in the event that?

COuld you please tell me which one of the two?

the book echoed the former style, in the event that the readers should not like the change (of the previous book)

or

the book echoed the former style, should the readers not like the change


I mean to say that the author ha tried a change of style (before writing the book we are talking about) but then, in his next work, he had gone back to his first stylistic choice this due to his fear that his readers should/could not appreciate the change made

Perhaps it would be clearer to say "his former style" and "because he was concerned/feared that his readers would not like the change of style".

A useful word that means "in case... not" is "lest", so you could say "the book echoed the former style, lest the readers did not like the change". (Some people insist on a modal, or even a subjunctive, after "lest", but "lest they did" is fine in BE at least).

b

Indeed, "the book echoed the former style, lest the readers did not like the change" sound very good... I agree with you BobK.

"because he was concerned/feared that his readers would not like the change of style"
This sounds good too...

thanks. Actually it is not a fear but it is more "just in case"............I don't know how to put it...........

In that case, Bob's suggestion is best!