I’m a sucker for a “what if?” story with alternating timelines. And Frey delivers every time 👏🏻

First of all, I was immediately drawn in just by reading the synopsis. I knew I was going to cry, which is a huge plus (I like what I like). Phew, and the emotions were there. The only thing that kept me from actually sobbing was that I was on an airplane with 150 other people.

I loved Harper and Ben’s relationship and how the other characters intertwined with everything. I was a little nervous about where the ending was going, but I ended up thinking it was perfect.

I also got an advanced audiobook copy and the narration was gorgeous 💯

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours, @harpermusebooks, @netgalley, and for the #gifted copy!

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.

A poignant and introspective novel that delves into themes of identity, relationships, and self-discovery. The story follows the protagonist as they navigate through pivotal moments and experiences in their life, exploring how these moments shape their sense of self and their connections with others. Frea's writing is noted for its emotional depth and lyrical prose, capturing the complexity of human emotions and the intricacies of personal growth. The novel’s strength lies in its reflective narrative and its ability to resonate with readers on a deeply personal level. It is a compelling read for those interested in character-driven stories that explore the nuances of human experience.

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!

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 was pleasantly surprised with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the parallel lives that were taking place. I love magical realism when it is done correctly. This book had all of the feels. This story makes you think about the choices in life and the paths that we take will lead to certain outcomes.
This is my first five star is some time. The narrator did an amazing job! Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a perfect read. The writing was excellent and flowed seamlessly. I read it via audiobook, and the narrator was perfect.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Collins, via Netgalley, for letting me read this ARC.

Rea Frey’s novels always seem to pull on my heartstrings, and have me grasping for a box of tissues. Can you even blame me when the synopsis starts off like this:

“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙙𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 . . . 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚?”

😭😭😭

In her latest, IN EVERY LIFE Harper’s world is absolutely shattered when her husband, Ben is given a cancer diagnosis very early into their marriage. (The cancer diagnosis is a major part of the storyline, so please keep that in mind before reading.)

New York Times journalist, Liam gets wind of this crazy plan and decides to do a story on Ben’s dying wish. Little does he know, the woman he wants to play matchmaker with is Harper, the one who got away ten years ago.

😮😮😮

The reader essentially gets two love stories for the price of one! Ha! We’re 100% invested in the current timeline with caring for Ben, and also receive flashbacks of Harper and Liam’s whirlwind romance from a decade ago.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Epic love stories
- A touch of magical realism
- Alternating timelines
- “What if” scenarios
- Emotional reads
- Reflections on loss and love
- New York & Chicago settings
- Artist/writer/creative lifestyle

What I loved most about this novel were the “what if” scenarios and parallel universe glimpses. This kinda surprised me as I’m not much of a magical realism type of girl. I loved to see “what could have been” if Harper made some very different decisions back in her past.

Frey’s novels always continue to surprise and charm me. They’re always very emotional, gripping, and thought-provoking. 4/5 stars for IN EVERY LIFE! It’s out now!

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.

When newlyweds Harper and Ben discover Ben has terminal pancreatic cancer they must take stock of their lives and love for each other. Ben hatches a plan to find Harper a new husband before he passes so that she will be taken care of. Harper is not thrilled and fights the idea tooth and nail, she loves the husband she has already. But when a journalist arrives at their door to interview Ben and his plan to find his replacement Harper is shocked to find Liam, the only other man she ever loved is the journalist that will write the story. So begins this 'What If' reality tale about second chances for love, being true to yourself, following ones dream and trusting ones instincts. Harper has always run away from conflict out of fear, but this time she must stay for love. I loved the bits of magical realism throughout the story. It was fun, refreshing, unpredictable and added depth to this romance. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator was excellent.

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for a chance to listen to an ARC version of this book. All opinions are my own 5 stars.

I think this book would be a wonderful movie. It will make you cry. It's sad and sweet at the same time. It is one of the best books I've read this year. It's my first Rea Frey novel and I loved it. If you like a good tear jerker, this book is for you.

This was my first Rea Frey read, and although I will probably pick her up again, this one, while enjoyable, gave me a little whiplash. This started out as a bittersweet love story in which a dying husband, Ben, wants his spouse, Harper, to find another love before he goes. (TW: cancer, widowhood) When her first real love appears to write a story about Ben, it seems like fate.

Harper, is of course, a little unsure about this and rightly so. Ben doesn’t seem to understand her need to grieve and his attempt to convince her to date while he is still alive ventures into a little bit of ick territory. But then Harper travels into an alternate reality That is not a spoiler, it’s in the cover copy…which I did not read. It was like I stepped into another story. This embedded plot point felt a little bit disjointed, like a ragdoll hastily stitched together.

This is a great listen on audio, especially if you’re doing other things while you listen.

What an amazing story. A woman performs a chant and she is propelled into a parallel life for one month back to someone she loved ten years prior. She gets a glimpse into what her life could have been if she had stayed in New York and pursued her art career. Does she return to her current world, where her husband is dying from pancreatic cancer? When she returns will her world be the same? A story or love, could haves and sticking around when the world gets hard. I loved this book and the narrator is perfect for this book. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow. Just wow! This book took me by surprise. Imagine one of the best days of your life turning into one of the worst. Be and Harper have fought a long hard health battle and it seems that they are at the end of the road. When Ben turns to Harper and suggests that he helps her find a new love before he's gone it does not go according to plan. A man from her past that she's always held near to her heart comes back and it shakes up her life. Harper is left wondering in every lifetime would she have made the same decisions? If she chose differently would Ben's life and health journey have been different? How would her life be different? This book is beautiful and you find yourself really torn and find yourself near tears.

Honestly this is one of the few books I read this year that surprised me and I genuinely didn't know who to root for. Do you root for the current love? The one where they fell fast and stuck out the hard stuff or do you root for the passionate young love who has clearly held on and pined for her? Fantastic. The story itself was beautiful and I found myself not wanting it to end. I was skeptical of the alternate reality element of the story and felt it didn't need it at first but I quickly got on board. What I do NOT recommend is reading this in public because there will be tears but I DO recommend this book to everyone who wants to imagine their life going down a different path or someone who asks themselves what could my life have been like.

I recommend this book to anyone who looks at their life and wonders "What If" but still loves the life that they have. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this story.

This is just too sad for me. It might pick up but I’m feeling too depressed I do like the narrator. Sorry! I also thought based on the title this was a time travel type book.

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.

4.5 Stars
Not what I was expecting. I felt in the beginning that I knew what path this storyline was going to take, and I was wrong.

Ben and Harper are newlyweds and so in love with one another. It is not until the couple is presented with a cancer diagnosis that changes everything that life begins to look a little different. Ben loves Harper very much and does not wish for her to be alone when he is gone, and with that he wants her to find love while he is still alive.

What a journey of love, loss, coping, and just life. I was pleasantly surprised by this one.

I listened to the audio book of this story and wow the narrator was so good at portraying the necessary emotions and feelings.
Bravo.

Thank you, Harper Collins Focus, Rea Frey and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Harper Muse for the #gifted ALC to read and review.

What an incredible book. The title. The characters. The love. The narration. All of it was wonderful.

Expect 👉🏼 Magical Realism, Emotional Journey, Cancer, Love, What Ifs, multiple timelines

Ben is a dreamboat. He’s everything. When he gets his cancer diagnosis, his dying wish is to find Harper someone new to love before he dies. 💔

In walks a reposter to write a story on Ben’s life. And he just happens to be Harper’s only “what if.”

I started this book late in the afternoon expecting to maybe get 10% in before calling it a night. But I couldn’t stop. I listened to the entire book straight through. Jennifer Jill Araya did such a beautiful job narrating.

This book is agonizingly emotional and beautifully written. This story will stay with me for a long time.

Please be aware that it is a heavy read 🙏

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!

My heart. Ben & Harper encounter what no newlywed couple would ever want to have to face. A cancer diagnosis. But, Ben has a plan. Watching things play out in their story was beautiful. I really enjoyed the touch of magical realism that the author used. We get glimpses from the past, present, and an alternate reality. I loved this one. Definitely recommend. 🩵