Review: Who I Was With Her by Nita Tyndall

Title: Who I Was With Her
Author: Nita Tyndall
Publication date: September 15th 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Ebook
Rating: 5/5

Synopsis

There are two things that Corinne Parker knows to be true: that she is in love with Maggie Bailey, the captain of the rival high school’s cross-country team and her secret girlfriend of a year, and that she isn’t ready for anyone to know she’s bisexual.

But then Maggie dies, and Corinne quickly learns that the only thing worse than losing Maggie is being left heartbroken over a relationship no one knows existed. And to make things even more complicated, the only person she can turn to is Elissa — Maggie’s ex and the single person who understands how Corinne is feeling.

As Corinne struggles to make sense of her grief and what she truly wants out of life, she begins to have feelings for the last person she should fall for. But to move forward after losing Maggie, Corinne will have to learn to be honest with the people in her life…starting with herself.

Review

I was expecting this book to hit me really hard and I was a little worried when I started reading it. It was definitely an emotional read, but it was overwhelmingly positive and I finished it feeling refreshed and hopeful.

Corinne is a really relatable narrator. Not only is she struggling to figure out when and if she wants to talk about her sexuality, she’s also dealing with a complicated home life and balancing what she wants with what everyone around her expects of her. This makes for a pretty intense read as there is so much going on, but it works really well.

The book alternates between events in the present, taking place after Corinne’s girlfriend Maggie dies in a car accident, and the events that lead up to it, focussing on their relationship. I really enjoyed this and felt that it worked well, especially as the chapters are so short. So you’re kind of piecing together Corinne and Maggie’s relationship but also seeing how Corinne is handling Maggie’s death.

This isn’t a happy read. How can it be? But it is quietly beautiful and hopeful. I finished the book feeling as though all of the characters, but especially Corinne and her parents, had grown from where they were when we first met them.

Would I recommend it to others? Definitely, without a doubt.

It is a book about grief. But it is also a book about love, friendship, and the people who show up when you most need them.

Where to buy

• Waterstones
• Book Depository, great for international shipping
• Amazon