Laurel and Ollie are about to celebrate their 5th anniversary of being together when Laurel finds a ring box in Ollie’s sock draw containing a family ring. This causes her to think a little too much about her relationship with Ollie and questioning if five years ago she should have accepted a date with Drew, her friend at work, she refers to as her “work husband.” What if he’s really the “the one” and not Ollie?
When Drew shows her a new project he’s working on and allows her to login to the program herself, she begins to live in an alternate reality of being with Drew and also Ollie. The quantum physics language was a bit much and was confusing at times. Through it all Laurel not only questions if the grass is greener elsewhere but she also learns important things about herself and how she treats others.
The characters are well developed, strong and memorable.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

"What If It's You" had such a unique premise that I was instantly hooked to see where it went. We start five years into a relationship where Laurel finds herself questioning everything upon finding an engagement ring in her long time boyfriend's sock drawer. When given the opportunity to find out if the grass would really have been greener on the other side in a alternate reality project at her job, she finds herself slipping between both her current reality and one she could be living had she made a different choice all those years ago.

This was a solid three star read for me. I think this book will find its audience and get rave reviews, but there was a lot of miscommunication between Laurel and her partner(s) that left me feeling frustrated. The quantum physics jargon was really heavy at times and had me putting the book down for breaks quite often. All that to say, I really enjoyed watching the personal growth Laurel went through and felt her character was extremely relatable in the sense that we've all found ourselves questioning if we've made the right decision whether it be in our career path or relationships at some point in our lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books/Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

'What If It's You' has such an inventive premise, but, unfortunately, it doesn't quite hit the mark in terms of execution. Without the full development of the main characters, all of the 'big' decisions that Laurel makes don't have much depth to them. We're introduced to Laurel at a time where she feels both unsettled and too settled within the restraints of her domestic life and relationship. The alternate realities project gives her a literal escape from her own and a glimpse into another that she quickly realizes isn't for her. There's a lot of miscommunication between Laurel and Ollie that resulted in a lot of unnecessary frustration for me. The quantum physics jargon was really heavy handed at times. Both the science discussions and the jumps themselves led to a lot of jarring tone changes.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Laurel has a moment in her life when she starts to contemplate the "what if" moments of her past - what if she made a different choice here or there. However, since she works for a tech company that is working on a project that can glimpses of alternate realities to people - although the program needs some more support to get to that point. One day, Laurel finds herself in one of her alternate realities, but then she winds up slipping between that reality and her real life at random intervals. This leaves Laurel wondering about the powers of technology, but also reflecting on her real life and what was meaningful about it. I enjoyed this book for the various themes it put forth, such as loss, growth, and acceptance, but also for the science element and creating an intelligent woman.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books/Dell for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A solid 3.75 stars. Is the grass greener on the other side? We as the readers find out with Laurel Everett in this soft-sci book about how one choice can change your entire life. The story took a little bit to pick up but once it did it was a very smooth read. The quantum physics talk was a bit TOO much and was kind of jarring at times. More than a romance, the story was about overcoming fear and that part really touched me. I would recommend it for a quick, not too heavy or serious read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"In What If It’s You" by Jilly Gagnon masterfully blends romance, science fiction, and self-reflection into a story that’s equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking. The premise is instantly intriguing: Laurel Everett, at a critical point in her relationship, stumbles upon an engagement ring in her boyfriend Ollie’s drawer. Instead of joy, she’s overwhelmed with doubts, leading her to question what might have happened if she’d taken up a former colleague, Drew, on his offer of a date five years ago. And thanks to a cutting-edge tech project at her company, she doesn’t just wonder—she gets to experience that alternate path.

Gagnon’s use of the AltR project is clever, offering Laurel a glimpse into a parallel life with Drew while still anchored in her "real" world with Ollie. As Laurel toggles between these two versions of her life, the novel delves deeper than just the classic love triangle. It’s less about choosing between two men and more about Laurel’s journey to discover what she truly wants for herself.

What sets this book apart is its focus on personal growth. Laurel’s slipping between timelines allows her to examine who she’s become, how her relationships have shaped her, and whether she’s been truly honest with herself. Gagnon balances the romance with a sharp look at identity, fulfillment, and the anxieties we all face about life’s big decisions.

While the sci-fi elements might initially seem daunting, they’re woven seamlessly into the plot, enhancing the emotional stakes without overwhelming the reader. The alternate realities aren’t just a gimmick; they push Laurel to confront her choices, desires, and fears in a way that feels both modern and relatable.

Overall: "What If It’s You " is a refreshing and insightful take on the classic “what if” scenario, offering a delightful blend of romance and self-discovery. Jilly Gagnon delivers a story that not only asks what could have been but forces the reader to reflect on the complexities of choice, love, and the paths we take. Fans of character-driven narratives and smart romantic fiction will find this a thoroughly satisfying read.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Ballentine for sharing this gripping sci-fi romance's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange of my honest thoughts that I highly appreciate.

What If It's You by Jilly Gagnon was a different read for me and I enjoyed it so much! I normally don't like parallel universe stories because I don't like having to choose, but I thought this was well thought out and put the emphasis more on the main character than on the romance. (See?

When Laurel finds her boyfriend, Ollie, has an engagement ring she panics and doesn't know if she is ready to get married or even be with Ollie forever - what if she'd accepted that date with Drew five years ago? Would her life be different?

So begins her slip into the parallel universe where she does go on that date with Drew and....no spoilers....you'll have to read what happens next.

I enjoyed that this was more a character development for Laurel than a romance with either Drew or Ollie - she had to work on herself before she was ready to be with either in whichever world she was in. It made me think and I love that it acknowledges that we have to love ourselves before we can truly be available to anyone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.. I enjoyed it immensely - the scientific/parallel universe issues and the human relationship issues. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

Jilly Gagnon is a local author (to me) and I really enjoyed her last book Love You, Mean It. This was no different. It was a good take on “what if” while making quantum physics fun. A light and easy read that had me turning the page to find out exactly how Laurel would return to OG Laurel or a better version of her former self.

This was a very lovely story. I enjoyed the overall plot, even with the quantum mechanics/scifi aspect of it all. The romance was actually mostly a backburner as main character was actually learning more about who she was, what she wanted, and coming into her own through the course of the novel. The romance was done well however, and I really enjoyed that it added to the story and didn't detract at all from the amazing character development seen throughout. I would definitely recommend this novel!

Thanks to Random House Publishing-Ballantine, Jilly Gagnon, and Netgalley for the ARC for a review!

I wanted to get into this one but it didn’t grab my attention. I felt lost with the technology aspect of it and only enjoyed the relationship aspect. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The quantum physics was a bit tough to read through. I found myself skimming a lot of it. But what kept me going was her relationship with Ollie. The best parts of the story were their story. The rest I found a tiny bit boring. I may not of been in the right headspace when reading it. It was still an enjoyable read for me though.

I thought it was a cute read. Lots of self discovery happened for the main character Laurel throughout the book. Just goes to show when you find/discover yourself then love finds a way on.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine and NetGallery for this Arc.

Not a story for me. Horrible. Too much tech talk and little set up of characters and story line. Idea of time travel or parallel travel set up was not interesting to me. Could not finish.

This was the first romance in a long time that actually had me questioning whether the main character would get their happily ever after—but in a good way!

Synopsis: Laurel is a marketer at a social media company and is killing it at work. She has some childhood baggage and a funny and kind BF who maybe doesn't quite meet his potential. When she finds an engagement ring in his sock drawer, she starts spiraling (hello, anxiety my old friend) and wonders how anyone actually knows they're "meant to be." She specifically wonders what would have happened if she'd said "yes" to a date from a friendly coworker years before. With the help of AltR, a new AI program at work that gives users a glimpse into a possible alternate reality, she has a chance to find out.

I loved this book and am SO grateful I was able to snag an ARC to read and review. It's a "smart" romance (I kind of hate that descriptor, but I'm not sure how else to word it) in that it has some science themes (think Ali Hazelwood), but it also goes really deep into the main character's emotions, motivations, and childhood traumas. I don't have a science background, but the quantum-related parts also worked well for me.

Do not recommend getting 3/4 of the way through right before bed or you, like me, might end up staying up too late on a work night.

A fun take on the “what if…I chose a different man to date” musing.

Five years ago, Laurel began dating Ollie. In the present day, she is alarmed to find an engagement ring. Even though she loves Ollie, she doesn’t think she’s ready for marriage. Laurel begins to wonder where she would be now if she had accepted her coworker Drew’s offer to go on a date five years ago. And soon, she doesn’t have to wonder as she seems to be able to slip into an alternate universe - one in which she said yes to Drew.

It took me a few chapters to get into the story - overall, it is charming and a bit chaotically paced. Laurel begins to learn more about herself and how she treats others, and starts to appreciate what she has in her real life. There is a nice balance of romance vs. self-discovery themes. The themes aren’t explored in great detail which gives the novel a sweet, light feel. Recommended to anyone looking for a zippy read about finding out if the grass is actually greener on the other side. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

A thought provoking book about second chances.

I found the premise interesting. This book asks if we should hold onto the past or let go. I think the author interpreted this question in an intriguing way with including AI technology that allows characters to travel and semi-experience "what ifs". I thought that was creative and different for the romance genre. I also thought the author did a good job descripting the characters' dilemmas. I enjoyed her writing style and thought she had a lot of quotable lines.

My only qualm would be that the pacing seemed a bit off.

Otherwise an intriguing book.

This book dives into the saying "the grass isn't always greener on the other side." And I had a lot fun with it. And definitely each path we choose changes everyone's lives involved. Laurel, Ollie and Drew proved that. Our experiences make us who we are.
#ARCreview thank you #NetGalley #WhatIfItsYou

This broke my brain.
This one felt, far too intimate for my liking due to the fact that I secretly always freaking think about this situation.

This was EVERYTHING I wanted and thought it would be.

I enjoyed everything and have zero complaints. Can’t wait to read more from Jilly!

What If It's You - a cosmic quantum conundrum of what ifs

I don't deal well with physics and its been ages since interstellar. My only time loop novels have been Rachel Lynn Solomon's Past Present Future. With that, this book felt like a cross between Love and Other Words by Emily Henry meets the women in STEM by Ali Hazelwood.

How many times have we what-ifed anything in life? Being female, I believe it is an instrinsic characteristic to overthink and overanalyze and run mutiple threads of possibilities to build idiot proof life plans. When one such strong female, aka Laurel Everett, gets the opportunity to explore an alternate romance with a possible work husband using AI, she doesn't get a chance to back out.

The story follows Laurel through her self-actualization process, discovering what she has been growing into and what she can't grow without - essentially growing into her own self and molding her life and loves, being honest with expectations and no taking things for granted.

Jilly Gagnon walks a fine balance between the introspection of the heroine and the nuances in science which enable the quantum leaps, the supporting cast of characters are well etched and the ending is fulfilling (Especially the epilogue!). Thanks to Netgalley and Random house Publishing Group for sharing the ARC!

Who hasn’t wondered (briefly!) about the one that got away? Laurel has a lovely bohemian life in Boston with her perfectly nice, sexy, music-making boyfriend who is on the verge of proposing… but after five years, she’s not sure she’s ready for marriage and kids. She worries that Ollie’s holding her back (or maybe that she’s holding him back), and sometimes wonders if she should have said yes when her work bestie Drew asked her out shortly after she started dating Ollie.

Drew, engaged in developing an alternative reality project for their employer, Pixel, invites Laurel to set up a profile and help beta-test the AltR software by fixating on a moment where she could have made a different choice for a new outcome. After running through several options, she thinks about the coffee date, and voila! finds herself in a new reality where she lives in Drew’s condo and has a much more polished life–but is she happier? More importantly, will her future ultimately be happier/more successful? The software glitches her back and forth between her real life and the new reality, until she enlists the help of Dana, an MIT professor interested in alternative reality research.

The narrative transitions back and forth smoothly as Laurel waffles over which path to choose. I didn’t find her to be a very likable character, and her past trauma and abandonment issues were not sufficiently resolved, but her choice is ultimately soundly reasoned through, the science is solid, and the method that works to break the algorithm is risky but redeems her. A minor quibble: the cover art shows the same Laurel twice, with a different guy, even though the author makes it clear that the Laurel in Drew’s timeline is more posh and differently styled. The story was a great thought experiment and may appeal to fans of Ali Hazelwood.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #WhatIfItsYou via #NetGalley, courtesy of #RandomHouse. This review will be posted to Hip Librarians Book Blog, Facebook and GoodReads on May 13, 2025.