Publication Date: September 8, 2026
An aspiring actor caught in the Hollywood rollercoaster is torn between following her dreams and choosing between two of her own leading men-her childhood sweetheart and the one who got away, or the fellow actor who understands just what she’s fighting for. A funny, sexy and heartfelt romance for readers of Yulin Kuang, Rebecca Serle and Emily Henry.
Ellie McCain has always dreamed of a bigger life, so when she’s accepted into a prestigious acting school in New York City, she packs her bags-even if it means leaving her family, her friends, and Rory Campbell, the boy who held her heart for years, behind.
At first, life in New York is even better than she’d dreamed it would be-she loves her classes, she gets a position at a fancy production company, and she’s even falling in love with her classmate-turned-roommate-turned-best friend, Ben. But soon the shine starts to wear off: her boss has made it clear that the only role he’ll be casting her in is “Unpaid Intern #3”, and while she’s happy that Ben’s career is starting to take off, she’s struggling to stay afloat. And it doesn’t help that everyone around her seems to be passing her by-even her childhood sweetheart, Rory, is living out his dreams as a Professional Golfer. But when she runs into Rory for the first time in ten years, she starts to wonder what exactly it is she’s running from, where is she going, and who is running with her.
Told in alternating timelines of the past and present and moving between Vancouver, New York, and Los Angeles, This Changes Everything is the story of love-first love, one-that-got-away-love, and true love-and asks if maybe, just maybe, all of those loves can be one and the same.
From her roots in Vancouver to New York and Los Angeles, Ellie McCain sees an acting future for herself.
No one told her about the heartbreak that would follow her as she chased her dream. Author Danielle McKechnie uses flashback chapters to deliver a powerful story about love, loss, and second chances in This Changes Everything.
In one corner is Rory, the guy she grew up with, but the timing just never seems to work. In the other corner is Ben, the bold actor whose friendship evolves into something more.
And then there is the event that, from a teenager’s perspective, completely rocks her world. The author builds a solid cast of supporting characters who are at Ellie’s side both in good times and in bad.
Although it might seem to be a love-triangle story on the surface, the focus is more on Ellie and how she navigates the changes in her life. Readers can enjoy both Rory and Ben, but in the end, it’s all about Team Ellie.
This Changes Everything illustrates a young woman’s dream for success and how it changes shape over time.
After studying at Circle in the Square Theatre School, Danielle McKechnie moved to Los Angeles and transitioned to a behind-the-scenes role in production, development, and writing across film, television, traditional radio, and live entertainment. As an author and creative producer, she now lives in her hometown of Vancouver with her husband and two daughters.
