Book Review: You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley

You Were There Too
By: Colleen Oakley 
Published: January 7, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Audible Purchase

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 them, 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? 

Acclaimed author Colleen Oakley delivers a heart-wrenching and unforgettable love story about a woman 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.

 

My Thoughts:

Mia and Harrison have a good marriage. They love each other, but like any couple they have their ups and downs. Mia wants a baby more than anything, but has known great pain after suffering two miscarriages. These two move from the big city to a small town where Harrison is a doctor, and Mia is trying be successful with her paintings.  Mia has had vivid and reoccurring dreams of a man she doesn't know. Imagine her shock, when she sees this man in real life.  His name is Oliver, and fate keeps bringing him into her life.  Mia can't believe it when Oliver confesses that he's been dreaming of her too.  What could be the reason for their mutual dreaming of one another?

You Were There Too was a novel with a unique and intriguing premise.  It started out a little slow, but took off once Oliver entered the picture.  I enjoyed the mystery behind the dreams, and trying to guess their purpose.  I loved the way the author kept me on my toes, and gave me a thoroughly unpredictable ending.  Things did not turn out the way I thought they would.  The ending broke my heart and had me in tears, but also offered an open-ended ray of hope.  I have never read a story like this, and really enjoy when an author can deliver something that I've never seen done before. I found it refreshing, creative, and original.

This story tugged on my emotions, and was done in an authentic, and very realistic manner.  This was my book club's pick for June, and I am so glad that I discovered and read this book through them.  If you are fascinated by dreams, and are looking for an original and unique storyline, that is unpredictable, I recommend you check out, You Were There Too; but fair warning, have tissues nearby!

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | IndieBound

About the Author:

Colleen Oakley’s novels have been named best books by People Magazine, Us Weekly, Library Journal, and Real Simple, and both were long-listed for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize. Formerly the editor-in-chief of Women’s Health & Fitness and senior editor of Marie Claire, her articles and essays have been featured in The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Women’s Health, Redbook, Parade, Marie Claire and Martha Stewart Weddings. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, four kids and the world's biggest lapdog, Bailey. Her fourth novel THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND will be published by Berkley/Penguin in summer 2021.

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Book Spotlight: Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

Before I Go

By: Colleen Oakley

Published:
January 6, 2015

Publisher:
Gallery Books

Source: 
Publisher for an honest review

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GR's Summary:

A heart-wrenching debut novel in the bestselling tradition of P.S. I Love You about a young woman with breast cancer who undertakes a mission to find a new wife for her husband before she passes away. 

 Twenty-seven-year-old Daisy already beat breast cancer three years ago. How can this be happening to her again? 

On the eve of what was supposed to be a triumphant “Cancerversary” with her husband Jack to celebrate three years of being cancer-free, Daisy suffers a devastating blow: her doctor tells her that the cancer is back, but this time it’s an aggressive stage four diagnosis. She may have as few as four months left to live. Death is a frightening prospect—but not because she’s afraid for herself. She’s terrified of what will happen to her brilliant but otherwise charmingly helpless husband when she’s no longer there to take care of him. It’s this fear that keeps her up at night, until she stumbles on the solution: she has to find him another wife. 

With a singular determination, Daisy scouts local parks and coffee shops and online dating sites looking for Jack’s perfect match. But the further she gets on her quest, the more she questions the sanity of her plan. As the thought of her husband with another woman becomes all too real, Daisy’s forced to decide what’s more important in the short amount of time she has left: her husband’s happiness—or her own?

My Thoughts:

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley was a heartbreaking read.  My eyes are puffy, my nose is red, and I've gone through a ton of tissue.  This story was very realistic and relatable.  The story is told from Daisy's point of view, and as she describes her husband and their marriage, I could relate.  She spoke of things that drove her crazy about her husband in a very candid and affectionate manner, as well as everything she loved about him.  Daisy and Jack had a strong marriage based on love, affection, deep friendship, and understanding.  She spoke of the present and reflected on their past.

Daisy has been Cancer free for four years, and every year she celebrates this miracle with her husband, Jack.  Unfortunately, on her yearly routine check up, the doctor is concerned from her blood test results and orders a PET scan and MRI.  When the test results come in, Daisy is told that the Cancer is all over her body, and she only has four to six months to live.  As you can imagine, this devastating news turns Daisy and Jack's lives and marriage upside down.  Daisy is worried about how Jack will survive when she dies, and decides to find him the perfect wife, so he won't be alone.  However, things don't go as planned.

Before I Go, dealt with the various stages of grief.  It was difficult watching Daisy push her husband away, but I understood her constant pain and turmoil.  Jack was a wonderful and caring husband.  My heart broke for him, as he continued to reach out to Daisy, until he finally shut down.  I loved Daisy's best friend, Kayleigh.  She was funny, loyal, caring, and always stood by Daisy's side.  

I thought that the beginning of the story started out slow, and there was too much description dedicated to the mundane.  However, once Daisy get's her diagnosis, the story flew by.  Before I Go, tore my heart in shreds.  You have to be in the mood to cry and get emotional before you read this story.  It really had an impact on me, and the first thing I wanted to do when I finished this book was tell my husband how much I love him.

My Rating:

I give, Before I Go by Colleen Oakley 4 Heartbreaking, Emotional, Tear Inducing Filled Stars!  It will have you contemplating what it means to truly live, and not waste precious time.  It will also make you reflect on mortality and what's really important in your life.  This story was profound, and packed a powerful punch.  It resonated with me and touched my heart.  I highly recommend this tear jerker.

My Favorite Quotes:

"I suppose all couples feel this way at some point--that their bond is the most special, the strongest, the Greatest Love of All.  Not all the time, just in those few and far between moments where you look at the person you're with and think: Yes.  It's you."  (eARC, Loc. 121)

~Daisy

"Then I wonder, if I knew it would turn out the same, would I want to do it all over again?  This life.  This body.  This Lots of Cancer.  I think of Jack.  And realize I knew the answer before I had fully thought of the question:  Yes.  I would." (eARC, Loc. 3809) 

~Daisy

Book Teaser:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | BAM! | IndieBound

About Colleen Oakley:

One night in high school, I was watching the evening news with my mom, and she started yelling at a reporter onscreen who was being particularly pushy in his interviewing tactics. “I hate journalists,” she scowled. That’s when I decided to become a journalist. Since then my articles and essays have been featured in newspapers and magazines such as The New York Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, Marie Claire, Women’s Health, Redbook, Parade, and Martha Stewart Weddings. I live in Atlanta with my husband, two children (who are also rebellious because, genetics) and a huge mutt named Bailey. I like to write and read and drink tequila. Not necessarily in that order. I’m currently working on my second novel. If you would like to babysit my children while I do that, email me.

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