Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino asks one heartbreaking question: what if you found the person you lost fifteen years ago — on a subway missed-connections board? College sweethearts Matt and Grace were inseparable once, until silence tore them apart. Now successful strangers in New York City, they have one more chance to say what should have been said all those years ago.
Why Readers Love It
- Ache-filled second-chance and missed-connection romance
- Dual timeline: nostalgic college years meets present day
- Emotionally raw writing fans of Colleen Hoover adore
- A satisfying, hopeful ending worth every tear
Book Details
| Title | Before We Were Strangers |
| Subtitle | A Love Story |
| Author | Renée Carlino |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 | 9781668025895 |
| Genre | Contemporary Romance |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Before We Were Strangers sad?
It’s an emotional journey — expect angst and tears, but the ending delivers hope.
Is it in stock?
Yes — order today from TheBooksTank for quick delivery across India.
Is Before We Were Strangers a sad book?
It is an emotional second-chance romance with real angst — but readers consistently praise its hopeful, satisfying ending.
Is Before We Were Strangers a standalone?
Yes — Renée Carlino tells one complete story across two timelines.
Would Colleen Hoover fans enjoy Before We Were Strangers?
Very likely — its raw emotionality and gut-punch prose sit squarely in CoHo-favourite territory.
What is the price of Before We Were Strangers in India?
₹490 for a new paperback at TheBooksTank, shipped fast across India.
What Readers Say
Beloved second-chance romance · A longtime BookTok and blog favourite
★★★★★ “I LOVED this book. And it made me cry. That rarely happens to me.”
— Amy Harmon · USA Today Bestselling Author (Goodreads)
★★★★☆ “I cannot believe how much I cried and smiled with this sweet contemporary romance.”
— Jaidee · Goodreads
★★★★★ “If you love sweet romances, hilarious banter, ugly cries and epic loves, Before We Were Strangers will not disappoint.”
— Red Cheeks Reads · Book Blog
★★★★☆ “A beautifully bittersweet second-chance romance that explores love, loss and yearning.”
— Eden's Summer · Substack Review · 2025
★★★★★ “I adore the way Renée Carlino so genuinely captures the complexities of human relationships and desire. The writing and story development makes it so easy to relate to the characters and their longing, and this story really spoke to me on a highly emotional level”
— Jessica Yeung · Goodreads ★★★★★
Reader reviews sourced from public platforms (Goodreads, Amazon & book communities) and lightly edited for length. They reflect global readers of these titles.
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