What an emotional roller coaster! This book was absolutely beautiful—emotional, heartfelt, and totally unforgettable. I went into it expecting a love story, and while it is that, it’s also so much more. It’s about grief, healing, second chances, and the kind of love that leaves a lasting mark. I am discovering that I love romantic suspense stories!

Quick synopsis: The story follows Mina, a young woman trying to move forward after losing the love of her life. But when she unexpectedly crosses paths with her husband's estranged brother, her entire world flips upside down. Now she’s left questioning what’s real, what’s worth fighting for, and whether love can truly survive even the deepest pain.

Shaylin Gandhi’s writing is gorgeous without being over the top. You really feel everything Ava’s going through—her heartbreak, confusion, anger, and hope. The emotional twists are handled so well, and just when you think you know where it’s headed… BAM, you’re hit with a surprise you didn’t see coming.

What I loved most is that this story doesn’t sugarcoat things. It’s raw in the best way, and the characters feel so real. Their struggles, especially around trauma and trust, are written with so much honesty and care. If you’re a fan of emotional romances with depth, twists, and a whole lot of heart, this story is 100% worth reading.

I enjoyed the narrations performed by Carly Robins. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Shaylin Gandhi, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately I didn't get to it before time was up; I borrowed an ebook copy from the library, so I can review the story but not the narration. Apologies.

I want to love this book, I want to love the romance, but ultimately I can't get past what absolute bastards those men were to Mina. They completely gaslighted her, and it infuriates me. She wasted over a decade, some of the best years of her life, married to a man she didn't belong with while the one she should have been with wallowed in self-pity. He didn't try nearly hard enough to tell her the truth or have her verify, from her actual mouth, that she knew which brother was which.

Aside from that, I have a very hard time believing Michael could keep an identical twin secret. Did Mina never meet his parents? See baby or family pictures? Meet his friends? Or did Michael keep it a secret from them, too? Wasn't Grayson linked to Michael's socials at all? One mutual friend on Facebook is all it takes for Facebook to recommend Grayson as a friend to Mina. Unless the brothers' parents divorced when they were super young, which didn't sound like the case, and each parent took one brother and lived a good distance apart (yes, like in The Parent Trap) . . . even then, it's hard to believe. The parents would have had to lie, would have had to swear silence from anyone who knew, then become estranged from the brothers early on . . . I mean, Mina and Michael would have had to live almost completely separated from anyone and anything in Michael's past. And everyone from Mina's life would have to completely ignore Grayson, too. The story just depends on too many cooperative variables and aligned stars.

The book also never addresses the irony that despite Grayson being the rather reckless driver and Michael being a very careful driver, Michael dies in a car accident. When it comes up that he thought he had cancer, I thought perhaps it would come to light that he'd committed suicide. But nope. He just randomly dies in a car accident. His funeral is omitted from the tale, and we also don't see much of their wedding; convenient, because people should be coming out of the woodwork on those occasions and mentioning Grayson, and maybe letting slip that they could never tell those boys apart.

Mina was likeable, though I struggled to relate to someone who runs for any reason except to escape mortal peril (I was surprised that an endorphin addiction was never brought up. Or joint problems). I feel bad that she allowed herself to live a passive life instead of the active one she wanted. I'm sure she's at fault in some way, allowing it to happen as she just waited and wished, but mostly the Drake brothers are selfish jackasses. While Grayson and Mina are perfect for each other, I can't escape the ick factor of getting with your dead husband's identical twin. It's just awkward. And creepy. Mina will always be considered mentally unstable, because she's either pretending her husband's still alive through Grayson, which puts Grayson down, or finally getting with the correct brother, which puts Michael down. No one comes out of it looking good. She really should have just washed her hands over the entire thing and gone off to finally do what she wanted on her terms.

I think Gandhi could write a damn good romance. I enjoyed the arc of Mina picking herself up and moving on, and the sexual tension was great. Gandhi just needs a more plausible premise. And a love interest who isn't willing to let his asshole brother gaslight and fuck the woman he loves. It's so twisted that for the first half I was convinced it was a thriller and not a romance (another reason why I thought it would come to light that Michael's death hadn't been an accident).

I love a story that makes me feel deeply and When We Had Forever will take you to the depths of your feelings and then put you back together again. This amazing story is so much more than a romance about finding love after loss. It’s an intricate story told over several years spanning Mina’s relationship with Michael and beyond. It’s about a woman who thought she was happy in her marriage realizing truths that were right in front of her about the man she married and her marriage. About years of being in an unfulfilling relationship and magical moments beneath the stars. This enemies to lovers, love after loss romance is all about second chances and seizing what you want in life.

Brilliantly told from Mina’s POV, we get to discover her truths and find her future right along with Mina. We get to fall in love, fall out, and back again. In audio, Carly Robins solo performs this book and is in her element. She gives an emotional, passionate, and captivating performance that brought the story to life. I adore Carly and knew this would be an amazing listen. I couldn't put this book down. I even had an inkling about the secrets Michael carried, but it didn’t diminish my desire to see where this story went. I was right, but I adored this romantic journey so much that I finished this book in 2 days. It was simply wonderful.

This was a riveting story about a woman who is navigating the loss of her husband & has her world & everything she thought was true flipped upside down. This is a suspenseful romance. A journey of dealing with life’s losses, fears, dreams and starting over. If you love a good romance with some spice and a twist to it, read this book!

If you’re in the mood for a story that grabs you by the heart and refuses to let go, then Shaylin Gandhi’s debut novel is a must-read. I listened to this as an audiobook. Narrated by a single, emotionally attuned voice, the story delivers an unforgettable experience filled with heartbreak, betrayal, and the fragile beauty of second chances.

From the first chapter, the narrator’s voice draws you into Mina Drake’s world—a place shadowed by grief after the sudden loss of her husband. But the real story begins when Mina discovers that the man she loved had secrets she never saw coming. The narrator's performance is key here: subtle shifts in tone and pacing mirror Mina’s spiraling emotions, bringing her inner turmoil to life with raw intensity.

As the revelations unfold, what starts as a gut-wrenching exploration of loss evolves into a tender, slow-burn romance that feels both earned and inevitable. The emotional depth and the powerful chemistry makes this a performance you won't soon forget.

The story is written with precision and passion, and the prose translates beautifully to audio. Whether you're a long-time romance fan or just looking for a story that will leave you breathless and hopeful, this audiobook delivers.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Audio and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is my favorite book I’ve read so far this year. There are so many layers to the secrets and deception. Mina and Michael are perfect for each other from the start, so when things change suddenly, it’s clear something momentous must have occurred. Emotional romance is my favorite romance trope, and this book had my heart swelling and aching. I feel as though I have a reading hangover now that it’s finished, so Shaylin Gandhi’s backlist is now leaping to the top of my TBR, and I’ll be purchasing a shelf trophy. There is not much that can be said without revealing too much, so this review is quite brief, but trust me that When We Had Forever is phenomenal. The audiobook narrator did a great job of sewing emotion into her narration and portraying both feminine and masculine voices.

Do you ever start a book and immediately know you need to grab a set of tabs? Shaylin immediately drew me into Mina’s story and expertly crafted this book by alternating between her life before and after the unexpected loss of her husband.

Carly Robins did a great job with the narration! I thought her use of emotion was perfect for the swoony and emotional story, and I loved the way she performed the dialogue!

Shaylin is an incredibly talented writer. Her scenes were so vivid and I felt like I was part of the story watching it unfold. Mina, Grayson, and Michael were crafted so well and I thought she did a great job developing their characters as the story unfolded.

When We Had Forever was a beautiful story and I was never quite sure what was going to happen next, which delighted me. It was incredibly romantic, raw, and suspenseful. I will absolutely be re-reading this book and recommending it to anyone who will listen.

Thank you to Canary Press for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

This story had me rethinking my whole life. I don’t know if I really know the people around me at this point. I went from happy to grieving too pissed off to curious to what the fuck

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. The emotional rollercoaster this author took me on was INTENSE! I am usually not a contemporary romance reader BUT this book had the added layer of romantic suspense which worked for me!

There were several times I was almost in tears while reading and my heart was in pain for the majority of the book. I highly recommend this book especially the audiobook because it added to the experience.

Thank you Shaylin for wrecking my heart! I loved every second of it.

Note to myself: never date indentical twins!

Wow, my first audiobook! Listening to the story rather than reading it made it so much easier to empathise with Mina. Honestly if I was in her place and went through such a rollercoaster of emotions, I swear they would have had to put me in a mental hospital.

I just wish we got introduced to Grayson personally a bit earlier as it would have made me a bit more invested. The first half of the book felt extremely dragged and slow paced.When I get to the big plot twist, I already forgot the scene from the past when Michael comes back to the condo…

Nonetheless, the final version is also good! We fall in love with Michael, and then about 50% in the book we get our heart shattered, as it turns out we fell in love with a wrong man. Loved it!

Some moments really hit home, especially loving people for their potential… ooof I felt called out.

I received this audiobook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

WOW! This book was quite the ride. I couldn't put it down. The book had a unique take that I was not expecting.

📚 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 📚

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️
Genres/Tropes: Romance / Forbidden Love / Slow Burn
Narration: First person POV

Thank you @htp_hive @htpbooks @harlequinbooks and last but not least, the amazing author of this book @authorshaylingandhi ❤️ I really enjoyed the audiobook!

This is going to be a sweet and short review because I feel like I’ll spoil it for you guys if I say too much. On this one we have family secrets, forbidden romance, grieving, healing, forgiveness, and so much more!

First of all, there’s nothing that I love more than flashbacks and this one didn’t disappoint😍 From the beginning of the story I was intrigued and wanted to know what was going to happen, what I didn’t expect what the fucking plot twists this book had, I was SHOCKED!

While listening to this one I had to go back a couple of times to make sure I was listening correctly because my mind was 🤯. This book was so unnexpected and I mean this in the best way possible! It was like going through an emotional rollercoaster and it was even better than I could’ve imagine!

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was very good, The book itself was an emotional roller coaster, filled with heartbreak, secrets, and second chances, told through the eyes of Mina. It was the kind of story that lingers in your mind long after it ends. The twists were good, finding an unexpected connection with Michael’s estranged brother, Grayson—was layered and full of surprises. It was good, and I would recommend this book to fans of Colleen Hoover style books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audioarc preview.

I am so glad I was able to dual read this as an audio and kindle edition! Sometimes it just makes it more intense and helps me to understand it better. This book had me in all my 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?

I enjoyed this book a lot. I signed up for this audiobook and I thought it was going to be just a normal romance story. Oh no it was that times 10! You get romance, mystery and possibilities.

This story takes place with Mina our FMC experiencing life after loosing her husband Michael one of our MMC. You learn about their love story and how and why they feel in love. While reading you think it really was true love between them. But Mina has come to realize their marriage has been having problems for a LONG time. In this story Mina is trying to find herself again. Even if that new self is a new improved confident Mina. While on her journey she learns of Michaels brother Greyson our other MMC. She also finds out she has a strange attraction to him.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a unique, emotional romance.

Thank you NetGalley and the Hive for this wonderful read!

I really enjoyed the audiobook of When We Had Forever! Shaylin Gandhi’s writing is beautifully descriptive, and hearing it brought to life through narration made the emotional moments hit even harder. The story is heartfelt, with well-developed characters and a natural flow that kept me invested.

The pacing still had a few slow spots, but the narrator did a great job keeping me engaged, making it easy to stay immersed in the story. The emotions came through really well, and I felt connected to the characters in a way that might not have hit as strongly if I had just read the print version.

Overall, this was a solid listen—great narration, an emotional story, and beautiful writing. If you’re thinking about picking this one up, the audiobook is definitely a good way to go!

We meet Nina as she is mourning the death of her husband Michael. This is told in dual timelines, before Michael's death and after. We learn that perhaps her perfect marriage wasn't so perfect.
When Michael's estranged brother Grayson enters the picture, everything in Nina's life is turned upside down.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator did a good job and the story kept my interest. As we learned more and more about Nina and Michael's marriage, I could not put this down. I had to see what happened. I highly recommend this one.

I struggled to connect with the main character, and I don’t think the narration helped to make her someone whose story I was invested in.

A book you will for sure want to add to your TBR.

Mina, an adventurous young woman who has been held back from that side of herself because of not only her complicated family history, but also because her husband was never the guy she thought he was. Especially now that he’s dead. This book was so good! I honestly thought it was going to be a thriller just based on the cover, but nope, it’s a romance. One you could very well love as much as i did.

In this book you can find
*Dual timelines
*Second chance romance
*A few spicy scenes and a
*A plot twist you wont want to miss

I feel like as you start reading, you can predict a little bit of what’s going to happen, but it’s totally worth it lol. I loved the connection Mina and her best friend Kate had. Everyone needs a Kate in their life.

This book had longing, emotional strain, and grief. But most importantly, it had growth. The growth of the main character was great! Definitely recommend this one!

|QUOTES|

“You can’t start over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start new”
“Yesterday is so ravenous that it eats up tomorrow too”
“Sometimes the past is all we have”


Thank you so much The Hive and NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review! I thoroughly enjoyed myself!