This book wasn’t for me. Instead of posting a negative review, it is my policy not to review the book on my site or label it as DNF (did not finish) on Goodreads/Amazon.

A book that is about a few tough issues, but because the author confronts them so honestly with fantastic characters the book doesn't feel too heavy. A shooting happens at a mall in this small college town and this book doesn't focus on the actual event, but the moments after and the years before. I think the author really put an emphasis on how people need a place to point their fingers for the blame and the finger can go in many different directions.

The main focus of the book is on a professor that the shooter had for freshman English and a paper he wrote. With the incident in everyone's mind this paper looks a little more like a warning of something possible happening in the future. And because of that she is blamed for not sending out warning signals and this sends her world into a tailspin. On top of that she has a daughter who lives with anxiety and all of these will affect her also and it is interesting to read from her perspective also.

I liked that this book felt so relevant with the inclusion of facebook posts and articles and more. Don't worry the book mostly looks like a typical novel, but it has some interesting inserts that make the story even better.

I am always excited after I read a book by an author that I like to find that they have more books to read. I will be checking out Victoria Helen Stone's backlist and may have to read them soon!

College English professor Maggie Daley is a single mother whose only child, Anna, is days away from leaving home to start college. Anna has struggled with anxiety in the wake of her parents' divorce four years ago. Luke Finch is a quiet college dropout who works at the donut shop and dreams of moving out of his father's house. Four years ago, Luke was one of Maggie's students in a freshman England composition course. As was Nathan Dugan, who penned an essay that, in hindsight, was troubling. Nathan was withdrawn, did not socialize with his fellow students, and tended to be dominating and off-putting when he did speak in class. When Nathan opens fire in a local mall, killing several people before taking his own life, questions swirl about his motivations. His single mother, with whom he resided, insists she had no idea how many guns he owned or how disturbed he was. In the aftermath of another episode of senseless, tragic violence, Maggie finds herself the focus of intense scrutiny and second-guessing: Could she have taken action that might have prevented Nathan's shooting spree and saved his victims? Should she have brought his essay, ostensibly a story about Nathan going on a hunting trip with his absent father but focused on weapons, to the attention of the college's administration? Media and public interest is heightened when Luke's observations about his classmate -- shared on Facebook -- go viral. With compassionate objectivity and insight, Elise Juska examines the impact of the shooting on Maggie, Luke, and Anna. As Maggie and Luke struggle with guilt, questioning whether they missed important signs and pondering whether their actions might have made a difference, Anna's anxiety reaches crisis proportions, especially after a brief relationship with a duplicitous fellow college student in whom she confided. If We Had Known is a compelling look at the insidious ways such a tragedy impacts and changes those touched -- even tangentially -- by the actions of a crazed gunman. And a reminder of how tenuous and delicate carefully constructed lives and relationships can be. It's also a look at the dissemination of information (and misinformation) via modern technology and the risk that the internet poses to those who are sensitive and vulnerable. If We Had Known is a story that resonates, and inspires contemplation and discussion not just about gun control, but also about the effects of being digitally, but perhaps not emotionally, connected to each other.

If We Had Known is a book that I was not totally sure that I would finish. Why? Because there are several predictable moments in the book that felt a bit too much for me to take. The first one occurred after I had read 25% of the book when the main characters made a move that I just KNEW would bite her in the ass later on. And, then several more occurrences happened that made me mentally roll my eyes. However, I decided to keep going. And, I'm glad for it because I ended up liking the book very much.

Notwithstanding the fact that I struggled with some parts of the book is the story actually really engrossing, and if you stick with the book, despite, being annoyed with some of Maggie's decisions, etc., then you will find that this book is actually pretty good. Personally, I found how society dealt with the mass shooting to be the interesting part of the book, how quick people are to judge, how the internet can play a large part in judgment because you can be anonymous. Also, we have the big issue, how far do we go when it comes to seeing signs of a troubled youth? Should teachers and professors be more observant when it comes to essays? What role do they have, should they try to interfere, for instance, report students when they show signs that something is off? Isn't that a very big responsibility to put on teachers' shoulders, to try to see who's troubled or not?

I got a bit sidetracked there. What I want to say is that this book is a great book to read (and discuss). Yes, there were some parts that I found hard to digest because it felt so predictably, but overall is this book really good!