I thought this book was well written, and using dual timelines was an interesting storytelling technique. The book begins with Drew winning the coin toss and asking out Stevie, then about halfway through the book essentially starts over again but with Shane winning the coin toss instead. There is plenty of drama and angst because teenagers + hormones. A couple of things in the plot felt quite odd to me though. There are multiple references, especially in the beginning of the book, to both Stevie and Drew having famous fathers, and being bothered a lot by fellow students for favors or info. Drew’s father is a music producer, so I guess I could understand some kids being aware of who he is, but I don’t think it would be that common. And Stevie‘s father is the quarterback coach for the Jets football team. Unless they are an obsessive fan of the team, what teenager is going to know who the individual coaches are on a football team? That makes no sense to me. The other issue I had was the massive importance placed on the coin toss. As if Stevie has no say in the matter and has to fall for whoever wins the coin toss. Doesn’t she have a brain and free will?

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was really hoping I'd enjoy this; I usually quite enjoy timeslip stories. I can't even put my finger on why exactly I didn't like it; the writing is good, the story is interesting, I liked the characters. It just didn't work for me, I'm afraid, but I hope it does really well once it goes on sale.

Where It All Lands presents how life could go if one decision you make is changed. Told in dual timelines, three high school students - Stevie, Drew, and Shane - collide and their lives will never be the same. Shane and Drew have been best friends for years and Stevie is the new girl that they both are interested in. A coin flip decides who gets to ask her out, and the dual timelines reflect what would happen if Shane won the coin flip vs Drew winning. It poses an interesting question about how one decision can change everything.

This is really an emotional story. You're not sure who to root for in this situation as you begin to feel for all three of the characters and their lives and stories change from timeline to timeline. Each character has a personal story explored through each timeline that deals with romantic, family, and platonic relationships. I found myself relating to each character separately and couldn't see how the ending would go.

Be prepared for the ride of your life with this book. It is beautifully written and well paced. The timeline switches are not distracting or confusing, they are interspersed well throughout the story and continues to support the plot line.

**Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review**

You don’t have to be in the young adult age range to appreciate and enjoy this book. Where It All Lands is a thought-provoking debut that packs an emotional punch.

I am always drawn to novels that have the characters contemplating the what ifs in life. What if we had chosen a different path in life, how would our lives be different? How much do our choices and the choices of others influence/determine the outcome in our own lives? With the mere flip of a coin, Drew and Shane wanted to decide which one of them would get to ask Stevie out. If the penny landed on heads, Drew would get to ask her. If it landed on tails, it would be Shane’s chance. The story is told in dual timelines, and we get to see how each of these scenarios would have unfolded. It also alternates from each of the characters’ perspectives. I enjoyed this aspect. Did I root for one character over the other? I liked them both, but if I’m being honest, I did have a preference, especially as I got to know them better.

A novel is nothing without its characters, and this book had some great ones. Stevie, Drew, and Shane were well-developed characters. Wexler made me feel as though I knew them. She made me care. They each had their own family issues that they were dealing with, but they had each other to lean on and confide in. They were all likable, but I think that what touched me the most was the level of caring and loyalty between Drew and Shane. Their bond was tight, and I think that everyone deserves a friendship like that.

Music plays a big part in this book. Whether it was wanting to “make it” in a band, getting accepted into a prestigious music program, or simply finding solace and meaning in certain tunes and songs, these three had a passion for music that ran deep and connected them.

As soon as I read the synopsis for Where It All Lands, I figured that it would be a book that I would enjoy, but what I didn’t expect was for it to make me feel so much. When I said that it packs a punch, I should have said that it felt like a punch right to the gut. My heart hurt, my stomach was tied in knots, and the tears rolled down my cheeks. And that ending…

*4 Stars

CONTENT WARNING: bullying, antisemitism, infidelity, mention of drug use, profanity, death of a parent, death

Where to start with this one? This was one of my highly anticipated reads, but I really struggled with this one. There were a few things that I liked, but also a few things that I didn’t like about it. There’s a little bit of Jewish representation in the story.

The story starts with a tragic event, but we don’t really know exactly what happened, or to whom it happened to. Then it flashes back to 4 months prior, and the story is told in dual timelines. It gives us a sneak peak into what might have happened if just one outcome would have happened differently.

But the event on which the entire story hinges is where the story is problematic for me. Drew and Shane have always solved all of their problems by flipping a coin. So naturally, when Stevie catches both of their eye, they decide to … flip a coin for her? It completely disregarded her personal choice, as if all that is needed to start dating a girl is to win a coin toss. That’s where the story kind of lost me (and it happened in the first chapter).

The first half of the story relies heavily on insta-love, which is my least favorite trope of all time. The characters bond immediately, and are so connected right away. However, when someone asks Stevie about the relationship, she can’t come up with a single answer about why she is with him, which makes the whole relationship feel so pointless and contrived.

“The truth is I don’t have an answer. Not a real answer, anyway.”

The second half of the story was a little better. That timeline provided more of a genuine connection that developed slowly over a period of time. But the characters were a little flat. Stevie, Drew, and Shane all had a single issue that they were fixated on, and didn’t seem to have the energy or desire to do much else. All three had the fact that they loved music and had daddy issues in common, but not much else. Let me tell you, when Stevie referred to Pearl Jam as “old people music,” it physically hurt me. And it’s possible to like a range of musical types — you can like Pearl Jam and not diss Taylor Swift.

I’m typically not a fan of reading the same story over twice, even if it is from different perspectives with slight changes. This wasn’t too bad, however, but I didn’t really love the story overall. The last quarter of the book is where I finally got involved, but the very last chapter is where it lost me completely. While I was hoping for a good story, ultimately, it just wasn’t a good fit for me.

When Stevie Rosenstein moves to town, best friends Shane and Drew are both interested in dating her. So, they decide who gets to ask her out with the flip of a coin - the way they decide on every decision between the two of them. Drew wins the toss and the story takes off from there. But, what would have happened if Shane had won the toss?

This book explores the way that a simple coin toss can change the trajectory of your life, just like the butterfly effect. It made me really sit and think about how the choices we make every day, even though they may seem small, can gave lasting effects.

I read and listened to this book. The audio is narrated by three narrators, which is something I live in audiobooks.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and MacMillan Audio for the ALC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting premise, but since every other detail in this book was a cliche, the main concept came off more gimmicky. There's a very obvious moral that turns into preachy territory at the end (especially with the Twilight Zone-style epilogue that sums up what we learned). This was a very blatant love triangle with no nuance to the trope. As always, I think referencing music in a book is a mistake; it's spoken about with too much detail about a not mainstream enough band so it alienates a large chunk of readers who aren't in on the reference.

✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
This story sounded like a cute dual reality book with a new twist. Thanks to @Netgalley and Wednesday books for the opportunity to read this.

💜 What I liked:
The way the story is told in this dual perspective was really clever, even if it has been done before. There was also a clear winner for me in terms of who was worthy for Stevie.

😱 What I didn’t like:
The ending was wide open to interpretation which is not totally a bad thing. But I actually thought of a genius way to end things that I thought was heading towards and it didn’t.

💁‍♀️ The Characters:
Stevie is new to town and meets Nick and Shane, who flip a coin to see who can ask her out in order to preserve their friendship.

🚦 My face at the end: 🧐

💭 5 Reasons to Read:
1. If you like Sliding Doors or Maybe in Another Life, read this!
2. If you love YA Romance with unique perspectives, this has some.
3. Are you a fan of music and marching band references?
4. Are you a fan of sports references?
5. There are some pretty heavily flawed YA characters here.


🕧 Mini-Summary:
A dual perspective telling about a love triangle that starts with a coin toss.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

4.5 stars

I will admit that when I first read the blurb for Where It All Lands, I was very worried about a love triangle. I usually avoid those at all costs, but I'm so glad I took a chance on this story. Because of the dual timelines of the book, I'm hesitant to even call what unfolded a love triangle. There isn't overlap or wishy washy back and forth, but rather a series of what ifs and an exploration of how decisions (big or small) can impact our lives in unexpected and sometimes tragic ways.

The book is divided into 3 parts based on the result of the coin toss - heads, tails, and a final section made up of alternating heads and tails chapters. The sections were unique enough to not feel repetitive, even though they're all the same characters and some of the events occur in both timelines. It was fascinating seeing the relationships and events unfold in each timeline. How one choice would domino into another and lead to a similar outcome or something entirely different. It raised many philosophical questions for me about how much of life is really in our control/about choice and how some moments just happen and all we can do is hold on.

All of the characters were so wonderfully and frustratingly human. They make mistakes and rash decisions, sometimes choosing to lie and say hurtful things, but there are beautiful moments too. Those butterflies and the hopefulness of first love. The joy of finding a friend that fully sees you and the rightness of belonging. Being scared or nervous while facing your fears, but standing tall and doing it anyway. All those moments, for better or for worse, make up a life. I know some readers will take issue with how the book concluded, but I thought it was the perfect way to bring everything full circle. We don't know what the future will hold or how our decisions today will shape what happens down the line. Where It All Lands is a good reminder that what's important in life is the actual living.

CW: bullying, divorce/parental abandonment (due to infidelity), car accident, mentions of anti-Semitic experiences, death of parent, choking, grief, anxiety, insomnia

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

This book started out at a rather slow pace. As the blurb said, two best friends end up having an instant crush on the same girl and decide to flip a coin to see who gets to ask her out. Part 1 of the book is when person A (not mentioning the name) gets to ask her while part 2 is for person B. Each part is unique. Of the 3 main characters, Shane is undoubtedly my favourite. I enjoyed his character and how he interacted with Stevie in both parts. The ending in each part is really sad. The author has done well to ensure readers are able to emotionally connect with the story. By the end, readers will be left with tears in their eyes in part due to how well written the story is. I would without hesitation recommend this book to others.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The concept of this novel was incredible, two best friends who fall for the same girl and flip a coin on who asks her out!
I honestly loved everything about this book. From the very first line to the last, I was hooked.
I couldn’t put this down. All three point of views just pull you in and your sucked into their world..... Which I enjoyed.
The pacing was absolutely amazing. The dual timelines was fabulous.
Overall....this was an enjoyable read.
The book really has it all and I was hooked from the very beginning. You won't be able to put this one down as you find out what happens with the flip of a coin!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and author for this cute, amazing advanced ebook!

This was my first pick from Netgalley, I was looking for a good romance and I found “Where it all lands”. It’s a debut novel by Jennie Wexler. The story is about three musical prodigies: Shane, Drew and Stevie. Shane and Drew are best friends, and they like the same girl: Stevie, a newcomer to their town, and the daughter of a well-known NFL coach. To decide who will ask her out, Shane and Drew flip a coin, since it’s a habit they usually do everything they have differences. We witness two different scenarios depending on heads or tails, two different paths that will lead to some consequences.

I think this book is a perfect YA. I did enjoy it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read it when I was younger. The idea of two timelines, one being if Drew won the coin flip, the other being if Shane won it, with all the consequences, was original and a new concept to me. I’ve never read anything like this book before. The characters were okay. Drew was that popular high school guy and the son of a well-known music manager. Shane was the bullied school boy, without a father, and who always was protected by Drew. But he also was that musical prodigy. And Stevie, she’s the daughter of a well-known NFL coach, which requires her to move a lot. I loved the friendship between Shane and Drew, Drew was like a brother to Shane, always trying to protect him and defend him against the football players who bullied Shane. But if you ask me who should be with Stevie, I’ll definitely go with Drew. Shane, in both scenarios, was a good friend to Stevie, I couldn’t picture them being together.

The romance was light, and I would have loved it if it was a better developped one. And the ending, so intriguing! But we get to witness that, even a small thing like a coin toss could change everything.

To sum it up, it’s a 3.5 stars read, enjoyable even if I wanted to know more, especially the ending.

Where It All Lands is exactly the kind of book my students would love, but that also means it's the kind of book I'm not totally in love with. Wexler's novel reads at the precarious level that rests right above a Wattpad novel and below a debut. It is that area which teens today LOVE without a doubt because it's often over the top with drama and a plot that hovers the line between feasibility and unbelievability. The two male leads flip a coin over who will go out with the female lead, Stevie. Already, I was pretty much rolling my eyes, but wait!!! It gets even more like a teen drama. Stevie immediately turns down the guy who won the coin toss, preferring the other friend instead. As time goes on and feelings shift, she changes her feelings towards the other guy.

While this review sounds mostly negative, I understand it was not written for people like me, but rather for the teens it was intended for. And it is for those teens, many of whom I teach, that I am leaving it a positive review. Where It All Lands is exactly the kind of book teens love and would devour within a night, talking about it adamantly the next day. Between the love triangle of a romance and the possibility of a heart wrenching ending established from the very beginning, it is the novel they seek in tv shows and movies, but written in just the amount of drama they crave.

So if teen dramas ala the CW and Freeform are your thing and you love Wattpad stories, this is 100% the book for you because I know it's the book my students would love.

4 Stars

Really solid book. At first I liked her with Drew but then when it flips to the tails side of things I changed my mind. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the epilogue. It just seemed like the teacher's answer key of the theme of the book and what you're supposed to get out it. I think those are things the reader should figure out themselves not be spoon fed. Other than that a very good book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful story -- perfect not only for teens, but those of all ages. The main characters are multidimensional and easy to relate to. The writing is sharp and profound. I recommend this to anyone. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

What would you do, if you could change everything?

I am a person that never stops thinking of possibilities. The butterfly effect, the little decisions that make up a person, the things you do (or don’t do) that can change your life forever.

When I read the premise of Where It All Lands, I had high expectations of what this could be. A story that chronicles two diverging paths, a love story told in three different points of view, and with the ever running question of what is real and what isn’t?

Sign me up.

Reading about the love story of Stevie, Drew and Shane – a love story told really in three parts across two timelines – was as heartbreaking as it was interesting. The same three people, put together into two very different circumstances, and reacting differently because of it. There’s so much to say about the way the plot develops (perfectly), or how the characters are written (lovingly), but the best thing that I could say to recommend this book is this: I requested to read this book back in January.

Six months later and it’s still stuck with me.

Haunting, riveting, and filled with the warmth of first love, Where It All Lands is a perfect summer read that goes beyond the surface and will keep you asking: what if?

Oh, to be young.

This book is the typical example of you did not see that coming. It has alternating timelines which is an interesting choice so that we're able to witness different perspectives and thoughts which I've always enjoyed. This book is emotional, thoughtful and perfectly YA.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the earc in return for an honest review.

So this book was something new for me as it was told in dual timelines. One where Stevie ends up with Drew and the other where she ends up with Shane.

Both timelines were I interesting to read. The characters did feel a bit weak in some points but that could be because we’re essentially seeing two different versions of the same characters. But I still enjoyed seeing how the characters changed based on which timeline we are in.

The romances were ok. They were enjoyable but not memorable. The ending had me crying because of what events happened, but those events were hinted in the first chapter but still managed to break me into tears.

This book shows how one event can change your life forever. In good ways or bad.

Definitely reads as a YA. I thought the idea behind it was cute. I didn't find myself interested in the book as I started reading. I did read the first 20%, and if it continues as it did then solid 4 stars for high schoolers.

I absolutely adore Sliding Doors premises, so WHERE IT ALL LANDS by Jennie Wexler has been high on my to-read list all year. And it delivered 100 percent!

Stevie Rosenstein has just moved to another new town, and on her first day at band practice, she meets--and intrigues--best friends Drew and Shane. They both want to ask her out, and since they solve all arguments by tossing a coin, that's what they do. Heads: Drew asks her out. Tails: Shane asks her out.

Yes, it's awful for the boys to leave such a thing up to a coin toss, but it's a device for the story to flip. As readers, we get to see how life would play out either way, and Jennie Wexler does such an amazing job showing how the trajectories of these different relationships affect each character, and also how those ripples affect other relationships in their lives. I was completely riveted and, of course, had serious opinions about whether Stevie should be with Drew or Shane from very early on in the book. But the thing was, the stories were so well developed that there were some aspects that could only happen with one thread, and that just made it all the more difficult.

This book is plotting and character genius, and I will definitely read it again just to see how it's all done. It's also just a thoroughly enjoyable story of first love, friendship, and working through hard family stuff too. It's so good, and I will definitely be adding it to my permanent collection!