If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin is a poignant coming-of-age novel that explores friendship, love, mental health, and the bittersweet transitions of adolescence. Told through the eyes of Autumn, it follows her complicated relationship with Finny, her childhood best friend turned distant neighbor, as they navigate the trials of high school and the fragile nature of time. The story beautifully captures the ache of what-ifs, the power of memory, and the haunting weight of choices made too late.