Now where do u start this was the most sweetest romance ever!

Did I cry yes! The author did an amazing job with this book I rated it 4 stars. What a great book for any romance reader loved the characters Em Jared and Ben!
Defo one of my top reads of 2024 in the romance genre!
What a raw emotional book that broke me & healed me at the same time credit to the author!

Yeah, I cried.

When I Was Theirs is beautiful and brutal, it's heart-wrenching and quietly devastating and gives you a good old emotional gut punch. But it does also give you hope and has some truly uplifting moments.

Slightly corny in places, When I Was Theirs, reads a little like a film – you know exactly where it's going, but that doesn't take away any of the power, even despite some of the more improbable plotlines.

If you're looking for a good cathartic cry, this is the book, so long as you can deal with the triggers (and there are quite a few). I had been avoiding starting When I Was Theirs for quite a few months as I wasn't sure I could deal with the emotion due to having a very difficult personal health situation which I thought might be triggered by the story. However, I picked it up one morning and finished it within 24 hours. It was addictive!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

i do think new adults books are well made for particularly vulnerable humans(as in because of being in that hormonal age) who will weep, ha! because these books every time speak to perhaps those of us adult adults who are far to cynical to believe in the swoons. but alas the really good ones LIKE THIS ONE will heal your adult cynical heart and make you believe anyway.
this had me wanting to be the teen who would grab her high lighter and keep bits of the books in color. or would fold down pages to keep forever. and underline and wow!
now that is not to say its for immature readers. no no. dont get me wrong. this is a me problem and being to cynical of love and people being decent and romantic and moving the earth for and about people.
this book is heavy and emotional and also wonderful.
and i urge any other overly thinking adults who walk on by this to walk back. take a read. take a weep and feel alot more healed. and also a little giggly at wanting to believe there can be love like this.
because really i dont know how something that involved any of the topics it does be anything other than a mature and grown up piece of work.
how can we love and feel envy of the love that buids in these pages when there is abuse and other such heavy topics. well, that is indeed the sign of a really good book. you can tell this book had me. it had me thinking and feeling and in my review being all over the place because i liked it too much and it didnt sit well with the mid life adult cynic.

This captivating romance novel delves into the complexities of the human heart, exploring the enduring power of love and the transformative nature of second chances. It will resonate deeply with readers who crave emotionally rich, swoon-worthy stories that capture the nuances of human connection. With its poignant exploration of love's ability to heal and redeem, this book is a perfect fit for fans of heartfelt, character-driven fiction.

The narrative unfolds with compelling characters who navigate the intricate landscape of relationships, grappling with past hurts, unresolved feelings, and the ever-present possibility of new beginnings. As the protagonists embark on a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, readers will be captivated by their poignant struggles and their unwavering hope for a future filled with love and redemption.

The author's evocative prose and keen insight into the human psyche will draw readers into a world where love's complexities are explored with sensitivity and grace. Through vivid imagery and emotionally resonant storytelling, the novel captures the essence of human longing, the bittersweet ache of lost love, and the exhilarating thrill of second chances.

With its universal themes of love, loss, and redemption, this book is sure to touch the hearts of readers from all walks of life. It is a testament to the enduring power of love and a reminder that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can triumph and find solace in the healing embrace of love's tender embrace.

Well this book really made me spill all the tears, and I was not expecting it to at all. It’s the sign of a well written book when it can make you feel all the feels in that way!

Wow. This book was amazing. I laughed and I sobbed. The characters were good, and I enjoyed the pacing and multiple POV a lot. I finished this quickly because I didn't want to put it down.

This was a diamond of a story! Heartwarming and heartbreaking by turns, but so well written that you sink into and forget what you were going to do. I loved the characters, and would absolutely read more from this author

Well....this book ruined me, such an emotional and heavy story. It had great character development and such a great storyline. It dealt with heavy topics and did it well. Highly recommend

Very cute! The characters are very interesting and whimsical! Cute and heartfelt. I want more!!!!! This is what i need in more books

This book was pure fire - I could not put it down. I needed to know what would happen next. I am now off to read everything by Flood!

I have no words to really describe what this book put me through. I cried, I laughed, but mainly I cried 🥲

Thank you so so much for this book and I do not know how I am going to recover!

This book was great! It was very emotional and I really liked the character development in this book. And the romance was perfect!

ARC Review of When I Was Theirs by Evelyn Flood
* * * * *
An emotional romance where you find the right love at the wrong time, and find it again unexpectedly in a person you least expect.

Emmy met Ben, her adorable protective caring knight, the bar where she worked by chance.
He didn't want to make any promises.
He didn't want to fall for her, like she had with him.
But he did.
And now, he's breaking both of their hearts unintentionally.
When Jared comes into the picture, angry at the world for Benny and conflicted about the presense of Emmy, he's now trying to face his own feelings towards the woman who loved his brother.

Just wow. A complex romance on loving who at what time, when the conflicts of illness and strangers and anger mix into all of it. Grief and loss, trying to make things better, holding onto hope that other knows is lost, other past hurts that affect the present.

Wow. I’m at a loss for words. I’m not sure how I stumbled upon this book, but I’m kinda glad I did. Sometimes, you just need a good cry, and this story delivered. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that captures the healing journey after losing the love of your life which I find both beautiful and utterly heartbreaking.

Absolutely beautifully written story of love, loss and healing. The writing style was fantastic and kept me hooked. I ended up staying up way too late reading this one as I couldn't put it down!

Emotionally gripping from start to finish.

My absolute favorite quote from the book has stuck with me for days:

“You’re a worrier, aren’t you?” My throat tightens.

“Maybe. I like to be prepared for things that might happen, I guess. I take it you’re not?”

Ben shrugs. “I used to be. But then I realized that things are going to happen, whether you worry about them or not. Life is too short to waste the good times worrying about when the bad things might hit.”

Oh my goodness, I knew in the first few minutes this book was going to wreck me and it had me sobbing at the 20% mark!! I was drawn in emotionally right away, and I could not stop reading once I started!

Now, the characters - Oh how I love the Bennett boys, and wish that I, too, could be a Bennett girl! I immediately fell in love with Ben & then Jared swept in and stole my heart just as easily. Both MMCs were easy to love, and were different from one another in enough ways that didn’t make me feel like they were repetitive, but also similar in ways that felt true to their being brothers and perfect for Emmy in different ways.

The FMC, Emmy, was also so beautifully written and I felt like I was experiencing all of the things she experienced right along with her.

I really enjoyed this book, and am so glad I got to read it!

Thank you to the author, Evelyn Flood, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading.

When I Was Theirs by Evelyn Flood delivers a love story that makes you believe in soulmates—only to remind you that not all love stories are meant to last. The story follows a young woman who falls deeply in love with Ben, a man whose presence feels like fate. Their romance is intense, passionate, and bittersweet, as both of them carry burdens from their pasts that threaten to pull them apart.

As their story unfolds, you experience the highs of their connection and the devastating lows of their inevitable struggles. When Ben's brother enters the picture, the emotional landscape shifts again. His presence brings out hidden truths and forces the protagonist to confront not only her feelings for Ben but also her own pain and resilience.

This book masterfully explores themes of living in the moment, coping with loss, and wondering "what if." It’s a story that leaves you torn between wanting to savor every page and needing a moment to compose yourself through the tears. Flood has crafted a tale that lingers in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page.

I really want to give absolutely nothing away about this book, but please believe me when I say that it absolutely broke me. Very few books have the power to make me cry but I sobbed like a big ol' baby reading this. I'd never read anything by Evelyn Flood until I read WHEN I WAS THEIRS but you can guarantee I will be devouring everything she has ever written!

This is beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores themes of love, identity, and healing. The characters are well-developed and the narrative offers a balance of heartache and hope that lingers long after the final page.

I have really enjoyed this author's past books but this one should be a hard pass. Its a bit too much like a Colleen Hoover, with bad boyfriends galore and way too much angsty drama. The female character is a doormat and the guy she ends up with is mean to her almost for the entire book and is not worthy of her or any other woman. Minor spoiler but our heroine's original boyfriend dies and his brother who has an unhealthy dislike of our heroine becomes the guy she ends up with ... there is also an abusive guy in between. The book is just a mess of manufactured angst and truthfully I couldn't wait until it was over.