What do you think?
This Changes Everything: A Novel
An aspiring actor caught in the Hollywood rollercoaster is torn between following her dreams and choosing between two of her own leading men—her childhood sweetheart and the one who got away, or the fellow actor who understands just what she’s fighting for. A funny, sexy and heartfelt romance for readers of Yulin Kuang, Rebecca Serle and Emily Henry.
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 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.
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 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.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
September 3, 2026
My new favourite love triangle!
For starters, I loved the unique use of two past timelines here, jumping between Ellie’s teenage years in Vancouver with Rory and her early twenties in New York with Ben, chasing her dreams of becoming an actress. With Ellie facing many career setbacks, it also dealt heavily with the misogyny and sexual harassment women face in the entertainment industry, trying to get ahead while powerful, disgusting men hold the strings. Some of those moments felt a little intense and exaggerated (hopefully), but they certainly got the point across.
I loved having both romances unfold simultaneously, eventually connecting in the present. It really captured those giddy, all-consuming, impulsive, lack-of-a-prefrontal-cortex feelings so well. The banter, the palpable chemistry! I was beyond smitten with both options for Ellie. During chapters with Ben, I’d be thinking, Rory who? Then we’d switch to Rory, and I’d be like, Ben who? Ha! I loved that it wasn’t completely obvious who the perfect choice was, which is my main grievance with so many love triangles. I want the emotional turmoil of deciding, you know?
Ellie was such a tenacious character, with her passion and restlessness driving so many of her decisions. I loved that she was never someone who could be told what to do. There’s plenty of angst, but also so much tenderness as these characters are simply trying to navigate life, their dreams, their relationships, and whether there’s actually a way to fit all of those things together. I loved both of these romances so much that I knew I’d be happy with the final choice and still heartbroken over the one Ellie didn’t end up with, which is exactly how I want a love triangle to make me feel.
(spice level: 4 open-door scenes, mild to moderate details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For starters, I loved the unique use of two past timelines here, jumping between Ellie’s teenage years in Vancouver with Rory and her early twenties in New York with Ben, chasing her dreams of becoming an actress. With Ellie facing many career setbacks, it also dealt heavily with the misogyny and sexual harassment women face in the entertainment industry, trying to get ahead while powerful, disgusting men hold the strings. Some of those moments felt a little intense and exaggerated (hopefully), but they certainly got the point across.
I loved having both romances unfold simultaneously, eventually connecting in the present. It really captured those giddy, all-consuming, impulsive, lack-of-a-prefrontal-cortex feelings so well. The banter, the palpable chemistry! I was beyond smitten with both options for Ellie. During chapters with Ben, I’d be thinking, Rory who? Then we’d switch to Rory, and I’d be like, Ben who? Ha! I loved that it wasn’t completely obvious who the perfect choice was, which is my main grievance with so many love triangles. I want the emotional turmoil of deciding, you know?
Ellie was such a tenacious character, with her passion and restlessness driving so many of her decisions. I loved that she was never someone who could be told what to do. There’s plenty of angst, but also so much tenderness as these characters are simply trying to navigate life, their dreams, their relationships, and whether there’s actually a way to fit all of those things together. I loved both of these romances so much that I knew I’d be happy with the final choice and still heartbroken over the one Ellie didn’t end up with, which is exactly how I want a love triangle to make me feel.
(spice level: 4 open-door scenes, mild to moderate details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 15, 2026
This Changes Everything desperately wants to be something it’s not. It wants to be deep, emotional, and messy childhood friends-to-lovers with a love triangle. Unfortunately, This Changes Everything only ever scratches the surface with an inevitable ending and a journey not worth the ride.
This Changes Everything lives under a constant cloud of misogyny, sexual harassment, and child sexual harassment. Trigger warnings. McKechnie, again, only scratches the surface of these topics with the conclusion being that this is the way Hollywood operates.
This Changes Everything follows Ellie as she moves to New York City to pursue an acting career after a messy ending with her longtime best friend, Rory. Once in the city, she meets Ben and falls for him.
The novel is weird and crude. A moment that is meant to forge a connection between Ellie and Ben is mind bafflingly weird. Ellie gets a piece of dried paint stuck under her nail and instead of going to urgent care, she files her nail off with Ben as emotional and physical support.
The characters and their dialogue are just plain crude. After Ellie and Rory get hot and heavy at a night club, one of her friends says something like she’ll find her own pleasure at the memory of them.
Ellie and Rory’s relationship lacks depth. Rory disappears from her life for two years because she decides to stop going to the place they met because of the unwanted older male attention she received.
Those wanting something comparable to Carley Fortune or Emily Henry will be severely disappointed.
Overall, This Changes Everything lives under a constant cloud of misogyny and sexual harassment with a love triangle that’s outcome lacks depth, emotion, and is inevitable.
*** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This Changes Everything lives under a constant cloud of misogyny, sexual harassment, and child sexual harassment. Trigger warnings. McKechnie, again, only scratches the surface of these topics with the conclusion being that this is the way Hollywood operates.
This Changes Everything follows Ellie as she moves to New York City to pursue an acting career after a messy ending with her longtime best friend, Rory. Once in the city, she meets Ben and falls for him.
The novel is weird and crude. A moment that is meant to forge a connection between Ellie and Ben is mind bafflingly weird. Ellie gets a piece of dried paint stuck under her nail and instead of going to urgent care, she files her nail off with Ben as emotional and physical support.
The characters and their dialogue are just plain crude. After Ellie and Rory get hot and heavy at a night club, one of her friends says something like she’ll find her own pleasure at the memory of them.
Ellie and Rory’s relationship lacks depth. Rory disappears from her life for two years because she decides to stop going to the place they met because of the unwanted older male attention she received.
Those wanting something comparable to Carley Fortune or Emily Henry will be severely disappointed.
Overall, This Changes Everything lives under a constant cloud of misogyny and sexual harassment with a love triangle that’s outcome lacks depth, emotion, and is inevitable.
*** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC📖
5⭐️!!! I really enjoyed this one!
This story follows an aspiring actor who leaves her family and childhood sweetheart heart behind in Vancouver to chase her dreams in New York. Her story is told over alternating time lines from the then and now and then everything after. She has BIG dreams and feels a great need to prove herself to everyone back home. As she moves through life she experiences two great loves- Rory and Ben. The author wrote both of these relationships so well for where she was in life and her age during each one. I feel like overall this was more about Ellie discovering herself and learning who she really is apart from her childhood dreams and wishes. We see her during very messy times in her life and we see her in very fun and exciting moments, it all feels so nostalgic while reading. Give this a go if you’re an Emily Henry fan. Overall a 5⭐️ read for me!!!!
5⭐️!!! I really enjoyed this one!
This story follows an aspiring actor who leaves her family and childhood sweetheart heart behind in Vancouver to chase her dreams in New York. Her story is told over alternating time lines from the then and now and then everything after. She has BIG dreams and feels a great need to prove herself to everyone back home. As she moves through life she experiences two great loves- Rory and Ben. The author wrote both of these relationships so well for where she was in life and her age during each one. I feel like overall this was more about Ellie discovering herself and learning who she really is apart from her childhood dreams and wishes. We see her during very messy times in her life and we see her in very fun and exciting moments, it all feels so nostalgic while reading. Give this a go if you’re an Emily Henry fan. Overall a 5⭐️ read for me!!!!
April 10, 2026
I was so lucky to get an advanced copy of this gem of a book, I've already read it twice!
This book effortlessly weaves humour, vulnerability, spice, and heart.
The visceral feeling of first love to last love is so alive in Ellie's story. As a reader, I want to stand by her side as she navigates who she is in the world and who she loves without compromising her dreams. I was gutted when I finished reading, it left me wanting to stay in her world a little longer.
The book has a similar vibe to Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez, yet still feels uniquely its own. I can't wait to read this again and whatever comes next.
This book effortlessly weaves humour, vulnerability, spice, and heart.
The visceral feeling of first love to last love is so alive in Ellie's story. As a reader, I want to stand by her side as she navigates who she is in the world and who she loves without compromising her dreams. I was gutted when I finished reading, it left me wanting to stay in her world a little longer.
The book has a similar vibe to Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez, yet still feels uniquely its own. I can't wait to read this again and whatever comes next.
March 28, 2026
Rating of ARC received by publisher
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This novel was fantastic! It was such a great story that I truly didn’t know what I wanted to happen because I loved all the characters! This book made me laugh out loud with all of the banter between the friends, I wish I had friends like these.
There are some heavy topics so I feel like this should have some sort of trigger warnings. The FMC suffers attempted grooming as a teenager and workplace s&xual abuse from her bosses as she is trying to make her way in the entertainment industry. This is all happening on the page in real time, not flashbacks.
Thanks so much to Harper Perennial for the advanced copy!
There are some heavy topics so I feel like this should have some sort of trigger warnings. The FMC suffers attempted grooming as a teenager and workplace s&xual abuse from her bosses as she is trying to make her way in the entertainment industry. This is all happening on the page in real time, not flashbacks.
Thanks so much to Harper Perennial for the advanced copy!
August 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
There is a point where "right person, wrong time" stops being romantic and starts making me wonder how these people have managed to avoid one honest conversation for more than a decade. This Changes Everything crossed that line pretty early for me.
The story really wants you to believe in this huge, enduring connection between Ellie and Rory, but I never felt it. We're told how significant their history is and how much they've meant to each other over the years, yet their actual chemistry never convinced me. Instead of getting swept up in the yearning, I spent most of the book frustrated by the choices being made.
I also struggled with Ellie in general. Between her romantic life, career, and friendships, there are plenty of opportunities to make her feel like a complicated, fully developed character. Instead, she often came across much younger than she was supposed to be.
The dialogue was probably my biggest issue. Conversations felt stiff and overly scripted, while attempts at humor regularly gave me secondhand embarrassment. It made it even harder to connect with relationships that already weren't working for me.
I was also uncomfortable with the way workplace harassment and sexual assault were incorporated into Ellie's career storyline. These are serious topics, but their inclusion here felt more like another source of conflict than something the story was prepared to meaningfully explore.
Even with multiple timelines and locations, I never felt particularly attached to these characters or their history together. There's a lot happening, but very little of it hit emotionally.
Unfortunately, this was a complete miss for me.
August 2, 2026
This book completely took my breath away. Exceeded all expectations. Instantly became a forever favorite. The amount of highlights I have is insane, and maybe my highest ever?
THE YEARNING.
The right person / wrong time always gets me but like, this one destroyed me.
I am not exaggerating when I say I will think about this book all the time. November Rain by Guns N Roses will forever remind me of Ellie and Rory 🥹🥹
⛳️ “There are billions of people in the world, but I think you only get three big loves. The first love, the one that got away, and the true love. Ellie, you’re all three.”
✍🏼 “I think we became who we were always meant to be because we were apart. And the people we eventually turned into . . . turns out they were always meant to be together.”
THE YEARNING.
The right person / wrong time always gets me but like, this one destroyed me.
I am not exaggerating when I say I will think about this book all the time. November Rain by Guns N Roses will forever remind me of Ellie and Rory 🥹🥹
⛳️ “There are billions of people in the world, but I think you only get three big loves. The first love, the one that got away, and the true love. Ellie, you’re all three.”
✍🏼 “I think we became who we were always meant to be because we were apart. And the people we eventually turned into . . . turns out they were always meant to be together.”
September 13, 2026
This Changes Everything🍂✨review✨ thank you so much @harperperennial for the free copy!
This Changes Everything
by Danielle McKechnie
out now!
An aspiring actor caught in the Hollywood rollercoaster is torn between following her dreams and choosing between two of her own leading men—her childhood sweetheart and the one who got away, or the fellow actor who understands just what she’s fighting for.
✨ My thoughts:
“There are billions of people in the world, but I think you only get three big loves. The first love, the one that got away, and the true love. Ellie, you're all three."
I loved this one so much. Like… so, so much. I ended up binging it, and It was perfect. I know there will be readers that get frustrated with the choices made and all the things left unsaid, but for me, that’s exactly what made this story feel so real. It captured the complexities of love, growing up, figuring yourself out, and realizing that sometimes the path you thought you wanted isn’t necessarily the one that feels like home. I’ve experienced some of these same feelings myself, which made Ellie’s journey hit close to home. I also loved the timelines in this story. The way everything unfolded little by little gave the story a satisfying rhythm and made watching all the pieces come together that much more meaningful. BOTH of the romances were tender and emotional and I had a hard time choosing a favorite because both relationships brought something different to Ellie’s story. By the time I reached the end, I knew I would be happy no matter how everything ended. This was a beautiful story about love, timing, growing into yourself, and finding your way back to what truly matters. I finished this with a full heart!
What to expect 👇🏽
🍂 Right person, wrong time
🫶 Friends-to-lovers
⏳ Then-and-now timelines
💭 Growing up & finding yourself
❤️🩹 Love, loss & complicated feelings
🏡 Finding your way back home
📖 Bingeable
Happy reading 📖✨🍂🧡
This Changes Everything
by Danielle McKechnie
out now!
An aspiring actor caught in the Hollywood rollercoaster is torn between following her dreams and choosing between two of her own leading men—her childhood sweetheart and the one who got away, or the fellow actor who understands just what she’s fighting for.
✨ My thoughts:
“There are billions of people in the world, but I think you only get three big loves. The first love, the one that got away, and the true love. Ellie, you're all three."
I loved this one so much. Like… so, so much. I ended up binging it, and It was perfect. I know there will be readers that get frustrated with the choices made and all the things left unsaid, but for me, that’s exactly what made this story feel so real. It captured the complexities of love, growing up, figuring yourself out, and realizing that sometimes the path you thought you wanted isn’t necessarily the one that feels like home. I’ve experienced some of these same feelings myself, which made Ellie’s journey hit close to home. I also loved the timelines in this story. The way everything unfolded little by little gave the story a satisfying rhythm and made watching all the pieces come together that much more meaningful. BOTH of the romances were tender and emotional and I had a hard time choosing a favorite because both relationships brought something different to Ellie’s story. By the time I reached the end, I knew I would be happy no matter how everything ended. This was a beautiful story about love, timing, growing into yourself, and finding your way back to what truly matters. I finished this with a full heart!
What to expect 👇🏽
🍂 Right person, wrong time
🫶 Friends-to-lovers
⏳ Then-and-now timelines
💭 Growing up & finding yourself
❤️🩹 Love, loss & complicated feelings
🏡 Finding your way back home
📖 Bingeable
Happy reading 📖✨🍂🧡
May 27, 2026
Lmao absolutely not. This was so childish and the dialogue was EXTREMELY stilted and I just cringed the entire time. I didn’t even care about Ellie and Rory’s supposed childhood romance cause I didn’t feel a damn thing. And then it was fine that she and the other dude had been together for TEN YEARS and just said fuck it let’s be friends? I’m crying with laughter at how utterly stupid this was.
September 4, 2026
Wow. Yes. 6 stars. Made my laugh. Made me cry. Also yay for Canadian authors and Canadian content. I loved the little glimpses of Vancouver - the love (of my life) that got away. This book was special. Healthy & supportive relationships that still face many challenges. Friends and Family who are cheerleaders. Big and sometimes shifting dreams and bumpy roads to success.
One of a very few stories to get the concept of multiple soul mates/ loves of your life/ love triangles right for me. Also- I love a dual timeline and flash backs but I'm not always as big of a fan of "coming of age" stories but this was in the realm of that, and it really delivered.
Also, loved it because it surprised me. I enjoyed the book the whole way through, but I thought I wasn't going to fully understand / be happy with who she ultimately ended up with.
I just hadn't really initially bought into it. I believed the characters felt a connection to each other, I understood there WAS a connection, I just personally felt like the strength of the bond felt nebulous or kind of artificial to me.
The same way you don't understand why your friend is so hung up on that ONE guy. You know there was a connection, and it was a decent relationship and a decent guy- but you see potential for her everywhere so what's the big deal about HIM?
But as the characters grew and evolved and matured you really got to see how people are right for you at some phases of your life and not at others, and that sometimes as cliche and cheesy as it is loving people is letting them go. I love that I finished that book and loved Ellie with both Ben and Rory. That I love all three characters and their dynamics woven over decades.
Ellie was so funny. So real. And goofy. Her friendship and romance with Ben was so fun and encouraging.
It was really interesting seeing Ellie grow into herself but also seeing her encounter the same patterns females face just in different fonts at different phases of life.
Ellie is clearly a beautiful young girl who was confident and self assured in some aspects of her life but also so nervous and awkward and insecure in others. Always feeling like she was teetering on the cusp of success and love. It felt like such a real representation of what so many young girls and women feel, the yo-yo of being told to be unique and yourself and bold, but then also stifled by societal pressures, having to stand out but also fit in, and having any morsel of talent or good looks often rewarded by sexual harassment or manipulation.
The supporting cast of characters were so intriguing. They added drama and nuance without taking away from the main storyline. It also was written in a way I am not sure if there's an intention to have spin offs or for this to be a series - but there is absolutely potential.
Reading Danielle McKechnie's bio it sounds like some of her lived experience is reflected in this book - from the settings to the industry experiences. I really look forward to reading whatever she writes next - this was an absolute joy and I gobbled it up over 48 hours in all forms.
I am very grateful to have been granted advanced reading and listening copies through NetGalley from HarperCollins Canada. When I couldn't read on my kindle or phone, I was listening to the audio driving to work or doing chores. 11/10 recommend in all formats.
One of a very few stories to get the concept of multiple soul mates/ loves of your life/ love triangles right for me. Also- I love a dual timeline and flash backs but I'm not always as big of a fan of "coming of age" stories but this was in the realm of that, and it really delivered.
Also, loved it because it surprised me. I enjoyed the book the whole way through, but I thought I wasn't going to fully understand / be happy with who she ultimately ended up with.
I just hadn't really initially bought into it. I believed the characters felt a connection to each other, I understood there WAS a connection, I just personally felt like the strength of the bond felt nebulous or kind of artificial to me.
The same way you don't understand why your friend is so hung up on that ONE guy. You know there was a connection, and it was a decent relationship and a decent guy- but you see potential for her everywhere so what's the big deal about HIM?
But as the characters grew and evolved and matured you really got to see how people are right for you at some phases of your life and not at others, and that sometimes as cliche and cheesy as it is loving people is letting them go. I love that I finished that book and loved Ellie with both Ben and Rory. That I love all three characters and their dynamics woven over decades.
Ellie was so funny. So real. And goofy. Her friendship and romance with Ben was so fun and encouraging.
It was really interesting seeing Ellie grow into herself but also seeing her encounter the same patterns females face just in different fonts at different phases of life.
Ellie is clearly a beautiful young girl who was confident and self assured in some aspects of her life but also so nervous and awkward and insecure in others. Always feeling like she was teetering on the cusp of success and love. It felt like such a real representation of what so many young girls and women feel, the yo-yo of being told to be unique and yourself and bold, but then also stifled by societal pressures, having to stand out but also fit in, and having any morsel of talent or good looks often rewarded by sexual harassment or manipulation.
The supporting cast of characters were so intriguing. They added drama and nuance without taking away from the main storyline. It also was written in a way I am not sure if there's an intention to have spin offs or for this to be a series - but there is absolutely potential.
Reading Danielle McKechnie's bio it sounds like some of her lived experience is reflected in this book - from the settings to the industry experiences. I really look forward to reading whatever she writes next - this was an absolute joy and I gobbled it up over 48 hours in all forms.
I am very grateful to have been granted advanced reading and listening copies through NetGalley from HarperCollins Canada. When I couldn't read on my kindle or phone, I was listening to the audio driving to work or doing chores. 11/10 recommend in all formats.
Did Not Finish
August 25, 2026i read most of it too 💀 but since i had to start skimming it doesn't count (tragic).
this just isn't for me. i love second chance but i don't need it packaged in stilted dialogue, lack of chemistry, and storylines that just didn't get the necessary time to breathe. ellie and rory didn't convince me that they really needed to be together... or atleast not now. also rory is annoying as hell. so many of the issues in the book stem from him being a mess and a clown. what ellie needed first before any lover was a therapist.
this just isn't for me. i love second chance but i don't need it packaged in stilted dialogue, lack of chemistry, and storylines that just didn't get the necessary time to breathe. ellie and rory didn't convince me that they really needed to be together... or atleast not now. also rory is annoying as hell. so many of the issues in the book stem from him being a mess and a clown. what ellie needed first before any lover was a therapist.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. This second-chance romance/love triangle, spanning almost two decades, seemed like a really interesting premise, but the execution just didn’t work for me.
I thought the story was interesting in the way it delved into the main character growing up and explored how these relationships shaped her over the years. It also did a good job exploring the messy and disappointing realities of life as we grow up and how those experiences can shape who we become.
However, there were a few things that made this less captivating for me. The characters felt quite juvenile, even though the story begins when they are teenagers and follows them well into adulthood. I also found some of the dialogue to be a little disjointed and, at times, unnatural.
The different timelines were probably my biggest issue. Most of the first half of the book focuses on Ellie’s teenage and young adult years, with the story frequently switching back and forth between different points in time. We don’t really get to the present timeline until close to the halfway mark. I understand that the author was trying to give us the characters’ histories so that the present-day storyline would have more impact, but a lot of these scenes didn’t feel like they added much to the overall plot. As a result, the first half dragged for me, and I found myself less invested by the time we finally reached the present timeline. I think cutting some of these scenes or introducing more of the present-day storyline earlier would have helped keep me engaged.
Narrator Abigail Reno did a good job bringing the characters to life, and I think I ultimately ended up listening to more of this than reading because of her narration!
I think readers who love love triangles and second-chance romances with messy, complex characters, a more YA-leaning feel, and dual timelines will enjoy this one more than I did.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Canada Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.
I thought the story was interesting in the way it delved into the main character growing up and explored how these relationships shaped her over the years. It also did a good job exploring the messy and disappointing realities of life as we grow up and how those experiences can shape who we become.
However, there were a few things that made this less captivating for me. The characters felt quite juvenile, even though the story begins when they are teenagers and follows them well into adulthood. I also found some of the dialogue to be a little disjointed and, at times, unnatural.
The different timelines were probably my biggest issue. Most of the first half of the book focuses on Ellie’s teenage and young adult years, with the story frequently switching back and forth between different points in time. We don’t really get to the present timeline until close to the halfway mark. I understand that the author was trying to give us the characters’ histories so that the present-day storyline would have more impact, but a lot of these scenes didn’t feel like they added much to the overall plot. As a result, the first half dragged for me, and I found myself less invested by the time we finally reached the present timeline. I think cutting some of these scenes or introducing more of the present-day storyline earlier would have helped keep me engaged.
Narrator Abigail Reno did a good job bringing the characters to life, and I think I ultimately ended up listening to more of this than reading because of her narration!
I think readers who love love triangles and second-chance romances with messy, complex characters, a more YA-leaning feel, and dual timelines will enjoy this one more than I did.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Canada Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2026
3.75
I went in a little suspicious because this storyline has definitely been done before. It gave me One True Loves, The Notebook, and Sweet Home Alabama vibes. First love, the one who got away, the person you build an adult life with, and that lingering question of whether your first great love is also your true love. Familiar territory, but I still really enjoyed it.
I do wish we had spent more time with the characters when they were older. There’s also a serious experience Ellie goes through that I wanted the book to explore with more depth, especially how it affected her afterward. Still, this was a quick and enjoyable read. The audiobook narration was incredibly engaging and definitely pulled me into the story.
I went in a little suspicious because this storyline has definitely been done before. It gave me One True Loves, The Notebook, and Sweet Home Alabama vibes. First love, the one who got away, the person you build an adult life with, and that lingering question of whether your first great love is also your true love. Familiar territory, but I still really enjoyed it.
I do wish we had spent more time with the characters when they were older. There’s also a serious experience Ellie goes through that I wanted the book to explore with more depth, especially how it affected her afterward. Still, this was a quick and enjoyable read. The audiobook narration was incredibly engaging and definitely pulled me into the story.
September 9, 2026
Wow! Wow! What a stunner! The perfectly curated nostalgia of a first love, the beauty of deep friendship, a coming of age dreamer in the big city and a Vegas club scene reminiscent of early 2000’s trashy reality television. Does this book capture everything I’ve ever wanted in a novel? Yes, yes I think so! I need about 5 more rereads to even unpack every lovely thing about this book. READ IT NOW. Run.
August 12, 2026
Hooked from the first chapter, Rory and Ellie had me INVESTED. The up and down of Ellie’s life and relationships, rooted in supportive strong female friendships: it was believable and relatable. This Changes Everything is a cozy, funny, spicy read that will leave you smiling with warm fuzzies.
September 10, 2026
I laughed. I cried. My heart is so full. All the freaking stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Harper Perennial & William Morrow for the gifted ARC.
HIGHLY FRUSTRATING.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I wanted to like this but within the first 50 pages I feared I was in for a downfall and since this is an ARC I tend to not DNF so here we are.
The writing style is what got to me most. It was somehow explaining too much and not enough on the same page. The way that banter and drama was created was a bit cringy and over done. The FMC was wildly ridiculous running off and claiming “she’s a bird” multiple times rather than having the hard conversation. And I understand the negative side to working in this atmosphere but the drama created from that wasn’t woven in well either. It felt out of pocket and only written in to force the plot forward because literally nothing else was.
I liked both of the love interests fine enough. I think my overall disconnect means I wasn’t upset either way in this *loose* love triangle situation. I did hate that time jumps and flashback chapters. Some of the flashbacks helped but others were information that wasn’t needed.
I know I’m forgetting other things that I didn’t like, but you get the picture.
I’m not sure I’d read another book from this author. I’d wait to see what reviews from others looked like first. I might be an unpopular opinion on this one so I’m curious what others will think.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: moderate
- Romance: 2ish open; moderate innuendo
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: sexual assault (on page)
HIGHLY FRUSTRATING.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I wanted to like this but within the first 50 pages I feared I was in for a downfall and since this is an ARC I tend to not DNF so here we are.
The writing style is what got to me most. It was somehow explaining too much and not enough on the same page. The way that banter and drama was created was a bit cringy and over done. The FMC was wildly ridiculous running off and claiming “she’s a bird” multiple times rather than having the hard conversation. And I understand the negative side to working in this atmosphere but the drama created from that wasn’t woven in well either. It felt out of pocket and only written in to force the plot forward because literally nothing else was.
I liked both of the love interests fine enough. I think my overall disconnect means I wasn’t upset either way in this *loose* love triangle situation. I did hate that time jumps and flashback chapters. Some of the flashbacks helped but others were information that wasn’t needed.
I know I’m forgetting other things that I didn’t like, but you get the picture.
I’m not sure I’d read another book from this author. I’d wait to see what reviews from others looked like first. I might be an unpopular opinion on this one so I’m curious what others will think.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: moderate
- Romance: 2ish open; moderate innuendo
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: sexual assault (on page)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5⭐️ 1🌶️
That you Netgalley, Harper Perenniel, and Danielle McKenchie for this Arc!
Ellie Macaine is our FMC. She is an aspiring actress who dreams of a larger life outside of Vancouver. We see her grow up from 14 to 29 and how her life and dreams change as she moves from Vancouver to New York and then to LA. Interwoven into her story are the two men she falls in love with. Rory at 14 and Ben at 21. Each one teaches her a lesson and helps her discover the life she was meant to find.
I wanted to love this book so much. The premise (second chance childhood romance) hooked me and the fact it was by a Canadian author was something I was so happy to read about. I just didn’t like it unfortunately.
It is still an enjoyable read. The time jumps per chapter were enticing and well written. They flowed well and created a pull to keep reading.
I loved the side characters, Ellie’s friends both from Vancouver and from New York were so fun and brought a sweet found family aspect to the narrative. I loved Ben. Honestly I think Ben is such a wonderful character and I’m happy Ellie found him. Rory was a perfect first love. He enraptures the messy and overwhelming emotions that a first love brings.
As much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t get hooked into it. I don’t really understand why Ellie just had to go to New York, mostly because being a Vancouverite we are basically Canada’s Hollywood so it just didn’t feel that real to me especially for Ellie who wasn’t in New York until she went to university. I also didn’t like the timeline of her falling for Rory and Ben. I feel like there should’ve been more time between the two relationships. I also didn’t like some of the writing. It just felt to cringey for me at times with some of the jokes and some of the Canadian cliches.
I will say this book was not for me but it also may have been because I was triggered by Rory (if you had a situationship ever he will trigger you) so do with that what you will. If you love messy love, a little bit of a YA Conrad and belly vibe, or even Carley fortune Every Summer After, then you may like this book!
I hope others find comfort in this book, I know that if I read it when I was younger (18-21) I would’ve loved this so much. So hopefully this finds its right people!
**this may be spoilers so please be warned before continuing***
ALSO to have her lowkey be like Ben was good and real but then say during their relationships she still wanted Rory like wow okay so he was a rebound?? And then to have Ben who she lived with, grew with, lived her dream with and then for her to break up with him for valid reasons then still have all those intense feelings with Rory?! Like it has been 7 years since they talked or anything so how is it real that they just reconnected as proper adults? like you had a whole life, a whole adult life but clung so hard on to your 16 year old love who you never even officially dated btw, and magically now you guys are still crazy for one another. Idk maybe I’m a pessimist but it didn’t seem realistic for me. Especially with the whole her wanting to be chosen and then learning what it’s like to be chosen to go back to the guy who couldn’t ever choose her fully.
That you Netgalley, Harper Perenniel, and Danielle McKenchie for this Arc!
Ellie Macaine is our FMC. She is an aspiring actress who dreams of a larger life outside of Vancouver. We see her grow up from 14 to 29 and how her life and dreams change as she moves from Vancouver to New York and then to LA. Interwoven into her story are the two men she falls in love with. Rory at 14 and Ben at 21. Each one teaches her a lesson and helps her discover the life she was meant to find.
I wanted to love this book so much. The premise (second chance childhood romance) hooked me and the fact it was by a Canadian author was something I was so happy to read about. I just didn’t like it unfortunately.
It is still an enjoyable read. The time jumps per chapter were enticing and well written. They flowed well and created a pull to keep reading.
I loved the side characters, Ellie’s friends both from Vancouver and from New York were so fun and brought a sweet found family aspect to the narrative. I loved Ben. Honestly I think Ben is such a wonderful character and I’m happy Ellie found him. Rory was a perfect first love. He enraptures the messy and overwhelming emotions that a first love brings.
As much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t get hooked into it. I don’t really understand why Ellie just had to go to New York, mostly because being a Vancouverite we are basically Canada’s Hollywood so it just didn’t feel that real to me especially for Ellie who wasn’t in New York until she went to university. I also didn’t like the timeline of her falling for Rory and Ben. I feel like there should’ve been more time between the two relationships. I also didn’t like some of the writing. It just felt to cringey for me at times with some of the jokes and some of the Canadian cliches.
I will say this book was not for me but it also may have been because I was triggered by Rory (if you had a situationship ever he will trigger you) so do with that what you will. If you love messy love, a little bit of a YA Conrad and belly vibe, or even Carley fortune Every Summer After, then you may like this book!
I hope others find comfort in this book, I know that if I read it when I was younger (18-21) I would’ve loved this so much. So hopefully this finds its right people!
**this may be spoilers so please be warned before continuing***
ALSO to have her lowkey be like Ben was good and real but then say during their relationships she still wanted Rory like wow okay so he was a rebound?? And then to have Ben who she lived with, grew with, lived her dream with and then for her to break up with him for valid reasons then still have all those intense feelings with Rory?! Like it has been 7 years since they talked or anything so how is it real that they just reconnected as proper adults? like you had a whole life, a whole adult life but clung so hard on to your 16 year old love who you never even officially dated btw, and magically now you guys are still crazy for one another. Idk maybe I’m a pessimist but it didn’t seem realistic for me. Especially with the whole her wanting to be chosen and then learning what it’s like to be chosen to go back to the guy who couldn’t ever choose her fully.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I devoured this book - it was a page turner and I just wanted to know what happened next! I read this in two sittings (only stopped for sleep).
This Changes Everything follows Ellie as she grows up from being a girl with big dreams to her journey to achieve them and finding her place. Her story is definitely messy, chaotic, and hard as we see her discover and experience the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry and question herself and her path.
As she goes through life, Ellie experiences two great loves: Ben and Rory. Rory and Ellie are childhood sweethearts and each other's soulmate. The story goes through time jumps from when they were teens and young adults to when they are 29/30: the "before" and "after" a pivotal moment in their relationship. Their "before" relationship was definitely so messy and filled with frustrating misunderstandings and miscommunications, but their relationship was also hard to look away from (like witnessing a disaster). They each undergo a lot of character development and by the time the story time-jumped to their "after," they are both so much more mature, confident, and intentional with each other.
Ben was there for Ellie when she first moves to NY as a bright-eyed novice, and he was definitely what she needed at that time as she transitioned from a kid to an adult. He was Ellie's first real mature relationship and he really grounded her and supported her. I thought the love triangle was done so beautifully: there was definitely some jealousy but there was also understanding and a great amount of love even after the triangle ended. There were no bad guys, and I thought that each guy gave Ellie what she needed at that time in her life. Sure, it's heartbreaking to let go of the one that you love, but sometimes it's not a bad thing, and maybe that's just what you need right now to grow.
I loved this book and 100% recommend. It was funny at times, but it didn't shy away from the emotional and the hard parts of life. Ellie is such a good character: she gets knocked down a lot and she gets discouraged, but she has a lot of grit and is able to scrap her way back. She's unapologetic about her goals in life despite the naysayers and the obstacles that are placed in her way. She follows her heart in everything she does, even if it's painful, and it was a joy to watch her finally find her role in life and her right person at the right time.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for the ARC!
This Changes Everything follows Ellie as she grows up from being a girl with big dreams to her journey to achieve them and finding her place. Her story is definitely messy, chaotic, and hard as we see her discover and experience the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry and question herself and her path.
As she goes through life, Ellie experiences two great loves: Ben and Rory. Rory and Ellie are childhood sweethearts and each other's soulmate. The story goes through time jumps from when they were teens and young adults to when they are 29/30: the "before" and "after" a pivotal moment in their relationship. Their "before" relationship was definitely so messy and filled with frustrating misunderstandings and miscommunications, but their relationship was also hard to look away from (like witnessing a disaster). They each undergo a lot of character development and by the time the story time-jumped to their "after," they are both so much more mature, confident, and intentional with each other.
Ben was there for Ellie when she first moves to NY as a bright-eyed novice, and he was definitely what she needed at that time as she transitioned from a kid to an adult. He was Ellie's first real mature relationship and he really grounded her and supported her. I thought the love triangle was done so beautifully: there was definitely some jealousy but there was also understanding and a great amount of love even after the triangle ended. There were no bad guys, and I thought that each guy gave Ellie what she needed at that time in her life. Sure, it's heartbreaking to let go of the one that you love, but sometimes it's not a bad thing, and maybe that's just what you need right now to grow.
I loved this book and 100% recommend. It was funny at times, but it didn't shy away from the emotional and the hard parts of life. Ellie is such a good character: she gets knocked down a lot and she gets discouraged, but she has a lot of grit and is able to scrap her way back. She's unapologetic about her goals in life despite the naysayers and the obstacles that are placed in her way. She follows her heart in everything she does, even if it's painful, and it was a joy to watch her finally find her role in life and her right person at the right time.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars.
"This Changes Everything" by Danielle McKechnie is a second-chance romance about a woman named Ellie (FMC) who, at the age of 14, decided that she wanted to leave her hometown in Vancouver, Canada, to lead a bigger life and become an actor in the States. She and her best friend, Rory (MMC), have had a "will they, won't they?" relationship for years that came to a head the night before she left for the States. Things happened, things were said, and she left Canada broken and alone. Ellie enters into a two-year intensive actor's course in New York City. There, she meets Ben (MMC), who becomes Ellie's roommate and fast friend. As the months pass, Ellie loves living the "actor life" in New York. She feels like she's finally where she belongs in the world. She and Ben eventually enter into a relationship as they book gigs (however small) and learn the acting craft. As Ben's star rises, Ellie's seems to fall as she's only able to book smaller background parts. She starts to wonder if she made the wrong choice by leaving Canada... and so much more. Let's get this out of the way first. My main complaint about this book is the pacing. It feels unnecessarily long, with many of the plot lines elongated for the sake of upping the page count. I think a little more editing was needed because some of it felt repetitive. Other than that, I enjoyed this one. The strongest aspect of this story is the yearning between both Ellie and Rory and Ellie and Ben at different times in her life. I loved getting glimpses of Ben and Ellie as they gallivanted around New York trying to make it as actors, as well as seeing how Ellie and Rory grew up with one another, playing golf, being friends, slowly falling for each other when they were kids. The angst between Ellie and Rory early on is quite good, even when it was frustrating to watch unfold. I can kind of forgive a little bit of their initial immaturity because these characters were pretty young and making these big, grandiose decisions with "forever" implications. I will say that Rory did make me mad a few times throughout this story with his absolute immaturity. This book is definitely geared more towards the TikTok crowd (aka the youths) and not a 40-year-old-oldie like me, but I did find some stuff to like in this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Danielle McKechnie, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"This Changes Everything" by Danielle McKechnie is a second-chance romance about a woman named Ellie (FMC) who, at the age of 14, decided that she wanted to leave her hometown in Vancouver, Canada, to lead a bigger life and become an actor in the States. She and her best friend, Rory (MMC), have had a "will they, won't they?" relationship for years that came to a head the night before she left for the States. Things happened, things were said, and she left Canada broken and alone. Ellie enters into a two-year intensive actor's course in New York City. There, she meets Ben (MMC), who becomes Ellie's roommate and fast friend. As the months pass, Ellie loves living the "actor life" in New York. She feels like she's finally where she belongs in the world. She and Ben eventually enter into a relationship as they book gigs (however small) and learn the acting craft. As Ben's star rises, Ellie's seems to fall as she's only able to book smaller background parts. She starts to wonder if she made the wrong choice by leaving Canada... and so much more. Let's get this out of the way first. My main complaint about this book is the pacing. It feels unnecessarily long, with many of the plot lines elongated for the sake of upping the page count. I think a little more editing was needed because some of it felt repetitive. Other than that, I enjoyed this one. The strongest aspect of this story is the yearning between both Ellie and Rory and Ellie and Ben at different times in her life. I loved getting glimpses of Ben and Ellie as they gallivanted around New York trying to make it as actors, as well as seeing how Ellie and Rory grew up with one another, playing golf, being friends, slowly falling for each other when they were kids. The angst between Ellie and Rory early on is quite good, even when it was frustrating to watch unfold. I can kind of forgive a little bit of their initial immaturity because these characters were pretty young and making these big, grandiose decisions with "forever" implications. I will say that Rory did make me mad a few times throughout this story with his absolute immaturity. This book is definitely geared more towards the TikTok crowd (aka the youths) and not a 40-year-old-oldie like me, but I did find some stuff to like in this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Danielle McKechnie, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for the eARC!
I really wanted to love this one...
The premise was so good, and I think it could've been a great read! There were just some things I couldn't look past, unfortunately. :(
Review: ★ ★
This story follows Ellie, whose dreams are much bigger than her hometown of Vancouver. Just across the border, in NYC and LA, is where she believes her dreams of becoming a successful actress lie. We get to follow her from ages 12 to 29 and witness all the self-growth that comes with that.
I loved how real the author was about heavy topics (definitely check the TWs!) and how Ellie's experiences as a woman in the acting industry are, unfortunately, not novel. I also loved seeing Ellie grow as a person and realize that dreams can change and that doesn't make them any less valuable.
Even though this is a love triangle (which I usually hate), I found it pretty clear who she was going to end up with (and I was very happy with that outcome). I actually think the trope was necessary and pertinent to Ellie's story because it showed another facet of how she was trying to shed her old identity, who she was in Vancouver versus who she was trying to become in NYC and LA. I'll also always love Canadian representation! We need more stories about the girlies up north. <𝟑 .ᐟ
Like I said, I think this story had so much potential, but the one thing I couldn't get past was the writing style. It could very well just be a matter of personal taste, but I found both the dialogue and the prose to feel disjointed. Many of the lines read almost like point form. It's not that they were incomplete or underdeveloped; it was more that there weren't smooth transitions between ideas or dialogue. Some of the things the characters said also felt really out of left field and almost juvenile. I get that people sometimes say out-of-pocket things, but I had a hard time believing that fully grown 29-year-olds would be saying half of what the main cast did. Because of this, it was unfortunately difficult for me to really get immersed in the story.
Overall, this book has good bones, and I can definitely see others loving it! It just unfortunately wasn't the one for me. :)
Thank you again to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for the eARC!
I really wanted to love this one...
The premise was so good, and I think it could've been a great read! There were just some things I couldn't look past, unfortunately. :(
Review: ★ ★
This story follows Ellie, whose dreams are much bigger than her hometown of Vancouver. Just across the border, in NYC and LA, is where she believes her dreams of becoming a successful actress lie. We get to follow her from ages 12 to 29 and witness all the self-growth that comes with that.
I loved how real the author was about heavy topics (definitely check the TWs!) and how Ellie's experiences as a woman in the acting industry are, unfortunately, not novel. I also loved seeing Ellie grow as a person and realize that dreams can change and that doesn't make them any less valuable.
Even though this is a love triangle (which I usually hate), I found it pretty clear who she was going to end up with (and I was very happy with that outcome). I actually think the trope was necessary and pertinent to Ellie's story because it showed another facet of how she was trying to shed her old identity, who she was in Vancouver versus who she was trying to become in NYC and LA. I'll also always love Canadian representation! We need more stories about the girlies up north. <𝟑 .ᐟ
Like I said, I think this story had so much potential, but the one thing I couldn't get past was the writing style. It could very well just be a matter of personal taste, but I found both the dialogue and the prose to feel disjointed. Many of the lines read almost like point form. It's not that they were incomplete or underdeveloped; it was more that there weren't smooth transitions between ideas or dialogue. Some of the things the characters said also felt really out of left field and almost juvenile. I get that people sometimes say out-of-pocket things, but I had a hard time believing that fully grown 29-year-olds would be saying half of what the main cast did. Because of this, it was unfortunately difficult for me to really get immersed in the story.
Overall, this book has good bones, and I can definitely see others loving it! It just unfortunately wasn't the one for me. :)
Thank you again to HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for the eARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the eARC!
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but unfortunately, I feel the potential of this story was not fully explored, and ultimately, the execution fell flat for me.
The writing style was very dense and heavily relied on exposition rather than being descriptive or demonstrative. The dialogue suffered a similar fate and felt unnatural. This lead to me feeling disconnected and disengaged from the characters I was reading about.
The past/ present timeline was also something that did not work particularly well for me. Many of the time jumps felt inconsistent and random, especially in the first half of the book. Many of the past timelines, especially when Ellie was 12-15 years old, were unnecessary and added nothing to the plot, relationships, or character development. I believe the book would have been much better without these younger past timelines included.
This story follows Ellie and her relationships from her teen years, all the way to her 30s. Ellie feels stuck in a love triangle, and these two relationships are explored the most. We follow the story of the one that got away and the one that was always there. Ellie and Rory’s relationship felt awkward at times. I found it difficult to see how they had such a deep connection, as much of the relationship stemmed from a crush and one night spent together as teenagers.
I enjoyed reading about Ellie’s years in NYC with Ben much more. Their relationship felt more organic. Ellie had a good character arc, especially towards the end as she begins to stand up for herself despite the horrors and troubles Hollywood has shown her. I was happy to see her finally come to terms with what was best for her and her career. I also really enjoyed the strong female friendships and the support systems Ellie had between her friends, Rory, and Ben.
The ending felt a little rushed and should have come earlier in the book to fully explore certain aspects of Ellie's journey and character arc.
Overall, while I liked the premise of the book and Ellie's character arc, ultimately there are a few things I cannot look past, such as the writing and dialogue, that prevented me from fully enjoying this book.
Thank you again to NetGalley and HarperCollins.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for the eARC!
I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but unfortunately, I feel the potential of this story was not fully explored, and ultimately, the execution fell flat for me.
The writing style was very dense and heavily relied on exposition rather than being descriptive or demonstrative. The dialogue suffered a similar fate and felt unnatural. This lead to me feeling disconnected and disengaged from the characters I was reading about.
The past/ present timeline was also something that did not work particularly well for me. Many of the time jumps felt inconsistent and random, especially in the first half of the book. Many of the past timelines, especially when Ellie was 12-15 years old, were unnecessary and added nothing to the plot, relationships, or character development. I believe the book would have been much better without these younger past timelines included.
This story follows Ellie and her relationships from her teen years, all the way to her 30s. Ellie feels stuck in a love triangle, and these two relationships are explored the most. We follow the story of the one that got away and the one that was always there. Ellie and Rory’s relationship felt awkward at times. I found it difficult to see how they had such a deep connection, as much of the relationship stemmed from a crush and one night spent together as teenagers.
I enjoyed reading about Ellie’s years in NYC with Ben much more. Their relationship felt more organic. Ellie had a good character arc, especially towards the end as she begins to stand up for herself despite the horrors and troubles Hollywood has shown her. I was happy to see her finally come to terms with what was best for her and her career. I also really enjoyed the strong female friendships and the support systems Ellie had between her friends, Rory, and Ben.
The ending felt a little rushed and should have come earlier in the book to fully explore certain aspects of Ellie's journey and character arc.
Overall, while I liked the premise of the book and Ellie's character arc, ultimately there are a few things I cannot look past, such as the writing and dialogue, that prevented me from fully enjoying this book.
Thank you again to NetGalley and HarperCollins.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This Changes Everything releases August 18, 2026
“For so many years we hadn’t known what to do, so for all those years we had done nothing. And that’s what we did now. Nothing.”
This book gave me so much secondhand embarrassment, it’s a miracle I even finished it. Everything felt so exaggerated, veering into caricature territory. Instead of things flowing naturally, the comedic efforts drew attention to the forced prose, making things come across a level or two more juvenile than intended.
The romance infuriated me. Rory and Ellie were in love with each other, yet didn’t have the wherewithal to communicate a single thing in over a decade. They were two deers caught in headlights, stuck at an impasse, expecting a relationship to solidify itself on a silver platter without having to lift a finger. The sheer angst and tension that comes from a right person wrong time/it’s always been you trope is utterly delectable to read, however, the fact that they never tried to take action until the ship had sailed and the doors were literally sealed shut, ultimately became the breaking point for me. It came to a point where I felt like they didn’t have the right to be so dramatically emotional and distraught over something ending before it even began.
And then, when I realized the people in their friend group were just as incompetent at conveying their feelings, I truly lost it.
Being Canadian never felt like something to be proud of in this book, which was a real shame.
The concept of Ellie needing to escape Canada in order to attend an arts school and pursue a career in acting, was laughable and befuddling to me, when Vancouver, aka Hollywood North, has a huge film industry. Am I seriously supposed to believe that her job as an unpaid intern at a film production company in New York couldn’t have been achieved at home in Vancouver? That she had zero opportunities or access to resources?
Through every change of location and time period, the only true constant in this story was the use of workplace harassment and sexual assault as a plot device.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This Changes Everything releases August 18, 2026
“For so many years we hadn’t known what to do, so for all those years we had done nothing. And that’s what we did now. Nothing.”
This book gave me so much secondhand embarrassment, it’s a miracle I even finished it. Everything felt so exaggerated, veering into caricature territory. Instead of things flowing naturally, the comedic efforts drew attention to the forced prose, making things come across a level or two more juvenile than intended.
The romance infuriated me. Rory and Ellie were in love with each other, yet didn’t have the wherewithal to communicate a single thing in over a decade. They were two deers caught in headlights, stuck at an impasse, expecting a relationship to solidify itself on a silver platter without having to lift a finger. The sheer angst and tension that comes from a right person wrong time/it’s always been you trope is utterly delectable to read, however, the fact that they never tried to take action until the ship had sailed and the doors were literally sealed shut, ultimately became the breaking point for me. It came to a point where I felt like they didn’t have the right to be so dramatically emotional and distraught over something ending before it even began.
And then, when I realized the people in their friend group were just as incompetent at conveying their feelings, I truly lost it.
Being Canadian never felt like something to be proud of in this book, which was a real shame.
The concept of Ellie needing to escape Canada in order to attend an arts school and pursue a career in acting, was laughable and befuddling to me, when Vancouver, aka Hollywood North, has a huge film industry. Am I seriously supposed to believe that her job as an unpaid intern at a film production company in New York couldn’t have been achieved at home in Vancouver? That she had zero opportunities or access to resources?
Through every change of location and time period, the only true constant in this story was the use of workplace harassment and sexual assault as a plot device.
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August 21, 2026*Check out our Bookstagram*
I DEVOURED this book. 📚🔥 Like genuinely could not put it down, read-it-in-two-sittings-and-only-stopped-because-I-needed-to-sleep kind of devoured it. I was completely consumed by Ellie’s story and constantly needed to know WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the advanced copy! 💕📚
This Changes Everything follows Ellie from a girl with huge dreams to a woman determined to make them happen. Her journey is messy, chaotic, heartbreaking, and SO compelling as she fights to find her place while discovering the darker side of the entertainment industry.
And then we have the TWO great loves of her life: Rory and Ben. 😭❤️
Rory is Ellie’s childhood sweetheart—the person who feels like her soulmate. Their story spans years, jumping between the “before” and “after” of a pivotal moment in their relationship. And young Ellie and Rory were MESSY. 😂 The misunderstandings! The miscommunication! I wanted to shake them both while also being completely incapable of looking away.
Then there’s Ben. ❤️ He comes into Ellie’s life when she first moves to New York, and he was exactly what she needed at that point in her life. He grounded her, supported her, and gave her a mature kind of love she hadn’t experienced before.
I thought the love triangle was handled SO beautifully. There really isn’t a villain. Both relationships mattered, and both men gave Ellie something she needed during different seasons of her life. 💔✨ Sometimes loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the person you’re meant to choose forever, and I loved how this story explored that.
But more than anything, I loved ELLIE. She gets knocked down again and again, but this woman has GRIT. 👏 She refuses to apologize for wanting more and continues chasing her dreams despite everything standing in her way.
Funny, heartbreaking, messy, romantic, emotional, and ridiculously addictive. I absolutely LOVED this one and immediately wanted everyone else to read it so we could TALK ABOUT IT. 😂📚❤️
I DEVOURED this book. 📚🔥 Like genuinely could not put it down, read-it-in-two-sittings-and-only-stopped-because-I-needed-to-sleep kind of devoured it. I was completely consumed by Ellie’s story and constantly needed to know WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the advanced copy! 💕📚
This Changes Everything follows Ellie from a girl with huge dreams to a woman determined to make them happen. Her journey is messy, chaotic, heartbreaking, and SO compelling as she fights to find her place while discovering the darker side of the entertainment industry.
And then we have the TWO great loves of her life: Rory and Ben. 😭❤️
Rory is Ellie’s childhood sweetheart—the person who feels like her soulmate. Their story spans years, jumping between the “before” and “after” of a pivotal moment in their relationship. And young Ellie and Rory were MESSY. 😂 The misunderstandings! The miscommunication! I wanted to shake them both while also being completely incapable of looking away.
Then there’s Ben. ❤️ He comes into Ellie’s life when she first moves to New York, and he was exactly what she needed at that point in her life. He grounded her, supported her, and gave her a mature kind of love she hadn’t experienced before.
I thought the love triangle was handled SO beautifully. There really isn’t a villain. Both relationships mattered, and both men gave Ellie something she needed during different seasons of her life. 💔✨ Sometimes loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the person you’re meant to choose forever, and I loved how this story explored that.
But more than anything, I loved ELLIE. She gets knocked down again and again, but this woman has GRIT. 👏 She refuses to apologize for wanting more and continues chasing her dreams despite everything standing in her way.
Funny, heartbreaking, messy, romantic, emotional, and ridiculously addictive. I absolutely LOVED this one and immediately wanted everyone else to read it so we could TALK ABOUT IT. 😂📚❤️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Ellie McCain has dreamed of becoming an actor and moving to LA since she was a little girl. When she is 20 years old she gets herself accepted to a reputable preforming arts school in NYC. So she packs up her life and says goodbye to her life in Vancouver determined to chase the dream.
In NYC she quickly meets Ben Winters from Seattle attending the same school. They become roommates and best friends and on her 21st birthday she opens her heart and they become more. On that same night a ghost from her past Rory Campbell shows up from Vancouver trying to right his past mistakes and finally get the girl. She and Rory met when they were 12 and have danced around each other for years but she is not willing to blow up the life she has carved for herself to pursue what almost was. Over the years life gets complicated, she makes it to LA but her life goes in directions she did not expect and along the way she loses herself. When she is 29 and struggling she gets a chance meeting with ones of her great loves that may finally ground her and help her find her way.
If I could find a way to tattoo this book onto my heart I would. I absolutely loved this book. The author did an incredible job writing a love triangle, a trope I almost always hate. This book had me by the throat. The chemistry between the characters was off the charts. The YEARNING was almost unbearable, it had the perfect level of angst. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and most of all I fell in love with every aspect of this story. The characters were messy but so so so authentic I felt like I lived this story alongside the characters. I would love to see a movie version of this book. The book does not shy away from discussing some of the glaring issues within the entertainment industry especially for women. I am truly so excited to read anything I can get my hands on by this author.
Ellie McCain has dreamed of becoming an actor and moving to LA since she was a little girl. When she is 20 years old she gets herself accepted to a reputable preforming arts school in NYC. So she packs up her life and says goodbye to her life in Vancouver determined to chase the dream.
In NYC she quickly meets Ben Winters from Seattle attending the same school. They become roommates and best friends and on her 21st birthday she opens her heart and they become more. On that same night a ghost from her past Rory Campbell shows up from Vancouver trying to right his past mistakes and finally get the girl. She and Rory met when they were 12 and have danced around each other for years but she is not willing to blow up the life she has carved for herself to pursue what almost was. Over the years life gets complicated, she makes it to LA but her life goes in directions she did not expect and along the way she loses herself. When she is 29 and struggling she gets a chance meeting with ones of her great loves that may finally ground her and help her find her way.
If I could find a way to tattoo this book onto my heart I would. I absolutely loved this book. The author did an incredible job writing a love triangle, a trope I almost always hate. This book had me by the throat. The chemistry between the characters was off the charts. The YEARNING was almost unbearable, it had the perfect level of angst. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and most of all I fell in love with every aspect of this story. The characters were messy but so so so authentic I felt like I lived this story alongside the characters. I would love to see a movie version of this book. The book does not shy away from discussing some of the glaring issues within the entertainment industry especially for women. I am truly so excited to read anything I can get my hands on by this author.
September 7, 2026
I’m not usually drawn to love triangle stories—they’re just not really my thing—but This Changes Everything sounded compelling enough that I decided to give it a try, and I’m glad I did because I ended up really liking it. This is a heartfelt, sometimes angsty romance about first love, second chances, dreams, and the complicated ways relationships can change as we grow.
The alternating timelines worked especially well for this story. Moving between Ellie’s younger years and her life in the present gave the relationships with Rory and Ben plenty of room to develop while also showing exactly why Ellie felt so torn between them. The younger timeline brings plenty of teenage angst, yearning, and big emotions, while the present day story explores what happens when the people and dreams we once left behind come back into our lives.
And surprisingly, I thought the love triangle was handled really well. There were times I was firmly rooting for Ellie and Rory, and other times I was all in on Ellie and Ben. I genuinely wasn’t sure who she would ultimately choose, which made the journey much more compelling, and I was satisfied with how everything came together in the end. The story captures the messiness of first love and complicated relationship dynamics without making the characters feel one dimensional.
With well developed characters, good banter, plenty of emotion, and a strong sense of yearning, This Changes Everything is a romance about figuring out what—and who—you really want as your life changes around you. Even for a reader who normally skips the love triangle trope, this one won me over.
Perfect for readers who love:
* First love and second chances
* Love triangles that actually work
* Alternating timelines
* Teenage angst and yearning
* Aspiring actor/creative career stories
* Messy, complicated relationships
* Strong character development
* Banter and big emotional moments
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is a dark horse for one for my favorite romance novels of the year. I absolutely DEVOURED this.
This Changes Everything is everything that I love in a romance novel and one of the most well written, best love triangles I’ve ever read. And for someone who reads a lot of these to say that so confidently, you know that I mean business here.
First of all, let’s talk about Ellie. Our main character who had gone through many struggles in her life, both personally and professionally. She’s been in love with Rory since she was a teenager and they’ve been circling each other for years, never truly being together but not NOT being together either. When he breaks her heart before she moves from Vancouver to New York, her whole life changes.
As far as Rory and Ben go, Danielle McKechnie does something that is very rarely done properly in books like these- she makes them both so likable and rootable that you wish Ellie could somehow end up with both of them. At their core, these are just two really good guys who love Ellie with their entire beings. You understand why Rory makes the choices that he does and Ben is such an angel that there really is no wrong choice for who Ellie ultimately chooses to be with.
I also love how the resolution of the love triangle was handled. It was beautifully done, and felt really organic to the story and to the characters that we’ve come to know.
This book is split into two parts: Everything Before, and Everything After. It jumps back and forth in time quite a bit but it’s never hard to follow, everything that happens is pretty straight forward and easy to keep track of.
I really hope this gets a sequel, or even multiple sequels. All of the side characters are so good, and I feel like their stories aren’t finished yet. Perhaps a Hannah and Blair one? This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and it definitely will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
This Changes Everything is everything that I love in a romance novel and one of the most well written, best love triangles I’ve ever read. And for someone who reads a lot of these to say that so confidently, you know that I mean business here.
First of all, let’s talk about Ellie. Our main character who had gone through many struggles in her life, both personally and professionally. She’s been in love with Rory since she was a teenager and they’ve been circling each other for years, never truly being together but not NOT being together either. When he breaks her heart before she moves from Vancouver to New York, her whole life changes.
As far as Rory and Ben go, Danielle McKechnie does something that is very rarely done properly in books like these- she makes them both so likable and rootable that you wish Ellie could somehow end up with both of them. At their core, these are just two really good guys who love Ellie with their entire beings. You understand why Rory makes the choices that he does and Ben is such an angel that there really is no wrong choice for who Ellie ultimately chooses to be with.
I also love how the resolution of the love triangle was handled. It was beautifully done, and felt really organic to the story and to the characters that we’ve come to know.
This book is split into two parts: Everything Before, and Everything After. It jumps back and forth in time quite a bit but it’s never hard to follow, everything that happens is pretty straight forward and easy to keep track of.
I really hope this gets a sequel, or even multiple sequels. All of the side characters are so good, and I feel like their stories aren’t finished yet. Perhaps a Hannah and Blair one? This is the first book by this author that I’ve read and it definitely will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5/5 stars
This book is a romance that features a love triangle. Ellie is torn between Rory her childhood sweetheart and Ben her actor roommate.
This book has Part 1 and Part 2. It has multiple timelines and multiple locations. The locations are Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I really enjoyed all four places. And each added so much to the story.
The main character is Ellie. She leaves her hometown of Vancouver to go to a theatre program in New York City.
Part 1 of the book alternates between her at 20 in NYC and the past in Vancouver starting at 12 and moving forward. Part 1 features a coming of age story and has a very YA feel.
Rory is her friend and childhood sweetheart. She leaves him when she goes to NYC. I found her relationship with Rory in Part 1 to be so frustrating. So much miscommunication and at times a lack of communication.
Ben is her roommate in NYC. They attend classes together. He is the other guy in the love triangle. He was so kind and their friendship and romance was so much fun.
I don’t love past/present timelines. But the past as she got older definitely got more interesting. I guessed which guy would probably be her true love. But during the first part I definitely had an opinion on who I wanted to be her end game.
Part 2 changes things a bit. It alternates between two different timelines. I really liked Part 2. Both Rory and Ben have exciting careers. And I liked that they were a bit older.
The end was all the present timeline and I preferred that. I also just loved how both Ben and Rory were in that part of the book and I really loved how the book ended.
Overall the book had a very interesting format. It had a really good love triangle and left me feeling quite satisfied.
Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for allowing me to read this book.
This book is a romance that features a love triangle. Ellie is torn between Rory her childhood sweetheart and Ben her actor roommate.
This book has Part 1 and Part 2. It has multiple timelines and multiple locations. The locations are Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I really enjoyed all four places. And each added so much to the story.
The main character is Ellie. She leaves her hometown of Vancouver to go to a theatre program in New York City.
Part 1 of the book alternates between her at 20 in NYC and the past in Vancouver starting at 12 and moving forward. Part 1 features a coming of age story and has a very YA feel.
Rory is her friend and childhood sweetheart. She leaves him when she goes to NYC. I found her relationship with Rory in Part 1 to be so frustrating. So much miscommunication and at times a lack of communication.
Ben is her roommate in NYC. They attend classes together. He is the other guy in the love triangle. He was so kind and their friendship and romance was so much fun.
I don’t love past/present timelines. But the past as she got older definitely got more interesting. I guessed which guy would probably be her true love. But during the first part I definitely had an opinion on who I wanted to be her end game.
Part 2 changes things a bit. It alternates between two different timelines. I really liked Part 2. Both Rory and Ben have exciting careers. And I liked that they were a bit older.
The end was all the present timeline and I preferred that. I also just loved how both Ben and Rory were in that part of the book and I really loved how the book ended.
Overall the book had a very interesting format. It had a really good love triangle and left me feeling quite satisfied.
Thanks to HarperCollins Canada for allowing me to read this book.
September 1, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC!
Release Date: September 8, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
First of all, this cover is 100% false advertisement 😂 I went into this expecting a cute little fall story and… absolutely not. I’m still trying to figure out what the leaves on the cover have to do with anything.
With that aside, I enjoyed the writing. I was entertained for most of the book, but it definitely started losing me during the last 20%.
I enjoyed the love triangle. I kind of liked Rory, liked Ben a little more, but honestly? I preferred the friends and siblings over the main characters. Especially Ellie because I could NOT stand her.
She was SO self-centered. Every single time more than two people gathered, somehow it turned into a huge “what’s wrong with Ellie?” moment followed by everyone using metaphors to convince her she wasn’t a loser. Every. Single. Time.
She spent the entire book supposedly “finding herself,” but in reality, she was constantly wrapped up in Ben or Rory. For someone trying to figure out who she was outside of everything else, she was always under a man. And then there were the constant I need to be in LA blah, plus the entire Craig situation.. I guess the author realized she had nowhere to go and like 80 pages left so she threw that in.
There were also SO many heavy, supposedly meaningful quotes and serious topics thrown in that at times it felt like the author said, “Let me touch on absolutely everything just in case I never get another book.” 😭
With all of that being said, I did enjoy this for the most part. I could’ve done without the last 100 pages, and I would happily have read from any other POV besides Ellie.
I’d still recommend it just don’t go in expecting the cute fall rom-com that cover is trying to sell you. 😂
Release Date: September 8, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
First of all, this cover is 100% false advertisement 😂 I went into this expecting a cute little fall story and… absolutely not. I’m still trying to figure out what the leaves on the cover have to do with anything.
With that aside, I enjoyed the writing. I was entertained for most of the book, but it definitely started losing me during the last 20%.
I enjoyed the love triangle. I kind of liked Rory, liked Ben a little more, but honestly? I preferred the friends and siblings over the main characters. Especially Ellie because I could NOT stand her.
She was SO self-centered. Every single time more than two people gathered, somehow it turned into a huge “what’s wrong with Ellie?” moment followed by everyone using metaphors to convince her she wasn’t a loser. Every. Single. Time.
She spent the entire book supposedly “finding herself,” but in reality, she was constantly wrapped up in Ben or Rory. For someone trying to figure out who she was outside of everything else, she was always under a man. And then there were the constant I need to be in LA blah, plus the entire Craig situation.. I guess the author realized she had nowhere to go and like 80 pages left so she threw that in.
There were also SO many heavy, supposedly meaningful quotes and serious topics thrown in that at times it felt like the author said, “Let me touch on absolutely everything just in case I never get another book.” 😭
With all of that being said, I did enjoy this for the most part. I could’ve done without the last 100 pages, and I would happily have read from any other POV besides Ellie.
I’d still recommend it just don’t go in expecting the cute fall rom-com that cover is trying to sell you. 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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