If

A Novel

By: Randi Cooley Wilson

Narrated by: Christian Fox, Grace Grant

Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

If you knew love would hurt you, would you fall? If you knew love would leave you, would you let it go? If you knew love could never be, would you try? From best-selling author Randi Cooley Wilson comes a love story about heartbreak, second chances, and letting go. The ifs that linger in this novel will break your heart and stay with you long after the final chapter. 

Emerson Shaw thought she’d left her old life behind her, but when she returns home for her best friend’s wedding, she has no idea her past is waiting to reclaim her. 

Lincoln Daniels never wanted to find love. But when he met straight-laced Emerson, he fell. Hard. The only thing they seemed to have in common was an undeniable mutual attraction, but from the moment he laid eyes on her, there was something about her that called to him. Until he lost her. 

Just when Emerson is finally ready to let go and stop existing in a past full of pain and regret, Lincoln returns, turning her life upside down. What begins as a tentative friendship quickly escalates, and the two soon realize that all the ifs lingering between them no longer matter. 

What happens when two broken people meet, fall in love, and realize they can never be? What happens when all the what ifs no longer make sense? If you knew your heart would break, would you still fall? 

This book is intended for mature audiences.

©2018 Randi Cooley Wilson (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Bit of a bait and switch

So I feel like I was a little duped here.

First, Grace narrators the entire book save for the very last chapter. Cool but a true waste of Zach/Christian. Also it means you only get Emerson's POV.

Second, the book takes place almost entirely in the past. This is not one that flips back and forth between past and present giving you a sense of where the characters came from and where they are now. No, it is mostly a story of an on again, off again college romance. That's cool, it just isn't what I thought I was getting.

Not entirely sure I would have bought this one if I had known all the facts. I finished it but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I kinda kept going hoping to finally hear a chapter from Lincoln. I would have appreciated his POV and that sexy voice.

What if? Friends to Lovers and Second Chances!

My first time reading this authors work and I definitely enjoyed it. I liked the plot and loved Lincoln!! This book is told from Emerson’s point of view and Grace Grant did a good job with the narration. Be prepared, you only get to hear Christian Fox in the epilogue when he speaks on Lincoln’s point of view. That was the only thing that I didn’t like. I originally purchased the audiobook because I love Christian Fox and was expecting dual POV but nevertheless, I still devoured this audiobook and would recommend to readers who love a second chance romance.

Bad Narration Ruined the Book

The story may have been good but couldn't get past Grace Grant voice for the lead character Lincoln. She read him like he was an Indian right off the reservation. Totally ruined it for me.

"If"

I picked this book because of the narrator, Christian Fox let me tell you I was sadly mistaken he doesn’t show up until the EPILOGUE. Now don’t get me wrong I am a fan of Grace Grant and she does a good job but when you’re expecting both and you don’t really get both it puts a downer on the whole experience.

The idea of this story is good but I felt like there was just too much going against these characters. There was always and obstacle in their way it started to get redundant. Like drama for the sake of drama. But this story doesn’t need it; it could have been great without all that. The characters were great on their own. They had the chemistry I like with my romance it was just lost in the excess.

I will give this author another chance for sure.

Good story, narration was tough

Loved the overall storyline, it's what made me tough it out and finish. But goodness, the narration of Lincoln by the narrator was God awful. And the epilogue features a male voice actor who nailed the character. Made me wish he could have narrated all of Lincoln's lines instead, but still a good listen

Robotic narration

The book was okay, same story different book. Troubled boy. Innocent willing girl. Forbidden love but we're drawn to each other. (eye roll) the narrator made Lincoln sound like a robot or like he may have had speach issues but I think she was trying to convey deep and alluring. Didn't work. Stopped listening halfway through because of it. Skimmed the rest to see what happens. Blah blah blah.

So emotionally touching

I identified with every scenario that happened. It touched my heart. It's been a long time a book has touched me like this. Thank you for writing it. Thank you for reading it the way you did.

Well Written

Loved it! Good, steamy characters with lots of ups and downs or "if's" throughout the book.

Great

Read the book. Loved it. Listened to the audio. Loved it! Great narration for an amazing book!

Wish There Was More Christian Fox Narrating

I simply adore Christian Fox's voice, and I was supremely disappointed that he only narrates the epilogue. For this reason alone, I dinged it 1 star.

The story is a good one. It'll definitely take you on a ride full of angst, giddiness, hopefulness, sadness, desire, and frustration... you know, everything your first love had you feel. The title is good; it is simplistic enough to catch one's eye but mysterious enough to leave you hoping Emerson and Lincoln get it together, which is achingly wonderfully drawn out to the very last chapters.

I am not disappointed that I used a credit to get this book, and I don't think you will be either, as long as you know from the beginning that you'll only be hearing Grace Grant's narration for 99.5% of the story.