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If Tomorrow Never Comes

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Josh Collins has the perfect life—a beautiful girlfriend and a baby on the way, until an accident takes his life and he’s suddenly forced to fight for everything and everyone he loves.


Alone and pregnant, Avery Rhodes is suddenly faced with a painful new reality. Life without the man she loves is turbulent. Nothing feels the same any more without him and she finds herself facing the unimaginable.


With his newfound guide Gabriel, Josh is forced to learn what happens IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES.


What reviewers are


"Chalmers has written an amazingly beautiful, but heartbreaking book. But if you can get past the tears, this book has a wonderful message I think." Shasta @ Swoon Worthy Books


"A beautifully written, heartbreaking look at the "What Ifs" most of us would never want to face." Melanie @ Nerd Girl


“If Tomorrow Never Comes is by far the best ugly cry book I have ever read! This incredible love story has ripped my heart out and has left me a massive pile of crying goo. Oh yes, it is THAT GOOD!” - Jeep Diva Reviews


“This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story all wrapped into one.” - Sunshine Mountains Book Reviews More


“Lisa takes you on a emotional journey that is sometimes hard to read, due to the tears flowing, and believing in miracles by the last page.”

348 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 18, 2013

110 people are currently reading
248 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Chalmers

20 books395 followers

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5 stars
93 (61%)
4 stars
36 (23%)
3 stars
16 (10%)
2 stars
5 (3%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Jacque.
1,000 reviews22 followers
March 23, 2017
If Tomorrow Never Comes is by far the best ugly cry book I have ever read! This incredible love story has ripped my heart out and has left me a massive pile of crying goo. Oh yes, it is THAT GOOD!

The story starts out simple enough with Josh’s death in an accident. Then WHAM! You are thrust into a world of pain and hurt as Avery and Josh’s family learn of his death. Their story of grief is as old as time but to experience with them is gut-retching painful. Especially, from Avery’s point of view. Here’s a young woman who has lost her soulmate and now has to face her life and pregnancy without him. On the flip-side, there is Josh and his experiences. The pain, the sorrow, taken before his time and to watch his family, to watch Avery struggle to survive. His fight to return to her will rip your heart out. There was nothing I found predictable about their story. The cast of characters are outstanding. As odd as this sounds, the pain that everyone experiences is beautifully detailed. The ending was touching and all I could hope for.

Author Lisa Chalmers has taken me on such an emotional ride, it may take me a while to recover. If you read one book this year that makes you appreciate what you have, make that book If Tomorrow Never comes. And have tissues nearby…lots of tissues.

I received this book from JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.

Stars – 5 Flames - 1
Profile Image for Bev.
106 reviews27 followers
October 1, 2013
The storyline in this book will make you cry ,get angry at times and make you smile. It makes you wonder what would happen after you die. I was quite moved and truly enjoyed it . I would recommend for you to read it . I give this book 5/5 stars.
Profile Image for J.D..
Author 20 books136 followers
June 12, 2013
This was a very touching love story. A "Hero's Journey" with a very compelling ending. I would recommend to anyone who wants to be emotionally engaged throughout.
Profile Image for Shasta Mosley.
155 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2014
Warning: KEEP TISSUES HANDY! YOU WILL NEED THEM.

I was asked to read and review If Tomorrow Never Comes by Lisa Chalmers for Swoon Worthy Books. The first thing that captured my interest was the title because automatically I thought about the country song by Garth Brooks, which I love. So I knew that I wanted to read it right then. Well let’s just say that once I started the story, I could not put it down. Lisa Chalmers held me captive from the very beginning. Let me just say that that Chalmers has written an amazingly beautiful, but heartbreaking book. But if you can get past the tears, this book has a wonderful message I think.

Josh Collins has everything he could ever want in life, his beautiful girlfriend Avery (who is his soul mate and is also pregnant with their first child) and a very loving and supportive family who he is very close with. But when Josh leaves one morning for a trip with his brothers, he loses his life in a car accident and is now faced with the biggest fight he has ever had and that is the fight to return to his life.

“This wasn’t your time. Far from it actually.’ The man leaned forward. “Perhaps we’ll be able to send you back.” “However, you’ll need to plead your case.”
All of Josh’s thoughts suddenly stopped as the implications hit him. “My case?” What was there to plead? He had a family to go back for. A baby. A woman he loved. A future he had all planned out, one that made him wake up every morning with a smile on his face. All those plans he made, the ones he’d never quite managed to tell her about. The ones that had him vowing to take care of her each and every day of her life.”

Avery Rhodes lost everything the day that she lost her true love Josh. The only thing she has left of him is their unborn child. While grieving for his loss she is slowly losing herself and tries her best to get back to a point that she can cope with all of her grief without losing her child as well.

This story is amazing. It will take you on an emotional roller coaster, and have you questioning so many things about life. Trust me, all the what if I did this, or why do that today when I can do it tomorrow. Lisa makes you think about all of these, but she writes a beautiful love story. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.
Profile Image for Catherine  Wright (Cat's Guilty Pleasure).
2,906 reviews1 follower
August 13, 2013
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review


Josh had it all, the perfect girlfriend and a baby on the way, until the day he has a car accidents that ends his life. He is faced with the fight of his life trying to get back everything and everyone that holds dear.

Avery, his girlfriend, is alone, scared and pregnant. She is suddenly faced with the harsh reality of raising their child on her own.


This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story all wrapped into one. It is a very emotional and moving story. It makes you wonder what you would do if you suddenly lost a loved one. I liked how the relationship between Josh and Gabriel develops, it's very heartwarming. This is a touching story and the ending is very compelling. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for an emotional journey.
Profile Image for Lisa Arrington.
Author 3 books39 followers
October 23, 2013
As I read If Tomorrow Never Comes, two things immediately came to mind. One, the song of the same name by Garth Brooks and two, the story is beautifully depressing. I didn't want to use that term as I'm afraid that it may scare some readers off but, it's the only one that truly describes this tale.

The story's protagonist, Josh, faces one tragedy after another while desperately trying to hold his family together. Oh yeah, and he's dead.

Lisa takes you on a emotional journey that is sometimes hard to read, due to the tears flowing, and believing in miracles by the last page.
Profile Image for Missy Martine.
Author 18 books60 followers
September 25, 2013
I was totally blown away by this book. It has everything you could possibly want in the story. It made me smile, laugh, and even cry a few times. It really made me wonder how I would react to losing the one person in my life that makes everything real. The book is long, but you'll find yourself unable to walk away. I highly recommend setting aside a few hours and diving right in. You won't be sorry.
Profile Image for Nicola Atkinson.
62 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2013
I received this book free in return for a honest review. A heart wrenching story with a lovely ending, makes you think about what you have and what you would do if anyone was taken away from you. Shed a tear in parts but was worth it when you get to the end.
Profile Image for Donna ~ The Romance Cover.
2,907 reviews322 followers
August 29, 2017
I love my emotional reads and this was certainly emotional, however, not as much as I would have expected. I had this pegged as a snot fest, you know those books that you cry a river over and I have to admit, not one sneaky tear managed to escape. I did feel that this was a little slow going, however, I loved the premise and just felt that the execution let it down a little. The characters were fantastic, both primary and secondary and I felt that the author went above and beyond to show the repercussions of one event and how it doesn't only affect one person. How one event can have a ripple effect on the people left on the surface.
Profile Image for Lindsey Kramer.
Author 1 book40 followers
September 14, 2020
This book was absolutely fantastic! I was hooked from the very first page. This book is heartbreaking and beautiful. This book is definitely going on my ugly cry list. This book is a must read that you won’t be able to put down.
Profile Image for Lucia Catherine.
508 reviews7 followers
December 23, 2020
An emotional story.

Where do I begin to explain how well the story was written? I cried throughout the story, the emotions were palpable. I just couldn't put it down. Great job.
Profile Image for Mary Brown.
1,299 reviews74 followers
July 2, 2014
If Tomorrow Never Comes by Lisa Chalmers is a very emotional love story. It is a story about death and the after-effects for those left behind. And the after-effects of the one that died.

Josh and Avery are in love and they are going to have a baby. He leaves one morning to meet his brothers to go on a trip, and he dies on the way there. Once Josh realizes that he is dead, he does everything within his power to return to the life he left. He observes those he left behind and sees the pain and sorrow that surround the survivors, especially Avery. His heart breaks every time he sees Avery struggling to make it through each day.

Avery cannot believe that Josh is gone and cannot imagine her life without him. She struggles daily to put one foot in front of the other. Josh’s family is there for her, and try to help her as much as they can, but they are not Josh. All she has left now is their unborn son and knows she must stay strong for him.

Gabrielle is Josh’s mentor in the afterworld and eventually they form a strong bond. Gabrielle has never seen a love as strong as Josh and Avery have, and at times allows Josh to break the rules.

I think this book is very character-driven and thrives on the emotions felt by all of the characters. Although Josh and Avery were the main characters, the secondary characters play a big part in this book. Josh’s brothers, Avery’s best friend and Gabrielle all made important contributions to the story development. All of the characters are on an emotional rollercoaster and the reader is taken along for the ride.

The writing style flows easily. I can’t say it is an easy read because of the sadness and despair that the reader is witness to. But that is not a bad thing. Lisa Chalmers is very descriptive in her writing style and the book really pulls you in. My only criticism is that the book seems a little long and parts of it seem repetitive. A lot of time is spent with the characters trying to find a reason for the death and a way to accept it, and at times it seems as though these were just reworded in a different way. That being said, I still think this book was a great 5 star read.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an emotional love story. Also to anyone who likes to read a book that will have them thinking about their own lives. I look forward to reading more books by Lisa Chalmers.

Profile Image for Crystal.
58 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2014
Josh had everything in the world. An amazing loving family, a girlfriend, a child on the way, everything was absolutely perfect, until a car accident. Josh wakes up in Heaven with Gabriel acting as his guide and finds out he's dead. He watches as his family, everyone he loves, and his beautiful girlfriend have to deal with his loss and continue to live their lives. When his girlfriend, Avery, starts taking a turn for the worst lost in her grief and sorrow, Josh tries at nothing to try to return to her and their unborn baby. Will Avery overcome her sorrow and misery and realize that life does go on? Will Josh's brothers be able to cope with the loss of him? Will the family neglect Avery during this sad time? Is Josh really there? Will he be able to return to them..?

10/10, superb read. Lisa Chalmers wrote an incredible tearjerker that sent me into an emotional trance. This book was and is totally incredible. I felt completely connected when reading, cried when Avery cried, laughed when Josh laughed. This is a must read for every one who loves romance, and loves being moved by an incredible story.
Profile Image for Melanie's.
566 reviews29 followers
December 23, 2013
*This Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*

A beautifully written, heartbreaking look at the "What Ifs" most of us would never want to face. Looked at from a slightly new angle the writing will draw you in and make you thankful for each and every blessing that you have. Definitely not one to be read without a box of Kleenex but even me, who is not a fan of tearjerker style books, was taken in by the story.

Some of it was a little "wordy" for me (personal preference) and I felt that it could have benefited from a little more editing which is why it lost a star but I would still place it in the must read category for any contemporary romance lovers. In fact I have already recommended it to a fellow Nerd Girl as I think she will love it!!

V""V

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
Profile Image for Alexa Verde.
Author 119 books309 followers
May 26, 2014
If Tomorrow Never Comes is a beautifully written love story. It is a very emotional book, heartwarming and heartbreaking at times. The love that Josh and Avery have for each other is incredible and shines through every page of the book. There is an important message and a lesson to be learned in this book. And the ending... It was unexpected and so very amazing.

I honestly can say that I've never read anything like this great debut novel by Lisa Chalmers. She's very talented, and I hope for more books soon from this author.
Profile Image for Teresa.
114 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2015
I give this 4 1/2 stars..it was a very touching story..I really enjoyed it!
16 reviews
August 17, 2018
Tissues Needed

I enjoy reading and have for many years, don't usually write reviews because I'm just not good at it. This book played on my emotions strongly! If it were a song it'd definitely be called a tear-jerker. The characters are portrayed so realistically that you feel like you actually know them, you feel like you're a part of their lives and if you are an emotional person, you will almost feel their joy and pain. I had to stop reading at times because feelings were so intense. The writer makes scenes so graphic that you feel you're right there, feeling ocean breezes, sand between your toes and seeing glorious colored sunsets! Then there are parts that your heart feels torn in pieces. He sure you have plenty of tissues on hand!, To me, it's a beautifully written book portraying a love that's not seen often - a love that literally defies death! You won't regret the time you spend reading it.

Profile Image for BP34.
6,309 reviews46 followers
August 14, 2017
Grab a box of tissues because you'll definitely need them. This book is an emotional roller coaster and unlike anything I've read. Wow what a love story. Josh and Avery were so much in love and she was expecting a baby when he was killed in an accident. Don't want to be a spoiler so can't say much, but an amazing read with lots of twists and an amazing ending. I received an arc copy and voluntarily chose to review it.
Profile Image for Jennifer Soppe.
2,251 reviews13 followers
January 8, 2018
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of this book that I received for free.

Josh's life ended prematurely and his pregnant girlfriend, Avery, has a hard time dealing with his loss. This book is a story about what would happen if there was such a thing as a “re-do” on life. With strongly emotional scenes, family support, and guardian/companion angels, If Tomorrow Never Comes is a heart wrenching tale of love without time.

Bring the tissues and comfort blanket
113 reviews
October 15, 2018
Beautifully written

Amazing story of never ending love, learning, sacrifice, friendships, family. I cried my eyes out. I’ve experienced the loss of my beautiful baby girl. Very similar to Avery. I’m s something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. It’s been 11 years since it happened to me and the pain is still very much real good f I let myself think too much. **SPOILER ALERT **. I wish life would have given me another chance to raise my beautiful girl.
Profile Image for Maria (Ri).
5,151 reviews16 followers
August 26, 2017
4.25 stars

How much would you fight to get back to the one you love? What would you say? Two simple questions but both having complex answers. Great book showing the possibilities of life after "dying" and how love truly is unconditional
2 reviews
February 15, 2018
Tear Jerker

What an amazing story. My heart broke with every character in this book. Poor Avery the way she suffered was heartbreaking and for Josh too. Wow sensational read. Defiantly recommended if you want a good cry with an HEA!
7 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2018
Wow!!

This book covers so many different emotions. I have never cried so much reading a book! As someone who has had lots of loss I truly felt their pain. This is such a great read, tho difficult at times!
Profile Image for Kim F.
2,873 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2018
Extremely entertaining, captivating, and interesting read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong and intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
975 reviews5 followers
May 28, 2021
4 Stars

4 stars for If Tomorrow Never Comes. Where do I begin? This book had lots of feelings. I think I used half a box of Kleenex, but it was worth the read. Makes you appreciate what you have.
Profile Image for SouthernAngel.
1,618 reviews9 followers
August 4, 2017
What if?
A heart wrenching, emotional tearjerker with a unique story-line.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
25 reviews2 followers
March 31, 2018
Heartbreaking

From the start this story took me through so many emotions. If you've ever lost a loved one this book will give you pause. I really enjoyed it!
5 reviews
June 9, 2018
Great book.

Great story with some very sad parts. If life is like this then there is something to look forward to. Keep your tissues handy.
9 reviews
June 16, 2018
Wonderful story

This book was great. The storyline was well written. It makes you really think about what's important in your own life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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