Reviews with content warning for Child death - If He Had Been with Me

This is a venture off of what I have typically been reading. It was the YA Book of the Month last month at my Barnes and Noble. It was a good engaging read, but I was disappointed in how fast the ending went after the build up of the characters.

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sing1133's review against another edition

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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? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I listened to this as an audiobook after hearing a lot of good things about this book.
I really enjoyed listening to it and really liked the story.
There were some parts where it felt like not a lot was happening yet I didn’t get bored. The chapters were quick which is always a positive thing in my mind.
Nothing dragged on for too long.
I also really liked that Autumn’s boyfriend Jamie wasn’t terrible

at least not the whole time, at the end for sure.

I feel like usually in books where two people should be together or want to be, their significant other is often portrayed as a bad partner in some way but for most of this book I thought Jamie was fine.
He wasn’t my favourite character and I didn’t think they were perfect for each other but I didn’t hate it either.
That’s what made me interested even more because I didn’t really hate anyone and it made the situation more complicated.
I also liked how on top of everything it felt like a normal high school experience too with people growing apart but still having a connection and having trouble dealing with that.
It definitely was a sad ending and it definitely did rip my heart out seeing it coming but I also wasn’t quite as connected to Finn and Autumn as I thought I’d be. I loved Finn a lot and I did want them together but it wasn’t as much as I thought.

I both loved and hated the accident at the end. It was so sad and clearly the book was leading to this but I also felt like it was sudden. And then the very very end with Autumn felt heartbreaking but also sudden to. It just ended a bit abruptly for me which is what brought it down a tiny bit from a 5 star.

Over all though I like this book a lot.

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amelie_wat's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

🚨SPOILERS🚨

This book was a roller coaster - and oh boy, that ending…the lack of transition into such a big plot twist was bold and I personally did not enjoy it as much as other readers.

Overall, I generally liked the characters throughout the book. The story was compelling and the romance aspects were especially well written. I just wish it was a little shorter, I understand that a lot of the chapters were used to develop Autumn and Finn’s relationship - but at some points It just seemed unnecessary.

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kyrstin_p1989's review

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

3.5

This book is told in chapters that feel like snapshots into the world of two teenagers, Finny and Autumn. They are in love with each other but are unwilling or unable to admit it to themselves or the other. They are fated to love one another — their mothers have been best friends for their entire lives. The last third of this book I just knew it was building toward something bad, the book just gave off a vibe. While the last third also gives you a lot of good, it’s a bittersweet ending. For some reason, I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I thought I would. But I still liked them. The ending made me sad, but I didn’t cry. I’m not sure what to make of that.

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alexmall029's review

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wish I could rate this 1000/5. It is devastating but in a good way, thanks TikTok

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sldibened's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

This was a solid read. It did a little too much hinting-to-the-end for me. Like I did read the beginning, friend. I know that we're headed somewhere traumatic, so I don't need a trillion reminders. But I did like that it captured the absolute messiness of high school and emotions and families. Felt a bit like it trailed off after the climax - like the end wasn't as strong. May read this author again.

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