Series: Standalone
Format: eGalley
Release Date: June 1, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Genre: Women’s Literature
What if you could do it all over again?
Jennifer Wright is pretty sure her husband doesn’t love her anymore. She and Max used to be the perfect couple, but the pressures of work and kids have pulled them in opposite directions. Now , Jen is full of “what if” questions about whether her bland, suburban existence is all she was ever destined for.
When a terrible accident sends Jen into a coma, she is able to see what her life could have been if she had run off to Australia with the handsome, dangerous man she met on vacation, or if she had stayed with her workaholic college boyfriend. Would she ever have loved another child as much as she loves her daughters? Could she have become rich? More than anything, Jen wants to do the right thing for her family. But what she discovers may leave her with even more questions about the choices she made, and no easy answers about what to do next.
Have you ever wondered what it would’ve been like if you pursued a different path? Or perhaps married an ex instead of the one you’re with? This is basically what IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE by Jemma Forte explored in this novel.
The heroine, Jennifer Wright, is unhappy with her marriage. Her husband, Max, hasn’t been paying much attention to her, they haven’t had sex in five months, and its that craving for intimacy that had Jennifer desperate and completely unsatisfied. Then one night, just when she thought she’ll finally end her dry spell, she caught her husband flirting with a coworker over the phone. The same woman Jen’s entertained at her house a couple of times. Distraught, Jen ran out of the house and got hit by a car then went on a coma for three weeks during which time she had The Family Man moment. Jen went through “tunnels” and “lived” three different versions of HEA with her exes, one was surfer dude Aiden, then there’s billionaire Tim (a la Mark Zuckerburg), and then Steven, the plumber turned home TV shopping superstar.
I have to admit, I’ve been in Jennifer’s shoes so it was quite easy for me to step in and see things from her prerogative. IF YOU’RE NOT THE ONE was told in flash-forward style with the alternative HEA’s interspersed in between. I was enjoying Jen’s voice and how unfiltered she was describing her life and it’s quite obvious she lived before settling down with Max.
I don’t know where it started feeling monotonous for me though. I just started noticing how Jen is always irritated, whether it’s with her friend borrowing her dress, or how her current beau is behaving, it’s like she’s constantly PMS-ing. And this dissatisfaction extended to the alternative HEA’s, except for one but even that felt more like “settling” than authentically joyous. I’m usually left with feel-good vibes after reading women’s fiction, but IF YOU’RE THE ONE left me feeling sad and even irritated. Jennifer rubbed off on me!
Now I hope this gets a companion novel or something because the novel feels incomplete. After a miraculous recovery from her accident, Jen’s marriage is still in shambles and it didn’t remedy the situation with Max. It did the opposite and it looks like Jen is about to make one of her alternative HEA come true. Now women’s lit is notorious for leaving its readers on a lurch, like the writers usually leaves it to us to make up our own ending. This time around I wish we had more closure because towards the end, IF YOU’RE THE ONE took a slight turn towards magic realism territory and I’d like to know where that road ends.
Talk Supe 
I don't know how to feel about this one. It doesn't look THAT bad, but I don't think it's worth it either. Think I'll pass 😛 Great honest review though!!
It sounds like an interesting topic but sorry it wasn't a little more than that though in the end.
I do really like the premise, Braine. Having been married a long, long time 😉 myself, of course I've thought about 'what-if's'. But I worry about this one having left you irritated and unfulfilled.
Glad to see you enjoyed this one but I don't think it's for me. It definitely sounds like it would be a dull read. Although, I do like the concept of the novel being a “what-if” story.
Hey Braine, great review. I like the premise and the 3 doesn't put me off, so this will go on my maybe list. Thanks
If this one didn't hit a nerve! In Women's Lit, where the marriage is on the rocks, why is there this underlying theme with magical realism? I swear that I've read at least 3 books that had the same subject matters, or similar twists, and the women all have flash forward moments in time (or backwards) where they try to figure out how they got to that point and what if they did something different. I'd like to read this one just to see if I like it. Great review!
I like the whole premise of the book, because who hasn't stopped and thought about the paths their life could have taken if things had worked out differntly, but I am sorry that Jennifer ended up annoying you and boo to that ending. What is the point if the book isnt' going anywhere?
It shows some promise, even though the concept is hardly new. But if you end up feeling irritated at the end, I kind of fail to see the point…
I am not sure about this one. I want a better ending
It's an intriguing idea for a story but I'm thinking I would feel the same as you so I think I'll skimp it. I want an AMAZING book, not a just okay book.
I'm intrigued about this one. Reminds me of a show that used to be on Hulu for some reason.
I want the books I read to have a beginning, middle and a real ending. I cannot read books that leave things unanswered, up in the air, to our imaginations or in a cliffhanger.
This book actually sounds really intriguing with the alternate HEAs and realities, that sort of storyline, although done before, tends to really intrigue me.
Huh, I was just reading one two with a heroine that sounds similar. She got me irritated so I definitely don't want to do that again even though the 'road not taken' bit sounds intriguing.
Um, this sounds like a Hallmark movie…LOL
Hmm…I think Jen constantly finding something that bothered her would get on my nerves. I feel like a book with this kind of premise needed to have at least one thoroughly HEA; at least, I would've wanted to see that.
It wasn't that bad, I wished it ended on a more hopeful note. In the end, I didn't like Jennifer's vibe even if she might be right to feel/think/act the way she did.
You win some, you lose some
I promise you, your marriage is way happier than hers lol
I liked how she approached the what-ifs, those were my favorite parts even if 2 our 3 it was still tragic
Yasss! Ok I hope you read it soon so we can compare notes!
In this one she was on a coma and the alternative HEA's are tainted by her feelings, impressions of stuff. ***spoiler*** Then there's this new guy, someone she never met, in these visions and when she woke up and it turns out the guy was real and she then wants to pursue that avenue. That's when it got weird for me…
I hope there's a companion novel because I am very interested to know where Jennifer's choices are going to take her
Maybe it's just me, I don't know anymore!
I do want one too which is why I'm hoping for a companion novel.
We all want amazing reads, to be fair 🙂
What show?
I don't mind those sometimes. But if you're going to leave me hanging, then give me something nice or good to hang on to
It does! Or Lifetime!! lol
She did on the visions but that's not the direction she went with when she woke up.
It sounds like a good concept, too bad the characters started to annoy you a little. Great review Braine!
Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
I would love to know which scenario she ended up choosing/living in the end. So…how about it? Gimme!
It's a pretty cover and I like that it left you wanting more even though it wasn't a 5 star read. Great review.
sherry @ fundinmental
It is and it will get you thinking about your own what-ifs
It rubs off on you doesn't it?
She's the type who lived glass half empty
That's just it, I don't know either! I thought she'd try and reconnect with one of her exes. In one of her visions, she had an extra marital affair with this guy, Joe, he's a new one in the sense that he wasn't an ex. When she woke up, she found this Joe dude and I guess she's going with him instead.
Thanks, Sherry!
Eeek, I wouldn't want to leave a book sad and miserable. But this concept is fun!
I guess some people just have sad lives or are just sad in general?
I don't think any woman or man should ever live a monotonous life with no actual fun or spontaneity. So this what if scenario is good for the MC even if she irritated you a bit. It's an interesting concept to say the least.