If Only It Were True

If Only It Were True

First edition cover, as published by Éditions Robert Laffont
Author	Marc Levy
Original title	Et si c'était vrai...
Language	French
Genre	Romantic fantasy
Publisher	Robert Laffont
Publication date	1999
Publication place	France
Published in English	2000

If Only It Were True (French: Et si c’était vrai...) is the first novel by the French author Marc Levy. It was released in 1999 by Éditions Robert Laffont, and was translated into English the following year. The novel has been adapted into an array of motion pictures, including the 2005 American film Just Like Heaven.

Plot

If Only it Were True is set against the backdrop of San Francisco and tells the story of Lauren Kline, a young, pretty, medical resident, completely devoted to her work in the emergency room of San Francisco Memorial Hospital. She works round-the-clock dealing with patients until she gets into a serious car crash. As a result of the crash, Lauren enters a coma. She "wakes" to awareness outside of her still comatose body and is frustrated to learn that she cannot communicate with anyone. She chooses to spend most of her time in her old apartment, where she is discovered by Arthur, the new tenant. Only he can see, hear, or touch her. After some initial disbelief on his part, Arthur agrees to help Lauren.

Sequel

A sequel to the novel entitled Vous revoir was published in 2005.

Adaptations

The novel has been adapted into several films including the American film Just Like Heaven and the Indian films Vismayathumbathu and I See You.