If I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

If I Can't Have You is the twisted story of a woman obsessed with a man. From the day Constance meets Samuel at her workplace, she is convinced he is the one for her. Unaware of her obsession, he begins sleeping with her and so starts an unhealthy and dysfunctional dynamic which fuels the whole plot.

The plot of this book is very simple but it's all in the execution for me. This is a very well-told story, with a decent pace and enough going on that it keeps you invested. I really liked the addition of Edward, an elderly friend Constance makes early on. I think this could have easily focused entirely on the romance/stalking aspect and, while it is still mostly about that, it adds depth and realism that Constance has an existence outside of that, even if she doesn't realise it.

My biggest contention of the book lies with Constance's friend/roommate, Dale. Initially I thought he was her husband and this was a little confusing (I did listen to the audiobook so it's possible I missed something) but more importantly, I can't decide whether I like what he symbolises in the story. Dale is hopelessly in love with Constance and this is meant to be a mirror to her feelings towards Samuel, but it doesn't quite hit true. For starters, Constance initially does little to encourage Dale whilst Samuel definitely flirts with Constance and takes advantage of her. Secondly, the direction the Dale plotline takes means I am not quite sure what the author was going for. Is this meant to be Constance's punishment for acting how she does? Intentional or not, it's hard not to read into it that way. But again, I do like the depth and interesting parallels it adds at times.

Overall, this book is an intriguing exploration of an obsessive relationship. It doesn't do anything ground-breaking plot wise, and if you want a high-octane thriller then there are better examples out there. But it is an interesting blend of thriller and standard fiction, and it has enough depth and interesting things to say to be worth your time

Overall Rating:

.5