This was an enjoyable read. There was two time lines telling the story and I liked how it worked. The only thing I didn't like was the end because it was left up in the air and up to interpretation and I think I would have rather a concrete ending, but that's just a personal preference.

Sliding Doors was an amazing movie and I was so excited to read a book with that vibe. Thankfully, Where It All Lands delivered. Stevie, Shane and Drew were all separately interesting characters, but put together in a trio, they really worked. Both versions of their story were page-turning, and I would definitely recommend this book!

I tried and tried to get into this book but I had to DNF at 26%. I will most definitely try again at some point but for now it goes on the DNF shelf.

I definitely went into this book without any expectations. I started out really strong and I was enjoying most of the story...but then it switches to part II...and part III where the entire story changes. I see the why behind the shift and the reasoning for the story, there was a lot of well intentions with trying to get an emotional reaction and show how things aren't ever really in our hands, but the story flow really didn't work well for me.

I did enjoy the relationships and how Stevie saw each of the boys. Her life and constant moving is something a lot of people can relate to and the cycle of friends is also relatable. Drew and Shane were definitely two sides of a coin and it was easy to see why Stevie would like one over the other and then the other over the other...but the whole book set up really took away from the fluidity of the work. Not a bad read, just wasn't really my favorite.

Highschoolers, Stevie, Drew, and Shane navigate challenges of life in this dual timeline novel. I find it hard to go into much detail without spoilers, however, it's an emotional and great read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy!

An interesting proposal of telling the two sides of a coin. As well as its two flips.

Shane and Drew are best friends who fall for the new girl Stevie. Because they've always solved their problems flipping a coin, that's how Drew decides they should do now, too. The book presents us with two points of view for each of the two results and then what would have happened had fate established it was heads or tails, Drew or Shane who had the right to ask Stevie out.

I loved this idea but the execution resulted in a 2.5 read, which I'm rounding up.

I didn't like the characters very much. Shane was supposed to be the more likeable but he was a little boring to me as a main character. Stevie and Drew were a mess that as I read on made me relate less and less to them. The three of them are well constructed, even if I didn't enjoy the result. They each deal with their problems and have their depths. There aren't many side characters, except for Ray, who was probably my favorite of all—but not by that much—and a few more with even minor appearances.

The summary had already let us know the story would have two timelines and it's easy to guess that one would be if Drew had won the flip and the if other, Shane. Which is interesting, but made the writer fall for a trap, in my opinion. I know people who love reading the same scene from different angles, but I'm not one, unless it's very important, and the result is almost the same. What I think make it worse, though I have no idea how it could work out differently, is that the change of timeline occurs in the middle of the book. It's not that the author concludes one to go to the other, but she changes very close to it. It means, we start the whole thing again right before learning the end. This made me grunt.

Near the end, the two timelines finally come in alternate chapters, but this was also a little confusing because we're talking about the same two characters in different states of mind, so changing the chapter broke all my connection to them and starting the next meant an effort to recover the turmoil of emotions two chapters behind. I'm not sure either worked.

Was there a meaning to telling two stories with the same characters? I feel I got what the writer meant to do, and it felt almost like therapy. That's why I think that even though this wasn't the book for me, there are many readers looking for this kind of healing read. I can't spoil any further, but if you like books that make you think about life, see it form a different angle, this is it. And because of that, the book can feel a discussion on when you start doing "what if"s with where life leads you. I like food for thought but I preferred the dual timeline leading me somewhere more practical.

In Where It All Lands a coin flip creates a dual timeline, chronicling what happened for each outcome. The story begins with a funeral, following a car accident, but the reader is kept in the dark as to who died. Shane and Drew are neighbors and best friends, who have both recently lost their dads. Shane father succumbs to an illness and Drew's dad, a high powered music executive, has left his family behind for a new life. When Stevie Rosenstein moves to town and joins their school marching band, they both fall for her and flip a coin to see who gets to ask her out. They all have a passion for music. Stevie plays the saxophone, Shane is a talented drummer and Drew is the lead singer in a rock band, but he picks up the trumpet to prove to his dad that he is a serious musician. The first half of the book finds Drew winning the toss and entering a passionate relationship with Stevie, even though she and Shane are bonding over preparing for a music competition that may help her get a college scholarship. The second half of the book ponders what would have happened if Shane won the coin toss. Ultimately, the boys realize that have no control over Stevie's choices and the consequences. The mystery as to who dies in the car accident creates suspense and the different timelines reinforce that there is more to love than initial attraction.

WHERE IT ALL LANDS is a fun, easy read about friendship, first love, growing up, and what could have been. I loved following Stevie, Shane, and Drew, and the decisions they made or could have made, in Wexler's creative, entertaining novel. I would highly recommend this book for fans of Sarah Dessen, or YA in general. This did feel like Sliding Doors in book form - a delightful read.

I kindly received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I breezed through this book and found it very thoughtful. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters drew me in. The character development was so compelling and made me feel connected to the characters. Overall, a beautiful, light read.

Where It All Lands is a cute YA contemporary romance that explores the impact of a single decision. Told in a dual timeline based on two paths following the flip of a coin, I enjoyed this love triangle novel. It read very fast and I LOVED the characters...well...mostly Shane.

I love the alternate universe kind of trope, so this was right up my alley. I enjoyed the exploration and how, while the choice did cause some important differences, not everything was impacted by such a small thing. There's a bit of a mix of fate and autotomy at work and it felt genuine.

The writing was good and comfortable and the structure was well done. I sped right through this and found it to be a good cozy blanket read. The narrative isn't overly complex and stays focused on the main plot points while still adding enough periphery to be a well-rounded story. There were a few times where the actions and choices of the characters seemed a little dramatic, but...then again...teenagers, so who am I to judge? I recall being a "bit" dramatic as well.

I would definitely read this again, recommend it to others, and read more from this author. I was a bit surprised to find out that this was a debut. The caliber was beyond what I would expect and I hazard to guess that other great works could be coming from this author in the future. I will certainly be keeping my antenna up.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I took a total chance on this book - and I am glad that I did! It's a pretty charming and interesting read that left me smiling. What a cool concept and a new way of story-telling! It felt unpredictable and had me really going back and forth between what I wanted to happen - I love it when stories do this. It's definitely a story that will make you want to keep coming back for more.

I'm late to the party on this one but I loved loved loved Where It All Lands. Jennie Wexler has created the perfect YA Sliding Doors story! it's thoughtful, it's romantic, it asks questions both teen and adult readers can relate to. It's a fantastic novel and I I hope this continues the trend of amazing contemporary novels published by Wednesday Books!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
A complete Sliding Doors for YA tackling the “what if” between a coin flip that determines who asks out the new girl Stevie. Drew and Shane have been best friends for years. They have helped each other through mourning Shane’s father and Drew’s father moving out. When they see Stevie for the first time they both want to ask her out but the coin determines who wins the date and also lots of fate that could be. I really enjoyed this book it was a really fun quick read about the “what if”

Best friends Drew and Shane have always been there for each other, and have learned that the best way to resolve their conflicts is to leave it up to fate by flipping a coin. So, when Stevie moves to town and both boys are immediately drawn to her, they decide to use their usual method to decide who gets to ask her out, and who has to fall back. Heads, Drew pursues Stevie. Tails, Shane does.

Where It All Lands is told in three parts, via parallel storylines, and through three perspectives that follow Stevie, Drew, and Shane following the coin flip. Wexler explores concepts related to fate vs. free will, coercion and deceit within relationships, music, grief, and mental health.

Stevie, Drew, and Shane are all skilled musicians struggling with their own pasts. Stevie’s pro-football coach dad’s job has changed so often she’s never felt able to make friends. Drew feels like he can’t measure up to his music producer father. Shane is still grieving the loss of his own father and often feels like he lives in Drew’s shadow.

It’s like Jennie Wexler mined my brain for all of my favorite things when she was writing this book. I often talk about how much I love books that play with time and timelines, and this is no exception. Wexler did a fantastic job of exploring two storylines that took place over the same period of time without it ever feeling redundant. I loved the role that music played in this book, and love love loved the way that characters talked about and supported each other’s mental health. Shane’s “top 5” strategy is certainly something I’m going to start using with clients. The characters were well developed, and while I rooted for all of them, Shane reminded me so much of my teen self (except I had zero musical talent) and has my whole heart as a result.

*Minor spoilers live here* I did find myself a little bit frustrated with the conflict, because it felt to me like it was primarily a communication issue, but I also know that that’s one of my less favorite tropes in books.

I listened to this on audio and absolutely loved the way that it was narrated by Bailey Carr, Dan Bittner and Michael Crouch. Having different narrators for each point of view was an excellent decision, and helped to add depth to the characters’ development.

I loved this one so much, and will be adding a physical copy to my shelf for future rereads.

Thanks to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for copies of the book and audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I enjoyed how it went back and forth between two alternate realities. It was a very thought-provoking book.

This book had such a unique format. I enjoyed the family dynamics, friendships, and love stories in this YA Contemporary. I thought that it was interesting to see two different timelines based on the choices that are made.

Drew and Shane have been best friends for years and when the new girl Stevie shows up at school they decide to flip a coin to see who gets to ask her out. In one timeline Shane gets to and in another Drew gets to. I thought it was interesting that either way the coin flipped the outcomes were almost the same. Reading this makes you wonder about the choices you've made throughout your life and whether things would've ended up the same or vastly different.

Although Stevie is technically the main character I liked getting to see how the relationships developed between her and Shane and her and Drew in each timeline. No matter what the three of them will always be connected in one way or another.

This book touches on friendship, love, family dynamics, and grief. I thought it was well developed and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a refreshing new YA Contemporary. It's a great debut for the author as well.

This book definitely took me by surprise in a good way. If it was a straightforward, contemporary YA, I would just say that I enjoyed the character development of the three MC's, their emotional journeys, and the romances. All of that felt familiar in the best way, reminding me of some of my favorite contemporary YA romance authors. But the story isn't straightforward. There's a big twist to the dual timelines that makes it hard to write a review, both because I don't want to spoil it, and also because I've never read a book like this before. I will say the author put a really interesting twist onto a love triangle. I always say in the best love triangles, there isn't a clear cut right choice. It's not that one love interest is better than the other. It's that they're both good and the MC could love both of them. This book explores that in such a unique way. The story was so emotionally compelling and I found myself really wanting Stevie to be with both Drew and Shane. After finishing it, I honestly don't know how I feel about reading a book with this structure. But it's definitely something different, and the writing was lovely, so I'd recommend checking it out if you enjoy YA romance and are in the mood for something you have to think about a little more than a straightforward contemporary.

3.5 stars

Where It All Lands by Jennie Wexler is an interesting spin on the typical YA love triangle. Best friends Drew and Shane both fall for the same girl, Stevie. This book offers two dual timelines- one where Stevie and Drew are together and one where Stevie and Shane are together.

I really appreciated the unique approach to this story, and for the most part, it was a quick and enjoyable read. A story like this with dual perspectives seems like it would be tricky to write. Showing the same scenes from different points of views could feel redundant, but I thought Wexler did a good job of keeping the two approaches unique and not overly repetitive. I definitely liked Shane more than Drew throughout the book, so I may have enjoyed the Stevie/Shane timeline a bit more.

I flew through this book and was eager to see how it ended, because it seemed like it would be a difficult story to end. How would these dual timelines ultimately be resolved? I wanted to find out, but I'm not quite sure I am sold on the ending. I can't really put my finger on why I didn't love the ending. Maybe it was too melodramatic? Maybe it didn't provide a concrete enough conclusion? I can't give an exact reason but it did leave me feeling a bit "meh" by the end. However, for that reason, I would recommend that you give it a try and decide for yourself what you think about the ending!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, the author, and NetGalley for the gifted copy of Where It All Lands! All opinions in this review are my own.

Drew and Shane have been best friends since they were kids, but when Stevie moves to town everything changes. Both boys instantly fall for her. In order to save their friendship, Drew flips a coin to determine who can ask Stevie out. But who does the coin land on?

I like how this book is structured because you get to see what happens in both scenarios of the coin flip. Where It All Lands was much heavier than I was expecting. Shane is still grieving the loss of his father and Drew is struggling to accept his father's abandonment of their family to start a new one. This is no light-hearted YA romance.

Stevie Rosenstein is no stranger to starting over. She is forced to move every few years for her father’s high profile job. Her dream is to stay in one place longer than a year, now living in Suburban New Jersey after moving from Seattle. Starting at yet, another new school, she continues to follow her passion of music and joins the marching band.

Stevie meets best friends Drew and Shane, who historically use the flip of a coin to make decisions in their friendship. In this case, the coin is flipped to see who can ask Stevie out on a date. The book is divided into two sections, each section reflecting how the coin landed. If heads, Drew can ask Stevie out, if tails Shane can ask her out. Each section is broken down into chapters told in alternating first-person perspectives between Stevie, Drew, and Shane.

I really enjoyed this book, I tend to like this style of writing. Different timelines, different perspectives. . All three main characters were genuine and realistic.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the review copy, all opinions are my own.