Book Review: If He Had Been With Me

If He Had Been With Me follows a teenage girl, Autumn, through her high school experience and explores her relationship with herself and others, particularly Finny, her next door neighbor and ex-best friend with whom she had a falling out. A romance, the novel explores Finny and Autumn’s connection, and how their history brings them together against all odds. Although the book begins in the future, meaning you know what is going to happen, the ending is absolutely wrecking. The book was beautiful and devastating, and made me feel so strongly. I feel the novel really captures the high school experience and the struggles of mental health, friendship, and staying true to oneself. Perfect for fans of Perks of Being a Wallflower and Eleanor and Park, If He Had Been With Me is a gut-wrenching tale of self discovery and learning to love someone because you never know when you could lose them, and was a five star, incredible read.