Have you ever wondered what life would be like if your childhood best friend was always with you? Laura Nowlin’s novel “If He Had Been With Me” revolves around this question. This is the story of Autumn and Finny, whose tale of friendship, love and separation makes everyone think.

If He Had Been With Me Summary

Main Characters: Who is who?

Let us first know about the important characters of the story, because without them this story is incomplete:

• Autumn: She is the heroine of the story. She is a very sensitive and deep-minded girl. Finny has been her best friend since childhood. Autumn loves reading books, living in her own world and wearing a crown on her head.
• Finny (Phineas): Autumn’s neighbor and childhood friend. He is calm, intelligent and everyone’s favourite. Finny’s smile and his innocence always attracts Autumn.
• Sylvie: Finny’s girlfriend. She is beautiful and confident, but because of her there is a distance between Autumn and Finny.
• Sasha: Autumn’s friend. She understands Autumn and supports her in every decision.
• Jamie: Autumn’s boyfriend. Autumn’s relationship with Jamie is stable, but it does not have the depth that she had with Finny.
• Angelina: Finny’s mother and Autumn’s mother’s best friend. The connecting link between the two families.

Childhood Friendship: Autumn and Finny’s Relationship

Autumn and Finny have been friends since childhood. Their mothers are also close friends, so they were destined to be together. Little games, school pranks, meals together – all this strengthened their friendship. But as they grew up, their paths began to diverge. In high school, both went into different groups. Autumn found new friends Sasha and Jamie, while Finny’s life included Sylvie.

This is where the story takes a new turn. Autumn feels that Finny is no longer the same. She herself has changed. Now she looks different in school – she wears a crown every day, which even makes people make fun of her. But Autumn doesn’t care, because she has her own friends.

School Life and Changing Relationships

Autumn and Finny may be in different groups, but they still meet up at festivals, holidays, and family gatherings. Autumn always has a special place in her heart for Finny. She wants Finny to understand her feelings, but she can never express them openly.

Finny wants to be close to Autumn, but his relationship with Sylvie confuses him. Autumn grows jealous and lonely, but she hides her feelings. Her relationship with Jamie works well, but she cannot find true happiness in him.

Reconnecting

One day Autumn and Finny have an English class together. They start talking again. Old stories, jokes and small talk bring them closer again. Autumn realizes that her heart still beats for Finny.

Autumn goes into depression during summer vacation. She feels that something is incomplete in her life. Finny helps her, spends time with her and tries to understand her feelings. Autumn writes her feelings in the form of a novel and gives it to Finny to read. Funny also realizes that he loves Autumn.

Confession of love and painful twist

Then comes the moment when both of them reveal their true feelings to each other. Autumn and Finny hold each other’s arms for the first time, and they think everything will be fine now. Finny decides to break up with Sylvie and start afresh with Autumn.

But fate has other plans. When Finny goes to tell Sylvie everything, the two have an argument in the car. It is raining outside, and the car skids. Sylvie falls out of the car. Finny gets out to help her, but he is electrocuted by a fallen power wire and dies.

Autumn’s heartbreak and new hope

Finny’s death changes Autumn’s world completely. She goes into shock, blames herself and gives up on life. One day she tries to commit suicide, but her life is saved in the nick of time. In the hospital, Autumn learns that she may be pregnant with Finny’s child. This news brings her a new hope.

Autumn thinks that Finny’s last happiness may be linked to her child. She decides that she will not give up now, and will move on with the memories of Finny. Autumn realizes that love and friendship are the most precious things in life, and every relationship should be maintained with complete honesty.

If He Had Been With Me Summary Ending Explain 

At the end of the story, Autumn and Finny confess their love and decide to start a new life. But the same night, when Finny goes to visit Sylvie, a car accident occurs in the rain. Finny jumps out to save Sylvie and is electrocuted by a live wire. 

Autumn is devastated by the shock, but at the hospital she learns that she may be pregnant with Finny’s child. This news gives Autumn a new reason to live. Despite her grief, Autumn decides to move on with her memories of Finny and her baby.

Why read this novel?

• Depth of emotions: This novel makes you realize the importance of your first love, friendship and relationships.
• Simple language: Laura Nowlin has written the story in very simple and true words, so that every reader can put himself in the place of Autumn or Finny.
• Truth of life: This book tells that every happiness and every sorrow in life has its own importance.

So, The story of Autumn and Finny teaches us that sometimes the most important things are understood only at the last moment. If you have a friend to whom you have not been able to speak your heart out, then do not delay. Live life openly, feel love and value every relationship.

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