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Before I Lost You
From International Bestselling Author Shae Ruby comes a brand new angsty and emotional gay romance with a second chance written in the stars.
Some love stories rewrite time just to be told.
Conrad Moore spent six months falling in love with Kenneth Dunn—the kind of love that rewires your bones, that makes everything before it feel like waiting. But on the night he finally says forever, a car crash takes it all away.
And then… he wakes up.
Six months in the past.
In a hospital bed.
With memories no one else believes ever happened.
Kenneth doesn’t know him, the life they shared never existed, and Conrad is left holding nothing but a heartbeat full of grief and a name he refuses to forget. Now he has one impossible chance to find Kenneth again. To change the way they meet, the way they love, the way it ends. To do everything differently—and still find his way back.
But fate isn’t so easily rewritten.
And loving someone a second time doesn’t make losing them hurt any less.
A deeply emotional, intensely romantic queer love story about second chances, soul-deep connection, and the kind of love that refuses to die. Heartbreaking, healing, and unforgettable—with spice and tears to match.
Some love stories rewrite time just to be told.
Conrad Moore spent six months falling in love with Kenneth Dunn—the kind of love that rewires your bones, that makes everything before it feel like waiting. But on the night he finally says forever, a car crash takes it all away.
And then… he wakes up.
Six months in the past.
In a hospital bed.
With memories no one else believes ever happened.
Kenneth doesn’t know him, the life they shared never existed, and Conrad is left holding nothing but a heartbeat full of grief and a name he refuses to forget. Now he has one impossible chance to find Kenneth again. To change the way they meet, the way they love, the way it ends. To do everything differently—and still find his way back.
But fate isn’t so easily rewritten.
And loving someone a second time doesn’t make losing them hurt any less.
A deeply emotional, intensely romantic queer love story about second chances, soul-deep connection, and the kind of love that refuses to die. Heartbreaking, healing, and unforgettable—with spice and tears to match.
- GenresM M Romance
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
Shae Ruby
12 books845 followersAuthor of dark romance & toxic love.
Sometimes diverse.
International Bestselling Author in five different countries, Shae Ruby spends their time writing, mostly queer, books that make you feel. Shae's stories come from deep within their bleeding heart, and they let the drops flow into their words.
Shae is represented by Lunar Literary Agency.
For all subsidiary rights, contact Angie Ojeda-Hazen.
Connect with me!
Facebook Reader Group: rubysdarkling
Facebook Page: authorshaeruby
Instagram: @authorshaeruby
TikTok: @authorshaeruby
Goodreads: authorshaeruby
Goodreads: authorshaeruby
Sometimes diverse.
International Bestselling Author in five different countries, Shae Ruby spends their time writing, mostly queer, books that make you feel. Shae's stories come from deep within their bleeding heart, and they let the drops flow into their words.
Shae is represented by Lunar Literary Agency.
For all subsidiary rights, contact Angie Ojeda-Hazen.
Connect with me!
Facebook Reader Group: rubysdarkling
Facebook Page: authorshaeruby
Instagram: @authorshaeruby
TikTok: @authorshaeruby
Goodreads: authorshaeruby
Goodreads: authorshaeruby
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
August 5, 2026
now that i’ve had time to think about this book and stew, i’m changing my rating from 2 stars to 1.
i didn’t enjoy the story or my time reading it… i probably should have just saved myself and DNF’d it. the relationship was extremely hard to connect with and the pacing was so odd?? ALSO WHY DID THAT ALL NEED TO HAPPEN??? MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. “soulmate level intimacy” NO. what do you mean an accident and now we’re in the PAST (time travel????) and the whole relationship has to start again???
I can definitely see how this could have been a huge bop and a 5 star book, however, i didn’t think the execution hit for me at all 😮💨😮💨
i didn’t enjoy the story or my time reading it… i probably should have just saved myself and DNF’d it. the relationship was extremely hard to connect with and the pacing was so odd?? ALSO WHY DID THAT ALL NEED TO HAPPEN??? MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. “soulmate level intimacy” NO. what do you mean an accident and now we’re in the PAST (time travel????) and the whole relationship has to start again???
I can definitely see how this could have been a huge bop and a 5 star book, however, i didn’t think the execution hit for me at all 😮💨😮💨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2026
So, this is the story of Conrad (26) and Kenneth (23). Without spoiling anything and like the blurb says, they fall in love for 6 months before Conrad gets into a car and wakes up to those 6 months never happening. He remembers everything but everyone including Kenneth don't. So Connor, despite his heartbreak, has to find a way to get Kenneth back into his life.
This story had the potential to tug at my heartstrings in the best way possible, cus hello soulmates story are the best. But unfortunately, it failed to do that. I was like a robot reading every word and eventually skimming. I felt like I was reading for the sake of reading instead of feeling the story.
I just couldn't connect to the story in any shape or form due to many reasons:
- The first paragraph, we are informed that Conrad brings men home night after night. Okay, fine🙄
But then literally, we have on page explicit scene of him with OM. We are described how the OM is moaning, how Conrad is pounding him from behind, how he is grabbing onto the man's hips and fucking him at an angle that has him clutching the sheets and moaning, how he is hitting his prostate over and over and when OM hole clamps around his cock, he empty into the condom. Part of this scene is Conrad thinking about someone else and not be in the moment. But couldn't we achieve that without slapping me in the face with a OM descriptive sex scene right at beginning of chapter 1?!!!
Yes, Thank God we are still chapter 1 but my mood had been soured with those images🤢
- We meet the other MMC Kenneth and lo and behold, he as well is 'have sex and move on' kind of guy🙄
- The spice between MMCs starts at 15%, which in my standards is waaaaaaay too early. That immediately makes me disconnect from the couple. IMO, You cannot expect a story to hit emotionally when you start the spice waaaay earlier than establishing a strong emotional connection.
- Then, it's sex on top of sex on top of more sex on top of endless sex with dirty talk. I consider it is a huge disservice to this type of story. If you want to achieve a great emotional depth, soul-level connection, and soulmatism concept like this story is intended to do, you need to establish a strong emotional connection and you cannot achieve that by shoving down our throats sex scenes after the other. It would have benefited from few and there sex scenes that veered toward intimacy, towards showing a connection that goes beyond physical. Spice can ruin moments especially if it's used to add spice and not to show intimacy; and that's how I felt here cus for example right after they argue, a smut scene. Right after they confess their love, a smut scene, etc....
- It felt rushed in a way and repetitive. They meet, they fall in love, they argue, they make up with plenty of sex scenes before, after, and in between. There was no room to feel a connection between the 2 MMCs. And thus, I did not feel any chemistry between them.
- Too sweet and too romantic. And this is a weird statement coming from me because nothing is usually too sweet/romantic for me; I live for that. But here it felt forced, and not believable the way it is intended to be.
- At 62%, Conrad sees Kenneth at a bar with another man, which we find out later that it was a Grindr hookup. I get that they are not together due to the '6 months not happening thing' and Kenneth not remembering Conrad, but did we have to have that scene and Kenneth hooking up with someone else?!😏 Cus I, as a reader, remember well those 6 months and Kenneth hooking up with OM does not sit right with me at all.
With stories like this or basically what the story intends to be, I expect to live the story, to be immersed in that world, living with them, feeling with them, falling in love with them, hurting with them. I want to swoon, smile, blush, cry. I just want to connect and feel. I don't want to be aware that I'm just reading written words in a book like a chore, which exactly how I felt.
Despite all my negativity and complaints, I do believe people will love the story. Unfortunately, I'm getting very picky with my stories and this story did not work for me.
This story had the potential to tug at my heartstrings in the best way possible, cus hello soulmates story are the best. But unfortunately, it failed to do that. I was like a robot reading every word and eventually skimming. I felt like I was reading for the sake of reading instead of feeling the story.
I just couldn't connect to the story in any shape or form due to many reasons:
- The first paragraph, we are informed that Conrad brings men home night after night. Okay, fine🙄
But then literally, we have on page explicit scene of him with OM. We are described how the OM is moaning, how Conrad is pounding him from behind, how he is grabbing onto the man's hips and fucking him at an angle that has him clutching the sheets and moaning, how he is hitting his prostate over and over and when OM hole clamps around his cock, he empty into the condom. Part of this scene is Conrad thinking about someone else and not be in the moment. But couldn't we achieve that without slapping me in the face with a OM descriptive sex scene right at beginning of chapter 1?!!!
Yes, Thank God we are still chapter 1 but my mood had been soured with those images🤢
- We meet the other MMC Kenneth and lo and behold, he as well is 'have sex and move on' kind of guy🙄
- The spice between MMCs starts at 15%, which in my standards is waaaaaaay too early. That immediately makes me disconnect from the couple. IMO, You cannot expect a story to hit emotionally when you start the spice waaaay earlier than establishing a strong emotional connection.
- Then, it's sex on top of sex on top of more sex on top of endless sex with dirty talk. I consider it is a huge disservice to this type of story. If you want to achieve a great emotional depth, soul-level connection, and soulmatism concept like this story is intended to do, you need to establish a strong emotional connection and you cannot achieve that by shoving down our throats sex scenes after the other. It would have benefited from few and there sex scenes that veered toward intimacy, towards showing a connection that goes beyond physical. Spice can ruin moments especially if it's used to add spice and not to show intimacy; and that's how I felt here cus for example right after they argue, a smut scene. Right after they confess their love, a smut scene, etc....
- It felt rushed in a way and repetitive. They meet, they fall in love, they argue, they make up with plenty of sex scenes before, after, and in between. There was no room to feel a connection between the 2 MMCs. And thus, I did not feel any chemistry between them.
- Too sweet and too romantic. And this is a weird statement coming from me because nothing is usually too sweet/romantic for me; I live for that. But here it felt forced, and not believable the way it is intended to be.
- At 62%, Conrad sees Kenneth at a bar with another man, which we find out later that it was a Grindr hookup. I get that they are not together due to the '6 months not happening thing' and Kenneth not remembering Conrad, but did we have to have that scene and Kenneth hooking up with someone else?!😏 Cus I, as a reader, remember well those 6 months and Kenneth hooking up with OM does not sit right with me at all.
With stories like this or basically what the story intends to be, I expect to live the story, to be immersed in that world, living with them, feeling with them, falling in love with them, hurting with them. I want to swoon, smile, blush, cry. I just want to connect and feel. I don't want to be aware that I'm just reading written words in a book like a chore, which exactly how I felt.
Despite all my negativity and complaints, I do believe people will love the story. Unfortunately, I'm getting very picky with my stories and this story did not work for me.
July 20, 2026
Conrad + Kenneth
-gay romance with a twist of fate
-soulmate level intimacy
-second chance
-love that survives death
-time travel
-i remember you energy
-hurt/comfort
-spice & tears
the soulmate vibes with this & the combination of time travel was absolutely wild!! literally both of these guys were the epitome of "in every lifetime" 🥹🥹🥹
-gay romance with a twist of fate
-soulmate level intimacy
-second chance
-love that survives death
-time travel
-i remember you energy
-hurt/comfort
-spice & tears
the soulmate vibes with this & the combination of time travel was absolutely wild!! literally both of these guys were the epitome of "in every lifetime" 🥹🥹🥹
August 9, 2026
2.5 stars, rounded. Very angsty and very confessional. Unfortunately with the amount of confessions, both internally and externally, it felt repetitive. I honestly think the whole time travel esque thing after waking in the hospital was unnecessary. This book would’ve stood strong regardless. I get that that’s the whole point of the blurb and title, but it lowkey wasn’t executed that well. Their relationship was cute but also toxic. Intoxicating and full of longing. I just wish this wasn’t so damn repetitive because it got boring really quickly…
July 28, 2026
ARC READ
Connie and Kenny forever ❤️
This book has such a beautiful message, one that I think many of us would love to believe: what if you found a love so bright that it could defy even death?
Conrad has been dreaming about a faceless man. When he finally meets him, it marks the beginning of a beautiful love story. But one moment of distraction leads to a devastating car accident, and when Conrad wakes up, the last six months of his life including the love of his life are gone.
Everyone around him thinks he’s lost his mind… except Emerson. Let me say, everyone deserves a friend like Emerson, who believes you even when you sound completely batshit crazy. 😂
From that moment on, Conrad is determined to get a second chance with Kenny, no matter what it takes.
I really enjoyed the paranormal twist, and the emotional longing throughout the story was beautifully done. My only real criticism is that I would have loved to get Kenneth’s POV during the first part of the book. I found him a little difficult to connect with because of the ghosting, his reaction to Conrad saying “I love you,” and his reaction to Conrad supporting him in his grief. Without his perspective, it was harder for me to fully understand his actions and root for him. Second part Kenneth was much softer and lovable.
That said, I completely understand why the author chose to tell the story entirely from Conrad’s POV. His grief, hope, and yearning are what make this story so powerful.
Read this if you love:
✨ A love story that transcends time and even death
✨ Paranormal twist
✨ Longing and yearning
✨ “We’ll find each other in every universe” vibes
✨ Second chances at love
Connie and Kenny forever ❤️
This book has such a beautiful message, one that I think many of us would love to believe: what if you found a love so bright that it could defy even death?
Conrad has been dreaming about a faceless man. When he finally meets him, it marks the beginning of a beautiful love story. But one moment of distraction leads to a devastating car accident, and when Conrad wakes up, the last six months of his life including the love of his life are gone.
Everyone around him thinks he’s lost his mind… except Emerson. Let me say, everyone deserves a friend like Emerson, who believes you even when you sound completely batshit crazy. 😂
From that moment on, Conrad is determined to get a second chance with Kenny, no matter what it takes.
I really enjoyed the paranormal twist, and the emotional longing throughout the story was beautifully done. My only real criticism is that I would have loved to get Kenneth’s POV during the first part of the book. I found him a little difficult to connect with because of the ghosting, his reaction to Conrad saying “I love you,” and his reaction to Conrad supporting him in his grief. Without his perspective, it was harder for me to fully understand his actions and root for him. Second part Kenneth was much softer and lovable.
That said, I completely understand why the author chose to tell the story entirely from Conrad’s POV. His grief, hope, and yearning are what make this story so powerful.
Read this if you love:
✨ A love story that transcends time and even death
✨ Paranormal twist
✨ Longing and yearning
✨ “We’ll find each other in every universe” vibes
✨ Second chances at love
August 3, 2026
This book isn't for the skeptics or the realists—it's for the dreamers, the hopeless romantics, and the readers who can happily suspend disbelief and fall headfirst into the fantasy of a love that transcends lifetimes and timelines. The kind of love where your soul recognizes the other person before your mind can catch up. As a hopeless romantic myself, I fully embraced the premise and loved every minute of it.
This is very much an insta-love story, so if that's not your favorite trope, this one may not be for you. That said, the insta-love is essential to the plot and serves a much bigger purpose than simply rushing the romance.
The story follows Conrad, a self-proclaimed f-boy who has spent years avoiding commitment in favor of casual hookups. Burned out by that lifestyle, he decides he's finally ready for something real. For months, he's been haunted by recurring dreams of being deeply in love with a man who has an infinity symbol tattooed on his hand. Then one night, while out with a friend, he sees the man from his dreams. In an instant, his soul recognizes him, and Conrad knows he's found the person he's been searching for.
Their love story is intense, passionate, all-consuming, and at times borders on obsession. It's only told from Conrad's perspective, which adds a layer of mystery since we never fully know what Kenneth is thinking or experiencing. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I couldn't help but become completely invested in them.
About six months into their relationship, everything changes when Conrad is involved in a devastating accident. He wakes up in the hospital only to discover that the previous six months never happened. The premise gave me echoes of The Fall by Tal Bauer (although nothing will ever top that one for me). Determined not to lose Kenneth a second time, Conrad sets out to find him and win his heart all over again. What I loved most was that he wasn't just trying to recreate the past—he was intentional about correcting the mistakes he made the first time around, and watching him pursue Kenneth with that new perspective was incredibly satisfying. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if he could convince Kenneth, who is famously closed off to love and relationships, to fall for him all over again.
I was completely invested from beginning to end. The emotional intensity, the unique premise, and the undeniable chemistry between Conrad and Kenneth made this such an entertaining read.
My only lingering questions were about a few plot details that never felt fully explained. I kept waiting for the key to Kenneth's apartment that Conrad woke up with in the hospital—which seemed to prove those missing six months weren't just a dream—to play a bigger role, but it never really came back into the story. I also found myself wondering what happened to Kenneth's best friend, Jasmine, who disappeared after the first accident. Those unanswered questions left me a little curious by the end, and I wasn't entirely convinced the final car accident was necessary. Even so, those were relatively minor complaints in a story that completely swept me away.
Overall, this story felt like a love letter to the hopeless romantics. It's dramatic, emotional, and asks you to believe that love can transcend time, memory, and even fate. If you're the kind of reader who loves impossible love stories and happily embraces a little magic in your romance, I think this is one you should definitely add to your list.
Tropes:
Insta-love
Soulmates
Fated mates
Second chances
Time slip / alternate timeline
Memory loss
"My soul recognizes you"
Opposites attract
Emotional romance
High spice
This is very much an insta-love story, so if that's not your favorite trope, this one may not be for you. That said, the insta-love is essential to the plot and serves a much bigger purpose than simply rushing the romance.
The story follows Conrad, a self-proclaimed f-boy who has spent years avoiding commitment in favor of casual hookups. Burned out by that lifestyle, he decides he's finally ready for something real. For months, he's been haunted by recurring dreams of being deeply in love with a man who has an infinity symbol tattooed on his hand. Then one night, while out with a friend, he sees the man from his dreams. In an instant, his soul recognizes him, and Conrad knows he's found the person he's been searching for.
Their love story is intense, passionate, all-consuming, and at times borders on obsession. It's only told from Conrad's perspective, which adds a layer of mystery since we never fully know what Kenneth is thinking or experiencing. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I couldn't help but become completely invested in them.
About six months into their relationship, everything changes when Conrad is involved in a devastating accident. He wakes up in the hospital only to discover that the previous six months never happened. The premise gave me echoes of The Fall by Tal Bauer (although nothing will ever top that one for me). Determined not to lose Kenneth a second time, Conrad sets out to find him and win his heart all over again. What I loved most was that he wasn't just trying to recreate the past—he was intentional about correcting the mistakes he made the first time around, and watching him pursue Kenneth with that new perspective was incredibly satisfying. I was on the edge of my seat wondering if he could convince Kenneth, who is famously closed off to love and relationships, to fall for him all over again.
I was completely invested from beginning to end. The emotional intensity, the unique premise, and the undeniable chemistry between Conrad and Kenneth made this such an entertaining read.
My only lingering questions were about a few plot details that never felt fully explained. I kept waiting for the key to Kenneth's apartment that Conrad woke up with in the hospital—which seemed to prove those missing six months weren't just a dream—to play a bigger role, but it never really came back into the story. I also found myself wondering what happened to Kenneth's best friend, Jasmine, who disappeared after the first accident. Those unanswered questions left me a little curious by the end, and I wasn't entirely convinced the final car accident was necessary. Even so, those were relatively minor complaints in a story that completely swept me away.
Overall, this story felt like a love letter to the hopeless romantics. It's dramatic, emotional, and asks you to believe that love can transcend time, memory, and even fate. If you're the kind of reader who loves impossible love stories and happily embraces a little magic in your romance, I think this is one you should definitely add to your list.
Tropes:
Insta-love
Soulmates
Fated mates
Second chances
Time slip / alternate timeline
Memory loss
"My soul recognizes you"
Opposites attract
Emotional romance
High spice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
This is not the first book I have read by this author and I have to say I want to read all their work. This is just phenomenal. This book is a single POV only book. The emotional turmoil on this one is real.
Conrad has been dreaming about a faceless man and when he finally meets him, it marks the beginning of a beautiful love story. One moment of distraction leads to a car accident, and when Conrad wakes up, the last six months of his life including the love of his life are gone. Kenneth doesn't remember him and the love they shared only he knows.
Everyone deserves a friend like Emerson. I honestly believe if it hadn't been for him, Conrad may have given up on everything.
Before I Lost You is a very soul crushing story about fate, a second chance and finding your way back together in every timeline. My emotions went through every emotion r there was able to in this. Happiness, sadness, hope, longing. What a beautiful read 4/5
"I'll always find my way back to you." Maybe we were always meant to break in order to learn how to love. But we found our way back, and this time, I'm not letting go. Never again.
Conrad has been dreaming about a faceless man and when he finally meets him, it marks the beginning of a beautiful love story. One moment of distraction leads to a car accident, and when Conrad wakes up, the last six months of his life including the love of his life are gone. Kenneth doesn't remember him and the love they shared only he knows.
Everyone deserves a friend like Emerson. I honestly believe if it hadn't been for him, Conrad may have given up on everything.
Before I Lost You is a very soul crushing story about fate, a second chance and finding your way back together in every timeline. My emotions went through every emotion r there was able to in this. Happiness, sadness, hope, longing. What a beautiful read 4/5
"I'll always find my way back to you." Maybe we were always meant to break in order to learn how to love. But we found our way back, and this time, I'm not letting go. Never again.
July 29, 2026
Ohhh this one HURT. 🥹💔 Emotionally Deep MM Romance.
It starts with longing—“have we met?”... “you look familiar.” Dreams that feel like memories and that awful sense of impending doom. Then the accident happens and EVERYTHING resets. Very Ground hog dayish ! How many times has this happened ?
Conrad wakes six months in the past with memories of a life that technically never existed. Kenneth doesn't know him. Their love never happened. But Conrad remembers EVERYTHING. 😭
Imagine knowing the person you love with your whole soul... knowing how you found each other, how deeply you loved, and exactly how you lost them—while they're standing in front of you as a stranger. How many times have these two souls found each other? How many times have they collided, loved, lost, and somehow started again? I felt the grief. The hope. The fear. The tiny moments of recognition. ALL OF IT. 😭❤️🩹
This book left me sitting there thinking about soulmates, fate, and whether some people are simply meant to keep finding each other. I once met a psychic who said my mom and I have had MANY cycles together in different roles .... hhmmmmm
It starts with longing—“have we met?”... “you look familiar.” Dreams that feel like memories and that awful sense of impending doom. Then the accident happens and EVERYTHING resets. Very Ground hog dayish ! How many times has this happened ?
Conrad wakes six months in the past with memories of a life that technically never existed. Kenneth doesn't know him. Their love never happened. But Conrad remembers EVERYTHING. 😭
Imagine knowing the person you love with your whole soul... knowing how you found each other, how deeply you loved, and exactly how you lost them—while they're standing in front of you as a stranger. How many times have these two souls found each other? How many times have they collided, loved, lost, and somehow started again? I felt the grief. The hope. The fear. The tiny moments of recognition. ALL OF IT. 😭❤️🩹
This book left me sitting there thinking about soulmates, fate, and whether some people are simply meant to keep finding each other. I once met a psychic who said my mom and I have had MANY cycles together in different roles .... hhmmmmm
July 28, 2026
TITLE: Before I Lost You
AUTHOR: Shae Ruby
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
RATING: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🅜🅨 🅔🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦-
I have no words for how beautiful yet soul crushing this story was. Shae Ruby has written yet another phenomenal story about two souls who are destined to find each other.
Conrad from the moment he met Kenneth was head over heels in love with him. His soul recognised his immediately he knew without a doubt that Kenneth was the man for him. however even though these two men are soulmates fate has other plans for them both. What happens when you spend six months with the love of your life only to have it all taken away from you?
I was immediately hooked when I started this beautiful story. I could not get enough of Conrad and Kenneth. Before I Lost You is told from Conrad’s POV throughout the entire book. If you haven’t already picked up this incredible story then I suggest you do it now. This story will stay with you for a long time coming.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
AUTHOR: Shae Ruby
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
RATING: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🅜🅨 🅔🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦-
I have no words for how beautiful yet soul crushing this story was. Shae Ruby has written yet another phenomenal story about two souls who are destined to find each other.
Conrad from the moment he met Kenneth was head over heels in love with him. His soul recognised his immediately he knew without a doubt that Kenneth was the man for him. however even though these two men are soulmates fate has other plans for them both. What happens when you spend six months with the love of your life only to have it all taken away from you?
I was immediately hooked when I started this beautiful story. I could not get enough of Conrad and Kenneth. Before I Lost You is told from Conrad’s POV throughout the entire book. If you haven’t already picked up this incredible story then I suggest you do it now. This story will stay with you for a long time coming.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
July 29, 2026
I went in to this book 100% blind - other than knowing it was an mm romance & that I liked the cover...I know, I know.
This one really surprised me. If you're reading reviews you've likely read the synopsis, but DO NOT read anything else about this book or seek out any hints about how this story unfolds.
My heart broke so many times for Conrad & Kenneth - individually & as star-crossed, fated lovers. But their love story was prefect and unique. I loved how things unfolded, but I did almost throw my kindle across the room close-ish to the end. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it - no spoilers here!
I'm a hopeless romantic & this book was romantic, and magical, and spicy, and tragic, and really lovely to read. It was a nice deviation from what I typically look for and enjoy in a book.
I could read more of their story if any more is ever written! Or about Conrad's bestie bc I loved him too!
Definitely worth adding to your tbr.
This one really surprised me. If you're reading reviews you've likely read the synopsis, but DO NOT read anything else about this book or seek out any hints about how this story unfolds.
My heart broke so many times for Conrad & Kenneth - individually & as star-crossed, fated lovers. But their love story was prefect and unique. I loved how things unfolded, but I did almost throw my kindle across the room close-ish to the end. You'll know what I'm talking about when you read it - no spoilers here!
I'm a hopeless romantic & this book was romantic, and magical, and spicy, and tragic, and really lovely to read. It was a nice deviation from what I typically look for and enjoy in a book.
I could read more of their story if any more is ever written! Or about Conrad's bestie bc I loved him too!
Definitely worth adding to your tbr.
July 30, 2026
I went into this book blind. It totally ripped my heart out, multiple times! Totally fell in love with Conrad & Kenneth!
August 3, 2026
WOW, WOW, WOW
This is hands down one of the best books that I have read this year!! If you believe in soulmates please read this story!! Its simply AMAZING, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN! It blew me away!😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I would give it 10 stars if I could...
Also: 🌶🌶🌶🌶😏
This is hands down one of the best books that I have read this year!! If you believe in soulmates please read this story!! Its simply AMAZING, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN! It blew me away!😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I would give it 10 stars if I could...
Also: 🌶🌶🌶🌶😏
August 2, 2026
Oh my heart😭 This story ripped my heart out not once, but TWICE! And the second time it hurt even more than the first one.
I’m a firm believer of past lives. It might sound crazy but my husband and I met in three different lifetimes and it’s in this one that we’re finally together. Back then it was unrequited love on his part and we were just friends. So to say this story hit home, it’s an understatement.
Conrad dreaming of Kenny but not knowing who he was, was so painful to read. He could almost feel Kenny but could never touch him and that was so heartbreaking. I could feel his desperation as if it was my own.
I don’t blame him for running the first time he saw Ken. How was he supposed to look him in the eye and tell him he’s dreamed of him all this time? Ken wouldn’t have believed him and that was too much for Conrad to handle.
But Kenny feeling as if he’d met Conrad before was just another sign that they were soulmates. Him not wanting anything serious with anyone, just proved how he’d been waiting for the right person all this time. Unconsciously, his heart was already taken, he just didn’t know the face of the person.
I loved their relationship the first time around but it also pissed me off. Ken was a bit insensitive to Conrad’s feelings. Pushing him away when things got rough was totally a jerk move, especially when all Conrad wanted was to be there for him. I know he was going through a lot with his mom, but Conrad just wanted to comfort him.
I knew something bad was coming but I still wasn’t prepared for it, especially because of how avoidable it all was. But that’s just it. Life can change in the blink of an eye and rip everything from us in the most senseless way.
Seeing Conrad break down because he woke up in the past broke me. I couldn’t hold my tears from falling and I just wanted to hold him tight and comfort him. Knowing that you’re the only person who remembers the love of your life is the most painful thing anyone can go through.
Conrad knew he had to get Kenny back. But this time he’d do things differently. He needed to make sure he loved Kenny right. He would make Kenny fall in love with him again and this time he’d go slow and enjoy the process of dating him.
He wanted to do things differently in hope that it’d change the outcome. Conrad couldn’t lose Kenny again. But even if he did, his love for him was so strong that he’d find him in every lifetime.
”𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔. 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒕.”
There are so many reasons why I love this story but my two favorite ones are the past life aspect and Conrad’s love for stars. It’s just so close to my life that I can’t help but be biased😅
Definitely one of my top reads this year. Highly recommend it!
I’m a firm believer of past lives. It might sound crazy but my husband and I met in three different lifetimes and it’s in this one that we’re finally together. Back then it was unrequited love on his part and we were just friends. So to say this story hit home, it’s an understatement.
Conrad dreaming of Kenny but not knowing who he was, was so painful to read. He could almost feel Kenny but could never touch him and that was so heartbreaking. I could feel his desperation as if it was my own.
I don’t blame him for running the first time he saw Ken. How was he supposed to look him in the eye and tell him he’s dreamed of him all this time? Ken wouldn’t have believed him and that was too much for Conrad to handle.
But Kenny feeling as if he’d met Conrad before was just another sign that they were soulmates. Him not wanting anything serious with anyone, just proved how he’d been waiting for the right person all this time. Unconsciously, his heart was already taken, he just didn’t know the face of the person.
I loved their relationship the first time around but it also pissed me off. Ken was a bit insensitive to Conrad’s feelings. Pushing him away when things got rough was totally a jerk move, especially when all Conrad wanted was to be there for him. I know he was going through a lot with his mom, but Conrad just wanted to comfort him.
I knew something bad was coming but I still wasn’t prepared for it, especially because of how avoidable it all was. But that’s just it. Life can change in the blink of an eye and rip everything from us in the most senseless way.
Seeing Conrad break down because he woke up in the past broke me. I couldn’t hold my tears from falling and I just wanted to hold him tight and comfort him. Knowing that you’re the only person who remembers the love of your life is the most painful thing anyone can go through.
Conrad knew he had to get Kenny back. But this time he’d do things differently. He needed to make sure he loved Kenny right. He would make Kenny fall in love with him again and this time he’d go slow and enjoy the process of dating him.
He wanted to do things differently in hope that it’d change the outcome. Conrad couldn’t lose Kenny again. But even if he did, his love for him was so strong that he’d find him in every lifetime.
”𝑰𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔. 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒕.”
There are so many reasons why I love this story but my two favorite ones are the past life aspect and Conrad’s love for stars. It’s just so close to my life that I can’t help but be biased😅
Definitely one of my top reads this year. Highly recommend it!
July 28, 2026
This is the first book I have read by this author and I have to say I want to read more by them. Conrad and Kenneth have that love that can only be described as once in a lifetime and the determination Conrad showed to get that love back was just so gut wrenchingly beautiful. When Conrad wakes up in a hospital bed six months after meeting Kenneth everything he had is gone. Kenneth doesn't remember him and the love they shared only he knows. As I was reading this my emotions went through the proverbial meat grinder. I have never rooted so loud for a couple and for them to be able to have that once in a lifetime love. Then there is Emerson, Conrad's best friend I honestly believe if it hadn't been for him Conrad may have given up. What I loved about this story was Shae broke my heart into tiny pieces and put it back together again. We all want that love that transcends time and no force on this planet will keep you a part. I absolutely loved this book it brought good tears and I will reread this again and again.
August 7, 2026
Before I Lost You by Shae Ruby
Length: 324 pages
Source: Author-direct eARC
Publication date: July 28, 2026
4 ⭐
WHAT TO EXPECT
• MM romance
• Second chance
• Soulmates
• Time travel
• Angsty angst
• ‘I remember you’ energy
• Love beyond death
MY THOUGHTS
I knew there'd be a twist coming in this book, but I still didn't quite guess what was going to happen, and I love that! I like Shae's take on tropes that have a sense of deja vu, whether they lean toward time travel, memory loss, reincarnation, etc. Conrad (Connie) and Kenneth (Kenny) have an incredible connection throughout the book, and that lends a strong sense of fate or serendipity to all of their interactions. There's definitely angst between them as well and a feeling of unexplained desperation at times as they try to navigate how quickly they feel so strongly for each other and why. This is a single POV book from Conrad's perspective, and his own distress as he tries to figure out what is happening comes through loud and clear. I don't want to say too much, because this works really well to be in Conrad's shoes alongside him as the story develops. No matter what, it's romance and sexy on top of all the feels.
BOTTOM LINE
I really enjoyed this one! Definitely recommend.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Directly from book: death of a parent (off-page but mentioned on-page), parent sick and dying of cancer (discussed and occurs peacefully on page), depiction of a car accident in a nightmare and in real life
–A🩷
Thanks to Shae Ruby for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BookBub, and Audible.
Length: 324 pages
Source: Author-direct eARC
Publication date: July 28, 2026
4 ⭐
WHAT TO EXPECT
• MM romance
• Second chance
• Soulmates
• Time travel
• Angsty angst
• ‘I remember you’ energy
• Love beyond death
MY THOUGHTS
I knew there'd be a twist coming in this book, but I still didn't quite guess what was going to happen, and I love that! I like Shae's take on tropes that have a sense of deja vu, whether they lean toward time travel, memory loss, reincarnation, etc. Conrad (Connie) and Kenneth (Kenny) have an incredible connection throughout the book, and that lends a strong sense of fate or serendipity to all of their interactions. There's definitely angst between them as well and a feeling of unexplained desperation at times as they try to navigate how quickly they feel so strongly for each other and why. This is a single POV book from Conrad's perspective, and his own distress as he tries to figure out what is happening comes through loud and clear. I don't want to say too much, because this works really well to be in Conrad's shoes alongside him as the story develops. No matter what, it's romance and sexy on top of all the feels.
BOTTOM LINE
I really enjoyed this one! Definitely recommend.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Directly from book: death of a parent (off-page but mentioned on-page), parent sick and dying of cancer (discussed and occurs peacefully on page), depiction of a car accident in a nightmare and in real life
–A🩷
Thanks to Shae Ruby for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Reviews posted regularly on StoryGraph, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram, BookBub, and Audible.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💙 ARC REVIEW 💙
Before I Lost You by Shae Ruby
Conrad & Kenneth
💙 RELEASING: July 28th 💙
My Rating: 4.75☆
MM Romance With a Twist of Fate
Time Travel
Soulmates
Love That Survives Death
One POV Only **
Second Chance
Hurt & Comfort
Spice & Tears
HEA 💙
My Spicy Rating: 3.75-4🌶
💙 MY REVIEW 💙
Lately, I've been avoiding any spoilers, blurbs, etc when starting a new book and my God, what a treat this book is. I'm very sad it's over. I went in blind and for a minute, I didn't think they would have their HEA. But they do. Before I Lost You is a very sweet and soul crushing story about fate, a second chance and finding your way back together in every timeline. It's sad but healing at the same time. I just want to cry for the longing. The intrigue and excitement of needing to know what comes next. The end of part one was heart shattering but part two, part two was the healing part. 😩😭 Why did you break my heart in chapter 38 though?
When your soul knows who your soulmate is, no timeline matters. They will always find their way back together. They were always meant to be. It was fate all along. And Conrad and Kenneth are proof of that.
This book is a single POV only book. I would have enjoyed reading Ken's POV but honestly, it wasn't missed. It wasn't necessary. Without giving a spoiler, on part two, that's where I felt like I was reading Ken's POV.
Thank you for letting me ARC read this beautiful book. I enjoyed it very much. Before I Lost You will be available to read on July 28th.
Before I Lost You by Shae Ruby
Conrad & Kenneth
💙 RELEASING: July 28th 💙
My Rating: 4.75☆
MM Romance With a Twist of Fate
Time Travel
Soulmates
Love That Survives Death
One POV Only **
Second Chance
Hurt & Comfort
Spice & Tears
HEA 💙
My Spicy Rating: 3.75-4🌶
💙 MY REVIEW 💙
Lately, I've been avoiding any spoilers, blurbs, etc when starting a new book and my God, what a treat this book is. I'm very sad it's over. I went in blind and for a minute, I didn't think they would have their HEA. But they do. Before I Lost You is a very sweet and soul crushing story about fate, a second chance and finding your way back together in every timeline. It's sad but healing at the same time. I just want to cry for the longing. The intrigue and excitement of needing to know what comes next. The end of part one was heart shattering but part two, part two was the healing part. 😩😭 Why did you break my heart in chapter 38 though?
When your soul knows who your soulmate is, no timeline matters. They will always find their way back together. They were always meant to be. It was fate all along. And Conrad and Kenneth are proof of that.
This book is a single POV only book. I would have enjoyed reading Ken's POV but honestly, it wasn't missed. It wasn't necessary. Without giving a spoiler, on part two, that's where I felt like I was reading Ken's POV.
Thank you for letting me ARC read this beautiful book. I enjoyed it very much. Before I Lost You will be available to read on July 28th.
July 31, 2026
Have you ever had a love that felt like that all consuming love? Where you feel like you’ve known a person and could find them in every lifetime?
Before I lost you by @SheaRuby is just that! We have Conrad and we have Kenneth! And Conrad meets Kenny at an art show, but to him he feels like he’s met Kenny and loved him before.
Maybe in another lifetime? Maybe in every lifetime? The way these two fall in love! And you watch their love story over and over ! How would It feel knowing that you had loved this person again and again? But they don’t know it?
But then something happens… to Conrad and it’s gone! At least in the timeline that Conrad remembers, and it’s like trying to find the person who made you feel whole again over and over! Which almost feels like with every encounter Conrad is relearning their relationship! Poor Kenny, I cried along with him, lose and love.. the two most precious moments!
You feel everything in this book!
You go on such a ride with this book , have every emotion possible! I don’t think I cried so much during a book like I did with this! I know shea’s writing I love her books, but I think this book may be my favorite!
She brings that raw human emotion of loving someone, to the heart of this story! Where the concept of a soulmate is truly finding that one person in every lifetime! Falling in love with and loving someone over and over again!
Kenny and Conrad will forever be endgame! And I love them! And if you need good cry Go READ THIS BOOK! Shea Ruby is an Autobuy for me! I loved this book!
Before I lost you by @SheaRuby is just that! We have Conrad and we have Kenneth! And Conrad meets Kenny at an art show, but to him he feels like he’s met Kenny and loved him before.
Maybe in another lifetime? Maybe in every lifetime? The way these two fall in love! And you watch their love story over and over ! How would It feel knowing that you had loved this person again and again? But they don’t know it?
But then something happens… to Conrad and it’s gone! At least in the timeline that Conrad remembers, and it’s like trying to find the person who made you feel whole again over and over! Which almost feels like with every encounter Conrad is relearning their relationship! Poor Kenny, I cried along with him, lose and love.. the two most precious moments!
You feel everything in this book!
You go on such a ride with this book , have every emotion possible! I don’t think I cried so much during a book like I did with this! I know shea’s writing I love her books, but I think this book may be my favorite!
She brings that raw human emotion of loving someone, to the heart of this story! Where the concept of a soulmate is truly finding that one person in every lifetime! Falling in love with and loving someone over and over again!
Kenny and Conrad will forever be endgame! And I love them! And if you need good cry Go READ THIS BOOK! Shea Ruby is an Autobuy for me! I loved this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2026
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐝 & 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡 ✨
“𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅.”
The emotional turmoil on this one is real. I loved feeling all the feels while throwing my kindle across the room. Connie & Kenny, the definition of soul mates in every life 😩
My Conrad baby, searching for the man of his dreams (literally). Only to find him and have it all ripped away from him 😭 my heart was breaking for him. Knife in the chest pain because the loss is unbearable when you see your soul mate and they don’t even know you.
“𝑶𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝑮𝒐𝒅,” 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚. “𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
And Kenny! Walls up, terrified of being left, so he pushes away the people he loves before they can leave. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. While desperately hoping that person breaks down that wall brick by brick. And Conrad did that! Because in every lifetime they were meant for each other.
“𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.” 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.
I loved their story so much. The amount of spice?? 😮💨🥵 The pain is heartbreaking but the healing in the end is so worth it 🥹 Thank you, Shae for letting me ARC read this!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✨ MM
✨ Emotional Romance
✨ Time travel
✨ Second chance
✨ Hurt/Comfort
✨ Gay romance with a twist of fate
✨ I remember you energy
✨ Soulmate level intimacy
✨ Love that survives death
✨ Spice & Tears
✨ Heart shattering. Then healing
𝐓𝐖𝐬:
⚠️ Death of a parent (off page, discussed on page)
⚠️ Parent sick and dying of cancer (discussed and occurs peacefully on page)
⚠️ Depiction of a car accident in a nightmare and real life
𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬:
⛓️ Masturbation
⛓️ Shower
⛓️ Oral
⛓️ Anal play
⛓️ Anal
⛓️ Dry humping
⛓️ Public
⛓️ Beach
⛓️ Praise
⛓️ Good boy
⛓️ Begging
⛓️ Ass eating
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Heat: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
POV: Singular - first person
Ending: 🩷HEA
“𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅.”
The emotional turmoil on this one is real. I loved feeling all the feels while throwing my kindle across the room. Connie & Kenny, the definition of soul mates in every life 😩
My Conrad baby, searching for the man of his dreams (literally). Only to find him and have it all ripped away from him 😭 my heart was breaking for him. Knife in the chest pain because the loss is unbearable when you see your soul mate and they don’t even know you.
“𝑶𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝑮𝒐𝒅,” 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒍𝒚. “𝑰 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
And Kenny! Walls up, terrified of being left, so he pushes away the people he loves before they can leave. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. While desperately hoping that person breaks down that wall brick by brick. And Conrad did that! Because in every lifetime they were meant for each other.
“𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖.” 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.
I loved their story so much. The amount of spice?? 😮💨🥵 The pain is heartbreaking but the healing in the end is so worth it 🥹 Thank you, Shae for letting me ARC read this!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✨ MM
✨ Emotional Romance
✨ Time travel
✨ Second chance
✨ Hurt/Comfort
✨ Gay romance with a twist of fate
✨ I remember you energy
✨ Soulmate level intimacy
✨ Love that survives death
✨ Spice & Tears
✨ Heart shattering. Then healing
𝐓𝐖𝐬:
⚠️ Death of a parent (off page, discussed on page)
⚠️ Parent sick and dying of cancer (discussed and occurs peacefully on page)
⚠️ Depiction of a car accident in a nightmare and real life
𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬:
⛓️ Masturbation
⛓️ Shower
⛓️ Oral
⛓️ Anal play
⛓️ Anal
⛓️ Dry humping
⛓️ Public
⛓️ Beach
⛓️ Praise
⛓️ Good boy
⛓️ Begging
⛓️ Ass eating
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Heat: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
POV: Singular - first person
Ending: 🩷HEA
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into Before I Lost You with really high hopes. The blurb immediately intrigued me, and I couldn't wait to read it. I absolutely devoured this book. I was completely pulled into this story, it was absolutely beautiful and emotional.
We've all had those moments of déjà vu where we wonder, "Have I done this before?" But imagine if you actually had and you could remember another life and you could make different choices. This whole concept made this book impossible to put down.
I loved the soulmate aspect of the story; the right person, wrong time. Conrad and Kenneth were always meant to find each other in one lifetime or another, but their timing wasn't right. Watching them get a second chance,I was heartbroken for them and so hopeful that they'd get it right.
Both MCs were easy to love. From the moment Conrad saw Kenneth, his soul recognised him, and he was never not going to fight for him. Kenneth wanted to be loved, but was so terrified of losing the people he cared about, that fear really got in his way.
This story gives you hope that love can find you in every lifetime, no matter how impossible it seems. It's one of those books that makes you think about fate, soulmates, and whether some people are simply destined to find each other in every lifetime. If you're a big softie like me and believe in fate and soulmates, you are going to love this book.
We've all had those moments of déjà vu where we wonder, "Have I done this before?" But imagine if you actually had and you could remember another life and you could make different choices. This whole concept made this book impossible to put down.
I loved the soulmate aspect of the story; the right person, wrong time. Conrad and Kenneth were always meant to find each other in one lifetime or another, but their timing wasn't right. Watching them get a second chance,I was heartbroken for them and so hopeful that they'd get it right.
Both MCs were easy to love. From the moment Conrad saw Kenneth, his soul recognised him, and he was never not going to fight for him. Kenneth wanted to be loved, but was so terrified of losing the people he cared about, that fear really got in his way.
This story gives you hope that love can find you in every lifetime, no matter how impossible it seems. It's one of those books that makes you think about fate, soulmates, and whether some people are simply destined to find each other in every lifetime. If you're a big softie like me and believe in fate and soulmates, you are going to love this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was a roller coaster ride of emotions!
My gosh I am a true believer in soul mates, de javu and it’s always been you.
Conrad is a non commitment kind of guy. But he keeps having these dreams of a man but can’t see his face only a tattoo on his finger. Connie goes to a gallery with his best friend Emerson and is stricken by this beautiful man he then realizes the tattoo and runs out. Let’s just say the first part of this book is so.sweet endearing until tragedy happens.
Conrad wakes up in a hospital bed 6 months after. Let’s just say he’s so heartbroken and also feels he’s going crazy.
Kenneth is a non relationship man at all he makes that very clear to Conrad. But they fall in love they find their happiness until it’s snuffed away.
Conrad is determined to find Kenneth and make him fall in love again with him because he just knows everything he dreamed of was real.
My heart truly broke for both of them. Dreaming of your souls mate your fate to live it over and over again. But finally the stars align and they find their way back together.
This is my first book from Shae the writing is beautiful. But omg will you go through an emotional roller coaster ride with this book.
My gosh I am a true believer in soul mates, de javu and it’s always been you.
Conrad is a non commitment kind of guy. But he keeps having these dreams of a man but can’t see his face only a tattoo on his finger. Connie goes to a gallery with his best friend Emerson and is stricken by this beautiful man he then realizes the tattoo and runs out. Let’s just say the first part of this book is so.sweet endearing until tragedy happens.
Conrad wakes up in a hospital bed 6 months after. Let’s just say he’s so heartbroken and also feels he’s going crazy.
Kenneth is a non relationship man at all he makes that very clear to Conrad. But they fall in love they find their happiness until it’s snuffed away.
Conrad is determined to find Kenneth and make him fall in love again with him because he just knows everything he dreamed of was real.
My heart truly broke for both of them. Dreaming of your souls mate your fate to live it over and over again. But finally the stars align and they find their way back together.
This is my first book from Shae the writing is beautiful. But omg will you go through an emotional roller coaster ride with this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW***
Beautiful , emotional, heartbreakingly phenomenal. I couldn’t put the book down.
Conrad has been having dreams of the same man every night, to a point that hookups aren’t even on his radar anymore. Everything about the dreams feel real but the only thing he can ever make out is the tattoo on the man’s hand. Conrad and his friend end up going to a gallery showing one night and run into his dream man, Kenneth. After freaking out and running away he finally gets the courage to go back to the gallery and get the man’s phone number only to run into him at the bar a few days later. Everything seems to fall into place from there. They start to spend more time together and Conrad does everything under the sun to get Kenneth to fall in love with him. To me Conrad and Kenneth’s relationship at this point is a bit toxic. You can see they were meant to be together but it’s a “Right place, wrong time” situation.
Then an incident happens that changes everything. I won’t give anything away but the story only gets more emotional from here. I read this book in 4 hours, and my heart was torn and mended multiple times. This is a 5 ⭐️ for me.
Beautiful , emotional, heartbreakingly phenomenal. I couldn’t put the book down.
Conrad has been having dreams of the same man every night, to a point that hookups aren’t even on his radar anymore. Everything about the dreams feel real but the only thing he can ever make out is the tattoo on the man’s hand. Conrad and his friend end up going to a gallery showing one night and run into his dream man, Kenneth. After freaking out and running away he finally gets the courage to go back to the gallery and get the man’s phone number only to run into him at the bar a few days later. Everything seems to fall into place from there. They start to spend more time together and Conrad does everything under the sun to get Kenneth to fall in love with him. To me Conrad and Kenneth’s relationship at this point is a bit toxic. You can see they were meant to be together but it’s a “Right place, wrong time” situation.
Then an incident happens that changes everything. I won’t give anything away but the story only gets more emotional from here. I read this book in 4 hours, and my heart was torn and mended multiple times. This is a 5 ⭐️ for me.
Read
July 28, 2026Conrad meets the man of his dreams (literally), only to get stuck in a loop of dying and rekindling the relationship that no one else but him remembers. I *love* the idea behind this story!
Conrad and Kenneth are so cute (and hot!) together, and I adore Conrad’s best friend, who is amazing at listening to Conrad and believing his not-so-believable story.
My main issue with the story is that the first half, which lays the grounds for their “first” (though it probably isn’t the first) relationship, kind of drags a bit. I got bored and started skimming in some places. There’s also some irritating back and forth with a sort of “I’ll always be here” “I’m mad and don’t want to see you again” three paragraphs later type of situation.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, but I think the first half could have been more enjoyable if it hadn’t been quite so drawn out. The spicy scenes were great, but also a bit repetitive at times.
ARC review, my opinions are my own.
July 29, 2026
Happy Release Day! ** ARC REVIEW **
Before I lost You by Shae Ruby pulls on your heartstrings with its tension, vulnerability and relatable angst. Connie and Kenny had my heart beating and breaking and then pieced back together. Imagine meeting the LITERAL man of your dreams. Except he has his own demons to overcome. Shae wrote a story that grounds you right into both MMC's inner turmoil so that every shift in tension feels raw, real and organic. Connie and Kenny feel completely human and flawed in all the best ways. You can feel the weight of their choices and the genuine affection in every interaction. This story is about finding love, losing it, and finding your way back to it. What would you change if you had a second chance at love? A true opportunity to do it over with the same person. The angst and tension are executed so well and the character arcs felt so earned by the final page. I devoured this and appreciated the opportunity for the early read!
Before I lost You by Shae Ruby pulls on your heartstrings with its tension, vulnerability and relatable angst. Connie and Kenny had my heart beating and breaking and then pieced back together. Imagine meeting the LITERAL man of your dreams. Except he has his own demons to overcome. Shae wrote a story that grounds you right into both MMC's inner turmoil so that every shift in tension feels raw, real and organic. Connie and Kenny feel completely human and flawed in all the best ways. You can feel the weight of their choices and the genuine affection in every interaction. This story is about finding love, losing it, and finding your way back to it. What would you change if you had a second chance at love? A true opportunity to do it over with the same person. The angst and tension are executed so well and the character arcs felt so earned by the final page. I devoured this and appreciated the opportunity for the early read!
July 29, 2026
ARC Review – Before I Lost You by Shae Ruby
This story ended up stealing my heart. I'll admit, I was a little confused at the beginning as I tried to piece everything together, but once the story found its rhythm, I couldn't put it down.
The connection between the characters was beautiful, emotional, and incredibly moving. I loved the reminder that love has a way of finding its way back, even when life seems to pull people apart. Their journey was filled with heartbreak, hope, healing, and just the right amount of spice to balance the emotional moments.
As usual Shae Ruby did a wonderful job creating characters I genuinely cared about, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. If you're looking for an emotional romance with plenty of heart, second chances, and some steamy chemistry, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ❤️
This story ended up stealing my heart. I'll admit, I was a little confused at the beginning as I tried to piece everything together, but once the story found its rhythm, I couldn't put it down.
The connection between the characters was beautiful, emotional, and incredibly moving. I loved the reminder that love has a way of finding its way back, even when life seems to pull people apart. Their journey was filled with heartbreak, hope, healing, and just the right amount of spice to balance the emotional moments.
As usual Shae Ruby did a wonderful job creating characters I genuinely cared about, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. If you're looking for an emotional romance with plenty of heart, second chances, and some steamy chemistry, I definitely recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️3🌶️
"Some love stories rewrite time just to be told."
Wow! as I stepped outside my usual comfort zone reads, this novela gripped me from page one. Leaving a lasting impression with its blend of comical relief, tragedy, hope, and spicey edge.
Our (MCS) Conrad and Kenny were impossible not to root for. Showcasing quiet strengths, vulnerability, and humor, pairing perfectly with Emerson! Conrads Bestie who stole every scene with his wit and unwavering loyalty! I so need me a "EM" in my life!
At its heart, this was a story of profound love with unforgettable characters and just the right amount of (made me blush) spice. The storytelling was well crafted, balancing lighthearted moments with raw emotion before delivering a powerful plot twist that hit exactly when it needed to.
This for me was a cozy emotional reprieve, I didn’t know I needed.
"Some love stories rewrite time just to be told."
Wow! as I stepped outside my usual comfort zone reads, this novela gripped me from page one. Leaving a lasting impression with its blend of comical relief, tragedy, hope, and spicey edge.
Our (MCS) Conrad and Kenny were impossible not to root for. Showcasing quiet strengths, vulnerability, and humor, pairing perfectly with Emerson! Conrads Bestie who stole every scene with his wit and unwavering loyalty! I so need me a "EM" in my life!
At its heart, this was a story of profound love with unforgettable characters and just the right amount of (made me blush) spice. The storytelling was well crafted, balancing lighthearted moments with raw emotion before delivering a powerful plot twist that hit exactly when it needed to.
This for me was a cozy emotional reprieve, I didn’t know I needed.
July 28, 2026
so sweet
A new book by Shae makes my heart so happy!!
I don’t even know how to describe this book other than heartbreakingly beautiful.
The time travel was new for me so I was skeptical but went in with open eyes and it did not disappoint. The love and connection between Kenny and Connie was so pure and beautiful. I loved them so much. Shae always pulls on those heart strings a little but will give you a beautiful heartfelt HEA and that’s exactly what you get here.
This book gives you so much emotion and love. It’s a journey for two people destined to be together and finding their way back against all odds. When these two say “You’re mine forever” they mean it in every sense of the word. Shae absolutely put her all into this book and you can feel it throughout. Don’t worry, we get some amazing spice as well!!
I highly recommend giving this book a shot.
A new book by Shae makes my heart so happy!!
I don’t even know how to describe this book other than heartbreakingly beautiful.
The time travel was new for me so I was skeptical but went in with open eyes and it did not disappoint. The love and connection between Kenny and Connie was so pure and beautiful. I loved them so much. Shae always pulls on those heart strings a little but will give you a beautiful heartfelt HEA and that’s exactly what you get here.
This book gives you so much emotion and love. It’s a journey for two people destined to be together and finding their way back against all odds. When these two say “You’re mine forever” they mean it in every sense of the word. Shae absolutely put her all into this book and you can feel it throughout. Don’t worry, we get some amazing spice as well!!
I highly recommend giving this book a shot.
July 30, 2026
Wow, what an emotional story! I normally stay away from books that I know are going to make me cry, but this one grabbed my attention from the very beginning, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. I love stories about soulmates, and the time travel element made it even more captivating.
The author truly knows how to tug at your heartstrings. Conrad and Kenneth's journey was beautifully written, emotional, and incredibly sweet. There was one moment that had me completely on the edge of my seat—but I'm keeping quiet about that because it's something you need to experience for yourself!
If you love emotional romances with soulmates, time travel, and characters you'll be rooting for from beginning to end, I highly recommend picking this one up. Just be sure to check the content warnings before you start.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
The author truly knows how to tug at your heartstrings. Conrad and Kenneth's journey was beautifully written, emotional, and incredibly sweet. There was one moment that had me completely on the edge of my seat—but I'm keeping quiet about that because it's something you need to experience for yourself!
If you love emotional romances with soulmates, time travel, and characters you'll be rooting for from beginning to end, I highly recommend picking this one up. Just be sure to check the content warnings before you start.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
July 31, 2026
I can't even begin to count how many times this book broke me. Conrad and Kenneth have that once-in-a-lifetime type of love. One could say they are soulmates who were always fated to love each other. Yet, fate was also determined to tear them apart. Conrad had literally been searching for the man from his dreams when he found him in an art gallery. They fell in love only to have it ripped away, and now Conrad has to get Kenneth back again. Seeing Conrad find and keep his true love the first time was a rough go, but then having to watch him and Kenneth get their second chance again was heart-wrenching. I didn't think my heart was going to survive this one. I really loved both of these characters and wanted them both to be happy from the get-go, but fate in this book was a fickle bitch. If you love a story about soulmates and destiny, this is a great one to add to your TBR.
August 10, 2026
Before I Lost You by Shae Ruby
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I went into this one not knowing exactly what to expect, and honestly, I think that’s the best way to read it. The story pulled me in with its mix of romance, heartbreak, fate, and second chances, and I was completely invested in Conrad and Kenneth’s journey.
There were moments where I was smiling, moments where my heart hurt, and moments where I just wanted to yell at the book like, “WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?!” 😂
The emotional connection between these two was definitely my favorite part. There’s something about a love that feels bigger than time and circumstances that just gets me every time. 🥹
The big vibes/tropes are:
* 🕰️ Time travel
* 💙 Soulmates / “I’ll find you in every lifetime”
* 🔄 Second chance
* 🥹 Hurt/comfort
* 💔 Heartbreak + healing
* 🌶️ Spice
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I went into this one not knowing exactly what to expect, and honestly, I think that’s the best way to read it. The story pulled me in with its mix of romance, heartbreak, fate, and second chances, and I was completely invested in Conrad and Kenneth’s journey.
There were moments where I was smiling, moments where my heart hurt, and moments where I just wanted to yell at the book like, “WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?!” 😂
The emotional connection between these two was definitely my favorite part. There’s something about a love that feels bigger than time and circumstances that just gets me every time. 🥹
The big vibes/tropes are:
* 🕰️ Time travel
* 💙 Soulmates / “I’ll find you in every lifetime”
* 🔄 Second chance
* 🥹 Hurt/comfort
* 💔 Heartbreak + healing
* 🌶️ Spice
Review of advance copy
𝙱𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝙸 𝙻𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚈𝚘𝚞
𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
3.5/5 ⭐️
↓↓
This was such a unique read.
My heart really broke for both of them and what they went through. The determination that Conrad had for Kenneth made his love even stronger in my opinion.
I really was rooting for them the entire time, their love was something that was undeniable and they definitely were soulmates in every way possible.
They had a VERY hard road to get to their HEA but if anyone deserves it, it's them.
𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙾 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃
💫 Time travel
💫 Second chance
💫 Hurt/Comfort
💫 Gay romance with a twist of fate
💫 I remember you energy
💫 Soulmate level intimacy
💫 Love that survives death
💫 Spice & Tears
💫Heart shattering. Then healing.
𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
3.5/5 ⭐️
↓↓
This was such a unique read.
My heart really broke for both of them and what they went through. The determination that Conrad had for Kenneth made his love even stronger in my opinion.
I really was rooting for them the entire time, their love was something that was undeniable and they definitely were soulmates in every way possible.
They had a VERY hard road to get to their HEA but if anyone deserves it, it's them.
𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙾 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃
💫 Time travel
💫 Second chance
💫 Hurt/Comfort
💫 Gay romance with a twist of fate
💫 I remember you energy
💫 Soulmate level intimacy
💫 Love that survives death
💫 Spice & Tears
💫Heart shattering. Then healing.
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