If Not You by Ellen O’Clover
If not you, who?
The basics
Format: eARC / ALC
Release Date: September 15, 2026
Rating: ★★★★★
If Not You was my first Ellen O’Clover read and I can already tell you that she is a standout author for me. In this book, we meet Mattie French and Campbell Porter – two rivals whose tension goes back to their intern year and continues as they become copywriters for different agencies. Their rivalry and banter runs deep in this story, but just in the sense that one of them could be better than the other, but that perception is reality. When you feel that someone is just naturally better than you or gets everything they want, that becomes who they are to you.
I’ve heard so many times and in so many posts, seen the ‘bring back men who yearn’ trend and let me just get out in front of this one: Campbell is a yearner. I feel like it’s so clear as soon as you start reading this book that Campbell pokes and prods because he is crushing BIG TIME. In the past five years, Campbell has edged her out in winning their internship ‘competition’ and securing a position and senior title in her dream company. What makes this feeling that much worse? Their agencies are now competing for a new client that requires they go on an all-inclusive / immersive experience altogether.
“Full send.” It’s what we said back in June, at the end of our first week, when it had become abundantly clear we were both out for blood. Each other’s.
What I really loved about their story is not just their antagonizing (perfection) or the connection that leaps off the page. I found myself needing to keep reading because I was genuinely invested in them as people not just their romantic storyline. There’s a lot of depth to Mattie and Campbell both that absolutely devastated me (in the very best way). I am a sucker for a one-sided rivalry and theirs was perfection. The people surrounding them were so so well done that I even was personally invested in them. If Not You felt like a love letter to personhood, and I absolutely think everyone should read it.
