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shaelee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
As you read the book, the fact of what happens lingers in the back of your mind as you fall in love with the characters. Whilst it’s very mundane and simply written, there’s a certain maturity to the story that keeps readers of all ages hooked on the story. It’s more than just the story of a teenage girl going through the motions of high school
The ending, it retells the first chapter but it doesn’t stop where you believed it does and my gosh, the feeling I felt reading those last few pages is a feeling I don’t think I’ll ever feel again. All the air was sucked from my lungs and my tears just kept flowing. I was quite literally frozen in shock an heartbreak. If you need a good cry, this book will give you that.
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Car accident, Death, Abandonment, and Mental illness
ksett267's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Car accident, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
greatexpectations77's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Mental illness, Pregnancy, Grief, Infidelity, Car accident, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Death, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood
cass_booktok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The book was overall a very sweet and nostalgic read, made me think of the way I used to be as a kid, I was very much like Autumn when I was younger, i felt like her and I was exactly like her, standing out without trying to stand out. I felt embarrassed for her with her wearing a tiara and I remembered that, that is exactly what I did, which is probably why I felt this way, she found herself in Finny and my heart just shattered at the end!!!
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Car accident, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Child death
Minor: Abandonment
eve32's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Car accident and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Self harm, Death, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Abortion, Cursing, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Eating disorder, Rape, Abandonment, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Vomit
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, and Car accident
Moderate: Infidelity and Abandonment
sarasbookishlife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm not sure where to start with this review so I'm just going to give some thoughts about why, as an adult, I still love YA novels (bare with me!)
There is something about childhood friends that is so weird and special and unlike any other friendship you make as an adult. Im talking about the neighbors you grew up riding bikes with and playing freeze tag with and just being young and goofy with because you dont know any other way. The world is small and the moments, no matter how much time passes, seem so significant and vivid.
By comparison adolesence feels like a fog. What was safe and warm turns into the absolute fucking minefield that is middle school and high school. The world is still small but the feelings are so damn big.
It's what makes coming of age and YA novels so moving. And Laura Nowlin captures that crazy, raw, exposed moment in time so perfectly in If He Had Been With Me.
The story follows next door neighbors, Autumn and Finny. As children they were best friends. Inseparable from birth. They grow apart slowly and then all at once as social circles, boyfriends and girlfriends, take them in different directions. Despite their best efforts to largely ignore one another Autumn cant ignore the thought that maybe things could have been different.
The story starts a little slow for me but about a third of the way in I was hooked and seriously rooting for these two to find a way back to eachother. The missed chances and stolen moments had me right in he feels! This is a heatbreaker y'all but as Autumn says "sometimes sad things are beautiful" 😭
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Infidelity
heckinchimken's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Self harm, Mental illness, Death, Suicide attempt, Car accident, and Pregnancy
ecravens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Cursing, Suicide, Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Abandonment, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt