If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin

Title: If He Had Been With Me

Author: Laura Nowlin

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Date Published: April 2, 2013

Genre: YA fiction, romance, contemporary, realistic fiction

Pages: 336 (paperback)

Age Range: 14+






Summary


A heartrending tale of missed chances and what might have been 

"If he had been with me, everything would be different." For one thing, Finn wouldn't have been in that car, on that road, on that night. As children, Finn and Autumn were inseparable, but an incident in middle school puts them on separate paths going into high school. Yet no matter how distant they become, or who they're dating, Autumn continues to be haunted by the past and what might have been. While their paths continue to cross, and opportunities continue to be missed, little do they know that a terrible car accident looms in the future and might separate them forever.


Review


This book was quirky and jumpy and fun. I really liked how jumpy the story-line was. How one thing would happen in one chapter, and then it could be days, or weeks, or months later when the next chapter begins.

This book was very stereotypical; yet not really at the same time. It fit the book perfectly because of the characters. The characters were fun and different and quirky. Their personalities shined whenever the group was together because they would play off of each other. They were good, close friends that you'd never think would grow apart.

That's why it made me upset that everyone kind of went their separate ways after graduation. I mean, sure it happens, but I didn't want this group of friends to grow apart. Though, Autumn had a good reason not to want to hang out with the whole gang anymore.

Kinda SPOILER-Y

I knew Jamie was going to end it with Autumn at the end of the book, but I think the way he did it was cruel. He didn't have to say those things to her. Why would he tell her that he's tired of caring for her and giving her attention? That's what relationships are and if you can't last with Autumn, you probably won't last with Sasha either, bud.

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS

I also knew that Finny was going to get into some-sort of car accident right after him and Autumn officially got together and die. Who wouldn't see that coming after reading the very first chapter of the book, right?

Well, he does get in a car accident. But he didn't die.

Instead, the author shocks me (ha, pun intended) and electrocutes Finny....

That's right, folks, electrocuted. He gets in a car crash with Sy--who gets shot out the front window-- and when he goes to help her, he doesn't see that she's in a puddle and that there's a wire in the puddle by her head so when he reaches for her....ZAP!

What a mean way to kill off a character, though original and shocking.

I have to admit that I laughed. But then I cried a few tears when Autumn found out that he was dead and tried to kill herself.

NO MORE SPOILERS. YOU'RE SAFE.

Anyway, this was a fun read. I really enjoyed the characters, and it was a nice, quick read. I'd definitely recommend this. (Thank you, Nadia for recommending it to me). Though this book wasn't as sad as if i stay by Gayle Forman, it was still sad and almost as good a read (sorry, if i stay is one of my FAVS lol). Add this book to your summer to-read list! You won't regret it :)

That's right guys, I'm back on reviews!