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challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reading the sequel made me really dislike Finny because of how he and Autumn hurt Sylvie. Honestly, Jack's part of the book was more compelling to me than Autumn and Finny's entire story. Justice for Sylvie, my goodness, she's the best character in this whole dang series. Angie is also adorable and a good friend. I wouldn't recommend this series, but I'm glad the sequel fleshed out the loose ends of the first book because the first book's ending was incredibly jarring.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
challenging
emotional
sad
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:
Complicated
If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin was a sequel i didn’t know I needed, but I was glad to have after how the first book leaves off. I liked the way the stories overlap at the beginning, and I think that it works to provide closure that I feel like readers thought (at least I did) was missing at the end of the first book. This book deals with incredibly difficult and real topics, such as death, depression, and grief, so definitely give the TW list a read before jumping in. I think it handles these topics well, but they may still be triggering, since the content is so heavy throughout. I really loved the perspective changes in this book as a way of looking at grief through different characters, since everyone deals with grief differently. While we really only get a glimpse into Finny’s best friend, James, and Autumn, I think this shows how differently people grieve based on their relationships, support systems, and outlooks. Overall, I really enjoyed this duology more than I thought I would, and I think that if you read the first book, but wanted some more closure of the characters, this sequel does a great job extending the timeline just a enough to help heal what it broke.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
yet another book that did not need a sequel, if anything this could have been a novella or tacked on to the end of the first book. there were so many plot points within this that were barely touched on that felt unfinished and cut short. parts of it i enjoyed like the metaphor with the hole in their baby’s heart which represents the whole in autumn’s . but it was SO predictable and just not necessary. i enjoyed hearing finnys and jacks perspectives, but finnys was much more essential to the story and it could have ended after his. why did this lowkey romanticize teen pregnancy as well
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 ⭐️ ~ This was a good follow up book to If He Had Been With Me. It took me a little bit longer to get through because I felt like some parts were slower than book one (it also had longer chapters that added to that.
To start off, Jack’s pov was my fav in this book. It was so sad but also refreshing to read from a new character’s perspective. I liked seeing his love for Finn as it was very different from Autumn’s because he loved him like a brother and best friend. His chapters were also the most sad since I hadn’t read his reactions beforehand. I’m really happy he decided to be there for Autumn and Sylvie though and I hope they all stay in touch forever.
Next, I did like Autumn’s perspective. I felt like she matured a lot in the book and it gave me a lot of closure on her story knowing that she will be okay. Her perspectives on becoming a mother was also very interesting as I usually don’t read books with pregnancy tropes or like single parent tropes but this one really worked and made sense for me. Reading about her maturity and new found friendships was really beautiful as well as reading about her overcoming her grief and emotions.
The perspective I was most disappointed with was surprisingly Finn’s. I really expected and was hoping for more moments from high school when he was yearning for her or felt protective of her or moments when he was maybe close to telling her how he felt. Instead it was really only a few flashbacks and the two days before his death. It was good to get some clarity on the accident and everything that happened. But it honestly made me a little more mad reading his death from his perspective because it was so so preventable. Also going back to the first book, I feel like he should’ve maybe died in a different way? Idk him not realizing the water and fallen electric pole was very out of character for him as he was usually cautious and very smart. But I suppose it does make sense when you look at it as the perspective of him being a in shock at what had just occurred. But overall, I’m very happy the author allowed us his perspective and to see how much he truly loved Autumn. Although I also did expect his death to be more upsetting from his pov but it was very brief and not very descriptive.
Finally, I gave this book 3.5 stars because I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one. It provided good context and closure for the original book however that’s really all it was. On top of that the writing (although better) was still not that great. I’m also very upset that the baby is girl. I rlly wanted it to be a boy and for them to name it after Finny. But no it’s a girl and then Autumn didn’t even tell us a name. I think the author needs to write a third book. Also one part of this book was very unrealistic and that was the fact that Sylvie only got a concussion from the car crash. Like how do u fly through a windshield and only walk out with a concussion? And if the water that electrocuted Finny was right by her head then how did she not get electrocuted? The whole plot of the accident is a little messy.
Overall, is this the best series I’ve ever read? No. But it still has a special place in my heart, as do the characters. Every part of each book was emotional and tragic but also beautiful. I’m very happy I read this and I do believe it gave me the closure I needed. I’m satisfied to know that despite the heartbreaking events that these characters will be okay.
Also I 100% think the author should write a third and fourth book. 1. To be years into the future with Autumn and Finn’s baby in high school or something. 2. And alternate universe or fate novel where if one tiny event at some point in their lives had been different then maybe they would have gotten a happy ending and then that can even go into the future with their college, wedding, etc. idec if it’s a novella. I may have closure but I want that alternate ending.
That’s all for now. I do recommend this series if you are looking for something emotional and sad. But don’t expect the writing to be all that great.
To start off, Jack’s pov was my fav in this book. It was so sad but also refreshing to read from a new character’s perspective. I liked seeing his love for Finn as it was very different from Autumn’s because he loved him like a brother and best friend. His chapters were also the most sad since I hadn’t read his reactions beforehand. I’m really happy he decided to be there for Autumn and Sylvie though and I hope they all stay in touch forever.
Next, I did like Autumn’s perspective. I felt like she matured a lot in the book and it gave me a lot of closure on her story knowing that she will be okay. Her perspectives on becoming a mother was also very interesting as I usually don’t read books with pregnancy tropes or like single parent tropes but this one really worked and made sense for me. Reading about her maturity and new found friendships was really beautiful as well as reading about her overcoming her grief and emotions.
The perspective I was most disappointed with was surprisingly Finn’s. I really expected and was hoping for more moments from high school when he was yearning for her or felt protective of her or moments when he was maybe close to telling her how he felt. Instead it was really only a few flashbacks and the two days before his death. It was good to get some clarity on the accident and everything that happened. But it honestly made me a little more mad reading his death from his perspective because it was so so preventable. Also going back to the first book, I feel like he should’ve maybe died in a different way? Idk him not realizing the water and fallen electric pole was very out of character for him as he was usually cautious and very smart. But I suppose it does make sense when you look at it as the perspective of him being a in shock at what had just occurred. But overall, I’m very happy the author allowed us his perspective and to see how much he truly loved Autumn. Although I also did expect his death to be more upsetting from his pov but it was very brief and not very descriptive.
Finally, I gave this book 3.5 stars because I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one. It provided good context and closure for the original book however that’s really all it was. On top of that the writing (although better) was still not that great. I’m also very upset that the baby is girl. I rlly wanted it to be a boy and for them to name it after Finny. But no it’s a girl and then Autumn didn’t even tell us a name. I think the author needs to write a third book. Also one part of this book was very unrealistic and that was the fact that Sylvie only got a concussion from the car crash. Like how do u fly through a windshield and only walk out with a concussion? And if the water that electrocuted Finny was right by her head then how did she not get electrocuted? The whole plot of the accident is a little messy.
Overall, is this the best series I’ve ever read? No. But it still has a special place in my heart, as do the characters. Every part of each book was emotional and tragic but also beautiful. I’m very happy I read this and I do believe it gave me the closure I needed. I’m satisfied to know that despite the heartbreaking events that these characters will be okay.
Also I 100% think the author should write a third and fourth book. 1. To be years into the future with Autumn and Finn’s baby in high school or something. 2. And alternate universe or fate novel where if one tiny event at some point in their lives had been different then maybe they would have gotten a happy ending and then that can even go into the future with their college, wedding, etc. idec if it’s a novella. I may have closure but I want that alternate ending.
That’s all for now. I do recommend this series if you are looking for something emotional and sad. But don’t expect the writing to be all that great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Gore, Medical content, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was very unexpected, a very good romantic book, that takes a tragic ending. I would highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Grief, Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer, Child death, Death, Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship