Briana Johnson – Jill Grinberg Literary Management

Briana Johnson

Briana Johnson is a young adult writer. Her debut novel, If I Could Go Back, will be published by Peachtree Teen in May 2025. She has a degree in Computer Network and Cybersecurity and was a mentee in the 2019 Pitch Wars class. She currently lives in Chicago with her family.

Agent

Sam Farkas

If I Could Go Back

An achingly compassionate and beautifully empathetic novel exploring the intersections of race, mental health, and the meaning of family—perfect for fans of Robin Benway’s Far from the Tree and Jas Hammonds’ We Deserve Monuments.

For Aaliyah Campbell, family is everything. Her cousin Ivy is her best friend and track co-star, and Grandpa Joe is her rock. He may be crotchety and dramatic, but he’s raised Aaliyah since she was a toddler. Still, Aaliyah can’t stop thinking about what’s missing—her parents.

When Aaliyah secretly contacts her mom, she risks upsetting the family who’s always been there. But Grandpa Joe refuses to explain why her parents gave her up, and without answers, Aaliyah cannot silence the anxious voice telling her she’s never been good enough.

Surprisingly, it isn’t Aaliyah’s mom, but her dad, Quincy, who steps up. Quincy turns out to be immature but surprisingly fun to hang out with. And when the rest of the family finds out they’re in contact, old secrets will finally be forced into the light.

Praise for If I Could Go Back

“A deeply emotional and complex novel that looks at how we define family.” —Kirkus, starred review

“If I Could Go Back is a deeply complex look at family and all of the bittersweet joys that come with it. This book holds no punches while still managing to feel like a warm hug. I can’t recommend it enough.” –Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments

“If I Could Go Back is a poignant deep-dive into the messy intricacies of family–how they twist us up and push us down and lift us back up again. A stunning debut.” –A.L. Graziadei, award-winning author of Icebreaker

Publisher

Peachtree Teen

Publication Date

May 6, 2025

Age Category

Young Adult

Genre

Contemporary

Rights

Peachtree