This was a really clever book! I really identified with the protagonist, her anxiety and indecision felt like it was written about me! I would absolutely do something like she did just to gain some clarity and comfort. Laurel was so real, I loved that! Some of the quantum physics and computing went way over my head but the author worked really hard to make it digestible. The plot line was out there but it worked in her setup. The choices were vivid and interesting, I found myself wondering what would come next. Any book that I can’t guess the “twist” or ending is usually a winner in my book (pardon the pun!) Great story and great characters.

this book was so interesting! as a certified stem girly, i love that it go pretty deep into physics. made me think while soothing it over with the romance.

i really think this book had so many layers to it, much more than i was expecting. i loved seeing laurel’s growth as a character. also the epilogue had me screaming, arguably the perfect way to tie it all up!

thank you netgalley and everyone involved for this arc!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and I was super excited about the premise. This is a modern spin on the classic “what if” trope. Laurel feels relatable because of her apprehension of the future and what she what’s for herself which feels very Zilellenial. I also really love a story where you don’t know if the character will get a happy ending so it kept me on the edge of my seat.

The last quarter of this book pushed it from 4 stars to 5 for me. It’s the closest I’ve come to a book making me cry!! THE EPILOGUE! I love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher of this ARC for allowing me to read it in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting take on multiple universes and they could possibly affect each other. Laurel's journey of self discovery was Interesting and challenging.

This is a magical realism book that takes place in present day and five years in the future. Laurel’s present day man has a ring and is ready to propose. Her future man is a work crush named Drew. Laurel goes back and forth between the two timelines, and soon realizes it isn’t the man who will make her happy.

I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated — the science fiction and quantum mechanics elements weren't too difficult to follow and I think the main character's journey to discovering herself again was incredibly relatable. We all ask ourselves the question "What if I made this decision over the other? Would my life be better or worse?" almost all the time and I found it very smart to write that common theme in the book.

This was a really beautiful tale. Despite the science fiction and quantum mechanics elements, I found the plot to be enjoyable overall. Since the main character was discovering more about herself, her desires, and her identity throughout the book, the romance was essentially put on hold. Nonetheless, the romance was expertly written, and I loved how it enhanced the narrative without taking away from the remarkable character growth that was evident throughout. Without a doubt, I would suggest this book!

This is a heartfelt story of a woman toggling between alternate realities in which she receives clarity on which man she should spend forever with. Sounds like an ideal situation right? Well, the catch is, she can't choose when she jumps from one world to the next.

Stuck between two universes, our main character Laurel fights to stay sane as she tries to defy quantum physics and commit to the love(s?) of her life. This book poses an important idea of figuring out whether we can change our destiny, or if it's fixed in our current reality. I really loved the juxtaposition of the lives of Laurel, and how she grew as an individual over the course of this story.

4/5 for me on this one, it was a great read overall.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for letting me read and review this ARC.

Laurel is on the top of her game - happy relationship with musician Ollie, promotion at work to a VP position, and money in the bank for comfortable life. Then she finds an engagement ring in Ollie's drawer that sends her into a panic and spiral of "What If?" When her "work husband" Drew shows her new technology that he is working on that uses AI to see other possible outcomes for a question, she asks what if she had said yes 5 years ago to Drew asking her out? Would she be happier with Drew? Did she chose right staying with Ollie? Should she had followed her dreams to be a writer rather than working a corporate job? After sneaking into Drew's office after hours to ask the computer, she wakes up the next day in a "new life" with Drew, 5 years after he asked her out. She continues to jump between 2 universes, 1 with Drew and 1 with Ollie, trying to find her way back to what should be her life.

I overall enjoyed this book, but it did start to lose me a little bit here and there with quantum physics and alternate universe talk. The writing was good though, so it did keep me reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. Book to be published May 13, 2025

3/5 stars

What If It's You? by Jilly Gagnon has a cool premise—Laurel gets to see an alternate reality where she ends up with a guy she had a crush on instead of her long-term boyfriend—the whole idea of tech allowing someone to experience "what if" scenarios is super interesting. But while I liked the concept, the story didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

The pacing felt uneven, and I wasn’t really invested in the love triangle. The main character, Laurel, didn’t have enough depth to keep me hooked, and the chemistry between her and the love interests wasn’t that strong. The sci-fi explanations about alternate realities while cool, kinda lost me for a bit and I struggled through those parts.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book tells the story of Laurel, who’s in a five-year relationship with Ollie when she suddenly finds an engagement ring hidden in his stuff. This discovery makes her question everything: her choices, her happiness, and whether she’s really content with what she’s got. After being given the chance to test a program at her job that explores alternate realities, she begins to wonder, “What if?”.

At first, I have to admit, this book made me a little angry. Laurel seemed kind of spoiled, and I felt like she didn’t deserve the great guy she had in Ollie. It was frustrating to watch her linger on these doubts about her relationship when she had someone who truly cared for her. I found it hard to connect with her, which made some parts of the book a bit of a slog for me.

As Laurel slips into a life where she’s with her work crush, Drew, she gets to navigate these two different lives. Even though I was frustrated with Laurel, her struggle between the life she’s known and the potential new one with Drew is relatable. It made me think about choices and what happiness really means.

What I really enjoyed at the end was seeing her realizing that having the things that she wanted in life doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll be happy if it’s not surrounded by the right people and under the right circumstances. And I also loved to see the roles turning and her getting to experience in her “perfect alternate life” how she was making her partner feel in her real life, which leaves her to the right path, where they can both seek balance as to where to go and whose dreams to follow.

In the end, this book is not just a love story; it’s a journey about finding yourself and figuring out what really makes you happy.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The plot felt very predictable in this. The pacing was kinda all over the place but I loved the characters. Overall, I don't think it'll leave a lasting impression.

What If It's You by Jilly Gagnon is a clever and emotional romance that brings back the idea "what if" and second chances.
I love that Jilly's writing is so clever and witty and grips you at the emotion and the way that has a lot of self reflection and how we can improve ourselves and in a relationship. There's self improvement, nostalgia and and a fun sci-fi element that is swoony and romantic. I thought this book was clever and I really liked that Jilly took a unique take on second chances and how we as humans can be messy but change and work on ourselves and still worthy of love.

Totally loved this rom-com. Original and so well conceived. Great characters and a great set up. The magic realism is totally believable with just enough research to make it all make sense without overwhelming the story or the reader.

⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars)

This one of those books that made me go, "Wait, what?" more times than I'd like to admit—thanks to its quantum mechanics and sci-fi twist. I definitely had to Google some stuff to keep up! The concept is super interesting: Laurel, the main character, gets to play around with alternate realities through a tech project and find out what her life would’ve been like if she chose her work crush, Drew, over her longtime boyfriend, Ollie. Cool, right?

While the whole "what if" idea hooked me, I was left wanting a little more romance in the spotlight. The story focused more on the science-y tech adventure and less on the swoony moments, which I was totally hoping for. Laurel’s flip-flopping between realities had its suspense, but I missed those heart-fluttery feelings that usually keep me glued to romance reads. All in all, it was a fun ride with a fascinating concept.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

An AI kind of futuristic romance was not something I expected but I enjoyed. This book was a bit out of my comfort zone but I liked the idea and concept. The spice felt rushed and not quite worked out but it was still there a bit. Very interesting concept.

I wanted to like this story from beginning to end but I will say that the ending really annoyed me. There were some (actually just 2) steamy parts in the book, but both felt rushed.
If you’re into the idea of AI and what could happen if you make a different decision then this book could be for you.

Heroine Laurel goes through a mental crisis of sorts when she finds an engagement ring in her boyfriend's sock drawer and questions if she truly wants to spend the rest of her life with him.

Somewhere within her anxiety spiral she begins to wonder what if she accepted a date with her friendly coworker a couple years prior. With the help of a program she's able to work with through her job, she's able to see her life in both scenarios

This was a smart/stem-y romance that delved a bit deeper into science than most stem romances usually do. I was also surprised at how deep the author went into Laurel's emotions and past childhood trauma and how they shaped her.

Despite this being a fun premise, I didn't love Laurel. I found it strange that she didn't have any close female friends and I just couldn't relate to her at all with her workaholic tendencies. While the premise and the "what if" questioning was an interesting concept, I don't particularly enjoy love triangles either.

3/5 ⭐

"What If It’s You?" by Jilly Gagnon presents an intriguing premise that blends romance with speculative fiction. Laurel Everett’s journey through alternate realities explores the age-old question of “what if?” as she navigates her feelings for her longtime boyfriend Ollie and her work crush Drew, enabled by a tech project that allows glimpses into parallel lives.

The alternate reality concept is creatively executed, raising thought-provoking questions about choice and happiness. However, the pacing can feel uneven at times, with some sections dragging while others rush through significant developments. I found myself putting the book down and not feeling drawn to pick it back up. Additionally, while the premise is engaging, the execution sometimes lacks the emotional resonance that would elevate the stakes. The resolution feels a bit predictable, though the epilogue finishes off the story quite well.

Overall, "What If It’s You?" is an enjoyable read for fans of romantic sci-fi, offering a unique twist on the classic dilemma of love and choices, but it may leave readers wishing for more depth and polish in the storytelling.

ARC provided by NetGalley