When We Had Forever
by Shaylin Gandhi
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Release Date: December 10, 2024
Reviewed by PJ
Six months after her husband died in a car crash, Mina Drake is still mired in a haze of grief. Reminders of her years with Michael are everywhere, but beneath her heartache lies an even more painful emotion. It’s a guilty suspicion she can hardly admit to anyone, even herself—that her marriage was over long before Michael’s accident.
They were good together once, she’s sure of it, sharing a connection so deep that Mina can’t understand how it unraveled. That is, until a chance discovery in her husband’s office—and the reappearance of Michael’s estranged brother, Grayson, a notorious bad-boy photographer—awakens her to possible answers.
More shocking still is the pull Mina feels to tattooed, scarred Grayson, who’s nothing at all like the man she married. But as feelings stir to life again, so do secrets, changing everything she thought she knew about her marriage, and about the risks and rewards of loving with no limits…
PJ's Thoughts:
I read this book three weeks ago. In one day. Turned the last page around 1:00 AM then was awake at least another hour thinking about these characters, their journey, the unexpected revelations. Fell asleep and dreamed about them. Woke up thinking about them. Six days later, was still so immersed in their story I hadn't been able to start reading a new book. That is the impact of Shaylin Gandhi's writing.
I'm not going to say too much about this book because it deserves to unfurl for each reader at their own pace with no spoilers. I will say that it was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and I plan to read it again (more slowly) in 2025 just to appreciate all of the intricate nuances to be found within the pages.
When We Had Forever is part women's fiction, part contemporary romance, part psychological thriller. It has placed Shaylin Gandhi firmly on my must-buy author list.
Do yourself a favor and buy this deeply emotional, beautifully written novel but be prepared to not be able to put it down. It's just that good.
Do yourself a favor and buy this deeply emotional, beautifully written novel but be prepared to not be able to put it down. It's just that good.
Have you read Shaylin Gandhi or When We Had Forever?
Tell me about a new author you discovered last year who blew your reading socks off.
One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 16 will receive a print copy of When We Had Forever.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
Sarina Bowen, who usually writes campus and sports romance, branched into psychological thrillers last year. Five Year Lie was one of those books that stayed with me for some time after finishing and I've recommended it often since. Since I don't usually read campus or sports romance, Sarina Bowen would be a "new" to me author. I'm looking forward to her next thriller in may of this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the rec, Laura!
DeleteI haven't read this author but look forward to enjoying this wonderful novel. This past year I enjoyed reading novels by Genevieve Graham. Wonderful historicals which are unforgettable.
ReplyDeleteI love Genevieve Graham's writing.
DeleteNever read her books, but thisbook sounds good!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd i haven't read any new authors this past year.
Patricia Bennett Barber
DeleteI want to read this book!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou do great at making me want it!!!
It was excellent!
DeleteI haven't read anything by this author. It sounds pretty intense! KJ Micciche is a new author to me, whose books I loved!
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't read any of her books. Sounds interesting
ReplyDeleteI've not read the book and Shaylin Gandhi is a new to me author.
ReplyDeleteI read two books last year that were a bit different from the romances I have been reading lately. The first was LAST BUS TO WISDOM by Ivan Doig and THE GREAT ALONE by Kristin Hannah. I have known about Hannah for many years, but never got around to reading her books. That will not be the case any more. The characters were real and relatable. It was set in areas where I have been, which made it so easy to put myself in the story and relate to and understand the why of what was happening. In two months, our book club will be reading another of her books, WOMEN. This one, too, should hit home. It is set in 1965, when I was in college. With women finally making a bit of headway for equal rights, hippies, anti-demonstrations, and our friends and family being sent to Vietnam, it was a time of change and upheaval. It could be a hard read. LAST BUS TO WISDOM was an interesting and good read. It was the authors last book and I am now curious to check out some of his other books. It is set in an interesting time in our history and addresses some interesting issues.
WOW! You have given me a lot to consider. It sounds like a terrific book. You have introduced me to another new to me author. And it is obvious you have been moved by the work of this writer. You may not realize it but that is quite a recommendation for me. Thank you for introducing me to a writer who is someone I NEED to meet. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYour review has me hooked! Thanks for introducing me to this book and author. A new-to-me author who I enjoyed is Brynne Asher. She writes suspense novels about government agents.
ReplyDelete