I’m always hesitant to say I binged a book in a day. I worry that it’s rude to the author who surely spent months (sometimes years!) creating their book. However, I say it to convey how invested I was in a book, how much I was caught up in the story I didn’t even realize I had read the entire thing in a day! That was exactly the case with 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗻 by Jess Sinclair. This is another example of a not typical book for me - I’m generally drawn to weird, dark, literary work, and this is a sweet, small town love story with family drama and a bit of a mystery mixed in - yet somehow it totally worked for me!

I love how this book examines the idea of coming home, the good and bad of living in a small town, betrayal and loyalty, and the determination to find the truth and a happy ending. I was rooting for the love story the entire time.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful book by Jess Sinclair and wonderfully narrated by a favorite, Nan McNamara - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Bluebelle Shea returns to the small Florida fishing community she used to call home with her young son, Murphy, needing to leave her husband. But things aren't smooth upon her return either. Her father hasn't been the same since her mother drowned, and he went to prison for her death. Life throws her back in the orbit of her one-time best friend and first love, Enzo, whose family is feuding with her own. The two are determined to put the past behind and understand the truth of what happened between their families.

This was a wonderfully written family saga that kept me listening every chance I got. I wanted to find out the mystery behind the family feud, but I also liked seeing Blue's growth from a scared, abused wife to a strong woman who knows what she wants and will fight for it. It's about second chances, family loyalty and secrets, friendship and love. Loved the ending!

This is a really lovely story. The description implies a little bit more drama than I felt and while there are dramatic incidents that drive the story, they aren’t handled in a terribly dramatic, traumatic way, which I appreciated. There were few surprises and a hopeful, happy ending. It’s easy to love Bluebelle and Enzo and the other supporting characters. I listened on audio and Nan McNamara does a fantastic job.

Bluebell returns to her hometown with her nine-year-old son, Murphy. She is escaping an abusive relationship, after leaving her small fishing town abruptly 10 years prior. Enzo, Bluebell’s high school boyfriend, comes into the ER with an injured eye. Bluebell is the nurse on staff and Enzo had no idea she was back in town. Both Bluebell and Enzo struggle in their personal lives and must learn to overcome some obstacles in their way. Bluebell is also convinced her mother’s death 10 years ago is not how it seems. This was a great family drama with a second chance romance, family secrets and a little bit of mystery. The exploration of love between daughter and father, two previous lovers, and mother and son were beautiful. The characters were all well planned out and had great depth. The story line was easy to follow and kept me engaged the entire time. The past will always come into the future. This book is worth the read and I recommend you pick it up.

I really loved this book! It was such a beautiful second chance romance. There was a lot of sadness built in as well because things could have been done differently if there hadn't been deceit and misunderstandings. But life is still beautiful and sometimes things happen a certain way for a reason.

The story was paced well with strong character development. I truly fell in love with the two main characters and wanted them together so badly. Their story is tragically beautiful and you just want everything to work out for them. There is a lot to this story. It's more than a romance. It is a story of family, friendships, tragedy and survival. There were side characters in this story that you also found yourself caring about as well. It was just such a lovely book. I listened to the entire thing in one day. I don't plan to tell anything more about the book because I truly feel that this is one you should just jump into without reading many reviews. Let it unfold in front of you - - you won't be sorry.

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was perfection. I truly felt like I was sucked into their world and was completely engrossed in the story. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of this audio. I voluntarily chose to listen to and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This was a good book based on second chance romances, found family, coming home, etc. I enjoyed the storyline and the ending! Loved the setting of a fishing town.

What We Could Have Been had almost all the tropes I enjoy the most: friends to lovers, childhood romance and second chance romance. It also had a trope I don’t love - hidden / surprise pregnancy - but I didn’t mind as it wasn’t the big plot twist or even “hidden” for the majority of the novel.

I liked how this was more than a romance; the background plot of Bluebelle’s mother’s death and what happened between the the Shea / Castellari families kept me engaged throughout. I liked the Irish folklore and the homage to fishing. This was definitely more than just a surface level fluffy romance.

If you’re a fan of small town, second chance romances and don’t mind a pregnancy trope, I definitely recommend this one!

What a lovely surprise What We Could Have Been was! In honesty, I don't love the title. To me, it signals a sad story, and while there are many sad elements in What We Could Have Been, overall it is a triumphant love story that puts the enduring strength and power of real love front and center. Love is explored through multiple angles: between a parent and a child, including between a mother and daughter that transcends death, love between friends, and love between two people fate seems determined to keep apart. Quotations from Rumi find their way into the story, as do fairy gardens and bluebells, as well as the inexorable call of the sea. Blue and Enzo are good and memorable characters I won't soon forget, and young Murphy grows from a rebellious tween into a responsible young man. Ms. Sinclair's bio indicates she's written other books, and I look forward to reading more of her lovely work.

What We Could Have Been by Jess Sinclair is a story about first-love, friendship, heart-break and redemption. The story follows both Bluebelle Shea and Enzo Castellari.

Bluebelle Shea has tragic events in her past which lead her to move north to her aunt’s house in Tallahassee. When this “fresh start” stops looking so fresh, she moves back to her hometown with her son, Murphy.

Enzo Castellari has not been able to settle down with Jillian, despite their 7-years of dating, but has finally agreed to get married and is 10 weeks from the big day.

A chance encounter brings Bluebelle and Enzo back together for the first time in 10 years.

With a little help from her friend, Sienna, Bluebelle rediscovers herself in her small town, finds redemption for her father, and finds her one true love.

From fairy gardens to the truth behind that fateful night on the water, this story has many layers and was an entertaining listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance audio copy of What We Could Have Been in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️3/4 stars to rounded up to 4.

WHAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN is a story about love and loss. I really did like Bluebelle and Enzo and I was rooting for them the entire time. The mystery around what happened between their families was a sad one. But I'm happy Bluebelle finally got the answers she was looking
for. The ending was perfection! Definitely pick up this book if you are looking for a romance to escape into for a day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

What We Could Gave Been is is a fantastic novel filled with love, heartbreak, betrayal, abuse, redemption and forgiveness. It’s the story of a young couple, Bluebelle and Enzo, who fall in love as teenagers and are pulled apart due to the desires and constraints of their families Bitter feuds and secrets are unearthed and the reader experiences a wide range of emotions while being engrossed in their lives. I stayed up late at night listening to the audiobook, needing to find out why exactly Bluebelle and Enzo were torn apart, what happened in the events surrounding the death of her mother, and if the Bluebelle and Enzo got their happily ever after.

I will absolutely be recommending this book for purchase.

This was my first book by Jess Sinclair and I wasn’t disappointed! The book had a common storyline, young romance which abruptly ends, girl ends up pregnant and returns home tears later with a child, and an unknowing father. There was enough substance in the storyline that it did seem to be just the same ol’ story. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and feel that fans of Nicholas Sparks may want to add this to their list! I definitely got some Safe Haven vibes 🧡 If you’re looking for a clean romance (there are some heavy subjects mentioned but not in detail) then you will enjoy this book.

I would like to thank Jess Sinclair, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me access to an electronic copy of this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

What We Could Have Been is a "second chance romance" story that I had a hard time putting down. I think another reviewer hit the nail on the head when they compared it to "We Are The Brennans". This family drama kept me engaged and interested in the outcome from the very beginning despite veering into Nicholas Sparks territory at times.

Overall, I think most readers will really enjoy this one and I think it would make an excellent streaming series if the authors sells the rights when it becomes a hit.

This was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt read, and I’m so thankful to @marenreads and @jjsbookcase for putting it on my radar. I absolutely loved it.

I’ve seen the author’s writing compared to TJR, and I agree – but the real comparison I found was to Tracey Lange’s books. If you have a heart connection, like I do, to 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘴 or 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘸𝘯, you absolutely can not miss this one. I finished it and immediately started texting people with “OMG YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!”

In these pages we have secondhand romance, motherhood, grief, pet love, family drama and an element of suspense. The characters are relatable, and I was just drawn in completely by the storytelling.

According to the author’s website, she writes mysteries as @tracygardnerbooks, and 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘦𝘯 is her debut contemporary fiction as @jesssinclair.writes. I’ll definitely be checking out those mystery titles and eagerly awaiting the next contemporary fiction.

I did listen to this title on audiobook, and I have to commend the narrator @nanmcnamara. She voiced a full cast of characters masterfully. Add her to my top five narrators!

This would make a fabulous book club pick and the perfect read to curl up with on a lazy day. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

My thanks to @dreamscape_media and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

@alcovepress

Blue and Enzo became best friends at the age of 2. They grew up next door and were inseparable. Until tragedy struck when they were 17. Blue ran away- and stayed away for 10 years.
Now, Blue returns home to Bliss. Escaping a bad marriage, she and her son have no where else to go but to her father, whom she hasn't spoken to since she fled.
Now that she is home, and she starts thinking about the events that led up to that tragic night. And she sees them in a new light. She is determined to figure out what REALLY happened the night her mother died- and also what happened two years before that, when Blue and Enzo's families became estranged.

This one really had me hooked. I loved Blue and Enzo's story. It is complex, as are the characters. I really didn't want this to end!

Nan McNamara narrates the audiobook, and she does a great job as always. The only issue I had with the audiobook is that there are two Castellari brothers with first names beginning with M (the 2nd and 4th. The CEO and the screwup). I was confused in the beginning getting them mixed up- I think if I had read a print version, that likely would not have happened.

I know this is classified as a romance, but it really is not. Definitely more 'general fiction', and what is typically shoved into the 'women's fiction' category. Is there "romance"? Yes. But that is not what the story is about, exactly. Love, yes. Romance, not as much. There is a difference, lol. The very small amount of romance is closed door.

I received an audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Listening to this audiobook was truly a captivating journey of hope and redemption. The narrative skillfully weaves together the past and the present, delving into the complexities of family divisions and young love.

As the characters reencounter each other after experiencing life's trials and tribulations, the story beautifully explores the possibility of forgiveness and healing. The author's ability to evoke deep emotions and suspense throughout the audiobook is commendable.

It's a heartwarming tale that reminds us that even amidst the darkest of pasts, there is always hope for a brighter future. Highly recommended for those who enjoy stories of love, redemption, and second chances

I tend to enjoy second chance stories and this one was fantastic. It was a great mix of homecoming, love, loss, family, friendship, forgiveness and more. Bluebelle "Blue" was a great character and I was rooting for her right out of the gate. The fishing town where the story took place was filled with family business and small town politics and dynamics. It was easy to see why Blue left home at 17 and didn't return for 10 years. I'm so glad she finally did though. The narrator was perfect and this was such a great read/listen!

This is a beautiful and wistful sweeping story that broke me apart and filled me back up. I loved the narration. It brought such a sense of urgency and perspective.

Blue fled from her home of Bliss, Florida 10 years ago and didn’t look back, leaving behind the boy she loved. Enzo was her best friend since she could remember, but she moved on. She got married and had a child, Murphy (the cutest kid, for real).

Now, with her marriage ending, Blue returns to Bliss, hoping to rekindle a semblance of a relationship with her father. After the death of her mother, things were never really the same.

When Enzo sees Blue again for the first time, the situation isn’t ideal. He has made a life for himself there without her, but it doesn’t stop all those feelings from flooding back in, making the two of them wonder if they ever really went away.

There are so many ups and downs, there are set backs and triumphs, and there is so much freaking heart! Not only are Blue and Enzo forced to share the same space once again, causing rifts in other areas, considering the two come from rivaling families, they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to her mother all those years ago… a death in which her father was charged for.

This was a beautiful story and I loved every single moment of it. The depth of emotion this book reached in me was incredible. As soon as I thought I knew what was happening, a curveball was thrown, leaving me breathless and sobbing.

I highly recommend this story!

I chose this audiobook the second I saw Nan McNamara as the narrator. I loved her in The Paper Palace and just knew she would bring this story to life.... She certainly did!🥰

What We Could Have Been is a wonderful women's fiction/ romance novel set in the most charming, picturesque fishing town of Bliss, Florida. Here we follow Bluebell and Enzo, childhood sweethearts who were driven apart by their rivaling families and a life-changing event that drove Blue out of town, never to return....

Until ten years later, when her marriage to an abusive man implodes and she and her son head back to Bliss for a fresh start, where she reconnects with Enzo.

This is the loveliest mashup of a decade-old mystery, a second-chance romance, and a family drama, and I enjoyed every second. I was completely swept away in the best way, and binged this in half a day. Jess Sinclair is an author to watch!

Thank you Dreamscape for my gifted ALC 🥰

Review will be posted to my IG closer to pub day.

(4.5 rounded up)

This book was one that grew on me as I got further into the story. These characters have some growing to do and I found it easier to connect with them as the book went on. Blue and Enzo have both made mistakes and figuring that out is part of their journey together. I particularly struggled reading about Blue’s mistakes as a parent, however, she had her child when she was 17 so her mistakes are realistic. One of my favorite things about this book was the way Murphy (Blue’s son) connected so well with everyone despite being hesitant to move. He was a great character. I also loved the fairy village in the back yard Blue’s mom created and how it became a way for Blue to reconnect with her home. I recommend this one if you like family secrets and second chance romance.

I listened to the audiobook version of this title and really enjoyed it. It is single narrator but all the voices were very distinct.