SOLVED. a woman was getting paid for experimental trials or a research study for something and somehow, she wakes up in an alternate reality. [s]

[Isabel]

a woman was getting paid for experimental trials or a research study for something and somehow, she wakes up in an alternate reality. everyone is trying to escape this reality and go back to their real lives but don't know how to and they are unsure if when they die in the alternate reality, if it's the true end or if it's just the end of the alternate reality and they go back to real life. The woman ends up spending a long time there and gets married to a man there and he somehow dies in the alternate reality at the end. somehow she wakes up in real life with no memory of the alternate reality. But she keeps drawing (or maybe painting) his face. At a party she sees her husband from the alternate reality in real life and she can't place how she knows him but something in the back of her mind tells her that she knows him. And that's how it ends.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

When did you read it? Paper book, ebook, other format? Cover art/photo?

[Isabel]

A few years ago. Can't remember anything else

[Dung Beetle]

I recently read Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen. The alternate reality the man and woman are living in is the Neverland of Peter Pan. You don't mention that in your description but the rest of it seems similar!

[Isabel]

No that's not it. It's kind of a gritty world. Thanks though!

[Kris]

Archetype by M.D. Waters?

[Isabel]

No not that one either. She's only held captive by the world itself (like everyone else). She doesn't remember after, but during the ordeal remembers everything including her past life

[Karen]

Is it Arena by Karen Hancock?

[Isabel]

Yes!!!! Thank you so much this has been bothering me for years! You have no idea how happy I am

[Karen]

Wow, for years? Goodness. Glad I could help. It's one of my favorite books. Happy reading!