A review by happyeverabigail
When We Were by Diana Elliot Graham

reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is not a romance. But this is the perfect book for typical romance readers who like to hurt their own feelings. This has aspects of new adult and college days that is written in a way that felt so familiar. And not even invoking nostalgia which is my favorite kind of reflection, when I can look back in my past similar to the character but not wish I was there. I feel that everyone can pull aspects they either experienced or saw their friends through that are in this story. 

This is not without some (minor) flaws. I felt that the middle went a little long and we got stuck in the past too much. It’s a credit to present Arden because I genuinely wanted more of her current self! Same goes for “him”. Also, unfortunately there is grammatical confusion, I don’t want to call them errors cause I don’t feel qualified enough to do so. If they were purposeful I personally did not like them. Things like where quotations within paragraph breaks were put I was frequently pulled out of the story trying to figure out who was speaking. 

I desperately need this author to write actual HEA romance because the spice was so good. I recommend this book but with the CW of SA and it may cause you to ugly cry in a way you can’t fully comprehend or explain. 


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