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If Only
Erin is about to turn thirty and her life is definitely not where she thought it would be. She hates her job, she's jealous of her perfect flatmate - and she has just called off her wedding.
A trip home to Ireland to celebrate her birthday with her beloved grandmother is exactly what Erin needs, and she's spent days preparing herself to break the news about her broken engagement.
What she's not prepared for is the gift she receives: a secret family heirloom that will change everything.
Could this be the answer Erin has been looking for - the key to the happy life she's always dreamed of? Only time will tell...
410 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2019
230 people are currently reading
1951 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Murphy
3 books970 followersMelanie Murphy is an author and online content creator from Dublin.
With both of her children now in school, she is working away on her third novel...stay tuned.
Melanie's debut novel 'If Only', featuring an unforgettable Irish grandmother and glimpses at parallel lives, was an Irish bestseller and is still reaching new audiences.
Her pandemic word baby 'Glass Houses' was released in 2022 and also achieved bestseller status in Ireland.
In 2017, Melanie published her first non-fiction book, "Fully Functioning Human (Almost)" which sold thousands of copies, received many positive reviews and topped the Irish book charts.
Her YouTube videos have amassed eighty million views online, reaching people with her weird but warm personality and her life lessons as well as her views on divisive topics such as sexuality, women's rights, health and relationships.
With both of her children now in school, she is working away on her third novel...stay tuned.
Melanie's debut novel 'If Only', featuring an unforgettable Irish grandmother and glimpses at parallel lives, was an Irish bestseller and is still reaching new audiences.
Her pandemic word baby 'Glass Houses' was released in 2022 and also achieved bestseller status in Ireland.
In 2017, Melanie published her first non-fiction book, "Fully Functioning Human (Almost)" which sold thousands of copies, received many positive reviews and topped the Irish book charts.
Her YouTube videos have amassed eighty million views online, reaching people with her weird but warm personality and her life lessons as well as her views on divisive topics such as sexuality, women's rights, health and relationships.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
June 18, 2019
‘Loneliness is the worst reason to go chasing more heartbreak.’📖 Buy This Book: : ♡ Barnes and Noble ♡ Kobo 📖
Much thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books Ireland for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own.
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Women's Fiction
📚 POV: First person.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
If Only is my first read from Melanie Murphy, who is a Youtuber/Online Personality I am not familiar with. I had high hopes with this book because of the cutesy cover and the intriguing blurb.
Unfortunately, I can some up my reading experience in this four words: I didn't like it.
The story of a 30 year old newly single woman with an opportunity to answer her life's "what if"s and "if only"s sounded good. Sadly, I did not feel the promised humor and lightness. I don't know if it's a cultural divide or I just find the characters, especially the main one, quite boring.
Even the execution of the "if only"s were served a little weak. Which was sad because it is the book's main premise.
I loved the 80s song recommendations, though. I'm a 90s baby through and through, but I always go crazy for the music of the 80s.
I guess, all in all, this was not bad. It just was not for me, and I can see that some GR reviewers loved this. Maybe, I'll love the next one?
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌻 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Hero:⭐⭐⭐
🌻 Heroine:⭐⭐
🌻 Support Characters:⭐⭐
🌻 Writing Style:⭐⭐
🌻 Character Development:⭐⭐
🌻 Romance:⭐⭐
🌻 Pacing:⭐⭐
🌻 Ending:⭐⭐
🌻 Page Turner:⭐⭐
🌻 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 2.45/5 ☁
Review also appears on my blog.
June 11, 2019
3.5 stars.
Erin is almost 30 years old with only a broken engagement and a boring job in a cafe to her name. Desperate and longing for change, Erin gets a chance to see what alternate lives could look like when her beloved granny gifts her a special pendant passed down through generations. As Erin looks over all her 'If Only's', will she begin to change what she needs to her in her present day life and find a form of true, meaningful happiness?
This was a really strong, witty and fun book to read and perfect for this time of year and reading outside in the sun, I must say. I'm a big fan of Melanie, and I loved her non-fiction book so had great hopes for this one and I wasn't disappointed. Melanie was really able to bring out her Irish humour, give no shits attitude in her debut novel, and lend them to Erin's personality and the many, many 'Irishisms' in this book left me smiling (and did give me a giggle when I imagined people who don't spend a lot of time around Irish people reading the book and probably raising their eyebrows A LOT).
There's a lot to love about Erin from her general, everyday girl looks and personality to her confusion about life and what she's suppose to be doing (because honestly, who the hell knows what they're doing). There's definitely an belief that you're suppose to be on the golden road of success by the time you're 30, probably with a ring on your finger and all your future children's birth dates arranged etc, and it's terrifying when you're erring on the side of 30 (like me, eek) and well, your life isn't all rosy and glorious AND you're second-guessing yourself just as much, if not more, than when you were 21. I liked seeing a character who honestly was a bit of a mess with her life choices, and that she didn't have an easy fix in the novel or even have everything completely perfect by the end of it because well, that wouldn't be realistic!
I loved Erin's granny who was very typical Irish granny, and definitely gave me the urge to run home and give my beloved gran a squish. As someone who counts her gran as one of her favourite people in the world, Granny Beglan definitely stole my heart and plenty of my tears (while in public!). Erin's friend group (Destiny's Child) were also a bit of fun, and it was really nice to see a fun cast of friends with lots of different personalities in the mix (and sexualities).
There were a few times throughout the book that Erin would specifically mention the songs she was listening to or heard playing by name, and honestly I was not a fan of this. I tend not to mind pop culture references too much but I prefer when it's TV shows or movies, rather than the music. So the music in this one didn't work for me (though I guess it makes it easy to create a Spotify playlist for this book!).
And while overall I did appreciate Erin due to her reliability and realness, I did actually find it hard to like her and there were times I thought I'd find it hard to be her friend because she seemed like a lot of hard work. She was extremely judgemental, and while I liked that Erin did call herself out on this and was well aware of this particular flaw - it still got a bit annoying at times and a bit too much for me.
The magical element in this book of the family pendant was a really nice spin to the story and I really hope that when I turn 30, my gran hands me down something similar. How amazing would it be to find out all your 'If Only's'. I did very much enjoy this book and it makes me really excited to see what else Melanie can bring to the world of fiction because this was a very strong start!
Erin is almost 30 years old with only a broken engagement and a boring job in a cafe to her name. Desperate and longing for change, Erin gets a chance to see what alternate lives could look like when her beloved granny gifts her a special pendant passed down through generations. As Erin looks over all her 'If Only's', will she begin to change what she needs to her in her present day life and find a form of true, meaningful happiness?
This was a really strong, witty and fun book to read and perfect for this time of year and reading outside in the sun, I must say. I'm a big fan of Melanie, and I loved her non-fiction book so had great hopes for this one and I wasn't disappointed. Melanie was really able to bring out her Irish humour, give no shits attitude in her debut novel, and lend them to Erin's personality and the many, many 'Irishisms' in this book left me smiling (and did give me a giggle when I imagined people who don't spend a lot of time around Irish people reading the book and probably raising their eyebrows A LOT).
There's a lot to love about Erin from her general, everyday girl looks and personality to her confusion about life and what she's suppose to be doing (because honestly, who the hell knows what they're doing). There's definitely an belief that you're suppose to be on the golden road of success by the time you're 30, probably with a ring on your finger and all your future children's birth dates arranged etc, and it's terrifying when you're erring on the side of 30 (like me, eek) and well, your life isn't all rosy and glorious AND you're second-guessing yourself just as much, if not more, than when you were 21. I liked seeing a character who honestly was a bit of a mess with her life choices, and that she didn't have an easy fix in the novel or even have everything completely perfect by the end of it because well, that wouldn't be realistic!
I loved Erin's granny who was very typical Irish granny, and definitely gave me the urge to run home and give my beloved gran a squish. As someone who counts her gran as one of her favourite people in the world, Granny Beglan definitely stole my heart and plenty of my tears (while in public!). Erin's friend group (Destiny's Child) were also a bit of fun, and it was really nice to see a fun cast of friends with lots of different personalities in the mix (and sexualities).
There were a few times throughout the book that Erin would specifically mention the songs she was listening to or heard playing by name, and honestly I was not a fan of this. I tend not to mind pop culture references too much but I prefer when it's TV shows or movies, rather than the music. So the music in this one didn't work for me (though I guess it makes it easy to create a Spotify playlist for this book!).
And while overall I did appreciate Erin due to her reliability and realness, I did actually find it hard to like her and there were times I thought I'd find it hard to be her friend because she seemed like a lot of hard work. She was extremely judgemental, and while I liked that Erin did call herself out on this and was well aware of this particular flaw - it still got a bit annoying at times and a bit too much for me.
The magical element in this book of the family pendant was a really nice spin to the story and I really hope that when I turn 30, my gran hands me down something similar. How amazing would it be to find out all your 'If Only's'. I did very much enjoy this book and it makes me really excited to see what else Melanie can bring to the world of fiction because this was a very strong start!
May 29, 2019
This is such a good book and I will admit I wasn't sure whether I would like it or not!
This is a story about getting older and second guessing every decision you have made and I must say that it is so real and brings so many issues into it that we all go through at some stage that I found it to be a refreshing read.
Its very well written and I absolutely love the cover!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Ireland for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story about getting older and second guessing every decision you have made and I must say that it is so real and brings so many issues into it that we all go through at some stage that I found it to be a refreshing read.
Its very well written and I absolutely love the cover!
Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Ireland for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2019
Thank you Hachette Books Ireland for the review copy.
This book just wasn't for me. Cute premise but lacked follow through which was really disappointing. The idea behind the necklace was interesting and original but the 'if only' parts were boring and rushed. The main character Erin has also got to be one of the frustrating characters I've read about this year and I absolutely detested her by the end of the book.
This book just wasn't for me. Cute premise but lacked follow through which was really disappointing. The idea behind the necklace was interesting and original but the 'if only' parts were boring and rushed. The main character Erin has also got to be one of the frustrating characters I've read about this year and I absolutely detested her by the end of the book.
June 29, 2020
It has been two decades since I have read anything approaching Chic Lit but in film (at the Movies) I am a sucker for this kind of premise.
What if you could experience how your life had turned out "If only" you had made a different decision?
Filled with troops and clichés (such as the Gay Best Friend - Jeex!), this novel is nevertheless very enjoyable and was a pleasure to spend time with.
Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Richard Curtis' About Time, who likes novels about time travel, romance and Irish Characters.
What if you could experience how your life had turned out "If only" you had made a different decision?
Filled with troops and clichés (such as the Gay Best Friend - Jeex!), this novel is nevertheless very enjoyable and was a pleasure to spend time with.
Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Richard Curtis' About Time, who likes novels about time travel, romance and Irish Characters.
July 8, 2019
As much as I am a fan of Melanie and everything she stands for, this story is not quite as good as expected. I'm sure she has an editor and everything, but it's more so the characters and mostly Erin who has no substance and feels like cardboard that could fall over at any moment, she's so transparent when you expect opaque depth.
The story itself and what it centers around isn't anything new, but that's to be expected from new writers only getting started, yet their could have been potential to flesh this out better and shorten dialogue where it severely dragged to the point that you ended up just skipping it (I didn't, but their really was no point to read it). I get why people have bought it, being fans of a Youtuber branching into writing books gets sales. Does it make a good author and story teller? Honestly? No.
Melanie has potential, but I'm afraid the substance and weight for a great story was sorely missed on this one. I honestly forgot all the characters they were so bland and tropes, and Erin wasn't a character that I could form an emotional attachment to or have in common with as she bore no real weight to her. Nor does the plot, as it's very dry and bland and doesn't appeal when their are a thousand other books and stories out there just like it, and most are told slightly better. Sadly.
I am disappointed this wasn't more than what I expected given the attention it got upon release and the excitement built up by Melanie and many of her social media friends. It fell flat for me, as someone who admires all Melanie does as a human being, and what she does for people of all groups, it just didn't live up to her. I hope Melanie's writing career outlasts her Youtube career, as it seems the sales of these books is solely tied to them being a Youtuber, so we'll have to wait and see, as I would like to see what else she could write, given more time, thought and ideas.
The story itself and what it centers around isn't anything new, but that's to be expected from new writers only getting started, yet their could have been potential to flesh this out better and shorten dialogue where it severely dragged to the point that you ended up just skipping it (I didn't, but their really was no point to read it). I get why people have bought it, being fans of a Youtuber branching into writing books gets sales. Does it make a good author and story teller? Honestly? No.
Melanie has potential, but I'm afraid the substance and weight for a great story was sorely missed on this one. I honestly forgot all the characters they were so bland and tropes, and Erin wasn't a character that I could form an emotional attachment to or have in common with as she bore no real weight to her. Nor does the plot, as it's very dry and bland and doesn't appeal when their are a thousand other books and stories out there just like it, and most are told slightly better. Sadly.
I am disappointed this wasn't more than what I expected given the attention it got upon release and the excitement built up by Melanie and many of her social media friends. It fell flat for me, as someone who admires all Melanie does as a human being, and what she does for people of all groups, it just didn't live up to her. I hope Melanie's writing career outlasts her Youtube career, as it seems the sales of these books is solely tied to them being a Youtuber, so we'll have to wait and see, as I would like to see what else she could write, given more time, thought and ideas.
June 1, 2019
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the wonderful chance to read 5his book for an honest review in return.
Have you even wondered what would happen if you'd taken a different path in life? How it would change your whole world and to see if it would have been better than how you live now?
Erin has been given this chance.
With a necklace gifted to her by her grandmother on her thirtieth birthday, she is able to discover what would have happened if she had decided to go other ways in life by taking the road not taken. Not all outcomes may be what she expected, but they all teach her something in the end.
A new way to learn about life and yourself, 'If Only' is a wonderful read. Emersive and relatable, and not wanting to put it down, I would gladly recommend this book to all.
Melanie's characters bring a sudden life to themselves that I felt I was there beside them through it all. Heartfelt, gripping and answers questions you may not even have know you wanted answered, I already can't wait to curl up and delve back into this beautiful read.
Have you even wondered what would happen if you'd taken a different path in life? How it would change your whole world and to see if it would have been better than how you live now?
Erin has been given this chance.
With a necklace gifted to her by her grandmother on her thirtieth birthday, she is able to discover what would have happened if she had decided to go other ways in life by taking the road not taken. Not all outcomes may be what she expected, but they all teach her something in the end.
A new way to learn about life and yourself, 'If Only' is a wonderful read. Emersive and relatable, and not wanting to put it down, I would gladly recommend this book to all.
Melanie's characters bring a sudden life to themselves that I felt I was there beside them through it all. Heartfelt, gripping and answers questions you may not even have know you wanted answered, I already can't wait to curl up and delve back into this beautiful read.
June 14, 2019
I used to read books constantly but then it became less and less, and then I got to the point where I never read anymore. There are so many reasons I could give such as being too busy, working, college, feelings. I was so excited for this book. I purchased the physical copy, ebook, and audio book. I switched between the ebook and audiobook while reading it. This book is incredible. I cannot even tell you the last time I was actually able to finish an entire book without feeling depressed or something ridiculous. I NEEDED this book. Erin has helped me to realize things in my own life, and she also helped reawaken my love to read. If Only is the life lesson every adult needs to read. I feel like we too often go through life wishing to be like others, or have the best things. When in reality we should be thankful for the things we have and to understand we should stop thinking "if only." Thank you for this. I cannot even express how much this book resonates within me. I definitely recommend this book.
July 12, 2019
ACTUAL RATING: 2.5 STARS (5.5/10)
It's pretty obvious this is a debut novel and that's okay. The story is full of clichés and it's predictable but it was overall enjoyable and I liked the message of focusing on what we have instead of what we don't.
It's pretty obvious this is a debut novel and that's okay. The story is full of clichés and it's predictable but it was overall enjoyable and I liked the message of focusing on what we have instead of what we don't.
June 4, 2019
Erin has just broken up with her fiance, has a job she hates, and is jealous of her new flatmate who is basically everything she isn't. On the bright side, she has a fantastic friend in Reid, has just discovered her childhood friend Finn has moved to the same building, and is about to celebrate her thirtieth birthday with her beloved grandmother in Ireland. But her granny has a surprise for her: a special pendant that can give her the opportunity to briefly live a life she could have had that will change how she sees her reality.
I love the premise of this book. Who hasn't wondered what their life would have been like if they'd made a different decision? I wouldn't mind my own pendant, though I think it would drive me as nuts as it did Erin when she first received it. It is eye opening, though, what a glimpse into another life can give you. At the same time, it can also help one see how right reality can be for one. I loved that Erin explored a few possibilities, but kept coming back to how different her life in them was from what she loved about her reality. As a reader, I will always wonder about the if onlys, but reading this also makes me appreciate where my choices have led me and makes me think this is where I'm supposed to be.
The majority of this book takes place in London, and the characters feel like regular people out walking on the streets. Their speech was sometimes a little hard to follow and figure out since it just felt so very British, but I was charmed by the authenticity and how the author didn't try to clean up their speech to make it more clear. It felt like I was listening in on someone's life, and I loved it. One thing that bothered me a little, though, was when other characters would point out how Irish Erin was at times. As an American who doesn't know the fine differences between being Irish and British, I had no clue what the character was talking about. There was no way I could tell what was British and what was Irish.
One interesting thought that kept striking me while I read, though, was how much it kept making me think of the movie Love, Actually. I don't know if it was the setting or how the characters spoke or how, in it's own way, the story revolved around love and friendship, but it made me smile and want to keep reading.
I really loved how the structure was very different from what I had expected. When Erin was presented with the pendant and told she would only have seven views, I expected the chapters to, more or less, alternate between views and reality. Instead, I got an Erin who was torn between being terrified of using the pendant and wanting desperately to glimpse what different decisions would have brought. Most of the book was spent with her debating whether to use it and her living her life and moving forward, creating her own unique family and place in the world. What I didn't like were the time jumps immediately after the chapters detailing her pendant use. I would have liked a bit about her digesting and unpacking what she saw and how it might impact her reality.
Overall, this was a delightful novel, one I would probably read over and over. The characters felt familiar in that they could be anyone with the same problems and questions and regrets. I loved the way Erin used the pendant and how it impacted the way she saw her reality, and I commend her lack of impulse to use all seven tries. I loved how this book highlighted the fact that we all have wondered "what if" or "if only" and suggested that perhaps the life we are currently living is the one meant for us anyways and that we must continually move forward.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hatchette Books Ireland for a free copy. All opinions expressed here are my own
I love the premise of this book. Who hasn't wondered what their life would have been like if they'd made a different decision? I wouldn't mind my own pendant, though I think it would drive me as nuts as it did Erin when she first received it. It is eye opening, though, what a glimpse into another life can give you. At the same time, it can also help one see how right reality can be for one. I loved that Erin explored a few possibilities, but kept coming back to how different her life in them was from what she loved about her reality. As a reader, I will always wonder about the if onlys, but reading this also makes me appreciate where my choices have led me and makes me think this is where I'm supposed to be.
The majority of this book takes place in London, and the characters feel like regular people out walking on the streets. Their speech was sometimes a little hard to follow and figure out since it just felt so very British, but I was charmed by the authenticity and how the author didn't try to clean up their speech to make it more clear. It felt like I was listening in on someone's life, and I loved it. One thing that bothered me a little, though, was when other characters would point out how Irish Erin was at times. As an American who doesn't know the fine differences between being Irish and British, I had no clue what the character was talking about. There was no way I could tell what was British and what was Irish.
One interesting thought that kept striking me while I read, though, was how much it kept making me think of the movie Love, Actually. I don't know if it was the setting or how the characters spoke or how, in it's own way, the story revolved around love and friendship, but it made me smile and want to keep reading.
I really loved how the structure was very different from what I had expected. When Erin was presented with the pendant and told she would only have seven views, I expected the chapters to, more or less, alternate between views and reality. Instead, I got an Erin who was torn between being terrified of using the pendant and wanting desperately to glimpse what different decisions would have brought. Most of the book was spent with her debating whether to use it and her living her life and moving forward, creating her own unique family and place in the world. What I didn't like were the time jumps immediately after the chapters detailing her pendant use. I would have liked a bit about her digesting and unpacking what she saw and how it might impact her reality.
Overall, this was a delightful novel, one I would probably read over and over. The characters felt familiar in that they could be anyone with the same problems and questions and regrets. I loved the way Erin used the pendant and how it impacted the way she saw her reality, and I commend her lack of impulse to use all seven tries. I loved how this book highlighted the fact that we all have wondered "what if" or "if only" and suggested that perhaps the life we are currently living is the one meant for us anyways and that we must continually move forward.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hatchette Books Ireland for a free copy. All opinions expressed here are my own
June 6, 2019
(Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Ireland for a free e-arc of If Only for review!)
If Only... Who hasn't thought, "If only I'd..." or, "What if I had..." I think it's only natural for us to consider how different choices might have led to different outcomes - be they big or small. And that's what Erin (the main character) does here.
I went in without knowing anything and enjoyed that experience, so please allow me to be purposely vague: If Only focuses on Erin, her granny, and her friend group. I loved them all. The characters were really well-developed.
Erin's living in London, and has just walked away from her fiancé. Woof. Y'all - this part was NOT easy for me to read. Murphy really captured the emotions you might feel at the end of a long-term relationship - one you thought would lead to marriage. But that's where I think this author shines: SO much of this book made me *feel* things.
Also I wanted like another 300 pages. Don't get me wrong - it's not a cliffhanger or unsatisfying ending, I just wanted to hang with these characters longer. (Oh and there's a bit of magical realism, which I only mention because sometimes that ruins a book for me but I felt that it worked well here.)
Have I said enough yet? Really recommend this one if any of the above sounds interesting & you're not allergic to romance.
If Only... Who hasn't thought, "If only I'd..." or, "What if I had..." I think it's only natural for us to consider how different choices might have led to different outcomes - be they big or small. And that's what Erin (the main character) does here.
I went in without knowing anything and enjoyed that experience, so please allow me to be purposely vague: If Only focuses on Erin, her granny, and her friend group. I loved them all. The characters were really well-developed.
Erin's living in London, and has just walked away from her fiancé. Woof. Y'all - this part was NOT easy for me to read. Murphy really captured the emotions you might feel at the end of a long-term relationship - one you thought would lead to marriage. But that's where I think this author shines: SO much of this book made me *feel* things.
Also I wanted like another 300 pages. Don't get me wrong - it's not a cliffhanger or unsatisfying ending, I just wanted to hang with these characters longer. (Oh and there's a bit of magical realism, which I only mention because sometimes that ruins a book for me but I felt that it worked well here.)
Have I said enough yet? Really recommend this one if any of the above sounds interesting & you're not allergic to romance.
February 16, 2020
If Only is the first fiction novel by Melanie Murphy, but you don't notice that while reading - I knew because I follow her on her Youtube channel and have been hyped about this book since she announced she was writing something. So I was influenced by her to buy her book because I liked her as a person, but the book did not dissappoint!
I am gonna start with the negative stuff, because I gave 4/5 stars, so why take one off?
What annoyed me were the specific music titles throughout the book. I just don't enjoy that because when reading, I usually don't listen to music and I basically knew none of the songs she mentioned and couldn't imagine their vibe.
There were some weird words (like "jaysis"), but that's maybe irish slang? I think they do make sense when spoken, but aren't appropriate for written context.
I also think that Erin's behavior towards Rachel was a tad inconsistent and I sometimes didn't know why she changed so radically towards her. In general, Erin wasn't my favorite character in the book, but the protagonist doesn't have to be likeable in my opinion, just reasonable in their actions - which Erin is like 90% of the time.
Okay, as you can see, the negative stuff isn't anything massive, just some thiny things you could tweak and improve on!
What I liked was the incorporation of the irish culture, so nice to read about it! My favorite characters in the book are definitely Granny (because I love my grannies too!) and Rachel (she is literally perfect and I love that this book shows you don't have to be a Rachel!).
The idea was also intriguing, because I am someone who always things about my choices and "if only"s.
In conclusion, I think this was a good start for a debut novel, so probs to Melanie!
And I will definitely check out her new novel, because I see a lot of potential in her work.
I am gonna start with the negative stuff, because I gave 4/5 stars, so why take one off?
What annoyed me were the specific music titles throughout the book. I just don't enjoy that because when reading, I usually don't listen to music and I basically knew none of the songs she mentioned and couldn't imagine their vibe.
There were some weird words (like "jaysis"), but that's maybe irish slang? I think they do make sense when spoken, but aren't appropriate for written context.
I also think that Erin's behavior towards Rachel was a tad inconsistent and I sometimes didn't know why she changed so radically towards her. In general, Erin wasn't my favorite character in the book, but the protagonist doesn't have to be likeable in my opinion, just reasonable in their actions - which Erin is like 90% of the time.
Okay, as you can see, the negative stuff isn't anything massive, just some thiny things you could tweak and improve on!
What I liked was the incorporation of the irish culture, so nice to read about it! My favorite characters in the book are definitely Granny (because I love my grannies too!) and Rachel (she is literally perfect and I love that this book shows you don't have to be a Rachel!).
The idea was also intriguing, because I am someone who always things about my choices and "if only"s.
In conclusion, I think this was a good start for a debut novel, so probs to Melanie!
And I will definitely check out her new novel, because I see a lot of potential in her work.
September 15, 2020
If Only is the story of Erin, who at 30 has broken off her engagement and travels home to Ireland to tell her family. Whilst in Ireland, her mysterious grandmother gifts her with a necklace that allows her to see if her decision has been the right one. Whilst the premise of this sounded magical and full of promise, the novel itself was sadly anything but. I found it littered with clichès and tropes, from the stereotypical gay best friend to the “magical” grandmother, and so much more. It was very predictable and frustrating, and not at all what I’d hope to see in this day and age with slurs and insults given “jokingly”. I felt Erin (can I just say here that naming your character Erin when she comes from *Ireland* is just plain lazy?!) was shallow and very two-dimensional, and lacked any real personal power or motivation. The writing is also very immature and lacked imagination. Not a good read at all. Avoid.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Hachette Books Ireland, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Hachette Books Ireland, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2020
I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started this book, and I’m not sure why I even finished it. Fatphobia, it’s a thing and this book bleeds it. It’s not something that I could look past and because it was introduced in the first chapter, it tainted the rest of the book for me.
July 23, 2019
I thought long and hard about my rating for this book. Altough I mostly disliked the main character and her best friend for many reasons, I'd say it was quite an enjoyable read after all. The idea behind the book is very interesting, I just think it could have been executed better as I felt the story seemed a bit rushed at times. The love interest was very charming and one of my favourite characters in the book. The many 80s music references definitely brought a smile to my face. Anyways, Melanie Murphy is one of my favourite YouTubers and seeing her fullfilling her lifelong dream of publishing a book was great to witness. Mainly because she is one of the few 'influencers' (for lack of a better word) I actually believe when she says she's always wanted to be an author. So, if you are looking for a quick read give this one a go.
June 2, 2019
Firstly I honestly loved this book so much! Thank you so much to Melanie Murphy, Hachette books Ireland and Netgalley for a review copy. It's published on June 6th.
I think this book is a great combination of a kind of 'chick lit' book (but I kind of dislike that term, so contemporary fiction maybe?) and magical realism. I really liked the premise, as someone that has definitely had moments where I've thought 'what if...' it really resonates. I generally liked Erin as a character, I think that the things she goes through are pretty relatable. Also she's a really real character, she's not a perfect cliched main character (which is a pet peeve of mine), she actually has personality. Also the other characters are brilliant, I loved Granny, Reid, Finn and Rachel.
Overall I think the narrative works really well, I was sucked into the story line and motivated to keep reading and see what happened next. I felt like this book produced so many emotions, it definitely has heart. It's got a fair bit of representation too particularly for mental health and there are lgbt+ characters, which is great. I'm trying to fault the book but I honestly can't, nothing stood out as particularly annoying or bad. I above all else like a good story and characters and this definitely has them.
I think this book is a great combination of a kind of 'chick lit' book (but I kind of dislike that term, so contemporary fiction maybe?) and magical realism. I really liked the premise, as someone that has definitely had moments where I've thought 'what if...' it really resonates. I generally liked Erin as a character, I think that the things she goes through are pretty relatable. Also she's a really real character, she's not a perfect cliched main character (which is a pet peeve of mine), she actually has personality. Also the other characters are brilliant, I loved Granny, Reid, Finn and Rachel.
Overall I think the narrative works really well, I was sucked into the story line and motivated to keep reading and see what happened next. I felt like this book produced so many emotions, it definitely has heart. It's got a fair bit of representation too particularly for mental health and there are lgbt+ characters, which is great. I'm trying to fault the book but I honestly can't, nothing stood out as particularly annoying or bad. I above all else like a good story and characters and this definitely has them.
September 10, 2019
Erin is about to turn thirty, when her life is turned upside down. She feels as if her life is leading nowhere, having called of her wedding and being stuck in a waitressing job in London, far away from her native Ireland. When she visits her grandmother in Ireland, she is given a pendant with magical abilities, which allows her to experience seven “If only” moments for a day. What if she had made different decisions and life choices?
I found it hard to rate this book, especially because I have watched a lot of Melanie’s Youtube video’s and it was difficult not to compare certain characters to people that appear in her vlogs. Overall the book was well written and had very real and rounded characters. I love the diversity in it, as it has multiple gay characters and the main character is dealing with PCOS and had an eating disorder in the past. At no point it feels as if these characters have been written to add diversity, as all of them are very important in Erin’s life (no complimentary gay or black person that is just there to stand in the background and does not really say anything as an excuse for diversity). However, the plot of the book was a bit slow and could have been more structured. In the end it does become clear how the alternative realities or “if only” moments have helped Erin, but while reading the book I wondered at multiple times where it was leading. I also sometimes did not really get the main character. Especially in her relationship with Rachel: at times she was telling the reader how great Rachel was and at other times she was incredibly jealous of her and seemed not to like her at all. While feelings of jealousy may be only human, Erin’s feelings towards Rachel were often confusing to read. But overall, this was quite a good fiction debut, and a refreshing one in the category of chicklit or female-led fiction.
I found it hard to rate this book, especially because I have watched a lot of Melanie’s Youtube video’s and it was difficult not to compare certain characters to people that appear in her vlogs. Overall the book was well written and had very real and rounded characters. I love the diversity in it, as it has multiple gay characters and the main character is dealing with PCOS and had an eating disorder in the past. At no point it feels as if these characters have been written to add diversity, as all of them are very important in Erin’s life (no complimentary gay or black person that is just there to stand in the background and does not really say anything as an excuse for diversity). However, the plot of the book was a bit slow and could have been more structured. In the end it does become clear how the alternative realities or “if only” moments have helped Erin, but while reading the book I wondered at multiple times where it was leading. I also sometimes did not really get the main character. Especially in her relationship with Rachel: at times she was telling the reader how great Rachel was and at other times she was incredibly jealous of her and seemed not to like her at all. While feelings of jealousy may be only human, Erin’s feelings towards Rachel were often confusing to read. But overall, this was quite a good fiction debut, and a refreshing one in the category of chicklit or female-led fiction.
June 9, 2019
Trash...Spend your money on a real book - Kafka, Victor Hugo, Dostoyevsky, Tolkien - learn something! This is just an immature book for teenagers...
June 26, 2019
Reasons why this book resonated with me:
1. The main character, Erin, is almost 30 and her wedding plans fall through.
2. Her life's a mess
3. She's newly single, still dealing with the after effects of her breakup
4. She's second-guessing every decision she's made in life and wondering how things would have turned out had she chosen another route.
I was quite nervous that I wasn't going to connect with this book due to the pinch of magic included... basically Erin is gifted a necklace from her grandmother allowing her to see what her world would have been like in alternate lives. I'm not big on fantasy but If Only was done so well. While there was definitely that magical element it was subtle and fun and focused more so on the realities of the way her life could have played out.
This book had me so emotional at times and gave me all the feels!
I think we've all wondered how different things would be for ourselves if we had chosen a different path and as I've literally just lost everything in my life, I'm jobless and penniless and homeless all rolled into one, I would love to have that bloody necklace right now to make sure everything I've done leading up to this moment were the right things to do or not.
I know all that sounds depressing regarding my life (not her book), but I'm really trying to remain positive. Having lost everything means I have been gifted a clean slate in life and while it's going to be tough to get back on my feet again I've realised this is now a time for me to focus solely on ME and create the life I've always wanted for myself. It's not going to happen overnight and I have no idea what it is I want to do - there's so many option... the world is my oyster.... and in a very deep and personal way, that's why I connected with this book so much.
If Only is such a feel good read. I read it while sick in bed and feeling incredibly heartbroken and it really did perk me up. I loved it. I loved the Irish humour and the raw, unfiltered expressions like, 'kicked in the vag!' This book is Melanie to a T - not that I know what that means... but it's fantastical, dry, witty and real even with that pinch of magic.
1. The main character, Erin, is almost 30 and her wedding plans fall through.
2. Her life's a mess
3. She's newly single, still dealing with the after effects of her breakup
4. She's second-guessing every decision she's made in life and wondering how things would have turned out had she chosen another route.
I was quite nervous that I wasn't going to connect with this book due to the pinch of magic included... basically Erin is gifted a necklace from her grandmother allowing her to see what her world would have been like in alternate lives. I'm not big on fantasy but If Only was done so well. While there was definitely that magical element it was subtle and fun and focused more so on the realities of the way her life could have played out.
This book had me so emotional at times and gave me all the feels!
I think we've all wondered how different things would be for ourselves if we had chosen a different path and as I've literally just lost everything in my life, I'm jobless and penniless and homeless all rolled into one, I would love to have that bloody necklace right now to make sure everything I've done leading up to this moment were the right things to do or not.
I know all that sounds depressing regarding my life (not her book), but I'm really trying to remain positive. Having lost everything means I have been gifted a clean slate in life and while it's going to be tough to get back on my feet again I've realised this is now a time for me to focus solely on ME and create the life I've always wanted for myself. It's not going to happen overnight and I have no idea what it is I want to do - there's so many option... the world is my oyster.... and in a very deep and personal way, that's why I connected with this book so much.
If Only is such a feel good read. I read it while sick in bed and feeling incredibly heartbroken and it really did perk me up. I loved it. I loved the Irish humour and the raw, unfiltered expressions like, 'kicked in the vag!' This book is Melanie to a T - not that I know what that means... but it's fantastical, dry, witty and real even with that pinch of magic.
July 13, 2019
If you want to hear my non-spoilery thoughts on If Only, read on 💕
First Thoughts ✨
—————————
I really enjoyed the start of this book, it had a very funny and light feeling - which is what I always want to see when starting a contemporary. I feel like we get to know Erin pretty quickly, as she’s quite open about everything - which was nice, we didn’t spend have the book soul-searching.
The Characters 🤷🏻♂️
—————————
I love Erin so much, she was funny and realistic - she definitely wasn’t perfect, like many YA heroines are. She was real, and it was like reading a text from a friend the whole way through the book.
I didn’t like her best friend Reid as I thought he was rude and not very open. He seemed to blame her for him not opening up - which I found unnecessary.
The side characters Rachel and Finn were great. Awesome additives to the story.
Granny was my favourite though. She was funny and witty and seemed to know all.
The Story 📖
———————
I felt like the story was very contemporary- it was about Erin figuring out her life and what she wanted to do. This story was filled with happy moments, silly moments and sad moments. It was really an all encompassing contemporary.
Last Thoughts 💭
—————————
I didn’t really enjoy the ending of the book. I thought it was cute and it was nice for Erin, but I just wanted a little bit more, but I many be biased as I just really wanted more of this book as it was so good. Overall I really enjoyed it. 5/5 ⭐️’s
First Thoughts ✨
—————————
I really enjoyed the start of this book, it had a very funny and light feeling - which is what I always want to see when starting a contemporary. I feel like we get to know Erin pretty quickly, as she’s quite open about everything - which was nice, we didn’t spend have the book soul-searching.
The Characters 🤷🏻♂️
—————————
I love Erin so much, she was funny and realistic - she definitely wasn’t perfect, like many YA heroines are. She was real, and it was like reading a text from a friend the whole way through the book.
I didn’t like her best friend Reid as I thought he was rude and not very open. He seemed to blame her for him not opening up - which I found unnecessary.
The side characters Rachel and Finn were great. Awesome additives to the story.
Granny was my favourite though. She was funny and witty and seemed to know all.
The Story 📖
———————
I felt like the story was very contemporary- it was about Erin figuring out her life and what she wanted to do. This story was filled with happy moments, silly moments and sad moments. It was really an all encompassing contemporary.
Last Thoughts 💭
—————————
I didn’t really enjoy the ending of the book. I thought it was cute and it was nice for Erin, but I just wanted a little bit more, but I many be biased as I just really wanted more of this book as it was so good. Overall I really enjoyed it. 5/5 ⭐️’s
June 21, 2019
If Only follows just-turned-thirty Erin, who is filled with lots of what ifs and regrets. With the help of a mysterious family heirloom, she uncovers some chances to revisit past decisions.
This debut fiction novel from YouTuber/Author Melanie Murphy was a strong foray into the world of fiction. I listened to the audiobook version, and I think it really helped to accentuate the deep Irishness of this book. The Irish narrator really helped to bring out all of this charm that was already there but that, as a Canadian, I probably couldn’t have heard *quite* as well while simply reading it.
Murphy manages to cover a broad range of topics and characters in If Only, ranging from a larger-than-life Granny, who practically jumps off the page with a drink and smoke in hand, to a bisexual roommate who is caring and adventurous all at once. The characters feel very real and vulnerable, and it’s difficult to not get attached (particularly to Granny!).
The book flows quite nicely, and doesn’t lean too heavily on the magical realism elements, as after all, it’s not a fantasy novel. Murphy balances these elements well, and when she does use them, it’s used for important development in Erin, even if Erin doesn’t see it yet.
Erin is a very flawed, but very interesting character. She struggles with jealousy, her self-image and confidence, and regrets. She’s not perfect by the end of the book, but who is? She definitely starts to become more self-aware and confident as the story goes on.
Murphy also tackles subjects from eating disorders, to mental health and depression, to losing loved ones. These subjects are all woven naturally into the storyline and used to create more real characters who struggle with these things. She makes sure to never lay a bandaid over any of this, and to show that progress is slow and continuous, and always lingers in the background.
Overall, Murphy’s debut novel was a very enjoyable novel that I kept craving to read more of, and glimpse the lives of these characters as much as possible. I can’t wait to read more from her!
4.5/5
This debut fiction novel from YouTuber/Author Melanie Murphy was a strong foray into the world of fiction. I listened to the audiobook version, and I think it really helped to accentuate the deep Irishness of this book. The Irish narrator really helped to bring out all of this charm that was already there but that, as a Canadian, I probably couldn’t have heard *quite* as well while simply reading it.
Murphy manages to cover a broad range of topics and characters in If Only, ranging from a larger-than-life Granny, who practically jumps off the page with a drink and smoke in hand, to a bisexual roommate who is caring and adventurous all at once. The characters feel very real and vulnerable, and it’s difficult to not get attached (particularly to Granny!).
The book flows quite nicely, and doesn’t lean too heavily on the magical realism elements, as after all, it’s not a fantasy novel. Murphy balances these elements well, and when she does use them, it’s used for important development in Erin, even if Erin doesn’t see it yet.
Erin is a very flawed, but very interesting character. She struggles with jealousy, her self-image and confidence, and regrets. She’s not perfect by the end of the book, but who is? She definitely starts to become more self-aware and confident as the story goes on.
Murphy also tackles subjects from eating disorders, to mental health and depression, to losing loved ones. These subjects are all woven naturally into the storyline and used to create more real characters who struggle with these things. She makes sure to never lay a bandaid over any of this, and to show that progress is slow and continuous, and always lingers in the background.
Overall, Murphy’s debut novel was a very enjoyable novel that I kept craving to read more of, and glimpse the lives of these characters as much as possible. I can’t wait to read more from her!
4.5/5
June 4, 2019
I was given a free e-book of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a sweet slow-burn romance about second chances, "if only's", and learning about oneself. It was an easy read but I felt like the plot dragged on as well as being pretty predictable. I had some problems with the story and characters that kept me from fully enjoying it but it was by no means a bad read. I think I'm just really picky with my romances! It was also a lot more emotional than I had expected it to be but I appreciated the rawness of some of the emotions throughout.
I would recommend this to people who like more emotional contemporaries, sweet, slow romances, and a little bit of magic.
This was a sweet slow-burn romance about second chances, "if only's", and learning about oneself. It was an easy read but I felt like the plot dragged on as well as being pretty predictable. I had some problems with the story and characters that kept me from fully enjoying it but it was by no means a bad read. I think I'm just really picky with my romances! It was also a lot more emotional than I had expected it to be but I appreciated the rawness of some of the emotions throughout.
I would recommend this to people who like more emotional contemporaries, sweet, slow romances, and a little bit of magic.
June 9, 2019
So full disclosure: I ADORE Melanie Murphy. I watch her YouTube channel and I watch her Instagram snaps/feed (whatever the hell they are) and I think she’s not only stunningly gorgeous but just a lovely person in general.
So there is a little bias here—I never doubted for a second I’d buy her book— but as to whether it would resonate with me? That part, I wasn’t sure of... I already figured I’d like her writing because I paged through her first book and enjoyed her writing style but this story was supposed to be fiction with a magical element or two. I’m also a voracious reader so I was game from the start.
I’m also happy to report that my belief in her ability to pen a good novel is completely justified.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I adored the friendship that Erin shared with Reid his humor and the genuine love between the two of them was really refreshing, especially when Erin is seeking romantic love and constantly second guessing herself and her heart— it was so nice to see that she had her family, her Granny, And Reid as constant sources of unconditional love.
It made Erin’s eventual realized romantic love a very nice bookend.
I’m going to try to keep this spoiler-free and I may add a cut and go there later. But for now I’ll merely say that Melanie tackles a few very real issues and there isn’t a single unflawed character to her credit (maybe a few underdeveloped but that’s fairly understandable— not every character gets tons of screen time) and I’m a huge fan of flawed characters as they bring the kind of realism that perfect cardboard cutouts never possess.
I also enjoyed that while there were moments that I thought were definitely inspired by her own life and experiences, Melanie didn’t write a self-insert Mary-Sue romance.
I called the romantic lead immediately and I did enjoy that slow progression. I think that at the end of the day this is a story about finding yourself when we all know that the world will spin on indifferent to our struggles.
Erin gets a little piece of magic to help her quiet those niggling voices that question whether we took the right turn, made the right choice, loved the right man/woman. Dealing with loss and coping with general unhappiness or depression are a couple more universal issues touched upon.
I was impressed by the fairly tight plot and while there were some predictable moments I think Melanie did a solid job, especially considering the magical element used, and I loved so much of the humorous banter and the wise women who helped guide Erin through.
The Irish-isms and sometimes bawdry jokes were right in line with the Melanie Murphy I’ve come to know through YouTube and I truly enjoyed her voice and the way she included so many different human foibles in her story. Her representation of so many issues was also done with a light hand, compassionately and usually with a steady dose of either humor or gravitas.
It was a great first book and I look forward to reading more from her.
So there is a little bias here—I never doubted for a second I’d buy her book— but as to whether it would resonate with me? That part, I wasn’t sure of... I already figured I’d like her writing because I paged through her first book and enjoyed her writing style but this story was supposed to be fiction with a magical element or two. I’m also a voracious reader so I was game from the start.
I’m also happy to report that my belief in her ability to pen a good novel is completely justified.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I adored the friendship that Erin shared with Reid his humor and the genuine love between the two of them was really refreshing, especially when Erin is seeking romantic love and constantly second guessing herself and her heart— it was so nice to see that she had her family, her Granny, And Reid as constant sources of unconditional love.
It made Erin’s eventual realized romantic love a very nice bookend.
I’m going to try to keep this spoiler-free and I may add a cut and go there later. But for now I’ll merely say that Melanie tackles a few very real issues and there isn’t a single unflawed character to her credit (maybe a few underdeveloped but that’s fairly understandable— not every character gets tons of screen time) and I’m a huge fan of flawed characters as they bring the kind of realism that perfect cardboard cutouts never possess.
I also enjoyed that while there were moments that I thought were definitely inspired by her own life and experiences, Melanie didn’t write a self-insert Mary-Sue romance.
I called the romantic lead immediately and I did enjoy that slow progression. I think that at the end of the day this is a story about finding yourself when we all know that the world will spin on indifferent to our struggles.
Erin gets a little piece of magic to help her quiet those niggling voices that question whether we took the right turn, made the right choice, loved the right man/woman. Dealing with loss and coping with general unhappiness or depression are a couple more universal issues touched upon.
I was impressed by the fairly tight plot and while there were some predictable moments I think Melanie did a solid job, especially considering the magical element used, and I loved so much of the humorous banter and the wise women who helped guide Erin through.
The Irish-isms and sometimes bawdry jokes were right in line with the Melanie Murphy I’ve come to know through YouTube and I truly enjoyed her voice and the way she included so many different human foibles in her story. Her representation of so many issues was also done with a light hand, compassionately and usually with a steady dose of either humor or gravitas.
It was a great first book and I look forward to reading more from her.
July 9, 2019
Murphy’s debut novel tracks a woman reaching thirty and realising she hasn’t achieved any of her goals, a realisation prompted by her decision to call off her impending wedding. After being given a magical pendant by her grandmother, allowing the protagonist to see how different her life would been if she had made different decisions, she is able to re-evaluate where, and ultimately who, she truly wants to be. The use of magical realism in this novel prevents it from being yet another novel simply about the crisis faced by women approaching thirty, and adds another dimension to the plot. The protagonist is, for the most part, likeable and fairly accessible, however her development lacks depth, and at the end of the novel I wasn’t convinced by how much her experiences had really affected her as a character. The secondary characters are all likeable too, however the character of her best friend Reid often veers into the territory of the stereotypical ‘gay best friend’, making him somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, the story is charming and easy to follow, the writing is fluid and engaging, and the message of the story is uplifting and hopeful. Overall, despite the weaknesses in character development, and a slightly unsatisfying ending, this was an enjoyable and lighthearted read - perfect for summer reading.
June 17, 2019
Enjoyed this far more than I expected! I loved the theme and the writing was very solid. I thought the main friendship between Erin and Reid was very well done, as was the complicated relationship between Erin and Dan.
I did think that Erin’s relationship with the eventual romantic lead needed more development though - you can see her feelings for him grow through the book fine, but they didn’t spend enough time actually together on the page for me to find it totally believable. I also found this true of Erin’s friendship with Rachel; a big theme is Erin trying to overcome her (self aware) jealousy of her friend, but there’s not enough causal friendship mixed in there to give it balance, in my opinion.
The only other thing that lessened my enjoyment was something totally personal, so I’ll only mention it briefly - having watched a lot of Melanie’s YouTube videos the autobiographical elements she weaved in jumped out at me, and pulled me out of the story a bit. I think that weaving elements of your life into your work is absolutely valid, and makes for good writing! When I know too much about the author going in, it just doesn’t personally work as well for me.
Overall this was a fun book that tackled difficult subjects in a light but meaningful way. I liked the way different themes were handled and felt everything was explored well. Even if I saw most of the plot coming, I flew through this and really enjoyed myself. Would recommend giving this a read!
I did think that Erin’s relationship with the eventual romantic lead needed more development though - you can see her feelings for him grow through the book fine, but they didn’t spend enough time actually together on the page for me to find it totally believable. I also found this true of Erin’s friendship with Rachel; a big theme is Erin trying to overcome her (self aware) jealousy of her friend, but there’s not enough causal friendship mixed in there to give it balance, in my opinion.
The only other thing that lessened my enjoyment was something totally personal, so I’ll only mention it briefly - having watched a lot of Melanie’s YouTube videos the autobiographical elements she weaved in jumped out at me, and pulled me out of the story a bit. I think that weaving elements of your life into your work is absolutely valid, and makes for good writing! When I know too much about the author going in, it just doesn’t personally work as well for me.
Overall this was a fun book that tackled difficult subjects in a light but meaningful way. I liked the way different themes were handled and felt everything was explored well. Even if I saw most of the plot coming, I flew through this and really enjoyed myself. Would recommend giving this a read!
June 12, 2019
My main takeaway from this book, is that I want to adopt a chubby greyhound and name him Turnip.
It's not my usual genre (romance wouldn't exactly be a preference of mine, when it comes to the books I choose) but I enjoyed the well rounded characters, and the element of magic included. It loosely reminded me of About Time, and it would have been cool to see the alternate lives and their repercussions explored more.
Erin, though harsh at times, was relatable and amusing as a protagonist. I also enjoyed having an Irish voice narrating for a change. I found the first half of the story a lot stronger than the second half, but that could literally just be my interests not lying on the romantic outcome.
I would definitely enjoy reading more from Melanie (and not just because I'm a fan of her YouTube vids) would round this off as 3.5/5
It's not my usual genre (romance wouldn't exactly be a preference of mine, when it comes to the books I choose) but I enjoyed the well rounded characters, and the element of magic included. It loosely reminded me of About Time, and it would have been cool to see the alternate lives and their repercussions explored more.
Erin, though harsh at times, was relatable and amusing as a protagonist. I also enjoyed having an Irish voice narrating for a change. I found the first half of the story a lot stronger than the second half, but that could literally just be my interests not lying on the romantic outcome.
I would definitely enjoy reading more from Melanie (and not just because I'm a fan of her YouTube vids) would round this off as 3.5/5
June 16, 2019
“Don’t marry someone you want to throw any object but yourself at, Beggy.”
First of all, I've been a fan of Melanie's for the longest time and simply adore her realness on YouTube. Her first book Fully Functioning Human (Almost): Living in an Online/Offline World I gave honest 5 stars to because frankly, I was blown away by the writing style, raw content and applicable advice. “If Only”, her second book and first fiction novel, I'm more conflicted over, so I want to record all the positives and negatives here.
+ The writing style. Apart from a handful of questionable metaphors I didn't understand/couldn't really get on board with, the writing style remains solid and endearing throughout the entire book. It seems natural, nothing about it is forced or pretentious. It's a testimony to Melanie’s talent for writing and story-telling.
+ Despite its flaws, it was always entertaining and fun to dive into. I was honestly never bored, and I can’t say that of a lot of books.
- The main character and her thoughts, decisions, and actions (or lack thereof). There’s nothing wrong with creating authentic, flawed characters, but I disliked the way it was done here. Erin is one hell of a human mess, she lacks drive, she has confused romantic feelings and thinks toxic thoughts – all of which I’m totally fine with, because it’s so normal to be and to experience all that. However, I feel like there’s a disconnect between what she thinks and does and why she thinks and does it, which made a lot of things about Erin feel irritating. I would’ve liked for certain things to have had a little more backstory and explanation,
- The plot. It was a lot of back-and-forth and not really leading anywhere.
Using the Goodreads definitions of stars, this book gets a 2 star – “It was okay” – rating from me. I did enjoy myself reading it and am positive Mel is going to continue improving with each book she puts out, which I'm definitely looking forward to! Despite its flaws, her fiction first “If Only” has a lot of potential and is a great quick and light read.
First of all, I've been a fan of Melanie's for the longest time and simply adore her realness on YouTube. Her first book Fully Functioning Human (Almost): Living in an Online/Offline World I gave honest 5 stars to because frankly, I was blown away by the writing style, raw content and applicable advice. “If Only”, her second book and first fiction novel, I'm more conflicted over, so I want to record all the positives and negatives here.
+ The writing style. Apart from a handful of questionable metaphors I didn't understand/couldn't really get on board with, the writing style remains solid and endearing throughout the entire book. It seems natural, nothing about it is forced or pretentious. It's a testimony to Melanie’s talent for writing and story-telling.
+ Despite its flaws, it was always entertaining and fun to dive into. I was honestly never bored, and I can’t say that of a lot of books.
- The main character and her thoughts, decisions, and actions (or lack thereof). There’s nothing wrong with creating authentic, flawed characters, but I disliked the way it was done here. Erin is one hell of a human mess, she lacks drive, she has confused romantic feelings and thinks toxic thoughts – all of which I’m totally fine with, because it’s so normal to be and to experience all that. However, I feel like there’s a disconnect between what she thinks and does and why she thinks and does it, which made a lot of things about Erin feel irritating. I would’ve liked for certain things to have had a little more backstory and explanation,
- The plot. It was a lot of back-and-forth and not really leading anywhere.
Using the Goodreads definitions of stars, this book gets a 2 star – “It was okay” – rating from me. I did enjoy myself reading it and am positive Mel is going to continue improving with each book she puts out, which I'm definitely looking forward to! Despite its flaws, her fiction first “If Only” has a lot of potential and is a great quick and light read.
August 20, 2019
The Review
Wow, what an incredible read. I had to get that out there right away. While author Melanie Murphy has received wide acclaim on my website for her first novel Fully Functioning Human (Almost), the author’s second novel and debut fiction book was a massive success in every way.
The author does a masterful job of creating a cast of characters readers can relate to. From protagonist Erin and her journey of self-discovery while dealing with the struggles of life, to her core group of friend she rallies behind when dealing with these struggles, all the while trying to manage their own lives and issues, each character brings an important element into Erin’s story and makes the reader truly care about these fictitious people.
The author’s ability to create such descriptive atmospheres truly immerses the reader into the settings of this novel, from the bustling streets of London to the cosy warmth of the Irish countryside and small town villages, readers will instantly fall in love with this novel at every turn. For me personally as a reader, I instantly connected with Erin and her relationship with her grandmother.
For some of you who know this already, this year hasn’t been easy as I lost my own grandmother in early January. She was one of my best friends and truest supporters, and not a day goes by where I don’t miss her. Reading this story and the close relationship Erin had with her grandmother made me instantly feel closer to my own, bringing a small bit of tears of joy to my eyes as the author’s characterization of the protagonist brought fresh memories into this reader’s mind.
The Verdict
This is a must read novel of the year. A top contender for contemporary romance of the year, Melanie Murphy has cemented herself as a not only entertaining author but a writer who creates characters readers will instantly connect with and be entertained by. What the author does best in this novel is use the more supernatural elements of the other lives that could have been lived sparsely, focusing more on the lessons learned from these trips and the life Erin is constructing for herself. It is a fantastic novel that everyone should check out, so be sure to grab your copy of “If Only” by Melanie Murphy today!
Wow, what an incredible read. I had to get that out there right away. While author Melanie Murphy has received wide acclaim on my website for her first novel Fully Functioning Human (Almost), the author’s second novel and debut fiction book was a massive success in every way.
The author does a masterful job of creating a cast of characters readers can relate to. From protagonist Erin and her journey of self-discovery while dealing with the struggles of life, to her core group of friend she rallies behind when dealing with these struggles, all the while trying to manage their own lives and issues, each character brings an important element into Erin’s story and makes the reader truly care about these fictitious people.
The author’s ability to create such descriptive atmospheres truly immerses the reader into the settings of this novel, from the bustling streets of London to the cosy warmth of the Irish countryside and small town villages, readers will instantly fall in love with this novel at every turn. For me personally as a reader, I instantly connected with Erin and her relationship with her grandmother.
For some of you who know this already, this year hasn’t been easy as I lost my own grandmother in early January. She was one of my best friends and truest supporters, and not a day goes by where I don’t miss her. Reading this story and the close relationship Erin had with her grandmother made me instantly feel closer to my own, bringing a small bit of tears of joy to my eyes as the author’s characterization of the protagonist brought fresh memories into this reader’s mind.
The Verdict
This is a must read novel of the year. A top contender for contemporary romance of the year, Melanie Murphy has cemented herself as a not only entertaining author but a writer who creates characters readers will instantly connect with and be entertained by. What the author does best in this novel is use the more supernatural elements of the other lives that could have been lived sparsely, focusing more on the lessons learned from these trips and the life Erin is constructing for herself. It is a fantastic novel that everyone should check out, so be sure to grab your copy of “If Only” by Melanie Murphy today!
August 11, 2019
2.5 stars! This was a great, easy read with some witty humorous moments. However the main character tiptoed the edge of being funny and self deprecating, and completely unlikable and annoying, far too often for me. Instead of being a flawed character with depth, I just found Erin to be down right horrible and nasty sometimes. I love Melanie but it was also slightly off-putting to see so many parallels with her own life, obviously she wrote what she knows but it made it hard to be fully immersed in the fictional story.
The writing style was fun, relatable and made for an easy summer read, it wasn’t obvious which guy or ‘what if’ life Erin would eventually end up with so that always kept me reading! I just wish there had been less awful metaphors and more character development and growth and a little less pointless dialog - but I honestly can’t wait for her next book because as far as a debut contemporary novel goes (personally I wouldn’t class it as fantasy or even magical realism) it was a solid start and seemed to hold a lot of promise!
Also is there going to be a sequel? Because the thing with the necklace and the bird wasn’t explained at all and Erin’s life just seemed to sort itself out in the last 5 pages and I just didn’t have any emotional connection to the ending in particular... 🤷🏼♀️😂
Overall I enjoyed my time reading it and glad I picked it up. Just please never ever write “haha” to describe actual laughter in a book ever again! I wish nothing but the best for Melanie’s writing endeavours and I’ll definitely purchase the next one 💕
The writing style was fun, relatable and made for an easy summer read, it wasn’t obvious which guy or ‘what if’ life Erin would eventually end up with so that always kept me reading! I just wish there had been less awful metaphors and more character development and growth and a little less pointless dialog - but I honestly can’t wait for her next book because as far as a debut contemporary novel goes (personally I wouldn’t class it as fantasy or even magical realism) it was a solid start and seemed to hold a lot of promise!
Also is there going to be a sequel? Because the thing with the necklace and the bird wasn’t explained at all and Erin’s life just seemed to sort itself out in the last 5 pages and I just didn’t have any emotional connection to the ending in particular... 🤷🏼♀️😂
Overall I enjoyed my time reading it and glad I picked it up. Just please never ever write “haha” to describe actual laughter in a book ever again! I wish nothing but the best for Melanie’s writing endeavours and I’ll definitely purchase the next one 💕
June 17, 2019
If you loved 'About Time' you will love Melanie Murphy's 'If Only' !
We follow 30 year old Erin 'Beggy' and the many ups and downs of her life. She's just broken up her engagement and spends some time pondering on If she made the right choice. She's scared to tell her beloved granny incase it upsets her, but how her granny reacts and what she presents her with is not at all what I was expecting. All she has to do if ask 'If only....' and see where the special necklace takes her.
The idea is so perfect, the book is so well written and easy to read. It took 3 chapters for me to get hooked on this book and I read it in one night! I laughed, cried and fell in love alongside Erin.
I find the book really hits home in certain parts, Erin and her best friend Reid are exactly like me and my best friend. I think many people will relate to plenty in this book. It relates to many modern day issues and plenty that a lot of readers can relate to.
Big congrats to Melanie on this stellar debut fiction novel, I really really hope we get a part 2!
We follow 30 year old Erin 'Beggy' and the many ups and downs of her life. She's just broken up her engagement and spends some time pondering on If she made the right choice. She's scared to tell her beloved granny incase it upsets her, but how her granny reacts and what she presents her with is not at all what I was expecting. All she has to do if ask 'If only....' and see where the special necklace takes her.
The idea is so perfect, the book is so well written and easy to read. It took 3 chapters for me to get hooked on this book and I read it in one night! I laughed, cried and fell in love alongside Erin.
I find the book really hits home in certain parts, Erin and her best friend Reid are exactly like me and my best friend. I think many people will relate to plenty in this book. It relates to many modern day issues and plenty that a lot of readers can relate to.
Big congrats to Melanie on this stellar debut fiction novel, I really really hope we get a part 2!
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