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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are books that tug at your heart, and then there are books that wreck you. If Only He Had Been With Me did the latter. It’s hard to explain, but something about this story felt so familiar, even though I’ve never experienced anything like it. The love, the pain, the confusion, the longing—it resonated deeply with me in a way I didn’t expect.
The story itself isn’t anything mind-blowing, but the way Laura Nowlin writes her characters is nothing short of extraordinary. Autumn and Finn’s dynamic feels raw and real, their humanity captured so perfectly that you can’t help but become invested in them. There’s something about the depth of their hearts that feels both extraordinary and painfully familiar. I was completely immersed in the characters’ lives, and their struggles—depression, family problems, loneliness—are all explored with such nuance that they never feel superficial. These themes follow Autumn’s journey throughout the story, shaping her into the person she becomes, making the emotional payoff all the more intense.
The opening chapter alone is enough to leave you heartbroken, offering a glimpse into how everything will end. Knowing that, I still kept hoping—willing—something would change, that the story would take a different turn. But it didn’t, and when the ending finally came, I was a mess of tears all over again. The heartbreak is unavoidable, but Nowlin’s writing is so beautiful, so deliberate in every word, that it makes the pain worth it. This book feels so real, like I had experienced it, and that’s what makes it linger long after you’ve turned the last page.
Despite the devastation it left me with, I know this will remain one of my favourite reads for a long time to come. The emotional weight of it, the way it alters your perspective on life and love, is something that will stay with me. If you’re worried about the heartbreak, don’t be—Nowlin’s prose is more than worth it. If Only He Had Been With Me isn’t just a book; it’s an experience that changes you.
The story itself isn’t anything mind-blowing, but the way Laura Nowlin writes her characters is nothing short of extraordinary. Autumn and Finn’s dynamic feels raw and real, their humanity captured so perfectly that you can’t help but become invested in them. There’s something about the depth of their hearts that feels both extraordinary and painfully familiar. I was completely immersed in the characters’ lives, and their struggles—depression, family problems, loneliness—are all explored with such nuance that they never feel superficial. These themes follow Autumn’s journey throughout the story, shaping her into the person she becomes, making the emotional payoff all the more intense.
The opening chapter alone is enough to leave you heartbroken, offering a glimpse into how everything will end. Knowing that, I still kept hoping—willing—something would change, that the story would take a different turn. But it didn’t, and when the ending finally came, I was a mess of tears all over again. The heartbreak is unavoidable, but Nowlin’s writing is so beautiful, so deliberate in every word, that it makes the pain worth it. This book feels so real, like I had experienced it, and that’s what makes it linger long after you’ve turned the last page.
Despite the devastation it left me with, I know this will remain one of my favourite reads for a long time to come. The emotional weight of it, the way it alters your perspective on life and love, is something that will stay with me. If you’re worried about the heartbreak, don’t be—Nowlin’s prose is more than worth it. If Only He Had Been With Me isn’t just a book; it’s an experience that changes you.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book felt like Laura Nowlin had personally reached into my high school memories and plucked me out in place of Autumn. I am not here to dispute the negative reviews calling her annoying and cringey, it's just that I think that comes hand in hand with being a teenage girl.
Overall, I think this book would be perfect for girls 15-18 and it had some beautiful moments, they managed to make me route for the romance despite promising me it was doomed at the start.
Overall, I think this book would be perfect for girls 15-18 and it had some beautiful moments, they managed to make me route for the romance despite promising me it was doomed at the start.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Eating disorder, Mental illness