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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
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
Huh. I picked this up in a walmart while waiting for my tires to get changed. It captures the feeling of being a kid in school pretty well
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
emotional
fast-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 sobbed… like a little bitch. It’s a really good teen angst story but just have some tissues.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Questo libro affronta un tema potentissimo e devastante: il primo amore, la perdita e il dolore di un rimpianto che segna per sempre. Si sa già dall’inizio che le cose non finiranno bene perchè l’autrice svela fin dalle prime righe il tragico epilogo. Ma è un’arma a doppio taglio: crea fin da subito una tensione palpabile e ti spinge a leggere per capire come si è arrivati a quel punto, ma al tempo stesso può rendere l’esperienza emotiva più distaccata.
Il problema principale, per me, non è la trama in sè, ma la sua esecuzione. Sebbene la storia sia triste, lo stile di scrittura dell’autrice non è riuscito a connettermi pienamente con le emozioni dei personaggi. La prosa, a tratti, mi è sembrata un pò piatta, rendendo difficile empatizzare davvero con Autumn e Finny. Nonostante il loro legame sia il fulcro della narrazione, i dialoghi e le descrizioni non sono riusciti a catturarmi fino in fondo, e ho faticato a sentire il peso del loro amore e della loro amicizia. Di conseguenza, il dolore della perdita, che dovrebbe essere il cuore pulsante del libro, mi è arrivato in modo lontano e distaccato anzichè emotivo.
In sintesi, “If He Had Been With Me” ha il merito di raccontare una storia dal potenziale enorme, ma non riesce a sfruttarlo appieno. L’idea è forte, la tristezza è tangibile, ma l’esecuzione e lo stile di scrittura non mi hanno permesso di sentirla fino in fondo. Per chi cerca una storia d’amore e di perdita, può essere una lettura valida, ma forse ci sono altre opere che riescono a trattare lo stesso tema con una maggiore carica emotiva.
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely team Finn!! Honestly, I'm just the wrong audience for this book.
4.5 stars. damn this book was so good. Instead of being a fangirl, I'll try to give you a coherent review. I loved this book because of how real it was. The main character had depression, but instead of portraying her as a depressed girl, she is simply a girl with depression. Her disease doesn't define her, but is simply something she lives with. The school environment was portrayed very realistically. I want to describe things for you, but I don't want to spoil anything for you. Just know that it isn't corny or patronizing to read if you're a teenager. Also know that by the end I was in tears, and I was riveted throughout. The pacing didn't have me flying through it just to reach the good parts, but I was definitely hooked. I take away a half star only because of the predictability and because the author rushed through the ending ridiculously quickly and without any detail. Everything was so beautifully and meticulously done and the ending was just a fast and hard breakdown of events.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. It was fantastic, amazing, beautiful.
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. It was fantastic, amazing, beautiful.
First book of 2025
If He Had Been With Me is an emotionally raw and beautifully written story that pulls you in with its nuanced characters and bittersweet exploration of love, friendship, and the complexity of growing up. Autumn and Finny’s relationship is both tender and heartbreaking, and their journey feels authentic and deeply relatable.
The author’s ability to capture the quiet moments of longing and regret is remarkable, and I found myself completely immersed in the story. However, I felt the book would have been stronger without the final two chapters. While I understand their purpose, they felt overly dramatic and detracted from the subtle, poignant tone that made the rest of the novel so compelling.
That said, this book is still an unforgettable read, and its emotional impact stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys deeply heartfelt stories with complex characters and meaningful relationships.
If He Had Been With Me is an emotionally raw and beautifully written story that pulls you in with its nuanced characters and bittersweet exploration of love, friendship, and the complexity of growing up. Autumn and Finny’s relationship is both tender and heartbreaking, and their journey feels authentic and deeply relatable.
The author’s ability to capture the quiet moments of longing and regret is remarkable, and I found myself completely immersed in the story. However, I felt the book would have been stronger without the final two chapters. While I understand their purpose, they felt overly dramatic and detracted from the subtle, poignant tone that made the rest of the novel so compelling.
That said, this book is still an unforgettable read, and its emotional impact stayed with me long after I turned the last page. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys deeply heartfelt stories with complex characters and meaningful relationships.