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It Might Never Happen
Look at these two. They have been sure that their fate is in their own hands – they have been desperate to believe this – and now they are learning it is not.
The ending is a pivotal moment in their story.
*****
Noa is desperate to be loved. More than anything else – more than her studies, more than her job, her friends, her family – she wants to belong to someone. And she knows if this can happen, if someone will just choose her, she’ll finally be happy.
Elliot is terrified. Terrified about what will happen to his brother, Willy, if he isn’t there to keep him safe. Terrified that his friends will find out that he doesn’t have any of his own opinions. Terrified that the girl he loves will realise he isn’t a real person.
When they meet, Noa and Elliot have an immediate connection. And each of them hopes their great love might be enough to quiet the voices that tell them they’re not enough. But is it possible to love another person when you have no idea how to love yourself?
It Might Never Happen is a beautiful, painful, brutally relatable novel about the ways that love tears us apart, again and again. About fearing for the worst – and how we pick ourselves up when it happens. Perfect for fans of Talking at Night, Ordinary Love or Milk Teeth.
The ending is a pivotal moment in their story.
*****
Noa is desperate to be loved. More than anything else – more than her studies, more than her job, her friends, her family – she wants to belong to someone. And she knows if this can happen, if someone will just choose her, she’ll finally be happy.
Elliot is terrified. Terrified about what will happen to his brother, Willy, if he isn’t there to keep him safe. Terrified that his friends will find out that he doesn’t have any of his own opinions. Terrified that the girl he loves will realise he isn’t a real person.
When they meet, Noa and Elliot have an immediate connection. And each of them hopes their great love might be enough to quiet the voices that tell them they’re not enough. But is it possible to love another person when you have no idea how to love yourself?
It Might Never Happen is a beautiful, painful, brutally relatable novel about the ways that love tears us apart, again and again. About fearing for the worst – and how we pick ourselves up when it happens. Perfect for fans of Talking at Night, Ordinary Love or Milk Teeth.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2025
41 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 3, 2025
4.5
Emily Slapper’s first novel felt like a personal attack and guess what? Her second novel might as well have been written about me too. Damn. So heartbreaking, raw and emotional. I wanted to wrap Elliot up and tell him everything will be ok. A really really beautiful and tender story that is honest and relatable.
Emily Slapper’s first novel felt like a personal attack and guess what? Her second novel might as well have been written about me too. Damn. So heartbreaking, raw and emotional. I wanted to wrap Elliot up and tell him everything will be ok. A really really beautiful and tender story that is honest and relatable.
January 30, 2026
it might be that no one can catch feelings of depression, self-doubt or in this case OCD quite as well as Emily Slapper. 4,5/5
November 2, 2025
I am overcome with an ARRAY of emotions right now
March 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for answering my prayers and letting me have an e-ARC of this title.
Emily Slapper's Everyone I Know Is Dying was one of my top reads of 2024 which made me super eager to read this title. While it has some similarities in examining mental health and interpersonal relationships, it is also a completely different narrative.
Throughout this book we are following the lives of Noa and Elliot from childhood to young adulthood. Noa doesn't have much confidence in herself and her self worth, she just wants to be loved but this has lead to some toxic relationships and encounters. Elliot cares for his brother while his mother works resulting in a strained and friction-full atmosphere, from a young age Elliot develops OCD and harmful learned behaviours resulting from his environment. The book jumps around between different ages to give a fuller picture and examine the contributing factors to the mindset and behaviours of the characters, the main storyline being how Noa and Elliot came to meet at school and how they interact years later when they meet again.
In essence this story is looking at how the people around us help shape us; childhood trauma, finding love and connection, mental health, self worth and the alchemy of these things in real life.
I really love the depth to these characters and the dissection of their lives, however, I found that there were some bits that felt a bit unnecessary like the brackets that seemed to point out obvious things. And also note the storyline is not chronological if that is something that might bug you!
If you enjoyed Everyone I Know Is Dying, Normal People or My Year of Rest and Relaxation then I would recommend giving this a read too :)
Emily Slapper's Everyone I Know Is Dying was one of my top reads of 2024 which made me super eager to read this title. While it has some similarities in examining mental health and interpersonal relationships, it is also a completely different narrative.
Throughout this book we are following the lives of Noa and Elliot from childhood to young adulthood. Noa doesn't have much confidence in herself and her self worth, she just wants to be loved but this has lead to some toxic relationships and encounters. Elliot cares for his brother while his mother works resulting in a strained and friction-full atmosphere, from a young age Elliot develops OCD and harmful learned behaviours resulting from his environment. The book jumps around between different ages to give a fuller picture and examine the contributing factors to the mindset and behaviours of the characters, the main storyline being how Noa and Elliot came to meet at school and how they interact years later when they meet again.
In essence this story is looking at how the people around us help shape us; childhood trauma, finding love and connection, mental health, self worth and the alchemy of these things in real life.
I really love the depth to these characters and the dissection of their lives, however, I found that there were some bits that felt a bit unnecessary like the brackets that seemed to point out obvious things. And also note the storyline is not chronological if that is something that might bug you!
If you enjoyed Everyone I Know Is Dying, Normal People or My Year of Rest and Relaxation then I would recommend giving this a read too :)
July 22, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved this book SO much, read it in 2 days and the whole time I just didn’t want it to end. I don’t think I’ve ever connected to a character the way I connected to Noa 🥹 I feel like I know her? And I just want to have a chat with her and be her friend 😭 but equally feel like I’ve met all the horrible men as well lol. Such credit to Emily Slapper for writing deeply authentic and human characters that feel SO real.
Overall It Might Never Happen is an intense, raw and emotional read portraying modern relationships, mental health/OCD and (what resonated most for me) the impact self-worth can have on your life. The tone balances between light and funny moments and gut-wrenching heartbreak which is made all the more powerful by Emily Slapper’s incredible incredible writing
Without a doubt my favourite read of the year so far and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long long time
Loved this book SO much, read it in 2 days and the whole time I just didn’t want it to end. I don’t think I’ve ever connected to a character the way I connected to Noa 🥹 I feel like I know her? And I just want to have a chat with her and be her friend 😭 but equally feel like I’ve met all the horrible men as well lol. Such credit to Emily Slapper for writing deeply authentic and human characters that feel SO real.
Overall It Might Never Happen is an intense, raw and emotional read portraying modern relationships, mental health/OCD and (what resonated most for me) the impact self-worth can have on your life. The tone balances between light and funny moments and gut-wrenching heartbreak which is made all the more powerful by Emily Slapper’s incredible incredible writing
Without a doubt my favourite read of the year so far and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long long time
November 5, 2025
damn this was solid
April 10, 2025
This is a most amazing insight into the minds of Noa and Elliot.
Both are insecure and struggle with relationships. What is 'normal'? How does life work? Will anyone ever love me? Will it last? What is real and what is in my head?
The reader is drawn in to their dilemmas and feels their pain and emotions. I found myself speaking to them and trying to give advice. Cheering when things are going well, and crying with them when it all turns pear shaped.
By the end of the book, I felt worn out emotionally, having lived their lives because the writing was so amazing.
I have to be honest and admit that after the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure this book was for me, but I'm so pleased that I read on.
An emotionally real book.
Thanks to Emily, NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
Both are insecure and struggle with relationships. What is 'normal'? How does life work? Will anyone ever love me? Will it last? What is real and what is in my head?
The reader is drawn in to their dilemmas and feels their pain and emotions. I found myself speaking to them and trying to give advice. Cheering when things are going well, and crying with them when it all turns pear shaped.
By the end of the book, I felt worn out emotionally, having lived their lives because the writing was so amazing.
I have to be honest and admit that after the first couple of chapters, I wasn't sure this book was for me, but I'm so pleased that I read on.
An emotionally real book.
Thanks to Emily, NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.
September 27, 2025
5⭐️my heart is bursting. this book told me to be kinder to myself and to live the fullest life I live, whatever it may look like. emily thank you.
July 29, 2025
4.5/5
Well thanks now I’m crying!!
Well thanks now I’m crying!!
September 20, 2025
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an Arc read of this book Emily slapper is becoming a favourite author of mine
Emily slapper is a phenomenal writer
Im half way through everyone I know is dying and I love her writing style and what she writes about.
Emilys characters in her books are always relatable in some way or another
Perfect perfect perfect
Emily slapper is a phenomenal writer
Im half way through everyone I know is dying and I love her writing style and what she writes about.
Emilys characters in her books are always relatable in some way or another
Perfect perfect perfect
June 16, 2025
*With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy*
I absolutely loved Everyone I Know is Dying, so I couldn’t wait to read this book.
The book centres - non-chronologically - around the lives of Noa and Elliot, who met as teenagers and then fall into each other’s lives as adults. Neither of them relates easily to the world or to other people, but they relate to each other perfectly. The book, really, deals with whether or not that is enough to sustain a relationship or a shared life.
I found the prose slightly more meandering than in EIKID - some unnecessary levels of detail in some of the explanations - but the characters come to life on the page and the line is drawn well between Noa and Elliot as teenagers and the adults they become. The descriptions of OCD and learning delays fit into the story well but, at times, were I thought slightly over-detailed in the context of the rhythm of the book.
This didn’t take away though from the fact it’s a good story, written well. Recommend.
I absolutely loved Everyone I Know is Dying, so I couldn’t wait to read this book.
The book centres - non-chronologically - around the lives of Noa and Elliot, who met as teenagers and then fall into each other’s lives as adults. Neither of them relates easily to the world or to other people, but they relate to each other perfectly. The book, really, deals with whether or not that is enough to sustain a relationship or a shared life.
I found the prose slightly more meandering than in EIKID - some unnecessary levels of detail in some of the explanations - but the characters come to life on the page and the line is drawn well between Noa and Elliot as teenagers and the adults they become. The descriptions of OCD and learning delays fit into the story well but, at times, were I thought slightly over-detailed in the context of the rhythm of the book.
This didn’t take away though from the fact it’s a good story, written well. Recommend.
October 15, 2025
Addressing important topics and a masterclass on relationships and issues to overcome.
November 5, 2025
I don’t have anything more poetic or meaningful to add, I just really loved this book. I’ll now eagerly await book three!
November 4, 2025
rise up slapperheads. another absolute banger
October 17, 2025
Audiobook reread ✨ Jonathan Case sounds like Greg James (complimentary), so this was almost like an extended Greg James Breakfast Show episode for nearly 11 hours! A ✨joy✨ to listen to!
Ooof, I was not ready for the nostalgia and throwback to secondary school that came with reading It Might Never Happen. For parts of this, I felt like I was a teenager facing the emotions and feelings in the situations Noa and Elliot were dealing with, for a hot second, I was reliving moments from my own life and teen years! A well-written and emotional read that left me a little numb when I finished it!
Thank you so much to Emily Slapper, HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. I'm ✌🏻 for ✌🏻
with books that Emily has written so far, I can't wait to see what comes next! It Might Never Happen is out 11th September 2025!
Ooof, I was not ready for the nostalgia and throwback to secondary school that came with reading It Might Never Happen. For parts of this, I felt like I was a teenager facing the emotions and feelings in the situations Noa and Elliot were dealing with, for a hot second, I was reliving moments from my own life and teen years! A well-written and emotional read that left me a little numb when I finished it!
Thank you so much to Emily Slapper, HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. I'm ✌🏻 for ✌🏻
with books that Emily has written so far, I can't wait to see what comes next! It Might Never Happen is out 11th September 2025!
June 11, 2025
Hilarious and heartbreaking. Similarly to EIKID, the writing made me feel like I knew and cared about Noa and Elliot more than any other book I can remember. A triumph!
September 11, 2025
4.5 stars. Emily Slapper really knows how to write characters that are struggling to ‘do’ life they way we’re incessantly told it should be done, and that makes me love her books!
Everyone I Know Is Dying made me feel like she had studied me throughout my late twenties/early thirties, it was brutally relatable. Whilst this book wasn’t as personally on-the-nail for my own experiences, it had the same blend of tenderness and rawness. The characters were instantly recognisable from my community, they could have been us collectively. Emily seems to effortlessly be able to pour deep feeling into the smallest of gestures or responses, so they hit you way down in your gut and you understand the motivation on a cellular level.
The thought that you are missing some basic instructions on how to survive and weather what life throws at you without spiralling is something that most of us have encountered at some point - if we’re lucky it was manageable, this book shows what can happen if it isn’t. It’s by no means all doom and gloom though, these guys are fighting to find joy in their lives and they do in their own way. It’s a hopeful story of conquering AND accepting adversity.
Everyone I Know Is Dying made me feel like she had studied me throughout my late twenties/early thirties, it was brutally relatable. Whilst this book wasn’t as personally on-the-nail for my own experiences, it had the same blend of tenderness and rawness. The characters were instantly recognisable from my community, they could have been us collectively. Emily seems to effortlessly be able to pour deep feeling into the smallest of gestures or responses, so they hit you way down in your gut and you understand the motivation on a cellular level.
The thought that you are missing some basic instructions on how to survive and weather what life throws at you without spiralling is something that most of us have encountered at some point - if we’re lucky it was manageable, this book shows what can happen if it isn’t. It’s by no means all doom and gloom though, these guys are fighting to find joy in their lives and they do in their own way. It’s a hopeful story of conquering AND accepting adversity.
January 29, 2026
This was an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
I have never read anything by this author, and grabbed this one by chance, but I REALLY liked this book.
While one characters struggles with OCD since a young age, and doesnt know how to manage it or what it is; the other one goes through life doing anything to be loved, and getting into poor relationships where she consistenly reinvents herself to get someone to love her.
It is raw, at times funny, and most of all it just gets a grip on you. I felt for these characters and was rooting for them throughout the whole book.
Highly recommend.
I have never read anything by this author, and grabbed this one by chance, but I REALLY liked this book.
While one characters struggles with OCD since a young age, and doesnt know how to manage it or what it is; the other one goes through life doing anything to be loved, and getting into poor relationships where she consistenly reinvents herself to get someone to love her.
It is raw, at times funny, and most of all it just gets a grip on you. I felt for these characters and was rooting for them throughout the whole book.
Highly recommend.
September 16, 2025
I never thought that I would echo the words of the Daily Mail but this book is "Beautifully written" and tells a moving story of two young people struggling to find their way in the world. Told truthfully through episodes of joy and acute sadness it is a classic tale of our times. Highly recommended.
October 5, 2025
4.5⭐️
anxiously attached lover girl🤝depressed boy with OCD
“What she wanted was a monotonous person who could give her the monotonous life she'd already planned out. In the same way he wanted someone to tell his silly little funny thoughts to. And now they had each other. But he felt more alone than ever. Overwhelmingly alone in fact. The music had become quiet and everything seemed further away somehow and he had the thought that hell would actually be this, being surrounded by people forever without any of them knowing who you are.”
anxiously attached lover girl🤝depressed boy with OCD
“What she wanted was a monotonous person who could give her the monotonous life she'd already planned out. In the same way he wanted someone to tell his silly little funny thoughts to. And now they had each other. But he felt more alone than ever. Overwhelmingly alone in fact. The music had become quiet and everything seemed further away somehow and he had the thought that hell would actually be this, being surrounded by people forever without any of them knowing who you are.”
October 3, 2025
very funny but also COMPLETELY broke my heart, loved it!
August 27, 2025
Noa is desperate to be loved. More than anything else – more than her studies, more than her job, her friends, her family – she wants to belong to someone. And she knows if this can happen, if someone will just choose her, she’ll finally be happy.
Elliot is terrified. Terrified about what will happen to his brother, Willy, if he isn’t there to keep him safe. Terrified that his friends will find out that he doesn’t have any of his own opinions. Terrified that the girl he loves will realise he isn’t a real person.
This is a wonderful read. Totally absorbing with great characters and setting. The description of feeling and thoughts are mind blowing, they are so good. It’s one of the best books I have read this year.
January 19, 2026
A tale of first love told in an adolescence and adulthood premise that captured the messiness of one’s insecurity, longing and mental health journeys. A light romance throughout, heavy on its characters’ inner and familial conflicts centering much in exploring how earlier scars, guilts and traumas from self-perceptions, doubts and anxieties could landscaped and affected oneself till adulthood.
The premise was too slow burn for me and I did not fancy much on its non-linear back and forth timelines that go alternatingly in between Noa and Elliot’s POVs; at times confusing as well bit repetitive after their lives intertwined in the middle. I stayed for Noa cause I love her characterization (though frankly her craving for love making me quite annoyed too) and wondering would she really find love at the end or perhaps Elliot too was still grappling with his personal struggles and life concerns that it will not be a happily ever after at all(?).
A reality bites with raw emotionally driven storyline— so thoroughly plotted it drained me out to see how both drowning in their own thoughts, worries and assumptions. Loved the backstory of Elliot and its details; I liked the way he shared his fears and struggles to cope with the condition of his family and the force of responsibility as a brother. I was hopeful on both Noa and Elliot’s present narratives yet was given more depths on the past instead which left me bit with an underwhelming feeling. However, I still find the friendship part as enthralling much; of Elliot, Fraser and Dom that revolved much on trust, acceptance and one’s vulnerability as well the dynamic in between Noa and Elza.
A mess towards the end of how the misunderstanding unfolds, a twist that I did not expect but overall comforting to see how both narratives go parallel in their healing journeys. Would recommend if you love a psychological insight love tale or a bittersweet romance premise with hopeful-realist characters.
(ARC courtesy of Times Reads)
The premise was too slow burn for me and I did not fancy much on its non-linear back and forth timelines that go alternatingly in between Noa and Elliot’s POVs; at times confusing as well bit repetitive after their lives intertwined in the middle. I stayed for Noa cause I love her characterization (though frankly her craving for love making me quite annoyed too) and wondering would she really find love at the end or perhaps Elliot too was still grappling with his personal struggles and life concerns that it will not be a happily ever after at all(?).
A reality bites with raw emotionally driven storyline— so thoroughly plotted it drained me out to see how both drowning in their own thoughts, worries and assumptions. Loved the backstory of Elliot and its details; I liked the way he shared his fears and struggles to cope with the condition of his family and the force of responsibility as a brother. I was hopeful on both Noa and Elliot’s present narratives yet was given more depths on the past instead which left me bit with an underwhelming feeling. However, I still find the friendship part as enthralling much; of Elliot, Fraser and Dom that revolved much on trust, acceptance and one’s vulnerability as well the dynamic in between Noa and Elza.
A mess towards the end of how the misunderstanding unfolds, a twist that I did not expect but overall comforting to see how both narratives go parallel in their healing journeys. Would recommend if you love a psychological insight love tale or a bittersweet romance premise with hopeful-realist characters.
(ARC courtesy of Times Reads)
November 4, 2025
This book made my heart ache so much, as it slowly built it back up again. I might find some moments unrealistic, maybe if more time passes. But then again, I might not.
Because, if I’m honest, the story of Noa and Elliot fills me with so much hope. Two characters I can identify with completely. And the fact that they could find their way back to themselves after so much heartache is something I’d like to hold onto for as long as I can.
Because, if I’m honest, the story of Noa and Elliot fills me with so much hope. Two characters I can identify with completely. And the fact that they could find their way back to themselves after so much heartache is something I’d like to hold onto for as long as I can.
October 27, 2025
“The future is the perfect balance of known and unknown.”
November 3, 2025
2.5-3- A huge miss(ed opportunity). I appreciate and was moved by the detailed and raw depiction of OCD and the debilitating effects of intrusive thoughts OCD. Elliot’s character from 8-29 years old felt rounded and I enjoyed his chapters on the whole and they included some great passages. I, however, hated that the plot was driven by boring, forced miscommunication and Noa’s insufferable daddy issues and anxious attachment which were (somehow?) equated to Elliot’s OCD. Elliot’s character and story was enough. The jumbled timeline and half baked relationship drama was unnecessary!
August 17, 2025
Loved the writing style in this! It felt so different to other books I've read under the literary/romance genre; it sort of felt like the writer kept breaking the fourth wall & as the reader I almost felt like a fly on the wall watching these two main characters which made the entire book more enjoyable for me & made it feel more unique.
While reading this, I kept getting flashbacks of growing up reading Jacqueline Wilson books— I guess it's because of how well Slapper fleshes out her characters, just like her previous book Everyone I Know is Dying she's so good at making them feel like actual people & getting you attached to them. The realness in them for me comes from how not flawless they are, there were plenty of times where both MCs but in particular Noa almost felt unlikeable to me but the character development is so well done, I still loved her by the end. I especially like the focus on mental health in Emily's books, it never feels insensitive or overdone to me & gives another layer to the characters & story as a whole.
I enjoyed the slow burn romance element of this story & seeing how things developed between Noa & Elliot. I especially liked reading the chapters of how they met as teenagers to get a better understanding of them as individuals as well as their relationship. The only thing is, with the time jump chapters, there were a few moments where things started feeling repetitive; as much as I like seeing the different perspectives for the same scenes, it might have been a little overdone for me sometimes. That's about the only thing that lowered my rating for this, otherwise I loved the concept & thought it was well executed.
I think if you enjoyed Wilson's books growing up & love a Sally Rooney novel, get this on your tbr.
Thank you HQ & Netgalley for my free eARC!
While reading this, I kept getting flashbacks of growing up reading Jacqueline Wilson books— I guess it's because of how well Slapper fleshes out her characters, just like her previous book Everyone I Know is Dying she's so good at making them feel like actual people & getting you attached to them. The realness in them for me comes from how not flawless they are, there were plenty of times where both MCs but in particular Noa almost felt unlikeable to me but the character development is so well done, I still loved her by the end. I especially like the focus on mental health in Emily's books, it never feels insensitive or overdone to me & gives another layer to the characters & story as a whole.
I enjoyed the slow burn romance element of this story & seeing how things developed between Noa & Elliot. I especially liked reading the chapters of how they met as teenagers to get a better understanding of them as individuals as well as their relationship. The only thing is, with the time jump chapters, there were a few moments where things started feeling repetitive; as much as I like seeing the different perspectives for the same scenes, it might have been a little overdone for me sometimes. That's about the only thing that lowered my rating for this, otherwise I loved the concept & thought it was well executed.
I think if you enjoyed Wilson's books growing up & love a Sally Rooney novel, get this on your tbr.
Thank you HQ & Netgalley for my free eARC!
September 12, 2025
I didn't connect to this book as much as her first book everyone i know is dying. Although i appreciated the portrayal of ocd in this and following both Noa and Elliott through certain times in their lives, i felt it rather slow getting to the point in which they meet and so i didn't really feel their connection as strongly as it could have been, so the impact didn't really hit as hard with them together but more so as separate people.
January 18, 2026
this felt like a personal attack in the best way and I’d give it 100 stars if I could
January 25, 2026
I think I said this on my last review of an Emily Slapper book but she's so good at writing mental health and trauma and weird parents that I actually feel mildly uncomfortable reading it and like I should sue her for stealing my brain.
I'm not really a romance person but I don't even know if I would call this a romance - maybe a human love story? This broke my heart and stitched it back up all at the same time. It was so sweet and tender and frustrating and happy and sad and lovely and horrifying and sweet and it reminds me why I love to read about people like me that aren't demonised or made fun of
Please keep writing like this I beg. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher!!
I'm not really a romance person but I don't even know if I would call this a romance - maybe a human love story? This broke my heart and stitched it back up all at the same time. It was so sweet and tender and frustrating and happy and sad and lovely and horrifying and sweet and it reminds me why I love to read about people like me that aren't demonised or made fun of
Please keep writing like this I beg. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews