Review Detail

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.