This Used to Be Us: A Novel

(Paperback)

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After twenty-two years together, Danielle and Alex are getting a divorce. Once fiercely in love, they can barely stand the sound of each other's voice. Instead of shuffling the kids between two broken homes, Alex and Danielle decide to share a nesting apartment while swapping days with their two teenage boys at the family home. In the apartment, Dani and Alex, on their own, begin to reflect on the last two decades-why they fell in love, and why the marriage fell, spectacularly, apart. With the newfound space and time, they are given a chance to find their autonomous selves again. They both get back in the dating pool, Dani finds major success at work as a showrunner on her own TV project, while Alex faces the challenges of a new relationship. Still, they find they just can't stay away from each other, and somehow, the distance allows them to remember (for the first time in years) what they used to love about one another. When a family crisis draws them back into each other's orbit, Danielle and Alex are, once again, put to the test, which leads to a dramatic conclusion that will have readers weeping. There are two sides to every love story-and every breakup. Get ready for an emotional roller coaster of family, marriage, and divorce that will have you both laughing and crying, from the bestselling author of Before We Were Strangers. After twenty-two years together, Danielle and Alex are getting a divorce. Once fiercely in love, they can barely stand the sound of each other's voice. Instead of shuttling the kids between two broken homes, Alex and Dani decide to share a nesting apartment while swapping days with their two teenage boys at the family home. In the apartment, Dani and Alex, on their own, begin to reflect on the last two decades-why they fell in love and why the marriage fell, spectacularly, apart. With the newfound space and time, they are given a chance to rediscover their autonomous selves again. They both get back in the dating pool. Dani finds major success at work as a showrunner on her own TV project, while Alex faces the challenges of a new relationship. Still, they find that they just can't stay away from each other, and somehow, the distance allows them to remember (for the first time in years) what each used to love about the other. When a family crisis draws them back into each other's orbit, Dani and Alex are once again put to the test, which leads to a dramatic conclusion that will have readers weeping.

Reviews

An emotionally-charged and heartfelt look at the realities of marriage in all its beautifully broken moments. Carlinos engaging prose brings Dani and Alexs vibrant love story to life whilereducing you to tears. This book is a gut-punch to the feels.Karina Halle, New York Times bestselling author

This Used to Be Usis an unflinchingly raw and relatable tale of humanity that stirs laughter even while your heart aches for the characters. I was utterly immersed.K. A. Tucker, USA Today bestselling author of The Simple Wild

This Used to Be Usis a sharply penned, wincingly funny, jabbingly poignant examination of a marriage in shambles: Alex and Danielle snipe and snarl their way through a divorce, aware that they have become the worst possible versions of themselves, wondering where exactly they went wrong. The answers are complicated and painful, as they navigate co-parenting, new romance, and old wounds around the memories of what they used to have. Renee Carlinos knack for answering the hard questions of the human heart is masterful.Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

Hilarious, unnervingly relatable, romantic, and heartbreaking in the best way, I devoured this book. Renee Carlino has that rare ability to utterly transport you, and to create deeply human characters you wont soon forget.Julia Stiles

This Used to Be Us is a real and heartfelt portrayal of the rollercoaster ride that is our time on this planet. It made me laugh, it made me weep, and it made me so grateful for each small moment of beauty in my life. This book will stay with me for a long time to come.Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost

Rene Carlino takes us through the anatomy of a failing marriage in this heartfelt novel that hits all the right notes. Youll laugh. Youll cry. Youll fall in love with Dani and Alex as they fall in and out of love with each other. You wont want this book to end!Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of Forever Hold Your Peace

Author Bio

Renee Carlino is a screenwriter and the bestselling author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, Before We Were Strangers, Swear on This Life, and Wish You Were Here, which was optioned for film with Julia Stiles directing. She lives in San Diego with her two sons.