The narrative makes sparing, effective use of jumps in time to give a sense of the larger trajectory of Ida’s life. This device lends the novel perspective: Ida’s feelings shift, and she begins to envision a life beyond the endless circles of infatuation and abuse. Feverish and intoxicating, If Only is a novel about the depths of a life-altering devotion and the connections between love, creativity, and self-making.
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