When We Were Young cover art

When We Were Young

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

When We Were Young

By: Elaine Hastings
Narrated by: Mary Woodvine
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £15.50

Buy Now for £15.50

About this listen

 A sweeping tale of love and loss, perfect for fans of moving book club fiction

'Gloriously nostalgic and beautifully emotional..' The Sun

'Elaine Hastings’ stunning debut will keep you turning the pages until you close the book and either reach for someone you love, or get on the move and create something!’ Jessica Anya Blau

Spring, 1994. Will, a talented busker, falls for Emily, a quirky art student. By 1997, Will is playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, and Emily is unveiling her first gallery show. They spend a whirlwind summer touring with Will's band, caught up in their love for their art and each other.

But within two years, Will is dead.

Spring, 2016. Emily remains single. Her art is long forgotten. Now, life revolves around her 16-year-old daughter, Liv. But when Emily accidentally reveals she once knew Will, Liv is stunned. How could her ordinary, predictable mother have known someone like Will Bailey?

And why does Emily blame herself for his death?

Interweaving dual timelines, When We Were Young explores what it means to have loved and lost, and reminds you that the ones you love can set you free.

©2025 Elaine Hastings (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers 20th Century Coming of Age Contemporary Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction
All stars
Most relevant
This was the listen of the summer for me. I was completely engrossed from the start and became obsessed with Emily and Will, Liv and Scott - all of them. Wonderfully written and innovatively woven together, I felt like I was seeing all the different strands of the story play out in glorious Technicolor. Emily and Liv’s relationship is particularly well crafted and, on more than one occasion, brought me to tears as I recognised and empathised with Emily as she grapples with her maternal responsibilities. I’d highly recommend this, a stunning debut!

The listen of the summer!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.