A review by amrita_yadav
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin

emotional lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

The beginning of the book is just cringe. There is no other way to describe it. If you see my copy of this book you will see at least 20 eye roll annotations. I have never thanked god harder when this girl decided to put down her tiara. Since I am not from the country the plot is set up in, Most of the reels I saw of these 'quirky', 'I am not like other girls' girl I could not relate to. But if this is what some people grew up reading then I wholeheartedly understand. Some moments are good and I did get into the flow towards the end. It was like watching someone figure out righting or like grow through the process. I wonder if some of the writing was not edited because its just a style of writing. Don't even get me started on the love part. It just felt wrong and scary. If this is the reality of people and they can explain away their actions with feelings like 'just being right' or 'just not right', I am genuinely worried. What was with the ending? I think I will stick with K drama and one true love kind of stories or even genuine second chance stories. I don't want to listen to anyone saying that it is different in real life blah blah blah, you'll know when it happens to you blah blah blah. Cheating is cheating. If you have feelings for someone else, leave. (Damn, who hurt me?) Good chilling book though. A nice break from all the Classics and 200 year old English I have been reading. Saved my brain.