This Changes Everything by Danielle McKechnie: A Compelling Review of Love, Ambition and Second Chances

This Changes Everything follows Ellie as she chases her dreams, navigates love and discovers what truly matters along the way.

Summary:

🇨🇦 Ellie McCain has always dreamed of a bigger life, so when she’s accepted into a prestigious acting school in New York City, she leaves her family, friends and first love, Rory Campbell, behind. Although New York initially seems like everything she hoped for, Ellie soon finds herself struggling to get ahead while watching those around her—including Rory, now a successful professional golfer—achieve their dreams. When she unexpectedly reconnects with Rory after ten years apart, Ellie begins questioning the choices she’s made, what she truly wants and whether the love she left behind might still have a place in her life. Told across alternating timelines and set in Vancouver, New York and Los Angeles, This Changes Everything explores first love, second chances and the possibility that the person you’ve always loved might also be the one you’re meant to end up with.

My Thoughts:

What a read! This Changes Everything completely drew me into Ellie McCain’s story, and I loved the complexity of her character. Ellie is driven, passionate and determined to make a name for herself in the entertainment world, but she also has an incredible capacity to love deeply. Watching those two sides of her personality unfold throughout the story made her such a fascinating character to follow.

The story moves through multiple timeframes, beginning with Ellie as a teenager and eventually bringing us to her life at thirty. I really enjoyed how Danielle McKechnie revealed Ellie’s relationships with Rory and Ben gradually, giving us just enough information at the right moments to understand how each relationship shaped her. As Ellie’s story unfolded between Vancouver, New York and Los Angeles, I found myself completely invested in both romances. I honestly had no idea which man Ellie would ultimately choose, and I was cheering for both Rory and Ben equally. I particularly loved that they both respected Ellie, supported her ambitions and would do almost anything for her.

Ellie’s journey in the entertainment industry also brought a much more serious and emotional element to the story. Watching her work so hard to build a career in New York and later Los Angeles, only to encounter opportunistic employers, misogyny and ultimately assault, was difficult to read. The experiences were reminiscent of the abuses brought to light through the #MeToo movement, and I appreciated the care and respect with which McKechnie handled these scenes. Ellie’s determination to keep pursuing her dreams despite what she encountered made her journey all the more compelling.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Abigail Reno, and her performance was superb. She truly became Ellie, capturing her passion, enthusiasm and determination so beautifully. I highly recommend experiencing This Changes Everything in audio.

Final Thoughts:

This is a story about love, ambition, friendship, difficult choices and figuring out what you really want from life. I loved watching Ellie grow from the teenager with big dreams into a woman who has to take a hard look at where she’s been, where she’s going and who she wants beside her. This Changes Everything kept me invested from beginning to end, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.