From Barbara Delinsky, the New York Times bestselling author of Blueprints and Sweet Salt Air, a brand-new novel about a woman in hiding finding the courage to face the world again. Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends–and thanks to the … family, and friends–and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made–though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.
Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself–or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.
From a multimillion-selling master of women’s fiction, Before and Again is a story of the relationships we find ourselves in–mothers and daughters, spouses and siblings, true companions and fair-weather friends–and what kind of sacrifices we are or aren’t willing to make to sustain them through good times and bad.
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Oh my! I loved this book! I can’t believe I have not read any of Barbara Delinsky’s books until this one. Now I will definitely be reading more of her books. Before and Again is full of so much emotion, it had me crying, gasping and smiling throughout the book. Wonderfully written with many lovable characters that are so flawed but seemed very real to me. My heart ached for Maggie, and Edward, well, he stole the show for me, though at first I wondered why, after five years, he would show up in Maggie’s town after she’d established a new life for herself there, but I could really feel the love he felt for Maggie coming through those pages. It melted my heart. A heartbreaking but touching story about overcoming tragedy, forgiveness, importance of family, and learning to love and trust again. I could not put this book down!
Before and Again is a emotionally evoking read about the power of grief and second chances. One second of distraction costs Mackenzie Cooper a.k.a. Maggie Reid everything- her daughter, her marriage, her family, her friends, and her privacy. On probation and hiding from the publicity caused by the car accident that took her daughter’s life, Maggie Reid has started over in Conneticut with a new name and a new lease on life. Bottling up her grief and not dealing with her past, Maggie is content working as a makeup artist at the local spa. Ned Cooper and her brother Liam show up reminding Maggie of what she lost. Ned wants a second chance at their marriage that was destroyed by grief. When a close friend’s son gets accused of a crime, Maggie finally is forced to deal with her past. The story is an emotional roller coaster full of grief, loneliness, friendship, and forgiveness that brought tears to my eyes. The pain of grief is expressed expertly and feels like a stab to the heart. Maggie’s journey to forgiveness and happiness is all encompassing to become essential to the reader. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky
Have enjoyed many years of this authors works and know this will be another KEEPER.
Starts out with Mackenzie Cooper and her daughter. Then we are at present time with Maggie and she’s an artist and it’s a small town in VT, Devon. Things advance to present day but many reflections on the past events that took others from her life.
Love hands on with the clay and other forms of art being displayed at the gallery, so very descriptive.
She’s also a makeup artist that others rely on.
Her ex shows up in town and she tries to avoid him. He’s moving there, he even bought a place there and she learns even more.
Complicated details as she visits with her Probation Officer as we find out why.
Super loved hearing about the chaos at the yarn store.
Love generosity she shows to burn victims with the craft she’s enhanced.
Just when she’s getting comfortable with her job and friends others from her past show up.
Another story within this one involves hacking into the Internet spa files.
Family medical emergency throws them all off balance…
So up to date events occur, love how the book was given a chance by just the click of a mouse and all the research that went into a lot of this book. Fascinating to read about.
Love how it all comes together and then you understand how all the other stories are linked together. Handful of characters and easy to keep track of.
I received this review book from St. Martin’s Press via Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.
#BeforeAndAgain #NetGalley
Maggie is living well in a little town called Devon that is more like a resort town than a neighborhood. She works as the make-up artist at The Inn, where many of the rich and famous come to vacation. She is actually in hiding from her real self, a mother who ran a stop sign and killed her young daughter in the accident. The resulting publicity destroyed her marriage to Edward Cooper, so she has changed her name and run to Devon as her haven. The action increases when Edward comes to Devon, intent on starting a new business there and running The Inn, since he has become the new owner. This is the main story line. There are many others, like the mom who won’t tell her son who his father is and the son who is subsequently arrested for hacking. The whole story has one theme, that of reconciliation. I had to keep reading to find out what happens with Maggie and Edward; it was such a great and satisfying book! The ending was a surprise, one that you won’t see coming. The events of the story were so realistic and soul-stirring that it made me want to make sure that all of my relationships are straight and that there is nothing standing between me and those I love.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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.
These things can’t be happening to me can they?
Maggie is a good person but still hasn’t healed from the emotional scars from the death of her daughter or the divorce from her husband.
Maggie moved away to make herself anonymous after the accident and hadn’t seen her husband for four years. He now shows up in the new town she has moved to, but why?
Another problem besides her ex-husband then surfaces. Maggie is still on probation because of the automobile accident and is not to associate with other felons, but a criminal incident occurs that makes Maggie think about being there for her friend instead of thinking of herself. Her probation officer thinks differently.
We follow Maggie as she deals with her struggles and as she goes about her days as a makeup artist and an artist that works with clay. I definitely would want to go to the spa where Maggie works and be pampered.
All of the issues that were addressed and dealt with by Maggie were frightening, but handled well by her. The personal issues were more difficult, and the criminal issue addresses current problems that could occur with the digital world we live in.
Most of the characters are ones you would want to connect with.
Maggie was someone who had a heart and was a hard worker.
Kevin was a terrific friend and confidante.
Grace was a bit flighty.
Maggie’s husband Edward was someone who turned out to be great.
Maggie’s mother was a strong woman.
Maggie’s brother Liam was a brother.
Ms. Delinsky’s beautiful, pull-you-in writing style kept me reading as always.
I haven’t read a book by Ms. Delinsky for a few years, and it was a pleasure to re-connect with her marvelous style and terrific story lines.
BEFORE AND AGAIN always had some warmth coming from somewhere whether it was a character or situation.
This book deals with friendships, healing, emotional pain, and choices.
BEFORE AND AGAIN had some difficult situations, but the ending is heartwarming, very satisfying, and marvelous. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an 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.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Mackenzie Cooper, a sculpter, wishes she would have been anywhere but in the car that fateful night, when she ran the stop sign causing the accident 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 hacking a social media blogger’s account, secrets are revealed bit by bit! Can anyone truly escape the past?
I started reading Barbara Delinksy’s books five or six years ago. At first I was daunted by how big (long) they were but as soon as I opened those pages I was quickly swept away. Before and Again was the same way for me! It is an unputdownable story of love, loss, forgiveness, acceptance, and what it means to move on from tragedy. I felt like Maggie, our main character, was a friend of mine. I could feel her pain and need for love as if she was sitting right in front of me. This was such a wonderful story that kept me turning the pages until the very last sentence. Now for the long wait until Barbara’s next book!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I so enjoyed this book. At first I was afraid I was not going to like it but very soon into it I could not put it down. It’s a very emotional book with some parts that made me laugh out loud. Mostly I cried out loud but when you read it you will understand. Even the happy and good parts make you emotional because you want so bad for Maggie and Edward to be ok. As for her mother, I think she should have been there for Mackenzie/Maggie the whole time. I had a hard time forgiving her for turning her back. You do not turn your back on your flesh and blood and when they are going through so much like Maggie did you should be there no matter what.
Maggie made a life for herself but I don’t believe deep down she was as happy as she pretended to be. She needed to truly grieve. Both for her daughter and the love of her life. I was very angry at Edward at first too. I didn’t consider he grieved also. He had his own demons to deal with. But can they together finally get on with their lives and be happy again. Either together or apart?
I did truly love this book. It’s a sad story when a child is lost and a marriage falls and a mother is not there for her child and a brother even turns on you. Maggie was alone but had many friends who was there for her in Devon, Vermont. Sounds like the perfect place to live if you have a past to escape from. I think the media and AG treated her unfairly. Her punishment was way to harsh considering what she lost and not more than she did. She did enough punishing of herself to last a lifetime. I felt bad for her throughout the book. Forgiveness is a big thing and we tend to blame ourself when something goes horribly wrong.
There are lots of great likeable characters in this story. I felt for them all. I connected to them all. But mostly I connected with Mackenzie/Maggie. She suffered the ultimate loss and could not forgive herself. At least not as long as everyone she loves held it against her.
A big 5 stars for this wonderful book. #NetGalley #St Martain’s Press. Thank you for this awesome book.
A writer of romance and dramatic novels and literary fiction, Barbara Delinsky is the author of twenty-two New York Times Bestsellers, as well as the book “UPLIFT: SECRETS FROM THE SISTERHOOD OF BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS,” a self-help book. Delinsky now brings us “BEFORE AND AGAIN,” scheduled for release June 26, 2018, by St. Martin’s Press.
As a writer supporting other writers, I joined the Barbara Delinsky Street Team Facebook group where she is promoting “BEFORE AND AGAIN”, as well as hosting giveaway contests and providing updates on the release of her novel, which by the way is now available for #PreOrder: http://bit.ly/BeforeAndAgain.
In full disclosure, I have never read any of Barbara’s novels, and I was surprised at how many others in the group had read everything Barabara had ever written. When NetGalley provided me with the opportunity to read and write a book review of “BEFORE AND AGAIN,” I jumped at the chance, and after reading the novel, I regret not ever reading a Delinsky novel before now.
“BEFORE AND AGAIN” begins with Mackenzie Cooper trying to find the house where her five-year-old daughter, Lilly has a scheduled playdate. Mackenzie is in an unfamiliar area and takes her eyes off the road for a quick glance at her GPS. In this mere moment, Mackenzie failed to see the stop sign. Not stopping at the stop sign, Mackenzie’s SUV gets hit by a vehicle traveling at an excessive rate of speed. The death of Mackenzie’s daughter Lilly became the undoing of a loving family that had the picture-perfect life. The judge presiding over Mackenzie’s trial was determined to make an example out of her and sentenced her to five years of probation.
Mackenzie’s marriage fell apart, and her friends and family blamed her for Lilly’s death. Cloaked in guilt and grief, after her divorce, Mackenzie disappears to recreate a new life for herself where no one knows her. She became Maggie Reid, went to cosmetology school and instead of showing her artistry through the work she had done with clay in her previous life, she became a makeup artist and settled in Devon, Vermont. No one knew her; no one asked questions about her past or where she had lived before. Devon accepted Maggie. She found a job at a high-end spa, bought a small house and got herself a dog and two cats.
What no one knew was that Maggie suffered a mother’s grief of losing a child and she continued to live with the guilt of “killing her daughter.” Her guilt and pain led to frequent panic attacks and her inability to move air through her lungs. Maggie keeps her secret from everyone, including her best friend, Grace. Maggie has only a few months left on probation when Grace’s teenage son gets arrested for hacking into computer systems, and Maggie must decide whether she will stick by Grace and support her or walk away to protect herself from further trouble.
What Maggie never imagined was the reemergence of her ex-husband, and in Devon, Vermont of all places. Maggie’s brother showing up next in Devon at Maggie’s small home turned her life upside down. This was her place, her world and she did not want her ex-husband or her brother in Devon.
I could go on about all the twists and turns that continue in Barbara Delinsky’s MUST READ book “BEFORE AND AGAIN.” I will admit I have read a lot of books, but I cannot remember the last time I read such a poignant novel filled with believable characters as is found in this novel, each character working to escape their pasts for different reasons. Delinsky’s book is a book that could be anyone’s life. And her characters are characters that some of us have been, have known, and some of us will recognize or will be at some point in our lifetime. When one speaks of human emotions, whether it be love, fear, loss, anger, regret, sadness, trust, misunderstandings, hope, second chances, etc., every one of these emotions and more are experienced while reading “BEFORE AND AGAIN.”
I have STRONGLY recommended readers of all genres preorder “BEFORE AND AGAIN” on my social media sites. I will not support a book if it does not have all the parts required that make-up a captivating story. In case you missed it at the beginning of my review, Barbara Delinsky has twenty-two New York Bestselling novels. That speaks volumes about her writing and where “BEFORE AND AGAIN” is headed. As I also said, I regret having never read any of Barbara’s books before now. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. My blog does not have rating stars, but if it did, I would give “BEFORE AND AGAIN” five stars.
You can follow Barbara Delinsky on the following social media sites, as well as her website:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/bdelinsky/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BarbaraDelinskyStreetTeam/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbaradelinsky/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraDelinsky
Website: http://www.barbaradelinsky.com
BEFORE AND AGAIN by Barbara Delinsky is touching story of love, family, loss, guilt and forgiveness. After a devastating tragedy results in the death of her five-year-old daughter, Mackenzie Cooper loses everything she treasures in her life, her child, her marriage and her family. In an effort to cope with her grief and guilt, she reinvents her life in the small town of Devon, Vermont where she can hide in plain sight among others who do not ask questions about each other’s pasts. She changes her name to Maggie Reid and keeps a low profile while building a network of new friends that know nothing of her former life. When her ex-husband and brother unexpectedly appear in Devon, her comfortable new life begins to unravel and she must confront her feelings about her lost daughter and the love she still feels deep down for her ex-husband and her estranged family. The story is beautifully written and filled with life lessons throughout. The characters were well-developed and believable. I enjoyed this emotional and thought-provoking story of love and hope and I look forward to reading more of Barbara Delinsky’s books. I am grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of the book.
One of the best books Barbara Delinsky has written. The characters become real, the story is filled with emotion. The plot includes distracted driving, politics and wealth used to control, and the strength of love and friendship. Didn’t want it to end.
Before and Again is a page turner that hooks the reader and leaves them reading (for me, it was as often as possible) to find out what happens to Mackenzie. There are unexpected events that add so much to this amazing story. A must read for any Barbara Delinsky fan!