It Might Never Happen

By Emily Slapper

Hardback, £16.99

The cover and the first page of this book drew me in because I suspected it would fit into the same niche as Sally Rooney and Naoise Dolan – and having read it, I think it does – but it has something a little different. Slapper’s writing is more visceral, more down to earth, more on the nose. She writes without holding back, including all the tricky details in a painfully relatable way.

It Might Never Happen deals primarily with the relationship between the two protagonists, who share the narrative voice. It follows them from childhood and through their twenties, depicting the difficult situations they end up in and the impact of the past. Both characters have complex family lives, struggle with self-esteem, and are trying to find their place in the world. The book confronts these topics and numerous others head-on, which made it quite a challenging read at times, but I am glad I finished it. Slapper reflects the characters’ identity crises so perfectly – and the split narrative allows the reader to fully grasp the extent of the misunderstandings and miscommunications between Elliot and Noa. It’s one of those books that made me wince at the mistakes the characters are making, but by the end it made me feel hopeful.

Slapper is a very observant writer, and this book feels very true to life. It’s an in-depth exploration of relationships of all kinds and the ways our brains can fight us – at times a painful read but also a relief.

Review by Jamie