Absolutely captivating romance! When We Had Forever is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the secrets we keep.

"When We Had Forever" by Shaylin Gandhi is an absolute page-turner! This dual-timeline mystery romance had me completely captivated from the very first page. The story is well-written, and the prose is beautiful. I found myself highlighting many phrases. The story follows Mina, who is grappling with grief after losing her husband in a car accident. As she delves deeper into their past, a hidden truth emerges, shattering her perception of their marriage.

The mystery unfolds at a perfect pace, keeping you guessing until the jaw-dropping reveal. The emotional core of the story lies in the poignant exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human connection. Mina's journey of self-discovery as she navigates grief and confronts the truth about her past is both heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful.

The romance between Mina and Grayson has depth with an undeniable chemistry. Their connection is raw and passionate, adding another layer of intrigue to the already compelling narrative. Shaylin masterfully weaves together elements of suspense, romance, and emotional depth, creating a truly unforgettable reading experience. Carly Robins's performance is excellent, adding depth and nuance to the characters.

Thank you, NetGalley, Harlequin Trade & Harlequin Audio for this ALC!

This was a really nice audio bookIt was pretty quick paced, but enjoyable. I enjoyed the plot and characters. I would recommend it. I rated this a 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for honest review!
The first chapter of this book had me thinking I was going to shed a lot of tears. Boy, was i wrong! I love it when a romance can throw a curve ball and contain a twist from out of nowhere! Don't worry, though-it still checks all the boxes for a regular romance if that's what you're into. Just be prepared for a bit of a surprise before the book ends.

Mina felt in love with Michael fourteen years ago when they spend a month together. She was supposed to lease for Greece afterward to pursue her dreams, but she stayed and built a life with him. Six month after her husband’s death she is struggling to face life again but an email for her husband twin brother threatens to unravel some secrets that can change her life forever. An emotional rollercoaster of grief, loss, betrayal, forgiveness and second chances. Carly Robins makes an amazing job with the audiobook, making the story even better. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC book. This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

In this story, Mina wants to be an adventurer, but her past and family life hold her back. When she finally takes the plunge, she meets a man and decides not to go on her dream trip out of the country. Throughout the rest of the book, Mina tells the story of the years she spent with the man who caused her to give up her dreams. He is not the man she thought he was, but she reflects on her growth during that time period.

I liked the back and forth telling, going between the present and the past. The story really did keep pulling me in to listening to find out more. Frankly, I almost gave up on the book about 5% in, but the writing style was intriguing.

However, I kind of wished I HAD given up on the book, because it definitely wasn't my style in content. The sex scenes were too spicy for me, and I couldn't like any of the characters. This book left me feeling overall frustrated due to the plot and what we learned about the characters. I wish Mina had taken off to Greece at the beginning as she was meant to.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️

This story was very interesting and I was thoroughly invested in this book just because I had a feeling about a couple points that we’re bound come up. I did predict the whole twin situation. I had a feeling there was swapping going on at some point during the relationship she is having with her husband.

I think the fact that she never really understood the difference between the two was a little weird for me. I do get their identical, but they can’t be that identical.

I thought the healing process as far as the grief was very beautiful the romance between the brother that should have been beautiful as well .

I really love the narration in this book. I would definitely read more books narrated by the narrator. Overall , I would definitely recommend this to anybody who loves romantic suspense because this is definitely romantic suspense.

I was completely captivated by “When We Had Forever” by Shaylin Gandhi. This debut novel is an emotional roller coaster that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The story follows Mina Drake, a woman grieving her husband Michael’s death while uncovering shocking secrets about their marriage. What makes this book extraordinary is its unique dual-timeline narrative, alternating between “before” and “after” chapters. I found myself equally invested in both timelines, which is rare for me.

The characters are incredibly complex and flawed, making them feel incredibly realistic. Mina’s journey of grief, discovery, and potential new love with Michael’s estranged brother Grayson is both heart-wrenching and suspenseful. The unexpected twists kept me guessing, and while I suspected some revelations, the overall story remained surprising.

#netgalley

I was completely captivated by this book from start to finish! Though romantic suspense isn’t a genre I typically gravitate toward, this novel has undoubtedly inspired me to explore it further—and to seek out more works by Shaylin Gandhi. The use of dual timelines and a nonlinear narrative, which I often find cumbersome in other stories, was executed with such clarity and purpose that it enhanced the reading experience seamlessly.

Subtle clues woven throughout the story kept me engaged and constantly theorizing, yet the final twist still managed to take my breath away—it was both anticipated and utterly surprising. This book was so well done, with a cleverly crafted plot and compelling characters. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and look forward to reading more from this author. Additionally, I read this as an audiobook and really enjoyed he narrators and would explore more of their work in the future, too!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC!

After Mina's husband died, his estranged twin brother reaches out to her. She quickly realizes that not everything is what she thought.

I really, really liked the interactions/chemistry while Mina fell in love with Michael. I also liked her interactions with Grayson. However, I couldn't suspend belief enough to full enjoy the book as a whole. <spoiler> I also felt it took way too long to get to the big reveal- which was so obvious from the get-go. </spoiler>

I would be interested in reading more by the author (this is the first of her books that I've read), as there were many aspects that I liked. I just didn't love the plot.

Carly Robins narrates. She isn't my favorite narrator, but it is a me thing. I've listened to many books narrated by her. Something about her cadence turns me off.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It surprised me actually how much. I did guess the big secret at about 50% but even knowing it was coming, it was such a good story. I really liked the characters and felt that they were complicated and thought provoking in a beautiful way. I listened to this on audio and it was very well done.

Rating: I loved it
Narrator: 5

Thank you Harper Audio & canary press for the alc

This may be my first romantic suspense (or first in a really long time) and I loved it. Going into it my expectations were high because everyone in the group chat was crushing it, so I knew it would be a “page turner” (I listened to it) and it was.

I pretty much listened to the whole book in one sitting while doing a home project and I was hooked, it was about midnight when I knew I needed to stay up and finish it. So good.

The narrator did a great job of keeping me hooked & engaged with the storyline. She nailed it.

I don’t want to mention anything about the actual book because I think it’s best to go in blind, but buckle up, it’s a good one!

4.5 stars

What a great story about love, grief and love self discovery. Mina had big plans for her life but she fell in love and her life took a complete turn of events.

After her husbands death, their is so much mystery
And that plot twist that I felt coming but wow did it keep you on your toes.

Thank you so much to net galley, The Hive and the publisher for gifting me this ALC, the audio was incredible

This book is a twisty, turny mystery romance from debut author Shaylin Gandhi.

FMC Mina’s husband has just died but she discovers some things about him in the process of dealing with her grief. Then, enter his identical twin brother.

I was hooked from the beginning and had to know how all the mysteries unfolded and it did not disappoint. I had an inkling of what some of the mystery might entail, but it really gripped me throughout the entire book.

There is a little spice to this romance 🌶️🌶️

Highly recommend this debut novel and looking forward to the author’s future books.

Disclaimer: thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of the audiobook. The narration was great!

4 Stars! ✨ Oh my gosh, When We Had Forever by Shaylin Gandhi totally took me by surprise! Big shoutout to Harlequin Audio & Netgalley for the ARC, and a HUGE thank you to Carly Robins for absolutely SLAYING the narration—her voice brought so much raw emotion, especially when it came to Mina’s grief. Every time a twist came, I was gasping like, “Wait, WHAT?!”

✨ Tropes ✨
✧ Second Chance Romance 💕
✧ Grief + Healing 🌧️
✧ Forbidden Love 💓
✧ Slow Burn 😍
✧ Family Secrets 🤫
✧ Love Triangle (well... kinda?) 😅
✧ Dark, Brooding Love Interest 💖
✧ Emotional Rollercoaster 🎢
✧ Healing After Loss 💔

This book is a TOTAL emotional rollercoaster! 🎢 Mina’s journey from being a widow to uncovering crazy secrets about her late husband, Michael, had me HOOKED. And then Grayson walks in—the estranged, tattooed, tortured brother, and whoa, the chemistry between him and Mina was OFF. THE. CHARTS. 🔥 Their love story is full of tension, heartache, and a whirlwind of emotions that kept me glued to the audiobook. The suspense? Real. 😳

The alternating timeline? Perfection. It let me feel every ounce of Mina’s pain while also cheering her on as she worked through her grief. And Grayson? UGH, I love a brooding mess—and he was everything I needed. But I do wish we’d had a bit more time to enjoy the juicy twists and shocking moments—they were seriously mind-blowing! 📖

Content Warnings:
- Grief
- Death of a loved one (off-page)
- Physical violence (off-page)
- Manipulation

All in all, this book is one intense, emotional, and gripping story. If you're into stories that tug at your heartstrings with plenty of twists, then When We Had Forever is definitely for you. 💖 Carly Robins did an amazing job with the narration, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, what are you waiting for? Go grab it NOW! 😍

Thank you to @harlequin_audio, @htp_hive, and @authorshaylingandhi for the #gifted audiobook.

This book is a must-read that will completely captivate you!

It follows Mina as she grapples with the heartbreaking loss of her husband. The story shifts between the present, where she struggles with her grief, and poignant memories from their 14 years of love, culminating in his death. When an email from her husband’s brother begins the rollercoaster of shocking secrets. The plot thickens, taking unexpected twists that will keep you guessing.

Prepare for an emotional journey—this book delves into the complexities of love, loss, grief, and betrayal. The dual timeline enriches the story and enhances the tension, leaving you on the edge of your seat. I formed theories about the outcome, only to be surprised!

The narrator shines in her role, skillfully bringing each character to life, which keeps you engaged and yearning for the next surprise.

If you appreciate secrets, intrigue, self-discovery, and forgiveness, you won’t want to miss this book.

This book starts off slow so be prepared. I almost shelved it before it picked up. But once it did, I couldn’t put it down! The twist completely caught me off guard, which was a pleasant surprise.

That said, the book felt overly wordy at times. It seemed like a lot of words were used to make simple points, and I found myself wondering if the author was aiming to hit a word count. Overall, it’s a story that rewards patience, but the pacing and verbosity might not work for everyone


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my honest opinion

This book is unlike any I’ve read in a long time. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept turning to my husband and verbalizing all my speculation. Along with the mystery of their past, you find yourself falling in love with her love story, angry, and hopeful. There was a whole spectrum of emotions. This is my first book by Shaylin Gandhi and it won’t be my last.

4.5 ⭐️ Carly Robbins nailed this one. Her voice was perfect for this emotional and mysterious romance. I would recommend going in blind, as the twists and turns really make the experience. If you're a fan of emotional romances, angst, healing, and second-chance romances, this is for you.

This was an arc I received. This is a dual time line story. We discovered Mina mourning for her husband Michael who has passed away. As the pass and future collide we discover truths that rock Mina to her core. Her brothers identical twin reaches out to her but he is the last person she wants comfort from or is he? Are second chances worth it. What do you do when you discover everything you believed to be a lie. This was a love story with a twist and had a satisfying ending. At times in the middle it did linger a bit but the ending was satisfying.

4.5 stars

This book hooked me right from the start! It’s a compelling story about grief, love, and starting new. I couldn’t wait to see how everything unfolded, even though I knew it was going to hurt. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief a time or two along the way, but overall I liked how all the threads came together. I figured out the big twists pretty early on (thank you Sarah for chatting theories with me!), but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story.

The audiobook was narrated wonderfully by Carly Robins. She did such a great job conveying all the vulnerability, pain, and emotion of these characters.

Audiobook Review
Overall 5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4.5 stars

I’m really impressed this was a debut novel. The before and after chapter format worked really well to slowly reveal the story and I loved how it all came full circle in the end. I’m looking forward to see what Shaylin Gandhi writes next!

CW: death of loved ones (past), death of spouse (past), grief, alcoholism and rehab, fighting, brief incarceration, fear of flying

*I voluntarily read and listened to a review copy of this book*