Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin/Canary Street Press, and Ms. Gandhi for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

When We Had Forever is the story of Mina, who has recently lost her husband Michael and is mourning him when his estranged twin brother Grayson reaches out to her. The "twist" was obvious literally from the beginning (at least, it was to me), and I struggled with believing that Mina could be so oblivious and that Grayson and Michael could have betrayed her so. Nonetheless, Ms. Gandhi's writing style is compelling and the characters are relatable enough that I kept reading.

My favorite part of the story is Mina's relationship with her friend Kate, and Kate's attempts to reach Mina through her depression following Michael's passing. I also really liked Grayson's TV speech (obviously).

I think this would be a good book for Colleen Hoover fans looking for their next dramatic read. If you don't read widely then the twist may indeed surprise you. Even if it doesn't, it's still a fun read - as long as you can suspend a little disbelief. ;)

🄰🅁🄲 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑾𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒅 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏 𝑮𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒉𝒊
5⭐️

I found Shaylin from a thread she posted about her book a couple of months ago. Everything about this book intrigued me. So I added it to my TBR, started following her everywhere, and requested the book on NetGalley. I was approved and devoured it in less than 12 hours!

“𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻. 𝓜𝔂 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓼𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓫𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓸𝓷."

The story is in dual timeline. You get the before when Mina meets Michael, their relationship, and their marriage. You also get the after which is 6 months after Michael’s death and Mina is trying to find out how to cope with her grief. She discovers shocking truths about her marriage, Michael, and his estranged twin brother Greyson.

This was a beautifully written story that took my heart on a rollercoaster ride. The shocking twist had my jaw on the floor and it was like nothing I had read before. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you Shaylin, NetGalley, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this Tory early!
*edits are mine, photos are not*

#newrelease #arcreview #bookreview #readersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookaesthetic #romancereader

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.

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 Shaylin and Canary Press for a gifted copy. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a review.

This cover and synopsis immediately grabbed my attention! There was so much I loved about this book. I loved how suspenseful the story was, and it really brought me on an emotional roller coaster.

My only problem with the book was that I struggled with the believability of something, and it ended up being a huge part of the story. It might just be a “me” problem, but I really struggled with finding it realistic and it ultimately led me to lower my rating.

With that aside, this was a great debut by Shaylin Gandhi and I will definitely read her next book.

Words cannot adequately express my love for this unforgettable story of love, loss, healing and finding one’s self. It was so tragic and heart-wrenching and I can honestly say that this book is one of my favorite contemporary romance reads of 2024!

Shaylin’s style of writing is so beautifully poetic! It draws you in immediately and just never lets you go. I felt like I was experiencing Mina’s life firsthand and the heartbreak and emotional turmoil she experienced hurt my heart. Omg, did it hurt! 😭 Ahhh, and don’t get me started on the YEARNING and romance here. I swooned so hard over the tormented men in this novel! The trauma they all dealt with felt so REAL and it was so easy to connect with every character and understand the motivations behind every choice they made.

In an effort to remain spoiler-free, I’ll stop here. However, I INSIST that you read this if you find yourself needing a good, emotionally charged storyline that’ll break your heart and piece it back together in a way that will have you questioning whether or not you are living life to the fullest.

This is definitely a five star book and it comes out on Monday!!!! I would highly recommend immediately going to read it as there are so many plot twists that you are going to want to binge read it. Watching Mina discover truths about her deceased husband from his twin brother was heart wrenching yet was so powerful finding her strength again and becoming the woman she used to be.

WHEN WE HAD FOREVER – Shaylin Gandhi
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1335230874
December 10, 2024
Contemporary Fiction

Seagrove & Seattle, Washington

Six months after her husband died in a car crash, Mina Drake is still mourning him, yet she feels guilt because their marriage was on the rocks. She had met Michael years ago and despite the years together and their marriage, she feels like she never knew him. In WHEN WE HAD FOREVER, readers are treated to a before and after of when Mina met Michael and her life after he died in a car accident.

Mina’s parents are still mired in the death of their only son, who died on the same day Mina was born. This means her birthday is never celebrated, and because the death happened abroad, they refuse to travel out of the country. Mina’s dream is to travel to Greece. When she meets Michael by accident, they click, and ultimately, he gives her a ride to Seattle. They end up living together in his condo, but there is no sex. Instead, they get to know each other. But things change after Michael fights with his brother Grayson. Mina and Michael make love, and their relationship turns even more serious.

Through the years, Michael’s emotions are up and down. Mina knows he has suffered from alcohol dependence in the past and is still tempted. His moodiness makes her restless. She still wants to travel, so is thrilled when he finally agrees to go to Hawaii with her. Their vacation is wonderful, and he seems like a different man. However, once they are home, he reverts to the old Michael. Mina has never met Grayson, only knows him from the hate Michael has for him. One day, she is in a grocery store line and sees her husband’s face on the cover of a magazine. It isn’t Michael, but Grayson. They are twins? Michael had never mentioned that part.

I consider WHEN WE HAD FOREVER partly a romance and partly an emotional drama. Mina has been engulfed in grief over Michael even though they had drawn up divorce papers. The more she learns about her late husband, the more confused she becomes. It was like he had led a second life, and I expected to find another wife lurking somewhere that Mina had discovered. Marriage should be an equal investment, yet Mina was also left with unanswered questions even when Michael was alive. During this tale, we learn that Grayson is a famous bad-boy wildlife expert and even has fans who ooh and ahh over him. Out of the blue six months after Michael’s death, Grayson contacts Mina. Because of Michael’s hatred for his twin brother, she balks at first but finally relents. She soon gets the shock of her life that has nothing to do with the fact they look alike. As I got further into the story, I became curious as to why Grayson wanted to talk to Mina. After all, why didn’t he try while she and Michael were married?

Once you delve into WHEN WE HAD FOREVER, you will be as hooked as I was. Mina is a sympathetic character. While Grayson is not in much of this tale, it does appear that he isn’t quite the boogeyman that Michael made him out to be. Michael claimed that Grayson blamed him for the death of Grayson’s fiancée, yet there is no explanation forthcoming from him. What really happened? By talking to Grayson, will Mina unlock the mysteries of Michael’s life? Find out the answer by picking up a copy of WHEN WE HAD FOREVER.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

I have to start by saying how much I LOVED this book! It kept me hooked from start to finish, taking me on an exciting and unpredictable journey. I enjoyed every moment of it and found it hard to put down. Without spoiling any major plot points, I must mention the messy and complex relationships, as well as the fantastic characters like Mina and Kate (I absolutely loved their friendship). Also, the twist was so good! This book is a must-read, and I even found a new favorite book boyfriend in the process.

I cannot begin to explain how raw and real this story was for me. Some of the things Mina goes through, I've also been through. So this book resonated with me in a way I didn't expect. The writing is absolutely beautiful. Shaylin tugs art those heart strings and really lets you feel what's happening on the page. I don't want to give anything away so all I'll say is this is an emotional ride where you're left wondering how to feel at certain parts. I love when an author is able to do this because it makes me feel like I'm part of the story.

If you love angst, forbidden romance, whirlwind romance, and twists in your books, please pick this one up. I cannot recommend it enough!

Ohmygosh. This book. I could NOT put it down.

Short Synopsis:
This book has some fun twists so not a synopsis this time. But the book starts with Mina, who’s finding herself again after her husband dies.

My Thoughts:
I ADORED this book. And read most of it in one day. 🤷🏼‍♀️😂 It was such a whirlwind of emotions.

The way I was questioning my sanity in this. At the start of the book, I LOVED Michael and wanted to protect him at all costs. But the before and after timelines had be feeling hopeless on how things went so off the rails.

It was such a beautiful, messy romance with breadcrumbs that beautifully pieced together. Highly recommend.

What You’ll Find:
🚘Instalove
💕Second chance
❤️‍🔥Angst. So much angst.
🌀Twists
✍️Beautiful writing
2️⃣Dual timelines

When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi is exquisitely crafted, with a surprising twist that will leave you captivated. I found myself unable to set it aside!

Mina Drake lost her husband in a car accident. It’s been six months, but she’s still very much lost in her grief. Her best friend Kate reminds her of something, that the way that she is remembering her marriage and Michael is not the way things were the last few years of her marriage. Michael’s brother, Grayson, reappears. She’s spent the last 14 years hating him. He’s now providing answers that are changing everything that she thought she knew. Coupled with her pull towards him, her head is spiraling, and she finds herself in a weird spot in her life.

This is Gandhi’s debut novel and I am completely blown away that this is a debut!!! This story is gut wrenching and heartbreaking. I can’t even imaging going through the loss of a husband and then finding out all of the things that Mina found out and still being okay! I probably would have found myself in a deep, dark hole.

One of the best parts of this book was how realistic all of the characters were. Each and every one of them was flawed in their own way. They each have their own struggles, their own secrets, their own desires, and their own unique voices.

This novel is told in the before and the after. The before tells of the story of Mina and Michael meeting and falling for each other. The after tells us the story of the now, after Michael has passed away and how Mina is handling her grief. The back and forth of the before and the now, in just Mina’s point of view, really give you a complete story. I will say, at one point, I did have my suspicions about something, and I turned out to be correct! But this is such a unique romance book, that I can’t wait for other romance readers to get their hands on it!

This goes back and forth in time to tell the story of Mina and Michael before his death and then.....Michael's twin Grayson turns up. And Mina finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew as well as herself. Gandhi has taken a familiar plot of a husband's secret revealed after his death and turned it sideways. She's also created interesting characters in this trio. You will feel for Mina, whose life seemed so easy until it wasn't. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is a well told page turner.

First, thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Press, and Shaylin Gandhi for this book. It’s was a beautiful read!

I did not expect this book to be as emotional as it was but wow, what a beautiful emotional story this was. I also was not prepared for the amount of suspense that was in this story. I was truly on the edge of my seat with every page.

This really was a grief journey Mina. I felt like I walked this road with her. The way Shaylin told this story was real and raw and a realistic look at grief of not only a spouse but if the life you thought you wanted. There were so many layers that each chapter revealed more to it.

I liked the dual timeline and she wrapped up things so well in the end. It was such a fantastic read and I’m glad I had to opportunity to read it.

This was an emotional rollercoaster. Mina is a young girl who wants to travel more than anything, and when she meets Michael, everything changes. Things start to change between them, but Mina chalks it up to work pressures. Then, an unexpected event brings secrets to light that she had never imagined. Greyson enters the picture, and everything gets complicated.

I had a feeling that there was something different about Michael, but I had not expected the reason to be what it was. This story, while a beautiful love story, was an emotional rollercoaster. I enjoyed every bit of this story, and the ending was lovely.

Thanks to the Publisher and Net Galley for the e-arc!!

I could never have anticipated how this book took off with my heart. It's incredibly easy to read (I binged it in six hours) and blew past every other romance I have read this year. I don't even know how to talk about it without spoiling the incredible plot that Shaylin Gandhi has constructed. But it's not just remarkable for it's twist. The writing, the connection, the feelings of being alive in nature. It's beautiful and touches the soul.

My best comparison I can make it to "Darling Venom" by Parker S. Huntington. The stories are not the same but if you understood what made Darling Venom special, then you will appreciate what happens in "When We Had Forever".

And babes this is a love story! Fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez (where romance teeters between contemporary and women's lit) will love how this teases with aspects of women's lit and psychological thrillers but stays firmly rooted in romance. I'm obsessed. There's spicy scenes but it's not about tantalizing readers. The sex is a tool in the story telling. Everything about this book is so well crafted. I am going to rave about it forever. I had to remove the lashes I just put on this morning because I kept crying and irritating the glue. And I promise, after everything there's a HEA.

After six months, Mina is still grieving the sudden loss of her husband, Michael, until she uncovers a shocking revelation. In this dual timeline from their first meeting to the present, Mina tries to find the truth with the last person she’d ever want to get into touch with—her husband’s estranged twin brother.

A beautifully written love story of loss, grief, forgiveness, and healing that will have a grip on your heart from the very first page. I didn’t quite know what I was getting myself into but it grabbed my attention as someone who is married to an identical twin. The meet cute was cute but wild—I dunno if I could get into a car and drive four hours to Seattle with a complete stranger but if you know you know (or do you?? 👀). I absolutely loved this book because of the emotional rollercoaster. I felt for Mina’s missed dreams, her grief, and was just along for the ride with her. By the end, I was completely floored and I already can’t wait to read it again.

Eternally grateful to the author for this ARC! Thank you, Shaylin. Seriously, I will read anything you write. 💖

This book surprise me in the best way. It was so emotionally charged, full of love, grief but so beautifully written. I was deep in my feelings for this one but it felt so cleansing. My heart broke for Mina and I couldn’t imagine going through the loss of your husband. But then to find out that husband may not have been who you thought he was? Eep. I loved every second that we got of Greyson and thought he was the perfect edition to Mina's life. Seeing her find herself again was truly a joy. Absolutely did not see the twist coming but it was *chef’s kiss*

When We Had Forever, is one wild ride that keeps you guessing with each and every page. The story that goes between the time before Mina Drake's husband was killed in a car crash, to afterwards when she's struggling to pick up the pieces of her life. It's only then that she makes the first discovery that will change her life forever. 

This novel is fast paced, and will have you staying up late into the night just to see what will happen next. Mina's character is one that you'll be rooting for from the very beginning. (She's a dark haired writer that dreams of traveling the world, so I immediately felt a connection.) This is a must pre-order in my book.

Oh my gosh, this book totally surprised me and I thought it was spectacular. This story is emotionally charged, brimming with grief and loss and love and hope and will have you tearing up while reading. I really felt for Mina and can't imagine going through the loss of a loved one but the real shocker for me was Grayson's character. I was also surprised with revelations about Matt and I was caught totally unaware by him. I was blown away by this forbidden love story and I cannot wait to read more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.