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

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

this is the book that made everyone on tiktok cry? really?

it builds up for so long. Every page seems to build hype and foreshadowing for this looming Something and in the last 4 chapters everything falls apart. most of this book is so painfully slow-burn. and when they finally get together, most of it is about breaking up with sylvie anyway. finny also just straight up cheats on her.

I’m still gonna read the sequel because I need a bigger picture here

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Alcohol