Review: This Changes Everything by Danielle McKechnie
Thank you Harper Perennial for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I have to admit that was an immediate impulse read due to the cover. It’s STUNNING, don’t you agree? And when I learned it was a second chance romance told in past and present timelines, I was hooked. It started out to be a pretty quick read for me but then some elements started to feel a bit stale. I didn’t vibe with the writing much and it reminded me a lot of a book I read recently, that I think handled the similar themes in a more engaging way for my reader brain.
Synopsis:
“Ellie McCain has always dreamed of a bigger life, so when she’s accepted into a prestigious acting school in New York City, she packs her bags—even if it means leaving her family, her friends, and Rory Campbell, the boy who held her heart for years, behind.
At first, life in New York is even better than she’d dreamed it would be—she loves her classes, she gets a position at a fancy production company, and she’s even falling in love with her classmate-turned-roommate-turned-best friend, Ben. But soon the shine starts to wear off: her boss has made it clear that the only role he’ll be casting her in is “Unpaid Intern #3”, and while she’s happy that Ben’s career is starting to take off, she’s struggling to stay afloat. And it doesn’t help that everyone around her seems to be passing her by—even her childhood sweetheart, Rory, is living out his dreams as a Professional Golfer. But when she runs into Rory for the first time in ten years, she starts to wonder what exactly it is she’s running from, where is she going, and who is running with her.
Told in alternating timelines of the past and present and moving between Vancouver, New York, and Los Angeles, This Changes Everything is the story of love—first love, one-that-got-away-love, and true love—and asks if maybe, just maybe, all of those loves can be one and the same.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
Past and Present Timelines—I always love this aspect of second chance romances because there’s a slight mystery element to them. Where did things go wrong? Why didn’t they work out the first time?
Pacing—Things started off quick and pulled me in, which is so important when there are so many books to choose from. I want to want to pick up the book at every opportunity!
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Writing—I hate saying this, but I can’t think of another word to describe it. It felt…immature at times? Underdeveloped?
The Love Triangle—STRESSFUL. I’m not anti-love triangle by any means, but this didn’t work for me because I loved both characters and was like…how is she going to choose?! What will be the breaking point?!
Felt a Bit Repetitive at Points—I felt like the same themes kept coming back into play without new conflict.
Character Authenticity: 3.5/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 3/5
Content Warnings:
sexual assault, sexual harassment (on page)