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!

This was such a great book!
"What happens when a husband's dying wish is for his wife to find a new love... before he's even gone?" I was sold at that description when I saw this book on NetGalley. I somehow missed the part that goes on to say, "After making a wish, Harper wakes up to find herself in a parallel universe . . ."
Imagine my surprise when that unfolded halfway through. I admit, I was hesitant to proceed, but I'm so happy that I did. (I recently finished another parallel universe book that I did not particularly enjoy.)
I loved Ben, Harper and Liam. Their story was heart wrenching, and I could not put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Rated 3.75 ⭐️

Harper and Ben are on their honeymoon when Ben collapses. They find out he has stage four cancer. Now, their fast-paced relationship is about to come to a fast-paced ending. But, before that happens, Ben wants to find someone for Harper to love for after he's gone.

When I was reading this book, I felt like I was reading a movie I've watched before. There's lots of emotion while reading, and the ending got me. There's definitely a lesson being taught.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rea Frey, and the publishers for this free ebook. This review is 100% my own and honest opinion.

What do you do when you're faced with the unimaginable? This story was simply stunning. Breathtaking.

Unfortunately I didn't love it like I thought I would, but someone who loves very emotional and complicated stories like this might love it.

Ben and Harper are on their honeymoon when they discover something is wrong with Ben. It is a shock to find out her husband, the super healthy, always positive man has stage 4 cancer with no options of recovery. At its core, it is a deeply emotional book, that at times will leave the reader feeling a whole gamut of emotions. I really enjoyed it and have recommened to friends as well. .

In Every Life by Rea Frey is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and second chances. Harper, once a hopeful artist in New York, is now living a quiet life with her husband, Ben, until his terminal cancer diagnosis shakes her world. Ben’s final wish for Harper—to find a new partner before he passes—leads her to a reunion with her first love, Liam. This sparks a journey of “what-ifs” that takes Harper into a parallel universe where her alternate choices come to life. Frey deftly examines the tension between the paths we choose and the ones we leave behind, asking whether we can ever truly know what would have made us happiest. With rich emotional depth and an intriguing premise, In Every Life is a heartfelt and thought-provoking read about fate, love, and finding contentment in the life we have.

I wasn't sure about this book at the beginning. I don't love romances with a choice between two partners or any touch of infidelity and I wasn't sure where this was going. The main character's husband is dying and wants to find her someone to love and in walks her past love. Rather than the book set all in current time, she gets the opportunity to live the "what if" option - if she had made different decisions in the past. In the end, I did really like it. Warning - there are some really sad parts. But overall a great book.

I have loved all of Rea Frey's books that I have read and this was no exception. I love how she can make parallel stories comes to life. My mom has read some of her books and been confused by the back and forth stories, but I personally found it so intriguing and I was hooked!

Thank you @netgalley and @harpermusebooks for the arc of "In Every Year" by Rea Frey in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a beautiful but heartbreaking story. Trigger warning: terminall illness

Synopsis:

Newlyweds Ben and Harper are on the top of the world. They are deeply in love, have succesful careers and share a love for sports and travel. Their future looks bright untill...Ben get's diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and all their hopes and dreams come crashing down.

It's clear that Ben won't survive this battle, but it's his dying wish to find his wife a new love before he passes so he'll know she'd be happy again. Harper finds the whole thing ridiculous and wants to spend all the time they've got left with Ben.
When the New York Times wants to feature a story about Ben's life they sent journalist Liam Hale to run it.
Thing is, Harper and Liam share a history together and their story is far from over...

It's about halfway through the book when a magical realism element is thrown in. Harper gets to travel back in time to find out what would have happened all those years ago if she'd took a leap of faith and had ended up with Liam instead of Ben.

Although I loved the writing and characters, it was a very emotional read. It was hard to read about the final stages of a terminally ill patient and the effect it had on Ben and Harper's marriage. On the other hand their bond was so strong and loving, it jumped of the pages and really gave me goosebumps.

In general I'm not that keen on magical realism in stories but I decided to go with it and it did give alot more insight in Harper's character.

All in all a very memorabele read.

#InEveryYear#Netgalleyreview#Bookstagram#BooksOfInstagram#KindlePaperWhite#Bookworm#NeverNotReading

Rea Frey is a new author to me, but I enjoyed In Every Life so much that I'll definitely be looking for more of her books. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Harper's sick husband wanting her to find a man to love after he passes but it ended up being really good. I read/listened to the audio version and loved Jennifer Jill Araya's narration.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 6 August 2024

A heartfelt and emotional novel that delves into second chances. The writing is reminiscent and engaging capturing the emotions of the characters and their journeys. A touching and thought provoking novel that you will not soon forget.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I discovered Rea Frey when I joined bookstagram in 2018. Her first nonfiction book was being released and I wanted it! I added it to my Christmas list and my mom was kind enough to get it for me. Once I read it, I devoured it. I’ve devoured every book she has written since, and In Every Life was no exception.

This book features the magical realism I’ve come to love from books by Rebecca Serle, so if your a fan of her work, I definitely encourage you to check out this latest release from Frey!!! Here we meet, Harper, a newly wed who has just found out she will soon be a widow. Ben, her husband who has stage four pancreatic cancer, has a dying wish - to find a new husband for Harper before he dies. Harper is not on board and can’t imagine fulfilling this wish. But then enters Liam…a journalist from the New York Times who is writing a feature about Ben’s life and whom Ben has also filled in on his unusual, final wish. He also happens to be the one that got away in Harper’s life; the man she once spent a perfect week with in New York years ago. Now Harper is faced with her unresolved feelings surrounding Liam and is faced to wonder…what if?

I really wanted to be hooked into this book because the premise was amazing, now I'm not sure if it was timing but I just didn't get hooked or as invested as I would have liked to . Overall I still enjoyed the book I just wanted a bit more?

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!