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.

Oh my goooooooosh. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.

It's no secret that my favorite trope is the whole butterfly effect/parallel universe thing.
In this book we follow Harper who is the newly wed wife to Ben. Ben knows he's dying, so his wish is for his wife to find love after his passing. In walks Leo, not only a NY Times journalist coming to interview the married couple, but he just so happens to be the long lost love of Harper from a decade prior.

This book was split into three parts: What Is, What Was, and What If. To be honest, the What Was section somewhat drove me crazy. If miscommunication drives you mad, then maybe skip this one.
When we dive into What If, this is where the parallel lives start. What would've happened had Harper and Leo stayed together...if Ben never even met Harper. Would their lives ever intersect?

I really enjoyed parts of it, but others were meh. If I'm rating a book solely on the emotion is brought to the table, then this is a 5/5. I absolutely SOBBED. I was hoping it would be more of a TJR Maybe in Another Life story, but it was actually very different, as we had more resolution in this one. I loved the open endedness of Maybe in Another Life.

All in all, i'd recommend this to someone who liked books like The Two Lives of Lydia Byrd and The Life Intended. This wasn't my favorite, but i definitely still enjoyed it.

Harper’s husband Ben is dying of cancer. But before he goes, he wants two things: one, to find someone new for her to love, and two, for her to give her art career another shot. Harper is not crazy about either of these ideas. But her world is turned on its head when a reporter assigned to write about Ben’s story turns out to be a man who, a decade earlier, Harper fell madly in love with in the space of a week and then never saw again. Someone about whom she’s always wondered, “what if?”

I was concerned at first that I’d picked up a straightforward contemporary romance kind of novel, and wondered why I’d selected it, as that’s not really my thing. But this book takes place not only in the present and the past, but also in alternate realities. I was happy when it took that turn, although honestly I think the writing was good and compelling enough to keep me interested even without that twist.

This book was overall really excellent, but there were a few things I didn’t like about it. I didn’t really care for Ben at times. I know he’s trying to help Harper by pushing her out of her comfort zone, but she specifically tells him that she does not want something – multiple somethings – and he goes behind her back and does it anyway. Even if he’s “doing it for her,” terminal cancer doesn’t give you the right to be a controlling partner.

I also don’t like that the woo-woo “power of positive thinking” workshop cured Ben’s cancer, even if it was just in the alternate world. I know this is a novel with time travel and parallel universes, but this was not set up as part of the magic, or even some sci-fi technology or something. From what I understood, it was a sort of mind-over-matter retreat for truly desperate people. Those things exist, and they are almost always scams that get people killed. I feel like it’s dangerous to promote such things as a miracle cure, even in fiction.

The book was excellent overall, but for me, those drawbacks were enough make a dent in its rating. Four and a half stars, rounded down to four.

Representation: LGBTQ+ characters, POC characters

CW: Cancer

When Ben and Harper are faced with a life-altering challenge, they make the best of it by purposefully living in the moment. Ben’s cancer prognosis is grim so he wants to see his wife, Harper, find a new love before he dies. This was such an easy going read despite the emotional subject matter. I really enjoyed reading about their relationship and all the ways they embraced memorable experiences together. With elements of magical realism, fantasy, and foreshadowing, I loved how Harper was able to get a glimpse into the “what if” moments of her life. A positively, enjoyable read!

It is on their honeymoon that Ben and Harper discover that Ben has pancreatic cancer. Soon Ben is contemplating his own mortality and wants for Harper to be happy. However, Ben believes that he needs to find Harper a new husband before he dies. Harper is resistant to this wacky plan as if she can't have Ben, then she doesn't want anyone. When a journalist gets wind of Ben’s crazy idea, they decide to visit ben and Harper to document this romantic gesture of a husband's dying wish for his beloved wife. When the New York Times sends a journalist to their house to do a feature, Harper opens the door to find the one man who got away. Or, rather, the man she spent one perfect week with a decade ago and never saw Leo Hale. Suddenly, Harper realises that the feelings that she had for Leo are unresolved and she begins to wonder ‘what-if’ and wishes for a better future for her and Ben. Suddenly, life for Harper becomes very interesting….
Without revealing too much of this storyline, I found this a very thought-provoking idea for a book. I am sure that many a person has contemplated how their life would have been altered if they took a different pathway. Ben and Harper are so sweet together, but it is Leo’s appearance that made for interesting reading. A great read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Really liked it, read it!
🌶️ Rating: 0

Rea Frey’s In Every Life is a beautifully written novel that blends dual timelines and time travel to create a unique and moving story. I rated this book 4 stars.

Tropes:
* Time Travel
* Cancer (Trigger Warning)
* Dual Timelines
* Emotional Strain of Caregiving
* Magical Realism

Ben and Harper’s marriage faces a significant challenge with Ben’s unexpected late-stage cancer diagnosis. Wanting to ensure Harper’s future happiness, Ben wishes for her to find a new partner before he passes away. Though initially resistant, Harper’s life takes an unexpected turn when a New York Times journalist, sent to cover Ben’s story, turns out to be Liam Hale—the man Harper spent a perfect week with a decade ago and never saw again.

Harper is thrust into a whirlwind of what-ifs:
* What if she had ended up with Liam instead of Ben?
* What if she had pursued her dreams as an artist instead of teaching?
* What if her life had turned out differently?


After making a wish, Harper awakens in a parallel universe where these what-ifs become her reality. As she navigates this new world, she must confront the question: Is the grass really greener on the other side, or is she right where she should be, despite the impending loss of her beloved Ben?

Frey has crafted a sweet and heartfelt story that explores the depths of love and the complexities of life's choices. Harper and Ben’s relationship is deeply touching, showcasing a love so profound that Ben wishes for Harper’s happiness even in his absence. Their short-lived yet intense connection adds a layer of poignancy to the story, making Harper’s journey all the more compelling.

While the premise of a young man dying shortly after marriage is heart-wrenching, the novel balances its sadness with moments of hope and upliftment. It’s a perfect blend of heartache and inspiration, making it a must-read for those who enjoy emotionally resonant stories with a touch of magic.

Overall, In Every Life is a uniquely beautiful novel that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. I loved how everything played out and am excited to read more from Rea Frey.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of In Every Life. As per the description, what happens when a husband's dying wish is for his wife to find a new love . . . before he's even gone? Harper has no desire to find a new love, but what if she could get what she really wants; her husband free of cancer and to be known for her art? A well written tell of be careful what you wish for.