Before You Say Anything: Unforgettable Love Stories, Book 3

by Sarah Gate, Freya Parker (Narrator)

Bluebell has always struggled with anxiety, finding it hard to fit in at social events and navigate the chaos of the world around her. But amidst the noise and confusion of a lavish ballroom, she finds herself unexpectedly grounded by Jesse, a close friend who has always been there for her. Over the years, their friendship has been a constant source of comfort for Bluebell—Jesse understands her like no one else, offering her calm and understanding when she needs it most.

Though their connection has always been platonic, something begins to shift between them during that fateful night. As Bluebell battles her anxiety, Jesse becomes more than just a friend—he’s her emotional safe haven, and she starts to realize that her feelings for him have grown into something deeper. But Bluebell, terrified of ruining their friendship, is hesitant to acknowledge her growing attraction. Jesse, on the other hand, has secretly harbored feelings for Bluebell for years, but has kept them hidden, unsure if she feels the same.

As their friendship evolves into something more, Bluebell and Jesse must navigate the delicate transition from friends to lovers, confronting their own insecurities and fears along the way. In Before You Say Anything, Bluebell learns that sometimes the strongest love comes from the most unexpected places, and that the best relationships are built on a foundation of friendship, trust, and unwavering support.

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 30, 2026

Reviews

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the Unforgettable Love Stories series and my first Sarah Gate novel. When a world-traveler meets an old friend at a masquerade, their anonymity and attraction change the relationship dynamic.

Bluebell is an acquired taste. She's bold, outspoken, and loyal to her family and friends. She also believes in fate, unless it comes to her love life. She runs a blog, travels everywhere on her parents' dime, is close to forty, and dares to tell Jesse to grow up. Seriously? But I believe Bluebell's carefree life has caught up with her, and she's found a city where she wants to settle down and lifelong friends to hang out with. The problem is that she is panicking about her feelings for Jesse and trying to curb her usual urge to flee an overwhelming situation.

Jesse is sweet, kind, and a great catch! His life is tragic when he quits his job as a journalist and comes home to care for his parents on a barista's salary. He is an old friend of Bluebell's who hides his real feelings from her to stay in her life—even going as far as a marriage of convenience to help her get her visa to stay in Italy. I love his gentleness and compassion, and I actually hoped he would move on from Bluebell and her chaos because I felt he deserved better.

The supporting characters, including Jesse's dads and Bluebell's friends and family, are a great addition. Plus, Bluebell's family sounds wonderful, and they are extremely close.

Ms. Gate draws out her characters with purpose, truth, and vulnerability. Her book is told through Bluebell's voice, which gives Jesse's feelings a mysterious air. I enjoyed immersing myself in Venice and seeing Bluebell grow and see her worth in the universe. I found the writing a bit dense at times and would have liked fewer words and more conciseness, and to get to the point sooner, but I was delighted by the descriptions of the location and the food. In fact, Venice and Italy as a whole have been places I would love to visit someday.

Though I wasn't a big fan of the main character, I found her journey captivating and genuine, especially when she finally saw the treasure she had in Jesse. If you're in the mood for a friends-to-lovers romance with a little Italian flair, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Gate for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review.

[Mo Chapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Gate has an extraordinary ability to bring her characters to life, but Before You Say Anything touched me more deeply than I could ever have anticipated.
Bluebell is one of those rare fictional characters I felt I understood instinctively. Her thoughts, emotions and reactions felt so incredibly familiar that I wasn't simply reading her story, I was experiencing it alongside her. There were moments of warmth and tenderness, but also moments of such overwhelming emotion that I genuinely struggled to read through the tears.
This is so much more than a romance. It's a beautiful, deeply affecting story about love in its purest form, the love of family and friends, the comfort of belonging and the importance of being accepted exactly as you are.
Bluebell's story completely shattered my heart, yet I finished reading with a wonderful sense of contentment. I loved Bluebell, I loved her story, and I know I will carry the emotions of this book with me for a very long time.
👩🏻‍💻 MoMoBookDiary (2026)

[Julia Bozza · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

I really struggled with this one. I thought it was a cute premise and set up but the execution felt very all over the place. Facts about their relationship and how they knew each other were inconsistent, character decisions made no sense with how they act, and there were a few things that kinda came out of nowhere and then are never mentioned again. The text did a lot of saying not showing which made it a challenging read at times, and I just couldn’t really connect w the characters or story. It just felt very all over the place.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh gosh, I'm sorry, but this book was just not for me. This was the most heavy handed writing I've read and the heroine was just unlikeable to me. It's the third book in the series, but it was my first time reading Sarah Gate and I was able to read it as a standalone just fine. Maybe if you were already invested in some of the characters and/or used to her writing, you'd enjoy this book.

First, Bluebell is nearly forty and acts like she's (at most) in her mid-twenties. She lives off an allowance given by her parents instead of working, lives on whims, and believes the universe sends her signs on what to do so she never has to decide herself. The writing makes it sound like she's a manic pixie dream girl, but that it's okay because she sometimes feels bad about it. She's supposed to be charming with how she floats through life, but it came across as spoiled and annoying. Even in moments I agreed with her, like how awful it is for men to tear down their partner to try and make themselves look better, the text came across as preachy. And it happens again and again, that these intended "yes girl" moments became more eh.

The descriptions can be lovely, but overall, the over-explaining felt relentless. It would have been more impactful if the author could have trusted the reader to make the connections, like the loss of Bowie to why Bluebell lives life fully, or be less overt, like how Jesse's traits are listed via his horoscope.

Other random things - I'm not fully comprehending why Bluebell wouldn't consider it odd that the guy who only has sex if there's long-term relationship potential would be willing to have a sham marriage. Two random bombs are dropped out of nowhere: Bluebell having an eating disorder and being groomed when she was younger. They're mentioned a couple of times, and then nothing. It was a bit jarring.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completely adored this family when I read the previous story in this series, so when I saw we would be following Bluebell in Italy I knew it would be magical.
The ball sounded absolutely gorgeous, what a dream to attend something like that. The meeting of Cinderella and Phantom, and the revelation thereafter was brilliant. I loved their time together at the ball, and finding out they knew one another gave me a real giggle as to how things could have gone!
I really felt emotional for Jesse as he let Bluebell into his home that first night. What a horrible disease. Was handled so sensitively throughout the rest of the story and added some real depth to Jesse's life.
I was so invested in all the characters, Jesse and Bluebell so deserved to be happy, Beatrice and Antonio were such wonderful people, and it was lovely to see the rest of the Whittle family doing well too.
It's a super slow burn, and I was definitely shouting at them internal a few times that they were being absolute idiots and just needed to talk things out! Its always easier said than done though!
I love seeing a happy ending, I dont think there will be any more to come from the Whittles, though maybe a sidewards branch could start off with Beatrice, maybe even Iris? Who knows! I'd love to continue to read more by this author though as she writes really lovely stories.

[Alison · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This is part of a series of novels, each of which focuses on one member of a family and all of which on one level are romances. However, they also read very well on a standalone basis.

Whilst well written and intense, in my view they are much more than romances, and this is certainly true of this, the latest book.
It features Bluebell and her friend Jesse and is set in Venice and in Burano and the setting is very much part of the story and very attractive in its own right.

On another level the book shows how Bluebell, with Jesse and others’ help, grows to understand herself better and to know what she wants to do in and with her life and this is fascinatingly woven into their interactions and relationship.

Highly recommended.

[Riette Beling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my greatness what a story!!

This was insanely good, chaotic at times, but if fell in so well with Bluebell and her personality.  Her fears, doubts and chaos was palpable throughout this story. Enter Jesse, well damn if every pot has its lid it sure seems this set was complete.

It was such a joy to get to know these two better and explore their friendship with them. The supporting cast of characters were amazing, each with their own role and reason. This was sweet and whimsical and left me with a pining heart at the end. I flew through this in one sitting and although frustrating at time ( don't you just wish you can climb into a book and shake someone!) It all worked so very well. @sarah.gate.writer kept me enthralled throughout!

Romance readers will adore this hopefully just as much as I did!

[Phil Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got over the strange names (Bluebell,Phantom,Cinderella) I quite enjoyed this friends to lovers story. It's probably my age but I get lost without proper names!
Bluebell has anxiety problems and struggles with situations, luckily she has a lifetime friend in Jesse who supports her and cares for her. Trouble is he's taken for granted and Bluebell doesn't realise she loves him.
Throw in Italy, a beautiful island retreat, and the romantic Rialto bridge and a rapidly running out visa and you have a lovely story.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

This book began with a romantic scenario that swept me away. Bluebell was a character that I connected with from the start, and Jesse was adorable. I also felt the book had some interesting side characters, like Bluebell's friend Autumn, and I wondered if some of these characters might have their own books.

This was a lovely feel-good read that left me feeling warm and fuzzy, and it was easy to read in one sitting too. Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Sarah Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

READING THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THIS SERIES IS ESSENTIAL TO LOVE AND UNDERSTAND BLUEBELL!!!!!! I absolutely love this series and these characters!! I feel like I’ve been on a holiday to Italy. The mmc Jesse is perfect book boyfriend material. I loved seeing the progression of characters from the first two books.

I laughed, cried… panicked SG was going to kill off one of the side characters I’d grown a huge fondness for 😂😂 and there was something about the way the author adds bits of feminism and political views tastefully and discreetly that match my own views so deeply it was like the characters would be people I could be friends with. The delicate way in which neurodiversity and dementia topics were handled in the book with such thought and care was so relatable to my life….

I have read 1000 books now and so many authors captivate me but this series is really special. Before you say goodbye book 1 in the series is probably my favourite romance book ever….

Arc received from author as I think I was driving her mad asking for book 3 updates.

Ready for book 4 and hoping it’s Pip!!! 😍😍😍

[Sarah Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant

Loved bluebells character progression through the 3 books and was obsessed with her happy ending 😍 feel like I’ve travelled round Italy with an old friend. Love the first book in the series so much