When We Were by Diana Elliot Graham (The Arden Bancroft Series #1)
Not every story is tied up with a pretty bow. Some are messy and complicated. Some end when you least expect them. But what if that one breakup that nearly broke you was nothing but a miscommunication?
If you’re okay with a little heartache along the way, this might be exactly what you’re looking for. Just don’t expect it to play out like a fairy tale. I’m not saying there isn't a happy ending, just that it may not be the one you were hoping for.
When We Were is a tale of an almost-great love. The kind that feels so close to something extraordinary, only to slip through your fingers. You think you know how it’s going to unfold, but trust me, you don’t. And yet, you won’t be able to stop yourself from turning page after page. I wish I could say more, but the less you know going in, the more powerful the emotional impact will be. Avoid spoilers at all costs. Seriously.
However, if you’re not a fan of the miscommunication trope, this may not be your cup of tea. Still, I have to say—the way this story was written? It was painfully beautiful. Every word felt intentional, every emotion raw and real. If you’ve made it this far and still feel convinced, even with all my warnings, my inbox is open for emotional support once you start reading this book.
The debut novel from Diana Elliot Graham, When We Were, is a beautiful, clever, and complex dual timeline love story about a woman who discovers fourteen years later that the break up that nearly broke her, was nothing more than a miscommunication.
In 2007 Arden Bancroft is away from home and ready to experience everything college has to offer. With a core group of new friends, a packed course load, and the confidence to match, she immediately throws herself into the college scene.
More than a decade later, when posed with a question about breakup sex, she reaches out to her college boyfriend for his perspective, but his response is one she never imagined. Despite all the years apart they are forced to confront the realization that the breakup they both remember was nothing more than a painful miscommunication.
Arden finds herself retelling the story of the years and relationships that shaped her. Starting at the beginning, revisiting her freshman year of college, her first meaningful love, and all that followed. Reconciling what she spent years believing to be true with the reality that memories aren’t always honest.