Mia Graydon's life looks picket-fence perfect; she has the house, her loving husband, and dreams of starting a family. But she has other dreams too—unexplained, recurring ones starring the same man. Still, she doesn’t think much of it, until a relocation to small-town Pennsylvania brings her face to face with the stranger she has been dreaming about for years.
Oakley keeps readers wondering 'will they or won’t they' about Mia and Oliver, while the emotional journey of infertility and the strain that it places on a relationship is realistic. Keep a box of tissues handy—the ending is a gut-punch that will leave readers who have invested in these beautifully drawn characters reeling. Fans of relationship fiction that explores women’s inner lives and choices by Jennifer Weiner or Amy Hatvany will be unable to put this book down.
... poignant ... a fascinating premise ... The inexplicable dreams, the tension between Mia and Harrison, the fortuneteller and Oakley’s breezy writing all encourage the reader to stick with the book, which tells a sad story to a bouncy beat. Full of misdirection and a few gentle red herrings, You Were There Too ends far more satisfyingly than you might expect ... the final meaning is huge, bittersweet and just the thing to happen in a place called Hope Springs.
Colleen Oakley’s main characters are reasonably developed but not particularly likable and occasionally feel stereotypical ... People sharing similar dreams is a fascinating and thought-provoking premise, and in her Acknowledgements, Oakley cites some research that provides a good scientific basis for this plotline. This proves to be the most interesting part of the novel...I wish there had been more of a focus on this issue ... readers most likely will be left with some lingering questions. While an explanation is eventually provided for Oliver’s dreams, there is no reasoning given for their romantic elements or why Mia also has these dreams. Also, would Harrison really have been so oblivious to the relationship developing between Mia and Oliver, including their trip out of town? ... a unique premise, but some will find the resolution less than satisfying. The ending is unnecessarily and unexpectedly sad, and may not sit well with those expecting a different kind of story.
