I have a chemistry final tomorrow.

Did I end up not studying at all and instead read this book in 5 hours immediately after I got it. Yes.

I loved the setting in this book plus the cyber vibes from the cover. Did I mention how pretty the cover is. The Graphic designer for this was truly a genius. What If It's You is the kind of story that makes you rethink yourself and your relationships. truly a wonderful novel

P.S. a longer review is on it's way! Still got to study for that final!

"What If It's You" by Jill Gagnon takes an ambitious swing at blending romance with quantum physics, creating a unique premise that unfortunately doesn't quite stick the landing. While the concept of exploring love through the lens of alternate universes is intriguing, the execution struggles to find the right balance between science and sentiment.

The novel's distinctive approach to the romance genre deserves recognition—it's not every day you find quantum physics theory woven into a love story. However, the extensive scientific explanations often overshadow the emotional core of the narrative, creating passages that may leave readers more confused than captivated. The physics elements, while thoroughly researched, tend to interrupt rather than enhance the flow of the romantic storyline.

At its heart, this book aims to explore the age-old question of destiny versus choice through a scientific lens. The love triangle at the center of the story should theoretically benefit from this unique framework, but the romantic connections never quite generate the emotional investment needed to make readers care about the outcome. Laurel's journey through different possibilities feels more like an academic exercise than a heart-stirring exploration of love and fate.

Where the book stumbles most notably is in creating compelling romantic dynamics. Without strong chemistry between the protagonist and either of her potential love interests, the central conflict loses its impact. Even the intriguing premise of quantum possibilities can't fully compensate for this crucial missing element.

This fusion of romance and physics might appeal to readers who enjoy their love stories with a heavy dose of scientific theory, but those seeking a more emotionally driven narrative may find themselves wanting more heart and less hypothesis.

This was an amazing read! I loved that it was a romance book, but it was definitely more about self discovery and finding out what is really important. I loved how Jilly brought in physics (not that I understood all of it) and how Laurel 'traveled' between the two timelines. And the epilogue was a sweet ending to tie it all together. I enjoyed all the twists, and it kept me wondering how it was going to end. I highly recommend for those that can allow for some unexplained phenomenon in their reading.

This book was just not for me. Waaaay too much science and waay too little romantic plot. I'm sure the right reader would enjoy, but it just wasn't for me.

I wasn’t really excited about the romance, the love triangle, and the alternate universe theory and explanation into quantum physics was just too much. There was so much explanation about the physics of alternate universes that my eyes glazed over a bit. I like the idea that the author was trying to pull off - a romance, but the partners are already together and the FMC is wondering "what if?". The science fiction elements allows the exploration of this idea quite a bit and there were a few interesting questions raised, but overall it just fell flat for me.

For readers interested in quantum physics, science fiction, and also to some degree self exploration and growth, this way work for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC.

2.5 stars

I really adore Jilly Gagnon’s works - Scenes of the Crime is a personal favorite of mine. However, this one unfortunately fell flat for me.

The concept for the story was very neat, but it was bogged down by explanations of how the technology could work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge nerd, but quantum physics is so far over my head that the descriptions kept taking me out of the story. I don’t think the story gives enough credit to readers who are willing to suspend reality - see A Novel Love Story (Ashley Poston), One Italian Summer (Rebecca Serle), or The Two Lives of Lydia Bird (Josie Silver) to name a few. While I loved Laurel’s interactions with Professor Howell, those were my favorite scenes in the book, I wish the plot spent more time exploring Laurel’s choices rather than the plausibility of being pulled between two lives.

On top of that, I wasn’t able to get a good sense of either love interest. Laurel would arrive, the love interest would inevitably annoy her in some way, then she’d be back to the other life. It all just seemed very superficial. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but overall I found the characters unlikable and indecisive, and there was too much effort on my part to stay engaged. I’ll look forward to Gagnon’s next read instead!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dell Romance, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Laurel y Ollie han estado juntos durante cinco años. El día de su quinto aniversario, ella encuentra un anillo de compromiso y, en lugar de sentirse feliz, esto la lleva a replantearse su relación y a preguntarse qué habría pasado si, en lugar de estar con él, hubiera salido con su compañero de trabajo, Drew.

Drew es un científico que está desarrollando una computadora cuántica capaz de crear diferentes universos. Cuando Laurel se entera de este proyecto, le parece la oportunidad perfecta para despejar sus dudas y ver cómo sería su vida con Drew. Su sorpresa es grande cuando, de repente, se ve transportada a una vida alternativa donde sus sueños se han hecho realidad.



.


Hasta cierto punto, entendí las dudas y el miedo de Laurel, ya que la separación de sus padres le causó un trauma. Sin embargo, no puedo perdonar que tuviera sentimientos y fantaseara con Drew. Además, cuando estaba en su vida alternativa, parecía feliz al pensar que estaba casada con él. Pero, al pensar en su matrimonio con Ollie, se volvía errática, y lo que dijo en ese momento me pareció una traición hacia su novio: "… tendría que encontrar una manera de nunca dejar este mundo o, de alguna manera, armarme de valor para terminar las cosas con Ollie cuando regrese y rezar para que Drew todavía estuviera interesado." Con esto, ¿cómo se supone que al final crea que realmente amaba a Ollie?


Gracias NetGalley por el Arc a cambio de una opinión honesta.


2.5⭐️

I'm usually a huge fan of Gagnon and loved her other books but this one fell so short for me. The book focuses on Laurel and her desire to potentially live a different life (with a different partner). She gets the opportunity to have her wish when her company has been working on an AltR project (alternate reality). When she thought the program didn't work for her, she ends up waking up in a bed with another man - the one that she thought she wanted. But then things go sideways from there.

I'll be honest - for the first third of the book, I wasn't sure who to root for. I hated both her love interests and found Laurel annoying that she just couldn't decide what she wanted. Finally, she realizes what she wants but I sorta hate her the entire time that I don't want her to have a happy ending. I was so frustrated with everything that she was doing. She didn't redeem herself in the slightest and the one she ended up with did NOT deserve her, IMO.

The book also went heavily into the quantum side of things and as someone who married a physicist, this was so blah for me. I found myself skipping parts because I didn't really care about the physics side of things.

Loved her other stuff but this was a solid no for me.

This book about Laurel and Ollie in a relationship, yet Laurel keeps jumping to another life where she is with Drew. Drew being a quantum physicist and he wrote a program to help with virtual lives. Laurel tries out this computer program, but runs into a crazy jumping between two different lives.

This book had great character development and the scenes were drawn out so that I could imagine being in the same room with the characters was great.

I would recommend this book

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publiahing Group - Ballantine for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

**Book Review:**

*What If It's You* by Jilly Gagnon blends romance with science fiction in a thought-provoking way, exploring the complexities of life’s big choices and the path not taken. The story follows Laurel Everett, who, while grappling with her feelings about her relationship with her boyfriend Ollie, discovers an engagement ring in his drawer. Instead of excitement, she’s overwhelmed with doubt, wondering what might have been if she had taken a chance on Drew, a former colleague who once asked her out. Thanks to an innovative project at her company, Laurel is given the opportunity to experience this alternate reality, toggling between two versions of her life.

The central concept of the AltR project is intriguing and provides a unique lens for Laurel to explore her identity, desires, and personal growth. The book moves beyond the typical love triangle, focusing instead on Laurel's journey of self-discovery. As she navigates the two timelines, we see her confront who she has become and question whether she’s truly been honest with herself. The novel raises important themes around fulfillment, choices, and relationships, making it a much deeper read than its romantic premise might suggest.

While the romance elements and the love triangle might appeal to some readers, the real highlight of *What If It’s You* is its focus on personal growth and the psychological impact of Laurel’s choices. The sci-fi elements, particularly the explanation of alternate universes and quantum mechanics, are woven into the story in a way that enhances the emotional stakes. However, for some readers, the depth of these scientific explanations could feel a bit overwhelming or distracting from the more relatable aspects of the plot.

For me, this book didn’t quite hit the mark. The romance and love triangle didn’t engage me as much as I’d hoped, and the heavy focus on quantum physics occasionally made my eyes glaze over. I also found myself not rooting for Laurel to end up with either of the love interests, which left me less invested in her journey. However, I can see how readers who are more comfortable with the sci-fi aspects or who enjoy stories that explore "what if" scenarios might find this novel more compelling.

Overall, *What If It’s You* is an intriguing take on the “what if” scenario, with a strong emphasis on self-reflection and personal growth. If you enjoy character-driven narratives that tackle big decisions, love, and identity, this book could be a satisfying read. For those with a deep interest in quantum physics or alternate realities, it might resonate even more.

I loved this book so much. I read it in less than a day and couldn't put it down. I was worried it was going to be hard to follow but it wasn't at all. I love Laurels character and how she grows through the book and realizes what she always wanted was there and questioning it literally shook her world apart. I loved both Ollie and Drew (friend Drew, not boyfriend Drew- he was kind of controlling). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to dive right in read a book with a dash of romance and a very interesting plot.

This book reminds me of the movie Sliding Doors, but set for today generation. Definitely can’t wait to read more from this author.

Laurel finds an engagement ring hidden at the back of her boyfriend’s drawer, the scares her because she isn’t quite sure about the whole “forever“ thing. She works at Pixel, a social media company, and has a flirtatious relationship with a coworker named Drew. Drew has developed an AI that uses quantum mechanics to explore alternate universe theory. He allows her to use a virtual reality program to alter certain points in the past, and she wakes up in a completely different time stream.

This book wasn’t for me, I wasn’t really excited about the romance, the love triangle, and the alternate universe theory and explanation into quantum physics was just too much. There was so much explanation about the physics of alternate universes that my eyes glazed over a bit. I read an advanced copy of another book that explores this type of sliding doors/butterfly effect/vanilla sky “the one that got away“ storyline, and I really loved that book. “Some other time” by Angela Brown comes out in February, I rated that five stars, this one is such a similar theme, but comes out a few months later. It’s difficult with a romance when you aren’t really rooting for the main character to end up with the male main character. This book was just missing something for me. But it could be for people that understand this and are very into quantum physics and understand it better than I do.

“What if it’s You” by Jilly Gagnon is a “what if” romance book. There’s some science fiction (Quantum Computing, time shifting, time thread weaving) where if you don’t know a lot about quantum computing, it can kinda sorta work. If, like me, you start asking your computer geek friends questions, well, let’s just say “ignore the science” and try to enjoy the story. And I tried enjoying the story - the “what if” and different timelines I do find interesting (“what if in another universe X happened or is happening?” “What if in another universe I’m doing X instead of Y?”), but I had the most difficult time dealing with Lauren’s inconsistencies. She freaks over a possible proposal from her current boyfriend (Ollie), then wonders about if she should’ve become the girlfriend of a work colleague (Drew), then feels guilty for spending time with Drew in his timeline because she’s thinking Ollie … ugh. I don’t know if she was overthinking everything (yes) or she was full of contradictions/inconsistencies. This book also moved rather slowly - a lot of time was spent moving in and out of timelines, but it didn’t seem like Laurel was actually moving towards doing something about her situation - stay with Ollie, be with Drew. After a while I started to wonder which reality was, well, this timeline’s reality - were her actions in one timeline making changes in the true timeline and I think I felt more concerned about that opposed to which man she’d end up with. A good idea, but not as well executed as I hoped it would be. I would recommend this book to people who like alternative universes.

I think this was a very well-written book, but a lot of it was way over my head. I do hold a bachelor's degree but have never set foot in a physics class. So a lot of the jargon, contemplating of the situation, and discussion of the problem was hard for me to understand at times. I loved the concept of the book, though, getting to see how life would have turned out both ways.

This was a beautifully written and creative story. Not the kind of sci-fi romance I normally read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

A perfect blend of different genres, What If It's You? immerses readers into a science fiction world of romantic complications. Jilly Gagnon introduces us to Laurel Everett, who lives and works in Boston for a tech company, Pixel. Feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of marriage with her current partner, when Laurel is able to take her company's new pet project, AltR, for a test run, she accidently opens up an alternative universe where she ends up with a co-worker named Drew. Traveling through both universes, Laurel is forced to see the realities of both her current and could-be lives. The self-reflection that ensues allows Laurel to really examine what she wants in life, versus just fantasizing about the possibilities.

Gagnon uses elements of quantum physics to tell the story. I found this to be really compelling, despite physics not being something I would normally be interested in. The concept of Schrodinger's cat comes up quite often, and Gagnon is able to weave in technical aspects to the story that actually make sense and don't bog down the plot.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book as it wasn't a simple romance about the men and their characteristics, but it was about Laurel's self-discovery. I think What If It's You? highlights the tendency of many people to think the "grass is greener" somewhere else mentality, which can have debilitating effects on one's life. The ability to see what's in front of you can be so powerful and Gagnon beautifully calls attention to it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and the author Jilly Gagnon for an ARC of this feel good sci-fi/romance in exchange for an honest review!

a unique and beautifully written romance. never would i have thought that i’d be reading a a romance involving quantum physics, but i did and i absolutely loved it. if you’ve ever found yourself grappling with your identity and who you’re supposed to be with, this book is for you.

Honestly, I usually stay away for sci-fi and especially AI. However, something about this novel's description reminded me of Blackmirror's episode "Hang the DJ" which considers dating algorithms. I was very pleasantly surprised by Jilly Gagnon's handling of the topic. The use of AI and quantum computers, as well as the lead's involvement, felt realistic. The romance read as a side plot to the introspective journey occurring, which I also appreciated greatly.

This was a super fun read. The multiverse dual timeline is always intriguing to me and my nerd self enjoyed it a lot. I’m not well-versed enough to know if it made sense or not which I prefer so I can just smile and nod and not worry about too many logistics. Anytime I had a question like “wait does that make sense…” it would get explained eventually. It’s definitely an Everything, Everywhere, All At Once vibe but just two timelines. The FMC drove me a bit bonkers but by the end she was also driving HERSELF nuts and she had a lot of character development which we love to see. The word folds was used once in this book and every time I hear that word it immediately gives me the ick, BUT… I will say I think the spicy scenes were done quite tastefully. They are easy enough to skim over, but if you read them there is just a lot of emotional connection that I think the author captured very well. I was worried in the beginning that I would like both male love interests but luckily it didn’t stick around too long and I enjoyed the way everything turned out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book. I think Gagnon touches on something very real that a lot of people experience, this idea of: is this it? It can be so hard to navigate these major decisions in life -- what career to pursue, what relationships are worth investing in, etc. and life only seems to present more possibilities the more you think on it. Choosing to engage with this conundrum through the lens of a romance is not only brave, but extremely impactful. There were many moments in this book where I cried, feeling so deeply the hope and the understand the protagonist was experiencing.

In addition to being a very strong and unique premise, I think this book succeeds into "masterful romance" in my eyes because of it's novel use of sci-fi in terms of exploring the existential questions posed by the protagonist. I found the sci-fi elements very interesting, and factual (don't hold me to this too hard though because by "factual" I mean I asked my boyfriend who works in computing and quantum physics if this was accurate). I love romance dearly, but one of my biggest issues with the genre is that books are often "copy, paste" in terms of troupes. It can get very boring and stale. Which is why I was initially intrigued by this premise, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

I would (and have) recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen to me. I love a romance in which the protagonist learns and grows. This truly was a delightful read that had me kicking my legs giggling at times, and fighting back tears at other times. Do yourself a favor and add this to your TBR!!