I absolutely adored Holly Miller’s debut and have fallen in love with the characters in this beautiful second novel just as much!

We meet Lucy, whose perspective this story is told from, at a crossroads in her life. She has just walked out of her unfulfilling job and knows she will need to decide on her next step. Should she stay in her seaside town of Shoreley and use her savings to work towards her dream of becoming a writer, or move to London to try and revive her career? It almost seems like fate therefore to Lucy when that very same night she meets Caleb, a beautiful stranger in a bar, and also spots Max outside the window who she runs out to speak to. A man who, ten years ago, was the love of her life. Should Lucy stay in the seaside town she grew up in, and in doing so, have the opportunity to get to know Caleb better? Or should she go to London and reconnect with Max again, even though he broke her heart a decade ago? As this story shows, sometimes one decision really does have the power to change the course of your whole life!

This novel captured my heart right from the outset and I loved how each chapter was split into ‘Stay’ or ‘Go’ meaning as the reader, we get to see what happens to Lucy as a result of each choice. Right from the beginning I was #TeamCaleb and this stayed the same all the way through the book for me. There was just no hesitation in my mind that ‘Stay’ was the choice I was most invested in. Caleb was just so kind and caring and thoughtful. That’s not to say Max wasn’t these things too, but something that Lucy learns about the way in which he broke her heart all those years ago is crushing to say the least!

I think every reader will be influenced in their narrative preference by their own experiences and beliefs in terms of work and love, destiny and fate and it is clever to have the two narratives exploring these differences. I cannot wait to read other people’s reviews in the coming weeks and months and see which they are behind the most. I would love to know if Holly Miller has a favourite life for Lucy or if she loves both narratives equally!

I also liked having at the back of my mind as I was reading the question around what happened when Lucy went travelling, shortly after Max left her. This is mentioned quite early on and it is clear it impacted on her writing dream and the way in which she has lived her life since. I was partly correct on a few theories about the ‘Nate’ character Lucy is haunted by, but the reality was even worse than I had first thought. The way in which both Caleb and Max learn about this element of Lucy’s past and try to help her was clever.

There were also some really brilliant overlaps within both alternate lives and I liked seeing how one particular event in both ended in very different ways. There was also one moment in particular (I am not going to say in which narrative) which totally floored me. I just didn’t see it coming at all and even now just thinking about it I feel emotional!

I have enjoyed What Might Have Been so much and didn’t want it to have to come to an end, even if both the ‘Stay’ and ‘Go’ endings left me smiling and excited for Lucy’s future!

I was drawn into this book from the first page. I really liked the idea of the two pathways that diverged based on her choices. Lucy was an interesting and engaging character and she had a strong voice in both narratives. It was fascinating to see the small differences and how seemingly small events triggered such drastic changes in the way the story went. I liked the back and forth between the two timelines--it's clear which story line is being followed and the story flowed very well, even with the back and forth, which might be expected to affect the clarity of the story. It did not--the stories both propelled the narrative and by the second half of the book I could barely put it down.

The writing is lush. The descriptions in some parts of the narrative read like poetry--so evocative I had to reread some paragraphs just to savor them.

I also liked that the side characters were complex, multifaceted, so many shades of grey, nothing truly black and white. That felt so real. Being conflicted over choices, behavior, past experiences, betrayal, loss--all of that rang fairly true throughout. I don't know that I liked all of them or that I agreed with the path Lucy was taking at certain points in the story but I still found the ideas fascinating and the story compelling and believable.

I was uneasily expecting a bit more from the big reveal that ran as a thread through both stories. I think with the way the narrative built it up I was expecting it to be even more shattering than it was, but I am content with the way the author handled it.

Overall this was a very good book. It kept my attention, to the point I could barely put it down, and I found the writing exceptional and lyrical at times, realistic and compelling throughout.

Much to think about, as far as choices and the idea of the butterfly effect--one small change having so many ramifications.

Highly recommended.

This author can somehow capture your attention from the first page and before you know it your at the end of an awesome book!.
The characters here I couldn't help but love.