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A review by ccleeds7
Before You Wake by Cheyanne Young
4.0
*The author sent me an e-arc of the hook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Before You Wake is a new reimagining of the classic film, While You Were Sleeping. Millie’s had a crush on Wesley Reyes ever since she first saw him in a high school football poster on the wall of her favorite diner. She’s overjoyed when she accidentally runs into him - literally - and he asks her on a date. But the next day Wesley turns up at the hospital Millie volunteers at in a coma, and Millie’s the only person who can ID him. Soon after she is mistaken as Wesley’s girlfriend and the lie keeps spreading to his friends and family - including Sloane, Wesley’s best friend, before Millie can figure out how to correct the mistake. Millie’s been avoiding making friends ever since she was betrayed by her best friend at her previous high school, but she finds herself drawn to Sloane. Soon Millie has been swept into Wesley’s group of friends, and while she knows the lie will have to come out eventually, and feels horrible for lying to her new friends, she wants to enjoy having friends she loves and trusts for a little bit.
I really enjoyed this story. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Millie at first, but you can tell that she’s written to initially come off as a bit annoying and standoffish, but this behavior is actually incorporated into the plot, so I did end up liking and empathizing with Millie. Honestly, my main issue with her is her steadfast opinion that Jane Austin seems to be the only author worth reading (or books inspired by Austin’s works). I fins it to be an overdone trope with both real and dictional people when they say their favorite book is written by Jane Austin. However they are good, and it works well with the theme in the book of Millie reading to patients, as the stories (at least P&P) are well-known and that can make them comforting. I rid love that the had special collectors editions, as I like to collect multiple copies of books, as well. Also I loved the all chocolate pie. I really want chocolate pie now.
But I really did enjoy the book. It’s well-written, well-crafted, and with distinct voices for each character. It was easy to empathize with Millie as she’s trying to be honest but also wants to be friends with Wesley’s friends. I did also really like the ending. Despite having a bit open-ended resolution, which I don’t normally like, but I think it really worked for this story.
Before You Wake was a really enjoyable read, and if you like While You Were Sleeping or stories centering around friendship over romance or stories with mistaken identities, I definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the author’s works.
Before You Wake is a new reimagining of the classic film, While You Were Sleeping. Millie’s had a crush on Wesley Reyes ever since she first saw him in a high school football poster on the wall of her favorite diner. She’s overjoyed when she accidentally runs into him - literally - and he asks her on a date. But the next day Wesley turns up at the hospital Millie volunteers at in a coma, and Millie’s the only person who can ID him. Soon after she is mistaken as Wesley’s girlfriend and the lie keeps spreading to his friends and family - including Sloane, Wesley’s best friend, before Millie can figure out how to correct the mistake. Millie’s been avoiding making friends ever since she was betrayed by her best friend at her previous high school, but she finds herself drawn to Sloane. Soon Millie has been swept into Wesley’s group of friends, and while she knows the lie will have to come out eventually, and feels horrible for lying to her new friends, she wants to enjoy having friends she loves and trusts for a little bit.
I really enjoyed this story. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Millie at first, but you can tell that she’s written to initially come off as a bit annoying and standoffish, but this behavior is actually incorporated into the plot, so I did end up liking and empathizing with Millie. Honestly, my main issue with her is her steadfast opinion that Jane Austin seems to be the only author worth reading (or books inspired by Austin’s works). I fins it to be an overdone trope with both real and dictional people when they say their favorite book is written by Jane Austin. However they are good, and it works well with the theme in the book of Millie reading to patients, as the stories (at least P&P) are well-known and that can make them comforting. I rid love that the had special collectors editions, as I like to collect multiple copies of books, as well. Also I loved the all chocolate pie. I really want chocolate pie now.
But I really did enjoy the book. It’s well-written, well-crafted, and with distinct voices for each character. It was easy to empathize with Millie as she’s trying to be honest but also wants to be friends with Wesley’s friends. I did also really like the ending. Despite having a bit open-ended resolution, which I don’t normally like, but I think it really worked for this story.
Before You Wake was a really enjoyable read, and if you like While You Were Sleeping or stories centering around friendship over romance or stories with mistaken identities, I definitely recommend it. I’m looking forward to reading more of the author’s works.