I was initially drawn to this book on NetGalley because of the beautiful cover, and then the second I began reading and listening, I became hooked on the premise. Immediately after Harper and Ben are married, he gets diagnosed with cancer that quickly progresses to stage four within a year. Harper learns from Ben that he wants her to meet someone to be with before he passes away, and he wants to help her find that person. Oh, and he's having a journalist do a profile story on Ben and Harper and their life together. Things become even more complicated when the journalist is Leo, the man Harper spent one perfect week in New York with forever ago.

I really enjoyed how the book portrayed the complexities of caring for someone with cancer and how it emphasized the idea that there isn't only one person for everyone. I did feel more chemistry in Harper's relationship with Leo than I did in her marriage with Ben. I also thought the book was going in a very different direction than it ended up in, but I did enjoy the journey. I dual-read and listened on Kindle and audiobook. The narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya, did a great job!

The book felt like it was moving very slowly for the first half, but then the last 40% just flew by, although that also could have been just because of how quickly I was reading. The miscommunications were a lot throughout the book, and I'm not sure why Harper felt like she had to keep her past relationship with Leo a secret from Ben. I've seen other critiques on the book regarding the inconsistencies with Ben's diagnosis, which is fair, but cancer is also so fickle and can show up differently for different people.

Read if you liked One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Read or The Good Part by Sophie Cousens.

This wasn't your normal romance. Right off the bat, you find out that Harper's husband, Ben has cancer. So, you know what you're going into. It's a brutal and tear ridden story but it's full of so much hope and some beautiful moments.

Harper and Ben are newlyweds - - literally newly wed when he gets his cancer diagnosis. Their world is turned upside down and everything they had planned is suddenly out the window. But there is more to this story than the sadness. There is hope, triumph and determination. There is a little mysticism. And there is some drama when Harper's first love shows up.

I often enjoy a good tearjerker and I definitely got it with this one. But I also got a really good story and I highly recommend it. I thought it was a creative plot and it doesn't necessarily go the way you expect it to.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: This audio was well done with solid narration. I enjoyed listening to this and went between the book and audio as I was reading the story. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

In a word….EXCEPTIONAL.

I needed to gather my thoughts and write my review after I got some sleep. Got some sleep came back to write more. Then I was like what more can I say without spoilers!?! I had tears welling in my eyes while reading this and I’m so not that person. Anyway, I got some sleep and here’s what I thought…

I think the characters were very relatable. I saw a lot of myself in Harper’s character.

The characters were well defined and likable. This isn’t one of those books where you need to dislike anyone. How rare is that!?!

The pacing of this one was perfect. Prose perfection.

I am not the type of person who reads a lot of magical realism because I legit just don’t like it. HOWEVER, for this book I apparently made an exception because this one was so good from start to finish and I just loved it so much.

There is a scene towards the end (with a box) that really surprised me. The final scene, while open ended, suited the storyline perfectly. Perfect way to conclude this tug of war of hearts.

I’ll admit, I’m one tough customer BUT this is one of my fav books of the year for sure. I highly recommend it and hope to read more of Rea’s work in the future.

This author hardly disappoints, this story was really good. It has do many romantic cute moments but also huge struggles. But the author mixed it all so good that ends up being a warm story. Highly recommend it!!

This is an emotional story that will appeal to many readers. The premise was unique, and I liked the way the idea of "what if" was fleshed out. The ending was perfection!
I personally didn't enjoy the aspect dealing with tarot cards and manifestation candles. It felt less like magical realism and more like witchcrafts/sorcery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Harper's new husband, Ben, was shockingly diagnosed with terminal cancer a few weeks after their wedding, now before he passes away he has schemed to find Harper someone new to love. His story catches the eye of New York journalist, Liam, who comes to town to interview Ben about this crazy plan. Harper is stunned to see Liam, a man she spent one whirlwind week with and never forgot. She always wondered what her life would be like if she'd never left New York. Is this the universe's way of setting her life back on the track she once imagined? What if she had stayed in New York? What if she had stayed with Liam? What if Ben was cancer free? What then?

*Possible spoilers*

I am really struggling to review this book. I have been a huge fan of Rea Frey for a while now with her imaginative characters and plots that have stayed with me for years. I am not sure where this one will fall in that spectrum. It took me a while to get through the book as I just wasn't connecting with the characters enough to stay focused and keep reading. Ultimately, I don't think I liked any of them. They were all a bit selfish and immature. I liked the plotline in concept of a long lost love and what could have been, the "what ifs" in life. Where I disconnect is with Harper's actions as she waffled between her feelings for Liam and Ben in every phase of the story. I have never been a fan of the sci-fi/time travel and this did nothing to rectify it. Admittedly, I missed it in the genre description when I requested the book. But the idea that Harper can decide which alternative reality she will stay in to get most of what she wants just doesn't sit with me. At its core this story is an emotionally charged deep romance but it's not my favorite from this amazing author.

Harper and her brand new husband, Ben, have just received devastating news. Ben has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. But Ben has one final wish for his wife. He wants her to find someone else to love. Then, Liam shows up to write an article about Ben. Liam just happens to be an old flame of Harper’s. And suddenly Harper is faced with a lot of what ifs!

Y’all! This book takes you on an emotional roller coaster. It is full of love, grief, hope, friendship and decisions!

My heart broke for Harper and Ben! They are so new in their marriage and then the diagnosis happens and their world is rocked.

Then Harper takes a stroll through an alternate universe. She was able to see what would have happened if she had pursued her art career in NYC and if she had stayed with Liam. And the grass is not always greener.

Ben, Harper and Liam have such a unique connection. But, Harper is the one my heart went out to. She is amazing in her strength and her love!

Need an emotional read that you will think about long after you finish…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Harper and Ben have it all, love, a beautiful relationship, a condo, and the comfort and peace of being in love with your best friend. So, what happens when they find out that Ben is now terminally ill?

This one was heartbreaking, real, raw, yet lighthearted and funny all at once. One thing that I can take from this one is that sometimes having our wishes granted does not always mean that life is going to be better. Overall, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Rea Frey for this ARC!

Harper is a newlywed on her honeymoon when her husband Ben begins feeling ill. When they get back home they learn he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. They have been together for 10 years, and have always been active and adventurous and from one day to another their lives change. Harper is an art teacher, and Ben writes scores for movies. Ben's final wish is for Harper to find someone new to love before he dies, and a NYT writer catches wind of it and wants to write a feature on them.

The NYT journalist happens to be Harper's ex Liam, who she met during one intense week in NYC when she was a struggling artist trying to make it big. She has always wondered what could have been with him.

Told as What Is, What Was, What If, What Is Now, and What May Be.

This book had so many elements I love, dual timeline, alternate events, woo woo shit, alternative medicine, and art. There were some elements I felt were lacking, the characterization was not 100% there, and <spoiler> the pregnancy </spoiler> felt like an afterthought and very convenient.

In Every Life is a beautiful story about the what-ifs and the opportunity to experience the road not taken. When newlyweds Harper and Ben face a devastating diagnosis shortly after their honeymoon, Ben becomes determined to make sure Harper finds love again before he dies. Harper is very opposed and doesn't even want to give this ridiculous-to-her notion another thought. Fate steps in as Ben's story has made it's way to The New York Times and a journalist is sent to interview both Ben and Harper. When Harper discovers the journalist is none other than Liam, the only other man she has loved, she finds herself questioning everything she knows and wonders what if....

After making a wish she finds herself in an alternate reality-one where she has everything she thought she wanted. But is it really? What if what we think we really want isn't accurate at all? Can we change fate or will we find love in every life? These questions and more are answered in this emotionally charged novel by Rea Frey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Loved it!

I honestly loved it. The overall premise reminds me of the 90’s movie, Sliding Doors, but in a good way. I loved that Harper and Ben are living their best lives until they aren’t. Then, Harper is faced with not only someone from her past, but a chance to see what that past would have looked like if she wasn’t so busy running away.

In Every Life is engaging, quick paced and emotional. Truly a delightful read that wraps up with a tidy bow at the end.

Advance reader copy provided by Harper Muse and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

I've read a few time slip novels wherein the main character finds herself living an alternate life, seeing what would have happened if she made a different choice. But none of those novels were as beautifully-written as Rea Frey's novel.

This novel masterfully painted a picture of grief, loss, love, pain, time, joy, passion, and dreams. I didn't want to imagine myself going through what Harper went through but, of course, being married made me go there. It's tough reading about it and I assume that writing about death isn't easy. Frey made it seem effortless though, with the way she fleshed out death through Harper's perspective. But it wasn't just about dying and losing. This novel also shows what living and gaining looks like.

In Every Life made me feel, made me root for both Ben and Liam. It was hard to pick one because, without giving too much away, it was obvious (and understandable) that both men mattered to her. I kept guessing who she'd end up with and I'm satisfied with the ending. It's touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Also, it's worth mentioning that I mostly listened to the audiobook and only read on my Kindle a few times. Jennifer Jill Araya did a wonderful job — she's the reason I was able to finish this quicker than I expected.

'Do you think that maybe, when we dream, we're actually living out some alternate version of reality?'

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, insanely active man has stage 4 cancer and no more options. As Harper struggles to deal with the 'now', Ben is already trying to plan for her future happiness - hoping to find her love and ignite her artistic passion - before he dies, 'I cannot leave this word without knowing you're ok'. However, when Harper's ex, Liam, arrives on their doorstep, to interview them for a feature in The Times, it really could be a case of, 'be careful what you wish for'.

'In Every Life' is a 'sliding doors' story, that is broken down into 'what is', 'what was' and 'what if' before ending with 'what is now'. Although I happily believe in magical realism and 'the universe', I felt the first half of the book spun in circles before finally moving on to the real 'magic' of what might've been and Harper's personal journey towards acceptance and peace with what is, 'Perhaps my dream life is not such a dream after all...and if I want it to be different, then I have to fight for what matters'.

Overall, there were definitely parts of 'In Every Life' that were romantic and thoughtful, for me though, it just wasn't a consistent story.

Ben and Harper are thrilled to be on their honeymoon, that is until Ben collapses and a cancer diagnosis follows shortly behind. Now that he knows he is dying, he has one wish…for Harper to find someone else…before he goes. Oh and there is a journalist that wants to write the story. When Harper opens the door to the journalist however, she finds the one that got away. Now Harper is filled with what ifs and trying to figure out how to be around Leo, while also being there for her dying husband.

I went into this book blind, which was a good thing because I’m not sure I would have picked it up at this moment if I had read the synopsis. That said, I’m so glad I picked it up. I will recommend that if you are going into this one…have tissues! I loved the tiny bit of magical realism, and I also really enjoyed that we learned so much more about Harper throughout the story. Yes, the main idea was for her to find someone to be with once Ben is gone, but I loved that Harper also found herself throughout the story.

Thank you to @harpermuse for my gifted copy of this book!

This book is touching and heartfelt story of what ifs. A story of love, loss, and grief. I recommend going in blind just trusting and falling for the story right from the beginning. There’s a touch of magical realism that makes you think about life’s what ifs and if things would be different if you made a different choice.

I loved this book. I couldn’t imagine watching my husband die while running into the “one that got away” I found myself rooting for both relationships. The way the story played out was perfect. I may have even cried a little in the end.

In Every Life by Rea Frey was SO, SO good! It was a sliding doors sort of romance story. And I just adored it.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Frey, and it will not be my last.

The characters were so likeable! Harper, Ben, and Liam were all great characters. It was so interesting to read about the characters and how they change/same the same in the different scenarios.

I love that Harper learns such an important lesson and that she is such a loving, loyal partner to her sick husband, Ben.

This book is very tame, with little spice and no vulgar language. I really appreciated the writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advance read in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In Every Life is a tale of what could have been. Harper and Ben have a short perfect marriage until Ben is diagnosed with cancer just after their honeymoon. Willing to do anything to help Ben, Harper tries a spell that switches her to an alternate life she could have had.

I loved everything about this book! The characters are so real and the story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I fell in love with the characters. If you are looking for an emotional read, check out this book!

This is such a powerful story! Life presents everyone with choices, and Harper faces some very difficult ones. What will she choose for the story of her life? I thoroughly enjoyed this love story, and especially loved the path Harper chose!

“The moral of the story is simple: love. Love your people while you still have them. Love your partners while they’re still here. Love the ups and downs, the good and the bad. Love the fights and the trivial nonsense. Love it all.”

What is….What was…What may be

4.5 stars rounded up! There is just something about Rea Frey’s writing that makes you simultaneously think AND feel. She has you pondering your own life’s decisions while you’re lost in the stories her mind creates.

This story is heartfelt with strong characters that you just want to root for. I went into this one blind and I recommend that because, although this is not a twisty thriller, there are some aspects of the plot that are jarring in the best way when you’re not expecting them.

“You don’t have to know someone for years for them to make a lasting impression.” Indeed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper Muse. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.