What If It's Us by Becky AlbertalliAdam Silvera Published by HarperCollins on October 9th 2018
Genres: Coming of Age, LGBT, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 448
Format: ARC
Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.
But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?
Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.
Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?
What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?
What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?
But what if it is?
If you know me at all, then you know that when Becky and Adam announced that they were writing a book together, rainbows appeared and unicorns flounced through the streets. If I could have ever picked a dream match-up of authors, this probably would have been it!
I will just say this once if you haven’t read any of their individual titles, you must go do so. They both write such amazingly nuanced stories filled with characters that you will find yourself both relating to and cheering for… and quite possibly sobbing your eyes out over!
So yeah… my hopes were high for this story… and you guys, they delivered times 1 billion. This book has it all – complicated relationships, both of the platonic and romantic variety, pop culture references galore, and characters you will fall in love with.
With a rom-com feel and set amongst the backdrop of New York, this story will pull you in with a relationship that starts with an epic meet-cute (think flash mobs) and takes you through all the trials and tribulations of a missed connection, dating and the hands of fate!
While I may make this sound like a light, fluffy YA romance, it’s so much more than that. “What If”, the first half of the book, is the story of Ben and Arthur trying to find each other after their chance meeting and it is definitely cute and sweet and allows us readers, the opportunity to get to know both Ben and Arthur separately. We meet their families and friends and learn about the circumstances that brought them to that post office in the first place, and just get a better feel of the dynamics in their lives.
“It’s Us”, the second half of the book really gives us a look at what happens when they finally do find each other, that’s where Adam and Becky start playing with your emotions and show the real challenges of a summer romance as well as the expectations we put on ourselves and others when we are dating. The big underlying message here is that fate may play a bit part in bringing people together, but relationships are hard and they take work and you have to be willing to put in the effort to show people what they mean to you.
I have to take a second to mention Dylan because he basically stole every scene he was in this book and I felt like he was a solid secondary character along with his girlfriend Samantha. I enjoyed Arthur’s friends as well, but they didn’t stand out quite as much for me as the story was told. The parents aren’t a huge part of the story here, but they are here and they are supportive and it was lovely to see that.
If you’re in the mood for a cute YA LGBTQ romance then this is the book for you. Albertalli and Silvera hit every right note for me in this story and I can’t wait for this to hit the big screen!
It’s on shelves now so grab your copy now!
Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
About Becky Albertalli
Becky Albertalli is the author of the acclaimed novels Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and The Upside of Unrequited. A former clinical psychologist who specialized in working with children and teens, Becky lives with her family in Atlanta.
About Adam Silvera
Adam Silvera was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and is tall for no reason. He was a bookseller before shifting to children’s publishing where he worked at a literary development company, a creative writing website for teens, and as a book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. He lives in New York City. More Happy Than Not is his debut novel.
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