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Before She Was Helen
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
14 posts | 12 read | 17 to read
Her life didn't turn out the way she expectedso she made herself a new one When Clemmie goes next door to check on her difficult and unlikeable neighbor Dom, he isn't there. But something else is. Something stunning, beautiful and inexplicable. Clemmie photographs the wondrous object on her cell phone and makes the irrevocable error of forwarding it. As the picture swirls over the internet, Clemmie tries desperately to keep a grip on her own personal network of secrets. Can fifty years of careful hiding under names not her own be ruined by one careless picture? And although what Clemmie finds is a work of art, what the police find is a body. . . in a place where Clemmie wasn't supposed to be, and where she left her fingerprints. Suddenly, the bland, quiet life Clemmie has built for herself in her sleepy South Carolina retirement community comes crashing down as her dark past surges into the present. From international bestselling author of The Face on the Milk Carton Caroline B. Cooney comes Before She Was Helen, an absorbing mystery that brings decades-old secrets to life and explores what happens when the lie you've been living falls apart and you're forced to confront the truth.
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Kaylamburson
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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I was obsessed with Caroline B Cooney books as a kid so I was beyond excited to find out she had an adult novel! I met her at a conference just before the pandemic and she signed the galley for me. And a few years later I have finally read it. It‘s a thriller in an unexpected location — a gated retirement community. I loved Helen‘s strength and tenacity, but she is also a realistic character. A grandma just trying to live her life & stay alive.

LeeRHarry I loved reading her Cheerleader books when I was a teen. 😊 this sounds good! 6mo
Kaylamburson Ohhh I don‘t think I ever read the cheerleader ones. I‘ll have to find those! I loved The Terrorist and Face on the Milk Carton. But this was definitely good! Some gossip, thrills, and mystery! @LeeRHarry 6mo
Bklover Wow! I didn‘t think she was a real person! I thought she was like Caroline Keene, sort of a composite. I loved The Face on the Milk Carton! 6mo
Kaylamburson Oh! Yes she is and she‘s super nice! If you actually scroll back a handful of posts on this book‘s page, there‘s the picture of me and her at the conference I mentioned! @Bklover 6mo
58 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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MidnightBookGirl
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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I LOVED this book! Clemmie is a senior citizen with secrets, the first being that most people know her as Helen. The book alternates with a current mystery in her neighborhood with flashes to how Clemmie ended up a Helen. Absolutely loved this book.

48 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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Aims42
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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Saturday plans for Labor Day weekend are looking mighty fine 😎 Hope everyone enjoys their long weekend!!

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CaitlinR
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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This mystery was a hoot! I‘ve not read Carolyn Cooney before — a mistake I‘ll rectify quickly.

Clemmie live in Sun City, a senior gated community. She has her friends, her card parties, her part-time position teaching Latin, and suddenly, a dead body in the garage of her weird next door neighbor and Clemmie has a past she‘s desperate to hide.

Deliciously complicated twists and turns keep you guessing. Well worth the quick read.

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abookishbutterfly
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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Just an FYI: I have a giveaway posted on my Facebook page (A Bookish Butterfly) and my Bookstagram (abookishbutterfly) for a copy of Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooney, if you‘re interested. You can enter on both platforms to increase you chance of winning!

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SilversReviews
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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A MUST read.

The story line flowed beautifully, and this book is filled with regrets, lovable, quirky retired characters, fun, and a murder to solve.

If you need something different as well as enjoyable, BEFORE SHE WAS HELEN should be your next read because you never know what goes on in a retirement community. 5/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/y4f7ru3z

#carolinebcooney
@sourcebooks

40 likes2 stack adds
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guinsgirlreads
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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Mehso-so

Not what I thought it would be. Good at times and slow at others. I think the alternating between past and present is what kept me reading.

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SilversReviews
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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FULL REVIEW 10/13.

How could being a good samaritan turn into a disaster even though Helen was used to being helpful as well as having disasters in her life?

We have a retirement community with lovable, quirky characters, fun, and a murder to solve.

If you need something different and enjoyable, this should be your next read because you never know what goes on in a retirement community.5/5

#carolinebcooney
#carolinebcooneybooks
@Sourcebooks

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guinsgirlreads
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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About to open this one up!

Reagan I had a netgalley of this one and really enjoyed it! 3y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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SilversReviews
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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THANK YOU, Molly Waxman of @Sourcebooks for this beautiful print copy.

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Reecaspieces
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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tpixie Great review! The book sounds great!!! 4y
Reecaspieces @tpixie thank you! I thought it was very unique. I loved Helen! 4y
tpixie @Reecaspieces It really sounds good! 4y
51 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TorieStorieS
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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I fondly remember reading Cooney‘s books when I was young, so I was excited to check out this one- her latest for adults! It‘s an engaging story of Clemmie- though she is known to her Sun City neighbors as Helen- and how her secrets risk exposure after her curiosity gets the better of her o e fateful day! The book is split between this modern storyline and Clemmie‘s past- it‘s dark, sad and my only wish is that there had been more to the ending...

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Reagan
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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My teleworking coworker 🙁 sorry peeps. I‘ve been MIA because (in all honesty) I am handling this horribly. I‘m here, I‘m reading, I‘m petting cats. Hoping you are all safe and sound. Take care ❤️❤️

MicheleinPhilly ❤️You‘re not the only one. Take care. ❤️ 4y
ValerieAndBooks Hang in there, I know it‘s not easy 💖 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks You‘re definitely not alone... I‘m panicking on the inside, trying not to let my daughters see... sending you lots of love and prayers 🙏🏻❤️ 4y
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Susanita I know this all sucks. Hang in there. 4y
Meaw_catlady Sending so much support and love your way! Snuggle that cutie pie and read on ! 😻💕 4y
LiteraryinLawrence There‘s no right way to handle it. Sorry you‘re struggling. 💗💗 4y
TheLudicReader ❤️ 4y
51 likes8 comments
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Kaylamburson
Before She Was Helen | Caroline B. Cooney
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Starstruck and so excited to meet Caroline B. Cooney this morning as I adored all her MG fiction from THE FACE ON THE MILK CARTON to THE TERRORIST! I got a signed copy of her first adult novel in 40 years! Thanks so much, @sourcebooks and #PLA2020! Makes me wish I could go back to the days of browsing Borders for her next book.

inthegreensandblues Browsing Borders! 😿 4y
Kimberlone Omg The Face on the Milk Cartón was seriously one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I read the whole series! So cool you got to meet her! 4y
Kaylamburson I know, I want Borders back! 😢 @inthegreensandblues 4y
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Kaylamburson Yes!! I think I read that one first and then bought all of her books. I remember in school telling teachers she was my favorite author. It was an incredible moment to meet her! @Kimberlone 4y
Bklover This is great!! Thanks for pointing this out @Kaylamburson ! 6mo
Kaylamburson 🥰🥰 still one of my favorite author moments! @Bklover 6mo
91 likes4 stack adds6 comments