If There's No Tomorrow - Jennifer L .Armentrout | | Book Review

What do you do when one mistake you make changes the lives of everyone around you?

Lena is in her senior year of school, playing for the school's volleyball team with her best friend Megan. She's a funny girl with big hopes and dreams, and who works part time waitressing in a venue that reminds me slightly of the diner in Riverdale. She's in the midst of making decisions about her future, deciding which college she wants to attend, as are all her friends. 

Lena isn't a massive party girl, she likes them to an extent and she doesn't drink much alcohol, so when a party at a friend's house ends in devastation, she's unfortunately left to pick up the pieces.

What happens during the party is a tragedy, one Lena blames herself for. A lot of the plot is focused on the guilt she feels for being involved and not stopping what happened when she could have. But what happened is not primarily her fault, it was a mistake, something that may have happened even if she did attempt to prevent it. Teenagers can be silly and reckless, they don't always think about the consequences of their actions, and this is exactly what happens in If There's No Tomorrow. 

I was gripped by Lena's story. I cried, I felt Lena's pain, grief and loss, but I also laughed and felt happy and giddy at some points. There are so many emotions to be felt whilst reading this, a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. Armentrout writes plot well, although something tragic happens, it isn't entirely the focal point. Like a lot of young adult novels, romance was a big theme. And for once, I had a problem with it. Don't get me wrong, I loved the romance sub-plot, my heart swelled and it made me long for Lena and Sebastian's relationship, but it felt unnecessary at times. I almost got the impression that love cures everything. Love can cure and heal grief and loss and pain. Maybe it can to a certain extent but I don't think it's a very healthy portrayal. I enjoyed it but it bothered me. The plot felt strong enough to me anyway without the addition of a cutesy relationship. 

Despite my one little issue with it, the book was fantastic, Lena and her friends made me laugh a lot.  Lena's journey through her grief was empowering, and her character development was amazing, especially through her work with a therapist. I just really love young adult fiction, I can't get enough of it.