It's not often I turn away from the crime thriller to open the pages of women's fiction or anything that might be described as a 'love story' - typical or not. And, to be fair to the author, and to the books billing, this really is not your typical love story. From the very beginning you have the sense that the story will fall far short of the normally anticipated happily ever after of your 'typical' love story. That there is a sense of inevitability about what you are about to read. What you won;t be prepared for is just how far from the norm you are about to journey, and about how much of an emotional rollercoaster the author is about to take you on. Be prepared though as just as fates is often kind to our protagonists Anna and Adam, she also proves time and again what a cruel and twisted mistress she can be. You may need tissues. You have been warned.

Anna and Adam's story begins as Anna is on her 'almost honeymoon' and he is on a holiday with his best friend. I say almost honeymoon as Anna is a jilted bride, whose betrothed left her for another woman right before their wedding day. From her descriptions of him, she has had a very, very lucky escape. Still heartbroken, she won;t come to realise just how lucky until she meets Adam. It's not quite love at first site, but it is damned close, two soul mates brought together by fate and an errant undercurrent in a tempting Spanish sea.

Chapters alternate between Adam and Anna as we hear the story from their perspective. Adam is far more open to the idea of romance than Anna to begin with, absolutely certain from the start that she is his destiny. Anna is far more reticent, understandable under the circumstances, but it is clear from the off that this is far more than a simple holiday romance and Amelia Henley does a brilliant job of portraying the uncertainty that Anna feels, but the gradually blossoming link between the two of them. It is no surprise that they finish the holiday as a couple, even less that they are destined to spend the rest of their lives together. But, as we have already been told, this is not a normal love story and given the speed of their romance, it would be a decidedly shorter book if it were.

Their story is typical of so many couples. The one thing Anna wants is a baby and her struggle to fall pregnant and the resulting dischord in their marriage will resonate with many people. The tension, the misunderstanding and the inability to share their true feelings was so authentic. It is no wonder that Adam feels the need to make one last romantic gesture in order to salvage their relationship, although no-one could foresee what a change this will make to their lives as tragedy strikes. From what we have read before it would be easy to assume that what comes to pass is all Anna's fault. The actual truth of the matter may surprise you. Take nothing you have read for granted because whatever you are expecting, it probably won't be this.

It is hard to say much more about the story than that without giving too much away. This is a book that examines how far people will go to recapture a moment of happiness with a loved one, of the sacrifices that one person will make for another, and looking at what what really defines both love and strength. One of the key themes that runs throughout is that of the old adage 'if you love, someone let them go.' Easier said than done, as this story demonstrates with beautiful clarity and emotional results. It also moves beyond the basic premise of a love story taking readers in a surprising direction, challenging you to think long and hard about how you would react in similar circumstances and whether you would take untold risks if it meant you finding your way back to the person you love most.

This is a story beset with loss, with an underlying sense of sadness that is offset by a sense of hope too. The final chapters, whilst emotional, will also make you smile, that twisted sister Fate, playing her hand once more. The very final chapter, told from Adam's point of view is poignant and emotional, leaving me with a rueful smile and a tear in my eye. It will take a truly hard heart, even harder than mine, not to be moved by what Amelia Henley has written and the closing sentiments that she leaves us with.

Emotional, thoughtful and beautifully written, Amelia Henley takes us through the highs and lows of Adam and Anna's lives in a story that will linger in your memories for quite some time.

Wonderful book, packed with emotion.

Anna and Adam prove that there is such a thing as love at first sight. Unlikely timing and place still doesn't stop them falling in love but can live be enough.

Book touches some difficult subjects and trials of the relationship / marriage and teaches us that sometimes to love is to be able to let go too.

I think I held my composure quite well for pretty much the most of the book but when I hit 89% I simply couldn't hold my tears.

Very unusual love story everyone should read, definitely thought provoking.

This is not your conventional love story... to begin with.

Anna and Adam fall in love on holiday, as you do. That's as normal as this novel gets. I don't think I've read a story which plays with your emotions so completely as here. Heartache, joy, and back around again, and again, makes this not an easy read at times. though that's mainly because the author really knows how to knock the reader for six! This was a breathless read and now? I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us!

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley!

OMG don’t read this beautiful love story in public unless you don’t care about your mascara running down your face to join the snot from your nose! I cried in so many places that I soaked my pillow. I confess I don’t usually pick up love stories as I prefer psychological thrillers and police procedural books but every so often I take a break from my usual genre and go off piste. I’m emotionally drained and a wreck but weirdly I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

The story of Adam and Anna
This is not a conventional love story and I loved that about the book. It’s not all hearts, romance and happily ever after so very much real life.
The characters were strong and I loved the relationships between them all.
The scientific bit I found a little far fetched and whilst I get that it added to the story it made it 4* not 5* from me.
I did love the book though and it has made me feel emotionally drained at the end.
Will definitely read more from this author.

Wow! Anna and Adams love story is not a traditional love story, but it is their love story. I fell in love with Anna and Adam from the first page and as I joined them on their journey I felt their joy and heartache, shared their laughter and tears. What a wonderful, heartbreaking yet heartwarming story. I wish I could give it more than five stars.

Absolutely loved the story. Absolutely heart wrenching and heart breaking. The story line fitted the characters perfectly. So emotive and a joy to read.

THIS BOOK...
Henley has ripped through my emotions leaving only a husk behind in addition to the biggest book hangover ever. I have no idea what book to read next. I don't even know how to classify it other than to say if you like writers such as Dani Atkins or Cecelia Ahern you'll love this.
Simply put it's a discourse on love but love stripped back to its baser elements. The first flush. The routine. The rows. The making up. And then there's that ending... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Life We Almost Had jumped out at me not only because of the author who writes amazing thrillers under a different name (Louise Jensen) and I was interested to read a romance by her but also with the line, 'this is not a typical love story, but its our love story' and I loved that. Everyone has a unique love story and I was interested to read more.
This is one of those stories that you have to read without any spoilers, more so than others as it is so good so I wont say to much about what the story is about other than Anna and Adam fell head over heels for each other but years on questions begin to appear.
Amelia sure knows how to tell a story. This is gripping but not in the Louise Jensen thriller kind. This is a different kind of love story that delves into the truth of true love and I loved this take on a romance. When you sit down to read it be prepared to finish it in one sitting.
I'm excited to read more by Amelia Henley.

Absolutely breathtaking, I cried so much at this book. Absolutely beautifully written, beautiful characters and really an unpredictable ending. Fabulous would 100% recommend

This book was stunning! Beautifully written, well-researched and highly emotive.
I loved the characters, even the side characters were interesting and relevant. Adam and Anna are so in love, but real life has a habit of throwing things in the way. They have the usual struggles as everybody does, but they are starting to question whether they are destined to stay together as it is getting so hard. A cruel turn of events leaves them further apart than ever while they battle to come back together.
I have read and enjoyed the psychological thrillers by the author under her real name but I adored this book and I hope she continues to write under this genre also. One of my favourite reads this year

I first heard about The Life We Almost Had at HQ’s New Voices Fiction Showcase back in January, where Amelia Henley pitched her novel to us in 60 seconds. At the end of her pitch, she said, “At the beginning of the book Adam and Anna question whether love can be eternal, by the end of their story they have their answer.” Oh my! Little did I know at the time the journey that Adam, Anna and myself, as a reader, would go on to find out whether love can last forever. As the blurb says, The Life We Almost Had is not a typical love story but it is the love story of two characters who clearly love one another deeply – this jumps off of the pages.

Anna and Adam were destined to meet when neither was looking for someone. Several years later, something happens in their marriage and it really puts into question whether love can last forever. I am not going to say anymore as I would give away far too much of the plot.

Amelia Henley is the pen name of Louise Jensen, who writes bestselling psychological thrillers. I’ve not read any of Louise Jensen’s books so I can’t compare styles here but there is absolutely no doubt that Amelia Henley/Louise Jensen knows how to construct and tell a story that keeps the reader engaged and committed to the characters and their stories from the beginning. The Life We Almost Had is a corker.

The Life We Almost Had is a page turner and I could easily have read it in one sitting. In fact, if I added up the time I spent reading it, it probably equates to 1 day! It has short chapters, which keeps up the pace of the story and some longer ones where it is necessary. There are some heart pounding moments. Just when you think you’ve worked out where it’s going, Amelia Henley pops in a plot twist and bam! You’re off in a completely different direction. The intricacies in the plot and the rich level of detail show that Amelia Henley knows her characters and their stories inside out.

If you’re expecting this to be a romantic novel, think again! Yes, there is romance in it and it is about the love two characters have for one another but it’s also an exploration into true love, the harder side of marriage and relationships, what happens when what you know is tested and changes your outlook, living for the moment and not sweating the small stuff in relationships. The Life We Almost Had is fresh and full of raw emotion. There is real power in Amelia Henley’s words.

The Life We Almost Had is a beautiful, heartbreaking, poignant love story with a twist, sprinkled with a bit of magic. I loved it!

This is an easy read about love, loss and the ups and downs of relationships.

Anna and Adam meet on holiday. Anna has just been jilted and has no intention of having a holiday romance, but, the way that these two connect is written in a way that is funny and engaging and from this holiday they form a deep relationship and get married. This is a romantic novel with a difference and what follows tugs on your heartstrings in many ways and is a well written emotional read as the marriage gets into difficulties when Anna can't conceive and they both want a family and Adam strives to recreate that first holiday. However, there is danger ahead and a situation neither of them could have foresaw.

The story takes us on their journey through the marriage and difficulties they face and their attempt to come together again. Anna could be so frustrating, I felt I could slap her on a number of occasions, but, overall, this is a good holiday read for those who enjoy romance with a heartbreaking element.
A strong 3* Good Read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to preview.

I liked this book, but thought it drifted in the middle as I felt that the scientific stuff didn’t really ‘sit’ with the story. However, will now read some of the author’s other work.

A story of love, life and loss
Anna and Adam meet on holiday, will their holiday romance survive the distance?
Following Adam and Anna as their lives move on from meeting on holiday to falling in love and getting married we feel their love as their life doesn’t quite go as planned. Returning to the island they 1st met in the hopes of rekindling their relationship a tragic accident happens
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and how it developed
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review

Not typical love story, that's for sure.

When I found out who Amelia Henley is I knew it's going to be an extraordinary story.

The beginning is very predictable, heartbroken Anna falls in love with a handsome man who saves her from drowning.

A holiday romance turned into strong, loving relationship. Only that it wasn't as strong as it seemed. Anna and Adam start drifting more and more apart. They decide to give each other a second chance and fix all the cracks to their love. And then, by the twist of fate they they become even more detached.

I can't lie, I was going through very strong emotions while reading this book. I was happy, heartbroken, hopeful and hopeless. All at the same time. I wanted to finish the book as quick ans possible and at the same time I didn't want it to end. It took me a day to read it. I have a feeling I'll have a long book hangover after this one.

I loved the scientific plot, even though I thought it's a bit unrealistic.

As I said at the beginning, it's not a typical love story, so even it's romance is not your favourite genre, give it a try!

I went in blind to this book, knowing only that it was a love story so I was unprepared for the heartbreak I felt whilst reading.

Adam and Anna meet whilst both on holiday and it was love at first sight for the pair. Cracks begin to show in their relationship a few years later and I thought that this was as upsetting as it was going to get. How wrong I was!

Amelia Henley's writing was wonderful, I really felt part of the story, that Adam and Anna were my friends. She pulled me in to this wonderful relationship only to break my heart further in the book.

The characters were realistic, they had flaws, were relatable and just perfect in that "everyday normal" way. The tragedy later in the book could happen to anybody, and it really emphasised how anything could happen at any given moment.

This book grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go.

Many people will know that Louise’s books are ones I will undoubtedly love. When she told me she was working on a new genre and writing a contemporary romance I was delighted for her but as a reader dubious because of the change of genre being so different to her normal psychological thrillers.

I started this with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised that not only had she written the story of Anna and Adam so beautifully I found she had once again written a literary masterpiece!

I can’t praise the her enough for this book. Not only were the sentences poetic, the end of the chapters had little cliffhangers which I loved the familiarity of, creating those subtle links between the two genres the author writes. The suspense and intrigue was running throughout which was great being a contemporary fiction and also have a familiarity to her writing.

To be a fabulous thriller writer, then to swap genres and again get it spot on just shows what a talented writer Amelia Henley really is!

The Life We Almost Had was astounding! It’s beautifully written with lovely snippets of wisdom. The love between Adam and Anna pours off the page as their lives unfold. It’s a truly magical love story that’s realistic to real life with the ups and downs and the parts where they visit the life they could have had, had imaginary expertise through it.

A very clever story and a delight to read.

I’ve read and love all of Louise Jensen’s novels to date so when I heard that her new book was to be a different genre under an alter ego I was so keen to read it. I’m so pleased to say that I completely and utterly adored it!

The Life We Almost Had follows the love story of Anna and Adam. Anna was newly single when she met Adam on her honeymoon! Her fiance had dumped her two weeks before the wedding so she was on honeymoon with her best friend Nell and she absolutely wasn’t looking for a holiday romance. However, she soon meets Adam and he is everything her fiance wasn’t. He’s kind and charming and soon utterly besotted with Anna! I loved reading about the beginnings of their romance, the writing really captures that feeling of getting to know someone who you know it going to be special in your life. The novel moves on to the realities of trying to continue a holiday romance when you get back home and realise you live hours apart from each other. They try to make it work but face some really difficult times over the years.

We know from the beginning of the novel that something has torn these two apart but we don’t know what. I love that as I got absorbed in the early days of their love story that I forgot things were going to go awry and I was so upset for them when it did. The way that Adam and Anna begin to fall apart was so real. We get each of their perspectives and you really can see it from both sides. There were times when I wanted to reach into the pages and sit them down and make them talk honestly to each other. The pain they were each in stopped them being able to talk though and it was so sad to read. I was rooting for them to make it work, to find a way to talk to each other. So when Adam suggests something to Anna I was so sure it was all going to work out.

There is so much more in this novel that I can’t mention here because I wouldn’t want to spoil this book but there is something so beautiful and remarkable in what Amelia Henley does. I wanted it all to be real and possible because it’s breathtaking and incredible.

The Life We Almost Had is a novel that made me cry but it also made me smile; there is so much love running through this book, even when it seems Anna and Adam have got too far apart you can see that the love is still there between them. I adored this book and it’s one that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s a stunning novel and one that I know will stay with me. I highly recommend this one!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
The Life We Almost Had by Amelia Henley Is an interesting read but I am not sure that I would want to read it again. The first parts of the story are a normal every day love story that is predictable and safe and then you have the events from the yacht onwards. It is from then onwards that I felt uneasy reading the storyline, but possibly it was more about how science can open up worlds that we as humans are not ready for.
Sorry to be so enigmatic but I didn’t want to spoil the book for other readers.
Recommended.