now find themselves in very different places.
And not entirely happy - who is?
A chance meeting between them sends shockwaves through their lives. What happens when your first love makes a surprise reappearance? Is fate telling you it's time for a second chance . . . or should you simply walk away and let the past become ancient history?
But Susannah and Rob just aren't able to forget the way they were . . . and the world is about to discover the consequences of their reunion.
449 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2011
103 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Noble
63 books477 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)literature & fiction
Elizabeth Noble is the author of several previous Sunday Times bestsellers: The Reading Group, which reached Number One, The Friendship Test (formerly published as The Tenko Club), Alphabet Weekends, Things I Want My Daughters to Know, The Girl Next Door, The Way We Were, Between a Mother and her Child and Love, Iris. Her last two books were also Richard & Judy Book Club selections. The Family Holiday is her ninth novel. She lives in Surrey.
Follow Elizabeth on Facebook and Instagram: @elizabethnoblebooks
(1)literature & fiction
Elizabeth Noble is the author of several previous Sunday Times bestsellers: The Reading Group, which reached Number One, The Friendship Test (formerly published as The Tenko Club), Alphabet Weekends, Things I Want My Daughters to Know, The Girl Next Door, The Way We Were, Between a Mother and her Child and Love, Iris. Her last two books were also Richard & Judy Book Club selections. The Family Holiday is her ninth novel. She lives in Surrey.
Follow Elizabeth on Facebook and Instagram: @elizabethnoblebooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
October 24, 2025
1⭐️ = Not For Me.
Hardback.
I struggled to enjoy this one. A little too ‘girly ‘ maybe- but saying that, looking back , I haven’t really liked any others that I have read by EN. Maybe I just cannot connect with the author’s writing. I’m sure many of my Goodreads friends already do.
Hardback.
I struggled to enjoy this one. A little too ‘girly ‘ maybe- but saying that, looking back , I haven’t really liked any others that I have read by EN. Maybe I just cannot connect with the author’s writing. I’m sure many of my Goodreads friends already do.
March 25, 2014
My feelings were alternating between hating and liking susannah an Rob. Their actions were just aggravating!! ><' , however, I felt sorry for them... Susannah, who from the beginning to end, was considerably unfortunate. Her chances come and go and she has no fix shelter. The fact that she had no-one at the end made me feel even more pitiful toward her. As for Rob, Ahh!!! he just, I don't know... He could have had her, though unfortunately, married to another girl.
When I was reading this book, I always have wished that the two end up together because I felt they should.
Despite the fact that the ending was sad, I quite like it. I thought it was different compared to other books. And to be honest, if you keep reading books that have happy endings 'ALWAYS' .It would just be nothing interesting really. Sometimes, you have to have a depressing ending to make it memorable and bothersome. :// ( my opinion)
When I was reading this book, I always have wished that the two end up together because I felt they should.
Despite the fact that the ending was sad, I quite like it. I thought it was different compared to other books. And to be honest, if you keep reading books that have happy endings 'ALWAYS' .It would just be nothing interesting really. Sometimes, you have to have a depressing ending to make it memorable and bothersome. :// ( my opinion)
April 24, 2017
I was hoping that there would be more details and stories about Susannah and Rob. I just couldn't get enough of the two. What happened to them once they decided to live their own lives after the second break-up? What if they accidentally meet up again in the future? Will Susannah finally meet someone that truly loves her and make her happy?
This story is painfully true, that love doesn't always happened the way you planned it. That trust and promises are broken. How do you make yourself happy without hurting the one closest to you?
And Susannah, I just couldn't believe she stayed with Douglas for almost a decade! She wasted her life with him. She should have left him earlier. Maybe things would go differently. Maybe she would meet Rob earlier.
This story is painfully true, that love doesn't always happened the way you planned it. That trust and promises are broken. How do you make yourself happy without hurting the one closest to you?
And Susannah, I just couldn't believe she stayed with Douglas for almost a decade! She wasted her life with him. She should have left him earlier. Maybe things would go differently. Maybe she would meet Rob earlier.
January 19, 2016
‘The Way We Were’ revolves around childhood sweethearts, Susannah and Rob who have always failed to be together time and time again due to unforgiving circumstances. When they finally reunite after many years, they realize that they still love each other but once more, things are complicated as Susannah is in a stale yet almost decade-long relationship while Rob is married.
This story was extremely melancholic and depressing. It was painfully realistic and although I usually like unexpected or tragic endings, the way this book ended was unsatisfying. It was an amazing, engrossing tale hence the ending had a strong impact on me. Too bad it wasn’t the one that I was envisioning. Anyhow there were many heartwrenching moments throughout the story and I’m saying this as someone who’s not the emotional type. Their continuous separation coupled with how much they missed each other yet constantly had the bad luck of wrong timing when they got the chance to meet again was just too much to handle.
Their love was incredibly convincing and that’s what made this book so captivating. It didn’t even feel like I was reading a story – it seemed to be more fact than fiction. They had fantastic chemistry right from the moment they met and everything else onwards came across as completely natural and believable. Despite the harsh circumstances they faced, I think that they could have actually been together (probably with some long-distance involved though) if they had communicated more openly and honestly. For instance, when Susannah tearfully confessed (via a letter) that she’d he could have talked to her about it instead of bottling up his feelings.
Even though Susannah wasted so much time and energy on men who weren’t worthy of her, I liked her because she truly gave each relationship her all. I especially felt that she deserved a salute or an award for being with Douglas (who has three children from a previous marriage) for almost ten years! He was unappreciative of her and refused to let her behave like a mother or a friend towards them, hence leaving her to wonder what exactly her role was. Plus, he was grumpy and uninterested most of the time while his ex was cold towards Susannah who still cared for the kids the best she could.
I found myself rooting for Susannah to be with Rob as she was certainly happiest and at her best when she was with him. This was conveyed effortlessly. I could feel her happiness radiating off the pages. Yes, seriously. At the same time I longed for her to stop torturing herself by staying in a relationship with a man who clearly wasn’t right for her. She was way too good for Douglas who didn’t understand her. I was glad that she had a nice little support system in the form of her family and her best friend, Amelia. Amelia is the sort of friend you’d want – she’s honest even if it means disagreeing with Susannah.
Initially I liked Rob. He was attractive, charming and sweet. Most importantly, he loved Susannah and he never pressured her into doing more than what she was comfortable with. He also showed maturity from a young age. However, once they reunited when he was married and she was technically unavailable, his ultimate decision made me dislike him. It showed that he was considerate of everyone in his life except for Susannah. He didn’t consider how much agony she’d been in and how his irregular appearances gave her a spark of hope only for him to snatch it away. I didn’t agree with his reason .
The ending was bittersweet and as much as I didn’t like it, I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was realistic, thought-provoking, emotional, engaging and memorable. Highly recommended.
This story was extremely melancholic and depressing. It was painfully realistic and although I usually like unexpected or tragic endings, the way this book ended was unsatisfying. It was an amazing, engrossing tale hence the ending had a strong impact on me. Too bad it wasn’t the one that I was envisioning. Anyhow there were many heartwrenching moments throughout the story and I’m saying this as someone who’s not the emotional type. Their continuous separation coupled with how much they missed each other yet constantly had the bad luck of wrong timing when they got the chance to meet again was just too much to handle.
Their love was incredibly convincing and that’s what made this book so captivating. It didn’t even feel like I was reading a story – it seemed to be more fact than fiction. They had fantastic chemistry right from the moment they met and everything else onwards came across as completely natural and believable. Despite the harsh circumstances they faced, I think that they could have actually been together (probably with some long-distance involved though) if they had communicated more openly and honestly. For instance, when Susannah tearfully confessed (via a letter) that she’d he could have talked to her about it instead of bottling up his feelings.
Even though Susannah wasted so much time and energy on men who weren’t worthy of her, I liked her because she truly gave each relationship her all. I especially felt that she deserved a salute or an award for being with Douglas (who has three children from a previous marriage) for almost ten years! He was unappreciative of her and refused to let her behave like a mother or a friend towards them, hence leaving her to wonder what exactly her role was. Plus, he was grumpy and uninterested most of the time while his ex was cold towards Susannah who still cared for the kids the best she could.
I found myself rooting for Susannah to be with Rob as she was certainly happiest and at her best when she was with him. This was conveyed effortlessly. I could feel her happiness radiating off the pages. Yes, seriously. At the same time I longed for her to stop torturing herself by staying in a relationship with a man who clearly wasn’t right for her. She was way too good for Douglas who didn’t understand her. I was glad that she had a nice little support system in the form of her family and her best friend, Amelia. Amelia is the sort of friend you’d want – she’s honest even if it means disagreeing with Susannah.
Initially I liked Rob. He was attractive, charming and sweet. Most importantly, he loved Susannah and he never pressured her into doing more than what she was comfortable with. He also showed maturity from a young age. However, once they reunited when he was married and she was technically unavailable, his ultimate decision made me dislike him. It showed that he was considerate of everyone in his life except for Susannah. He didn’t consider how much agony she’d been in and how his irregular appearances gave her a spark of hope only for him to snatch it away. I didn’t agree with his reason .
The ending was bittersweet and as much as I didn’t like it, I enjoyed this book tremendously. It was realistic, thought-provoking, emotional, engaging and memorable. Highly recommended.
September 3, 2016
Non formulaic and messy - I like that.
This was not one of those four star stellar reads that takes your breath away and has you pondering for days after. Nor was it a good old gritty pull apart the fabric of society and provide commentary on current issues type. Rather it was a dependable British family saga which centered around unrequited love and the folly of waiting for the stars to align before we act. It was a story focusing on the importance of connection, honesty and the need to say the hard stuff because otherwise you spend a life time missing out.
The essential prudishness of both Rob and Susannah to refrain from sex given the time it was set challenged my perception on this. At times this aspect of the story annoyed me yet in hindsight was a good thing as who wants to be spoon fed and who says what is right? The characters were all well developed and not saccharine or forced unlike in the first Elizabeth Noble I read, I felt things were a lot tighter and a far more enjoyable read for it. There was real skin left on the ground between Susannah and her close friend Amelia which was refreshing as was the relationship with her parents.
I finished feeling satiated and ready to embrace my life which is pretty much why I read and why this gets the four star treatment.
This was not one of those four star stellar reads that takes your breath away and has you pondering for days after. Nor was it a good old gritty pull apart the fabric of society and provide commentary on current issues type. Rather it was a dependable British family saga which centered around unrequited love and the folly of waiting for the stars to align before we act. It was a story focusing on the importance of connection, honesty and the need to say the hard stuff because otherwise you spend a life time missing out.
The essential prudishness of both Rob and Susannah to refrain from sex given the time it was set challenged my perception on this. At times this aspect of the story annoyed me yet in hindsight was a good thing as who wants to be spoon fed and who says what is right? The characters were all well developed and not saccharine or forced unlike in the first Elizabeth Noble I read, I felt things were a lot tighter and a far more enjoyable read for it. There was real skin left on the ground between Susannah and her close friend Amelia which was refreshing as was the relationship with her parents.
I finished feeling satiated and ready to embrace my life which is pretty much why I read and why this gets the four star treatment.
October 31, 2011
Susannah and Rob were teenage childhood sweethearts they broke up 20 years ago and moved on; they have both been unlucky in love since. Susannah’s partner is older than her grumpy, controlling and won’t visit her family, he has 2 children from his previous relationship and Susannah is left to care for them while he is in work. Susannah and Rob meet at a wedding Susannah starts to think back the happy memories, she visits Rob’s parents and out of the blue Rob rings her one day, they meet up, all her old feelings come back, they both start to meet regularly, Rob is married now, but are they just old friends? Do Susannah and Rob take their second chance to be together and be happy? Or will she get engaged to Doug?
I really enjoyed this book it was very easy to read and follow, I couldn’t put it down and read it in a few hours I would definitely recommend.
I really enjoyed this book it was very easy to read and follow, I couldn’t put it down and read it in a few hours I would definitely recommend.
July 29, 2013
I immensely loved the story "The Way We Were". I liked that it was honest and real.The writing was simple, its supporting plots and characters were moving at a good pace. I really enjoyed the technique of using flashbacks from the past and tying them in with the present day. It was a nice way of relating the past and its relation to what was happening within the current circumstances.
I must say, I was expecting the typical happy ending but by the time I finished reading it, I was glad that things had not ended that way. Instead, it was a lesson that both parties, Susannah Hammond and Rob Rossi, had to learn from and also to move on from. I was rooting for these characters all throughout. I would love to have a follow-up to this story, as I'm curious to know how Susannah has progressed and grown.
I must say, I was expecting the typical happy ending but by the time I finished reading it, I was glad that things had not ended that way. Instead, it was a lesson that both parties, Susannah Hammond and Rob Rossi, had to learn from and also to move on from. I was rooting for these characters all throughout. I would love to have a follow-up to this story, as I'm curious to know how Susannah has progressed and grown.
September 21, 2011
Two and half stars. From all the comments on the book I expected it to make me cry - I'm a weeper - but it didn't. It reminded me of One Day - in the sense of chances missed for love but whereas in One Day the hero and heroine did have their moment in the sun, that wasn't the case with 'The way we were'. Whilst I'm not fond of uber-macho heroines, I really wish Susannah had stood up for herself a little more. Why stay with a guy you clearly don't love? For most of the book!!! I think there were too few moments of lightness and humor to make up for the overall depressing tone of the story. Yes, it ends on an upbeat note, but there was too much that depressed me to give me that 'aaahhh' feeling at the end.
November 16, 2010
This book was a massive disappointment. I usually love Elizabeth Noble's writing, she is light without being meaningless and constructs great characters and stories. But this time the two main characters seemed to be puppets - they were unbelievable (particularly Rob). Mostly, the story is depressing, with the odd dip into melodrama. The one interesting part in this book is the main character's burgeoning relationship with her defacto step kids but this is not explored as much as it could have been.
January 10, 2011
I loved The Things I Want My Daughters Know when I read it several years ago and was really looking forward to this one - and it didn't disappoint. Liked the way the story went from Suzanne and Doug in the present day and then back to Suzanne and Rob when they were younger. Not a particularly happy story - and I admit to having a tear in my eye in places!!
November 2, 2010
In a word: Boring.
In many, I should have seen it coming. I kept reading Elizabeth Noble's books because she was so well recommended, in the hope they would get better. They didn't. Not gonna bother with any more.
In many, I should have seen it coming. I kept reading Elizabeth Noble's books because she was so well recommended, in the hope they would get better. They didn't. Not gonna bother with any more.
February 6, 2013
It took me three weeks to finish this book because the pace was so painfully slow,I fell asleep after reading a few pages.I guess I was hoping to have a happy ending,but there was too much effort to make it too dramatic.I dont like Susannah,because she's a pushover.
February 7, 2017
This book isn't fantastic and I suspect I won't remember that much about it in the future, but I liked the realistic ending. I also could relate to some of the situations experienced by the characters, although I might not always agree with them.
March 12, 2015
When you read the first chapter youll be confused of who-is-who as Elizabeth Noble sort of mentioned all of the characters' name. The ending is just differet from most of the oter books would have so I think it's nice because it feels real.
February 13, 2018
This is the first Elizabeth Noble book I read. I was still a teenager when I borrowed it from the library but I fell in love with the story. Even though the ending wasn't what I hoped for, it is an amazing story.
June 8, 2014
This was a lovely book about meeting your first love again the one you never forgot!! and the wonderful friendship between lifelong friends. I loved it made me cry at the end.
October 17, 2016
Enjoyed it but very disappointed with the ending...
July 23, 2020
It was ok.. easy to read and follow but didn’t move me
February 27, 2024
I sobbed
June 5, 2025
Friendship Test
A lifetime friendship between females is a sisterhood. You share everything, good times and bad. Only a best friend can make you see sense.
But a first love is a hard one to forget, even 20 years later. It's an itch you have to scratch even when you know you shouldn't. A best friend will always be there to pick you up when you inevitably land flat on your face. Susannah has that friendship with Amelia, and on boy is it tested!
A lifetime friendship between females is a sisterhood. You share everything, good times and bad. Only a best friend can make you see sense.
But a first love is a hard one to forget, even 20 years later. It's an itch you have to scratch even when you know you shouldn't. A best friend will always be there to pick you up when you inevitably land flat on your face. Susannah has that friendship with Amelia, and on boy is it tested!
September 7, 2025
Written 2010 and read while in Barlborough Hospital. Soppy love story, about teenage sweethearts who meet up again at 40, fall passionately in love again, but the;re thwarted because his wife, a soldier, is badly injured and he doesn’t think he can leave her.
March 12, 2025
great book & excellent writing, just hated the ending lol
April 1, 2025
Not the ending that I had expected really enjoyed story
December 23, 2025
It WAS good at first. Some lines were really nice. However, I got tired of the mc being such a sex addict . So yeah, not for me but still it's entertaining till the end.
April 16, 2024
Ugh, what the hell
February 18, 2022
“ Of course it’s you. It’s always been you. My Susannah. My love. “
4.5⭐️!!
this book was definitely really interesting, even though I did put it down for 3 days because I got sick, then I set a goal to read minimum 60 to 75 pages a day of this book & i just finished it!! it’s definitely very entertaining and some of the words and stories in this book just touch home. howeverrr, in my personal opinion, it was kind of a slow burn which i can’t handle since I’m a very impatient person, but that only made the reading progress of it faster. this book really gives me ‘ It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover ‘ vibes with the love triangle and forbidden love ideas!! this book is as close as i’ll ever get to crying because of a book, because for some reason, i’m lowkey emotionally incapable of shedding a tear over one. but this book was super easy and nice nonetheless!! recommended!! here are some more of my favorite quotes from it :)
- “ My parents thought everything was okay because there was no shouting in my house. They never understood that the silence was far worse. “ (page 77)
- “ It is you who I love. It is you who I want to be with. I hate that I can’t be with you. I want you every day. Please believe me. “ - (page 190)
- “ The cracks in your heart are there so that the light can shine through. “ (page 445)
4.5⭐️!!
this book was definitely really interesting, even though I did put it down for 3 days because I got sick, then I set a goal to read minimum 60 to 75 pages a day of this book & i just finished it!! it’s definitely very entertaining and some of the words and stories in this book just touch home. howeverrr, in my personal opinion, it was kind of a slow burn which i can’t handle since I’m a very impatient person, but that only made the reading progress of it faster. this book really gives me ‘ It Ends With Us - Colleen Hoover ‘ vibes with the love triangle and forbidden love ideas!! this book is as close as i’ll ever get to crying because of a book, because for some reason, i’m lowkey emotionally incapable of shedding a tear over one. but this book was super easy and nice nonetheless!! recommended!! here are some more of my favorite quotes from it :)
- “ My parents thought everything was okay because there was no shouting in my house. They never understood that the silence was far worse. “ (page 77)
- “ It is you who I love. It is you who I want to be with. I hate that I can’t be with you. I want you every day. Please believe me. “ - (page 190)
- “ The cracks in your heart are there so that the light can shine through. “ (page 445)
September 19, 2016
Hummm....
The book started with sadness and doesn't end with happiness as well, but in between gives good insights on love, friendship and other relations.
Few takeaways:
1. One can love different persons differently and with different intensity and depth.
2. People with high moral expectations from themselves have high sense of guilt, because we all commit some kind of mistakes at some stage of life and those mistakes take heavy toll impacting whole life.
3. Forgiveness makes life easy for everyone. Talking things clearly at right time makes life even easier.
4. Friendship can exist between people of complete different characters, because friendship means ''not being judgemental'' and that gives the other person freedom to talk freely without fear of being judged.
5. Nothing is as great feeling as knowing that you are being loved with the same intensity and depth with which you love someone.
Nicely narrated, even though it's going back and forth in time. Easily flowing story, but feel pity for the heroine who is approaching forty and hardly got what she deserves or expects from life.
The book started with sadness and doesn't end with happiness as well, but in between gives good insights on love, friendship and other relations.
Few takeaways:
1. One can love different persons differently and with different intensity and depth.
2. People with high moral expectations from themselves have high sense of guilt, because we all commit some kind of mistakes at some stage of life and those mistakes take heavy toll impacting whole life.
3. Forgiveness makes life easy for everyone. Talking things clearly at right time makes life even easier.
4. Friendship can exist between people of complete different characters, because friendship means ''not being judgemental'' and that gives the other person freedom to talk freely without fear of being judged.
5. Nothing is as great feeling as knowing that you are being loved with the same intensity and depth with which you love someone.
Nicely narrated, even though it's going back and forth in time. Easily flowing story, but feel pity for the heroine who is approaching forty and hardly got what she deserves or expects from life.
January 21, 2014
I thought at first this was going to be a typical chicklit, but it surprised me by having more depth. What makes it more than your average chicklit is the lack of tidy endings, and the inclusion of more than just happy endings to everyone's stories. I found the characters interesting and diverse.
I just love it Susannah and Rob were childhood sweethearts. But as with most early love affairs, they broke up, moved on and now find themselves in very different places.And not entirely happy - who is?
A chance meeting between them sends shockwaves through their lives. What happens when your first love makes a surprise reappearance? Is fate telling you it's time for a second chance . . . or should you simply walk away and let the past become ancient history? But Susannah and Rob just aren't able to forget the way they were . . . and the world is about to discover the consequences of their reunion.
I just love it Susannah and Rob were childhood sweethearts. But as with most early love affairs, they broke up, moved on and now find themselves in very different places.And not entirely happy - who is?
A chance meeting between them sends shockwaves through their lives. What happens when your first love makes a surprise reappearance? Is fate telling you it's time for a second chance . . . or should you simply walk away and let the past become ancient history? But Susannah and Rob just aren't able to forget the way they were . . . and the world is about to discover the consequences of their reunion.
July 29, 2014
I hated the ending, but loved reading through the lives of these amazing people the author created - the ones that made me laugh, the ones that made me cry and the ones that I related to despite them experiencing some things I have not yet and may never experience. I admire that these people came to life on the page as is rare in the manner that they did nowadays. I felt happy reading this book and am glad that I picked up at random as something to read over the summer. In the strange transition between teenagehood to adulthood, to existing in the real world, there is something bittersweet and melancholy about this book that I believe we all need to experience and to know before we can step foot into experiencing anything. I had forgotten those feelings until I felt them through these characters. And most of all, I am grateful to the author for telling the story so beautifully and for introducing me to a bunch of new friends I wish I didnt have to say goodbye to.
May 8, 2017
For me, "The Way We Were" is one of the most realistic love stories I've ever read. It's as if the characters were alive and making their own thoughts and decisions, not because of the author. I could feel they developed as conflicts arose until it finally came to an end. The characters were consistent; they didn't suddenly behave differently.
Well except for the parents. It just seemed unrealistic for me to see Suze's parents were kind and accepting all the time; also, Rob's mother suddenly changed near the end of the story. I know it had something to do with all the things she'd been through, but I didn't expect she would be that different.
Overall, I love the way Noble told the story. It moved nicely; it brought my feeling into it so I could really put myself in Suze's and Rob's perspectives. Tears might not streamed down my face, but I love how the story made me feel. Thank you for writing this book, Noble. God bless. :)
Well except for the parents. It just seemed unrealistic for me to see Suze's parents were kind and accepting all the time; also, Rob's mother suddenly changed near the end of the story. I know it had something to do with all the things she'd been through, but I didn't expect she would be that different.
Overall, I love the way Noble told the story. It moved nicely; it brought my feeling into it so I could really put myself in Suze's and Rob's perspectives. Tears might not streamed down my face, but I love how the story made me feel. Thank you for writing this book, Noble. God bless. :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews