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It Was Always You
Would you choose a different life if you had the chance?
Two people. One chance to turn back the clock.
On the last night in October 1999 the clocks went back, and Ella and Will's love began.
A teenage Ella sat around a bonfire drinking with her future husband and her oldest friend Cole.
As Ella wandered away from the group, she found herself leaning against a derelict archway before passing out.
The next day, Ella remembered fractured images of a conversation with a woman in a green coat and red scarf but dismissed it as a drunken dream.
Twenty-three years later, with her marriage to Will in trouble, and Cole spiralling out of control, Ella opens a gift which turns her life upside down: a green coat and red scarf.
When she looks in the mirror, the woman from the archway is reflected back at her.
As the last Sunday in October arrives, Ella is faced with a choice. Would she choose a different life, if she could do it again?
Two people. One chance to turn back the clock.
On the last night in October 1999 the clocks went back, and Ella and Will's love began.
A teenage Ella sat around a bonfire drinking with her future husband and her oldest friend Cole.
As Ella wandered away from the group, she found herself leaning against a derelict archway before passing out.
The next day, Ella remembered fractured images of a conversation with a woman in a green coat and red scarf but dismissed it as a drunken dream.
Twenty-three years later, with her marriage to Will in trouble, and Cole spiralling out of control, Ella opens a gift which turns her life upside down: a green coat and red scarf.
When she looks in the mirror, the woman from the archway is reflected back at her.
As the last Sunday in October arrives, Ella is faced with a choice. Would she choose a different life, if she could do it again?
448 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2022
189 people are currently reading
1628 people want to read
About the author
Emma Cooper
8 books228 followersEmma Cooper is a former teaching assistant, who lives in Shropshire, with her partner and four children. Her spare time consists of writing novels, drinking wine and watching box-sets with her partner of twenty-four years, who still makes her smile every day.
Emma has always wanted to be a writer – ever since her childhood, she’s been inventing characters (her favourite being her imaginary friend ‘Boot’) and is thrilled that she now gets to use this imagination to bring to life all of her creations.
The Songs of Us was inspired by Emma’s love of music and her ability to almost always embarrass herself, and her children, in the most mundane of situations. She was so fascinated by the idea of combining the two, that she began to write Melody’s story. Working full-time with a large family meant that Emma had to steal snippets of ‘spare’ time from her already chaotic and disorganised life; the majority of her novel was written during her lunchtime in a tiny school office. She never expected to fall so deeply in love with the King family and is overwhelmed that others feel the same.
She has three loves in life: reading, writing and her family…oh, and music, cheese, pizza, films – Maths is not one of her talents.
Emma keeps in touch with her readers and loves to hear from them on twitter @ItsEmmacooper and on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EmmacooperAuthor/
Emma has always wanted to be a writer – ever since her childhood, she’s been inventing characters (her favourite being her imaginary friend ‘Boot’) and is thrilled that she now gets to use this imagination to bring to life all of her creations.
The Songs of Us was inspired by Emma’s love of music and her ability to almost always embarrass herself, and her children, in the most mundane of situations. She was so fascinated by the idea of combining the two, that she began to write Melody’s story. Working full-time with a large family meant that Emma had to steal snippets of ‘spare’ time from her already chaotic and disorganised life; the majority of her novel was written during her lunchtime in a tiny school office. She never expected to fall so deeply in love with the King family and is overwhelmed that others feel the same.
She has three loves in life: reading, writing and her family…oh, and music, cheese, pizza, films – Maths is not one of her talents.
Emma keeps in touch with her readers and loves to hear from them on twitter @ItsEmmacooper and on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EmmacooperAuthor/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
February 11, 2022
All is right with the bookish world, another publication from Emma Cooper is coming… I have loved Emma’s books since I first discovered them, giving a very swift five stars to her first and second publications. When we first launched our online Book Club and bookshop, Emma was the third Author that we featured because her books are just something else. Her third publication slipped a star rating down to four, because I’ll always have a favourite and that didn’t top it. But nevertheless it was still an absolutely stunning book. It did mean that I opened the first few (digital!) pages of It Was Always You with a slightly nervous feeling. Would it be the best of Emma Cooper’s publications? Would it be something different? There will always be a special place for The First Time I Saw You – but there’s a new space in my bookish heart for this one. Another firm five stars… read on to find out why…
Emma creates characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Meet Ella, Will and Cole. The three main characters within this book that you can’t help but like, flaws and all. Emma Cooper has an incredible talent for weaving ordinary characters into storylines that will grip you from start to finish. She writes about their ordinary lives but in such a way that it’s fascinating. In the middle of these incredible characterisations, Emma drops little references to childhood, times gone by and… AND… music. Oh yes indeed… the big music references that made The Songs of Us so beautiful are back sprinkled throughout this novel and I loved those so much.
I never like to rehash the blurb in a review, and to give away any of the plot would spoil it. For me a review is firmly about how the book made me feel and what I loved about it. So to sum it up… this book is powerful, immersive, absorbing, nostalgic and… it will break your heart. Probably a few times, but it will put it all back together again too. Emma’s good like that.
Emma creates characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Meet Ella, Will and Cole. The three main characters within this book that you can’t help but like, flaws and all. Emma Cooper has an incredible talent for weaving ordinary characters into storylines that will grip you from start to finish. She writes about their ordinary lives but in such a way that it’s fascinating. In the middle of these incredible characterisations, Emma drops little references to childhood, times gone by and… AND… music. Oh yes indeed… the big music references that made The Songs of Us so beautiful are back sprinkled throughout this novel and I loved those so much.
I never like to rehash the blurb in a review, and to give away any of the plot would spoil it. For me a review is firmly about how the book made me feel and what I loved about it. So to sum it up… this book is powerful, immersive, absorbing, nostalgic and… it will break your heart. Probably a few times, but it will put it all back together again too. Emma’s good like that.
July 6, 2022
I have literally just finished this book and still have soggy tissues in my hand due to being dragged through the mill emotionally. Emma Cooper absolutely grabs your heart with her writing and twists it until you feel like it’s going to break in two. There’s a particular character in this book that I just totally fell in love with and was just so invested in their story that I had to stop and breath because the emotions I felt were just too much. I can’t even begin to describe the power that Emma’s words have in the most heart warming and heart breaking scenes. The writing is just beautiful. There’s also some great humour in this book so don’t think you need tissues all the way through it… but you will definitely need them at some point!
I didn’t actually get the “feels” for this story until I was about halfway into it when something just clicked, and from then onwards I was just hooked.
The thing that is giving me the dilemma about the review is a particular theme I struggle to believe in but that really is just a personal thing as I just can’t think out of the box enough, to totally get on board with it.
Having said all that, I just loved the fact that this style of writing and where the story headed managed to move me so much so I am therefore giving this book 4 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn’t actually get the “feels” for this story until I was about halfway into it when something just clicked, and from then onwards I was just hooked.
The thing that is giving me the dilemma about the review is a particular theme I struggle to believe in but that really is just a personal thing as I just can’t think out of the box enough, to totally get on board with it.
Having said all that, I just loved the fact that this style of writing and where the story headed managed to move me so much so I am therefore giving this book 4 stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 23, 2022
Unusual story.
August 18, 2022
The premise of this book sounded right up my street, combining romance, drama and the prospect of second chances. The mystical hint of time travel further added to my curiosity.
The book is told in two timelines, the Then and the Now. The Then takes us back to the origins of Ella's relationship with now husband Will. In the Now we see that their relationship is falling apart and Ella reflects back on the earlier years and is prompted to consider if she made the right choices back then.
Unfortunately my enjoyment of this book was hampered very early on due to my dislike of Ella's character. The way she is portrayed came across as selfish, judgmental and smug to me so I wasn't exactly rooting for her to find a happy ever after. Very early in the book, in the Now, she visits the school where Will works as a teacher on Parent's Evening and sits in the corridor judging the "desperate" mothers who she thinks fancy her husband. The derogatory language used for her internal thoughts about these women and the smugness she feels sitting there as his wife was very off-putting and unnecessary here. I cannot fathom why so many books pit female characters against each other like this, it was very disappointing to encounter it in this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC.
The book is told in two timelines, the Then and the Now. The Then takes us back to the origins of Ella's relationship with now husband Will. In the Now we see that their relationship is falling apart and Ella reflects back on the earlier years and is prompted to consider if she made the right choices back then.
Unfortunately my enjoyment of this book was hampered very early on due to my dislike of Ella's character. The way she is portrayed came across as selfish, judgmental and smug to me so I wasn't exactly rooting for her to find a happy ever after. Very early in the book, in the Now, she visits the school where Will works as a teacher on Parent's Evening and sits in the corridor judging the "desperate" mothers who she thinks fancy her husband. The derogatory language used for her internal thoughts about these women and the smugness she feels sitting there as his wife was very off-putting and unnecessary here. I cannot fathom why so many books pit female characters against each other like this, it was very disappointing to encounter it in this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC.
June 1, 2025
That was so close to being a five star read! But the overwhelming feeling to bash the main characters heads together made me drop one star.
It Was Always You is one of those beautifully told what if stories; what could have been, what could have happened, what if. It's full of nostalgia and emotionally charged moments and it's just lovely.
A really good read.
It Was Always You is one of those beautifully told what if stories; what could have been, what could have happened, what if. It's full of nostalgia and emotionally charged moments and it's just lovely.
A really good read.
May 26, 2022
Would you choose a different life if you had the chance?
Two people. One chance to turn back the clock.
It's October 1999 and the night the clocks are going back, it's also the night that Ella and Will get together but before that happens Ella wanders away from her friends and passes out, the following day she has memories of a conversation with a woman in a green coat and red scarf but believes it to be just a dream. Fast forward to 2022, Ella and Will are married, things aren't as good as she thought they were and her best friend Cole's life is a mess. On her birthday Ella opens gifts from her children; a green coat and a red scarf, when she puts them on and looks in the mirror the woman from 1999 is staring back at her. As the clocks are due to go back in a few weeks time, is this a sign for Ella to change what's happened and would she want to?
It Was Always You is told across two timelines; Then and Now, following the lives of Ella, Will and Ella's lifelong friend, Cole. It's a well crafted plot with relateable characters who I adored equally and I loved the way the author takes us through their younger years and the reasons behind the events that lead them to the situations they presently find themselves in. This is a story of love, relationships and friendships, it's an emotional read sprinkled with humour that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next and those tears came in abundance in those last few tense chapters, my heart just broke! This is the first book I've read by this author but now I've discovered her it certainly won't be the last.
I'd like to thank Headline and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
Two people. One chance to turn back the clock.
It's October 1999 and the night the clocks are going back, it's also the night that Ella and Will get together but before that happens Ella wanders away from her friends and passes out, the following day she has memories of a conversation with a woman in a green coat and red scarf but believes it to be just a dream. Fast forward to 2022, Ella and Will are married, things aren't as good as she thought they were and her best friend Cole's life is a mess. On her birthday Ella opens gifts from her children; a green coat and a red scarf, when she puts them on and looks in the mirror the woman from 1999 is staring back at her. As the clocks are due to go back in a few weeks time, is this a sign for Ella to change what's happened and would she want to?
It Was Always You is told across two timelines; Then and Now, following the lives of Ella, Will and Ella's lifelong friend, Cole. It's a well crafted plot with relateable characters who I adored equally and I loved the way the author takes us through their younger years and the reasons behind the events that lead them to the situations they presently find themselves in. This is a story of love, relationships and friendships, it's an emotional read sprinkled with humour that will make you laugh one minute and cry the next and those tears came in abundance in those last few tense chapters, my heart just broke! This is the first book I've read by this author but now I've discovered her it certainly won't be the last.
I'd like to thank Headline and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.
March 21, 2022
2am. Tears damp on my pillow. Why Emma Cooper just why?
I haven't felt this way about a book in such a long time but the author is like a magician weaving a spell with her words. How she managed to make me care so much for these three characters is beyond my comprehension And my goodness did I care! I fell in love with Cole and Will. Adored them.....and crazily so.....equally.
The tension at the end was so heightened that I couldn't stop reading until the early hours even though I had a busy morning. But I needed to find out everything. I couldn't even choose how I wanted it to end - so Cooper had to tell me how my heart would break.
A gorgeous novel with stunning prose that often made me pause and ponder on its beauty. I will be reading much more by this author. Oh and it's very funny too!
I haven't felt this way about a book in such a long time but the author is like a magician weaving a spell with her words. How she managed to make me care so much for these three characters is beyond my comprehension And my goodness did I care! I fell in love with Cole and Will. Adored them.....and crazily so.....equally.
The tension at the end was so heightened that I couldn't stop reading until the early hours even though I had a busy morning. But I needed to find out everything. I couldn't even choose how I wanted it to end - so Cooper had to tell me how my heart would break.
A gorgeous novel with stunning prose that often made me pause and ponder on its beauty. I will be reading much more by this author. Oh and it's very funny too!
April 13, 2022
It Was Always You is a highly emotional read with highly relatable characters and a tight plot full of twists. I really loved it. Fans of Josie Silver would probably love this one too.
September 19, 2022
(No spoilers - mostly in the blurb and events that happen at the very beginning of the book.)
This is the story of Ella, who has been married to the love of her life Will for 23 years, and they have two grown up children - the youngest has just gone to university. Their life hadn't quite gone as planned but Ella was happy and thought Will was too - until the day he asked her for a divorce.
The story is told in two timeslines - 'then' and 'now' - 'now' being October 2022. 'Then' tells how Ells and Will got together and the fateful night that Ella got drunk and saw a mysterious lady in a derelict archway, dressed in a green coat and red scarf, causing her to faint, and how Will took her home sparking their relationship. 'Now' tells how Will asks for a divorce and her children buy her a green coat and red scarf, leading Ella to think that maybe she was the lady in the coat and scarf, going back in time to tell her past self something important.
Even people who don't like the idea of the time travel aspect would love this book. The characters are very believable and sympathetic, and we build up clues to their personalities and relationships as we travel through the book in both timelines. As well as the obvious relationship between Ella and Wills there is also the very complex relationship between Will and Cole who is Ella's best friend from childhood and whose life Will saved when they were young. I absolutely couldn't put it down. Well written and deeply emotional.
This is the story of Ella, who has been married to the love of her life Will for 23 years, and they have two grown up children - the youngest has just gone to university. Their life hadn't quite gone as planned but Ella was happy and thought Will was too - until the day he asked her for a divorce.
The story is told in two timeslines - 'then' and 'now' - 'now' being October 2022. 'Then' tells how Ells and Will got together and the fateful night that Ella got drunk and saw a mysterious lady in a derelict archway, dressed in a green coat and red scarf, causing her to faint, and how Will took her home sparking their relationship. 'Now' tells how Will asks for a divorce and her children buy her a green coat and red scarf, leading Ella to think that maybe she was the lady in the coat and scarf, going back in time to tell her past self something important.
Even people who don't like the idea of the time travel aspect would love this book. The characters are very believable and sympathetic, and we build up clues to their personalities and relationships as we travel through the book in both timelines. As well as the obvious relationship between Ella and Wills there is also the very complex relationship between Will and Cole who is Ella's best friend from childhood and whose life Will saved when they were young. I absolutely couldn't put it down. Well written and deeply emotional.
June 19, 2022
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Headline Audio for approving me for an ARC of this book.
This is my first dive into a book by Emma Cooper but it certainly won’t be my last. It Was Always You was a page turner of a read. Filled with loveable characters and a mystery that you want to see solved you can’t help but find yourself fully immersed in this book.
Our protagonist Ella is everything you would want for a leading character. She’s fun, witty and completely loveable but she’s also has her flaws. Form the start I couldn’t help but feel that she was always trying to please everyone else and took a lot on when it came to supporting Will and Cole. I adored the relationship she had with her two children and her ability to strike up a conversation about anything. There were one or two moments where her mad and nervous ramblings made me chuckle.
As Ella’s life starts to spiral it becomes clear that the answer lies in what the lady in the red coat said to her back in 1999, if only Ella could remember it. I loved this part of the story and the mystery surrounding it. I’ve often wondered what hypnotism is like and as Ella began to explore this world more I was excited to see what she uncovered.
The two leading men of the story, Will and Cole, also have an interesting backstory. Once again you can feel the friction between these two and it becomes clear very early on why this is. I found there were parts of both these characters that I loved and hated. The were both deeply flawed but it made them even more relatable. The connection between these two characters was so emotional and heart breaking.
I started to wonder very early on if I had figured out the twists in this story and whilst I had with some of them there were a few surprises towards the end. This story certainly kept me on my toes and lets just say the ending was an emotional rollercoaster!
This is my first dive into a book by Emma Cooper but it certainly won’t be my last. It Was Always You was a page turner of a read. Filled with loveable characters and a mystery that you want to see solved you can’t help but find yourself fully immersed in this book.
Our protagonist Ella is everything you would want for a leading character. She’s fun, witty and completely loveable but she’s also has her flaws. Form the start I couldn’t help but feel that she was always trying to please everyone else and took a lot on when it came to supporting Will and Cole. I adored the relationship she had with her two children and her ability to strike up a conversation about anything. There were one or two moments where her mad and nervous ramblings made me chuckle.
As Ella’s life starts to spiral it becomes clear that the answer lies in what the lady in the red coat said to her back in 1999, if only Ella could remember it. I loved this part of the story and the mystery surrounding it. I’ve often wondered what hypnotism is like and as Ella began to explore this world more I was excited to see what she uncovered.
The two leading men of the story, Will and Cole, also have an interesting backstory. Once again you can feel the friction between these two and it becomes clear very early on why this is. I found there were parts of both these characters that I loved and hated. The were both deeply flawed but it made them even more relatable. The connection between these two characters was so emotional and heart breaking.
I started to wonder very early on if I had figured out the twists in this story and whilst I had with some of them there were a few surprises towards the end. This story certainly kept me on my toes and lets just say the ending was an emotional rollercoaster!
September 15, 2022
‘Sliding Doors’ type story. Enjoyable.
May 30, 2023
Now I want to hug and kiss my boyfriend and never ever let him go
May 8, 2023
Absolutely loved this book and related to a lot of it! There was a part of it that was a bit unbelievable but I found myself not really concentrating on that aspect and more on other parts of the story. Would definitely recommend reading this!
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March 13, 2022I eagerly anticipate the release of Emma Copper's books. Each one surpasses the one before it. Her penmanship is magical, her characters are so richly and wonderfully detailed that each one makes you feel that you personally know them.
It Was Always You begins with Ella and Will, who are teens sharing a night - drinking - with their respective friends around a bonfire, incorporated into the story is Cole (Ella's best friend) - an almost loveable rogue who adores Ella (she can't see this as she only has eyes for Will.)
An incident occurs which leaves Ella stumbling, slightly inebriated through the trees only to see a woman dressed in a green coat and a red scarf who uncannily looks like an older version of herself.
The story moves between time periods where Ella and Will's love story begins and a time when Ella and Will are married and have children of their own.
Ella thinks she has the ability to change her future - if only she can go back in time to change the events of the evening when as a teen she met an older version of herself.
I adored this book and I devoured it one night.
I recommend all of Emma Cooper's novels to friends and family and I can't wait for her next release.
It Was Always You begins with Ella and Will, who are teens sharing a night - drinking - with their respective friends around a bonfire, incorporated into the story is Cole (Ella's best friend) - an almost loveable rogue who adores Ella (she can't see this as she only has eyes for Will.)
An incident occurs which leaves Ella stumbling, slightly inebriated through the trees only to see a woman dressed in a green coat and a red scarf who uncannily looks like an older version of herself.
The story moves between time periods where Ella and Will's love story begins and a time when Ella and Will are married and have children of their own.
Ella thinks she has the ability to change her future - if only she can go back in time to change the events of the evening when as a teen she met an older version of herself.
I adored this book and I devoured it one night.
I recommend all of Emma Cooper's novels to friends and family and I can't wait for her next release.
August 29, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Ella and Will are childhood sweethearts, married for 25 years with two kids. Until their youngest leaves for university and Will thinks they should consider getting divorced. Ella goes on a journey to finding herself and truly understanding the people in her life.
This story is beautiful and the narration of the audiobook was top notch - I loved the accents and different voices used for each character. It was a little hard to follow all the characters and the time hops initially but I got into the flow of it really quickly.
The only reason I can’t give this 5 stars is because of Ella’s clinging on of her vision of her past self and thinking she can time travel, it would be a beautiful, incredibly well written story without that part of the plot. The depth of each of the main characters and the backstory to every relationship is amazing and so well thought out. The issues each character faces and the problems they work through and they way the other people handle them feel really realistic and well considered,
I would highly, highly recommend listening to this audiobook and I look forward to reading more by Emma Cooper!
**Thank you NetGalley and Headline Audio who sent me this ALC in exchange for an honest review**
Ella and Will are childhood sweethearts, married for 25 years with two kids. Until their youngest leaves for university and Will thinks they should consider getting divorced. Ella goes on a journey to finding herself and truly understanding the people in her life.
This story is beautiful and the narration of the audiobook was top notch - I loved the accents and different voices used for each character. It was a little hard to follow all the characters and the time hops initially but I got into the flow of it really quickly.
The only reason I can’t give this 5 stars is because of Ella’s clinging on of her vision of her past self and thinking she can time travel, it would be a beautiful, incredibly well written story without that part of the plot. The depth of each of the main characters and the backstory to every relationship is amazing and so well thought out. The issues each character faces and the problems they work through and they way the other people handle them feel really realistic and well considered,
I would highly, highly recommend listening to this audiobook and I look forward to reading more by Emma Cooper!
**Thank you NetGalley and Headline Audio who sent me this ALC in exchange for an honest review**
August 2, 2022
Oh wow this is an emotional story - I was torn between the three main characters from the start!
Ella is married to the love of her life Will with two children and she thought they were happy...until Will asks for a divorce the day their 18 year old son leaves home!
Shocked, she turns to Cole, her best friend since childhood, for support and tries to work out why Will would want to end their marriage. Life isn't perfect; she didn't expect to fall pregnant so young and put her career as an artist on hold and Will's career as a musician had also come up against barriers so he'd opted to teach music instead. However, they were content as they were, weren't they?
As Ella looks back at their past she begins to realise that Cole is part of the puzzle and may be perhaps contributing to the cracks in their relationship.
"It Was Always You" - the book title says it all, but is it talking about Will, Cole.. or Ella?!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ERC. I look forward to reading more by Emma Cooper!
Ella is married to the love of her life Will with two children and she thought they were happy...until Will asks for a divorce the day their 18 year old son leaves home!
Shocked, she turns to Cole, her best friend since childhood, for support and tries to work out why Will would want to end their marriage. Life isn't perfect; she didn't expect to fall pregnant so young and put her career as an artist on hold and Will's career as a musician had also come up against barriers so he'd opted to teach music instead. However, they were content as they were, weren't they?
As Ella looks back at their past she begins to realise that Cole is part of the puzzle and may be perhaps contributing to the cracks in their relationship.
"It Was Always You" - the book title says it all, but is it talking about Will, Cole.. or Ella?!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ERC. I look forward to reading more by Emma Cooper!
March 29, 2022
A story following 3 people Will, Ella and Cole from teenagers to 20+ years later. An entanglement of love, misjudgement, self doubt, passion, strength and resilience which help them to work through discovering themselves through the years.
Unlike most books I couldn't quite decide what ending I was hoping for nor able to clearly predict the outcomes of the 3 main characters. It is also rare to like all of the main characters when they differ in so many ways.
The last 25% of the book I could not put down, longing for an ending I would be happy with as I had become so invested in Will, Ella and Cole.
This was an advanced copy from netgalley for my honest review of the book. My first experience of reading a novel by Emma Cooper and I will certainly be seeking out other books,
Unlike most books I couldn't quite decide what ending I was hoping for nor able to clearly predict the outcomes of the 3 main characters. It is also rare to like all of the main characters when they differ in so many ways.
The last 25% of the book I could not put down, longing for an ending I would be happy with as I had become so invested in Will, Ella and Cole.
This was an advanced copy from netgalley for my honest review of the book. My first experience of reading a novel by Emma Cooper and I will certainly be seeking out other books,
April 26, 2024
Predictable plot, and characters I wasn’t the least bit interested in. Didn’t like the superficial people, actions, music — I couldn’t get into it at all. Unrealistic motivations. Nearly didn’t continue after the first few pages, it but felt curious enough to see if anything unexpected could happen. Time travel element was the best bit, especially Robin’s hypnotism process and explanations. That’s where I woke up and took note. Ella’s urgency for retrieving that memory and how it unfolded at the end was too simplistic though, to hold my attention.
March 6, 2022
Thankyou so much for giving me the opportunity to read this before release day. Omg I need tissues, I have never sat and cried like this over a book. This is the first book I have read by Emma and omg I was not disappointed, I couldn't put it down even when tears where streaming down my face, still are whilst writing this 😭😭. It pulled so many heart strings. I will definitely be purchasing this book for my shelf. Definitely deserves my 5 star rating. * Off to cry some more 🥺
August 15, 2022
The previous Emma Cooper book I’ve read was full of emotion from the start and this one was no different and was a definite page turner full of intrigue.
I loved the two timelines- showing so much of the character of both Ella and Will. The reasons for future events became clearer as we explored their pasts.
This is a story full of love and emotion and the strength in the friendships was wonderful read about, and often had me laughing one minute and crying the next.
I loved the two timelines- showing so much of the character of both Ella and Will. The reasons for future events became clearer as we explored their pasts.
This is a story full of love and emotion and the strength in the friendships was wonderful read about, and often had me laughing one minute and crying the next.
October 14, 2022
Emma Cooper has become one of my 'go-to' authors. I have read and loved every one of her novels, she writes characters who are believable, often flawed, always realistic and an absolute pleasure to discover.
I was lucky enough to read this one whilst on holiday in Cyprus, allowing me the luxury of reading as much as I wanted, when I wanted. This was a very good thing, because once started, this one is so difficult to set aside.
The story opens with a prologue set in 1999, the day that the clocks go back in October. It's the beginning of Ella and Will's romantic relationship, and a night that Ella will never forget, as she's been haunted ever since by the woman she saw that evening. A woman dressed in a green coat and a red scarf who tried to tell Ella something.
Move forward twenty-three years and Ella and Will are married with two children. There have always been three people in their relationship. Ella's best friend Cole has been a constant part of their lives. Closer to Ella and more cautious when around Will, Cole is a troubled character whose presence recently has caused issues for the couple.
This is a captivating and beautifully structured story of romantic relationship and also of the power of friendship. Ella is a complex character who has never quite felt herself good enough for Will. She has a sense of self loathing at times that blurs her ability to enjoy life and what it has given her. When Will makes an announcement on this October morning, Ella feels that it is only what she deserves, and has been expecting it for years. However, she is still heartbroken, confused and utterly bereft at the thought of life without Will, and will do her utmost to save their relationship.
Will is a good looking man, a talented musician and had a great future ahead of him. Despite things not going to plan when younger, he's content with life and his family. What on earth has made him take this life-changing decision, at this point in their lives?
Looking back to that October night all of those years ago, Ella realises that she may have the opportunity to change the course of her life. Will she though? Can she make things different and should she?
Emma Cooper has not shied away from dealing with significant and often emotionally challenging issues within this novel. Cole's struggles with his mental health and alcohol are so well documented, and dealt with so sensitively.
A story of romance, with a hint of magic and a cast of characters that will capture the heart of the reader. I loved it, it's her best yet, in my view. Highly recommended.
I was lucky enough to read this one whilst on holiday in Cyprus, allowing me the luxury of reading as much as I wanted, when I wanted. This was a very good thing, because once started, this one is so difficult to set aside.
The story opens with a prologue set in 1999, the day that the clocks go back in October. It's the beginning of Ella and Will's romantic relationship, and a night that Ella will never forget, as she's been haunted ever since by the woman she saw that evening. A woman dressed in a green coat and a red scarf who tried to tell Ella something.
Move forward twenty-three years and Ella and Will are married with two children. There have always been three people in their relationship. Ella's best friend Cole has been a constant part of their lives. Closer to Ella and more cautious when around Will, Cole is a troubled character whose presence recently has caused issues for the couple.
This is a captivating and beautifully structured story of romantic relationship and also of the power of friendship. Ella is a complex character who has never quite felt herself good enough for Will. She has a sense of self loathing at times that blurs her ability to enjoy life and what it has given her. When Will makes an announcement on this October morning, Ella feels that it is only what she deserves, and has been expecting it for years. However, she is still heartbroken, confused and utterly bereft at the thought of life without Will, and will do her utmost to save their relationship.
Will is a good looking man, a talented musician and had a great future ahead of him. Despite things not going to plan when younger, he's content with life and his family. What on earth has made him take this life-changing decision, at this point in their lives?
Looking back to that October night all of those years ago, Ella realises that she may have the opportunity to change the course of her life. Will she though? Can she make things different and should she?
Emma Cooper has not shied away from dealing with significant and often emotionally challenging issues within this novel. Cole's struggles with his mental health and alcohol are so well documented, and dealt with so sensitively.
A story of romance, with a hint of magic and a cast of characters that will capture the heart of the reader. I loved it, it's her best yet, in my view. Highly recommended.
September 10, 2022
Thankyou to Headline Audio for this deeply moving book .
General Fiction { Adult}
My Thoughts :This is defiantly don't judge a book by its cover . so the story has two time lines one in 1999 where they are all much younger and December 2022. which I very much enjoyed .
The story its self is very emotional it brought back feelings I once felt just like Ella the story had a few tears from me , I really loved how Emma writing was very delicate and honest to life as it is for Ella character. I also felt the story had a bit of magical realism that I wont give away that for the reader to enjoy .
I can also say that to story had many funny moments which gave me the belly chuckles and I know so many would enjoy that from this story .tit was also full of great nostalgia from the 90s .
I was totally hooked to this story as you really just want to know what happened, you will all feel the same .
as for the characters they are all wonderful in their own ways , Will is a very soft and charming character but also very closed which at times I wanted to scream at him cause of how he would be as a character.
but he also holds so much as a character to the story which I really enjoyed about him .as he was Ella love for alone time you really loved him how much he love Ella for a while anyways . Ella character really reminded me of myself as we both went though seemlier things and are personality , she very uplifting ,fun to be around even when life was feeling very dark for her she would still use her fun loving charm , happy go lucky and cheekiness even when crumbling . she really made the story for me .
Cole who has been friends with Ella since they was young , he definitely brought the laughs to the story , he a very cheeky chappy ,but also very sensitive when it came to Ella who would do anything for her but it was just friendship , I think you will all love him .
The narrator Helen Keely I've heard few times before I thought it was brilliant she really can suck you in and make it a great story and give you all the feels .
The story over all is just amazing and will pull your heart strings and leave your heart feeling warm .
I give this book 4.5 heart-warming stars
General Fiction { Adult}
My Thoughts :This is defiantly don't judge a book by its cover . so the story has two time lines one in 1999 where they are all much younger and December 2022. which I very much enjoyed .
The story its self is very emotional it brought back feelings I once felt just like Ella the story had a few tears from me , I really loved how Emma writing was very delicate and honest to life as it is for Ella character. I also felt the story had a bit of magical realism that I wont give away that for the reader to enjoy .
I can also say that to story had many funny moments which gave me the belly chuckles and I know so many would enjoy that from this story .tit was also full of great nostalgia from the 90s .
I was totally hooked to this story as you really just want to know what happened, you will all feel the same .
as for the characters they are all wonderful in their own ways , Will is a very soft and charming character but also very closed which at times I wanted to scream at him cause of how he would be as a character.
but he also holds so much as a character to the story which I really enjoyed about him .as he was Ella love for alone time you really loved him how much he love Ella for a while anyways . Ella character really reminded me of myself as we both went though seemlier things and are personality , she very uplifting ,fun to be around even when life was feeling very dark for her she would still use her fun loving charm , happy go lucky and cheekiness even when crumbling . she really made the story for me .
Cole who has been friends with Ella since they was young , he definitely brought the laughs to the story , he a very cheeky chappy ,but also very sensitive when it came to Ella who would do anything for her but it was just friendship , I think you will all love him .
The narrator Helen Keely I've heard few times before I thought it was brilliant she really can suck you in and make it a great story and give you all the feels .
The story over all is just amazing and will pull your heart strings and leave your heart feeling warm .
I give this book 4.5 heart-warming stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the ARC of this book for an honest review.
It's not often that a book leaves me speechless. I devoured this in one day because I literally could not put it down!
Emma Cooper creates one of the most real relationships ever. I loved that nothing was sugar-coated. We saw the struggles of young love, being a parent and then keeping the marriage alive. As a teacher, I also loved the insight into Will's struggles managing family life and teaching because that is something I can relate to. Ella is also extremely relatable. She thinks she isn't good enough, but not in that annoying 'I put myself down all the time' way. She simply tries to make the most of what she is given and finds the positive in everything. Another little plus is Ella has the same birthday as me!
The chapters follow Will and Ella's relationship in a 'Then' and 'Now' sequence. What a lot of books lack (I'm looking at you, All Your Perfects) is really gripping 'Then' chapters. Because of the drama in the 'Now' chapters, it is easy for the past events to feel like filler. However, Cooper creates the perfect double timelime, showing how the decisions of the past have influenced the present. Every chapter and event was clearly thought out and linked to something else.
I'm sure in a few weeks I'll be able to come back to this and give a more detailled review looking a bit further into the writing, but for now this will have to do. It was one of the most heartbreaking but heartwarming books I have ever read. I just want to add that this is one of my favourite Romance books of 2022, and possibly ever!
It's not often that a book leaves me speechless. I devoured this in one day because I literally could not put it down!
Emma Cooper creates one of the most real relationships ever. I loved that nothing was sugar-coated. We saw the struggles of young love, being a parent and then keeping the marriage alive. As a teacher, I also loved the insight into Will's struggles managing family life and teaching because that is something I can relate to. Ella is also extremely relatable. She thinks she isn't good enough, but not in that annoying 'I put myself down all the time' way. She simply tries to make the most of what she is given and finds the positive in everything. Another little plus is Ella has the same birthday as me!
The chapters follow Will and Ella's relationship in a 'Then' and 'Now' sequence. What a lot of books lack (I'm looking at you, All Your Perfects) is really gripping 'Then' chapters. Because of the drama in the 'Now' chapters, it is easy for the past events to feel like filler. However, Cooper creates the perfect double timelime, showing how the decisions of the past have influenced the present. Every chapter and event was clearly thought out and linked to something else.
I'm sure in a few weeks I'll be able to come back to this and give a more detailled review looking a bit further into the writing, but for now this will have to do. It was one of the most heartbreaking but heartwarming books I have ever read. I just want to add that this is one of my favourite Romance books of 2022, and possibly ever!
March 2, 2023
I LOVED this story. It Was Always You is one of the best romances I’ve read in a while.
Emma’s life just flows on the pages. The author has a brilliant way of showing and not telling that draws you in and makes you a part of what’s happening.
The format is great too. Taking us back to the beginning of Will and Emma’s relationship builds a solid foundation for ‘present’ day. It made me even more invested in their love. And it compelled me to keep reading to find out what happened in those in-between years to lead them to today.
I must admit, for a long time I didn’t feel a connection with Cole … until I suddenly realised that I did! And became divided. His actions made me cry big ugly sobs.
Amira is a fab character. Friends and business partner with Emma, she made me chuckle, a lot!
Emma Cooper has managed to keep hard hitting life crises real and raw while building compassion towards her characters.
This story should come with a warning – one that tells you how not only that will you find it difficult to tear yourself away from the story but how it will divide you and swirl your emotions round so you don’t know which way is up.
Emma’s life just flows on the pages. The author has a brilliant way of showing and not telling that draws you in and makes you a part of what’s happening.
The format is great too. Taking us back to the beginning of Will and Emma’s relationship builds a solid foundation for ‘present’ day. It made me even more invested in their love. And it compelled me to keep reading to find out what happened in those in-between years to lead them to today.
I must admit, for a long time I didn’t feel a connection with Cole … until I suddenly realised that I did! And became divided. His actions made me cry big ugly sobs.
Amira is a fab character. Friends and business partner with Emma, she made me chuckle, a lot!
Emma Cooper has managed to keep hard hitting life crises real and raw while building compassion towards her characters.
This story should come with a warning – one that tells you how not only that will you find it difficult to tear yourself away from the story but how it will divide you and swirl your emotions round so you don’t know which way is up.
May 30, 2022
I’m writing this after a late night read to finish this fabulous book. Having just read the full circle of these characters lives which I just loved, I have to try to put into words how much their journeys truly touched me.
Each of the three main character all have their own complicated journey, with conflicts, love, doubts and heartbreak. Emma Cooper really knows how to create her characters. Each with a story. Each with their own troubles. Each with a well formed background. I loved them all. One in particular I rooted for, but as the story progressed your thoughts are scrambled, you just want everyone to come out happy.
You get everything with this book. A romance, heartbreak and a novel you won’t want to finish. It feels like my hearts been ripped out and trampled on. I was literally sobbing into my pillow so I would wake everyone up. Stupidly didn’t have a tissue so now my pillow is wet!
With two timelines, ‘then’ and ‘now’ we follow the lives of three friends. It’s a story of friendship, love and with a whole lot of complicated turmoil. Throw in the time-slip element and you have a masterpiece of a story which I didn’t want to end.
Each of the three main character all have their own complicated journey, with conflicts, love, doubts and heartbreak. Emma Cooper really knows how to create her characters. Each with a story. Each with their own troubles. Each with a well formed background. I loved them all. One in particular I rooted for, but as the story progressed your thoughts are scrambled, you just want everyone to come out happy.
You get everything with this book. A romance, heartbreak and a novel you won’t want to finish. It feels like my hearts been ripped out and trampled on. I was literally sobbing into my pillow so I would wake everyone up. Stupidly didn’t have a tissue so now my pillow is wet!
With two timelines, ‘then’ and ‘now’ we follow the lives of three friends. It’s a story of friendship, love and with a whole lot of complicated turmoil. Throw in the time-slip element and you have a masterpiece of a story which I didn’t want to end.
August 29, 2022
Well this was my first by this author, but it certainly won't be my last and I'm glad that I have the back catalogue already on my shelf.
If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? That's the premise for this book.
Ella is turning 41 when she remembers a moment in her past, seeing her older self with the same clothes as she is wearing in that exact moment, but what was she trying to tell her younger self?
So begins a dual timeline book, going between present and past leading up to now. We see marriage struggles and friendship struggles, alcoholism and how the choices made can change the future, this book is super emotional, but gosh I needed to know how it ended and the last section my heart was in my throat.
Highly recommend this one.
If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? That's the premise for this book.
Ella is turning 41 when she remembers a moment in her past, seeing her older self with the same clothes as she is wearing in that exact moment, but what was she trying to tell her younger self?
So begins a dual timeline book, going between present and past leading up to now. We see marriage struggles and friendship struggles, alcoholism and how the choices made can change the future, this book is super emotional, but gosh I needed to know how it ended and the last section my heart was in my throat.
Highly recommend this one.
March 10, 2024
This was a book club pick for February 2024.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and found myself unable to put it down.
I really liked the thread of magic that was woven through the story - I’m a fan of magical realism. I loved how it kept me guessing and how the timelines converged, very cleverly written.
But the best thing about this book for me was that the characters were the same age as me and I was able to relate to them all in their own way.
I was doing similar things to them at the same time in my life. Very evocative of the late 90’s/early 00’s and really brought back some memories.
Brilliantly well researched too which I love, it’s always easy to tell when an author has put the work in on a subject and Emma really has. Nothing sloppy here.
I was lucky enough to meet Emma in person and I was able to buy a signed copy of one of her other books that I wanted to read. A lovely lady as well as a brilliant writer, I’m excited to read more of her books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read and found myself unable to put it down.
I really liked the thread of magic that was woven through the story - I’m a fan of magical realism. I loved how it kept me guessing and how the timelines converged, very cleverly written.
But the best thing about this book for me was that the characters were the same age as me and I was able to relate to them all in their own way.
I was doing similar things to them at the same time in my life. Very evocative of the late 90’s/early 00’s and really brought back some memories.
Brilliantly well researched too which I love, it’s always easy to tell when an author has put the work in on a subject and Emma really has. Nothing sloppy here.
I was lucky enough to meet Emma in person and I was able to buy a signed copy of one of her other books that I wanted to read. A lovely lady as well as a brilliant writer, I’m excited to read more of her books.
May 23, 2022
I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.
This book follows Ella and Will a married couple who have spent their life together since 1999.
They have had a family together, but suddenly when both kids have left home Will says to Ella, he thinks they should get a divorce.
Ella tries to work out why Will would suddenly feel this way and when she remembers the strange encounter, she had on the night they become close she tries to work out what this could mean.
Why does Will suddenly want a divorce? Could Ella have a chance to go back and change how their lives would turn out?
I found the beginning of the book quite slow, and I was confused to why Will would suddenly want a divorce when he is obviously still so in love with Ella.
All soon becomes clear, and I must admit there were times I felt heartbroken for some of the characters.
I found the parts where Ella gets hypnotised to try and work out her past quite intriguing and I hoped she would find the answers she was searching for.
Overall, a heart-breaking romance where a couple try to work out their future and may have a chance to change their past.
This book follows Ella and Will a married couple who have spent their life together since 1999.
They have had a family together, but suddenly when both kids have left home Will says to Ella, he thinks they should get a divorce.
Ella tries to work out why Will would suddenly feel this way and when she remembers the strange encounter, she had on the night they become close she tries to work out what this could mean.
Why does Will suddenly want a divorce? Could Ella have a chance to go back and change how their lives would turn out?
I found the beginning of the book quite slow, and I was confused to why Will would suddenly want a divorce when he is obviously still so in love with Ella.
All soon becomes clear, and I must admit there were times I felt heartbroken for some of the characters.
I found the parts where Ella gets hypnotised to try and work out her past quite intriguing and I hoped she would find the answers she was searching for.
Overall, a heart-breaking romance where a couple try to work out their future and may have a chance to change their past.
February 3, 2024
Would be three and a half if I could. This story although took a long time for me to read ended up being great. The characters were great, the world built around them was enticing and their relationships even more so. However, Towards the end the main thing the plot was building up to became insignificant and felt like a waste of time. However, none of that wouldn't have happened without it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would give it a 3.5 out of 5.
August 15, 2022
I listened to the audiobook version of this thanks to NetGalley who sent me a free copy in exchange for a honest review.
I think if I’d read this book rather than listen to it then I may have given it a 3.25. Te narrators voice got on my nerves in certain parts, especially the Britney Spears parts.
It was a nice, easy listening book with what seemed like a pretty normal concept for a chic lit book. Girl and boy meet young, fall in love, get married, have children, go through a bad spell and throw in another male friend who plays third wheel however, this book wasn’t all that it seemed. It features a bit of time travel and a few surprises. I did find this aspect a little bit odd and I felt like the book dragged on towards the end. However, all in all I enjoyed it, I liked the characters and I liked how well sensitive issues such as alcoholism were covered.
I think if I’d read this book rather than listen to it then I may have given it a 3.25. Te narrators voice got on my nerves in certain parts, especially the Britney Spears parts.
It was a nice, easy listening book with what seemed like a pretty normal concept for a chic lit book. Girl and boy meet young, fall in love, get married, have children, go through a bad spell and throw in another male friend who plays third wheel however, this book wasn’t all that it seemed. It features a bit of time travel and a few surprises. I did find this aspect a little bit odd and I felt like the book dragged on towards the end. However, all in all I enjoyed it, I liked the characters and I liked how well sensitive issues such as alcoholism were covered.
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