"For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, "it might have been.'

Holly Miller's latest book explores the question of "what would my life be like if I had only___." In the case of Lucy in What Might Have Been, it's the decision to stay or go--leaving her hometown for a fresh start in London. Though love of course plays an important part of the story, it's about more than just finding your soul mate. The story also explores complicated family relationships and learning that not everything in life is as it seems. Though I enjoyed both the Stay & Go storylines, I found myself favoring one timeline and love interest over the other and was surprised by the ambiguous ending but still really enjoyed this book.

If you like alternate timelines/stories or the Sliding Doors idea then this book would be the perfect way to kick off your year of reading!

Many thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the ARC.

I liked the book, but I don't like the melancholy feeling I'm left after finishing it. This isn't necessarily a new concept, alternate universe storylines, but it was well-written. I didn't feel a particular hold to any one character and I personally enjoyed the "Go" storyline much more than the "Stay." Perhaps my biggest frustration with this book, however, is the fact a major plot-point (what happened in Australia) does not come up until 70% into the book and is not explored well.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Might Have Been is absolutely a contender for my favorite book read in 2021! It took me a chapter or two to get into this one and had me in tears by the end. My favorite kind of book. If you love tugs on the heart strings, please check out this book! It has romance and family drama with cliffhanging chapters that will have you rushing to read to find out what happens next while simultaneously not wanting it to end.

Have you ever wondered what would your life have been like if you followed your dream or stayed behind? What Might Have Been follows Lucy in a moment of decision, stay in her hometown and write the novel she always dreamed of doing, or moving to London and go the corporate life. In this novel we see what Lucy's life becomes in both scenarios, Staying home leads her to Caleb a photographer while her life in London leads her back to her college sweetheart Max.

Wow this was such a unique concept! I loved the fact that it was basically 2 different stories in one. Usually there is one side you are supposed to like more, but I didn't find that with this one. There were times where I was "team Caleb" all the way and then all of a sudden I'd be rooting for Max. I loved both sides of the story and it just goes to show that whatever decision you make it will all work out in the end.

While I loved this story, this book should come with some trigger warnings for sure. there was an incident that happened to the main character where she is drugged and robbed and it is alluded to maybe something else. Also there is death and a fire.

What Might Have Been
By Holly Miller

I was completely enthralled with this book.
Such a well written book this is a romance story
I absolutely loved this story, and what a fabulous novel it is.
It is a contemporary romance love story and such an outstanding one at that!
The couple’s chemistry was perfect! I liked their connection!
I loved the author’s warm, energetic, attitude toward her characters. 
The author pulls you in with her amazing writing and storytelling.
Truly adored this book... it was just the right balance of funny and emotional and delightful and inspirational.
Seriously, it hit all the sweets spots for me in terms of romance too.

G.P. Putnam's Sons,
Thank you for this eARC!
I will post this review to my platforms in the near future!

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
BY: HOLLY MILLER

I had previously read and loved the talented Holly Miller's book called, "The Sight of You," which is one of my favorites. So, you can probably imagine how excited I was to see her latest beautiful and thought provoking book called, "What Might Have Been," waiting on my dashboard. I was drawn to this because I could relate to Lucy's situation. What appealed to me is twofold. First off, I saw and loved the movie "Sliding Doors, many, many years ago. After reading this emotional and charming novel that is based on the movie's premise which I have seen done before in other novels, in this one it is done uniquely and is Stunning. After reading this I am inspired to try to find the movie "Sliding Doors," and watch it again because I remember loving it so much. I remember the theme but enough time has gone by for me to forget the two outcomes from making a split second decision which causes two different trajectories for the main character's life to go in. I was totally impressed by this novel at how it mirrors the same theme. Secondly, I have been pondering my own real life Sliding Doorsesque unexpected outcome I have been living due to a split second impulsive action. My life has forever been altered and in ways that I never could have dreamed possible because of a split second choice. So I knew that this book would deeply resonate with me and I could absolutely relate to Lucy the main character.

This romantic but realistic novel could easily be prevalent to the human condition. How many of us can say what if...or if only?

At the heart of this emotional and life affirming novel the Author, Holly Miller explores whether the idea or rather questions is do we have a soulmate or our person that we love is it meant to be? Or is our romantic love a choice? Relationships are seldom perfect and whether we stay or if we go is always a choice...

Lucy arrives one night sitting at a bar in a pub called The Smugglers sipping a Virgin Mary after just storming out of her job that she quits. It's the first place that she has ever gotten served alcohol. She no longer drinks alcoholic drinks which is woven into the story as a mystery. While she sits alone she pulls up a horoscope App on her cellphone. She reads that day's prediction which says:

"Today will see you head off on a new career path. If you're single, this could be the day
you bump into your soulmate."

A good looking and polite young man slides into the stool beside her and asks her if she minds that he sat down beside her. He tells her is name is Caleb. They strike up a conversation asking each other if they are from the area. She confides in him that she actually just quit her job and he responds by asking her if she is in the bar to drown her sorrows? She tells him it was a good thing, quitting because the principle behind it is she is not being treated as valued--kind of been taking advantage of. Caleb says "Congratulations, and--Good for you." She asks Caleb if he is gainfully employed to which he tells her he is a photographer. She is surprised by this and asks him, "Really? For a living?" He replies that, "We do exist." He asks her what type of job she had just quit. To which she replies an advertising agency. He is surprised that they exist in Shoreley which is the place they are at which is an idyllic Seaside town that Lucy prefers the Winter months because it gets crowded with tourists during the Summer months. It is really quite quaint and charming from the Author's description of it throughout this breathtaking novel which explores relationships in general which are not always perfect. There will be problematic one's at time. This is the novels strength because in life things do happen and people either choose to work through them or jump ship and end them. Their is chemistry between Lucy and Caleb as they sit making small talk at this bar in this pub in this bucolic setting. Suddenly, Lucy notices her ex-boyfriend Max out the window. He was her person. The one she thought was meant to be a decade ago. This is where the sliding door moment happens. Does Lucy stay and develop a relationship with Caleb? Or does she strike up a conversation with Max and leave Caleb and get back together with Max?

This novel explores both relationships between Caleb and Max in a sort of alternating different dimensions with each of them. They are called "Stay" which she develops a stable relationship which is ideal in many ways. Caleb is dependable, honest and the kind of man who you want around in a crises. Max is the one she was deeply in love with who she believed they were fated to be together in the timeline known as "Go." Max left Lucy feeling hurt ten year's prior and she never knew why but it's the reason she couldn't finish receiving her degree at Norwich University. The "Stay" dimension with Caleb was my favorite parts of this emotive and heartbreaking novel. Who she ends up with is the reason to read this novel. I thought that this was beautifully written and both relationships with each seem wonderful in different ways. One with "Stay," has Lucy working part-time in a gift shop called, "Pebbles and Paper" in which she writes a novel and the "Go," she lives in London and works at a new Advertising Agency that values and recognizes her for her hard work where her job also entails writing. It is called Supernova.

I will be spreading the word urging all of my friends to read this fantastic novel. I can't wait to purchase it for myself and for those special people who love a great heartfelt novel that not only is well written but the relationships are sparkling with realism. You will think that you know who Lucy is going to end up with but this Author writes a gut wrenching ending for which is impossible to predict. Highly, Highly recommend this to everybody! This is a Favorite, for sure!

Publication Date: January 18, 2022

A giant thank you to Net Galley, the talented Holly Miller and the generous Publishing company Penguin Group GP Putnam-Putnam's Sons who always manage to provide high quality content and terrific Author's for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WhatMightHaveBeen #HollyMiller #PenguinGroupGPPutnamPutnamSon's #NetGalley

"What's meant for you won't pass you by"

Wow. Wow wow wow. That is it, that is my entire summary. I read this book in under 24 hours... I was so invested from the start. The way this is written is so incredibly unique following two different storylines but somehow still magically intertwining. I just... I'm speechless. I loved this book truthfully. I have had books make me reflect, make me feel many emotions, and a few that have made me teary-eyed. But this book made me SOB. This one will stay in my head for a long long time and I will be recommending it for a long time. Truly beautiful.

Normally I like to include a summary, but I honestly don't know how. I think going into this book blind is the best way. It's a love story that makes you ponder fate and the idea of soulmates. The MC is real and relatable and I found myself connecting and feeling for her throughout the entire novel. The two storylines couldn't be more different, but I found myself invested in each of them wondering how it was all going to end up.

Thank you so much to Netgally and Putnam for the advanced copy of this book. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

When this book opens Lucy quits a job she hates and she meets Caleb a photographer at a local bar. While they are hitting off, she runs into Max who was her University boyfriend and always thought that he was her soul mate. Lucy is left to make a decision to stay in the small town and write the book she dreamed of writing or leave for London to an opportunity that she has been approached about. That is when this story turns into a Sliding Doors type of story.

Each chapter encompasses a section of “Stay” and “Go”. In the stay part of the story, she begins to write her book takes a part-time job at a local stationery store and dates Caleb. In the go sections, she is London navigating a new job and the possibility of getting back together with Max.

This book was quite confusing to me. There were so many timelines and stories within stories to keep up with. While it ultimately comes together somewhat, I kept thinking this is just not working. I personally wanted these stories somehow to merge, and while there were some evidence of that occurring, it did not give me the closure I was looking for.

My other issue was that Lucy was infuriating to me. She was the nicest person ever, but appeared to have no backbone when it came to her relationships with men, family and friends. It became a put-off that I almost walked away a few times from this book.

This review is not all negative, there was some excellent story telling and it had me thinking which life do I want for Lucy. The ending although not what I wanted was satisfying in many ways. The writing is good, I think I just wanted this story to take a different direction.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting look at those what have been stories. Even though I don't normally like those this one kept my attention till the last page.

Absolutely loved it. Lucy is very relatable. The writing is fast paced and entertaining. I loved the sliding doors concept and better yet that she bow tied the ending on which is the best choice. Either way both journeys were fun to see through. Solid romance book.

I really enjoyed this "sliding-doors" type of story with an unexpected lesson in it. I felt that the book was really well-written and it kept my interest throughout. What I really liked was that rather than tell one complete story, then tell the story, the two stories alternated back and forth throughout.

I love books that offer two possible outcomes and leave my conflicted as to which one I'm "rooting" for. For the most part, I was rooting for one story more than the other, but I did see value in both and at times I felt that I would've been happy no matter which direction Lucy went with her life. I liked the balance in that both had hills and valleys, happiness and heartbreak - just in different ways.

I felt that the book provided a really cool insight into the different ways that life could go, as well as the way one might consider fate vs the choices we make that lead us to where we end up. This book gives the reader a lot to think about and consider, and may even challenge the way you think about soulmates, fate, and choices.

I will definitely be recommending this book to others and if you like a sliding-doors type of story, I definitely think you'll enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

I enjoy sliding doors books, but What Might Have Been left me with mixed feelings. I loved Lucy timeline with Caleb so much, that I think it made the parts of the book where her timeline was with Max drag for me. The chance encounter of meeting Caleb, their relationship highs and lows felt so authentic, and I was very invested in that timeline. Knowing Max broke her heart years ago and when you find out why, I couldn't root for that relationship at all. Also, once knowing what Max kept from her for all those years, it annoyed me how quickly Lucy was able to let it go, even though the secret destroyed her when she found out. While I appreciated the epilogue for closing out both timelines, I wish there was one overall conclusion like with how the book started with a choice. I'd like to think those that were destined to meet and be together end up in the end overall, and maybe that is what Holly Miller wanted readers to take away from this book.

The concept of the novel was initially appealing to me when I read it. However, after reading the first few chapters, the story failed to grab me. I most could not get myself interested in the story. It was a miss for me.

I always love the idea behind alternate timelines, the what-could-have-been, and soulmates, and overall, Holly Miller did a decent job capturing these themes. The story was very easy to read, and lent itself well for a quick read, and generally, the story is enjoyable. I liked this enough that I would recommend, but I didn't love it.

I really enjoyed the timeline with Caleb over the timeline with Max. In general, Max was trash and we stan Caleb far more. But I also felt Lucy developed more as a person in the Caleb timeline. Free from idolizing her relationship with Max and Max as a whole, she was able to really come into herself, develop confidence, and embark on a new life for herself, versus the very 'stuck' feeling that came with the Max timeline.

There are definitely some hard topics that are hit on - infidelity, processing how good people can do bad things, the consequences of our actions, death and grief, mention of possible sexual assault - but I thought the author handled all of these with care.

Where this didn't hit as high for me was the character and relationship development. I felt the strongest connection to Caleb, and not really any for Lucy, Max, or Tash. While I love the idea of soulmates, Lucy's obsession of "signs" and "soulmates" felt very juvenile to me and honestly, became more annoying than anything as the book went on. I wanted a stronger female lead as well, while Lucy seemed to have zero gumption, and just fell flat as a heroine.

In summation: Max is trash and I was tired of hearing Lucy fawn over him.

Would recommend to someone who is a fan of sliding door, soulmates, alternate timeline tropes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love the idea of soulmates and fate, so when I read the synopsis for What Might Have Been, I was hooked. This book follows Lucy after she’s given the choice of moving to London where her ex, her could-have-been-the-one, lives for an advertising job or stay and pursue her life-long dream of being a writer. In the Go timeline, she’s reunited with Max, and in her Stay, she finds love with local photographer, Caleb. I really loved this book. Lucy was just so interesting, and her two paths felt genuine and unique. A lot of the twists were ones I really didn’t expect, and I just couldn’t wait to see how they panned out. Her personal growth in both is wonderful! I love seeing how her ideas of soulmates shifts in each storyline and also I loved how little changes in the timelines created massive ripples. What I think is truly outstanding too is Holly Miller’s writing! I mean she wrote two beautiful romances for Lucy that felt both unique and chemistry-filled, while also being true to that timeline and to the Lucy living the Go or Stay life! I mean just so impressive! And I really appreciated Max and Caleb throughout too. They both supported her and cared for her, and while I personally was swooning for Caleb, I thought both were wonderfully written and genuine. I loved Lucy’s relationships with her family and friends too, especially her best friend Jools, who was just funny and loving and such a great support system for Lucy, no matter what. This is a story with a lot of depth—Lucy overcomes trauma and she finds herself and her dreams and I just loved everything about the writing and her journey!

A good what if story. There were parts of the story I liked but it was slow going. Thank you for the ARC copy

This book was an interesting concept and after reading it I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. It was a Sliding Door concept in book form with the two different life paths delineated by choosing either Stay or Go. Our protagonist Lucy has a chance encounter with her old boyfriend Max on the same day she meets Caleb. Lucy has also just quit her job and needs to decide if she should stay in her small town and pursue her dream of writing a novel or move to London for a not as dream fulfilling job in a tony ad agency. So, lots of dilemmas and several ways the story could play out. I think the problem for me was that the story dragged and I really didn’t care too much for either Lucy or Max. I did like the concept and the writing was good. I plan to read the first novel by this author and I can see this book appealing to many. I think it just wasn’t for me.

What Might Have Been by Holly Miller is a wonderful book! This book is woven between two timelines which cross over without any disturbance to the story. This highly emotional, especially towards the end, left me thinking about life. How the choices ​we make have such a profound impact for the future. An overall beautiful story (or technically two stories), with an ending I really loved.​ I definitely recommend for a good hearty read.

Four and a half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
What Might Have Been by Holly Miller is a delightful look at one person’s life as seen through two timelines. It’s heartwarming, emotional, and thought-provoking.

Lucy suddenly loses her job, and as she drowns her sorrows in her beer at the local pub, she meets and starts talking to Caleb. Then, she notices her old boyfriend, Max through the window on the street. She rushes outside to see Max, and this is where the stories divide. Which outcome is best? Meeting up again with Max, and getting back together with the “one that got away”, or forgetting about Max and continuing with the interesting Caleb, who she just met?

I like this romance very much. Throughout the book, I kept wondering which outcome will be best for Lucy, so I enjoyed the bit of mystery that came with the romance. And you get two romances with this book. Lucy and Max and Lucy and Caleb! I love the alternating chapters for the different outcomes, it kept the book fast-moving and so interesting it was difficult to put down. I enjoyed all three of the main characters so much.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pub date: Jan 18, 2022
Genre: women's fiction with romance elements
In one sentence: Can happy ever after happen twice?

We all wonder "what if?", so why not read a book about this exact scenario? I was excited to see main character Lucy's journey unfold in two parts: one if she decided to stay in her small town and the other if she decided to move to London and pursue a relationship with old flame Max. I liked that the author showed that happiness could be found in both paths.

This book faltered a bit in execution - each chapter covers both the "go" and "stay" timelines, making the narrative long and unwieldy. I wish the timelines had been cut down or been structured into separate narratives - this would have made it easier to follow Lucy's journey. Lucy's suitors also both had major issues - one was still married and one had a history of cheating, so it was hard to root for these love stories.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.