A USA TODAY BESTSELLER“A surprising and incredibly satisfying story of chance and fate.”—New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid “I read it in one long gulp and didn’t want it to end.”—New York Times bestselling author Jill SantopoloAcclaimed author Colleen Oakley delivers a heart-wrenching and unforgettable love story about a woman who must choose between the man she loves and the … who must choose between the man she loves and the man fate has chosen for her, in a novel that reminds us that the best life is one led by the heart.
Mia Graydon’s life looks picket-fence perfect; she has the house, her loving husband, and dreams of starting a family. But she has other dreams too—unexplained, recurring ones starring the same man. Still, she doesn’t think much of it, until a relocation to small-town Pennsylvania brings her face to face with the stranger she has been dreaming about for years. And this man harbors a jaw-dropping secret of his own—he’s been dreaming of her too.
Determined to understand, Mia and this not-so-stranger search for answers. But when diving into their pasts begins to unravel her life in the present, Mia emerges with a single question—what if?
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What an interesting premise for a novel! Have you ever had a recurring dream about some one you didn’t know? What if you met that person? What would it mean? How would you react? Read this novel to find out!
I simply loved this book. It was an emotional roller coaster!
Mia and Harrison are deeply in love, but there are a few issues in their marriage. One big one is that Mia keeps having dreams about a man – and that man is not Harrison. Strangely, she meets the man in her dreams, Oliver, and they begin a friendship.
Meanwhile, Mia and Harrison are growing more distant, and Mia tries to figure out why. Is it all the talk about having children? Is it her obsession with her dreams and her friendship with Oliver? Is Harrison seeing someone else?
There is so much going on in this relationship – and it is a very telling story of love and loss, of a marriage and its ups and downs.
This book is beautifully written and heartbreaking. I think this will stick with me for some time.
#YouWereThereToo #ColleenOakley #Edelweiss
You Were There Too is a lovely, emotionally rich story. At the outset, Mia Graydon and her handsome surgeon husband, Harrison, have moved from Philadelphia to a small Pennsylvania town on a whim. Harrison had been working long hours and recently lost an eight-year-old boy during an emergency appendectomy. Mia could tell it affected him, even though he didn’t talk about it. So when he said, “Let’s get out of here,” they agreed to move to Hope Springs. To Mia, the name of the town seemed like an omen. And the house they purchased not only had white picket fencing but a detached one-garage car that serves as her art studio. She dreams of having a successful art show. And being able to have a child. She recently suffered her second miscarriage, but is pregnant again.
Since she was in high school, the same man has been periodically appearing in her dreams and he shows up more frequently during periods of major changes in her life. Lately, she’s been dreaming about him every night. And she is further along in her current pregnancy than either of her previous pregnancies.
Oakley immediately draws viewers into the lives of Mia and Harrison by fully developing her characters. They are believable, multi-dimensional, and flawed but deeply empathetic. Everything changes when Mia encounters him at the local market. And again shortly thereafter. She learns his name is Oliver and it’s as though finding out his name releases “some treasure trove of stored dreams that I assumed had been lost forever, dissolved like sugar in water by the morning light.”
Through her characters’ lives, Oakley deftly contemplates whether anything is a coincidence or if, rather, lives unfold in accordance with a predetermined plan. Is there such a thing as fate? Are certain people meant to be part of our lives, entering our sphere at the precise moment intended? Mia’s inner struggle to understand what is happening in her life and how events unfolding are impacting her marriage is authentically, movingly depicted. Mia finds herself drawn to Oliver, even as Harrison seems to be slipping away from her. Mia’s questioning and confusion is palpable, relatable, and heart-wrenching.
Oakley injects surprising plot twists and never allows the book’s pace to drag, expertly ramping up the tension and tenor as the story begins to race to an explosive conclusion. Indeed, she so skillfully and compassionately relates Mia’s struggle, the ending of the story comes as a surprise, the prologue’s foreshadowing all but forgotten.
You Were There Too is a tender examination of chance versus fate, choices versus predetermination, and how much power we actually have to shape our own futures. It is a clever and touching exploration of the old cliche that everything happens for a reason. And at it’s core, You Were There Too is a thoughtful love story — heart-breaking, yet affirming.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
Unpopular opinion: I thought this book was a mess.
I’m sorry, I was just expecting so much more. I’ve never read anything by this author but saw this blurb a couple weeks ago and could not wait until it released. I think after the first chapter I was just bored. The ending just pissed me off.
I didn’t like Mia and I felt Oliver’s part was unnecessary. The only one I liked was Harrison and he got screwed over in this story. I was just disappointed with it. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
This story is special from the premise to the characters and everything in between. It was just that good but I don’t want to give anything away, so I will leave my review at this. Just pick up this story and be ready to be amazed!
This was a quick enjoyable read. The plot is very similar to In Five Years by Rebecca Serle but for some reason this one connected with me more. Mia is a well developed and likable character and I felt for her as she struggled with her unexplainable connection to Oliver, a stranger who’s been appearing in her dreams for years. She loves her husband dearly, but she still can’t shake the sense that she’s supposed to be with Oliver instead. The emotions are raw and real, and I couldn’t wait to see how Mia would find her way out of this dilemma.
Engaging book, left you guessing to the end. The twist of having someone else dream about you while you are dreaming about them was intriguing, even more so as the dreams weren’t the same. Not sure who to root for, and not sure I loved the ending, but I am a “happily ever after” kind of reader.
This is the story of both a marriage and the circle of life…or is it all just quantum physics? In this heart-wrenching novel, Oakley explores the meaning and significance of dreams, the challenges of marriage, the impacts of grief and guilt, and the idea that love is both infinite and cyclical.
As the book opens, artist Mia and her surgeon husband Harrison have recently moved out of Philly to a small PA town after he loses a young patient on the operating table. Shortly afterwards, Mia suffers her 3rd miscarriage and both events begin to put a strain on their marriage, although their love is a steady presence. However, the dreams and nightmares she’s been having since high school featuring the same man are a guilty secret she keeps from Harrison. When she meets Oliver in real life, the surreal connection between them makes her begin to question both her sanity and the purpose of their connection. Oakley masterfully combines the often painful realities of love with the unexplainable and unprovable mysteries of the subconscious, deftly using metaphors, rich dialogue, and descriptive characterizations to weave a tragic, yet magical love story that leaves us hoping for a sequel.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Berkeley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
This story wasn’t anything that I thought it would be based on the blurb, but not in a bad way. In fact, it went in a direction I was mostly happy about and the overall writing was really clean and strong. While the story was immensely heartbreaking at times, it was also hopeful with an open-ended conclusion. I’m okay with those and I actually thought it was lovely, if not a little bittersweet. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy women’s fiction without the predetermined happily ever after.
Too sad for me
Stunning, heartbreaking, and beautifully written. All the feels.
You know a story hits all the right notes when you don’t mind the fact that you can’t stop weeping. In Oakley’s unputdownable new novel, Mia has a nearly picture-perfect life—except she’s just learned that the guy she’s been dreaming about since her teens is real. Even stranger? He’s been dreaming about her, too—and now Mia must decide between the man she loves and the one that fate may have chosen for her. You Were There Too made me ugly cry in the best possible way.
For years Mia has had dreams involving a man that she has never met. These recurring visions seem so real yet she has never shared their existence with anyone. She recently moved to a small town in Pennsylvania where her husband Harrison is a surgeon. He has a demanding schedule and Mia tries to occupy her time painting and looking for a crafty job. Together they dream of building a family but several miscarriages have put stress on their relationship.
While shopping with her husband, Mia sees the man who lives in her dreams. His name is Oliver, and his sister is Harrison’s patient. It turns out the Oliver has had parallel dreams connecting him to Mia. Together they try to unravel the mystery of this connection while deciphering the significance and truth of these visions.
Colleen Oakley’s novel touches upon the joyful and complicated aspects of life and love. The characters are portrayed as complicated and relatable as they forge through decisions about the future. I anticipate more unique books by this author.
This emotional, unpredictable story requires the reader to suspend disbelief for a while as it delves into the world of dreams and premonitions. Delving in to the world of dream interpretation, shared dreams, and the metaphysical, the novel explores the shared world of Mia, a young woman suffering from multiple miscarriages and some mental instability and Oliver, a free-spirited soul who works on organic farms around the world. Mia’s everyday life at home with her husband, Dr. Harrison Graydon, changes significantly after their recent move from the city to a much smaller town. As she struggles to adjust to the changes and the miscarriages, she fails to see the reality of her husband’s struggles as well.
The tale takes some complex turns at times and keeps the reader guessing as to where these compound paths will lead. Read this interesting book to find out the how and why of Mia and Oliver’s shared dreams and the shattering aftermath when their premonitions begin to unfold. Share their dark dreams and enticing dreams as they work through this strange phenomenon. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. This is my first novel by Colleen Oakley and definitely will not be my last.
This ARC copy was received from Berkley and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
#YouWereThereToo #NetGalley
This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. This book had it all and I really enjoyed it.
I had missed feelings when I finished this book. Mia loves her husband Harrison but she can’t get the man of her dreams out of her head. She never thought the man in her dreams was real let alone meet him. Oliver has been dreaming about Mia as well.
I kept wondering what was going to happen and hoping things were going to go the way I wanted. There were times my heart broke and others my heart was happy. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.
Review on BookTrib. https://booktrib.com/2020/01/you-were-there-too-by-colleen-oakley/
“Maybe time is a circle. Or maybe not. Maybe all that matters is that love is a circle. Infinite. Eternal.”
I think I had forgotten what a binge read is and this book reminded me how I could be completely consumed by a story. The premise looked interesting for sure, but it’s Colleen Oakley’s writing, prose that is poetic and thoughtful, and character development, drove my obsession with this book. All thoughts of real-life left me as I dove into the story.
Admittedly I was worried about a love triangle, and that’s probably what drove my need to complete this before I could even try to sleep. But this story is so much more. The story is shared through a few points of view, but our central character, Mia holds the key. Her life, her dreams, her relationships are what this story is about. She’s a wholly complex and relatable woman; wife, sister, friend. She’s an artist and a dreamer.
All this makes for a wonderfully consuming story. As I get to know Mia, I fell in and out of love with Harrison. They both experience inner turmoil, together and apart, and I rooted hard for them. Overwhelmingly, Harrison won my heart, even when we had cause to doubt him. I enjoyed her interesting connection with Oliver and admittedly wondered how this connection would impact her marriage. She’s supported by a great group of friends, Raya, and her sister Vivian. What clinched it for me was being in her head, experiencing her inner dialogue. Her feelings and observations about people and life. The characters are probably some of the most emotionally complicated and real that I’ve read. Oakley creates a world where uncertainties of life and relationships are examined and I really connected with how conflicted Mia was with all aspects of her life.
I find my need to classify what a 5++ star read is to me, and this book sets a new standard. I found myself ruined and refreshed. I’m not sure how I escaped without a cathartic crying session. Maybe it’s because I felt at peace with how the story ended. As a new personal favorite, I recommend this book as a #2020mustread. Colleen Oakley has found a new fan!
I devoured this book. I picked started reading as soon as I received the book and I couldn’t stop. I was invested in Mia. Harrison and Oliver were important to me also, but I focused on Mia and needed to be sure that she would find happiness and love. I went back and forth on what I wished would happen and I love how it ended.
Dreams, I never remember mine, but I know that many do and am intrigued by what they could mean. Mia has been having dreams and then she meets the man from her dreams. Harrison being a doctor had a little more trouble understanding how important this became to Mia. I love his reactions and they were all true to life. While they don’t entirely understand what each other are going through, they never disrespect each other. There are words said in love, anger, and frustration but that is true to most relationships.
Colleen Oakley shared a magnificent story that brought characters that were lovable and relatable. I look forward to more from her and am excited to talk about You Were There Too with other book lovers.
“You Were There Too” by Colleen Oakley
Pre-Order now! Releases on January 7. (Commissioned link below!)
“Don’t miss out on Oakley’s “You Were There Too.” We’ve all wondered about our dreams. This book takes it further to what happens when we meet the person in our dreams? A well done, can’t put it down, you won’t want it to end kind of book! 5 stars!” – Green Gables Book Reviews
“You won’t want it to end!” -Green Gables Book Reviews
Mia and Harrison are getting used to their new town. He’s a Doctor and she’s an artist. He’s fully into his new job and she’s finding her way. She’s very slowly setting up their new home and struggling to get back into painting, which she loves. And, they are hoping soon they can start a family.
Harrison shares parts of his day and medical cases with her, but he is worried about her and hoping she will find happiness here. Mia has vivid dreams. Dreams that are so real and always about the same man. She’s had them for years. But, the man isn’t her husband. She doesn’t know who he is. At times, these dreams consume her.
In their new small town, Mia is shocked one day when she sees him! She knows it is him. The man from all of her dreams. She goes back to look for him again but can’t find him.
Harrison has accepted a dinner invitation to a patient’s home, unusual for him, but he thinks it will help Mia to meet people in their new town. She is shocked that HE is there. Her dreams, it’s him, and when they have a moment alone, he tells her the strangest thing. He has been dreaming of her for years, too.
This leads to them trying to unravel this mystery. Have they met each other before but don’t remember? Do they have friends in common? What do their dreams about each other mean? And, is Mia in danger?
Harrison is pulling away and Mia feels like her life is unraveling. Where does she belong?
So well written. The ending is amazing-and I would not have guessed it. A great book for me to end 2019!
“You won’t want it to end!” -Green Gables Book Reviews
File Size: 3029 KB
Print Length: 348 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1984806467
Publisher: Berkley (January 7, 2020)
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07QPKR9YH
4.5 stars
You Were There Too was a beautifully heartbreaking novel. I was fascinated by the blurb and thought the story would go one way, but it ended up zig zagging a few times and ending in a way that may upset some readers, but that I felt was appropriate and fitting for the story. I will say that I would not classify this book as a romance. It has romance and romantic elements, but I think it would be better labeled as women’s fiction.
This story was so incredibly relatable. The excitement and exhilaration of new love. The comfort and happiness in the day to day. The struggle and heartache of loss and all the growing pains that go along with creating and maintaining a marriage and family. Harrison and Mia’s story really resonated with me and made me reflect on my own marriage and journey to parenthood. My emotions were all over the place and there were times I had to put the book down and simply breathe. It was impacting me so profoundly that I even commented to my husband that the story felt almost too intense at times.
I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone, so my review will be purposefully vague, but I will say that Colleen Oakley’s writing completely blew me away. I highlighted so many passages and I was definitely reaching for the tissues by the end. The majority of the story is told from Mia’s POV, but there are some point of view shifts that helped paint a clearer picture of the events, but that I also found a little distracting. I understand that the way this book concluded might not be for everyone, but for me it made sense. I think the greater message of carrying on is so important. We choose every day to fight or run, love or hate. I like the idea of fate and it’s inescapable pull, but I think this quote says it best:
“That in the random chaos of life, you and I met somehow. And out of everyone else in the world that we know, we choose each other. Every day.”
You Were There Too is a unique love story that is sure to take readers on an emotional ride.
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*