Where It All Lands is told as two alternate timelines between 3 characters-the first timeline, Stevie and Drew, the second, Stevie and Shane-all because of the two potential outcomes of a coin flip. What-ifs are such a prominent thing in my own head, and this book gave me a great line for when those thoughts become too much: "There are no what-ifs, only what is." This whole book really hits on the importance of living a full life and not wasting time, so it resonated with me big-time.

Drew and Shane are best friends, and when a new girl, Stevie, moves to town and joins the band they're in, they both want to ask her out. They decide who gets to with something they've always done to settle their arguments-flipping a coin. Meanwhile, Stevie struggles with the process of making new friends and dealing with a father whose job continues to move them all over, and keeps him fairly absent during her crucial moments.

When the timelines flip, you're left in the middle of a big turn of events and wanting to know what happens, then you're given another whole section where you fall in love again with the characters and are nervous of what might happen here. The ending might be the best part, and of course, I can't tell you why that is.
If you love YA novels, teen romance, love triangles, and having your heart broken a little bit, then you should give this book a go!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book, but found the dueling timelines to be more irritating than fun. So sorry but this one just wasn't for me.

Where it All Lands was a sweet YA romance that explores what would happen if one choice in your life was different.

Shane and Drew have been friends most of their lives and have long ago decided that instead of fighting, anytime they disagree they will flip a coin and accept the outcome. Then Stevie comes into their lives, and they flip a coin to decide who should ask her out. How would the story end if the coin was heads? What about tails?

I really liked the story for most of the book. I thought the characters were all acting their age and were relatable. Stevie I had a soft spot for, since we have the same favorite band (Pearl Jam!!!). I liked how many of the same situations happened after the coin flip, but the characters reacted differently in each timeline.

The big reason that I gave it only 4 stars though, is that the ending leaves everything up in the air! I wasn’t sure which timeline was ‘real’ and that thoroughly frustrated me.

Overall, a really nice book about young love in a group of music loving teenagers.

Where It All Lands, a riveting YA novel, keeps the reader on edge to reach a suspenseful conclusion. It is a novel of new beginnings, dreams, and the choices that define us.

A coin toss between two friends, Drew and Shane, to decide who will date the new girl in town changes everything. Stevie moves from Seattle to the small town of Millbrook due to her father’s transfer, leaving behind memories and friends. She must start over once again and joins the school band, hopefully, to earn her way into a top-notch college music program. There she meets best friends, Drew and Shane, who both are attracted to her. The story takes a turn for the worse when a terrible accident occurs.

Author Jennie Wexler cleverly switches from each character’s point of view and internal conflicts to give us the full story. The novel follows the characters through the typical high school pressures of fitting in, popularity, bullying, and how far friends will go for friends. I thought it was a brilliant approach with a different take on the typical love triangle story of two friends competing for the same girl’s attention. Where It All Lands by Jennie Wexler. #NetGalley #YA #romance #teenreads

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Where It All Lands will introduce you to a little love triangle - Stevie, Shane and Drew. Shane and Drew are best friends and lean on each other whenever times are tough. Which is a lot of the time if I'm being honest. Then there's Stevie, who is the new girl in town and the apple of their eyes. Yes, these two best friends had a crush on the same person without even really knowing her.

So what do these two idiots do? Flip a damn penny for her.

Well, maybe I should back it up just a little bit. They flip a penny for every damn thing in their lives. Games, movies, and such - you name it, they flip for it. Weirdest duo ever but I was here for it all. The penny was their fate and I'm just tagging along for the ride.

What a wild ride it was.

Honestly, I didn't really care for the romance. Maybe it's the possibility of a love triangle (which annoys me) or maybe it's just because I saw them all being just friends. Yeah, a crush might be there - lingering and such - but a crush can remain a crush. Ya know?

I'm probably in the minority about the romance though. All I'm saying is that the drama that unfolded throughout this book would be nonexistent if they were friends. Just saying people.

That being said, I devoured this book. All the drama kept this a page turner because I wanted to see how the penny could unfold their lives. It was pretty interesting to see the same end result but in different ways. The only thing that would've made it better was if I actually liked all of them.

Where It All Lands probably has the most unique premise I've ever read in a book, and I love the idea of weaving together two completely different stories into one larger one. From the first chapter, you know that someone dies, so you are immediately invested in learning who that person might be. The story then shifts back in time to when Drew and Shane, two best friends in high school, both want to ask the new girl, Stevie, out. They decide to settle the matter in a way they often do--by flipping a coin. The title and cover quickly made sense after I learned this.

In the first third of the book, we get the version of the story that occurs if the coin toss lands one way. In the second third, we get the story version resulting from the other side of the coin toss. Then, part three alternates between both possible realities. Again, I was quite impressed with this style storytelling, and I was also surprised by the both possible outcomes.

Where It All Lands is fun and serious at the same time, showing that all actions have echoing consequences, but overall, love always wins.

This was a light entertaining read. I always enjoy the concept of a "what if?" situation where two different paths are discovered truly showing that one action can really change an entire situation. While this did okay in that department, I feel like other stories using this construct were slight more successful, [book:Maybe in Another Life|23492661] and [book:Again Again|48570522] being two examples.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this publication! It made for a good weekend read.

Premise for this book I found so interesting. New girl Stevie moves to town. Lifelong friends Shane and Drew are both interested and use a coin to flip and see which of the two of them will ask her out. The book then explores two parallel stories - one with the coin flip for heads, the other for tails.

Unfortunately, the execution of this premise fell short for me. I have difficulty when teen characters experience a "love at first sight" scenario. I found it overly convenient that both Stevie and Drew had famous dads that resulted in people trying to befriend them to get close to the fame of the parent. Also, even though the author tries to explain away the mysognistic bent of "flipping a coin" for a girl - it was still problematic for me. The ending felt unsatisfying.

Finally, there were at least 3 situations in the book where there was an abrupt and sudden scene change that made no sense. Example - "Classroom doors close and echo through the empty hallway, signaling the start of first period. We part ways, holding hands until the very last second when we have to let go. Shane steps inside my bedroom." Huh? You were literally just walking in to class and this was the next sentence. No paragraph or chapter change. This happened in a few places and I think reveals that the editor may need to catch a few of these.

I still appreciate this eARC from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are only my own.

This book did not catch my interest unfortunately. The description sounded great, but I just couldn’t get into the story. I read about 25% and then stopped reading. Thank you for the opportunity to read it through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I feel like I am in a fever dream, void of knowing the meaning of life right now. What the heck? I am shook and sad and happy. There are so many mixed emotions?

“Do our choices even matter? We all walk around thinking we have this control over our lives. But in the end, we’re all just bouncing around like some pinball in a machine, landing wherever gravity, and whatever other forces you want to believe in, take us.”

What a debut novel. I feel moved and confused? I don’t think I’ve ever felt these two emotions simultaneously, but here we are. When faced with choices, how do you know which to choose? Which is the better outcome? Do all of our choices make up how our life pans out? These are the questions this book explores and I think the answers can be found in these pages, in the story of Stevie, Drew and Shane. When I read the synopsis I was really hoping this wouldn’t be a cliche one best friend messes up and the other gets the girl. This was more than I ever thought I could have wanted. Wow. What a book to make you really analyze how your choices have consequences, even when you think those choices are so small.

I absolutely adored everything about this book. From the first line to the last, I was hooked. I couldn’t put this down. All three point of views pull you in, making you want more. The pacing was fantastic. The dual timelines was incredible. This book will sit with me for a very long time. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. Wow. I’m obsessed.

I love books that have multiple timelines - maybe they hearken the days of Choose Your Own Adventure. In this case, two high school boys flip a coin to decide who gets to ask out a new girl. We find out what happens in each scenario. The story is told from all three viewpoints, which also adds some interest. They each have their own stories of loss and resilience. Worthwhile YA read!

Thank you to NetGalley / St. Martin/s Press / Wednesday Books for the ARC.

The unique premise of this book is almost certain to be its selling point. Do our choices really matter? What about them dictate how our life is going to be? Or are things really beyond our control?
The characterization of the main leads Drew, Shane, and Stevie are wonderfully done. Reminds me a bit of Will, Jem, and Tessa from the Infernal Devices. One is a bright shining star, the other a quiet strength, and the latter the girl who somehow changes everything.
Definitely a thought-provoking book I'm more than happy to recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books/St Martin's for providing this e-arc to read and review.

I have to be honest I'm not sure how to review this book without giving anything away. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours and couldn't put it down until I knew what the outcome would be. The story begins at a funeral, but whose? As I read the book the funeral became a distant memory and then wham, I was reminded of it. I loved the way the story was written and how you pine for the potential happy ending. The story itself is a teen love triangle with all the fun and terrible things that come with the high school experience, first love and misunderstandings among friends. It's about loss and change and appreciating the experience of life in the now. It's about believing in yourself and going after what you want. How can one moment change the course of the future? Read it and find out...
Even though these teens are dealing with some heavy life situations I would still call it a light easy read.
Having been an avid reader for most of my adult life I have never read a book written like this before. I enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed the reading of the story. Around 3 quarters of the way through I did have a little difficulty keeping it all straight but it didn't take away from the story in any way and the end is completely worth it. I would definitely recommend this book even to those I know wouldn't be interested in the plot but would enjoy the way the book is written. What a fun experience this was! I can't wait to see what else Jennie Wexler has in store for readers to come.
Thank you Jennie Wexler and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Absolutely stunning. I'm blown away by how great this story is! Two best friends, Drew and Shane. They've been through so much together that they are like brothers - thick as thieves and so much loyalty.

Stevie is the new girls, she's just arrived in town. She loves music and Pearl Jam and not really football (for reasons). And both boys find their eyes trailing Stevie. Not only is she adorable but she's their calm in the middle of the storm.

So the boys do what they always do when they don't want to compete for something - Drew insists they flip a coin. No one knows how this will turn out. This story is told through 3 Parts - Part 1: Drew, Part 2: Shane - and then Part 3 - which is a mix of both. You get to see what would happen with both sides of the coin flip. Right or wrong, you get to see both boys get a chance with Stevie (and you get to see what <i>she</i> thinks about all of this). It's such a unique and creative way to tell the story - you get to love each character through each telling in a new way, because you get to see a new side to every character as both boys explore getting to know someone new, Stevie.

It's a lovely story, but sad too. I loved the ups and downs and the struggles to understand. Absolutely wonderfully perfectly done. A new favorite.

<i>An e-ARC was provided to me by the author and publishing via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.</i>

Where It All Lands is a heartbreakingly beautiful story. Leaving everything up to chance by the toss of a penny, Drew and Shane have determined their life choices this way. On a hot summer Jersey day, Stevie meets them both at marching band practice and the guys flip a coin to see who will ask her out.

Jennie Welxer writes from all three characters' point of view as we see what happens when the penny lands on heads and tails. The relationships between Stevie, Drew, and Shane will keep you turning the pages to find out what could come of leaving their fate up to a coin toss.

I truly enjoyed this book. My heart was in my throat as I witnessed their lives play out as Stevie dates Drew (when the penny lands one way) and how her friendship and sense of belonging grows (when the penny lands the other way). I highly recommend this book for people who love chance games, but can handle loss. This is one of the books that you finish and need to lay in bed for a day to mourn that it's over.

I really think this book deserves 3.5 stars which is not an option so I came down on the more generous side and rated it 4 stars.. My feelings are definitely mixed for a number of reasons.
This is a YA novel about family and personal relations focusing on two best friends and the new girl with whom they are both smitten. All three have absent fathers, one through death, one through divorce and the girl because of the father’s NFL coaching job. There is lots about this story I think would resonate with teens — social insecurity, the changing relationships of a teen with his or her family as he matures, music as the sound track of your life. As I read, I realized that my reactions would not be those of the typical reader. I also found myself turning to Spotify to listen to the songs referenced.
I did love the concept of the story which was to send it spinning in two directions following the flip of a coin as the two boys negotiate who will get to ask Stevie for a date. We see how one simple decision can in turn lead to a number of life-altering choices that can then lead to wonderful or tragic results. The coin toss was vital for the structure of the story, but Stevie’s reaction when she learns about it in both stories seems far out of proportion. However I may be responding as an adult with a lifetime of experience compared to a teen whose emotions play a much greater part in her reactions.
In telling a story that is true to today’s teens, there is some strong language and mature situations. A high school librarian assured me that teens would reject a book that tried to offer a G rated world and claim it was realistic.
All in all, the story held my interest. One drawback of the two strand technique was a certain amount of repetition as you read the second version of the tale. It led me to skim those chapters which wasn’t quite fair to the book as a whole. I’m guessing a teen reader would enjoy this immensely, especially if they were a musician.

This book reminded me of those choose your own adventure books. Every choice you make has it’s own set of after effects. It was interesting to see that in this book because the choice in this book was left up to a coin toss and we got to see what would have happened if the coin had landed on heads and if it had landed on tails. I’m also really glad the author chose to tell the story from multiple viewpoints. It just wouldn’t have worked as well from just one viewpoint. This wasn’t a heavy read which means it’s perfect for those who are looking to get into reading or those who aren’t looking to have their feelings ripped out harshly. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to what else the author might have in store.

Told in dual timelines and from multiple perspectives,Where It All Lands was emotional journey of three teenagers.
Music plays huge part of the book and I liked the premise of this book a coin toss changing the course of someone's life. Overall, an enjoyable YA read.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc to read in return for honest review.

It’s been awhile since I read a YA novel and this was pretty good, possibly for the younger age of that spectrum. I enjoyed the plot line and idea of coin flip and parallel timelines with the “what if” factor. The characters were likeable and felt like I knew them and wanted to be their friends too. Brought up a little nostalgia in some places. Overall I enjoyed the read and would recommend for others interested tin this genre and plot.

Disclaimer: I. got this ARC as a read now from @NetGalley.

The characters flip a coin every time one of the characters can't decide what to do. I wasn't a huge fan of this concept, but I think this might be intriguing for a younger audience. Drew's the popular kid, Shane's Drew's supportive best friend, and Stevie is going through a lot of her own conflicts when she meets Drew and Shane. I think this is perfect for a middle-grade/early high schooler. I'm usually a huge fan of YA novels and I was excited about this book, but it wasn't for me.