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If You Knew...
When their four-year-old son Gabriel’s leukaemia relapses, Richard and his wife are thrown back into the battle they thought they’d won. With time running out, they cling to each other—and to the smallest signs of hope.
Elsewhere in time, Bill, a university student reeling from heartbreak, catches a glimpse of a future that isn’t his to know. What he sees shakes him to the core… and sparks a single-minded resolve to change what’s coming.
As the two stories begin to mirror—and then collide—love, courage, and impossible choices pull them toward the same question : will what they do be enough to change what’s coming… or will fate refuse to bend?
Echoing the emotional depth of The Time Traveler’s Wife and the heart-wrenching choices in My Sister’s Keeper , this novel asks a timeless what would you do, if you knew?
Elsewhere in time, Bill, a university student reeling from heartbreak, catches a glimpse of a future that isn’t his to know. What he sees shakes him to the core… and sparks a single-minded resolve to change what’s coming.
As the two stories begin to mirror—and then collide—love, courage, and impossible choices pull them toward the same question : will what they do be enough to change what’s coming… or will fate refuse to bend?
Echoing the emotional depth of The Time Traveler’s Wife and the heart-wrenching choices in My Sister’s Keeper , this novel asks a timeless what would you do, if you knew?
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2026
2 people are currently reading
796 people want to read
About the author
Richard Plourde
4 books18 followersBestselling author Richard Plourde is a retired optometrist with a genuine passion for writing captivating stories. His two novels, originally published in French, were both critically acclaimed and were finalists for the coveted France-Acadie literary prize.
Richard also published a children’s novel that was selected as a one of the top children’s book of the year by the consumer guide “Protégez-vous”.
His books have been translated and published in English.
Father of two accomplished young adults and two beloved cats, he lives in a lovely town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains in New Brunswick, Canada.
Richard is currently working on his fourth novel and is also writing the screenplay for his first book.
Richard Plourde habite Edmundston, sa jolie ville natale nichée dans une vallée entourée de montagnes verdoyantes, au Nouveau-Brunswick (Canada). Il est l’auteur de trois romans qui ont tous connu un succès retentissant.
Si tu savais…
Un jeune étudiant qui, en route pour l'université, est, bien malgré lui, plongé dans son futur. Il apprendra qu'il deviendra, un jour, père d'un enfant gravement malade. À la suite d'aventures parfois palpitantes, tantôt émouvantes et, à l'occasion, cocasses, il finira devant un choix capital… Choisira-t-il de mettre cet enfant au monde?
« Un des très bons livres que j'ai lus dans ma vie. », Diane Losier, Radio-Canada
Le koï et la grenouille
Une histoire d’amour inusité entre un jeune poisson et une jolie grenouille qui célèbre la différence et qui fait la promotion de l’acceptation et de l’amour de soi.
« Un des meilleurs livres pour la jeunesse de l’année. », - Magazine Protégez-Vous
Revenir… - L’étonnant destin de John Fisher
Un jour, sans prévenir, John Fisher a tourné le dos à son passé, à son nom, à son père. Ce choix, il croyait être en mesure de l’assumer, jusqu’à ce qu’un coup de téléphone vienne faire dérailler son train de vie. C’est comme ça quand le destin appelle et t’exige de revenir… Et si la vie, au fond, n’était qu’un éternel retour vers l’essentiel.
« Revenir… et Si tu savais… sont de véritables bijoux. » - Christine Michaud, Le Lundi
Richard est actuellement à l’écriture de son 4e roman et à la scénarisation de « Si tu savais… ».
Richard also published a children’s novel that was selected as a one of the top children’s book of the year by the consumer guide “Protégez-vous”.
His books have been translated and published in English.
Father of two accomplished young adults and two beloved cats, he lives in a lovely town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains in New Brunswick, Canada.
Richard is currently working on his fourth novel and is also writing the screenplay for his first book.
Richard Plourde habite Edmundston, sa jolie ville natale nichée dans une vallée entourée de montagnes verdoyantes, au Nouveau-Brunswick (Canada). Il est l’auteur de trois romans qui ont tous connu un succès retentissant.
Si tu savais…
Un jeune étudiant qui, en route pour l'université, est, bien malgré lui, plongé dans son futur. Il apprendra qu'il deviendra, un jour, père d'un enfant gravement malade. À la suite d'aventures parfois palpitantes, tantôt émouvantes et, à l'occasion, cocasses, il finira devant un choix capital… Choisira-t-il de mettre cet enfant au monde?
« Un des très bons livres que j'ai lus dans ma vie. », Diane Losier, Radio-Canada
Le koï et la grenouille
Une histoire d’amour inusité entre un jeune poisson et une jolie grenouille qui célèbre la différence et qui fait la promotion de l’acceptation et de l’amour de soi.
« Un des meilleurs livres pour la jeunesse de l’année. », - Magazine Protégez-Vous
Revenir… - L’étonnant destin de John Fisher
Un jour, sans prévenir, John Fisher a tourné le dos à son passé, à son nom, à son père. Ce choix, il croyait être en mesure de l’assumer, jusqu’à ce qu’un coup de téléphone vienne faire dérailler son train de vie. C’est comme ça quand le destin appelle et t’exige de revenir… Et si la vie, au fond, n’était qu’un éternel retour vers l’essentiel.
« Revenir… et Si tu savais… sont de véritables bijoux. » - Christine Michaud, Le Lundi
Richard est actuellement à l’écriture de son 4e roman et à la scénarisation de « Si tu savais… ».
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 12, 2026
Equally beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Emotionally moving. This story gives readers a glimpse into what life is like for families with children who go through a devastating diagnosis. 2 characters who question what they would do if they could prevent the future/present from ever occurring.
The writing was so powerful. Vivid descriptions of what the characters are feeling and going through. The desperation and pain of a father could be intensely felt by the reader.
The characters are worth rooting for and are very likable.
The acknowledgements section made me tear up.
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing was so powerful. Vivid descriptions of what the characters are feeling and going through. The desperation and pain of a father could be intensely felt by the reader.
The characters are worth rooting for and are very likable.
The acknowledgements section made me tear up.
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2026
I feel bad giving this a one star, but it would be dishonest to give it anything else, because I feel like this book totally lied to me. It was advertised as “literary fiction with a subtle time-slip twist” but unfortunately it is absolutely not this at all. It is a badly written part-memoir, part unclear sci-fi with an unadvertised HEAVILY reliance on religious discussion and misogynistic representations of women. If I had known any of this I would have steered clear of this book.
I don’t know if it’s the writing itself or the translation to blame, but this is not a well written book. There are 31 uses of ellipses, and that is after I noticed so many I started counting. Maybe I should have expected a few more than usual given the title, but (at least) 31 is absurd in anyone’s book surely?! This book sadly suffers from Tell not Show, and the reader isn’t given the information needed to follow the narrative.
For example, SPOILERS START but there are two split narratives between 1991 and 2003 - a sure way to tell the difference between these two time periods would be to describe the scenery, right? At one point we’re told that the narrator feels ‘although there was nothing particularly unusual about the setting, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling something was off.’ However we later learn the character is in a different time period than the one he thought he was in, and he discovers this by realising the SETTING HE HAS ARRIVED AT HASN’T BEEN BUILT YET. The reader could have been alerted to this by describing the setting differently to how it is usually described, made subtle references, so that we could have realised where (or when) he was before the narrator which would have had a big effect, on me as a reader at least. But there was no way to know this from the above until the narrator himself finds out this information.
SPOILER END
The proselytising about religion was very offputting, and as a result it made all of the frequent dialogue around this topic very unrealistic. Married couples having debate society-style monologues about the nature of god whilst driving, and also being described as too emotional and exhausted to think or speak, felt particularly odd. His roommate immediately beliving him about his ability to travel through time and then jumping straight to an argument about divine intervention was another part that took me straight out of the book. It was totally unsubtle and for me, felt like the furthest thing from literary fiction, given how hamfisted these conversations were.
A small point admittedly but I feel like there was little research done to situate the characters in time. The characters in 1991 when talking to the 2003 protagonist don’t know what the internet is, but the internet (or the world wide web) was opened to the public in 1991. One of the characters is playing a game about a “miniature porcupine..collecting a series of golden rings” as a “red hedgehog” on “the Nintendo”. Just little things like these came across as a older author trying to write younger characters with little knowledge of their interests.
Aaand finally…the way women are portrayed in this book is really disappointing. Not a single woman in this book has a thought about anything other than God or the narrator. They have no personalities and seemingly are both in love with the protagonist. The descriptions are sexist and reduce women down to their bodies whilst managing to also be sexist about their nature too. I don’t usually like to quote extensively from a book but here are some of the more egregious examples in the book:
“She knew she had finally found the one. Her feminine intuition leaped, waved its arms, and grew feverish every time she saw him. And as if her instincts weren’t enough, her biological clock would chime in whenever Bill touched her.”
“Her crimson lipstick, though sensual, gave her an air of strength and extravagence…her sweater that hugged her perfect breasts, and her short skirt under which tights clung to her slender legs”
“Elise arrived shortly after, completely makeup-free, dressed simply in a faded old t-shirt and loose cotton sweatpants. Her outfit subtly hugged the curves of her body, hinting at her nudity beneath the fabric.”
“A woman with generous curves, wrapped in a floral blouse and a slightly too-tight navy-blue skirt, quickly got up from her chair…”
“Jocelyne, whose female intuition had already raised an alarm a few minutes earlier, remained calm and refused to be intimidated.”
Upon collating these I’ve realised that interestingly, the narrator’s wife is the only woman (i think) not to be objectified so disgustingly. And I actually might think that’s worse. His wife is a person to him so she isn’t just her body, but he still has to make all those weird references to “”””female intuition”””, I guess??
I know it’s common etiquette to suggest who you think would like a book, if you didn’t like it yourself. But I can’t recommend this book to anyone. Women are more than the clothes they wear and the bodies underneath them. Read a book that treats women as people instead.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an (very obviously) honest review.
I don’t know if it’s the writing itself or the translation to blame, but this is not a well written book. There are 31 uses of ellipses, and that is after I noticed so many I started counting. Maybe I should have expected a few more than usual given the title, but (at least) 31 is absurd in anyone’s book surely?! This book sadly suffers from Tell not Show, and the reader isn’t given the information needed to follow the narrative.
For example, SPOILERS START but there are two split narratives between 1991 and 2003 - a sure way to tell the difference between these two time periods would be to describe the scenery, right? At one point we’re told that the narrator feels ‘although there was nothing particularly unusual about the setting, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling something was off.’ However we later learn the character is in a different time period than the one he thought he was in, and he discovers this by realising the SETTING HE HAS ARRIVED AT HASN’T BEEN BUILT YET. The reader could have been alerted to this by describing the setting differently to how it is usually described, made subtle references, so that we could have realised where (or when) he was before the narrator which would have had a big effect, on me as a reader at least. But there was no way to know this from the above until the narrator himself finds out this information.
SPOILER END
The proselytising about religion was very offputting, and as a result it made all of the frequent dialogue around this topic very unrealistic. Married couples having debate society-style monologues about the nature of god whilst driving, and also being described as too emotional and exhausted to think or speak, felt particularly odd. His roommate immediately beliving him about his ability to travel through time and then jumping straight to an argument about divine intervention was another part that took me straight out of the book. It was totally unsubtle and for me, felt like the furthest thing from literary fiction, given how hamfisted these conversations were.
A small point admittedly but I feel like there was little research done to situate the characters in time. The characters in 1991 when talking to the 2003 protagonist don’t know what the internet is, but the internet (or the world wide web) was opened to the public in 1991. One of the characters is playing a game about a “miniature porcupine..collecting a series of golden rings” as a “red hedgehog” on “the Nintendo”. Just little things like these came across as a older author trying to write younger characters with little knowledge of their interests.
Aaand finally…the way women are portrayed in this book is really disappointing. Not a single woman in this book has a thought about anything other than God or the narrator. They have no personalities and seemingly are both in love with the protagonist. The descriptions are sexist and reduce women down to their bodies whilst managing to also be sexist about their nature too. I don’t usually like to quote extensively from a book but here are some of the more egregious examples in the book:
“She knew she had finally found the one. Her feminine intuition leaped, waved its arms, and grew feverish every time she saw him. And as if her instincts weren’t enough, her biological clock would chime in whenever Bill touched her.”
“Her crimson lipstick, though sensual, gave her an air of strength and extravagence…her sweater that hugged her perfect breasts, and her short skirt under which tights clung to her slender legs”
“Elise arrived shortly after, completely makeup-free, dressed simply in a faded old t-shirt and loose cotton sweatpants. Her outfit subtly hugged the curves of her body, hinting at her nudity beneath the fabric.”
“A woman with generous curves, wrapped in a floral blouse and a slightly too-tight navy-blue skirt, quickly got up from her chair…”
“Jocelyne, whose female intuition had already raised an alarm a few minutes earlier, remained calm and refused to be intimidated.”
Upon collating these I’ve realised that interestingly, the narrator’s wife is the only woman (i think) not to be objectified so disgustingly. And I actually might think that’s worse. His wife is a person to him so she isn’t just her body, but he still has to make all those weird references to “”””female intuition”””, I guess??
I know it’s common etiquette to suggest who you think would like a book, if you didn’t like it yourself. But I can’t recommend this book to anyone. Women are more than the clothes they wear and the bodies underneath them. Read a book that treats women as people instead.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an (very obviously) honest review.
November 28, 2025
I devoured If You Knew… by Richard Plourde in just a few days. While it absolutely left me emotionally exhausted, I mean that as the highest possible compliment—I was utterly captivated and moved by this story. Plourde has crafted an emotionally raw and profound novel that demands your full attention.
The narrative is powerfully driven by two converging storylines. On one hand, we have Richard and his wife, who are thrust back into a living hell when their four-year-old son, Gabriel, suffers a relapse of leukemia. Their every moment becomes a desperate countdown, a heartbreaking plea for a miracle.
Simultaneously, we meet Bill, a young, heartbroken university student who is suddenly granted terrifying glimpses of a future that shouldn't be his to see. Horrified by the suffering revealed in these visions, Bill makes a solemn vow to defy his destiny, no matter the cost.
The author brilliantly manages the mounting tension as the lives of these two men—one fighting for a present miracle, the other battling a future certainty—draw closer. The resulting clash of destiny, courage, and life-altering choices is haunting and utterly compelling.
The emotional depth and character development are fabulous. Plourde handles the complex emotions of fear, love, and desperation with an authentic rawness that is reminiscent of the heart-wrenching dilemmas found in My Sister’s Keeper and the sweeping, time-affected romance of The Time Traveler’s Wife.
The core question this novel asks is timeless: what would you do, if you knew?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The narrative is powerfully driven by two converging storylines. On one hand, we have Richard and his wife, who are thrust back into a living hell when their four-year-old son, Gabriel, suffers a relapse of leukemia. Their every moment becomes a desperate countdown, a heartbreaking plea for a miracle.
Simultaneously, we meet Bill, a young, heartbroken university student who is suddenly granted terrifying glimpses of a future that shouldn't be his to see. Horrified by the suffering revealed in these visions, Bill makes a solemn vow to defy his destiny, no matter the cost.
The author brilliantly manages the mounting tension as the lives of these two men—one fighting for a present miracle, the other battling a future certainty—draw closer. The resulting clash of destiny, courage, and life-altering choices is haunting and utterly compelling.
The emotional depth and character development are fabulous. Plourde handles the complex emotions of fear, love, and desperation with an authentic rawness that is reminiscent of the heart-wrenching dilemmas found in My Sister’s Keeper and the sweeping, time-affected romance of The Time Traveler’s Wife.
The core question this novel asks is timeless: what would you do, if you knew?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Like always, unexpected illnesses can devastate you, gradually tearing you apart. Then, one morning, you wake up, convinced that the ordeal is over, only to realize that hell has just begun.
Imagine this scenario: if you had the opportunity to glimpse into your future and know that one day you would have a son who would develop cancer, endure immense suffering, and risk losing his life, would you still choose to have him or not?
Now, consider this twist: what if that decision isn’t yours but a younger version of yourself from a different time or perhaps another dimension? If he chooses not to have children after witnessing your Gabriel’s immense suffering, his decision could potentially erase your Gabriel.
So, what would you do in such a situation?
This book is truly unique and powerful. Don’t forget to read the Author’s Acknowledgments. This is the book Richard promised Gabriel, yes, ‘THAT BOOK’.
LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
Trace Dial
Imagine this scenario: if you had the opportunity to glimpse into your future and know that one day you would have a son who would develop cancer, endure immense suffering, and risk losing his life, would you still choose to have him or not?
Now, consider this twist: what if that decision isn’t yours but a younger version of yourself from a different time or perhaps another dimension? If he chooses not to have children after witnessing your Gabriel’s immense suffering, his decision could potentially erase your Gabriel.
So, what would you do in such a situation?
This book is truly unique and powerful. Don’t forget to read the Author’s Acknowledgments. This is the book Richard promised Gabriel, yes, ‘THAT BOOK’.
LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
Trace Dial
Review of advance copy
Like always, unexpected illnesses can devastate you, gradually tearing you apart. Then, one morning, you wake up, convinced that the ordeal is over, only to realize that hell has just begun.
Imagine this scenario: if you had the opportunity to glimpse into your future and know that one day you would have a son who would develop cancer, endure immense suffering, and risk losing his life, would you still choose to have him or not?
Now, consider this twist: what if that decision isn’t yours but a younger version of yourself from a different time or perhaps another dimension? If he chooses not to have children after witnessing your Gabriel’s immense suffering, his decision could potentially erase your Gabriel.
So, what would you do in such a situation?
This book is truly unique and powerful. Don’t forget to read the Author’s Acknowledgments. This is the book Richard promised Gabriel, yes, ‘THAT BOOK’.
LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
Trace Dial
Imagine this scenario: if you had the opportunity to glimpse into your future and know that one day you would have a son who would develop cancer, endure immense suffering, and risk losing his life, would you still choose to have him or not?
Now, consider this twist: what if that decision isn’t yours but a younger version of yourself from a different time or perhaps another dimension? If he chooses not to have children after witnessing your Gabriel’s immense suffering, his decision could potentially erase your Gabriel.
So, what would you do in such a situation?
This book is truly unique and powerful. Don’t forget to read the Author’s Acknowledgments. This is the book Richard promised Gabriel, yes, ‘THAT BOOK’.
LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.
Trace Dial
February 4, 2026
"Are you certain of the diagnosis? Is there any chance you might be wrong?"
📖 A unique and in-depth read, this book explores the trauma the Plourde family face when they receive the devastating news that their son’s leukaemia has returned. 💔 If You Knew… is an incredibly emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings every step of the way. 😢 We live through each moment of Gabriel’s treatment plan as he prepares for a bone marrow transplant. 🏥
✨ Alongside the true-life elements of the story is a fictional take on how someone might change their life if they knew what the future held. ⏳ Do you carry on as normal, knowing what lies ahead will be traumatic, or do you try to change your path before anything bad can happen? 🤔
📚 This isn’t the type of fiction I would usually choose to read — I tend to avoid authors like Jodi Picoult because I often find the stories too sad — but I really enjoyed this one. ❤️ The time-traveller aspect is woven in nicely and adds an interesting layer to the story.
🙏 Thank you to Richard Plourde for the opportunity to read and review If You Knew…
📖 A unique and in-depth read, this book explores the trauma the Plourde family face when they receive the devastating news that their son’s leukaemia has returned. 💔 If You Knew… is an incredibly emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings every step of the way. 😢 We live through each moment of Gabriel’s treatment plan as he prepares for a bone marrow transplant. 🏥
✨ Alongside the true-life elements of the story is a fictional take on how someone might change their life if they knew what the future held. ⏳ Do you carry on as normal, knowing what lies ahead will be traumatic, or do you try to change your path before anything bad can happen? 🤔
📚 This isn’t the type of fiction I would usually choose to read — I tend to avoid authors like Jodi Picoult because I often find the stories too sad — but I really enjoyed this one. ❤️ The time-traveller aspect is woven in nicely and adds an interesting layer to the story.
🙏 Thank you to Richard Plourde for the opportunity to read and review If You Knew…
February 3, 2026
Y'all... grab a box of tissues before you start reading, this is a poignant, beautiful story that will grab you by the heart strings from the start. The opening chapters, where we meet Gabriel and his family, are just absolutely heartbreaking. The way things can change on a dime, and how alien the simple, mundane parts of life can begin to feel when your life is turned upside down, really grips you. The emotions truly flow off the page. The way Richard and Bill are both struggling against what appear to be painful destinies keeps you engaged from start to finish. It also raises an important question - if you could change your choices to try and avert so much pain, would you? Or would you let it all play out? Highly recommend if you're looking for an emotional read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Parental tenacity and an anomaly
Richard Plourde has adopted a “third person, objective” approach to this real-life novel about his family’s struggle with his son’s illness, thereby adding eloquence to the narrative.
The chapters containing Bill’s story initially appear unrelated, yet the two threads are gradually woven together, albeit in a manner which defies logic.
Six-year-old Gabriel’s suffering and courage will challenge any adult, with or without children, to question their choices and decisions. A novel the readers will ‘live through’ with the parents, hoping and praying for a miracle.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Richard Plourde has adopted a “third person, objective” approach to this real-life novel about his family’s struggle with his son’s illness, thereby adding eloquence to the narrative.
The chapters containing Bill’s story initially appear unrelated, yet the two threads are gradually woven together, albeit in a manner which defies logic.
Six-year-old Gabriel’s suffering and courage will challenge any adult, with or without children, to question their choices and decisions. A novel the readers will ‘live through’ with the parents, hoping and praying for a miracle.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
December 2, 2025This wonderful book is well-written, thought provoking, and difficult to put down!
We have all noticed, at one time or another, a young family with a frighteningly ill child. How do they battle through the heart-ache?
This book helps us to understand the lives of one such family, that of the author. In addition, a fictional time travel thread forces readers to ask themselves what they would do if they could see into the future and halt the chain of events that led to the child’s birth and subsequent suffering.
Thank you, Richard!
We have all noticed, at one time or another, a young family with a frighteningly ill child. How do they battle through the heart-ache?
This book helps us to understand the lives of one such family, that of the author. In addition, a fictional time travel thread forces readers to ask themselves what they would do if they could see into the future and halt the chain of events that led to the child’s birth and subsequent suffering.
Thank you, Richard!
Read
January 16, 2026This novel is a fascinating mix of science fiction and memoir. The author is, in part, telling the horrors, and perhaps surprising rewards of raising a child with a life-threatening illness.
The real-life elements are poignantly and eloquently described. I felt what he was going through.
The fictional elements brought suspense and a chance to delve into philosophical ponderings. Questions about faith, the morality of keeping secrets, and enduring suffering, were all brought to light in this thought provoking novel.
The real-life elements are poignantly and eloquently described. I felt what he was going through.
The fictional elements brought suspense and a chance to delve into philosophical ponderings. Questions about faith, the morality of keeping secrets, and enduring suffering, were all brought to light in this thought provoking novel.
Review of advance copy
This is a well written novel, though in actuality it is autobiographical with some fictional additions. I got addicted to the storyline and highly recommend it to anyone.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews