What Tomorrow Will Be: A Novel

by Julianne MacLean

From USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean comes a captivating tale of a life caught between the past and the present…and a true love unbound by space and time.

Some loves never die. But only one will shape her future…

At nineteen, Sienna MacKay believed she had it all—a promising career ahead of her and a young love destined to last forever. But a tragic accident shatters that idyllic existence, leaving her with a heartbreaking loss.

Years later, Sienna has rebuilt her life. She’s a successful designer, a devoted mother, and a woman who has dared to love again—with Nate, a passionate, rising-star chef. But as Nate drifts further into ambition, cracks surface in their once-bright marriage. A stormy confrontation ends in disaster, and Sienna becomes caught between two worlds—her near-perfect past and her more complicated present—where she must ask What is the price of true love…and is she willing to pay?

Set on the majestic, rugged coastline of Nova Scotia, What Tomorrow Will Be is a magical, emotional novel about first love, second chances, and finding the courage to stay…or the will to go.

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the contemporary women’s fiction Color of Heaven Series. Readers have described her books as “breathtaking,” “soulful” and “uplifting.” MacLean is a four-time RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been published in over a dozen languages.

MacLean has a degree in English literature from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a degree in business administration from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She loves to travel and has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. MacLean currently resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband and daughter.

For more information about Julianne and her writing life, please visit her website at www.juliannemaclean.com. Be sure to follow her on Bookbub to be notified whenever her ebooks are offered for FREE or 99 cents. (www.bookbub.com/authors/julianne-maclean) and chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JulianneMacLeanRoman...), Twitter (@JulianneMacLean), and Instagram (@JulianneMaclean).

Reviews

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sienna. We start the book in 1998. Sienna is 19 and happily in love with Jacob. He's her besties older brother. They just adopted a puppy and the future looks bright and wonderful.
But then they go on a hike one day and life changes completely.
Then we follow Sienna's life for a bit until she meets Nate. And life happens and now it's 2025 and life should be amazing. Sienna sold her business and is taking care of the house and her two teenagers. But Nate. He's been super focused on making his restaurant a success and it's killing their marriage.
Until another accident happens ...

I liked reading this. I cried a lot! Most of the dog moments made me sob!
It was a tiny bit too religious for my tastes with all that afterlife and praying stuff - but that's my fault - the blurb already told me what it was about. At least it wasn't too preachy or anything.
It was sweet and super heartbreaking and hopeful and so full of love and friendship and dogs and beautiful scenery ... it was just a beautiful life and love story. READ IT

click ► HERE to pre-order the book!

[Joy Bellotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy to read for my honest review. I LOVED LOVED LOVED it!! I won’t give any spoilers but it was an amazing book. Full of such love that it touches your heart. It will make you cry and laugh and smile. You’ll wish everyone had a love like this. It was so very good and it just makes you want a true love like this. 💜💜💜💜

[Kristie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was something inexplicably different about this book compared to several others I have read and liked by this author. It’s very character driven, as we follow Sienna through her life, her struggles and victories. Trauma bookends the story. But some things didn’t entirely work for me. A lot felt very unrealistic and too dramatic. Going into detail would create major spoilers. Suffice to say, it wasn’t a favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. Releases February 3, 2026.

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julianne MacLean has done it again. She has written a novel that not only entertains us, but she also gives us life lessons mixed in. I enjoy her style of writing. She gives all her characters a good voice as to how they are feeling and why they do some of the things they do. I don't want to give away any part of this book because I think it needs to be experienced from your own point of view. We all know that how we perceive what we read is influenced by our own life experiences, not just the written word. I will say that the idea that we all get banged around in life is so true, yet I never really thought about the fact that the healing of these bangs is the learning and growing part of our character. Because we all heal differently, we all learn different lessons even from the same tragedies.
I was given an ARC from Lake Union Publishing with an understanding that I would leave an honest review.

[Nicole Laverdure · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of true love! 5 stars ( Feb 3, 2026)

If you’re looking for an emotional story of love, hope and second chances, the Julianne MacLean’s book, What Tomorrow Will Be, will be perfect for you! Set in the beautiful background of Halifax, in Nova Scotia.

When she was nineteen, Sienna thought her life was perfect and would last forever, however, a tragic accident will change her life. She moves on with her life! Seven years later, she meets Nate, fall in love and gets a second chance. Both have their own dreams, Sienna as an interior designer and Nate as a restaurant chef. Will their dreams, come true? Will they be able to follow their creative passions?

I really enjoyed this story and the characters! It’s well written with lots of beautiful emotions! It deals with trust, true love and family issues.
I received an advanced copy to read from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley.

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ Be grateful for every second of your life, past, present and future, because it won’t last forever. “

At the age of 18 Sienna has it all, she has a future planned out with Jacob her soulmate, she’s on the brink of a college degree with a plan to start her own business and marry Jacob.
Unfortunately, life has other plans and they are involved in a horrific accident, and Jacob does not survive.
We fast-forward several years later, Sienna is in charge of her own business, she meets Nate.
She moves on with her life and we flash forward again , she is married with two teenage children and Nate is living his dream of owning his own restaurant.
Nates ambition seems to overshadow and overtake everything. He becomes a workaholic.
tragedy strikes again

A story of what if, second chances, not looking backwards or forwards, but appreciating what you have when you have it.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy from netgalley.

Absolutely captured my hear with beautiful writing and beautiful characters. This story is so captivating and had me on the edge of my seat a few times! It is about surviving a tragedy and broken hearts. But it is filled with love! Absolutely a must read!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story of the power of love and hope. Sienna and her life story demonstrate the full scope of this wild ride we call life and all of its miracles and challenges; while also providing a lesson on what is most important and so precious. Julianne MacLean never disappoints as an author and when I pick up a novel, I know it’s going to be a heart wrenching, yet wonderful experience.