In Every Life: A Novel BY Rea Frey

In a poignant and thought-provoking novel, Harper faces an unexpected challenge when her husband Ben, diagnosed with terminal cancer, makes a surprising final request: he wants her to find a new love before he dies. Harper, whose dreams of being an artist in New York collapsed years ago, has since settled into a fulfilling life as an art teacher in Chattanooga with Ben, her second chance at happiness.

As Ben's condition worsens, a New York Times journalist arrives to cover his story, leading Harper to encounter Liam Hale, her first love from a decade ago. The reunion stirs up old what-ifs and regrets: What if she had ended up with Liam instead of Ben? What if she had pursued her artistic ambitions rather than settling into teaching?

This emotional turmoil becomes more than Harper can handle when, after making a heartfelt wish, she wakes up in a parallel universe where her what-ifs have become reality. Here, she is living the life she might have had with Liam, and her artistic dreams have come true.

Harper is now forced to grapple with a critical question: Is the grass truly greener in this alternate reality, or is she exactly where she is meant to be? This novel intricately explores themes of love, loss, and the paths not taken, revealing whether the life Harper has chosen or the one she might have had holds the true meaning of happiness.