“Sometimes the things we want most are the things we can never have.” (Laura Nowlin, If Only I Had Told Her)

If Only I Had Told Her  by Laura Nowlin is a young adult novel that explores love, friendship, family, and the impact of unspoken feelings. Told from multiple perspectives, it offers a deeper look at the relationships and emotions surrounding the characters introduced in the first book. With heartfelt storytelling and relatable themes, the novel draws readers into an emotional journey about the importance of honesty, connection, and the choices that shape our lives. 

Synopsis:

This novel revisits the story from the first book, If He Had Been With Me, through multiple perspectives. This offers the readers a deeper understanding of the characters, their relationships, and the emotions behind their choices. The novel explores love, family, friendship, and the consequences of unspoken words while revealing new insights into events from the first book. As the characters reflect on their experiences, they learn how honesty, forgiveness, and meaningful connections can shape their lives in unexpected ways. 

Review:

As someone who loves a quick turn of events with added on teenage drama, this book did it all. It was descriptive in the emotional scenes where you felt a part of this world. While the story can feel slow in some moments, the emotional impact and demonstration of regret and missed chances make it a powerful and unforgettable read. The book is a heartfelt reminder to appreciate the people in our lives and the moments we share with them. 

The characters are well-developed and emotionally realistic. Each brought a unique perspective to the story. Autumn continues to show strength and vulnerability as she navigates difficult emotions, while Finn’s perspective helps readers better understand his thoughts and the choices he makes. The supporting characters, especially those close to Autumn and Finn, add depth to the story by showing how relationships, family, and friendship influence each person’s life. One of the main side characters being Sylvie, Finn’s long-term girlfriend. Together, the characters create an emotional and relatable novel that explores love and loss. 

There are so many themes to the book. Laura Nowlin includes themes of love, friendship, regret, and the impact of choices. A major theme in this book is the idea of missed opportunities and how small decisions can shape relationships and the future. The book also demonstrates the challenges of growing up in a teenage world with changed friendships, identity, and learning how to understand your emotions. Through Autumn and Finn’s relationship, the story shows how meaningful connections can influence people’s lives, even when circumstances prevent things from turning out the way they hoped. 

This story was not at all predictable. A surprise would hit every single time you thought you knew where this story ended. New characters came in; new situations happened; new feelings arose. As a teenager reading this story, you felt like you were a part of this world and were struck by new events every other chapter. 

One of the strengths is Nowlin’s use of multiple perspectives, which gives readers a deeper understanding of the character’s thoughts, emotions, and motivations, making the story even more emotional and meaningful. 

One thing that could be revised is the repetition of events from the first book, as some sections revisit familiar scenes and could have included more new material to keep the story moving forward. 

Overall, If Only I Had Told Her is a gut-wrenching book. Anyone who enjoys an overwhelming sense of grief and agony will love this novel. If you want more suggestions like this book or the first book in the series, If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin takes the reader through the first part of the series and The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han takes the reader through another heartfelt story with emotional drama. 

I would give this book: 📚📚📚📚📚- Recommended for anyone looking for major heartbreak from multiple perspectives and a lasting feeling of depression and agony. 

Love, Liya

GFB Ambassador