If I Could Go Back coming May 6th, 2025 from Peachtree Teen; 368 pages
Content Warning: Teen pregnancy, on-page domestic violence, mild violence, on-page medical emergency, on-page panic attack, anxiety, depression, moderate profanity
About the Author: “Briana Johnson is a young adult author and Chicago native. She spent her twenties living everywhere except Chicago but has returned to the Windy City because everywhere else is too expensive. She currently lives on the North Side with her sister. A graduate of the University of Maryland-Global Campus with a degree in Computer Network and Cybersecurity, Briana travels the U.S. as a Systems Analyst. When she isn’t writing or working, she enjoys seeing all the beauty the world has to offer. If I Could Go Back is her debut novel” (Bio from author’s Goodreads).
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Eighteen-year-old Aaliyah Campbell has always been raised by her grandparents. Her granddad, Joe, has consistently shut down any conversations about her mom, Lena, and her dad, Quincy. All she knows is that her mom got pregnant at sixteen, and the only parents she’s ever known are her grandparents. When Aaliyah finds Lena’s Facebook and reaches out to her—despite protests from her cousin, Ivy, and knowing her granddad Joe will be furious—she schedules a meeting with the one person she’s always wondered about. As Aaliyah learns more about her parents’ past, she realizes that the things she always believed might not be the whole truth.
I’m usually a fan of character-driven contemporary fiction, and If I Could Go Back was no different. The relationships that Aaliyah has with her family and friends are beautifully complex and representative of just how familiarity breeds contempt and how distance can make the heart grow fonder. While I typically enjoy romantic relationships that are relatively drama-free, it was refreshing to read about Tommy’s relationship with Aaliyah and how his ex played a role in the story. Though hard to read about, Tommy’s situation is one that I feel can use more representation in all types of media. YA books with mental health representation, though more common, are still incredibly difficult to find. It’s made clear from the start that Aaliyah is an anxious person, and as the story takes off, there’s little doubt that she’s also depressed. I’m aware that depression manifests differently in every person; however, my main issue with the book was the way that depression was mentioned and depicted throughout the story. There are plenty of times where Aaliyah acknowledges her depression or depressive episode but then fails to mention it again within her own inner monologue, let alone to another person. The principal point here is that while Johnson does a stellar job of illustrating Aalliyah’s anxiety and her panic attacks, the same can’t really be said for her depression. It seems that her depression is often mentioned but not shown in depth. Regardless, considering how personal a topic depression is, I’d recommend If I Could Go Back to anyone who loves reading about complex familial, personal, and romantic relationships.
If I Could Go Back releases on May 6th, 2025.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Vanshikha Vij, Pine Reads Review Writer