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.

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.

I really liked this book. The different viewpoints made for a really interesting read. Stevie was a easy to like character, and the friend connection between the boys was great.

Where It All Lands was not what I was expecting. The concept of the coin flip was really interesting, and it reminded me a lot of One Way Or Another by Kara McDowell. The story gripped me, and I truly enjoyed the music references (i'm a big PJ fan myself) so i wanted to be friends with both Stevie and Shane and talk about music.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA contemporaries with a little twist and 90s music references.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really really loved this book! It is a tender and heartwarming story about how a single moment can profoundly ripple through the lives of multiple people, perhaps especially when you are young and still questioning your place in the world, the meaning of love and connection, and how to discern what is true.

Drew and Shane are best friends and neighbors, who have both experienced way too much heartbreak and disappointment in their young lives, but the day they meet Stevie changes the trajectory of their friendship and lives. The boys both become immediately entranced by her and decide to flip a coin in order to settle an argument about which one of them gets to ask her out. The story plays out initially as if Drew won the coin toss, and midway through the book the author starts over and tells what would have happened had Shane won.

Both stories contain moments of heartbreak, but also friendship prevailing, blame as well as forgiveness. I was so caught up in figuring out which story was true, I tore through the book. I'd give it 4.5 stars and will definitely have my teens read it when it comes out.

This was an enjoyable read. I didn't have any expectations going into it, so I would consider this a pleasant surprise.

Generally, I don't care for stories with parallel timelines, as the plot tends to get repetitious and tedious, but that's not the case with this. Each timeline feels whole and has enough differences that it didn't feel like I was reading the same thing over again. I was also worried this would end up with a love triangle, so I'm glad that was semi avoided.

My only minor critique would be the ending. It's meant to be ambiguous and I think that fits the tone of the book, but I personally prefer a concrete conclusion. I would have loved to get confirmation regarding which timeline actually happened because the uncertain nature of it all just left me feeling a little underwhelmed.

But overall, this is quick, cute story that gets you thinking about all the little ‘what ifs’ in life.

This book was definitely a good surprise. I thought it would just be a fun and cute read, and while it was that, it was so much more. I love the lessons learned throughout the story about the importance of living in the moment and not always wondering about the what-ifs. It was also way more emotional than I thought it would be as a few tears were shed.

It really was fun reading the story from the alternating perspectives and getting to see the two different storylines. Shane was easily my favorite character in the book, but Drew and Stevie were great characters as well. It was also a good lesson on the fact that everyone is going through something and not to judge.

My only problem with the book was the pacing felt a bit off. At times it felt like important moments were skipped and we would just be in a whole different scene with no real conclusion to the scene before. There were also quite a few more “f-words” than I usually like for a Young Adult novel, but they didn’t necessarily feel out of place so it didn’t actually ruin anything, just felt weird for a Young Adult book.

Thank you Netgalley & Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC of Where It All Lands by Jennie Wexler, all thoughts & opinions are my own.

Where it all lands follows two alternate timelines into a year of discovery, love and what a simple coin toss can forever change. Upon meeting Stevie, the new girl in town, best friends Drew and Shane have their love at first sight (or first band practice) moment. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, they flip a coin over who will ask her out. Told through dual timelines we see how fate and chance turns the wheels of our lives into motion.

Don't mind me brushing the tears off my face so I can write this review, just keep going on and act like everything is fine when it's actually very profoundly changed. Going into this book I thought the first half wold be dedicated to a relationship between Stevie and one boy and the second half to Stevie and the other boy (dating your best friends ex? AWKWARD. Right from the get go, I was sucked in, the first chapter is enticing and pulling so that I just had to know what happened next. The book took a fascinating turn, one I hadn't even realized until halfway through. The timelines shift and we are pulled back into the moment of the coin toss, with the results shockingly different. Leading through the rest of the book we see every minor choice and how easily the hands of fate turn within it.

The plot felt realistic and naturally progressed, and throughout the story we see the characters go through their journey of self awareness and acceptance. Wexler could have easily thrown aside the individual growth and arc of the characters in favour for a quick easy romantic resolution. Instead, she delivered a raw and honest depiction of loss, fear and the the question of what fate and chance is to us. With the flip of a coin or a small butterfly movement, our entire world can change and push into a different direction. Wexler explores this idea intuitively and personally, asking not only of her character but also in a way of us, what happens when fate takes the wheel (pun intended... though that pun will make no sense if you haven't read the book so you should definitely read it so you understand).

I read this book in one sitting, leaving me entranced long after I had finished it. In some ways I'm upset with Jennie Wexler for creating such amazing cute love interests that I had no idea how things would end, and couldn't for the life of me figure out which team I was on! The ending left me slightly confused in a profound and questioning way. I believe the best books leave you unsettled and introspective, yearning and collecting your thoughts in neat rows, then messing them up to re assemble. Wexler is a fascinating author with a spark of authenticity and realism many lack in YA contemporary. A thought provoking story and beautifully written.

Such a great idea for a book. It’s all about how we should focus on the present and not the what if’s of life.

A must read of 2021!