What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

SYNOPSIS

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?

Synopsis from Goodreads

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PERSONAL REVIEW

I love when authors collaborate to bring us new stories; it’s such a fun opportunity for readers to meet new authors based on the ones they already love. I’ve never actually read anything by Adam Silvera, but I love Becky Albertalli so I was incredibly excited when “What If It’s Us” was announced. Like many readers, I put it on my TBR list before there was even a synopsis up! Luckily, our loyalty paid off when this book was released last week and it’s everything we could’ve hoped for.

The Fight for Romance
With so many cringe-worthy first dates happening back-to-back, it was honestly beginning to look like these two just were t meant to be; but instead, there is an old school romance to the fact that Ben and Arthur continue trying to have the perfect first date. In today’s world where it’s possible to find a new date with the swipe of a finger, there’s something so wonderful about the fact that these two characters refuse to give up. I don’t know if I would’ve had the kind of courage to keep trying like they did! Watching them trying to figure it out, and their relationship grow, I fell more and more in love with Arthur and Ben as a couple. Knowing that their relationship would end at the end of the summer made their time together even more bittersweet.

Dynamic Characters
I haven’t read anything from Adam Silvera before, but every time I’ve read a Becky Albertalli book I’ve been very impressed with the way she creates such wonderful characters, both primary and secondary. This book was no different; this time both authors came together to give us so many different personalities and really, really great supporting characters for Arthur and Ben’s story. I was a really big fan of Dylan; I loved absolutely everything about his relationship with Ben. They are brothers in every way but blood, and I thought that both individually and as Ben’s bff, Dylan was really well developed.

I’ve also been impressed with how Albertalli includes parental relationships in her books (Silvera may as well, I’m just not as confident in stating that!) and I really enjoyed meeting Ben and Arthur’s parents. The fact that both families are welcoming of their son’s boyfriend, that they have absolutely no problems with their son’s being gay, and that they are developed characters themselves are just some of the reasons I thought they were great characters in this book.

Arthur and Ben’s love story is one that everyone should read. You’ll cringe, you’ll smile, and you’ll anxiously wait to find out what happens in the end for them. I was incredibly happy with the wonderful collaboration of Albertalli and Silvera and would highly recommend this book to anyone who has previously read one of their books and loved it, or to those who’ve only seen the Love, Simon movie and want more awesomeness!

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FINAL RATING: 4.5/5