If you’re looking for a cute romance this Valentine’s Day, look no further than If Only by LZHS’s own Amy Pine, library media specialist. 

Jordan Brooks travels abroad to Scotland for a year of college, hoping to figure out her life. She falls in love with an unattainable boy and attempts to forget him with another. The book follows her semester, from her arrival in the country, to making friends, getting a job at the campus pub, and dealing with classes. All the while, she falls more in love with the boy she shouldn’t like.

She almost immediately finds herself ensconced in a love triangle that can feel so stale and cliché at times that it’s painfully obvious who she will end up with. Noah is quirky and fun and his favorite book is The Great Gatsby, but he has an on-and-off girlfriend who came with him to Aberdeen. Griffin is a safe boy who seems like a good time and doesn’t do permanent, and Jordan tries her hardest to be set with him. The story is cute, and you can’t help rooting for impossible love. However, the relationships sort themselves out about halfway through, and the story focuses more on the growing relation between Jordan and her chosen beau, which is more entertaining and less cringe-worthy than the triangle.

The best part of the book is Elaina and Duncan, the awesome side characters and Jordan’s best friends. Elaina is a sarcastic girl from Greece, rough and no-nonsense, and fiercely loyal to Jordan. Duncan is the opposite: a native Scotsman who is loud, boisterous, and immature – and hopelessly head over heels for Elaina. The two are unlikely friends but their characters and their love story is fun and refreshingly free of complication after everything Jordan goes through.

“I loved the characters in If Only, even the side characters–Elaina & Duncan were so much fun! There were lots of swoony moments & I was having a hard time deciding which guy I liked more. But it wasn’t long before I picked sides, and I’m so happy with how it all ended up,” said Cindi, a user on the Goodreads website.

As the novel wears on, Jordan’s decisions become more and more questionable, and the reader is torn between yelling at her – really, there is no reason for her to drink that much! – and consoling her with pity. There is lots of dramatic irony, but the novel wouldn’t be half as interesting without the conflict created by the love triangle and by Jordan’s bad decisions. Moreover, her mistakes make her human and relatable, because she reacts to heartbreak as many others would.

Of course, there is more to the story than just Jordan’s relationship. She also has to figure out exactly what she wants to do with her life, whether it be following her parents’ desires or striking out on a path she chooses. Her struggle is quite relatable, especially to teenagers with strong-willed parents.

The book is filled with drama, romance, and memorable characters, lovable because of their flaws and their questionable decisions that make them feel real. The book is about college-age students, so the book holds racy scenes and alcohol use, alongside adult challenges teens may not face for a while. However, the themes and challenges can be expanded to a more universal level, so teens can still relate.

If Only is Pine’s first book, but it delivers like a seasoned writer’s romance. Said Angela Sisi on Goodreads, “I am amazed that this is A.J. Pine’s first novel; her writing is exquisite. I hope there is a second.”

Definitely sweet for Valentine’s Day, If Only is available for download for 99 cents or paperback $12.88 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble’s websites. This book is deserving of four out of five stars.