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

3.0

2.5 ⭐️

If the writing style intended for this book to sound like a teenager — whiny, angsty, and juvenile — then the author did a great job at that.

The story was okay. I felt like I was reading a diary. Had I not listened to this in audiobook format, I think I would have dropped the book.

The FMC (Autumn) thinks that she is not like the other girls, but she 100% is. But I think the relationships among friends, and lovers are very realistic for someone at her age.

What I didn’t like was how serious themes were taken too lightly, and sometimes brushed off even.

Teenage pregnancy, depression, divorce, suicide, sexual abuse, and another teenage pregnancy. I felt like these issues were sprinkled on top of an average high school love story to make it more interesting. It just felt off for me.

This story made me “feel” things, so I guess it’s okay. Wish we have more of Finny.