This is a uplifting, fun and heart warming story filled with plenty of family drama, secrets and relationships. Maggie and Ibby are not lovey dovey couple types. They best friends who have a daughter together. Through the book, there’s this ever present family, gay characters, friendship and love that bonds them together. This is not the typical romantic novel, but it does have its romance in its own way and also does discuss about some of the big mental issues faced by people these days.

5☆ Highly Recommend!

When You Were Mine is a Uplifting, Fun, Heart Warming Story of Family, Relationships, Secrets and plenty of Drama.

Maggie and Ibby and not your conventional couple. But they do have two things in common, they are bestest friends and they have a teenage daughter together.

Maggie is a sex therapist and struggling to find a man of her own.
Ibby is gay and on the look out for a man, but he has to fit in and accept Maggie and daughter Amelia. Which doesn't always go down too well when he tells them that he lives with Maggie and has a Teenage Daughter.

But Maggie is about to get her own dose of chaos when, a blast from her past is about crash his way into their lives, with a media storm no one was expecting.
After all secrets have a way of coming out!

But are Maggie and Ibby strong enough to protect Amelia and their family!

I absolutely ADORE this trio. Yes they maybe unconventional so to speak, but the love and suppprt they have for each other shines through and melts my heart!

In fact all of the characters are brilliantly written, quirky, relatable and fun. There isn't one I disliked.

When You Were Mine is a Compeling, Uplifting Family Saga that I loved.
Yes at times it was a little over imaginative with some of the scenarios, but that made me want to read it all the more, to find out what could possibly happen next!

There is plenty of Drama, Humour, and Touching Moments, especially when you delve into Ibby's dating and how supportive Maddie and Amelia are, it really warms your heart and opens up a whole new avenue of dating. I also loved the sex therapy sessions that really had me giggling at some of the stories! (Don't worry they are not too graphic!)

This is a story about Family, Friendship, Finding Love, Relationships, Secrets, Growing up, The trials and tribulations of Relationships and the perils of being in the spotlight. It really does have a sprinkle of everything!

So if you are looking for an uplifting romance with a twist, that has some laugh out loud moments, but also shares some tender and emotional ones then you will adore When You Were Mine!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book. A story of love, heartache, family, relationships and friendship. I was absorbed from the start and found it difficult to put this book down. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships. Some parts made me laugh, but some parts tugged at my heartstrings.

Highly recommended, perfect for a cosy day on the sofa.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I've read a book that I've flown through within a day or two and 'When You Were Mine' had me completed hooked from start to finish - what a brilliant story-line! Kudos to Lisa Swift for coming up with the idea.

Maggie, Ibby and Amelia are an unconventional family, in which, a drunken moment with a straight woman and a gay man, ended in a pregnancy. I don't know why I adored this extremely strange occurrence so much, however I just fell in love with the uniqueness towards this family. The family as a whole are just absolutely perfect - Maggie and Ibby are wonderful parents and incredible characters in general. Amelia is a typical 13-year-old, who takes pride in her family and takes pleasure in trying to find a boyfriend for the two of them. She is extremely supportive of her father when it comes to the LGBT community and I really respected the maturity she held. While this family came to be under circumstances you wouldn't believe, it all worked so extremely well, with the help that Maggie and Ibby are the best of friends!

Jordan Nash was also a very fascinating character, in which he started life as a normal teen, enjoying his university life with Maggie, Ibby and the rest of their friends, to becoming a worldwide superstar! Although we all wish of a life in the spotlight, Lisa wrote Jordan's story with a whole new perspective - one that doesn't get shown to the public half as much as it should. Jordan's story consists on a bad childhood, but a loving upbringing, a life everybody dreams of, but consumed with loneliness, drugs and alcohol. Lisa really delves deep in to the life of an addict and it was amazing to see the progression Jordan made throughout. Sometimes the Superstar life really isn't for everyone. It can just take time to realise all of the people and experiences you've missed out on to do a job you no longer love.

The plot twist, I put together quite early in a sort of I just really wanted that to be the case, sort of way. So, when my guess actually came in to the book, I was so giddy and everything just fell in to place and began to make sense.

'When You Were Mine' is a gorgeous, light-hearted read, filled with humour, love, family, reunions and raw moments that will really tug at your heartstrings. I highly recommend this book to everybody - it's completely worth your time and just look at the stunning book cover! I will definitely be investing in Lisa's previous and future work from now on.

Sweet but thoughtful

I really enjoyed this book; very diverting, given the hurricane and 6 day power outage! Yes, it's chick lit, but there are some messages hiding in the pages. Looking forward to reading some of the author's other books.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley who supplied a time-limited e-copy. This review is voluntary and my own opinion.

The book is a lovely love story, great to read on relaxing Sunday afternoon. The book also mentions topics like sex, drugs, relationships and how to talk to a teenage child about them. Great book.

Maggie, Ibby and Amelia are an unconventional family and I will admit that it took me some time to work out how it all came together. However, I loved their relationship, both as a threesome and with each other and they were characters I really felt able to root for throughout the novel. The family are also surrounded by some wonderful characters: Nicki and Other Max and of course, Jordan Nash, and I found them all very realistic and easy to relate to.

In When You Were Mine, Swift explores a number of issues, such as addiction, homophobia and adolescence. I felt that Swift wrote about these in a really engaging way that gives the novel extra depth that makes it stand out from others in the genre.

I didn’t see the twist coming, but it adds some extra tension to the climax of the novel and I could not stop turning pages to see how it all worked out.

This is honestly SO GOOD. I got this complimentary from NetGalley and oh my lord I am so pleased. The characters were beyond lovely. They were so well-developed and strongly written. I just loved every page of this. I had zero desire to skip forward. This book was really well paced and the plot lined up so neatly. I just loved this!

This was a great book and it evoked so many different emotions! It was shockingly real and hard and sensitive. It was also, a great love story.

This is a great book and a thoroughly enjoyable read. It explores the evolving dynamics within a family as they face life together. It is easy to read with a straightforward story and all the better for that. Loved it!

Life is full of ‘what ifs?’, isn’t it? I’m sure we’ve all made decisions that we’ve second guessed later on down the line. Did we do the right thing? What if we’d gone left instead of right?

*sighs*

*nods*

Yup, we’ve all been there!

Then there are our first loves. Do you ever wonder where they are now? Are they happy? Do they think about you? (In my case, I very much doubt it.)

*whispers*

Dare I even say it... is it possible to recapture what once was if the stars align correctly? Second chances are a gift.

Well, peeps, you are in for a stonking great treat of a read. If I could squeeze this author right now, I would.

This story just enveloped me in a great big hug. The characters became friends to me (I know I have issues before you start!).

I laughed – Couples’ Counsellor, Maggie, had some of the BEST lines in the book. Especially when it came to *whistles*, you know what I mean, a wee bit of the horizontal mamba (other positions are available) *winks*:

“Strong on theory, weak on practical.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve said this about myself to friends. *blushes* Sorry, was I TMI-ing again?

I got angry on their behalf – I was feeling a tad stabby. *shakes head* Nope, I refuse to give details.

My jaw ached from smiling so much at my e-reader. Especially with the teenage Amelia. She was a scene-stealer for me. Everything was life or death as a teenager, wasn’t it? I’m showing my age now, but there was one scene that was reminiscent of ‘The Geek and The Panties’ from the John Hughes 80’s classic, Sixteen Candles.

Plain and simple, WYWM was a stunning read and I can’t wait for the author’s next release under this pen name.

So, finally...

‘When’ you pick up this book...

‘You’ won’t be able to put it down...

Just remember...

‘We’re’ (artistic licence!) in this together, so hit me up when you’re done.

Because...

I’m sure this book will be on your favourite reads of 2019 list just like ‘Mine’!

Families come in all shapes and sizes which this novel certainly illustrates. It tells a tale of what can endure over the years and in some cases whether it is ever too late for a second chance. I particularly enjoyed its lighter moments and Maggie turns out to be a warm and thoughtful character with a streak of self- awareness and a wry take on her work as a counsellor.

The joys of bringing up a teenager unite Iggy and Maggie and I particularly enjoyed the episodes which were centred around their parenting and their friendships. Amelia, their daughter, looks on at the mess that grown ups can get into and you can see hints that she will mature into a very well- adjusted young woman. She also has the self-centred thoughts of an adolescent and impulsive moments which force the story on. I liked all the characters within the story, which turned out to be a heartwarming story despite some of its slightly darker themes.

In short: Second chances and first loves.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I loved this storyline and the up to date stance on the book. This is a lovely story of family, love and friendships.

This was such a great read! I really enjoyed this book and struggled to put it down. The main characters were brilliantly rounded and I loved the twists and turns.

I was really excited when I saw this book, knowing the author's work. I wasn't wrong to be excited, it was brilliant, lots of emotions coursing through it.
I loved the characters and the fact that one of the main characters was gay and it was celebrated throughout the story.
It was a real mismatch of characters in the story and it just worked, perfectly.

LOVED IT!

Ibby's is prone to dating disastrous men & Maggie spends her days solving others relationship problems whilst her own love life is in retirement. Together they are devoted to bring up their teenage daughter in a stable loving home. The result of a drunken night as students, when old secrets reveal themselves can they stay strong? Or will their past demons threaten their current quiet lives?

The warm and witty writing will have you hooked from the start! The quirky set-up of this unconventional family warms your heart and you'll be rooting for them from page one. The whole cast of characters are well crafted, the love and laughter between this bunch jumps off the pages. There is also drama and some heavier plot lines but this is entwined with humour to not make is too heavy. Making it a perfect light hearted summer read, perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Dani Atkins. I really enjoyed it and whilst this was my first Lisa Swift it certainly won't be my last.

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources & Hera Books for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

I read the synopsis for 'When You Were Mine' and it certainly sounded like my kind of read. It's the first book written by Lisa Swift that I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing. I couldn't wait to start reading and so I dived straight in. Oh my word, 'When You Were Mine' is certainly one heck of a fun read. I absolutely loved it but more about that in a bit.
I loved the characters of Ibby and Maggie and I took to them from the start. They have known each other for years and they are a rather unconventional family unit. They are not a couple but they do have a daughter together and they live together as a family. Ibby is gay but he had a one night stand with Maggie and their daughter is the result. Maggie has a distinct lack of romance and her sex life is non existent. Maggie is a relationship counsellor and advises couples on how to spice up their love lives. The family are settled until a partying rock star called Jordan comes along. He has his own problems and secrets are revealed that threaten the family unit.
Oh my, 'When You Were Mine' was a different story to the one I was expecting and I mean that in the nicest possible way. I had read the synopsis and had a theory as to what was going to happen but I was pleasantly surprised to realise that my theory was completely wrong and that the book I was reading was even better than the one I had been expecting. I found it impossible to put this book down. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. I was so taken by the story and the characters that I didn't want to miss a single nanosecond of the story. I had taken to the characters so well that I began to think of them as friends and as a result, I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out and how that might affect my new 'friends'. I was keeping everything crossed for them that things would work out in the end. I managed to binge read this book over the course of a day but because I was loving the story so much and had taken to the characters so well, reading this book felt more like a pleasure than a chore. I lost all track of time whilst reading this book and I was most disappointed to get to the end of the book because it meant that I had to say goodbye to my friends.
'When You Were Mine' is really well written. The author has created likeable characters and given them realistic storylines which engage your interest and keep that interest all the way through the story. Lisa has created a story that never gets boring and so my concentration didn't wander because I was eager to discover what surprises were awaiting me over the page. Lisa uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself. I so wished that I had friends like Ibby and Maggie. I found that this book made me giggle more than I have giggled in a long time and that's down to Lisa's fabulous writing.
In short, 'When You Were Mine' is a fabulous read and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I can't wait to read more from Lisa Swift. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

What a lovely warm and entertaining read, I knew within the first few chapters it was going to be a great book, I just get a feeling and this gave me such happy ones when I was reading, so much I didn’t want to put it down. The characters were just so relatable and well written, it’s emotional and touching, deals with sensitive issues, but ultimately centres around a lovely romance. An engaging, sweet story with unexpected twists and turns, highly recommended read

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

What a book! I knew from the first few paragraphs that this book was going to tick all the boxes for me. The writing was warm and witty with a page-turning narrative that had me hooked on each and every word.

The character creations were like little bursts of sunshine that shone vividly off the pages and straight into my heart and I fell head first for the unconventional trio made up of Maggie, Ibby and Melie. Their quirky set-up shoots straight from the heart and I was cheering them on with the turn of each and every page.

Jordan Nash, rock star superstar was everything a demigod should be. His bad boy persona lived up to expectations but for me it was his story arc that had me falling hook, line and sinker and it was an absolute joy to witness his transformation from the opening pages to the concluding moments.

When You Were Mine is a heartwarming hug lovingly sandwiched between the covers of this book. I enjoyed each and every moment of this stunning story and look forward to seeing what Lisa brings to the table next.

I must admit, I was a bit confused in the beginning of this book (almost to the point where I gave up on it). But-I am so glad that I stuck it out. When You Were Mine is a heartwarming book about what makes a modern family. I loved how Maggie and Ibby put their daughter first in all their decisions, yet they still work hard for their own happiness. This is a feel-good read if there ever was one!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.