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It Might Never Happen

By Emily Slapper
0.0 (0 reviews)
Brief Description
Thought-provoking and beautifully written Daily Mail Strangely compelling The Times Astonishing. If you like Sally Rooney, read this book Hattie Williams (Look at these two. They have been sure that their fate is in their own hands – they have been desperate to believe this –... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
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Releases 1st September 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "It Might Never Happen" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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'Thought-provoking and beautifully written' Daily Mail 'Strangely compelling' The Times 'Astonishing. If you like Sally Rooney, read this book' Hattie Williams

A brand-new captivating and lyrical literary love story for 2026 from the author of Everyone I Know is Dying

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Thought-provoking and beautifully written Daily Mail
Strangely compelling The Times
Astonishing. If you like Sally Rooney, read this book Hattie Williams

(Look at these two. They have been sure that their fate is in their own hands – they have been desperate to believe this – and now they are learning it is not.

The ending is a pivotal moment in their story.)

Noa is desperate to be loved. More than anything else – more than her studies, more than her job, her friends, her family – she wants to belong to someone. And she knows if this can happen, if someone will just choose her, she’ll finally be happy.

Elliot is terrified. Terrified about what will happen to his brother, Willy, if he isn’t there to keep him safe. Terrified that his friends will find out that he doesn’t have any of his own opinions. Terrified that the girl he loves will realise he isn’t a real person.

When they meet, Noa and Elliot have an immediate connection. And each of them hopes their great love might be enough to quiet the voices that tell them they’re not enough. But is it possible to love another person when you have no idea how to love yourself?

It Might Never Happen is a beautiful, painful, brutally relatable novel about the ways that love tears us apart, again and again. About fearing for the worst – and how we pick ourselves up when it happens. Perfect for fans of Talking at Night, Ordinary Love or Milk Teeth.

*

Intimate and incisive Woman
Important and affecting Charlotte Paradise
Tender, raw, and painfully relatable Woman's Own

*

Readers are giving FIVE stars to It Might Never Happen

'A moving and beautifully written book'

'This book cracked me open … I'll be thinking about this one for a long time'

'Totally absorbing … One of the best books I've read this year'

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008629168

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 May 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: HQ

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 352

Collections

Contemporary Romance Emily Slapper Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Pre-order Books Pre-order General Fiction Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date Romance

About the Author

Emily Slapper grew up in Northampton before studying Cinema and Photography at the University of Leeds. After graduating she moved to London to work in advertising whilst hoping to one day become a screenwriter. But wanting to write films turned into wanting to write books and so she started a Creative Writing MA at Royal Holloway. Everyone I Know is Dying is her debut novel. In her spare time she loves walking around South East London with her dog, Tina.

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    A raw, astute and painfully relatable novel about the relationships that shape us and the relationship we have with ourselves, from the author of Everyone I Know is Dying. Noa is desperate to be loved. More than anything else – more than her studies, more than her job, her friends, her family – she wants to belong to someone. And...
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