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This is written as a dual timeline; Mina is a grieving widow and we flash back to when she met and fell in love with her husband 14 years earlier. Along the way, we discover that maybe everything didn't happen the way her husband led her to believe.

This book was definitely a wild ride, but for me it was only a 3 star read due to the insta-love between the romantic leads. I get that the story wouldn't really work the same way if they didn't essentially fall in love at first sight, but it's just not my thing, personally.

"When We Had Forever" is an incredibly complex story that kept me riveted throughout.

When Mina Drake's husband dies unexpectedly, she's left to pick up the pieces. However, what she hadn't anticipated was that his death would lead to more questions than answers. And through her grief, it's hard to discern the truth.

So when her husband's estranged twin, Grayson, shows up, she doesn't know what to think. To hear her husband's voice coming from a stranger's mouth is confusing and hurtful. Yet the more time she spends with Grayson, the more familiar he becomes. Not because he reminds her of her husband, Michael, but because she feels her truest self when she's with him. And if she didn't know any better, she'd swear they've known one another all along.

As she works her way through the confusion of loss and the revelation of secrets, she has no idea what she wants anymore, and the process of working her way through to healing and wholeness takes all her energy and focus.

There was so much that was heart-rending and empowering about this story. And I truly enjoyed it. Normally, I would detract a star for open-door sex scenes, but even that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story (perhaps because, while they are frequent, they are brief). I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Shaylin Gandhi, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Enjoyable romance with a twist! The characters were well developed and easy to like. Some were more relatable than others. The twist was really enjoyable! Definitely interested to read more from the author!

OOOO THIS BOOK IS SOOOO FUN!! Omg I had a great time reading this, it took me on a WHIRLWIND of emotions!! Shaylin is an absolute master at building the tension, with real and true characters denying themselves so much, then bringing on you back in for the most delicious ending.
I ADORE Mina, she is flawed, she is flummoxed, she is learning as she goes and building crappy coping mechanisms that too many of us identify with. Her love story with Michael is beautiful and endearing, and you’re rooting for them from the beginning. It starts with the most heartbreaking question: after everything she’s been through, including her husband’s death, ‘when did she stop being a wife?’
Michael is perfection. An adventurer, absolutely gorgeous, and head over heels for her from the beginning. Their marriage is raw, their struggles are real, and when she finds out he has a twin brother who is tattooed and tortured, you just PRAY TO THE ROMANCE GODS that Shaylin gives you more of his story… and boy oh boy does she.

PLEASE READ AND DEVOUR THIS BOOK - it is absolutely beautiful, and you will never regret having lived in this world with these characters.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was messy and dramatic but in a fun way I guess. Overall it wasn't for me, but I can definitely see people enjoying it.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster that captures the raw, complex journey of grief and self-discovery. Mina Drake’s struggle with her husband Michael’s sudden death is both heartbreaking and relatable, drawing the reader into her world of overwhelming sorrow and quiet guilt. The author does an excellent job of exploring the nuanced emotions of a woman who is forced to confront the truth about her marriage, even after Michael is gone.

The introduction of Grayson, Michael’s estranged brother, adds an intriguing dynamic to the story. Grayson’s presence brings out not only Mina’s buried desires and guilt but also offers a mirror to her own unresolved feelings. His rough exterior, paired with his vulnerability, creates a compelling tension throughout the book. Their evolving relationship is passionate and intense, a stark contrast to the safe but ultimately unfulfilling marriage Mina had with Michael. The chemistry between them is palpable, but it doesn’t feel rushed, which I appreciated.

While the central romance is engaging, I did feel that some of the plot twists—especially regarding the secrets of the past—were a bit predictable. Nonetheless, they served to deepen the emotional stakes of the story and kept me turning pages.

Ultimately, this novel is about more than just romance; it’s about forgiveness, healing, and learning to love without limitations, even after heartache. The author’s writing style is fluid, and the pacing is spot on. The ending was satisfying, though I would have liked to see just a bit more resolution in certain areas. Still, it’s a deeply moving and thought-provoking read that I’d recommend to fans of emotional contemporary romance

This book will have you in all your feels! It is a touching, thought provoking novel that explores love, loss, and personal growth. The story follows Mina Drake as she grapples with the sudden loss of her husband, Michael, and uncovers painful truths about their marriage. Through a dual-timeline narrative, it will take you on an emotional journey of grief, self-discovery, and healing.

This book will draw you into Mina's world as she navigates her past and present. The alternating timelines add depth to the story, making it a compelling and emotional read. It’s a powerful exploration of how love can shape our lives and how we heal from the wounds it leaves behind.

When We Had Forever is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and emotional fiction.

I can’t stop thinking about this book and the twist that I did not see coming. But I feel like I should have seen it coming. I actually went back and had to reread in order to see for myself all the brilliant clues that I missed. This reminded me of Mia Sheridan’s writing, with that little bit of mystery. It is an emotional romance that has the insta love trope, which I usually don’t love but this worked for me.

This novel has a major twist so I don’t want to say too much about the story. Mina meets marries the love of her life and then Michael dies. She begins to discover that there are things that he kept secret from her. Still reeling, she retreats to a family cabin in order to heal; her estranged brother in law, Grayson, enters the picture and things slowly start to fall in place.

The story is told in dual timelines - before and after. I really liked the before and being able to get to know Michael and all the secondary characters. The after
was filled with angst and MIna’s emotional journey and discovery after her loss.

“In that moment, I knew life wasn’t about tomorrow or yesterday, because those aren’t real anyway. It’s just about what we do with our right here, right now.”

Do you believe in love at first site?

When We Had Forever has some really beautiful writing, and Shaylin Gandhi does a great job capturing emotions in a way that feels raw and real.

The characters are easy to connect with, and their relationships have a natural flow that makes you want to keep turning the pages.That said, the pacing felt a little off at times—some parts dragged, while others moved too quickly.

And while the story had its emotional moments, it didn’t always hit as hard as I wanted it to. There were a few predictable beats, and I found myself wishing for just a little more depth in certain areas.

Overall, it’s a solid read with some lovely writing, but it didn’t quite stick with me the way I hoped. Still, if you love introspective, character-driven stories, it’s worth picking up!

~3.75 stars, rounded up~
Six months after her husband's death in a car crash, Mina Drake is still consumed by grief and guilt, grappling with the realization that her marriage might have already been falling apart before the accident. While sorting through her late husband's office, she uncovers clues that shed light on the unraveling of their relationship. Grayson, Michael's estranged brother and a rebellious photographer, reappears in her life, stirring unexpected emotions in Mina. As their connection deepens, secrets about her marriage come to light, forcing Mina to reevaluate everything she knew about love, trust, and the boundaries of passion.
***
WOW, this book went there - I anticipated the twist, but it was still so nuanced... I felt my jaw drop as it was unfolding. It's pretty f'ed up, if I'm being honest, but I was here for it. Little far fetched, but I could suspend my disbelief for this one. It's definitely an emotional roller coaster, as some other reviewers have stated.

This was a really good book. Mina finds the love of her life but feels like after the first month of their relationship things feel different. Her husbands died and she’s left figuring out the secrets he and his brother left behind.

Oh my goodness!! What an emotional roller coaster.

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did!!!

I loved Mina and the journey she goes on to find out the answers to her husband Michael’s death.

I loved the dual timelines and was so immersed in this beautiful read!

Can’t wait to see more from her! What a fabulous debut!

5/5

I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. One of the biggest issues for me was the protagonist’s immediate dislike of her husband’s brother, Grayson, despite never having met him. This felt forced and made it difficult to connect with her perspective.

The dual timeline structure—switching between past and present—did provide some insight into the characters’ relationships, but once everything was revealed, I couldn’t understand why she held such a strong grudge against Grayson. Many of the events were beyond his control, and it was ultimately her husband, Michael, who orchestrated the entire situation. Her resentment toward Grayson felt misplaced, which made the resolution unsatisfying.

Additionally, I’m not a big fan of the twins trope, and that aspect of the story didn’t do much to change my opinion. Overall, while the book had potential, the character dynamics and plot execution didn’t work for me. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily

WOWZERS. This one took me completely by surprise! I was not expecting to get as wrapped up in this one as I did. This was an emotionally surprising book. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Their chemistry flew off the pages! The big “twist” I guessed before the reveal however, it was very well written.

This book is a very different romance; n fact it’s almost more mystery/thriller. After the death of her husband, secrets come out. The plot twists.and turns were hard for me to believe or relate to. The book had a creepy feel to it since the husband’s brother appeared to have stalked Mina for years while she didn’t know of his existence until three years before her husband’s death. I did like the main character and related to her sadness and confusion throughout the story.. The pace of the story started out slow and did pick up in the middle but was a bit wordy to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. These are my opinions and may not be shared by others.

This story is told in first person by Mina in a “before” and “after” style narrative referring to the death of her husband Michael in a car accident. Mina is grieving her husband, while trying to break into the kind of travel writing she’s always dreamed about when she makes a discovery in her husband’s office that takes her by surprise. Michael’s estranged brother, Grayson, who is opposite to her husband in every way, has been trying to contact her in recent months, but she has ignored his calls due to issues that Michael had with him in the past. She decides to contact Grayson on her terms to resolve things once and for all, but the situation is not at all what she is expecting.

I primarily listened to the audiobook for this read. The story is narrated by Carly Robins. This was my first time listening to this narrator. I thought she captured Mina’s character perfectly, portraying her frustration with certain elements in her marriage and the subsequent effects those issues had on her dreams of travel and pursuit of career.

As the story alternates between current and events from the past, including their meet cute, long soulful discussions about their hopes and dreams and subsequently the realities of everyday life and other complications in a marriage, I started to get whiplash. Michael was at times ambiguous, other times cold and manipulative. I found myself shaking my head at Mina and wishing she would just leave him and pursue the dreams that I felt she had left behind for a relationship that just wasn’t turning out to be the great love that it purported to be. Michael would make promises then promptly drop them like they were nothing. I was frustrated with the past storyline after they married, and to be honest a little creeped out by the brother when she finally meets with him in the current storyline.

However, my frustrations, quickly turned to suspicion, then curiosity and the story took off in a direction that I found riveting. Unfortunately, the momentum just didn’t carry all the way to the end for me. Just as the story all fell into place, it continued on losing a bit of steam for me. I guess I have mixed feelings on this one. At times, I really enjoyed it and at times it frustrated. I’m not sure how to classify this one exactly, it didn’t feel suspenseful to me though it had some elements of suspense, and it’s not exactly a traditional romance either. Recommended to romance readers looking for something different. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and Harlequin Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

If you're looking for a book that has:
✨ Tropes ✨
✧ Second Chance Romance 💕
✧ Grief + Healing 🌧️
✧ Forbidden Love 💓
✧ Slow Burn 😍
✧ Family Secrets 🤫
✧ Love Triangle (well... kinda?) 😅
✧ Dark, Brooding Love Interest 💖
✧ Emotional Rollercoaster 🎢
✧ Healing After Loss 💔

This is the book for you.

Mina’s journey from widowhood to uncovering wild secrets about her late husband, Michael, had me totally hooked. Then Grayson—Michael's estranged, tattooed, tortured brother—enters the scene, and WOW, the chemistry between him and Mina was OFF. THE. CHARTS. 🔥 Their love story is packed with tension, heartache, and a whirlwind of emotions that had me completely glued to the audiobook. The suspense? Unbelievably real. 😳

The alternating timeline? Perfectly done. It let me experience every bit of Mina’s pain while also cheering her on as she navigated her grief. I do wish we’d had a little more time to savor the juicy twists and shocking moments.

Unfortunately I found this book boring. I may try and pick it up again at a later date. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

A fellow bookish account put this on my radar and for that I’m so thankful. This was a new to me author and will be keeping an eye on all of her future releases. Loved this one!