Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was wonderful! I am so glad I had the chance to read such a memorable story. The ultimate choice!! I still can't say what I would have in the same situation. The writing was excellent and the characters were very well drawn. This story will give you all the feels!

All the characters were flawed, which I typically like, but there weren't many redeeming qualities. I found going back to 10 years had me cringing at Leona's self righteousness/

Mixed feelings with this one. On the one hand, I thought this was a fascinating plot line with so many opportunities to have a deep and thought provoking story. And for the most part, it was. The execution of Leona's story was spot on. I cannot imagine the grief she suffered, or the confusion and conflict she dealt with once she realized the situation she found herself in, and the finally the choices she had to make. But while I had the utmost sympathy for her, I struggled to relate or really even like her. And no matter how much I like a book otherwise, it's difficult for me to rate a book more than simply mediocre if I don't like the main character. My other big issue was the explanation for Leona's situation, and how blase everyone was about it. There were several other options for the cause of her alternate life; quantum physics just didn't hit the mark for me.

So while I generally enjoyed the book, I thought certain aspects could have been done better.

A tale of two Leona's...Leona is an introvert that is conflicted yet witty. She understands her strengths and limitations and helps those around her to see things through her frame of reference. She has loved and lost and learns to love again through an alternate reality that gives Between You and Us a unique twist. Leona is like a cuddly porcupine that likes to keep people at arm's length. Yet, she makes room for her best friend from college, Eden, husband, David, and daughter Vera. To those closest to her, she is endearing. However, she still cannot grasp that, and she often struggles to engage with others.

With a dry wit that is lightly reminiscent of Janet Evanovich, Between You and Us starts off with a lot of promise. Having read the author's initial nonfiction book, blog, and newsletters, this book was highly anticipated. Initially, I couldn't put it down trying to catch those glimpses of humor. The reference to Regis Philbin is classy, and of course, how can one resist the dignified phrase hubba hubba? Also, the description of a panic attack was quite helpful. But, the twist takes over before the characters are fully developed and leads the reader down the path of loss and despair that ultimately overshadows the attempts to lighten the mood. Much of this had to do with the heaviness of the topic which overtook the author's natural sense of humor. At this point, the spell was broken, and the book became work to complete. Even the attempts to bring religion into the dialogue was trite and often meaningless. It would have been better to keep it out of the milieu. And, Eden was a character that was so pivotal yet became almost an afterthought. I want more from this author that taps into the wit and deep convictions that have led her to live a life that is unconventional and riveting.

In a Nutshell: A good story about the choices confronting the main character when she steps into another version of her life. Raises some good points about decisions and regrets, but the protagonist and some writing choices left me a tad dissatisfied. Still, a nice option for readers of family-oriented drama with a partial sliding-door theme.

Plot Preview:
Leona has been battling grief since her little daughter Vera died a year ago. In a bid to repair their marriage and also to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary, her husband David arranges for a romantic dinner at an upscale restaurant, even though they can barely afford it.
When Leona enters the restaurant, she takes some time to realise that she is the same but her life is different. This wealthy David opposite her isn’t the husband she has known all these years. The luxury car David drives and the lavish home they go to after the dinner apparently belong to them. But the biggest surprise is that little Vera is alive in this alternate life.
Now Leona faces the tough choice of ‘you’ vs ‘us’: life with her loving David or life with an aloof David but also with her dear Vera.
The story comes to us in Leona’s third person perspective over two timelines, with the past timeline updating us about Leona and David’s relationship, and the present one depicting her struggles in the alternate realm.

Bookish Yays:
😍 David: the only realistic main character. I like his depiction in both timelines, even when his flaws are highlighted. Leona’s friend Edna would have been in this section had she had a greater role.
😍 I always like books that make me wonder what I would do if I were in the character’s place. Leona’s situation offers a lot of such opportunities, as does David’s.
😍 The frustration of wanting to conceive and the grief over the death of a child both are written in a way so raw and touching! The author’s bio on Goodreads reveals why this depiction feels so heartfelt. Much strength to her!
😍 This isn’t a debut book but it is a debut fictional work. The author’s non-fiction roots show up at times when the content focusses on facts, but I'm not complaining as these aren't obtrusive to the flow. The stats add to the impact of certain key events.
😍 One of the characters suffers from panic attacks, and as someone who has been through the same, I found its portrayal very realistic. Even the strategies of handling the attack are authentic.
😍 There is a slight Christian undertone to some of the decisions and actions, especially in the second half. (I admit, this took me by surprise as I didn’t know that WaterBrook & Multnomah is a Christian publisher. Mea culpa!) I like how the religious aspect never overpowered the main theme and stayed subtle. Good for us believers as well as manageable for those who don’t.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Leona was tough for me to like. At times, she seemed narrow-minded and adamant about her wishes. I wish Leona had grown on me as the story progressed. That said, I did empathise with her feelings for her child – that was her most endearing feature.
😐 The two timelines are utilised to bring us up to par with the couple’s past and present. While I found Leona’s quandary in the current timeline interesting, the rest of it was somewhat repetitive and OTT. The past timeline was much more compelling in its emotions and events, which made returning to the contemporary timeline a chore.
😐 While the plot offers a good story thanks to Leona’s unusual situation, the proceedings are mostly standard. Not much novelty here. Even the final decision is easy to guess.
😐 The sliding-door aspect is interesting, yes. I love how Leona’s problem was not just how to get back but also to decide if she wanted to return to a life without her daughter, making the “you and us” in the title so potent. But the resolution of it was too smooth and too convenient to be believable. (Even taking into account the believability level of a multiverse timeslip.) It is a good fit for the genre and I do feel happy for the characters, but I wish the settlement of the problem had been more powerful and memorable. Also, unlike most sliding door stories, we get to see only one dimension actively.


Bookish Nays:
😕 The “All rich people are jerks” trope is much overused in this story. I wish some of the secondary characters, especially Leona’s mother-in-law, had been portrayed in more realistic shades.
😕 Some key moments and discussions happen off the page and we hear of them only retrospectively. For instance, when Leona decides to tell a character about belonging to another world, we don't see the continuity of that scene for several pages, and even after that, all we get is a brief reference to it, without much of the shock or disbelief or scepticism of the person who heard the outlandish revelation. Even when one such conversation with another character happens on page, the reaction of the listener is too cool and easily accepting. (I would have freaked out either in excitement or in panic had someone told me that they were from another dimension!) I wish the crucial scenes had been written in detail and more convincingly.
😕 There are several scenes involving armpit hair and sweat and poop, all of which felt crass than funny. They weren’t needed in such a genre at all, and brought down the appeal of a serious, emotional work.

All in all, this is a good read, but it wasn’t a memorable one for me. It was creative in some ways, and even offered a couple of surprises, but for the most way, the proceedings are easy to guess and a majority of the characters are unidimensional.

Recommended to general fiction readers looking for an emotional book about the choices and what-ifs of life. This book would also be a great option for book clubs, and it even comes with a set of amazing discussion questions.

3.25 stars.

My thanks to WaterBrook & Multnomah and NetGalley for the DRC of “Between You and Us”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This was an interesting premise for a book, that started out really well but fizzled out as it drew to its conclusion. It's an interesting 'what if' type of novel that gives its main character Leona a chance to see what her life could have been like had she made a different decision ten years previous.
After a disjointed dinner date with her husband David, Leona finds herself in the wrong home, with a different, distant, version of her husband and, most notably, her deceased daughter is still alive. The book charts Leona's journey through this alternate world as well as going back in her history to give us an understanding of what brought her to the life that she had before this switch.
There's a lot to unpack around the issues of poverty and dysfunctional families, and how to bridge the divides in these areas. A lot of these family dramas unravel slowly and are quite well executed, although the final reveal around Leona's sister was a bit too convenient.
The characters are what make this novel, primarily Leona and David, whose relationship we see from a variety of angles.
I did have a few qualms - at one point, we are told that Leona's friend turns her away when she asks for help but a few chapters later, we hear about a conversation that happened off-page on that specific day. That seemed ill thought out to me - this was the first instance in which she informs someone of her unusual predicament, and it happens off page - we are told about it rather than witnessing it in real time. I had to flick back to see if I had missed something...
In addition, everyone who learns of the situation is remarkably calm and understanding considering what Leona is claiming to have done. So much of the novel bristles in realism that this just didn't ring true at all.
All in all, this is a strong debut novel with likeable characters and an intriguing premise - I guessed Leona's decision pretty much right off the bat but I think the journey of how she gets to her choice is more the point of the novel anyway.

My thanks to Waterbrook, via NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/46LfcPFR9pLNagxt2QpeFZ?si=EVWRAiEeRxGO9dXnTsws-w

Here is our review of this title and our interview with the author.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

What a good book. It is totally not what I expected.

It had me wondering "What if?"

The one drawback I found was I had a hard time dealing with the two timelines.

But overall, I found a new author.

Honestly, this book didn't really do it for me. It definitely wasn't bad in any way, but it took me such a long time to get through it. I'm not entirely sure if it was me or the book, but the writing style didn't really spoke to me. the concept of the book was very good though! And the cover is absolutely stunning!!

Leona is meeting her husband David for a well deserved meal at a fancy restaurant. Once there she realizes that David is not the David she recognizes. Somehow she ends up in a different timeline. Instead of struggling and David being her world they now have gone the path that his wealthy parents wanted. But the thing is...in this timeline her daughter Vera is still alive.

This book broke me down. I cried so hard. See I've been very private on here but I lost a child a couple of years ago. This author has also and you can really tell. She describes exactly how it is...and sometimes words just don't describe it either. Its a pain I felt from her reading this book. During the description of what people say after a death I was gutted and realized I was not alone in feeling what I did with the well meaning but awful choice of words that people have. I'd rather just embrace my rage and anger instead of the whole thoughts and prayers thing.

Then Leona is faced with a choice. Does she go back to a life she knows and a husband who completely supports her but without her child? Or does she stay where she is miserable and get to see her little girl grow up?

Thank you Kendra Broekhuis. I'm sorry we are members of this club.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

In this contemporary fiction novel, Leona accidentally steps into an alternate version of her life and marriage to David when she meets him at a fancy restaurant to celebrate their anniversary. They’ve been through a lot together, and they need this night as a chance to move forward together. But instead of the David she’s grown to appreciate and trust, she’s met with a cold and distant man who is more concerned about his work than anything between them.
But, as the night and the days ahead reveal, there is also a good side to this alternate reality (that I will not spoil for you here). What unfolds in the rest of the novel is an emotional journey of how each separate reality came to be through flashbacks and present day thoughts. In the end, Leona must figure out how to get back—and decide if she even wants to.

I loved this story! It reminded me a lot of The Good Part in thinking through marriage and grief, and The Midnight Library in that it addresses possible alternate realities. I really appreciated the portrayal of the work a marriage takes and how storms can either be weathered together or push a couple apart.

Content warnings apply; this is more somber in tone due to some subject matters.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kendra Broekhuis, and WaterBrook for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

This is an outstanding debut novel. I've never read a book like this before and I really enjoyed it. It's a story that will make you stop and think about which one you would choose if it happened to you. It is full of emotions and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from WaterBrook & Multnomah via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Kendra Broekhuis crafts a poignant narrative that delves into the complexities of grief, love, and the unrelenting grip of fate. At the heart of the story is Leona Warlon, a woman grappling with the unbearable loss of her daughter and the subsequent fractures in her marriage.

The novel takes a daring turn when Leona finds herself thrust into an alternate reality—one where her daughter is alive, but her marriage is strained and unfamiliar. As she navigates this surreal landscape, readers are drawn into a riveting exploration of the roads not taken and the profound consequences of choice.

What sets this novel apart is its exploration of the human psyche and the relentless tug-of-war between longing for what could have been and embracing the reality of what is. Through Leona's internal struggle, the author deftly examines themes of regret, resilience, and the enduring power of love.

The prose is rich with emotion, capturing the rawness of grief and the bittersweet nature of second chances. Each page compels the reader to reflect on their own lives, prompting introspection and empathy.

Ultimately, "The Choice We Never Wanted" is a captivating tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. It's a reminder that life is a tapestry of choices, and even in the face of impossible decisions, there is beauty to be found in the journey.

This is a book about your past and your present. This book tugged at my emotions. Cross between fantasy and womens fiction.

Between You and Us by Kendra Broekhuis is an absolute masterpiece. This story is unlike any novel I have ever read. This is a story I will NEVER forget. It’s heartbreaking, yet hopeful. Everything about this story is good: the plot is HIGHLY engaging and unputdownable, the characters are so real and relatable, and the themes are timely and thought-provoking. Warning to all, this book deals with incredibly painful stuff — real-life stuff like poverty, family estrangement, self-centered parents, infertility, loss of a child, infidelity, anger, and more. The characters in this book suffer…hard. But it’s such an honest look at life. So, yeah, there is suffering, but there is also forgiveness and love and joy and hope and friendship and community.

Leona stole my heart from page one. I felt a total sense of sisterhood with her character. I related to her on many levels, but it is Leona’s bottled-up anger that I resonated with the most. Leona is the type of person who follows all the rules. She does all the right things. But Life beats her up. She works really hard to be a good wife and friend and daughter and sister, but it doesn’t matter. Life is relentless. One of Leona’s many battles in this story is with infertility. Leona and her husband have tried everything within their miniscule budget to get pregnant. Nothing works, and Leona is at her wits end. One day, in the midst of her fertility struggles, Leona’s sister surprises her with a visit. During this visit, Leona realizes that her totally unmarried, unattached sister is pregnant. Leona loses it. Not because her sister is pregnant, but because of the injustice of it all. It’s not her finest moment, but Leona absolutely melts down. She screams. She throws things. She sobs. Why?! Why is it so easy for some women to get pregnant, and so hard for others? Why do the people who follow all the rules and right steps often end up broken and empty-handed, while those who break rules and go down “bad” paths, more times than not, get everything they want? I relate to all of Leona’s struggles in these areas. I relate to her meltdown and her anger and her screaming and her questions. You see, every woman I know from my grandma, to my mother and aunt, to my sister, and to all of my girlfriends had easy pregnancies and easy births and so many beautiful babies. But my body — it just fails at the one thing women are supposed to do. I’ve been where Leona was. I’ve been so angry and hurt by the injustice of it all. When one of my friends or my sister told me they were pregnant yet again I was happy for them for sure, but I was also devastated and so deeply hurt. Why couldn’t my body work the way it was supposed to? I’m sure there are many women out there like Leona, like me, who will feel this topic deeply. What I love and appreciate the most is that Broekhuis respectfully deals with these topics of infertility and anger so well, so honestly, that I felt seen. When you read Leona’s story, you’re also reading my story and countless other women’s stories who have dealt with infertility or other pregnancy issues. It’s utterly amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this after reading a book before.

This book has deeply touched my heart and spirit. Between You and Us is, without a doubt, a must-read story for 2024. I know I’ve said a lot in this review, but I have BARELY covered the surface as there is SO much to talk about with this book. This is a book that must be experienced. Personally, I’m leaving this story so grateful for my husband and daughter and friends and puppies. I’m so thankful to God for the beautiful, messy, sometimes-painful, blessed life He has given me. I implore everyone on the planet to read this amazing story. This is a story not to be missed!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Water Brook Press, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This story was unusual from the first pages. A grieving wife and mother slips into an alternate life with her husband and child. For much of the story, I wasn't sure what to think, and wondered how this scenario occurred. Interestingly, I did want to know the how ... but felt a little dissatisfied with the 'explanation' but in the end didn't really care about it, because Broekhuis' writing was so good. And Leona's grief was so brilliantly portrayed in all its heartbreaking detail.

This is a story that is compelling in its originality and portrayal that as a reader it pulls the heart strings in sadness, joy and relief. Broekhuis takes us inside the story to share Leona's grief. It's also a fascinating portrayal of class and prejudice and how they can be so influential in a marriage or not.

Something I grappled with for much of the story was how I struggled to love the characters especially David. I found both versions of him a bit 'blah.' I could identify with aspects of Leona and her pain, but I felt at times a little removed from her. But, I think this wasn't a story where we needed to love the leads as their story was so well crafted. Broekhuis allowed us to experience the pain, grief and struggle in such a way we could put ourselves into the story to feel the rich emotional landscape of it.

I really liked Eden and always looked forward to her scenes. And Rose, too, even though we didn't see her much. And clever how Broekhuis uses Rose in a second role later in the story.

This story will linger in my mind and I'm very appreciative of receiving an early ebook version from Waterbrook via Net Galley. This has had no influence on my review.

Between You and Us by Kendra Broekhuis

Leona must choose between 2 versions of her life. Either her relationship with her husband is broken or together they have suffered unimaginable loss.

How does a woman choose? This book will have the reader wondering.

Although the quantum physics part lost me and I wondered at the credulity of such a story, I got caught up in the book and realized that it raised some fascinating questions.

Leona and David’s banter was entertaining and added light to what could have been a dark situation. The characters were well-developed and grew as the story progressed. The plot kept me reading and guessing what Leona would decide.

Readers who have experienced the death of a child may want to know that this book covers that horrific loss.

I am grateful to the publisher for this complimentary arc in exchange for this, my honest review.

Between You and us by Kendra Broekhuis is an interesting story to read. When Leona and David married, they chose to live the life they wanted rather than the life his wealthy parents wanted. They are living a life of working hard for the little they have and save for a special evening out. When Leona gets to the restaurant, she finds herself meeting the David as he would have been if they had followed his families plans for them.

While this is not the typical type of story that I read, this is very interesting and kept my attention to the very end. I felt very sorry for the life Leona was now living as she was constantly doing what was expected of her. While in this life she has the young daughter she lost, but she is living with a constant schedule. It is easy to imagine the difficulty she had in deciding which life to live, one of living her own life or one of living a life others expected but having her daughter.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this enjoyable story. This is my honest review.

Could I first just say what everyone is thinking: What a gorgeous cover! I mean, it's stunning! Big kudos to the designer.

Secondly, I hopped on NetGalley to try to review this because the author was talking about it in a Facebook group I'm in. The premise sounded so intriguing! I really didn't think I'd get the NetGalley, so I was bouncing off the walls in excitement when I was accepted. And once I started reading, I almost couldn't stop. I mean, I had to stop to drive and sleep and take care of the kids, but honestly, I didn't stop much until the end.

There are some books that I can't force myself to get through no matter what. I used to feel guilty about that, but with so many books out there waiting for me, I no longer feel guilty when I put a book down unfinished.

There are books that I plow through, just to get through them. I feel like I've invested the time so I need to finish. These are books that I like the characters or plot, but not the writing style, or books that I like the writing style, but not the characters or plot.

This is one of the rare books that has wonderful writing,  amazing and realistic characters, and a unique and interesting plot. It's what we call a PAGE TURNER!

Kendra is a fabulous writer. I can sometimes say that, but then admit that the editor didn't do his or her job well. In this book, I didn't see many mistakes at all. The dialogue was so believable, wonderful, and REAL. The situations were also very realistic. A certain part, dear to my heart, was so well written that Kendra must have gone through it herself. I felt it all over again as Leona experienced it.

The story was unique, the characters well developed, the pacing perfect, and the writing flawless. The book is not in a Christian category, and that was a disappointment. There was a great opportunity to share the love of Christ, and how He can help us get through great pain and move forward. I honestly felt like that was the only thing missing from the book: Jesus.

I will definitely read more books from Kendra--she's so talented--but I truly hope to find her faith in a bigger role in the future.

4 1/2 stars

Kendra is an old and dear friend and knowing her personally has made the impact of her book even more powerful. She has experienced much of what she writes about in her book, which provides a depth of authenticity to her writing and the character’s feelings. I appreciate how Kendra discusses the challenges and beauty of womanhood both in marriage and motherhood. She also contemplates the difficulties of trauma, poverty, and grief. I always applaud an author’s vulnerability in putting their writing out there, and this is especially the case with Kendra in Between You and Us.