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

emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If you can play the long game then this book is for you. If you can't I'm with you. You might be reading this and thinking wow Kayla you just rated this book 4 stars flat and are saying you didn't enjoy it. Yes, yes I am rating a book I didn't enjoy 4 stars. Let me tell you why

First of all, if I had a dollar for every time Autumn mentions that Finn is a soccer player I would be a millionaire. Maybe that's an exaggeration but not really. She is constantly mentioning it. It got a little much. However, when I think about the things that I really love about my husband I realize how often I am talking about them. So while I hated it, it was realistic. I hated the fact that I related so much to that.

Another thing that is constantly happening throughout this book is Autumn being the victim. A lot of bad stuff happens to her. I get it. It's hard to get over the worst things in your life. I found myself thinking, "wow it gets so much worse than this how are you upset about this." But lets be real. I cry over the smallest things and constantly think that I am going through the worst of it. So again, this is realistic. 

I think the hardest part of this book for me personally was that I saw myself in it. It hurt. I didn't want to relate to a character that pointed out so many of the flaws we shared. I certainly hope I never relate to the love of my life dying. 

This book took about 370 pages to change my rating from a 2 star to a 4 star. Take that as you will.
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