If I Could Go Back

Featured
If I Could Go Back
Age Range
14+
Release Date
May 06, 2025
ISBN
978-1682637753
For Aaliyah Campbell, family is everything. Her cousin Ivy is her best friend and track costar, and Grandpa Joe is her rock. He may be crotchety and dramatic, but he’s raised Aaliyah since she was a toddler. Still, Aaliyah can’t stop thinking about what’s missing—her parents.

When Aaliyah secretly contacts her mom, Lena, she risks upsetting the family who’s always been there for her. But Grandpa Joe refuses to explain why her parents gave her up and, without answers, Aaliyah cannot silence the anxious voice telling her she's never been good enough.

Aaliyah is hardly surprised when Lena ghosts her, though she’s shocked when her dad, Quincy, steps up instead. Quincy turns out to be immature but surprisingly fun to hang out with. And when the rest of the family finds out they’re in contact, old secrets will finally be forced into the light.

Editor review

1 review
A Riveting Story About Family
(Updated: June 06, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
If I Could Go Back is an emotionally charged debut from Briana Johnson, that packs a punch from beginning to end. Following the main character, Aaliyah, is at a crossroads of her life as she goes through her senior year of high school. She has a lot of her plate from college decisions, leveling up in track, and figuring out her career. But in the back of her mind, unanswered questions about her parents comes to the forefront and she decided to take the initiative to see if she could heal their relationship. But at what cost?

This novel is by no means an easy read because of all the heavy topics it discusses, but it is reflective in doing so. It acknowledges some of the conversations we are too afraid to have with family and friends, but weighs heavy on our minds. There are multiple conversations about family, and mental health-especially since Aaliyah struggles with anxiety (to the point of having panic attacks on top of everything). She often feels that she doesn’t want to burden others as she’s always been the one to support someone. Aaliyah must learn over the course of the story to open up and to let others help her. Most importantly, her story reminds its readers it’s okay to not be okay.

Aaliyah’s strength and courage is inspiring in the novel as she navigates family secrets and reckoning with the long-term damage it has done to relationships of those that surround her. She shows great growth throughout the book and how she comes into her own self-worth. I commend Johnson for not only crafting a very personal story that mirrors some people in her own life, but also the anxiety and depression representation in this novel.

This is a solid debut from Johnson about the family you choose and having to make tough decisions. Recommended for readers who enjoy coming-of-age narratives.
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