REVIEW: What We Could Have Been by Jess Sinclair

In What We Could Have Been by Jess Sinclair, Their love was supposed to last a lifetime. Both Blue Shea and Enzo Castellari believed that to their very core from the time they were kids until a tragic event took her beloved mother’s life. It left Blue with little choice but to leave her home in Bliss, Florida behind–including her father Mitch who was being arrested for her mother’s death and letting go of Enzo as well. Through the years, Blue rebuilt her life, becoming a nurse, mom, and a wife. But when her marriage ends abruptly, the only place that feels like the right move for her and her nine-year-old son Murphy is Bliss.

‘She’d made so many mistakes. Leaving Enzo was her worst.’

It doesn’t take long for the past to creep back in, though. And soon, Blue is tangled up in the feud between her and Enzo’s family, making her determined to figure out what happened over a decade ago so they can heal the rift between them all. But the drama among the Castellaris is just getting started. And Enzo can’t seem to pull the pieces together to get a true look at what drove his and Blue’s parents to go from longtime friends to bitter rivals. With his own personal life unraveling before his eyes, Enzo feels like the one true thing has always been the love he and Blue share. So, his hope is to find a way back into her life for good–and if their families can finally find a way to get along, even better.

‘He had the oddest sensation, looking into her eyes, of time unspooling, his world tilting.’

From gut wrenching losses to the kind of love we dream about–one that also stood the test of time–WHAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN was an emotional novel that will surely find a special place with readers.

‘She’d given him her heart that night, and he’d kept it safe for her all this time.’

CW: View Spoiler »Domestic abuse (physical & verbal), gaslighting, bigotry, alcoholism & drug references, cheating (not MCs), assault, parental death (historical). « Hide Spoiler

I’m definitely a fan of women’s fiction that layers in big emotions while exploring relationships–familial or romantic–all while being completely swept up in a poignant storyline. That, in a nutshell, was WHAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN. Author Jess Sinclair did such a fantastic job with the careful way she handled the darker themes. And boy did it pull at my heartstrings! But that’s not to say the entire novel was heavy or felt overwhelming. The beautiful friendships Sinclair introduced us to as well as the sense of nostalgia when Blue returned home to Bliss, Florida felt like it wrapped me up in a cozy blanket and softened the harsher moments she (and others) had to endure.

I’m also a sucker for a second chance romance and this one was complex but so very sweet at the same time. There was a lot of soul searching Blue and Enzo had to do, plus conversations needed between them to set things right. But what was never missing? The care and love they shared for each other. It didn’t matter that it had been a decade since Blue had been home. That connection stemming from Enzo and Blue being best friends since they were toddlers was just as strong as ever–which admittedly led to some angst and family infighting due to the feud between the Castellaris and the Sheas. But as secrets from the past finally came to light, the healing could begin. And I couldn’t have imagined the heartwarming, hopeful sendoff Sinclair gave Enzo, Blue, her son Murphy, and the rest of their close-knit group happening any other way.

QOTD: Blue and her mother turned their back yard into a fairy garden, which was a sentimental source of peace and joy. Have you ever created fairy houses or visited a fairy garden?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: October 10th, 2023 | Alcove Press |

In this richly imagined novel, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Taylor Jenkins Reid, a terrible betrayal triggers a feud that casts its shadow over the fates of two families in a small Florida fishing community. When a hunt for the truth rekindles a forbidden alliance, these families must choose to unearth more deception or finally claim redemption.

Bluebelle Shea and Enzo Castellari are hardly more than children when they fall in love, despite the objections of their families, who have been at war for years. They don’t know the reason for the brutal rift, but nothing matters except the way they feel. Their hopeful plan for the future is shattered the night Blue’s mother drowns—and her father is arrested for murder.

Ten years later, fleeing a disastrous marriage, Blue returns to Bliss with her young son, Murphy. As she settles into the community once more, chance throws her together with Enzo, and she is startled by the rekindled attraction he stirs inside her.

Drawn together time and again, Blue and Enzo try to untangle years of conflicting emotions and bittersweet memories. When a frightening crisis strikes, Enzo doesn’t hesitate to come to Blue’s aid. Resolved to put the past behind them, they fight to learn not only what really happened the night Blue’s mother died, but the truth behind the destructive clash between their families.

At its heart, What We Could Have Been explores the bonds between families, friends, and lovers, and poignantly illustrates the ways we can heal after betrayal. Suffused with detail and sentiment, this is a novel that will resonate with anyone who has ever fought for their own happy ending.