If Only I Had Told Her

Have you ever read a book that even after you were finished reading it, you couldn’t stop crying? Well that’s this book for me. Many, many books have made me cry. Only a few bring tears to my eyes though long after I’ve turned the last page. This is one of those books. I’m so so grateful that I was able to read these two books back to back. Not sure I could have survived If He Had Been With Me without knowing I could read this book right after. This duo of books should come with a warning sign! They’re that good, that heartbreaking, that beautiful of a tragic love story!!!

This is not the first book but it's the first one that I read in this series. I am thinking that was not a mistake. I have always enjoyed reading YA fiction from the male point of view, probably because that is so different from a woman's point of view. And Finneas was such a lovable character - an all around good guy who found himself caught in a love triangle of his own making. Those are also my favorite romances to read because young love is often confusing and felt so deeply. It can be like Romeo and Juliet and sometimes be downright tragic at times. The writing style is one of the hardest to do well, and that is present tense. But it really does make you feel like you are there in the moment as the action is happening.

This story gripped me emotionally and kept me reading. I didn't want to stop. The way it was written helped me grieve with the characters. If felt torn the same way that Finneas did when it came to his lifelong love for Autumn. That was so well done, as was the emotional punch in the gut I felt at the end of the first point of view. I cried. Then it deepened even more when in Jack's POV. He had to somehow move on in life without his best friend. I loved getting to know his heart. The regrets, the pain, the joy and the stages of grief were so well done.

Then there was Autumn's point of view, which would more closely resemble my own if I were to find myself in her situation. I felt like I knew these characters - like they were real people. They were so complex and three dimensional. As an author myself, I feel like this deep point of view gave me a new and fresh perspective on developing emotion in scenes. I've always enjoyed developing characters, but this was somehow deeper the way it was done. It's an approach to writing that I am looking forward to developing while writing my own novels.

One last thought. I didn't care much for the cursing, but it wasn't overly done. And honestly, most guys think and talk like that in the real world, so the point of view made sense. It added to their emotion in the way it was expressed so that was also well done. The author did not focus on what happens to someone after they die. In fact, she didn't mention the afterlife at all. What she did do was show how a person's life can make an impact on the lives of other people who are still living, and in that sense, they will live on despite having died. The characters found themselves often asking what Finn would want as if he was still there, and in doing so, they were honoring his memory. That was a perspective I had not considered before and I found it to be healing.

I love this book so much. The book before this “If He Had Been With Me” is one of my favorite books of time and this one is just as equally amazing. These books got me out of my reading slump and they are absolutely amazing. They are very sad though and definitely will make you cry. This is one of the first books I would recommend to someone and I loved it so much that I was able to read it within 3 days.

I waited 2 months to get into the right mindset to read this one, and I’m so glad I did, because the emotions in this book, for these characters, for Finn, it’s just something I’ve never experienced in any book I’ve ever read. I think it’s because this is so relatable to so many- we may not know a situation exactly like Finn’s and Autumn’s, but we have witnessed and most of us have endured some tragedy in life.

Full disclosure: I cried through about 50% of the book. But honest to God, I ended this book with a smile.

The 3 point of views were everything, and so well done, I have no complaints.

Getting Finny’s POV was EVERYTHING. His love for Autumn was true and deep, and to understand how he really felt about her was simply…bittersweet. It’s hard to find a better word to describe. I felt that we were privileged with so many more details of their final 24 hours together, and getting more of Sylvie’s background was necessary.

Yes, you question EVERYTHING leading up to his final moments, but I didn’t feel as angry as I did in the first one, and I think that’s because I was coming off the high that was the first 17 chapters of this book and through his eyes. I love you, Finny.

Jack’s POV hit me hard, and I cried the most ugly tears throughout his chapters. He details the aftermath of the accident, and we endure the funeral with Jack, and him laying his best friend in the ground- all things we know are happening, but we read it in live time with him. I would also find myself laughing at something he said, and then crying again by the end of the page.

I was surprised Jack and Autumn weren’t entangled more in their lives- they will be, but these POVs were so strongly written, I didn’t feel like they needed to be around each other, and they don’t because they do have their own lives. Jack’s college roommate Brett threw me for the best loop, and I broke again.

And our sweet Autumn…her POV was welcomed, and it was so comforting. I cried sad tears and tears of joy. She’s growing and maturing. I don’t hug, and I would wrap her in my arms if I could.

The Mothers were the true standouts here, and a few other surprise characters that will provide such a cocoon of support for Finny’s and Autumn’s baby…as well as Autumn herself. She’s so strong, and at the end, you realize, this is life. Sometimes the hand we’re dealt is not great, and sometimes we drag our feet for years to get where we should have been to begin with, and sometimes it’s just too late. But things have a crazy way of working out, and believe me when I tell you, that I truly smiled at the end of this book. I feel such closure, and the last page of the book is probably some of the best advice you can carry going forward when you lose someone you love. Surrounding yourself with those who carry pieces of them within themselves, it’s just…devastatingly beautiful.

"If Only I Had Told Her" is a captivating journey through love, loss, and the power of redemption. This book beautifully weaves together the complexities of relationships, reminding readers of the importance of honesty and communication. The characters are deeply relatable, and their emotional depth draws you in from the very first page. The author's prose is both evocative and poignant, creating a story that stays with you long after you've finished reading. Whether you're a fan of romance or simply enjoy a well-crafted narrative, "If Only I Had Told Her" is a must-read that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you longing for more.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!

I wish finny’s pov was longer in this; like I wish we got more words from him about his love for Autumn during their separation. The first book was full of small moments in the present where Autumn realized her love for him, I wish we got the dual pov from those same moments from his perspective. Also, Jack was not that relevant in the first book so giving him a POV that takes up most of this one seemed a little off, I could have lived without his perspective. I wish it had only been finny/ autumn in this one, and I wish we had gotten to meet their daughter and experience a little bit of Autumn’s motherhood. it felt very long yet unfinished, but still beautifully written. it was a fast, heartbreaking read that left me wanting so much more. The book itself was still amazing, but I wish it had been a little different

Loved If He Had Been with Me - however this book is also a good read. I feel it did not provide closure, and I wish it was more focused on Finn’s feelings towards Autumn. A lot of the beginning was the same as the ending of the first book. Jacks point of view, and the way he grieved his friend’s death was a rollercoaster of emotions. I wished Autumns part would have been a bit different. Still a good story and would definitely read both books again sometime in the future.

Printing note: Found a few typos, yet not sure if it was an honest mistake a few words also a bit faded, like the printed was low on ink. Still book arrives fast and in excellent conditions.

I sort of feel unsatisfied with the second books ending. I enjoyed reading about Autumn establishing herself as a new adult and as a mother. However, I also wanted to read about her life after the baby was born, whether their child would look more like Finn or Autumn or a perfect combination of them both. I wanted to see Autumn grow a little more as a young woman. I just feel as though the ending was a bit rushed. However, All in all, I loved and enjoyed reading this series very much. I finished the first book in 4 days and the second book within one day. I 100% recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read a story that will invoke heart-felt emotions and will give you a good sentimental cry. I truly loved this series, it’s officially one of my favorite. Thank you author.

You can tell this book was edited by someone else this time around. The sentence structure and chapters are clear evidence of that. Personally for me I think you could read either book first of this series and still grasp the importance of what the author was trying to say.

possible spoilers. Read @ your own risk

I finished this book and was left unsatisfied If I’m being honest I wanted more Finny and I thought we were getting that with this book. I didn’t understand jacks part at first? But I can’t say I didn’t like reading it I just didn’t see how he played such a big role in this book when we hardly knew him in the first. I also got vibes that Jack was in love with Finny but maybe I was just reading too much into it 😂 I will say I did want more of Jack and Brett! Their connection and bonding was something so sweet. There wasn’t any real character development in this book. I was hoping we would see autumn flourish or grow into her own with the baby but it seems like the characters were just stuck There was no closure with sylvie and the car accident? And her and Jack ending up after that fact was hard for me to digest. It would have been cool to see a flash forward of all of them like a 5 year time gap check in to show us that autumn is okay and loving her life with the baby But overall I enjoyed the book and still gave it 4 stars

“The only way out, is through.”

This book was a fast read, it was okay. I enjoyed reading Finn’s POV and even getting Jacks POV. I think the book does a good job at showing how each character goes thought grief in a different way, and how depression affects people that you may think are completely fine. However, I think it felt a little too repetitive/long for what it is at times. I think if you really loved If He Had Been With Me, you’ll love this. If it was just average to you then this may feel lackluster and could just skip it. To me it was just meh, I hate Autumns character tbh and I don’t like the way it ended. The book felt too long but unfinished at the same time, I expected this to be Finn’s book, and only 1/3rd of it is his POV.