When We Had Forever is a totally different story than I expected. Mina is grieving her dear husband Michael's' death. As she begins to go through her husband's things, she finds something that makes her question everything she believes about Michael. The puzzle pieces eventually come together. This book kept me guessing. The narrator was great!

When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi is a unique romance filled with love, loss, heartache, hope, and a twist that had me gasping! Told in alternating timelines, we live through Mina’s life before and after the death of her husband Michael. We are taken on a journey of their love and struggles. In the present day Michael’s twin brother, Grayson, reaches out to Mina to check in and she how she is holding up. Michael and Grayson had issues between them and didn’t talk so Mina had never meant Grayson. She finally decides to meet with him to close this chapter of her life. However, Grayson gives her some shocking news that I never saw coming! The story is a little slow at times and I was really wondering where it was going. But all it all, I really enjoyed this story.

This audio was fantastic. Carly Robins is a new favorite narrator.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance audio of this book.

I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. One of the biggest issues for me was the protagonist’s immediate dislike of her husband’s brother, Grayson, despite never having met him. This felt forced and made it difficult to connect with her perspective.

The dual timeline structure—switching between past and present—did provide some insight into the characters’ relationships, but once everything was revealed, I couldn’t understand why she held such a strong grudge against Grayson. Many of the events were beyond his control, and it was ultimately her husband, Michael, who orchestrated the entire situation. Her resentment toward Grayson felt misplaced, which made the resolution unsatisfying.

Additionally, I’m not a big fan of the twins trope, and that aspect of the story didn’t do much to change my opinion. Overall, while the book had potential, the character dynamics and plot execution didn’t work for me. Thank you to NetGalley for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily

I love this book! When We Had Forever is one of those suspenseful romances that you can’t speak much on for fear of spoiling the amazing plot twists that await the reader. I had hoped the audio would be dual narrated (m/f) but enjoyed it nonetheless!

I love Shaylin’s writing and enjoy that she offers a variety of different romance tales! I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Will definitely continue to recommend this book to those looking for a mysterious and gripping stand-alone romance! 5 stars!!

i cant believe my luck. to have stumbled upon another banger of a book!

mina is grieving her late husband, michael, while trying to face the fact she was planning on leaving him. while we go back in forth between before his death and after, we see why she fell for him, but what we learn about him now that he’s gone is SHOCKING. don’t worry, michael’s identical, estranged, twin brother, grayson, is there to support her through this mess.

based off of books description, i thought i had it all figured out before i even started… WRONG. Shaylin was sure to throw some details in to throw us off the scent. this book had me hooked. i felt every emotion that mina was feeling (thank you Carly Robins for killing the narration!!) and was right there with her. The ups, the downs, the chemistry…it gave everything 👏🏼

thank you so so much Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of my dreams🩷🙌🏼 i think I need a copy for my shelf of honor

When We Had Forever was such a surprising read. It completely exceeded my expectations and kept me hooked from beginning to end. It’s one of those rare novels that’s hard to put into a single genre — while it is a romance at its core, it also unfolds like a suspenseful mystery with so many unexpected twists and turns. Honestly, trying to review it without giving away anything feels almost impossible, because the plot is filled with layers that slowly unravel in a way that’s truly gripping.

What I loved most is how the story constantly kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I had figured things out, the narrative would shift, making me rethink everything. For readers who enjoy a book that not only explores the complexities of love but also keeps them guessing with its twists and turns, this one is an absolute must-read.

This is the kind of book that gets me so pumped, and I can’t wait to share it with others.

I'm sorry but this book was just not for me. I felt like nothing happened other than wondering why Mina's was grieving someone who treated her like crap. She was a frustrating character. And the whole twist, was so unrealistic. It actually made me angry that I spent all this time reading for that to be the direction the plot went. I know this is loved by many other people so I'm surely an outlier.

This narrator did a fantastic job bringing this beautiful story to life. You could hear and feel the emotions in her voice that helped shape this book and these characters. Wonderful job.
This book hurt and I loved every minute of it. After the twist when a chapter would start with “before” it was almost like this instant heartbreak while you looked at it through a new lens. So good.

Thank you Net Galley for the ability to read this audiobook. I truly believe that the narrator Carley Robbin’s gave so much depth to the main character Mina. You could just hear and feel her emotional roller coaster from childhood through marriage. This book kept me engaged throughout- if you think too much about it or think in modern days reality you won’t enjoy it as much but the narrator and story line kept sweeping you back in that the disbelief of the events got short sided. I enjoyed this unique romance story. It is a very different *second chance romance, *insta love, dual timelines with a smidge of thriller mystery. I will be looking for more by Shaylin Ghandi as her writing style in this one is refreshingly different.

I read the book last year and loved it so much i was excited for my reread to be the audiobook. I loved it just as much if not more . The story just really touched me and has me smiling… crying… and swooning. 10/10

This story is told in first person by Mina in a “before” and “after” style narrative referring to the death of her husband Michael in a car accident. Mina is grieving her husband, while trying to break into the kind of travel writing she’s always dreamed about when she makes a discovery in her husband’s office that takes her by surprise. Michael’s estranged brother, Grayson, who is opposite to her husband in every way, has been trying to contact her in recent months, but she has ignored his calls due to issues that Michael had with him in the past. She decides to contact Grayson on her terms to resolve things once and for all, but the situation is not at all what she is expecting.

I primarily listened to the audiobook for this read. The story is narrated by Carly Robins. This was my first time listening to this narrator. I thought she captured Mina’s character perfectly, portraying her frustration with certain elements in her marriage and the subsequent effects those issues had on her dreams of travel and pursuit of career.

As the story alternates between current and events from the past, including their meet cute, long soulful discussions about their hopes and dreams and subsequently the realities of everyday life and other complications in a marriage, I started to get whiplash. Michael was at times ambiguous, other times cold and manipulative. I found myself shaking my head at Mina and wishing she would just leave him and pursue the dreams that I felt she had left behind for a relationship that just wasn’t turning out to be the great love that it purported to be. Michael would make promises then promptly drop them like they were nothing. I was frustrated with the past storyline after they married, and to be honest a little creeped out by the brother when she finally meets with him in the current storyline.

However, my frustrations, quickly turned to suspicion, then curiosity and the story took off in a direction that I found riveting. Unfortunately, the momentum just didn’t carry all the way to the end for me. Just as the story all fell into place, it continued on losing a bit of steam for me. I guess I have mixed feelings on this one. At times, I really enjoyed it and at times it frustrated. I’m not sure how to classify this one exactly, it didn’t feel suspenseful to me though it had some elements of suspense, and it’s not exactly a traditional romance either. Recommended to romance readers looking for something different. 3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and Harlequin Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi had me glued to my headphones for two days straight.

This book is technically a romance, but it’s not your typical love story.

Mina’s grief is so deeply raw and relatable, but what truly had me hooked was the unfolding mystery. As she begins going through Michael’s belongings, she stumbles across something that completely shatters her understanding of their life together. The emotional intensity is palpable,
If you’re into emotional, twisty stories about love, loss, and rediscovering yourself, you need to pick this one up.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Now a widow, Mina Drake is forced to find a way to live her life without her husband, Michael. As Mina tries to make sense of her life now, she begins to find more questions than answers...ones that may tear apart everything she thought she knew about the love of her life.

This was a captivating story that kept me engaged the entire time. I did anticipate a good part of what was going on pretty early, but that didn't change how well the story was written. I received an digital audio copy of this book for review, and felt Carly Robins did a fantastic job of providing narration full of emotion.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for providing me with this audio ARC of "When We Had Forever". I will definitely be recommending this one to fans of Colleen Hoover and readers looking for romance with a side of mystery!

I read this book as an ebook before receiving the audio. Listening to it only made me love it more. 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!

No marriage is perfect, but when Mina loses her husband, she gains a million questions. Nothing was quite the same after their whirlwind meeting, but is there more to the story? (Heck yes there is lol) 💍

Things I loved:
🧶 detangling the story
👯‍♀️ Mina and Kate’s friendship
🌲 PNW setting

I had a hunch of what was going on pretty early in this one, but thought there was no way! There was a way, and it was more surprising than predicted. I recommend this one to CoHo fans looking for a twisty and spicy romance! 🔥

I listened to the audiobook version. It was well read. Narrator did a good job portraying the emotion behind this love story of betrayal.
Imagine loosing your person. Husband of over a decade and continuing to find out you have been duped, betrayed, lied to, mislead, hoodwinked!
This story is a story about Love. The things you will do to make them happy. Keep your loved one at any cost.
When she begins to unravel her life her brother in law shoes up to send her into a tailspin.
When we had forever will break your heart open and keep you guessing. Pick your jaw off the floor and make you look at your life a little closer.

Here's the short of it: Mina Drake is a new widow and basically everything she thought she knew about her relationship isn't what it seems.

This book held me HOSTAGE all day yesterday. What an amazing debut. This book was angsty with so much wonderful conflict that I could not stop listening. It was beautifully written. The characters almost walked off the page they were so real with fantastic flaws. The emotional roller coaster that this book took me on was unbelievable. I can not wait to read more from this author in the future. Carly Robins did a phenomenal job of bringing this book to life. I couldn't get enough. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. HUGE thanks to Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen and review this amazing book.

All the stars for this emotional love story!! I could not put it down!
The way this book pulled at all my emotions. It is such a beautiful story of love, loss, grief, rediscovery. The writing of this story just pulls you in and I was so captivated in this love story. Told in dual timelines of past and present. You need both to really fully grasp the story and to relive the love story of Mina meeting and falling in love with her husband. That love is so powerful and all encompassing. I really felt all the love and emotion in that relationship- but as she starts unraveling clues you start to feel and see things differently. I do recommend diving into this one blind to not have any of the mysteries and possible twists spoiled.

The audiobook is narrated by Carly Robins. I love her narration. She really makes you feel all the emotions of the story!! She does a great job bringing various voices for the other characters too.

When We Had Forever by Shalin Ghandi

***this review contains spoilers***

An emotionally powerful roller coaster of a novel about losing and finding love, When We Had Forever is a breathtaking journey through grief, self-discovery, and unexpected passion. Fans of Colleen Hoover, Lucy Score, and Mia Sheridan will find themselves utterly captivated by Shalin Ghandi’s heart-wrenching storytelling--TBH I believe this may be a debut novel and to stand up against some of these other romance baddies is pretty impressive.

This is a Story of Love, Loss, and Second Chances...heavy on the second chances...wink wink!

Mina Drake’s life is shattered when her husband, Michael, dies in a tragic car accident. Six months later, she is still drowning in grief, haunted by memories of their once-happy marriage. But beneath her sorrow lurks an unshakable truth she barely dares to acknowledge—her life is no longer what she thought it was.

As Mina begins to uncover pieces of her past, she is forced to confront difficult emotions and unexpected revelations. And then there’s Grayson—Michael’s estranged brother, a tattooed, brooding photographer with a past as complicated as his piercing gaze. Drawn to him in ways she never expected, Mina is faced with a choice: cling to the past or risk everything for a future she never imagined.

What Makes This Book Unforgettable?

1. Emotional Depth & Raw RealismGhandi portrays grief in its most unfiltered form. Mina’s emotions—her sorrow, guilt, confusion, and reluctant longing—feel painfully real. Readers will ache with her, cry with her, and ultimately heal with her.

2. A Perfectly Paced PlotThe story flows effortlessly, balancing heart-wrenching moments with gripping tension. Just when you think you know what’s coming, the narrative takes an unexpected turn.

3. The Chemistry—Oh, the Chemistry!Mina and Grayson’s slow-burning romance is deliciously angsty and deeply forbidden. The push-and-pull dynamic between them crackles with tension, making every stolen glance and hesitant touch feel electric.

4. Themes of Self-Discovery & Second ChancesBeyond romance, this novel explores what it means to reclaim your identity after loss. Mina’s journey isn’t just about falling in love again—it’s about rediscovering herself and learning that love, in all its forms, is worth the risk.

Final Verdict:

When We Had Forever is an emotionally charged, beautifully written novel that lingers in your heart long after the final page. With its blend of poignant grief, slow-burn romance, and shocking revelations, this book is perfect for those who love their love stories with depth, drama, and a touch of fate. The pacing is spot on, and the plot twist is top-tier—if you adore forbidden love, second chances, and emotional gut punches, this book needs to be on your TBR list!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read/listen and provide an honest review.

This story absolutely gripped me from the begining. Mina Drakes husband has recently passed away and she is trying to figure out who she is without him. While she is on a journey of self discovery she discovered she didnt really know who her husband was at all. This story is so interesting and I really enjoyed he back and fourth. The pacing was very well and Grayson was so swoony! I absolutely loved this one!