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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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:
No
How do you even begin to put into words the kind of book that wrecks you, in the most beautifully devastating way?
I just finished If He Had Been With Me… and I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again. Autumn and Finny? They deserved so much more. More time. More moments. More of each other. And I’m just sitting here with my heart in pieces, wondering how a story so simple on the surface could leave such a deep scar inside me.
Laura Nowlin didn’t just write a love story—she wrote about the what ifs, the almosts, and the kind of soul connections that are too rare and too real to be forgotten. The writing? Quietly powerful. The emotions? Raw, tender, and unfiltered. This isn't a dramatic love story—it’s a real one. And maybe that's what hurts the most.
This book made me ugly cry. Like full-on tears-streaming-down-my-face cry. It’s the kind of book you finish and then just sit with—no music, no scrolling, just silence and heartbreak.
If you’re looking for something light and fluffy, this isn’t it. But if you want something that will reach into your chest, squeeze your heart, and stay with you long after the final page—then read this. Please read this.
And to Autumn and Finny… I hope you're dancing in the rain somewhere, together, like you were always meant to be.
I just finished If He Had Been With Me… and I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again. Autumn and Finny? They deserved so much more. More time. More moments. More of each other. And I’m just sitting here with my heart in pieces, wondering how a story so simple on the surface could leave such a deep scar inside me.
Laura Nowlin didn’t just write a love story—she wrote about the what ifs, the almosts, and the kind of soul connections that are too rare and too real to be forgotten. The writing? Quietly powerful. The emotions? Raw, tender, and unfiltered. This isn't a dramatic love story—it’s a real one. And maybe that's what hurts the most.
This book made me ugly cry. Like full-on tears-streaming-down-my-face cry. It’s the kind of book you finish and then just sit with—no music, no scrolling, just silence and heartbreak.
If you’re looking for something light and fluffy, this isn’t it. But if you want something that will reach into your chest, squeeze your heart, and stay with you long after the final page—then read this. Please read this.
And to Autumn and Finny… I hope you're dancing in the rain somewhere, together, like you were always meant to be.
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
What the hell bro???!! I was all here for this book until the end; it had an uncanny way of describing the female teenage experience that I guess was universal. But that ending was cliche and made the whole book feel like a waste.
dark
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
I will genuinely never recover from that. Things were finally perfect with Finn and Autumn. So why did he have to go after Sylvie. Of course it was THAT puddle that he stepped in. Why couldn’t Sylvie die?! Why did he have to die?! WHHHYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! 😭 My heart is shattered into a million pieces. I’m crying so hard. Laura Nowlin is evil!!!!!!! I hate this book so much, but it was beautiful. It was so good, but actually why? There was no need for that!!!!!!!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Partially captivating. A teen romance, main female lead is a bit whiny but she is just a personality type i don't resonate with. The story does unpack a common mutual experience for many young girls, the ending is tragic and tugs at the heart strings but i feel it could have had more time to unpack the true weight that would come with such an experience.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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