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What We Found Instead
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26A moving and compulsively readable novel about two very different women and the unlikely bond they forge in the wreckage of one man’s betrayal.
Maggie feels behind for thirty-five—still unsure about her career path, still living with roommates and struggling through a never-ending PhD—but at least she’s certain about her relationship with her boyfriend, Karl. That is until she hears the voicemail on Karl’s phone from some woman named Eve, who’s using words Maggie can’t process like baby, love, and tonight. In an instant, Maggie’s trust in Karl unravels, but she doesn’t know the whole truth—and only one person can help her find Eve.
Eve didn’t flee New York and the stress of running her handcrafted furniture business just to be dragged into someone else’s drama. She likes the quiet rhythm of her Northern Ontario lake her dog, her cozy home, her dependable routines—and Karl, at least on the weekends when he’s not working in Toronto. So when a stranger presses for a meeting, Eve is wary. She doesn’t like her earnestness, her probing questions, her expectation of solidarity. And she certainly doesn’t like the news Maggie Karl is her boyfriend too.
Maggie and Eve’s tense encounter upends both of their lives. They expect to never see each other again, but instead they’re thrown back together—forced to face their resentments and insecurities head-on, pushed into vulnerability with the one person whose very existence caused their heartbreak.
What We Found Instead is a captivating and insightful look at complex relationships and a love letter to female friendship, asking us to consider questions about love, loyalty, and what we owe to ourselves and to others.
Maggie feels behind for thirty-five—still unsure about her career path, still living with roommates and struggling through a never-ending PhD—but at least she’s certain about her relationship with her boyfriend, Karl. That is until she hears the voicemail on Karl’s phone from some woman named Eve, who’s using words Maggie can’t process like baby, love, and tonight. In an instant, Maggie’s trust in Karl unravels, but she doesn’t know the whole truth—and only one person can help her find Eve.
Eve didn’t flee New York and the stress of running her handcrafted furniture business just to be dragged into someone else’s drama. She likes the quiet rhythm of her Northern Ontario lake her dog, her cozy home, her dependable routines—and Karl, at least on the weekends when he’s not working in Toronto. So when a stranger presses for a meeting, Eve is wary. She doesn’t like her earnestness, her probing questions, her expectation of solidarity. And she certainly doesn’t like the news Maggie Karl is her boyfriend too.
Maggie and Eve’s tense encounter upends both of their lives. They expect to never see each other again, but instead they’re thrown back together—forced to face their resentments and insecurities head-on, pushed into vulnerability with the one person whose very existence caused their heartbreak.
What We Found Instead is a captivating and insightful look at complex relationships and a love letter to female friendship, asking us to consider questions about love, loyalty, and what we owe to ourselves and to others.
- GenresFriendshipCanada
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 28, 2026
3 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Reimer
3 books64 followersHeidi Reimer is a novelist and writing coach. Her front row seat to the theatre world of her debut novel, The Mother Act, began two decades ago when she met and married an actor, and her immersion in motherhood began when she adopted a toddler and discovered she was pregnant on the same day. Her writing interrogates the lives of women, usually those bent on breaking free of what they’re given to create what they yearn for. She loves smart, propulsive stories with complicated characters and deep exploration of the female experience.
Sign up for her biweekly newslettert for honest grappling with the creative process, insight and angst moving from process to product on the road to publication, and deep dives into mother-daughter relationships, maternal ambivalence, and feminist awakening. But in a fun way!
Sign up for her biweekly newslettert for honest grappling with the creative process, insight and angst moving from process to product on the road to publication, and deep dives into mother-daughter relationships, maternal ambivalence, and feminist awakening. But in a fun way!
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Heidi Reimer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What We Found Instead was an absolute joy to read and a wonderfully satisfying surprise. From the opening pages, I was completely engaged, and that never faded. It is one of those rare books that balances plot and character so well that you keep turning the pages for both reasons equally.
The cover first drew me in, two women in the lake surrounded by greenery, and it made me curious enough to read the description. I am glad I did.
This was my first time reading Heidi Reimer, but I am already looking at her other work. I read this across two sittings only because life got in the way. Had it been up to me, I would have happily devoured it in one.
What begins with betrayal and upheaval grows into something far richer: a thoughtful, emotionally intelligent story about grief, friendship, healing, family, and the ways women can rebuild themselves after being hurt. Maggie and Eve were both so vividly drawn. They are very different women, shaped by different wounds and family histories, yet both felt deeply human, flawed, sympathetic, and real. Watching their relationship evolve was one of the most rewarding parts of the novel for me. I was worried it might be one-note or too simplistic in its themes, but it was anything but. The novel consistently chose nuance over easy conflict.
The greatest strength of this book for me was the character work. Maggie and Eve felt wonderfully real: flawed, sympathetic, frustrating at times, but always understandable. Their growth across the novel was beautifully handled, and I became deeply invested in both women and in the life they were trying to build after disappointment and hurt.
I also appreciated that the book was woman-centred without reducing the men to caricatures. Even when characters behaved badly, they were still treated as people rather than simple villains. That gave the story far more depth and honesty. The novel consistently chose emotional complexity over easy drama, which I admired.
The writing style was accessible while still often beautiful. There were scenes around Still Lake and the lodge that felt vivid and painterly. I could see the weather, the water, the landscape. We were deeply embedded in Maggie and Eve’s perspectives, which made their emotions feel immediate, but the side characters were also given enough care to feel fully alive.
The pacing was excellent throughout. There was always something drawing me onward, but the emotional moments were given space to breathe. I was invested the entire time and genuinely cared about where each character would end up.
Perhaps what I loved most was that the book resisted simplistic endings. It allowed growth to be messy, relationships to be complicated, and healing to come in unexpected forms. By the final pages, I felt deeply moved and completely satisfied.
Most of all, this book made me feel warm, comforted, and hopeful. By the end, I felt genuinely emotional because the real love stories underneath it all had been so tenderly built. It felt like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day.
For me personally, this was the perfect balance of heart, character development, and momentum. I truly hope many readers discover it because I would love more people to talk to about it.
What We Found Instead was an absolute joy to read and a wonderfully satisfying surprise. From the opening pages, I was completely engaged, and that never faded. It is one of those rare books that balances plot and character so well that you keep turning the pages for both reasons equally.
The cover first drew me in, two women in the lake surrounded by greenery, and it made me curious enough to read the description. I am glad I did.
This was my first time reading Heidi Reimer, but I am already looking at her other work. I read this across two sittings only because life got in the way. Had it been up to me, I would have happily devoured it in one.
What begins with betrayal and upheaval grows into something far richer: a thoughtful, emotionally intelligent story about grief, friendship, healing, family, and the ways women can rebuild themselves after being hurt. Maggie and Eve were both so vividly drawn. They are very different women, shaped by different wounds and family histories, yet both felt deeply human, flawed, sympathetic, and real. Watching their relationship evolve was one of the most rewarding parts of the novel for me. I was worried it might be one-note or too simplistic in its themes, but it was anything but. The novel consistently chose nuance over easy conflict.
The greatest strength of this book for me was the character work. Maggie and Eve felt wonderfully real: flawed, sympathetic, frustrating at times, but always understandable. Their growth across the novel was beautifully handled, and I became deeply invested in both women and in the life they were trying to build after disappointment and hurt.
I also appreciated that the book was woman-centred without reducing the men to caricatures. Even when characters behaved badly, they were still treated as people rather than simple villains. That gave the story far more depth and honesty. The novel consistently chose emotional complexity over easy drama, which I admired.
The writing style was accessible while still often beautiful. There were scenes around Still Lake and the lodge that felt vivid and painterly. I could see the weather, the water, the landscape. We were deeply embedded in Maggie and Eve’s perspectives, which made their emotions feel immediate, but the side characters were also given enough care to feel fully alive.
The pacing was excellent throughout. There was always something drawing me onward, but the emotional moments were given space to breathe. I was invested the entire time and genuinely cared about where each character would end up.
Perhaps what I loved most was that the book resisted simplistic endings. It allowed growth to be messy, relationships to be complicated, and healing to come in unexpected forms. By the final pages, I felt deeply moved and completely satisfied.
Most of all, this book made me feel warm, comforted, and hopeful. By the end, I felt genuinely emotional because the real love stories underneath it all had been so tenderly built. It felt like a warm hug on a cold winter’s day.
For me personally, this was the perfect balance of heart, character development, and momentum. I truly hope many readers discover it because I would love more people to talk to about it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 - I read and really enjoyed Heidi Reimer’s debut novel The Mother Act a few years ago and was excited to see that she has a new book out! What We Found Instead is a completely different type of story, but I enjoyed it even more than her previous work.
The story follows Maggie and Eve, two women who discover they are in a relationship with the same man. When circumstances unexpectedly bring them together, they are forced to confront their feelings about the situation and about each other. Where do they go from here?
If you’re expecting a cozy rom com, keep looking because this isn’t it. Reimer kept me on my toes with the story’s unpredictability, even when I thought I knew where it was going. There were a few plot points I saw coming, but I was surprised by where things ended up.
What We Found Instead is friendship fiction at its best — full of love, heartbreak, and joy. Sometimes these stories can be saccharine or surface-level. That's not the case here. The characters feel authentic in their struggles, desires, and flaws.
If you’re craving something uplifting but also grounded, I highly recommend checking this one out. Oh, and the cover is gorgeous!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance copy.
The story follows Maggie and Eve, two women who discover they are in a relationship with the same man. When circumstances unexpectedly bring them together, they are forced to confront their feelings about the situation and about each other. Where do they go from here?
If you’re expecting a cozy rom com, keep looking because this isn’t it. Reimer kept me on my toes with the story’s unpredictability, even when I thought I knew where it was going. There were a few plot points I saw coming, but I was surprised by where things ended up.
What We Found Instead is friendship fiction at its best — full of love, heartbreak, and joy. Sometimes these stories can be saccharine or surface-level. That's not the case here. The characters feel authentic in their struggles, desires, and flaws.
If you’re craving something uplifting but also grounded, I highly recommend checking this one out. Oh, and the cover is gorgeous!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance copy.
May 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC.
I was looking forward to reading this book and I think I may have gone in with expectations that were a bit too high. I also love the cover of this book, which immediately drew me in. I can see why this story has resonated with other readers, especially those who enjoy books centred on female friendships and platonic soulmates. There was a compelling bond between the two characters as the main focus of the story and I appreciated the attempt to portray a raw and unfiltered side to relationships. The writing style also felt fairly fast-paced, which I liked.
However, it fell a bit flat for me. The difficult and emotional situations seem intended to feel realistic, but I found it difficult to view the friendships and relationships in this book as realistic. The repeated cycle of falling out and reconciling between the characters, along with the heavier themes throughout, made the reading experience a little draining for me, although I can see how this added to the emotional weight of the story. Overall, this book wasn’t the best fit for me but I think readers who love intense, character-driven narratives, messy relationships and complex friendships would connect with this more than I did.
I was looking forward to reading this book and I think I may have gone in with expectations that were a bit too high. I also love the cover of this book, which immediately drew me in. I can see why this story has resonated with other readers, especially those who enjoy books centred on female friendships and platonic soulmates. There was a compelling bond between the two characters as the main focus of the story and I appreciated the attempt to portray a raw and unfiltered side to relationships. The writing style also felt fairly fast-paced, which I liked.
However, it fell a bit flat for me. The difficult and emotional situations seem intended to feel realistic, but I found it difficult to view the friendships and relationships in this book as realistic. The repeated cycle of falling out and reconciling between the characters, along with the heavier themes throughout, made the reading experience a little draining for me, although I can see how this added to the emotional weight of the story. Overall, this book wasn’t the best fit for me but I think readers who love intense, character-driven narratives, messy relationships and complex friendships would connect with this more than I did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of an advance copy received from NetGalley.
This book brought out so many emotions in me at once. At first, I thought it would simply show how Maggie and Eve became best friends after learning the truth about their relationship with Karl, but it turned out to be so much more than that. The characters and their circumstances felt incredibly real, and it reminded me that the choices they made, the emotions they felt, and the actions they took are things that happen in real life. I especially loved Maggie and Eve’s friendship, no matter how imperfect and bumpy it was.
I also loved the writing style. This is definitely one of those books that I’ll find myself thinking about from time to time. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because of Karl. The audacity of him to show up and act that way until the end made me so angry. I honestly wanted to punch him in the face. if I were given the chance haha. I was also really rooting for Daniel and Maggie and wanted them to end up happy together.
Overall, this is a book I genuinely enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a story about friendship, healing, and love.
This book brought out so many emotions in me at once. At first, I thought it would simply show how Maggie and Eve became best friends after learning the truth about their relationship with Karl, but it turned out to be so much more than that. The characters and their circumstances felt incredibly real, and it reminded me that the choices they made, the emotions they felt, and the actions they took are things that happen in real life. I especially loved Maggie and Eve’s friendship, no matter how imperfect and bumpy it was.
I also loved the writing style. This is definitely one of those books that I’ll find myself thinking about from time to time. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because of Karl. The audacity of him to show up and act that way until the end made me so angry. I honestly wanted to punch him in the face. if I were given the chance haha. I was also really rooting for Daniel and Maggie and wanted them to end up happy together.
Overall, this is a book I genuinely enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a story about friendship, healing, and love.
April 30, 2026
This book really gets the complicated relationship right between Maggie and Eve. They’re uniquely different from each other but betrayed by the same man, which is a difficult experience to navigate and portrayed wonderfully. I think the intricate nature of friendships between women is a topic that should be discussed more often and I found that explored within What We Found Instead.
At times I did find myself frustrated with the characters, wondering why would they make that choice, why did they act a certain way. I wanted more into their minds, to understand their thoughts better and exploration into their relationships (outside of the one just between Maggie and Eve) instead of that’s just the way things are and they happen. This happened with a few of the events as well, somehow adding onto this pile of wild instances within the book’s timeframe and left the ending a tad rushed.
Overall, I still found it a nice and easy read.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
At times I did find myself frustrated with the characters, wondering why would they make that choice, why did they act a certain way. I wanted more into their minds, to understand their thoughts better and exploration into their relationships (outside of the one just between Maggie and Eve) instead of that’s just the way things are and they happen. This happened with a few of the events as well, somehow adding onto this pile of wild instances within the book’s timeframe and left the ending a tad rushed.
Overall, I still found it a nice and easy read.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two women who would likely never cross paths, are drawn together under unusual circumstances. Both have their hearts broken by a man who led one life in the city during the week and another life in the country on the weekends. Their first encounter is fraught with tension and the subsequent story of their relationship is a testimony to the strength of female friendships that transcends hurt and betrayal.
I enjoyed this novel for its character development and its evocative prose that describes the pain and the beauty in forging the bonds of friendship under trying circumstances. Both Maggie and Eve bring complex issues that add dimension and depth to the unfoldment of their relationship. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, the novel is a satisfying and engaging read.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
I enjoyed this novel for its character development and its evocative prose that describes the pain and the beauty in forging the bonds of friendship under trying circumstances. Both Maggie and Eve bring complex issues that add dimension and depth to the unfoldment of their relationship. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, the novel is a satisfying and engaging read.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
netgalley
May 3, 2026I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this after reading the blurb. After finding out they've both been betrayed by the same man, Maggie and Eve suddenly find themselves questioning everything they thought they knew about the man they loved.
I found this to be a grumpy x sunshine story of two women who are polar opposites yet find themselves drawn to each other. I really enjoyed Heidi Reimer's storytelling as Maggie and Eve felt so real to me. Maggie is a romantic soul and Eve is very self-protective. This is a messy, human story and it was told in such a careful way. If you want a fresh take on how complicated female friendship can be, I would definitely recommend this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
I found this to be a grumpy x sunshine story of two women who are polar opposites yet find themselves drawn to each other. I really enjoyed Heidi Reimer's storytelling as Maggie and Eve felt so real to me. Maggie is a romantic soul and Eve is very self-protective. This is a messy, human story and it was told in such a careful way. If you want a fresh take on how complicated female friendship can be, I would definitely recommend this!
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars - I really enjoyed this author's writing style and the story of female friendship it told. I finished it in 2 days and found it easy to read / quick. The reason I'd dock it a few stars is that I felt the story dragged at times... how many bad things can happen to 2 people in one year?? I also found myself wanting to smack the main characters at times - they couldn't seem to get out of their own ways.
That being said, reading this book made me want to read more by this author and I thought it was a fun, heartwarming read. Thank you Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book!
That being said, reading this book made me want to read more by this author and I thought it was a fun, heartwarming read. Thank you Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*received arc from netgalley
What We Found Instead explores the complicated friendship and relationships between Eve and Maggie. After finding out they have the same partner Karl we follow them trying to rebuild their lives in the after effects of leaving him.
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book, at times I loved it and other times I found myself hating decisions the decisions these characters made. Not sure if it is just because I don’t agree or because some of it seemed out of character for what we read but I didn’t fully enjoy myself because of this. I was happy with how it ended though!
What We Found Instead explores the complicated friendship and relationships between Eve and Maggie. After finding out they have the same partner Karl we follow them trying to rebuild their lives in the after effects of leaving him.
I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book, at times I loved it and other times I found myself hating decisions the decisions these characters made. Not sure if it is just because I don’t agree or because some of it seemed out of character for what we read but I didn’t fully enjoy myself because of this. I was happy with how it ended though!
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April 17, 2026What We Found Instead by new to me author Heidi Reimer published by Lake Union is a full length stand alone novel.
Maggie is a 35 year old woman who' still finding her way in life. Except with her boyfriend Karl, of him she's very sure. Til she overhears the name of another woman. She atrts uínvestigating and soon she finds Eve.
Eve loves her recluse life and her partner Karl very much. So when a strange person wants to contact her she's reluctant. Til she meets Maggie.
A beautiful heart warming story of friendship. I greatly enjoyed reading this gem of a story.
Maggie is a 35 year old woman who' still finding her way in life. Except with her boyfriend Karl, of him she's very sure. Til she overhears the name of another woman. She atrts uínvestigating and soon she finds Eve.
Eve loves her recluse life and her partner Karl very much. So when a strange person wants to contact her she's reluctant. Til she meets Maggie.
A beautiful heart warming story of friendship. I greatly enjoyed reading this gem of a story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My first 6-star read of the year!
This was such a touching and hopeful story of unexpected friendship that truly amazed me. The book is full of drama, but it is so masterfully crafted that it leaves you in awe. It explores themes of betrayal, grief, healing, and genuine connection. I especially loved how men didn't take center stage in this story.
This is a book I would recommend to everyone.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a touching and hopeful story of unexpected friendship that truly amazed me. The book is full of drama, but it is so masterfully crafted that it leaves you in awe. It explores themes of betrayal, grief, healing, and genuine connection. I especially loved how men didn't take center stage in this story.
This is a book I would recommend to everyone.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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February 12, 2026review text for 3962
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