A review by bree_mck
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book beautifully captured the full range of what it is like being a teenager- from the goofy times messing around with your best friends, to the very real hardships that are often overlooked by adults as "not real problems" (exploring sex and intimacy for the first time, friendships, heart break, family turmoil, mental health, grieving and loss). 

Finny and Autumn were very lovable, and the author did a really skillful job of creating fully formed and compelling background characters as well.


The ending was sad and abrupt, albeit foreshadowed from the very first page of the book. However, I found myself hoping that maybe there would be a happy ending after all, that things wouldn't turn out as bad as it initially seemed- I was wrong. Finny and Autumn deserved better, but I am glad they got their last summer together and to say everything they needed to. And my desire for a different ending evidences just how much I grew to care about the characters.
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