What If It's Us - by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Title: What If It's Us

Author: Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Published: 9 Oct 2018

Series: -

Rating: 4 stars

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?

What if we haven’t seen the best us yet?

I received this book as an ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Arthur James Seuss: a 5’6” Jewish kid with ADHD and the rage of a tornado. Ben Hugo Alejo: a freckle faced Catholic Puerto Rican. The book centres around both of these boys but you manage to love the secondary characters just as much as the main ones.

Dylan: On the sad scale, how are you feeling today? Opening-montage-of-Up sad? Or Nemo’s-om-dying-sad?
Ben: …last-five-minutes-of-Toy-Story-3 sad.

There are also many references in the book too. Harry Potter, Star Wars, Lyft, Avenue Q, Titanic, The Fault in Our Stars and a few more.

Dylan acts how most best friends would (and how mine definitely does) – asking about how their friend’s date went. “Who is he? Name. Address. Social security number. Twitter and Instagram handles.”

I loved this book and there were so many themes that should be shared around so that the entire human race finally hears them and hopefully finally absorbs them!

1. Not everything is love at first sight
2. You can still be friends after you break up
3. Not being ready for sex is okay
4. Asking about things to do with sex is okay
5. LGBT+ should be able to come out when they’re ready and not be pressured into it
6. Everyone doubts themselves about something
7. Take people as they are! Not everyone from a certain race etc can speak the language or follows the religion etc.
8. Not kissing someone before you’re ready to is okay
9. Some people are able to jump into love and others have to take their time
10. Sometimes you just need time to love yourself before you can love someone else

I also love that Juliet is biromantic ace.

Plus I think the treasure hunt was probably my favourite part of the book. I’m a sucker for cute things like that.

Maybe it’s all about people coming into your life for a little while and you take what they give you and use it in your next friendship or relationship. And if you’re lucky, maybe some people pop back in after you thought they were gone for good.

Spoilers!

I did guess that Arthur was going to meet the actual Hudson, but the meeting was more amusing than I thought it was going to be.

Also, I very much wanted to scream at the man on the train that was being super rude and anti-gay. You can have your own opinions about sexuality etc, but there’s definitely no need to shout it at someone and make them feel terrible just because you have your own opinion of something. We are called individuals for a reason!

End Spoilers!