IN EVERY LIFE
BY: REA FREY

REA FREY is one of my favorite Authors', and she has crafted in her latest novel a heartbreaking, Beautifully written narrative of what reminds me of the truest romantic love stories is all about in her characters the word "Selfless," comes to mind. "IN EVERY LIFE," Harper and Ben are on their honeymoon when Ben feels nausea in his stomach. It ends up that he is diagnosed with Stage IV, Pancreatic Cancer. It is said in the novel, that by the time someone is diagnosed with this type of cancer it is usually too late. My Grandfather who was on my Father's side died from this. Reading this I couldn't help but remembering the last time I saw him. Also, of Joyce Maynard's Memoir called, "THE BEST OF US," where she chronicled her journey through this same cancer with her husband Jim, who she finally met the man of her dreams, and they only had a short time together before he was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. So this was quite an emotionally sad book for me to read because of what I already know about this type of cancer, and my thoughts often drifted back to those who in the Memoir really gives you more of a realistic vision of what this disease can be like, and how it ravishes from your body any sense of pain free living. Even though I didn't think this book was a true representation of the poor quality of life one faces once diagnosed, it was still very sad.

Ben announces to Harper that he has a Master Plan for her, and that is before he succumbs to it and dies he wants her to fall in love with somebody new, before he dies. Liam Hale travels from his Brooklyn, New York City to Chattanooga, Tennessee to do a story as a journalist for the New York Times on Ben Foster, who was a music composer. When Harper sees it is her Liam that she fell in love with during a week staying in his loft, trying to create a piece of Art to launch her career a decade earlier she is shocked. There's a lot of unprocessed emotions between Harper and Liam that come to the surface. He was her first true love, and when an old flame of Liam's shows up at his loft a decade ago acting territorial Harper packs her stuff, and leaves abruptly going back home to Chicago. She had assumed that her work of art created by Ms. Clementine wasn't well received, because after it was delivered to Ms. Clementine's Gallery she told Harper she'd be in touch, or she'd let her know, which Harper interpreted that it wasn't well received. She was wrong on both accounts a decade ago about her failure to make a living as an artist. She was also wrong about Liam's lack of love for her, as well, a decade ago.

Harper's good friend's Jenna and Wren, give her a Tarot card reading, and Wren tells her when the moon is full to pick three things she wants to manifest, and Harper wakes up in an alternate universe in which she never left her dreams in New York. She's disorientated when the next morning she wakes up in Liam's bed. It's as if she never left, and she is the owner of Ms. Clementine's Gallery.

This novel is for all readers who ever asked themselves before "What if."

It is a time travel novel, and written with deep, emotionally provoking feelings that were so well written that I could feel them through these characters' thought, behavior, where there really felt authentic. It's a very moving novel that displays Rea Frey's talent for a masterfully written job at developing her characters, but also a fast moving plot. I recommend this to those who love time travel novels, who are also prepared to feel as if you're Harper. It's not a lighthearted reading experience, or predictable, and has a happily ever after ending, who it can also be be interpreted as bittersweet. I'll definitely be recommending this to all readers. It's moving, reads quickly, and one you won't want to put down once you begin it. It starts off with a bang, that hooks the reader right away, and is a page turning reading experience that is written with depth. As Rea Frey is a favorite author of mine, I'll be looking forward to reading whatever she comes up with next.

Publication Date: August 6, 2025! AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE NOW!

Thank you to Net Galley, Rea Frey, and Harper Muse for generously providing me with my Wonderful ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#InEveryLife #ReaFrey #HarperMuse #NetGalley

Thank you netgalley for an e-arc of this book. This book made me feel all the feels. This story follows Ben and Harper whose lives are changed when Ben is diagnosed with cancer. This story explores the “what if’s” of their lives. This is an emotional story with a sprinkling of magical realism and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a deep and impactful story.

This one hurt in the best possible way. In Every Life is a deeply emotional, beautifully written exploration of love, loss, and the haunting power of “what if.” Harper’s story had me hooked from the first chapter—she’s a woman torn between two lives, two loves, and two versions of herself. Frey handles the parallel universe twist with so much heart, making it feel grounded and real. You’ll root for Harper, cry with her, and maybe even question your own path along the way. Tender, bittersweet, and unforgettable—this is the kind of book that lingers.

This is one of those books that grabs your heart gently… and then squeezes. It’s tender, emotional, and thought-provoking in the best way. There's so much to this book, lots of deeply emotional pieces to the story ... and just when I thought I knew where the story was going, Frey drops a parallel timeline twist that makes everything even more layered. If you’ve ever wondered how life might have turned out if you’d chosen differently, this one will stay with you long after the last page.

I hate how cruel this may sound, but Harper is not main character material. I know everyone is the protagonist in their own story, I respect that, but also not every story is worth telling.
If you think about each story arc or main point in Harper's journey, they're pretty... normal?
I mean learning her husband has cancer during her honeymoon; brutal but it happens!
Fumbling a relationship with someone she had great chemistry and compatible with when she was younger? Sad, but again, NORMAL.
The only part that actually managed to flabbergast me was the Ben's plan, to be honest. Who encourages their spouse/significant other to look for love while they're battling cancer?
I understand him wanting her to be loved and taken care of after he dies, emphasis on AFTER, not while he is still alive!!
For Liam, God, what a lame, boring character. He was just there.
The way the author described his chemistry with Harper and their one fateful week didn't go at all with how underwhelming his personality was.
Especially in the second half, his character was such a pushover and his reactions to what was happening were really weird.
At some point during the book, I stopped guessing where the plot was headed, it became clear after Liam's character was introduced that the author didn't know what to do.
The ending didn't really make sense, but so is the rest of the book🤷🏻‍♀️
*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

What if love could cross timelines… and grief gave you a second chance to choose?

Newlyweds Harper and Ben are just starting their life together when the unthinkable happens—Ben is diagnosed with terminal cancer. As their world crumbles, Harper is left haunted by the “what could have been.” One of Ben’s final wishes is both selfless and surreal: that Harper find her true soulmate after he’s gone. At first, she dismisses the idea as absurd… but fate may have other plans.

Harper soon finds herself presented with an extraordinary opportunity to glimpse alternate versions of her life—versions where choices and timing create wildly different outcomes. But as she navigates these emotional what-ifs, she begins to question whether rewriting fate is worth the cost.

Rea Frey delivers a heartbreakingly beautiful story that explores love, grief, and the choices that shape us. It’s a deeply emotional read that lingers, making you ask yourself: If you had the chance to explore another path, would you take it—and at what price?

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this powerful and thought-provoking novel.

This is a tough book that had a lot of tough subjects illnesses cancer for one and had parallel and “what if’s”
I’m the book.
I had a hard time with a husband saying to the wife on his honey moon being sick saying find the love of your life . I typically like the lighthearted books and rom com books

i dnf'ed this book after a few chapters. not for its quality, but because i didn't think i could handle the topics of grief and terminal illness discussed in this book.

i received a complimentary copy of this book. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is about resilience, heartbreak, and the beauty of choosing to stay, even when it hurts.
And my heart? Still aching. Still full.

Magical realism woven into a second chance romance - but the second chance comes because her current husband is dying and wants to find her a new husband before his death. I wanted very much to love this book, I really tried, but it just wasn't something I loved at all. I did think the "alternate" or "parallel" life was an interesting idea and I enjoyed that,. I would say this is a perfect weekend read at just under 400 pages. I think that it offers an interesting story that is full of optimism and questions and what-ifs, of lost loves, first loves and maybe forever loves. I do think at times characters were selfish - but isn't that human nature? To be inherently bent on selfishness? And I sometimes questioned if Ben were really sick - I've known a lot of people with cancer under treatment that are terribly ill because of the treatment. And on the other hand I know of a person with stage four lung cancer that is fine as far as people can see - they are not currently on treatment and for the time being are fine. Then again, my dad had stage four cancer and was sick all the time and in terrible pain and his quality of life was terrible, especially toward the end of his life. So maybe it all depends on the cancer and the treatment.
Over all this is an enjoyable read.

In Every Life by Rea Frey is a haunting celebration of life, loss and love.

I generally don’t read romance, but the description for this one drew me in. I think because it isn’t just another romance. It’s a drama with romance elements. I think we all have wondered at least once ..what if? What if we were with someone else or took a different job or moved to a different city. This story takes us into the land of what if in a tender and heartbreaking way.

Definitely recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an interesting concept for a book, and I was really intrigued by it!

This is by no means a light, fun book. I definitely teared up through the first bit of the book, but it was also a little awkward once Liam came into the picture. I’m sure this is an awkward thing to live through, but I was almost having second-hand embarrassment for the characters? Again, I can’t imagine living this scenario and what those emotions would feel like, but it was also hard to read for me which had me considering a DNF. Granted, books on hard subjects or that stretch your perspective are supposed to be like that. Just be aware that it’s heavy and conflicted and awkward and messy, and if you’re not emotionally up for that, maybe give it a pass.

I’m glad that I finished it, and *possible spoiler* it ended up giving me lots of the last season of How I Met Your Mother vibes. It was one of my favorite shows, and I was originally conflicted on the ending but came to really appreciate it for what it gave to the story which is how I ended up feeling about this book.

Thank you to Harper Muse + the author for the ARC!

This was quite the story! Harper is caught between two worlds—her past and her present. Her lifelong dream has been to become a great artist, but 10 years ago she left that life in New York. She’s now married and living in Chattanooga. Everything changes after her honeymoon.

Some people might say that reading this book on the day my stepfather passed from brain cancer would not be the best idea, but having read several of Rea's books I trusted her to take me through this story and maybe even help me to heal. This is a beautiful love story that realistically portrays life as a couple navigates his stage four cancer diagnosis. With a hint of magic, Harper gets to see what life would look like had she made different choices and where they would be today. I cried heavy personal grief tears while reading this novel, but the message is uplifting and left me feeling more powerful in my own journey. I adored the ending and closed the book with a smile. Love and love well.

I really enjoyed this book. A quick book with lots of twist that make you want to read more and hooks you in.

While this book didn’t quite work for me, my overall feelings are positive.

IN EVERY LIFE has so much potential. Harper is preparing herself for the loss of her husband, Ben, who has just been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Pair that with Ben’s insistence that Harper find someone new to love, the sudden reappearance of Harper’s ex, and a friend who knows a thing or two about full moon rituals, and… YEP, WE’RE DOING PARALLEL UNIVERSES. Sign me the f up. I’m a such a sucker for a parallel universe plot.

Kate Robb blurbed this book, which makes sense because it has the same story beats as her first book, THIS SPELLS LOVE: woman does weird ritual, ends up in parallel universe, and has to decide whether she’ll stay or go. The difference is that THIS SPELLS LOVE is pure romcom, while IN EVERY LIFE is closer to “women’s fiction.” I don’t like that label and wouldn’t normally use it, but I think it’s important to distinguish this book from the romance genre because standard romance readers might have a hard time with it. Romance readers can have certain expectations that I don’t think are met here, and there is some gray area re: fidelity that some might have a strong reaction to.

This book has a lot going for it. The depiction of Ben’s cancer is raw and real (and extremely difficult to read at times). Harper’s uncertainty around the choices she’s made and whether she and Ben could’ve avoided this if they’d taken different paths feels very true to life as well. There are fascinating questions raised: Can you love two people at once? What are the ethics of exploring a path not followed when you remember, and fully intend on returning to, your own life? Is it possible that someone you love could’ve had a better life without you, and if so, should you let them go? Unfortunately, the ultimate conclusion of the book abandons all of these questions in favor of a neat and tidy (though sweet and emotional) ending. The ending keeps Harper’s hands clean, so to speak, but with all the juicy questions this book dared to ask, the safe, predictable ending left me unsatisfied.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Muse, for providing an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book exceeded my expectations; it was both emotional and heartwarming, and the characters were so memorable. I was totally engaged throughout the entire novel.
The book was full of vivid descriptions and vivid imagery to the point where I felt like I had slipped into the pages.

I don't think there are enough words in any language to properly express how much I loved this book.
Rea Frey crafts both a narrative and characters that are filled with tenderness. The magical realism aspect is what drew me in, but Harper's journey in coping with love and grief in both her past and present is what made me stay until the end.
Rea Frey understands grief so well, and it shows in the way the story unfolds. I don't want to give too much away, but I finished the book feeling as though I had received a hug from an old friend. Whether it's the love story, the healing journey involved in processing grief, or learning to walk the path back to what brings us joy, there's at least one element in this book that I think everyone will connect to in some way. This is a book I know I will come back to, over and over again.

This story was utterly amazing! Harper is living her life in Tennessee when her husband, Ben, is diagnosed with cancer right after their honeymoon. His wish for her is to find love again. Enter NYTimes journalist interested in writing a piece about Ben and Ben’s dying wish. Turns out this journalist is Harper’s one that got away. The story floats between Harper’s present and Harper’s past with what I call “rub the genie bottle and make a wish” moment. Can you go back in time and make a different decision or is your past just your past? Read this wonderful story and find out! 5 stars!

Ben and Harper just started their life together when Ben collapses on the honeymoon. How could this man have late stage cancer? As Ben and Harper navigate this terrifying time, Ben finds a way to ease his transition; find Harper a new love. he wants to know that Harper will be okay once he dies. He can't have her mourning over him. He wants her happy. Harper doesn't even want to entertain this in the least. Before Ben gets too sick, Ben is going to be featured in the New York Times. As soon as Harper opens the door to let the journalist in, Harper is taken back to her life in New York. How is Liam, the man she spent an amazing week with, at her door getting ready to write about her dying husband's life? Liam brings everything back for Harper and why she left New York. How is Harper ever going to figure all of this out?
In Every Life by Rea Frey is an amazing story that will have you in tears by the end of the story. I love that this included a love story, a little paranormal time-traveling, and friendship. This book has it all. I will be recommending this to all my book loving friends and will always be on the outlook for the new work by Rea Frey. Special thanks to NetGalley, Rea Frey, and Harper Muse for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 5 stars for me!