Jilly Gagnon’s latest novel, “What If It’s You?”, blends romance with speculative science fiction to explore a question many of us have pondered: what if we had chosen differently in love? The premise is enticing—who hasn’t wondered about the road not taken, especially when it comes to relationships? Through protagonist Laurel Everett’s accidental quantum entanglement between two possible lives, Gagnon delivers a story that’s both thoughtful and frustrating, with flashes of brilliance hampered by uneven execution.
Laurel finds herself ping-ponging between two realities: one where she’s with her longtime boyfriend Ollie, a struggling musician with a poet’s soul, and another where she’s built a life with Drew, a brilliant but emotionally distant tech genius. As she navigates these parallel existences, Laurel must determine not just which man she wants, but which version of herself she wants to be.
The High Points: Where Gagnon Shines
Gagnon’s greatest strength lies in her ability to craft authentic, complicated relationships. The novel excels when exploring the complexities of long-term love versus the shininess of what might have been.
The depiction of long-term relationship dynamics feels refreshingly real. Laurel and Ollie’s five-year relationship isn’t portrayed through rose-colored glasses—it has elements of both comfort and complacency, deep connection and taking each other for granted. Their familiarity with each other’s quirks and habits feels lived-in, with moments ranging from adorable morning serenades to the subtle resentments that build when one partner consistently shapes their life around the other’s goals.
The central sci-fi concept of AltR—a technology that allows users to glimpse alternate realities—is cleverly integrated into the plot. The quantum computing foundation gives the “what if” premise a plausible technological framework that elevates it beyond a typical romance trope. The technological explanations, while sometimes oversimplified, remain engaging without overwhelming the story.
Perhaps most impressively, the novel avoids the trap of making either man a clear villain or hero. Both Ollie and Drew have genuine appeal, and both relationships have authentic flaws—Drew’s life with Laurel offers stability and success but lacks spontaneity, while Ollie’s existence with her has warmth and passion but financial uncertainty. This nuance keeps readers guessing about which reality might ultimately be better for Laurel.
Where the Novel Falters
Despite its intriguing premise, “What If It’s You?” struggles with pacing and character development issues that prevent it from fully realizing its potential.
Laurel herself is frustratingly passive for much of the story. While her confusion and anxiety about unexpectedly shifting between realities makes sense, her indecisiveness often feels less like a character trait and more like a plot device to extend the narrative. Her realization that she’s allowed Ollie to sacrifice his dreams for hers, while revelatory, comes too late and feels too convenient.
The novel’s middle section becomes repetitive, with Laurel shifting between realities multiple times without significant plot advancement. These scenes create a sense of wheel-spinning that dulls the impact of her eventual choice. The technology’s rules also seem inconsistent, changing to serve the plot rather than operating on established principles.
A notable stumbling block is the imbalance between the two potential lives. The “World D” reality with Drew feels less fully realized than Laurel’s life with Ollie, making the ultimate choice feel somewhat predetermined. Despite attempts to show Drew’s positive qualities, he never quite emerges as a three-dimensional character in the way Ollie does.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, relies too heavily on convenient plot developments and an unclear “fix” for Laurel’s quantum dilemma. The explanation of how she ultimately resolves her situation feels rushed and underdeveloped compared to the care taken establishing the problem.
Writing Style and Tone
Gagnon’s prose is accessible and conversational, with moments of genuine wit and emotional insight. Her writing particularly shines in descriptive passages and dialogue that capture the complicated mixture of love, frustration, and tenderness that characterize long-term relationships.
The first-person narration effectively puts readers in Laurel’s confused state as she navigates her dual existence, though it occasionally leaves secondary characters feeling underdeveloped. Scenes of intimacy between the characters are tastefully handled while maintaining authentic emotional impact.
However, the novel sometimes leans too heavily on telling rather than showing, particularly when explaining Laurel’s feelings about her situation. This creates distance during moments when deeper immersion would strengthen the emotional stakes.
The Quantum Physics Element: Science Meets Romance
The novel’s most distinctive feature—its quantum computing backdrop—is both a strength and weakness. The concept of AltR provides an engaging framework for exploring alternate lives, but the scientific explanations occasionally feel shaky, particularly for readers with knowledge of quantum mechanics.
The character of Dana Howell, a theoretical physicist who helps Laurel understand her situation, is a welcome addition who brings both scientific credibility and dry humor to the narrative. Her matter-of-fact approach to Laurel’s impossible situation creates some of the novel’s most entertaining exchanges.
While the quantum mechanics aren’t fully developed, they serve their narrative purpose adequately, creating a plausible enough mechanism for Laurel’s reality-hopping. Readers primarily interested in the romance aspects will find the scientific elements sufficient without being distracting.
Themes and Takeaways
Beyond its central romance, “What If It’s You?” explores several compelling themes:
- The difference between caretaking and control in relationships
- The price of playing it safe versus pursuing creative passions
- How we compromise who we are for the people we love
- Whether happiness comes from circumstances or personal choices
These deeper questions elevate the novel above a simple love triangle story, giving readers something substantial to consider alongside the romantic elements.
Perhaps the most resonant theme is how our choices shape not just our own lives but the lives of those around us. Laurel’s discovery that Ollie sacrificed his musical career for their relationship, while in the alternate timeline he became a successful artist without her, creates genuine emotional complexity that strengthens the final act.
Comparison to Other Works
Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Maybe in Another Life” or Kate Hope Day’s “If, Then” will find familiar elements in Gagnon’s exploration of parallel lives, though “What If It’s You?” leans more heavily into the technological explanation than these contemporaries.
Readers who enjoyed Emily Henry’s “Beach Read” or Christina Lauren’s “The Unhoneymooners” but wish those books had a sci-fi twist might find this novel appealing despite its flaws. For those intrigued by the quantum romance concept but looking for more science fiction depth, Blake Crouch’s “Dark Matter” offers a more thorough exploration of similar themes, while Rebecca Serle’s “In Five Years” delivers a comparable emotional journey with a different speculative element.
Compared to Gagnon’s previous works like “All Dressed Up” and “Scenes of the Crime,” this novel takes a more speculative turn while maintaining her trademark focus on relationship dynamics. Her humor and relatability remain consistent across her bibliography, though this latest offering feels more ambitious in scope.
Final Verdict: Mixed Reality, Mixed Results
“What If It’s You?” delivers an engaging premise with moments of genuine emotional insight, but struggles with pacing issues and underdeveloped scientific concepts. The novel’s exploration of long-term love versus paths not taken resonates, even when its execution falters.
Strengths:
- Authentic portrayal of long-term relationship dynamics
- Intriguing sci-fi premise
- Well-balanced portrayal of both potential partners
- Thoughtful examination of how relationships shape our identities
Weaknesses:
- Pacing issues, particularly in the middle
- Inconsistent development of the sci-fi elements
- Passive protagonist
- Somewhat convenient resolution
Ultimately, “What If It’s You?” is worth reading for romance fans interested in a speculative twist on the genre, or for readers who enjoy contemplating how different choices might lead to radically different lives. Though it doesn’t fully capitalize on its promising premise, the novel offers enough emotional truths and engaging moments to make the journey worthwhile.
Those seeking a perfectly executed sci-fi romance may be disappointed, but readers willing to overlook some logical inconsistencies will find a thoughtful exploration of love, choice, and personal growth that lingers after the final page.
For Fans Of:
- “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
- “The Post-Birthday World” by Lionel Shriver
- “Sliding Doors” (film)
- Stories that blend contemporary romance with speculative elements
- Explorations of the “road not taken” in relationships
While not a flawless execution, Gagnon’s quantum romance reminds us that sometimes the most important question isn’t which path we choose, but who we become while walking it.
