Busy Bee's Book Review: "If You Change Your Mind" by Robby Weber
- Lance Alvarez
- Jun 28, 2024
- 7 min read
In the bustling world of contemporary literature, every now and then, a book emerges that not only captures our attention but also resonates deeply within our hearts and minds. If You Change Your Mind by Robby Weber is one such gem. This poignant novel takes readers on an emotional journey through themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of love. With its compelling narrative and vulnerable characters, Weber invites us to explore the complexities of human relationships and the profound impact of life's unexpected twists and turns.
Harry wants nothing more than to write Hollywood screenplays. He knows the first step toward achieving that goal is winning a screenwriting competition that will seal his admission into the college of his dreams, so he's determined to spend his summer free of distractions—also known as boys—and finish his script. After last year, Harry is certain love only exists in the movies anyway.But then the cause of his first heartbreak, Grant, returns with a secret that could change everything—not to mention, there's a new boy in town, Logan, who is so charming and sweet, he's making Harry question everything he knows about romance. As he tries to keep his emotions in check and stick to his perfect plan for the future, Harry's about to learn that life doesn't always follow a script. |  |
Content & Trigger Disclaimer: This book contains sensitive material, including mental illness, toxic relationships, and alcohol and drug use, among others. Reader discretion is advised. Please use your judgment and conduct further research if you have specific concerns. |
Hive Highlights
Spoiler-Free Summary
When thinking of If You Change Your Mind, the first thought that comes to mind is the same warmth and nostalgic allure found in stories like The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. It explores themes centered around teenage love—specifically first love—and the complexities it brings. In this story, Weber takes us on a journey of self-discovery through the eyes of Harry, an aspiring screenwriter, who finds himself in the middle of a love triangle with the new boy in town and the ex who broke his heart.
This narrative draws you in with its nostalgic charm while imbuing you with the vibrancy and energy of teenage love. For those who seek stories that make you feel warm inside and have you grinning from ear to ear without veering into spicy territory, this is definitely one for your bookshelves. It celebrates queer teenage love with a character whose flaws make him relatable and easy to root for. The town of Citrus Harbor and its lovable residents, along with Harry's family, highlight what is so great about stories like this. Weber masterfully brings out the uniqueness and individuality of each character, even fleshing out some that might not seem essential to the story. These details add to the beautiful setting he created.
Overall, this makes for a feel-good beach read or the perfect book to pick up on a rainy day while snuggling up on the sofa with a hot cup of tea.
The Swarm Scores
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Horror Score Romance Score Tear Score Humor Score | Believability Score Predictability Score Fluff Score Enjoyment Score |
The Bee-brief
The following review will contain spoilers. Do not continue reading this section if you wish to avoid spoilers for the story.
Characters & Relationships
The only place to start is with the star of this show, Mr. Harry Kensington. Harry is a lovable and quirky lead dead set on chasing his dreams of stardom in screenwriting and escaping the confines of his small-town life in Citrus Harbor. Harry undergoes a beautiful transformation throughout the story, finding that much of his struggles come from being close-minded and succumbing to tunnel vision rather than allowing himself to live in the present. He is a character that makes it easy for many to relate to because this is a challenge we so often struggle with, toeing the line between achieving our dreams and aspirations without sacrificing the beauty and importance of our present. His love interests consist of Grant Kennedy, Harry's first love and heartbreak, returning for the summer after having moved away the previous year without a word of warning and leaving Harry to endure the heartbreak, and Logan Waters, the nephew of Harry's neighbor come to stay for the summer, who truly marches to the beat of his own drums and sends everything Harry thinks he knows about love out the door. Getting to experience each of these boys individually and enjoy the depth that Weber imbues into them is a true gift. It poses the theme that often inspires many great love stories, pitting first love against new love. With Grant, there is so much history and comfort that their relationship feels like opening your favorite comfort book or wrapping yourself in a warm blanket that makes you feel safe. With Logan comes the allure and refreshing quality of something new, something unexpected, and yet something that will simultaneously solidify your deepest beliefs of love while shattering them and painting a new portrait. Watching Harry interact with both of these boys truly does take you on a journey, and by humanizing and fleshing out each one in great length and imbuing them with their flaws, desires, and individualities, Weber keeps you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that makes it hard to root for one over the other and still leaves you yearning for all three to claim their happy ending.
Outside the core trio, Weber deftly crafts this community of beautiful and unique characters that make up the world of Citrus Harbor and make you feel like you've known them your whole life. Starting with Harry's mother and younger sisters, who are a true masterclass in how to write a loving, supportive family that, despite being so different, are each other's guiding lights. Harry's best friend Hailey, who also undergoes her relationship woes throughout the story and with whom Harry has an ultimate falling out and rekindling, brings another side of youthful charm and vitality that pairs beautifully with Harry's personality and shows the ups and downs of friendships during this transitional period in life. Then there is Foster, who, between the constant flirting and wild partying, manages to show off this kind and nurturing side of his character that leaves the readers as surprised as Harry, being led to peg him as your typical dude-bro character. There's Harry's quirky boss at his summer bookselling job, Jesse, his frenemy coworker, Agnes, and so many others. However, one who deserves mention and truly stands out is Logan's aunt, Jane, who, despite her late introduction, manages to cut through the page and tug at your heart in a very short time. Experiencing her relationship with Logan and how her character contrasts with Harry's hard-set vision of life is masterfully juxtaposed.
Setting & Writing Style
Weber's writing right off the bat is very detail-oriented. If you've ever spent a day at the beach, walking along a shop-lined pier, watching the sunset, enjoying a snack, and struggling to put it into words, look no further. Weber's ability to give life to these scenes through detailed descriptions that play on experiences many of us relate to is not only smart, but it places readers in a unique position to truly picture the setting, down to the wind chimes and surfboard wax. It's also effortless to follow along and feel as if the story is being read to you rather than reading it yourself, seamlessly flowing from scene to scene. Of course, we can't overlook the subtle nod to classic rom-coms, with the titles of each chapter placing a playful spin on many to fit the story. Another unique choice is to interpose snippets of Harry's screenplay, which plays a central role in his motivation throughout the story, in between each chapter, building on not only the story but also offering glimpses into how the events in Harry's life are affecting and guiding his own storytelling.
Story Plot & Intrigue
The story's main plot is clear enough: Harry, who aspires to be a screenwriter and get into his dream school, determines to swear off boys for the summer to dedicate his time and attention to winning a screenwriting contest. This journey carries us through the book; however, as life gets in the way, Harry finds himself dealing with a love triangle caught between his ex-boyfriend and the new guy in town. Throughout Harry's story, we also get to experience developments in his mother's life, the heart-wrenching journey that he faces with his best friend Hailey, whose boyfriend cheats on her, throwing a wrench in her own overzealous plan for the future, and Harry's unexpected and surprising friendship with Foster, a former fling turned good friend who pops in at just the right moments. The true emotional storyline comes in the form of Logan's aunt, Jane, who has Alzheimer's and is portrayed as a loving woman whose zest for life and love for Logan we get to experience through brief moments in which he opens up to Harry. Jane's appearance comes late in the story, and despite only lasting a few short scenes, truly adds unexpected depth to Logan's character and journey and significantly influences his relationship with Harry. Throughout it all, we found ourselves teetering back and forth between which of the two boys we wanted Harry to end up with, much like Harry, and incredibly being taken on this journey of highs and lows right alongside him. It is a true testament to his ability to story tell that Weber managed to keep us on our toes to the very last chapter, long after the story feels like it will have an open ending, and even as it attains a semblance of one, he still manages to give us closure.
Final Thoughts
If You Change Your Mind is a beautiful example of how to tell a story of queer love that celebrates its characters and where their sexuality isn't the driving force in the story, it's just a part of who they are. It is a rom-com through and through with all of the lovable pull of the genre and an exploration of the beauty of those oft-dreaded teenage years. Amidst extravagant beach-side parties, the homey draw of Citrus Harbor, and the intricacies of self-discovery, Weber shows a fine-tuned talent for imbuing a sense of youth and zest for life that accompanies this time in our lives. His ability to not only put a name to the array of complex emotions that accompany teenage and first love but expand on them to make them something we can relate to, tying them to moments and experiences long-settled within our minds, is astounding. While the story is in no way without its faults and shortcomings, as most debuts tend to be, Weber's breakout into the world of storytelling marks him as a definite author to watch. We cannot wait to dive into Weber's next novel and find ourselves again drawn back to this magical, complex age.
Stinger Superlatives
 QUEEN BEE |  SOCIAL BUTTERFLY |  BEEKEEPER |
 BUMBLE BUDDIES |  HONEY-MOONERS |  HIVE HERO |
 BEE-LOVED |  DAISY DREAMER |  BEEHIVE BEACON |
Memorable Quotes
"I don't spend too much time imagining what could be, though. I mean, we only really have what is." ― page 151 | "People say you never really get over your first love, and maybe that's true. But how am I supposed to know―at seventeen―the difference between what was, what is, and what could be?" ― page 211 | "You said I wouldn't catch fire if I touch you," I say. "And that's not true. I will. It'll be wildfire, and I won't be able to put it out." ― page 121 |
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