This is such a well written story, all about how 1 decision can completely alter your life. Our heroine has to choose between 2 men; 1 new and one old, and which she chooses sends her down different paths. It was nice to be able to see both stories side by side so you could follow the time line, and it was also interesting to see how her initial decision about which man, also had a butterfly affect on decisions in her family's lives. This was a heartbreaking story but so well told that you just didn't want it to end

Lucy's life is at a crossroads. She's just walked out of her unrewarding job and has no idea about her next step: use her savings to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, or move to London to try and revive her career? It almost seems like fate that on that same night she meets Caleb, a stranger in a bar, and runs into Max, the one-time love of her life. Should Lucy stay in the seaside town she grew up in, and in doing so, get to know Caleb better? Or should she go to London and reconnect with Max again after he broke her heart a decade ago? It's just one decision - but sometimes one decision can change the course of your whole life.

This is a love story and a sliding doors story. Firstly, I love sliding doors plots so this was already onto a good thing. I loved both options and as the book goes on, it was great to see the similarities and differences. My only negative is I did get confused what was happening in each option, it was hard at times to remember what the characters had found out in each option, not sure if it was due to lack of clarity or me not paying attention.

This is very entertaining and full of love, it is also very emotional at times and I liked the balance of happy and sad. Lucy is a wonderful character with a good story. All the supporting characters are equally strong and all have different lives like Lucy in each option.

'What Might Have Been' is very enjoyable and a beautiful sliding doors love story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy.

This is such a wonderful. joyous story full of love, romance and drama and really strong characters. Loved every minute of it even when I was crying. Fabulous and such a different way of telling a story.

I have read a LOT of books but I don’t think I’ve read one with such a clever idea of telling two different outcomes of the story, but which is still so clear to follow. It was so interesting seeing how Lucy, Tash. Caleb & Max’s life events played out in different and yet sometimes similar ways depending on whether Lucy had “stayed” or “gone”. It was genuinely so cleverly written and I was absolutely hooked by both storylines and the authentic and realistic characters. Would absolutely recommend!

Love the premise to What Might Have Been!
Don't we all wonder what could have happened if we'd taken another path. I've enjoyed following Lucy on both of her journeys.
Holly has created likeable characters and put them into a heartwarming story, which is also moving at times too.
I was ready for a warm and cosy read and this ticks both of those boxes.
I've not read Holly's debut, but will rectify that now!

The formatting for the Stay/Go threw me at first as it isn't very clear, but I assume it will be in the finished printed version.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

Fate May Intervene…
Paths and routes followed and chosen in life would lead us all to different places. Right? Possibly not. It may be that even if different paths are followed that we would end up in the same place. Fate. Take Lucy. At a complete crossroads in life, which route should she take and which path should she follow? Compelling reading with a nicely flowing writing style and a credible cast. Enjoyable read.

I really loved Holly Miller’s debut book ‘The Sight Of You’ so have been looking forward to her next book ever since so receiving an advanced copy of it made me very happy!

‘What Might Have Been’ introduces us to Lucy who has reached a crossroads in her life, having quit her job because she wants more but without really knowing quite what. Whilst pondering which direction life should take her, fate decides to intervene when on the same night she meets a handsome stranger in a bar as well as running into the one-time love of her life who broke her heart - question is, what should she do? Not an easy decision to make when it could change the entire course of your life….

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book, a very clever idea with the chapters written consistently from the two different routes that Lucy’s life could have taken based on that one decision that one night. Without giving too much away, it really makes you think about how our lives are planned out and, regardless of decisions made, would you ultimately find yourself on the same path, nevertheless via a different route.

Another wonderful book from this author, a thoughtful emotional read that engages you with the characters and involves you within the context, it definitely makes you wonder about paths taken and how decisions can shape the future too! Would highly recommend and already look forward to reading more by Holly in the future too.

Three and a half stars.

Sliding Doors-esque dual POV romance.

Lucy is a planner for a local advertising agency when what she really wants to be is a writer. When she finds out the firm is hiring a new writer rather than giving her the promotion she has been promised she throws her toys out of the pram and resigns.

Sitting in the local pub that night, nursing a Virgin Mary she meets a local photographer called Caleb, they are getting along well when she sees her ex-boyfriend Max walking along the street. She and Max have been broken up for ten years but she always thought he was the one, so she rushes out into the street to chat to him and Caleb slips his phone number into her jacket pocket.

What follows are the lives Lucy might have lived if she chooses Max or Caleb, a glamorous life as an advertising copywriter (I think) with Max in London or writing the novel she always dreamed of writing at home with Caleb. Both versions face similar issues, secrets from the past and family drama. So there is symmetry but also divergence.

I think in these sorts of stories the reader always has a favourite, Holly Martin does a good job of trying to make both male leads likeable characters which helps a lot.

I enjoyed reading this, the impact of choices made, paths followed.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a different genre to what I'd normally go for but I'm a real sucker for a Sliding Doors style plotline and I couldn't resist. I wanted something uplifting, escapist, to be swept away in a page-turning romance and that's exactly what I got. I wish there had been a few more cross over moments with the two timelines to capitalise on the premise and I definitely favoured one of her choices (and one of her boyfriends) more than the other and my cynical mind kept thinking there was going to be a nasty twist about him but Lucy doesn't face too many setbacks in her quest for a good life. This didn't bother me because I was happy for it to be a light, easy read but for anyone wanting more conflict might be disappointed that both of Lucy's parallel lives run quite smoothly.

The book opens with Lucy having walked out of her job & into the pub to wait for her bus back to her sister Tash's house. She meets Caleb, who she chats too until she sees an ex boyfriend Max Gardener outside the window & runs out to speak to him. The story takes us on two roads. Does Lucy follow Max to London to a new job & new start or does she stay in Shoreley & develop a relationship with Caleb? So many ups & downs, so many corners to turn.
It's a great idea for a book & you just need to know more. If only our lives could be seen this way & we could choose what road we'd take! Recommended read!

Loved this book. I've not read another like it where it passes from stay to go scenarios. The author was excellent at keeping both stories on track which is no mean feat. Really enjoyed the characters and storylines. A clever piece of work!

I will be recommending this book - I loved it.

Lucy has just walked out for her job and is drowning her sorrows when she sees Max - her ex-boyfriend. The story then follows what happens if she follows her heart to meet him again or follows her head and takes another path.

Both stories play out with their highs and lows - you wonder what you would have done given her choices.

A beautifully written story which will stay with me.

A chance meeting in the local pub after walking out of her job leads Lucy to striking up a conversation with Caleb, but the conversation is cut short when she sees her old University boyfriend Max.
The story follows two tales the one where she leaves home and rekindles her romance with Max and the other where she stays and romance starts between her and Caleb.
An engrossing and emotive story.

This was a brilliant read. I loved both strands of the stay and go story lines. Full of romance, laughter and heartbreak. You’ll definitely need a box of tissues to hand when you read this.

An interesting light read with an interesting concept. The book is told from the viewpoint of Lucy and follows her choices after a life changing decisions whether to Stay or Go. I did find at times it was sometimes confusing to know which life I was reading about especially as some of the characters are the same in both. Lucy herself is a little weak and has issues from her past but all in all a pleasant enough cosy read. I know which life I would go for so it makes one question one's own choices as to what might have been..

Not quite as compelling as the author's earlier, more mystical book The Sight of You but still a cosy read. Early in the book, Lucy Lambert makes a choice whether to go to London and become a copywriter for a top agency, or stay in her seaside town and write her novel. She is inspired by her parents' story, which she sees as an example of 'soulmates', and is wedded to the idea of finding her own love, but is it Max - the one that got away - or Caleb, the new man whose ex-wife is still hanging around? I found Lucy a bit passive, and with the number of multiverse romances that have been published in the past five years, it would have been good to have something more complex and weird than a choice between Man A and Man B. While it struggled with repetition - these books often do - this story gained momentum as it went along and increased in richness, with the plot questioning the idea of soulmates and instead affirming the importance of choice. The book equivalent of a hot chocolate - comforting and straightforward but lacking in spice.

I enjoyed this book and the story it told especially the two different concepts of should i go or stay with thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for this honest review

This book took many unexpected twists which meant I was unable to put it down. It was heart wrenching, beautiful, funny and the characters were so engaging that I was sad the book ended. It’s not often a book like this surprises you but this one did in the most wonderful way. Thank you netgalley for access to this book. I will be recommending this to all of my friends.

I found What might Have Been a refreshing take on the What If romance plot, detailing the two options for her and what would happen to her life in each of them, one in London and one in the seaside. If that appeals to you, this is the book for you!

An okay read, what if type books can go down really well with me if there is a good strong story line, character development that is on point, personally I didn't feel that there was enough for me, Lucy isn't a ballsy character by any means but she didn't have any real gumption either. There are two options running in this book, one is to work for a prestige company, hone in on her skills and become financially independent on herself, andchase her ex and try and work through their issues to get the life she's always wanted with him. OR continue with her life in a small town working a job with the intent to get further in writing and perhaps move on with another man who has recently divorced.

I mean, I know which one I would chose in a heartbeat, especially if I'd already had a shot at a relationship that had gone to the dogs, I'd be working on myself, but Lucy isn't like that, she seems to be a people pleaser with no real goal for herself and her own happiness, love isn't everything, and neither relationship appeals to me.

The two options didn't really appeal to either of me, I feel that the author may have tried to create two worlds for the main character to pick between, one being slightly better than the other in the eyes of each reader, for me, neither seemed that good to me and I couldn't connect to Lucy either, I felt she was just spineless with no real "go" and that the author tried to make the choices too complex in detail.

Many thanks to Netgalley, author and publishers for the chance to read this ARC in return for my review.