When She Was Ours

by Anna Nordberg

Thea Erickson, a renowned surgeon, is filled with both joy and grief as her family gathers at their home on a summer night in 1995. Her elder daughter Phoebe is getting married, but even the happiness of the day feels bittersweet, as Thea grapples with a terminal cancer diagnosis. She worries she won’t be around to support her younger daughter Astra, who’s still in college, but even Thea cannot foresee what is to come—a terrible accident the night of the wedding that changes Astra’s life forever.

In a last-ditch effort to protect her family, Thea arranges a secret meeting with an old family friend and extracts a promise that will reverberate long after she’s gone.

Years after her mother’s death, Astra has moved forward with a career and relationship, but she still struggles with her grief. When a man reaches out to her and Phoebe, offering a window into their mother’s past, Astra must make a choice, and her decision forces her to face what it means to love someone after they’re gone, who we decide to forgive, and how families reckon with the past.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Ebooks

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 1, 2026

About the author

Anna Nordberg is an author, journalist and culture writer whose essays have appeared in Slate magazine, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She spent a lot of her childhood writing novels with a number 2 pencil on yellow legal pads. She actually still has these novels.

In 2015, she started writing a memoir about becoming a mother without her mom, who died when Anna was 17. This memoir never found a home, but its themes—how loss unfolds throughout a life, how we carry the memory of someone forward, the surprising legacy of grief—are all themes in Anna's debut novel, When She Was Ours, out August 1.

Anna grew up in New York City and now lives in San Francisco with her husband, son and daughter, and English cocker spaniel, Guinness (who also loves books). She loves muddling through middle school with her kids, trying to remember what the formula for the circumference of a circle is, and rereading books like Tuck Everlasting and A Wrinkle in Time. Favorite books she has read to her kids: The Hobbit, The Dark is Rising, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and Bridge to Terabithia.

It was always her dream to write a novel after watching her mother write one on an ancient Apple IIC when Anna was eight years old. When She Was Ours is dedicated to her.

Reviews

[mimi ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYONE NEEDS TO GO READ THIS WHEN IT COMES OUT IN JUNE. I’m very proud to be the first one to review this ever!!! How crazy is that? Wow. This was an incredible debut novel to say the least. I’ll be honest, when I first applied for this arc, I only did it for the cover, also gorgeous by the way. But Nordberg’s storytelling and beautiful writing, characters and storyline carried throughout the book and made me want to stay there forever. I laughed, cried, and anxiously flipped to the next page, and also wanted to punch many people (don’t worry, you’ll be rooting for it). You can tell Thea was the mother to her girls that her mother was never able to be. She had such an amazing support system around her, but I wish we would’ve seen more around the time of her death, like the immediate aftermath? Even if it was just a few pages. Tom is such a rom com father, I feel like he is exactly the right kind of person for Thea. Phoebe is so eldest daughter syndrome, and Eli is so just amazing and ugh, I just love everything about both of them. Nick!!! That’s all I have to say. We were very much robbed of them (respectively, frick you, 16 year old Allie, even though you were going through all that). And Astra. Where do I start? She is like the epitome of savior complex, mixed with an unhealthy amount of people pleasing youngest daughter. But she is so strong and knows between right and wrong? Which is also her biggest weakness I think, that she has too fine of a line, too black and white. And I love, how that is illustrated throughout and honestly I wish we would’ve gotten to see it develop more, because she still has this sharp line, even after she’s forgiven Nick (and apologised obviously). I cannot reiterate this enough though, how strong she is. And that’s the front that Thea never wanted her to have, so I’m glad that after her passing, her two girls were able to lean on people for support, I wish we would’ve gotten to see that with Tom too. There are so many like warnings, especially with the dreams that I think is so good. Like there were so many plot twists, and that line after Astra ran from that bear like creature made me alert the whole time. The whole time reading this I was thinking, it has to be this scene, and then the next and then the next. And I love how all the loose ends were tied up in the end, because that usually doesn’t happen when there’s so many elements and storylines happening in the one novel. I think Anna told this story beautifully, one of trust, love, and healing. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts are my own.

[Sharon_🌺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Amazon first reads Kindle selection- July 2026).
🌺 Read what you love! 🌺

[Kristen Corsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful. It filled my soul with so much joy. This book was written in such a way that made me feel connected with the characters. They felt like my family. It beautifully explores how a person’s presence doesn’t simply vanish—how memory, tradition, and love can carry them forward.

For me, there was also an element of suspense woven throughout. I had no idea what was going to happen next or how the pieces of the story would connect. The unpredictability kept me invested; nothing felt formulaic or convenient.

I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read another book from this author!

[Rachel Manders · Rating 5 out of 5]

When She Was Ours is an outstanding debut that I believe will become a favorite for readers, especially for those that appreciate stories that focus on relationships between mothers and their daughters. I laughed and cried as I watched the heartbreak unfold. Themes of feminism, love that carries on after death, and ultimately forgiveness made this an easy 5-star read. I was shocked by the plot twist (did not see it coming!)

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[✨daphne✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy received from NetGalley

It’s been a long while since I fell so in love with a book as I did with When She Was Ours, and it’s unbelievable that this work of art is the author’s debut.

It’s difficult to recount what this book is about, because it manages to touch on many themes, and it does so with depth and sensitivity.
It’s a story about every different kind of love (between parents and children, between siblings, friends, spouses, significant others, even between merging families), about the lives that we might have lived and the selves we might have been in a different world, about trauma and grief and rebuilding oneself after falling; it’s about women’s authority in a world that leaves little space for them; it’s about not knowing where you stop and your children begin, and where you begin and your parents stop.

Everything resonated deeply with me. I found myself in Astra, in her mother, in Nick. Their thoughts and words made me rethink so much about my own life, past and present.

The prose was “simple” enough that it made it very easy to get through, but also threw some good punches when least expected.

Reading this book was a journey, and one I encourage everyone to undertake.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up for Goodreads

Astra is losing her mother. How does someone move on , how does someone prepare to lose someone so significant in their life, all before graduating high school?

Almost immediately this book pulled me in, it’s so moving and profound so quickly and I knew it was a book that would stick with me. Maybe it’s in part because I too lost a parent at 17 that it resonated with me so much. The characters were likable, and we got to grow with them over the years.

My favorite part of this was it didn’t stick to one track , there are so many layers to it (we even get a little thriller in there!)

Perfect for anyone looking for a comfy, nostalgic, thoughtful book and maybe looking for a good cry.

[annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

huge thanks to lake union publishing + netgalley for this arc!

phew. oh boy. wowza.

it’s very rare for a book to move me to tears, yet here we are.

what a stunning debut. an immediate all-time favourite with everything i need in a book: nuanced characterization, messy, real relationships, and a quiet, compelling narrative about womanhood, loss, love, and healing.

please read this when it releases in june. anna nordberg’s future releases will absolutely be insta-buys!

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely book!! Such a heartfelt, emotion book about daughters, mothers, family, and relationships. So much vulnerability within the writing.

The cover of this book really caught my eye. Glad I was able to get the ARC from NetGalley!

[Sarah Beachy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ What a stunning debut novel! I’m excited about this one & looking forward to what Anna Nordberg writes next as well- she could easily become a favorite author!

When She Was Ours is a lovely blend of literary family drama, love story, and suspense; Nordberg thoughtfully explores loss, grief, coming of age, friendships and family ties. Think: The Family Stone meets Lily King’s Writers & Lovers. We get a wedding, a couple Thanksgivings & all of the family happenings around and in between these events. I’m LOVING these novels set in the 90s- it’s nostalgic and cozy and just feels so right for a good family drama. Nordberg elegantly and skillfully writes mother/ daughter & sister relationships, another of my favorite themes to read recently. This was exactly the sort of introspective character-driven story that I gravitate towards and it really worked for me.

This fantastic debut releases June 23, 2026 and you’re going to want to add it to your summer TBR! I will definitely be personally recommending to my friends who love to read Ann Patchett, Lily King and Ann Napolitano. Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You’re the center of the family. It’s not like after you are gone it will be the same family, just muddling along with a vacancy. They’ll have to figure out who they are without you.”

The book starts in the summer of 1995 where Thea Erickson, our mum of the story, is alive although suffering through a terminal cancer diagnosis. She was previously a renowned surgeon that had a calm presence and knew exactly what she was doing. One of her daughter’s, Phoebe, is getting married - an event that is filled with both joy and grief.

Here, a traumatic event takes place that alters the lives of Nick, our MMC (an old school friend) and Thea’s other daughter, Astra.

We see Thea make last minute plans to support her family after she’s gone - specifically Astra who is still in college. She sets a meeting with an old family friend, to promise to deliver a message when the time is right.

As Astra grows older, we see her navigate her grief and try to create a career for herself.

We’re shown beautifully the depth of grief and how it becomes a part of the ebb and flow of everyday life and that even though we have lost our loved ones, we carry them forward with us through our memories and tradition.

[Michele Jacobsen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel horrible that I just dont understand the love others had for this book. The loss of a parent is certainly conveyed well, but it never really went beyond that. I feel this ought to have been an essay because it didn’t work as a novel for me. Nothing of note, beyond the death of a parent, ever really happened. Our main character ditches the partner of her dreams for a pretty weak reason that as a reader I didn’t understand. Later when our main character finds herself in danger, it was a nothing-burger. I just kept waiting for something to happen and it never did.

It’s one of those books that you probably have to read yourself and decide. Lots of readers have clearly loved the book. It just rang hollow for me.

[Letitia | Bookshelfbyla]

I really enjoyed this one !! Full review to come …

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. A bit of a confusion in the plot but a good ending.

[Ava Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75🌟 I absolutely adored this debut. When She Was Ours was written so beautifully. I loved Anna Nordberg's writing style throughout this book. From the first page, I was deeply invested in Thea, Tom, Phoebe, and Astra as separate characters, but also in their close bond as a family.

The depictions of happy moments in such an awful time were beautiful and heart-wrenching all at once. It felt so intimate to be listening to these, albeit fictional characters, come to terms with Thea's passing, and it was told in such a personal and eloquent way. The change in Tom's role as a father after his wife's death was strangely comforting to me; he adapted quickly to the loss to support Astra, while also grappling with his own grief, which to me was the true show of love in this family.

This was so close to a perfect read for me; however, the one thing I did struggle with was the initial meeting with Nick and Astra. In my opinion, it felt a bit too brief for it to have created such a big impact in both of these characters' lives, and I think I would have liked them to have had a bit more of a history. Nevertheless, I enjoyed their growth immensely through the book and by the end was equally invested in their relationship.

When She Was Ours has given me such a visceral insight into losing a loved one, and all of the things that the people left behind will do to feel closer to them again.

#WhenSheWasOurs #NetGalley

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Losing a parent is hard, and it is harder when you are young and their death came before they reached old age.

Phoebe was lucky that their mother Thea lived long enough to see her marry. But her younger sister Astra was still in college and had not been tempted by any man. Until Phoebe’s wedding day when among the guests was a man Astra last saw as a girl at his Bar Mitzvah. He saw Astra, her joy and warmth, and fell for her. And after a dance and a walk, Astra knew Nick was the one she had been waiting for.

A nearly tragic accident divides Astra and Nick, who go their separate ways. But Thea knew Nick would always be there for her daughter, and before he passing asked him to do something for her.

Years later, Phoebe is pregnant and Astra is in a relationship and working when a man from their mother’s past contacts them with a strange request: he wants to give them mementos belonging to their mother, but says they must come to him. Phoebe is forced to stay behind, and Astra goes to his home alone, only to discover he is not what he appeared to be.

These characters are well drawn and the writing kept me turning pages. I loved the relationship between these three women. Thea’s strength in facing death and the sister’s struggles with grief are beautifully presented.

The story morphs from a family drama to become a suspense/thriller, which took me by surprise, and I felt the ending too idealized.

A worthy read for a debut novel, but not without faults.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant family drama with aspects of a “thriller” as secrets emerge and the meaning of love is revealed.

Thea Erickson, a famous surgeon, is dying. At her daughter, Phoebe’s wedding in 1995, terrible accident occurs that especially affects her other daughter, Astra, who’s in college at the time. After the wedding before her death, Thea has dinner with a friend, Nick, who’s entrusted with a secret that Thea hopes he will never have to do or share. After her mother’s death, Astra grieves when Phoebe is approached by a man from her mother’s past, Cutter, who offers a “window to the past.” He requires them to come to him in LA. Astra visits Cutter alone because Phoebe’s pregnant and is confronted with an unforeseen situation - you have to read the book to find the denouement (it’s chillingly good).

This is a character-driven novel. The plot is carefully and slowly revealed - it’s almost done in a teasing kind of way (where the thriller aspect comes in). Astra is the main character and her mother’s concern to protect her after her death is so tender, but Thea knows Astra has the depth to be strong. Nick, the sort of love interest, was another character I liked.

This is a deep story about grief’s edges as they intersect life and can almost stall living. But this book about resilience, love, and forgiveness. It’s about living too! It’s a wonderful book for lovers of emotionally driven novel that tell a powerful story about family. Highly recommend.

My thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this ARC.

[Ifeanyi Omoike · Rating 4 out of 5]

When She Was Ours is a deeply emotional yet tender story about grief, family bonds, and the painful, complicated process of moving forward after losing someone you love.

I usually don’t enjoy prologues, but I absolutely loved this one. It felt purposeful and necessary, offering insight into Astra’s motivations and helping me understand her more deeply throughout the story. It also beautifully highlighted the bond between Astra and her mother, Thea. The anguish of watching a loved one gradually slip away is excruciating, and Anna Nordberg handles that pain with remarkable sensitivity and care. Astra’s grief felt so real that at times it felt like I was walking through it with her.

The novel carries a raw honesty in its portrayal of loss, confusion, and emotional vulnerability. I especially appreciated the complications and misunderstandings woven into the romance subplot — it felt messy in a very human way. The writing is beautifully simple and accessible, yet it conveys profound emotion with quiet strength. And the plot twist at the end was brilliant! I didn't see it coming at all.

An impressive debut. I’m very much looking forward to reading more from Anna Nordberg.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. The first like 80% I was really enjoying it. It was a compelling story about a woman coming to terms with her own death and how her young adult daughters will deal with it as they go on with their lives. Even when her daughters decide to connect with a man from their mother's past to try to learn more about who she was, it was still an interesting story. Overall, the book was a novel about the characters and how they dealt with these major life events happening but at the end, it seemed like the author was trying to make it a thriller, plot based novel. There is an almost tragedy at the beginning of the book that at least makes sense it how we understand who each of the characters is and how they react to the world around them. But suddenly in the last 5o pages or so, its all very dramatic with wild things happening to the main character. It completely came out of nowhere and not in a good way. It was just chaotic moment after chaotic moment at the end. Unfortunately, this really dropped my rating for this novel. It was probably a 4 or 4.5 star book for me but the ending completely ruined it.

[Valerie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
My immediate reaction to reaching the end of this story was What A Novel! - yes, the capital letters are well-deserved!
The characters were so clearly defined, and every page was filled with credible emotions about what the whole family was going through. The perception showed by the author meant that all the thoughts and feelings were highly realistic, and I felt as though I was travelling the journey of Thea's illness with them. Whilst Astra is a central character, the others are every bit as important as they impact on her actions and reactions. There were a couple of major surprises through the plotline which made my jaw drop.
I loved the way the author tied up the loose ends, making this a satisfying read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Kaelee Dewit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thea Erickson is dying from terminal cancer and struggling to picture her daughters’ lives without her. A terrible accident on the night of her daughter Phoebe’s wedding continues to affect her younger daughter Astra for years afterward. Phoebe and Astra must learn how to live without their mother’s guiding hand and how to face a world without her in it.

I am going to get it off my chest right away. The constant use of “mommy” by adult women drove me crazy. I was tempted to DNF it immediately because of that. I am glad I stuck with it because it turned out to be an enjoyable story. I thoroughly enjoyed the focus on the mother daughter relationship, and the writing was done well.
3.5 stars.

Blasphemy, swearing, and references to sex.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This such a fantastic book for women to read. The struggles between Phoebe and Astra are so relatable and their characters were so well developed. This book does a great job of showing what we grapple with when faced with difficult decisions that involve coming to terms with the past. It’s a true family drama and so easy to follow. I felt strong feelings for their mother and her past actions and was so eager to see how things played out for the girls. I was happy with the way the book ended which is always a plus. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a debut novel that is very well written.
It had me feeling every emotion as matriarch Dr Thea Erickson and her daughters learn to navigate the world upon learning of Thea's illness.
There is love, (piles of love), heartbreak, fear, and lives that must all learn to go forward when one person will not..
Mix in some suspense and mystery and you have a winner!
I truly loved the character's in this story, all with their own challenges that added to the plot.

I would love to see a sequel to learn how this family is doing in the years ahead.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Lake Union Publishing for this ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

[Vivi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read When She Was Ours as an ARC from NetGalley. It was an interesting and emotional story that was very easy to read. I really appreciated the intentionality behind the characters and their relationships, and the emotional themes carried throughout the book.

At times it felt a little repetitive, and the story makes some big time jumps that skip over parts I wish we could have seen more of. Because of that, I think this would actually make a great TV series where the in-between moments could be explored more.

Overall, a thoughtful and engaging read.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touching and Heartfelt

This was a deftly woven story of family, love, loss, and heartbreak. For me, the storyline was believable and original, with effective foreshadowing. It would have gotten 4 stars from me except for the fact that it still needs some fine editing. Whenever I encountered one of these errors, it would stop me and pull me from the story. It is a nicely written book that you will enjoy reading. It will make you feel that you want to become a member of this family that you have gotten to know so well.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from Amazon’s first reads. I went in with no expectations and was surprised and impressed with the author’s ability to develop characters with such detail and depth that I cared about all that was happening to them. They felt like real people, normal, flawed not stereotypical or cliche. I think the incident with the mother’s ex-boyfriend was a little odd. I think the effect of that encounter could have been accomplished differently or it could have been a bigger twist with more struggles and difficulties for the characters to deal with. I really enjoyed this book.

[Pritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly lovely book with several awkwardly contrived plot devices, all casting the otherwise intelligent main character as gullible and slow-witted: The black room "prank" was transparently ginned up to create "trauma". The weird (and foolish) trip to California to set up Nick as Astra's rescuer was completely unbelievable. Astra not recognizing the voice of one of the prankers as someone she LIVED with? No way. Too bad. Still worth reading for the sensitive and gentle exploration of grief and loss, but overall disappointing.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted debut that surprised me in the best way. Nordberg writes with a tenderness and emotional clarity that makes this family feel completely real, and I was pulled into their world from the very first chapter. It’s a moving, heartfelt story about love, loss, and the complicated bonds that hold people together, one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this.

[Syd Sheldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise! Heartfelt, soul-searching, generally feel good read despite the grief journey I was taken on. This book renews your faith that there are good people in the world. I aspire to be the communicator that Thea is someday and took notes of her mothering. Even the little thriller aspect that came out of left field had me furiously turning pages! It was honest, beautifully written and tender.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC!!

An excellent debut novel, When She Was Ours follows a family that deals with their mother dieing of cancer. The nuanced things that Astra and the other characters go through was really intriguing, and I enjoyed the sisterhood in between her and Phoebe. The writing was well paced and emotionally impactful. I look forward to what else Anna Nordberg has in store!

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Sarah Damoff, this is definitely a debut novel that deserves your attention! As a girl mom & someone very close with my mom, this book very much hit a soft spot for me. Thea such an absolutely perfect character, I can’t stress enough how much I loved her in this book. The raw emotion was powerfully done. I will still be thinking about this book for a long while after finishing it.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.