Alright, here comes my review of ‘If He Had Been With Me’! If you like stories with lots of feels, friendship drama, and a good cry, you’re in the right spot. I read this one with a few friends and let me tell you, we ended up passing tissues back and forth. There’s plenty to say about the characters, first love, and the author’s sneaky way of making you stay up way past bedtime. But don’t worry, I’ll also tell you what bugged me and what made me cheer. Let’s get to it!
If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin – Book Summary
In a Nutshell
If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin is a young adult novel that will yank your heartstrings and make you question why you didn’t buy tissues in bulk. Set in a high school world, the book follows Autumn and her childhood friend-turned-almost-stranger, Finny. Their story is both sweet and painful, full of the kind of everyday moments that stick in your mind long after you finish.
This book fits smack dab in the contemporary YA romance genre, but it’s way more than a sappy love tale. Nowlin writes about mental health, growing up, and all the awkward messiness that comes with first love and close friendship. She sneaks in the hard stuff: family drama, the pressure to fit in, and the quiet ache of not always knowing where you belong. Altogether, it’s a tale of change, longing, and the weird magic of the in-between years.
Main Characters and Their Emotional Growth in ‘If He Had Been With Me’
Alright, folks, buckle up because ‘If He Had Been With Me’ brings us Finny and Autumn, two main characters who are as real as my morning coffee cravings. I mean, these two could be your next-door neighbors, but with way more emotional baggage (and probably better hair).
Let’s talk about Autumn first. When I started reading, I thought, ‘Okay, she’s a bit awkward, but who isn’t?’ She has this way of thinking—always in her head, always worried about the world. Relatable! Her emotional growth sneaks up. She goes from hiding in the shadows and feeling like an outsider to realizing she deserves love—and more importantly, understanding herself. At one point, I swear I wanted to give her a pep talk, but then she’d have to share her snacks, and I’m not that generous.
Then there’s Finny. Oh, Finny. His journey is less out-loud but packs a punch. He starts off as that guy you think has it all figured out, but it turns out he’s just as confused as the rest of us. The book does a great job showing how he learns to admit what he feels instead of just being the nice guy. I’ve seen folks act like Finny at high school parties—smiling wide, holding back big thoughts. Finny’s growth feels honest, not just plot-filler.
Buckle your seatbelt and hold on to your peanut butter sandwiches, because next, I’ll break down friendship and first love in ‘If He Had Been With Me’—and trust me, it gets even juicier!
How ‘If He Had Been With Me’ Handles Friendship and First Love
Oh boy, friendship and first love can be a real circus, and If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin brings all the popcorn. This book doesn’t treat friendship like a side salad—it’s the main dish. Autumn and Finny, the leads, have a friendship deeper than my love for pizza. They grew up like siblings, but things start to get complicated once teenage hormones and awkward feelings show up like uninvited guests at a party.
What really hit me was how realistic Nowlin makes the push and pull between wanting to keep a friend and falling in love by accident (or maybe not so accidental). Autumn’s group of misfit pals is also written with care and depth. Each friend comes with their own quirks, like Jamie, who can’t stop talking about his pet turtle, and Syd, who always tries to be the voice of reason when everyone else acts like they’re in the world’s slowest soap opera.
First love in this book isn’t always fireworks and perfect prom photos. There’s a lot of doubt, confusion, and moments that made me want to shake Autumn and yell, “Talk to him already!” Still, the book nails those messy feelings that you wish you could forget but you never do. Nowlin shows us the joy and heartbreak of loving someone who’s been by your side forever, and how sometimes, friendship and first love get tangled up like last year’s Christmas lights.
Next up, I’ll chat about the writing style and pacing—grab your popcorn again, because things are about to get wordy and wild!
How Does the Writing Style and Pacing Shape ‘If He Had Been With Me’?
Okay, let’s talk about writing style. You know how some books use big words just to sound fancy? Well, If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin keeps things simple. The writing feels like a friend telling you secrets late at night. Sentences are short, but they pack emotion. Sometimes, I had to pause and just stare at the wall for a second. (Yes, I am melodramatic, but so is this book!)
Now, onto the pacing. Here’s the honest truth: the book moves slow at times. The first half is like being stuck in a never-ending school lunch line. But wait—it’s not all boring! Every slow bit adds to the moody vibe and helps you get inside Autumn’s brain. The author sneaks in little hints about what’s coming, and you know you’re heading for trouble, but you’re not sure how… I started chewing my nails more than popcorn during a scary movie. This slow burn is great if you like to savor every awkward moment and heart flutter. But if you want action or dramatic fights every chapter, you’ll need some patience. I read part of it with a friend, and we both agreed: slow, but not snoozy.
On the plus side, the writing is easy to read, even if you’re a tired potato like I was after a long week. On the other hand, I wished things would speed up sometimes. But stick with it—the pay-off is worth it.
Buckle up, because next we’re heading for the rollercoaster section: plot twists and emotional impact. Grab your tissues and maybe some chocolate!
Unexpected Turns and All the Feels: Plot Twists and Emotional Impact in If He Had Been With Me
Let’s get one thing straight—If He Had Been With Me is not here to gently hold your hand and whisper sweet nothings. Oh no, it’s more like getting a surprise pie in the face, but instead of whipped cream, it’s made of feelings. I sat on my couch eating chips, thinking, “Oh, I know where this is going!” Spoiler: I did not know where this was going. My friends and I had a mini book club (aka, we just texted a lot), and every one of us got caught off guard by the plot twists. One even gasped so loud, her cat jumped off the windowsill. Now that’s drama.
The author, Laura Nowlin, cooks up emotional surprises that sneak up on you. Just when you think the story is cruising along, BAM! Something happens that makes you want to hug every character, then yell at them, then maybe hug them again. The emotional punches are real. I may or may not have wiped away a tear with a Dorito. No shame.
Of course, not everyone loves to have their heart stomped for fun. If you’re looking for a light, easy story where nothing hurts, this is not it. But if you love some gut-wrenching surprises and you want to remember what it felt like to be a moody teenager who thinks love is life-or-death, you’re in for a wild ride.
To wrap it up: do I recommend If He Had Been With Me? You bet! Just bring snacks and tissues. You’re gonna need both.
Conclusion
Alright, folks, this wraps up my review of If He Had Been With Me. I laughed, I got misty-eyed, and I may have yelled at a few characters (sorry, Autumn—sometimes you just need a pep talk!). Laura Nowlin’s book handles first love and friendship in a way that feels raw and real. Sure, the pacing can feel slow, and a box of tissues is pretty much required reading. But if you’re after big feels and characters that stick with you like gum on a shoe, you can’t go wrong here. Happy reading, and remember—not every love story goes the way you hope, but sometimes that’s what makes them worth it!
