Before and Again: A Novel

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. I loved the storyline. The descriptive detailing left you with a clear picture of the book. My heart ached for Maggie who felt responsible for her daughters death. I do feel that the climax of the story could have been faster.

First book I have read by Barbara Delinsky and will not be the last. It takes one look off the road toward her cell phone and Maggie's life is changed. This book takes Maggie through loss, family ,love, guilt, acceptance and forgiveness. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself.

Beautifully written and tugs at the heart, as with most all of this authors books. I love the attention to detail; you really feel as if you are there in the location. Loved the characters and their growth; love and forgiveness abounds.

3.5 Stars

Before and Again was a poignant story. One that focused on the impact, ramifications, and chain reactions of our actions, whether intentional or accidental. Five-year-old, Lily's death and fifteen-year-old, Chris’ arrest pounded home that in a single moment life can be forever changed. We can’t turn back time, so as much as we would like nothing will ever be the same, leaving lives unequivocally altered.

Maggie and Edward. Grace and Chris. Four intertwining relationships that resulted in a myriad of realizations and repercussions. The journey of these characters was definitely emotional and moving. Each offering gripping and inspirational moments throughout the book. It’s never easy observing damaged characters learning how to navigate the aftermath of tragedy and its consequences. It’s even less easy when the author has endeared the characters to their readers. These four characters truly broke my heart with their pain, remorse, and guilt.

However, Maggie and Edward moved me the most. I can't even begin to imagine the loss of one of my children. Truly every parent’s worst nightmare. To see the growth and healing of these two was so heartening. Everything about our protagonists made me fall head over heels for them. They totally earned 5 huge stars, especially Maggie. The way she loved and forgave was something else; as was her loyalty, even at the cost of her own peril. And watching her learn to forgive herself was absolutely breathtaking.

Maggie and Edward's journey was one that brought humbleness, compassion, self-identity, truth, absolution, re-connection, and love. It was everything I would look for in a story. They were everything I would look for in my characters. Ms. Delinsky was spot on with their development, both so rich in character. So deep and real. They will be characters I remember for a long time.

With all that said, sadly this book almost became a DNF. The first quarter or so just dragged on with needless over describing, leaving me feeling bored and wondering where the intriguing synopsis came from. Plus, it felt a little preachy at times (not the religious kind of preachy). I'm glad I pushed through, though, as around 35% the story finally started to pick up, catching my attention. Once I got passed all that, it was like another author took over. I really began to enjoy Ms. Delinsky's writing and could see why others loved her work.

Between that and what felt like a rushed ending I was a bit disappointed. I wanted so much less in the beginning and so much more in the end. I wanted more happy. More building. Not just a quick summary of what went down.

Ms. Delinsky was a first time author to me. While I ended up liking the characters, and the story, I'm not sure I would read another by this author. Although, reading other reviews this is not the author's typical standard, so maybe.

Before and Again is a great emotional read that pulls on the heartstrings from the beginning. Mackenzie Cooper has suffered the worst loss that a parent can - the loss of a child. She ran a stop sign that was covered by leaves in a strange location and hit by a car exceeding the speed limit. The tragedy broke up her marriage and caused her to be estranged from her parents and brother. Her father died soon after and her mother blamed her for his death as well. She left her hometown of Boston and wound up in Devon, Vermont with a new name, Maggie Reid, and a new hairstyle. Formerly, a sculptor and now a makeup artist, she has established a new life at the spa associated with the local inn. She does have a friend with a pottery place where she goes to lose herself in clay but only for therapy. She has new friends in a town where others have settled after having a past that they want to forget. But one of her friends, Grace, who is also hiding from a past is now dealing with a teenage son accused of hacking into his school computer system and the computer system at the spa where Maggie and Grace work. This is a federal crime. Part of her punishment for the tragedy that killed her daughter and the other driver is probation and to stay away from felons. Grace's son, if convicted, would be a felon. But Maggie knows what it is like to be alone without the support of friends. And then out of the blue, her ex-husband, Edward (now Ned) Cooper appears as the new inn owner and manager for a group of investors.
What was a quiet and rewarding life for Maggie is now one where her face could be in the national media again. She was just getting her life together and now it is in turmoil. But Ned is there to stay with other businesses planned. He has purchased a house. Then her estranged brother, Liam, is there as a new chef working for Ned. Talk about betrayal.
I haven't read Barbara Delinksy in years but I was reminded why I used to read her. She has such an amazing ability for creating well developed characters and a scene that are so real that you can place yourself in their shoes. I felt Maggie's pain and her dilemma. Her feelings are torn between guilt, unresolved pain, anger, hurt and fear. She loved Edward even when they divorced. It is hard to see him again. Why is he here? This is her town, her friends. The town of Devon sounds like a wonderful place to live or visit. Before and Again is a read that will leave you thinking about it after the book ends. Great read!
I received an ARC of this book form St. Martin's Press through NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions and thoughts stated are mine only. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity.

One of my favorite Barbara Delinsky books. It is a great story and you are drawn into the character's lives immediately. You feel their emotions, share they fears, regrets and joy. You think you know what's coming, but there are surprises in each chapter. I read the entire book in 2 days because I needed to see how it ended.

A terrible tragedy turned Mackenzie Cooper's life upside down. Once she got out of prison she took a new name and a new persona. She has made a life for herself in Vermont as a makeup artist for a local spa. She owns a home she loves, she has made friends, and she has 2 cats and a dog that she rescued from the local shelter. Just when she is least expects it, her past comes speeding back to her.
I read almost this entire book in one sitting. I am not a fan of pure romance novels, but her novels are more captivating storyline and less romance, so they make great reading for pretty much everyone.

Before and again by Barbara Delinsky. The synopsis grabbed my attention. I am not sure if I have read a book by this author before.

The first chapter or two I found difficult to get into the story. I am not sure if it was because it was very descriptive or because I kept getting pulled away. However, when chapter three comes, buckle your seatbelt. I found myself irrevocably pulled into a story that I could not stop thinking about until the last page.

I found myself rooting for Mackenzie aka Maggie to find her forgiveness and redemption. This is a story of love, loss, and finding that love again.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you for the chance to read and review.

If you have read Barbara Delinsky, you already love her. Before and Again which publishes on June 26th, 2018, has an even deeper layer of emotional touchstones than she has had in her wonderful books in the past. If I could, I would give this ten stars.

Mackenzie and Edward have caught the brass ring at the merry-go-round. They have everything money can buy, a smart, pretty 5 year old and a mutual love and respect that keeps them smiling. Until the accident.

I appreciated Vermont - in the summer months - before this novel. It is on my bucket list. But the setting of Before and Again in the imaginary town of Devon made me appreciate year round life in Vermont as well. If you only read one book this summer, Before and Again should be it.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Barbara Delinsky, and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

This book is heartbreaking & hopeful all in the same story. It starts off right away with the most horrific nightmare for any parent...taking your eyes off the road for a split second which leads to the death of your child. Mackenzie ends up being charged in this & is on probation. It costs her her marriage as well as the loss of the child, so she moves to Devon & goes by Maggie Reid instead of Mackenzie Cooper. She has settled into this life & is content. She has friends, a home, pets, & a job she loves. She just has to constantly deal with the ramifications of the accident. She only has a few months left on her probation when all heck breaks loose with her friend's son. Also, her ex-husband has shown up in town & she's shocked to find out why. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens with Maggie & the people in the town of Devon. You will not be disappointed!

*Given ARC through NetGalley for honest review

I have always enjoyed this author’s books, great storytelling, and wonderful characters. But this book seemed deeper, more emotional, really touching the heart, thought provoking and with amazing characters. I fell in love with Edward who was so real, honest, charismatic with a loving heart and a pure soul. A tragic start to the story, with the death of a five year old girl. Maggie was distracted for a moment, missed a stop sign and there was a crash and her daughter was killed. But this story is not just about the death. It starts with Maggie eventually moving away, hiding and building a life for herself that had nothing to do with her previous life. Maggies grief is deep, constantly there along with guilt and blame. But the story builds, eventually allowing accceptance of the death, forgiveness of herself and her ex-husband and her mother. This is a wonderful moving story that I truly loved and it moved me to tears more than once.

When I start a Barbara Delinsky book I always start slowly. In fact, usually after the first chapter I am gutted so I need to let is sit, while I recover, and this book wasn't any different. OMG. the pain ! so gut wrenching. Maggie and Ned suffer the most tragic of losses and although they took different roads to recovery they find themselves back together on the same road years later. Maggie's road to self discovery, her internal questioning about what kind of friend, person she is so beautifully written. Her struggles and her pain made me so sad. How Ned helps her realize "that the past may not be changed but it is accepted and becomes who you are " is a passage in the book that I underlined many times. Both of them reaching out to each, holding each their mourning together, forgiving themselves and well as each other, very powerful stuff.

I have complicated feelings about this book. I thought it had a fantastic premise- Mackenzie Cooper is publicly shamed for having taken her eyes off the road for a minute to check her GPS. Her 5 year old daughter is killed, as was the other driver, and her name was dragged through the mud. So much so that her name is now synonymous with distracted driving and the Mackenzie Cooper law is created. She loses everything- her child, her husband Edward, and reputation and moves to Devon, a small town in Connecticut to start over. She's working as an artist and a makeup artist and things are going well, until she sees her ex-husband in town. He, along with her best friend's son who just got into major, public, trouble, threaten to destroy everything she's worked to rebuild.

I liked Mackenzie (Maggie). She was an everyday person who was facing the impossible. This story was very character driven and I feel like we got to know Mackenzie well. Her decisions sometimes irritated me (some decisions that seem obvious to the reader take her for-ev-er to realize) but I walked away being invested into her story. The character that I didn't feel invested in was Grace. Grace is Mackenzie's best friend and the mother of the son who has been accused of hacking. The plot of the story hinges on her being this damaged yet lovable character, but I didn't get any of that from her. We eventually find out why she comes across as erratic and what happened in her life before Devon, but that comes so late into the book it felt rushed and thrown in as an afterthought.

My biggest problem with this book was that it was LONG. Over 400 pages, and there is not that much going on. The author takes her time going places and adds a ton of information that I didn't think was necessary to the characters or the plot. In one section, it took us 3 pages for Mackenzie to travel to the post office. In another we meet a character from Mackenzie's past and talk about his clothing for two pages. It does give you a very vivid picture of the town of Devon and its residents, but in places I found myself fighting the temptation to skim. What dialogue there was was realistic, but there were a lot of internal musings in between. I debated putting the book down about 30% in, but I found I was too interested in knowing how things were going to work out for Grace's son and with Mackenzie and Edward to let go. Their relationship was what saved the book for me. Overall, 3/5.

We all have regrets: the terrible relationship, bad career choice, wrong move at the wrong time. However, some of us have done things that destroy lives, our own and others. The destruction is epic, unbelievable, and total.
What do we do next?
If you’re Maggie in Barbara Delinsky’s Before and Again, you reinvent yourself in a new place where no one knows you as Mackenzie Cooper, the woman and mother who did the unthinkable. There are no accusations, no sidelong glances, whispers as you leave the room. You give your best, share aspects of your talent with this new world, having abandoned the work that defined you, the life that you made that left destruction, regret, bitter anger in its wake.
Maggie lives with a box of regrets tucked under her bed in her new house with her cats and a dog, the only ones she lives with now. She is happy enough, even with the daily reminders of who she once was and what she did. Her life is quiet now, with a few close friends, her job as make-up artist, her passion for pottery. She is known for being kind, generous, loyal. With her practical jeans, flannel, and boots, it would be tough to imagine her as the beautiful woman living a privileged, secure life, adored wife with 5 year old daughter, thriving art career, and big house.
In this new version of her life, Maggie is a make-up artist, throws pottery, and is kind, generous, thoughtful, a wonderful friend. A moment’s distraction destroyed her previous life, broke her heart and every relationship she had, left her broken with nowhere to turn; she is determined to keep her life on an even keel even if she wants more.
This is where the story begins, with Maggie once Mackenzie living in her safe enclave five years after unthinkable. More unthinkable arrives in her town, from her friend’s own tragedy that threatens to expose Maggie’s hard-won security to the ex-husband creating his own new life, others from the past who turn up again.
While Delinsky’s story explores regret, about integrating the past into the present, it is ultimately about love. Her story is about all love: lovers, parents, friends, and love for your own life, how you define yourself and live what is most important to you.
I loved living in this small town in Vermont, watching the inevitable revelations unwind. Delinsky is a master at parsing the particulars, from the legal system to the world of work. Where she is brilliant is in exploring how we create and shape the stories of who we are to live — and what happens when we change our stories to embrace who we are right now with all we have experienced and learned.
If it seems that I am an avid fan, it’s because I am. For years, I have admired Delinsky’s work for its unflinching, compassionate, and wise stories. The characters feel like people I know. I look forward to seeing them, to hearing what they have to say — and that statement is not an exaggeration or a metaphor. Delinsky writes real, writes real people in real places, grounds them in a time and a place and a situation. I’m there for the entire ride from here to what comes next.
This is a story that challenges — and that is why I put it down the first time that I started reading it. Mackenzie is driving her child to a playdate in a remote area with no signs, no way to tell where they are since there is no GPS, no signal so she can call for help.
I’ve lived that situation. Delinsky described how it felt when I first moved to Connecticut, no child in the backseat, but the crushing pressure of having to be somewhere and I’m already late and lost and losing my mind. For me, it was always night so any signs were totally obscured. Why is it that Connecticut is so private, so guarded, so presumptive that if you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t belong there. Why bother with signs? Everyone who matters already knows how to get where they’re going.
This reading was my second attempt. Braced in my armchair, hot cup of tea close to hand, I read that prologue and plunged into the new reality and the breathless, well-paced, wonderfully wrought story that this is.
If you do read this book, be prepared to think hard and feel even more. Delinsky pulls no punches, expects smart and engaged readers as she weaves an excellent, involving story of what happens when.

One of my favorite Barbara Delinsky books. It is a great story and you are drawn into the character's lives immediately. You feel their emotions, share they fears, regrets and joy. You think you know what's coming, but there are surprises in each chapter. I read the entire book in 2 days because I needed to see how it ended.

A terrible tragedy turned Mackenzie Cooper's life upside down. Once she got out of prison she took a new name and a new persona. She has made a life for herself in Vermont as a makeup artist for a local spa. She owns a home she loves, she has made friends, and she has 2 cats and a dog that she rescued from the local shelter. Just when she is least expects it, her past comes speeding back to her.
I read almost this entire book in one sitting. I am not a fan of pure romance novels, but her novels are more captivating storyline and less romance, so they make great reading for pretty much everyone.

Before and again by Barbara Delinsky. The synopsis grabbed my attention. I am not sure if I have read a book by this author before.

The first chapter or two I found difficult to get into the story. I am not sure if it was because it was very descriptive or because I kept getting pulled away. However, when chapter three comes, buckle your seatbelt. I found myself irrevocably pulled into a story that I could not stop thinking about until the last page.

I found myself rooting for Mackenzie aka Maggie to find her forgiveness and redemption. This is a story of love, loss, and finding that love again.

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you for the chance to read and review.

If you have read Barbara Delinsky, you already love her. Before and Again which publishes on June 26th, 2018, has an even deeper layer of emotional touchstones than she has had in her wonderful books in the past. If I could, I would give this ten stars.

Mackenzie and Edward have caught the brass ring at the merry-go-round. They have everything money can buy, a smart, pretty 5 year old and a mutual love and respect that keeps them smiling. Until the accident.

I appreciated Vermont - in the summer months - before this novel. It is on my bucket list. But the setting of Before and Again in the imaginary town of Devon made me appreciate year round life in Vermont as well. If you only read one book this summer, Before and Again should be it.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Barbara Delinsky, and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

This book is heartbreaking & hopeful all in the same story. It starts off right away with the most horrific nightmare for any parent...taking your eyes off the road for a split second which leads to the death of your child. Mackenzie ends up being charged in this & is on probation. It costs her her marriage as well as the loss of the child, so she moves to Devon & goes by Maggie Reid instead of Mackenzie Cooper. She has settled into this life & is content. She has friends, a home, pets, & a job she loves. She just has to constantly deal with the ramifications of the accident. She only has a few months left on her probation when all heck breaks loose with her friend's son. Also, her ex-husband has shown up in town & she's shocked to find out why. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens with Maggie & the people in the town of Devon. You will not be disappointed!

*Given ARC through NetGalley for honest review

I have always enjoyed this author’s books, great storytelling, and wonderful characters. But this book seemed deeper, more emotional, really touching the heart, thought provoking and with amazing characters. I fell in love with Edward who was so real, honest, charismatic with a loving heart and a pure soul. A tragic start to the story, with the death of a five year old girl. Maggie was distracted for a moment, missed a stop sign and there was a crash and her daughter was killed. But this story is not just about the death. It starts with Maggie eventually moving away, hiding and building a life for herself that had nothing to do with her previous life. Maggies grief is deep, constantly there along with guilt and blame. But the story builds, eventually allowing accceptance of the death, forgiveness of herself and her ex-husband and her mother. This is a wonderful moving story that I truly loved and it moved me to tears more than once.

When I start a Barbara Delinsky book I always start slowly. In fact, usually after the first chapter I am gutted so I need to let is sit, while I recover, and this book wasn't any different. OMG. the pain ! so gut wrenching. Maggie and Ned suffer the most tragic of losses and although they took different roads to recovery they find themselves back together on the same road years later. Maggie's road to self discovery, her internal questioning about what kind of friend, person she is so beautifully written. Her struggles and her pain made me so sad. How Ned helps her realize "that the past may not be changed but it is accepted and becomes who you are " is a passage in the book that I underlined many times. Both of them reaching out to each, holding each their mourning together, forgiving themselves and well as each other, very powerful stuff.

Before and Again by author Barbara Delinsky is filled with heartrending emotions for Mackenzie Cooper, The author has written the emotional angst of the characters so well. I was totally into this book and once I started reading, I did not stop until the ending. This is a book about love, family, loss, grief, and trying to begin again with a heart full of hurt but a very wise spirit.
Mackenzie's world suddenly crashes to a devastating plummet the afternoon she runs a stop sign and is hit by a speeding driver. Because she was clearly in the wrong by failing to see the stop sign and yielding to any oncoming vehicles, she is now branded as a killer. The death of her five-year-old daughter Lily and the driver of the other vehicle is proof, right? The media coverage is so widespread until Maggie is withdrawn from friends and family. Her husband Edward is silent and soon they divorce.
Maggie makes a new start in the tiny little town of Devon, Vermont. She has healed from her physical scars, but will never get over losing her sweet Lily. She has adjusted to being without the love of Edward and the understanding of her mother. Maggie has a new name and has not shared any of her past with the people she has met in Devon. She is alone except for her little cabin, two cats, one dog and a few friends who work at the spa and pottery studio in Devon. She can make it the remaining four months of her court-ordered probation and then she will be free. Or maybe not!
Maggie comes to the aid of her best friend Grace when her teenage son is accused of hacking into sensitive information regarding the Spa's private clients. She never dreamed her face would be in the public again. Maggie is terrified that her life and secrets before she moved to Devon will be revealed. But that is not the most serious issue, her probation officer is threatening her freedom because she is associating herself with someone facing a felony charge. It is a very real dilemma for Maggie, to be a true friend to Grace in a time of need, or turn silent and protect herself from the possibility of prison and her past being known.

I have complicated feelings about this book. I thought it had a fantastic premise- Mackenzie Cooper is publicly shamed for having taken her eyes off the road for a minute to check her GPS. Her 5 year old daughter is killed, as was the other driver, and her name was dragged through the mud. So much so that her name is now synonymous with distracted driving and the Mackenzie Cooper law is created. She loses everything- her child, her husband Edward, and reputation and moves to Devon, a small town in Connecticut to start over. She's working as an artist and a makeup artist and things are going well, until she sees her ex-husband in town. He, along with her best friend's son who just got into major, public, trouble, threaten to destroy everything she's worked to rebuild.

I liked Mackenzie (Maggie). She was an everyday person who was facing the impossible. This story was very character driven and I feel like we got to know Mackenzie well. Her decisions sometimes irritated me (some decisions that seem obvious to the reader take her for-ev-er to realize) but I walked away being invested into her story. The character that I didn't feel invested in was Grace. Grace is Mackenzie's best friend and the mother of the son who has been accused of hacking. The plot of the story hinges on her being this damaged yet lovable character, but I didn't get any of that from her. We eventually find out why she comes across as erratic and what happened in her life before Devon, but that comes so late into the book it felt rushed and thrown in as an afterthought.

My biggest problem with this book was that it was LONG. Over 400 pages, and there is not that much going on. The author takes her time going places and adds a ton of information that I didn't think was necessary to the characters or the plot. In one section, it took us 3 pages for Mackenzie to travel to the post office. In another we meet a character from Mackenzie's past and talk about his clothing for two pages. It does give you a very vivid picture of the town of Devon and its residents, but in places I found myself fighting the temptation to skim. What dialogue there was was realistic, but there were a lot of internal musings in between. I debated putting the book down about 30% in, but I found I was too interested in knowing how things were going to work out for Grace's son and with Mackenzie and Edward to let go. Their relationship was what saved the book for me. Overall, 3/5.

We all have regrets: the terrible relationship, bad career choice, wrong move at the wrong time. However, some of us have done things that destroy lives, our own and others. The destruction is epic, unbelievable, and total.
What do we do next?
If you’re Maggie in Barbara Delinsky’s Before and Again, you reinvent yourself in a new place where no one knows you as Mackenzie Cooper, the woman and mother who did the unthinkable. There are no accusations, no sidelong glances, whispers as you leave the room. You give your best, share aspects of your talent with this new world, having abandoned the work that defined you, the life that you made that left destruction, regret, bitter anger in its wake.
Maggie lives with a box of regrets tucked under her bed in her new house with her cats and a dog, the only ones she lives with now. She is happy enough, even with the daily reminders of who she once was and what she did. Her life is quiet now, with a few close friends, her job as make-up artist, her passion for pottery. She is known for being kind, generous, loyal. With her practical jeans, flannel, and boots, it would be tough to imagine her as the beautiful woman living a privileged, secure life, adored wife with 5 year old daughter, thriving art career, and big house.
In this new version of her life, Maggie is a make-up artist, throws pottery, and is kind, generous, thoughtful, a wonderful friend. A moment’s distraction destroyed her previous life, broke her heart and every relationship she had, left her broken with nowhere to turn; she is determined to keep her life on an even keel even if she wants more.
This is where the story begins, with Maggie once Mackenzie living in her safe enclave five years after unthinkable. More unthinkable arrives in her town, from her friend’s own tragedy that threatens to expose Maggie’s hard-won security to the ex-husband creating his own new life, others from the past who turn up again.
While Delinsky’s story explores regret, about integrating the past into the present, it is ultimately about love. Her story is about all love: lovers, parents, friends, and love for your own life, how you define yourself and live what is most important to you.
I loved living in this small town in Vermont, watching the inevitable revelations unwind. Delinsky is a master at parsing the particulars, from the legal system to the world of work. Where she is brilliant is in exploring how we create and shape the stories of who we are to live — and what happens when we change our stories to embrace who we are right now with all we have experienced and learned.
If it seems that I am an avid fan, it’s because I am. For years, I have admired Delinsky’s work for its unflinching, compassionate, and wise stories. The characters feel like people I know. I look forward to seeing them, to hearing what they have to say — and that statement is not an exaggeration or a metaphor. Delinsky writes real, writes real people in real places, grounds them in a time and a place and a situation. I’m there for the entire ride from here to what comes next.
This is a story that challenges — and that is why I put it down the first time that I started reading it. Mackenzie is driving her child to a playdate in a remote area with no signs, no way to tell where they are since there is no GPS, no signal so she can call for help.
I’ve lived that situation. Delinsky described how it felt when I first moved to Connecticut, no child in the backseat, but the crushing pressure of having to be somewhere and I’m already late and lost and losing my mind. For me, it was always night so any signs were totally obscured. Why is it that Connecticut is so private, so guarded, so presumptive that if you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t belong there. Why bother with signs? Everyone who matters already knows how to get where they’re going.
This reading was my second attempt. Braced in my armchair, hot cup of tea close to hand, I read that prologue and plunged into the new reality and the breathless, well-paced, wonderfully wrought story that this is.
If you do read this book, be prepared to think hard and feel even more. Delinsky pulls no punches, expects smart and engaged readers as she weaves an excellent, involving story of what happens when.

Barbara Delinsky has a huge fan base that seems to grow with every new novel she writes. There is good reason for this: Delinsky manages the fast-moving pace of contemporary culture and incorporates it into her complex and intriguing stories of empowerment. A lot of women’s fiction takes a look backwards to less complicated times when a strong female protagonist didn’t have to fight with so many other strong women characters on the bookshelves.

Delinsky likes a challenge and accepts it willingly, taking the contemporary story of a woman facing grave and difficult circumstances to recreate a life worth living and make it stand head and shoulders above the crowd of other books with modern-day heroines. BEFORE AND AGAIN is such a novel, sure to please her fans and bring in legions more with strong characters, exacting prose, and a message that will feel like it’s something your BFF would tell you in a moment of darkness.

One small car accident takes Mackenzie Cooper’s life and turns it into a soap opera slammed across a number of media outlets. It robs her of her beloved daughter, her marriage, her family, her friends --- all those things that made her life seem like a fairy tale. Thus she begins a new life in Vermont with her pets under the name Maggie Reid, taking a position at a luxurious local spa as a makeup artist, and enjoying new friendships with those who know nothing of her past.

Maggie is on probation and hopes that her fresh start will help her work through this period of her life without adding more trauma. However, a local kid, the son of a new friend, gets thrust into the national spotlight by being accused of hacking a corporate icon’s Twitter account. In helping her friend, Maggie tries to balance hiding her past from being an active participant in this scandal. Eventually her carefully constructed other life begins to tear at the seams, revealing the secrets she had so desperately hoped to keep from her new community. But people need people, and in order to find comfort from her new friends, she also must be willing to risk something for them --- and that something is her secret past.

Sacrifice is a tough topic, and the sacrifice one must make to another for lasting friendship is an even harder thing to discern. The relationships Maggie develops in this new world help her explore the depths to which real friendship and trust can go. BEFORE AND AGAIN is about how hiding from the feelings we all have and need fulfilled in this world require some real extension of who we are in our souls. A lesson for this day when we seem to be learning what “community” really means and how important it is for our world’s survival, this book offers a compelling story that gives credence to all our questions about how we fit into each other’s lives.

Reviewed by Jana Siciliano

Barbara Delinsky is a mainstay in women’s fiction and with good reason. Tackling complex issues while exploring family dynamics and relationships, Delinsky can weave a story that captures the mind as well as the heart. Before and Again is no exception.

Maggie’s life changed in an instant. After losing all that she loved most in a horrible accident, she has rebuilt a quiet existence in another town. She craves anonymity and has shared her past with no one, save for one trusted friend. When supporting a friend in need means being thrust back into the spotlight, and the risk of her past becoming known is all too real, Maggie must decide what she is willing to risk in order to do what she knows is right.

Maggie was a character that was still mired in grief and guilt. Outwardly, she gave the impression of having moved on, but in reality she was still stuck in a spiral of self-blame and recrimination. When her friend’s son is accused of hacking into the Twitter account of a high profile journalist, the national media descends. Maggie is terrified of being recognized and having her own past brought into the spotlight but she also cannot turn her back on her friend. At the same time, a face from Maggie’s past has reappeared and she’s reeling from the implications.

There were a lot of threads running through Maggie’s story: her job and her pottery, the scandal with her friend’s son, her estrangement from her family, her ex-husband, and Maggie’s overwhelming heartache. While at times the pacing did seem to lag, I was still invested in Maggie’s story. And despite the hacking scandal, which often seemed to take a backset, the story felt more character-driven than the synopsis suggests. Along with its commentary on the role of the media (about which Delinsky seemingly has nothing but disdain), Before and Again also tackles issues of friendship, forgiveness, loss and second chances. Sometimes a bit slow, but ultimately a hopeful story of overcoming tragedy and finding happiness.

I’ve read several of Ms. Delinsky’s books and was excited to read an early copy of this book.

The book description briefly describes a collision and the loss of Mackenzie Cooper’s daughter and then the loss of her family, marriage, and friends. While that is a succinct summary of what happened before the story begins, there is so much more to this compelling story. Mackenzie, now known as Maggie, is still living with the guilt and nightmares of the loss five years later. She has found a small town to begin again in new ways that allows her to still be artistic but not in the same way as before.

Maggie becomes friends with almost everyone in the town and yet only one person knows about her history. As various events occur in the story, she worries that someone will find out who she really is, what she did, and can’t bear to think of how they would look at her.

This book brought out all of the emotions of the loss of a child, and understanding why Maggie felt such guilt even when there were other variables also involved. She was convicted as a felon and her ongoing visits with her PO were quite awkward and I felt the man was very inappropriate and unnecessarily intrusive.

When Maggie unexpectedly sees her ex-husband, who she hasn’t seen in four years, she is thrown into turmoil. As various other events occur, Maggie’s anxiety attacks continue and the descriptions were so vivid, that I could almost feel her inability to breathe and the pain in her chest. I truly enjoyed learning more about Edward/Ned, the depth of his emotions about the loss of his daughter which brought tears to my eyes, and how he wanted to help Maggie with her guilt. Their interactions were so emotional but Edward’s gentleness with Maggie, while initially unwanted, eventually generated a spark of hope.

The writing flowed and it was easy to imagine the locations and feel the various emotions. There was so much heartache and grief, that it was almost overwhelming and yet there was also a sense of hope. The main and side characters seemed so real with believable flaws and I could easily see this as an intriguing movie.

How do you continue to live with such overwhelming guilt, grief and pain but somehow find the strength to continue living one day at a time? How do you learn to accept that you can’t change the past but somehow learn to treasure the good memories and find hope in the future? This was a poignant, heart wrenching story that provides a satisfying conclusion.

The story really spoke to how couples, even committed ones react to tragedy. There is the guilty conscience, the blame game, the grief, oh my the heart wrenching endless, bottomless, depth of despair. Compounded by lack of support from her parents, Mackenzie did reach rock bottom. How she rose from the ashes is a miracle. Edward’s feelings we now know was similar to that of his wife.. I love how he went about trying to make amends. I was routing for him.. Barbara Delinsky is a consummate story teller. She brought these characters to life. The subplot was also riveting. The courage of a woman to protect her child and herself from physical, emotional abuse or worse. I was encouraged by Rose’s actions in this book. Kudos...
**ARC provided by publishers through NetGalley**

Mackenzie Cooper and her husband led a luxurious, charmed life until she took her eyes off the road, which resulted in a vehicle accident that killed both her 5 year old daughter Lily, and the speeding driver of the other vehicle. She lost her marriage, family, and friends and endured non stop media coverage and was sentenced to 5 years probation. Mack then remade herself in the small town of Devon, where she went by the name of Maggie and nobody knew her past.

Flash forward 5 years and Maggie is happy with her 2 cats, dog, little cabin, and her job as a makeup artist at a fancy Inn. Then her ex-husband makes his entrance at the same time Maggie is thrown back in the spotlight due to a hacking incident by a friend's son and serious problems of that friend. All the while, Maggie is still dealing with the guilt of the accident, the grief of losing her daughter, marriage and relationship with family, and wondering if she can ever get past her past. With her ex-husband's arrival as the new manager of the inn and Maggie is thrown into a headspin of worry, shock, and dismay, Her carefully arranged new life is falling apart. Her ex husband wants to be with Maggie again while Maggie can't even imagine such a thing, due to her ever present feelings of guilt. I enjoyed every chapter of this book despite having no question in my mind about how it was going to end.

There was never really any tension in the book, other than that imposed by Maggie's refusal to forgive herself for the accident. That refusal led Maggie to think she could never do something that would really make her happy thus she was unwillingness to consider getting back with her husband, even though it was obvious they were made for each other and should never have divorced. The problems of her friend and friend's son, really took a back seat to Maggie's relationship with her ex, other than to be a way to add media exposure to her new life and put her probation into jeopardy for consorting with a suspected felon.

Much of the drama was due to Maggie's over thinking and self flagellation which could be tedious at times, Still, I enjoyed the book, and the characters of her ex husband and mother. This book is all about forgiveness and learning to forgive oneself. Very much worth a mostly stress free (for the reader) read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky was a very emotional book to read and I'm not even a mother. I think anyone with kids that reads this book will experience a wide range of emotions and if you've lost a child it may hit you even harder.

Mackenzie Cooper is a woman that has lost it all - her child, her marriage, her so-called friends, and the support of her parents all in the time it took to look down at her GPS while driving. She now goes by the name Maggie Reid and works at a spa in Vermont as a makeup artist while going to a pottery studio in her spare time. When her friend Grace's son is accused of hacking into Twitter and school records, it ends up putting Maggie in a whirlwind of media attention that threatens to bring out the past she so desperately wants to hide from the people of small town Devon.

There was so much heart to this story and I teared up more than once. Maggie is dealing with so much guilt and my heart just ached for her and what happened. The book did take me a little bit to get into but once I did I found myself fully invested in the story. This isn't a book that has a ton of action per say, but the story was enough to keep me reading and I loved so many characters. The characterization in Before and Again was enough that I felt connected to a lot of the characters, especially Maggie, but not to the point where I thought I was reading a bunch of unnecessary words. The book is a bit of a long one at 405 pages in the hardcover, but I think the pages go fairly quickly.

Before and Again touches on a lot of things including what a mother will do to protect her child, the guilt experienced after losing a child and you can't forgive yourself because it's "your fault", being estranged from family, and rekindling a relationship after the loss of a child. This book packs a powerful punch of emotions in more ways than one.

Final Thought: I don't really want to talk too much about the book because I think it speaks for itself. I ended up reading the blurb again when I was about 100 pages in, but for the most part I think it is fine to go into this book blind as long as you know what the basic idea of the story is. Different people with different experiences may find this book more stressful to read than others will. Either way it is a beautifully crafted story that touches on a lot of emotional topics. I look forward to reading more from Delinsky!

One afternoon Mackenzie Cooper was driving her five year old daughter to a playdate when the unthinkable happened. Mackenzie had been glancing down at the GPS trying to find the home of her daughter’s friend when she accidentally runs a stop sign and a truck crashes into them. As if losing her daughter wasn’t punishment enough Mackenzie ends up splashed all over the media to be made an example.

Now on probation Mackenzie has changed her name to Maggie Reid and moved to Vermont to try to put her life back together. Losing her daughter, her marriage and friends Maggie takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist and the few new friends she’s made. When one of her friend’s son is accused of a crime Maggie risks breaking her probation to stand by her side knowing what the media attention can do to someone.

Before and Again is honestly one of those books that I know it’s not a bad book at all but it’s just not a me book. This was my second book I’ve read by Barbara Delinsky and I really expected to enjoy it but this one was just so slow it could barely hold my attention and turned into a struggle to read.

When the story joins Maggie in her current life it seemed that way too much time was spent describing and drawing out things that didn’t progress the story. For example applying make up step by step by step. So while the idea of finding one’s self in the aftermath of such a horrible tragedy seemed appealing the book just moved too slowly for my taste.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What a great read! If you want to read something that grabs you and takes you for a ride, with many ups and downs, then read “Before and Again “ by Barbara Delinsky. It’s a story with tremendous pain yet tremendous joy. The characters will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It begins in a beautiful peaceful town in Vermont. The setting was exquisite; I felt like I was actually there. The people living in this town were also beautiful and they’d all moved there to start over. If there is in fact a town like this somewhere I wish the author would to tell me where it was because I want to move there!
Mackenzie aka Maggie is the main protagonist and I found myself wanting to be her friend. She experiences horror that most people only have nightmares about and the author has the reader so captivated they’ll find themselves feeling everything Maggie feels. Her resilience is astonishing. Barbara Delinsky developed this character to be someone so deeply good and pure- that I , as the reader, just wanted to give her a hug. There were many different conflicts going on throughout the story yet it was written so perfectly it was never anything but fluid.
This story shows how your entire life can be turned upside down, practically nonexistent, in just ONE second and it might take a long time but there is ALWAYS hope. You’ll be so engrossed, so engaged, you may find yourself speaking aloud to Maggie, Grace or perhaps Ned because of their authenticity.
Barbara Delinsky has always been a talented author but I’d say she’s outdone herself with “Before and Again”. Hated it to end! I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a compelling novel with very real, often flawed characters trying to get by in a world that doesn’t always play nice

This is a highly emotional and powerful story. It's a story of horrendous loss, self loathing, forgiveness, and starting over. The characters are well developed. They are flawed, engaging, and lovable. The story is memorable and I enjoyed the small town flair. My only complaint, and I never thought I'd say this but, the writing is almost too descriptive making the flow slow and the story feel drawn out. I found myself skimming several pages - how much do I need to know about applying makeup to get the gist of the story? Even with this I walked away from the book with a warm heart and a smile. I would definitely recommend it.

4.5 Stars

Wow! It seems everyone in this book comes to Devon, VT to hide and start a new life. At least that's what the major characters of this book are doing.

A woman who looks at her GPS for just a second or two, runs a stop sign and is hit by a large speeding vehicle. This happens right off the bat in chapter one. The woman (MacKenzie - Maggie) lives but her five year old daughter and the other driver do not.

This is just one of the many, many plot twists that are going on between the covers of this book.

MacKenzie (Maggie) comes to Devon to forget and start a new life. Everything is going fine until her best friend's son puts the town in the limelight with a felony charge. All of a sudden, reporters are everywhere.

I found this to be an excellent read, my first by this author, however it won't be my last.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Woman (Maggie) rebuilds her life after a car crash kills her 5 yo daughter (Lily).

Five years later, she's divorced from her husband, estranged from her family, and has started a new career as a makeup artist in a small town where no one knows her past. Even though she's reinvented herself and made new friends, she remains unable to forgive herself for being distracted by the Maps app on her phone while driving Lily to a play date.

Before and Again asks and answers the following questions: How far would you go to help a friend Is it possible to outrun your past mistakes? Is it possible to move on before confronting the mistakes made in your past? Once confronted, how do you forgive yourself and let go?

Find out in this heartwarming story of love and forgiveness! It brought tears to my eyes several times, and its length and depth was perfect for the long, lazy days of summer.

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Location: Devon, Vermont

JUNE 26 - just released - Aptly titled, Before and Again takes us into the life of Maggie Reid, formerly known and MacKenzie Cooper before moving to this small town of Devon in Vermont She now works at a resort spa doing make-up, whereas she used to be a sculptor. It is a tale of starting over after tragedy has altered one's life so that life is intolerable being who you were. It's also a tale of forgiveness, of one's self, and of others. I loved it. Maggie's ex-husband Edward is every woman's dream. Their marriage failed after the death of their 5 yr old daughter. It is a tear jerker, admittedly, but well written in true Delinsky style. A dual plot line involves her best friend who also moved to Devon and has secrets of her own. Almost everyone has a past here, but they all come together to support each other.

My only complaint is that it was repetitive at times, and a tad too long. It did keep me vested in the outcome and was a very worthwhile read for me. Just released, pick up your copy today.

Mackenzie moved to Devon to get away from her past. Little does she realize everyone there is hiding from something from their past as well. She works really hard to disguise herself so that nobody will recognize her from being in the news years before. Shes' doing great but then her ex husband comes to town and has the nerve to buy a house knowing she lives there. She is livid! He wants to get back together.

Her best friend's son, Chris gets into some trouble. Mackenzie wants to help him out but she is still on probation. Her PO is watching every move she makes. Chris and his mom, Grace are recognized by a person in their past through the news media coverage. Mackenzie relies on her ex husband to help her friend and her son.

I really liked this book. It is about forgiving yourself for mistakes as well as others. Everyone but Mackenzie herself had forgiven her except herself. In the end, its' about family and the ones you love.

Before and Again is Barbara Delinsky at her best. The title, Before and Again intrigued me. The “before” I understood to be the past unpleasant events of the story. The word “again” though made me think that the “before” would be happening a second time. This I did not want. I looked up the definition of “again,” a word I thought I knew. One definition is “anew.” That is when I understood the title. What events shaped the characters could also change the characters

Other reviewers have written about the plot and characters, so I will not spend much time on them. You can read those reviews. What I will say is the character development left me wanting more, especially with Edward and with Maggie’s mother. Perhaps we will see more of those characters one day.

Delinsky fans will be quite happy with Before and After. I certainly was.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review. Thank you.

Sadly, this novel begins with a tragedy, the death of a child, but it takes the reader through the slow rebuilding of love and hope.
Delinsky tells the story of Maggie who has rebuilt her life after the death of a beloved child. She carries all the guilt for the tragedy and ultimately watches it destroy her marriage.
As if the reader watches a lovely bloom unfold, we watch Maggie’s life blossom as each person she believes has abandoned her moves back into her life. Her guarded existence suddenly fills with love and, ultimately, life.

I was very taken by this story, I admit to being teary eyed through a large part of it. Delinsky tells the story beautifully and builds the character of both Maggie and her ex-husband with care. Delinsky is such an expert at developing her characters so you come to love them and don't want the book to end, this novel was no exception for me.

Mackenzie Cooper's life changes dramatically when she's involved in an auto accident that kills two people but five years later she has moved to a new town, changed her name, and becomes a makeup artist instead of a sculptor. More changes are on the way when the fifteen year old son of her friend is charged with hacking and the media descends on the town. Mackenzie (now known as Maggie) has been estranged from her ex-husband, mother, and brother for years and now they are suddenly all coming back into her life. Maggie begins to accept that the hurts of the past are going to always be with her and that they can make up the fabric of her identity. She can move on and be a much better person, friend, sister, daughter, wife than before the accident that changed everything.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

Before and Again...how does what happens, mistakes that we have made, impact our view of the past, our present and our belief in the future? These big issues are fictionally brought to life in Barbara Delinsky's newest novel.
Early on in the book, the reader learns that a moment of inattention led to the death of the protagonist's daughter, Lily. Any parent can, but does not want to, imagine what this could mean. The reader watches as Maggie tries to move on and start fresh but...can/should the past be denied? A concurrent theme involves Grace who has secrets and stories of her own. In addition, Grace's son is accused of computer hacking and the consequences of his act may impact his future, just as Maggie and Grace are impacted by their pasts.
I found the characters to be sympathetically drawn and would recommend this book to readers of women's fiction.

Barbara Delinsky has been one of my favorite authors for more years than I care to admit. I never hesitate to purchase one of her books, and this one did not disappoint me. Women's fiction is one of favorite genres because I like to become immersed in a story that I can relate to. This story touched on so many issues such as grieving the loss of a child, parental expectations, reinventing one's life, loyalty to family and friends and second chances. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I've been reading Delinksy's books for years, and she's always an author I can count on for a good read. This book is no exception. I did find it a little harder to get into than previous books, it seemed a bit disjointed at first. Thus 4 stars instead of 5.

The book is about Mackenzie Cooper, who moved to a small town to lose herself and get away from a tragic occurrence in her life. It delves deeply into the despair of losing a child (this happens at the very beginning so it's not a spoiler) and what happens between the spouses who are having trouble communicating their pain. It also deals with Mackenzie's mother and brother, and their estrangement.

Suddenly, Mackenzie's ex-husband appears, in HER town, HER haven. Can they find their way back together, or is the past too painful to forget?

After a terrible accident claims the life of her daughter and another Mackenzie Cooper's life is in ruins. Her marriage ends. Her family doesn't support her and the media hounds her. To start a new life she moves to Vermont as Maggie. As Maggie she is a make up artist helping people cover and heal from injuries. Maggie is just trying to lay low and get through the rest of her probation. When her friend's son is caught in a scandal it throws Maggie back into the hot seat. I loved this novel. It made me laugh and made me cry. The issues of love and loss and being able to recover once again. A great book club selection. I recommend. I won this book. My opinions are my own.

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Very few people can pull every emotion you have out of you in one afternoon. My heart ached for Maggie and the enormous amount of guilt she is living with. Still a few months shy of her probation being over, she has a decision to make. Will she protect her self and her own heart or will she stand by her friend?

This town of Devon that Maggie has claimed as her own safe space is full of characters hiding from something. And when her ex-husband shows up she is sure one of them must leave. She has built a protective shell around her heart and he is determined to break through.

With twists and turns around every corner I couldn't stop reading. I'm glad I read this.

Very Well Done!

Netgalley/ June 26th 2018 by St. Martin's Press

I have read many Barbara Delinsky books over the years so when I saw this book on NetGalley I requested it.

Maggie Reid (formerly known as Mackenzie Cooper) lost everything in an accident and this is the story of how she tried to rebuild her life moving forward, but finds herself swept back into her old life. This is a story of redemption and finding peace. The story also shows readers how being honest and sharing your truth helps you find peace in the end.

Before and Again was full of emotion and the characters were well written and realistic. I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I really did!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for and honest review.

Books starts with something we have all done, using a driving app to find where we are going. The unthinkable happens. Every parents nightmare, and the consequences that go with it. Can we reinvent ourselves? Will the past catch up? An you be a friend without putting yourself out there? Will you expose yourself, and give up your secret, for a friend? Can you forgive..yourself, your family?

Beautifully written, appropriately titled and well researched. A definite page turner perfect for summer reading. A story about grief, decisions, family .. those by birth and the ones we choose, and always, love. If you are a fan of Ms. Delinsky, or this is your first, you won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are mine.

MacKenzie was involved in an accident that left her daughter dead. Unable to cope with the aftermath, MacKenzie divorced her husband, left town, and changed her name. She has built a new life in a small town and has made friends, unfortunately one of those friends has become involved in a criminal case at the same time that MacKenzie's husband shows up in town as the new owner of the Inn where she is employed. Mackenzie doesn't want to face her past but now she has no choice. I thought this was a very engaging story and heartwarming. My only complaint is that it is a very wordy story and dragged on a lot in the middle, still it was worth the read. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy. I am voluntarily leaving a review. This was an emotionally wrenching read. Maggie Reid has created a new life in the small town of Devon VT after a tragic car accident. Her life is turned upside down after two events occur: the hacking of a social media account and the sudden appearance of her ex-husband, who she left behind in Boston five years earlier. Will she survive these events? Will she be able to move forward? If this book doesn't mark your soul, I do not know what will. I would have given it a five, but the author spent an inordinate amount of time on her descriptions of things; so much so I had to flip through pages to get back into the story. Strong 4.5 stars.

Before and Again is a heartfelt, entertaining story about accepting the things you can’t change, letting go of the past, forgiving one’s self, surviving, taking chances, and moving on.

The writing is fluid and well turned. The characters are flawed, supportive, lovable, and real. And the plot is an emotional, engaging tale with a side of mystery that’s full of heartache, loss, grief, guilt, hope, friendship, relationship dynamics, family drama, romance, and second-chance love.

Before and Again, overall, is another beautiful, uplifting tale by Delinsky that ultimately reminds us that life is truly previous and even with the ups and downs, highs and lows, it’s definitely meant to be lived.

Thank you, Barbara Delinski for the opportunity to have an ARC of "Before and Again".

Mackenzie Cooper, a sculptor, wishes she would have been anywhere but in the car that fateful night, when she ran the stop sign causing the accident that killed her 5 year old daughter, Lily.
The DA, thought there should have been an example made of, Mackenzie. Along with the media's help, she becomes headline news leading to the demise of her marriage and her sculpting career.
For a promise of Anonymity, she moves to Devon, a small town in Vermont. With a new name she hopes for a new start. She takes a job as a make-up artist at the local spa to help others deal with their scars.
But when her friend's son, is thrust into the media for computer hacking of a social media blogger's account, secrets are revealed bit by bit. Can anyone truly escape the past?

Another hit for Barbara Delinsky. I find her books to be written in such a way that I am immediately pulled into the story. This book is no exception. This is the story of Maggie who while driving, glanced at her navigation system for a second, overlooking a stop sign, and ultimately caused the death of her young daughter and another person. As the story opens she has made a new life for herself, all alone in a picturesque Vermont village where no one knows about her past. When her ex-husband purchases the local inn where Maggie works her life gets interesting all over again.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.

Great book! The book starts out as a heartbroken mother (Maggie, then Mackenzie) loses her child through an unfortunate mistake on her part. Fast forward and she is living in a new town and trying to start over.

Her best friend ends up having a crisis of her own and it makes Maggie look at her own life and see how things might have been. Through persistence and forgiveness - to others and herself - she finds happiness again.

I really loved this book!

After Maggie's life is shattered by a terrible accident, she loses everything that she holds dear.. Moving to Devon, she begins to build a new life. Her ex-husband also moves to Devon much to Maggie's chagrin. He purchases the spa where Maggie works as a makeup artist. Her friendship with co-worker, Grace, is special, but Grace Has her own personal problems.

Before and Again ia a tale of grief, friendship, and love. It is a warm story that comes together as Maggie faces the old and embraces the new. She has many challenges as she finds peace, acceptance and love. It is a heart wrenching tale, beautifully written, that will bring both tears and smiles

Thank you to Netgalley for providing the ARC for review..

She has another fabulously woven story that will entice you from the very first page all the way through to the end of the book on page 566. The development of the characters, and how she tells her story of McKenzie Cooper is awe inspiring. It will be difficult to put down, and time will slip away from you and hours will have passed in a blink of an eye before you realize what has happened. You have been drawn into Barbara's words and are so absorbed into the story that what seems like minutes will actually be hours and you will love every second of it.

This author is an exceptional author and most of her books are ones to be read again. She is a favorite of many. That being said, this book took an excruciating element of losing one’s child and added So many different story lines! It was disjointed and the protagonist Seemed to worry too much about the media! The language! Why use that in a book especially one about such a sad devastating happening! ?? I agree with many of the other reviewers that this one leaves much to be desired! That makes me so sad!

Outstanding. If you aren’t a fan of Barbara Delinsky you will be. The best she has written and she has written fantastic books. “Before and Again” is very relatable. The life of Maggie before an automobile accident and again after. All actions have consequences. It doesn’t have to be an automobile accident, it could be any action one makes which turns the direction one goes. Everyone has a past, a present and future. I had to make it an all day and night read. I couldn’t put it down. Bravo to Ms. Delinsky for bringing her best to us.