What If It's Us

Becky Albertalli · Adam Silvera

Oct 2018 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

A New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller!

Critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in this smart, funny, heartfelt collaboration about two very different boys who can’t decide if the universe is pushing them together—or pulling them apart.

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 nail a first date even after three do-overs?

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 it’s us?

Plus don't miss Here's to Us! Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story of Arthur and Ben, the boys readers first fell for in What If It’s Us.

Ratings and reviews

This is a romance story about a meet-cute between two guys, in New York, and yes, it brings in all the cuteness and relatability of a first love. Told in alternating perspectives between Ben and Arthur, it is a sweet romance but also about how to navigate relationships and friendships in your teen years, as well as how there is no perfect formula for a happy couple, and you find your own way. All this is bound together in the humor and realism of being a young adult in this era. Ben and Arthur meet at a transitional time in both their lives – Ben is just getting over a recent break-up (he dumped his ex and was about to mail him his things) and Arthur is interning at his mom’s law firm for the summer. It is a little love at first sight, but more like ‘oh he’s cute I should give it a try’ kind of thing. The initial stages of their relationships are fraught with troubles like, for instance, finding each other, which Arthur does in his cute Arthur way, and then finding a happy medium between their two different ideas of hanging out and having fun. Their approach to love is also slightly different – where Arthur is all about the romanticized idea of love, Ben is a little cynical given his recent break-up. Then comes their individual insecurities – Arthur feels that Ben might not be over his ex, and Ben feels a little defensive about his socioeconomic status, as well as the fact that he is in summer school. Alongside this main storyline, is the changing relationships between their respective group of friends, and how they handle those things. The only drawback of this book I can say is that the voices don’t seem distinct enough. Ben and Arthur sound pretty much the same, even with their supposedly different personalities, and considering the fact that this book is co-written by two people, it was just disappointing that this happened. And while this is not necessarily a drawback, their respective friends are way TOO enthusiastic about getting them together, and you also have to pretty much buy into fate to make this all believable; still, considering this is a romance, it gets a pass. Overall, a cute romance story with a good cast of characters you’d love to cheer for.

This book was really good but had alot of pacing issues for me. The characters had me screaming at my book and almost throwing it across the room whether it be from anger or just utter fluff. The ending truely made me upset and Ben was infuriating the entire time except like ten times. I truely am trying but after reading this it is taking everything in me to try to round up the courage and desire to read the sequel book. I love Adam Silvera and how he chooses to portray his characters and changing the point of view but the characters (mainly Ben) were just not my cup of tea this time.

I enjoyed this book more than I thought it would. This the first book I read that involves two people of the same sex liking each other and I really enjoyed it. This book had me tearing up in the last couple chapters.

About the author

Becky Albertalli is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of William C. Morris Award winner and National Book Award longlist title Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (now a major motion picture, Love, Simon); The Upside of Unrequited; Leah on the Offbeat; the Simonverse novella Love, Creekwood; What If It’s Us (cowritten with Adam Silvera); Yes No Maybe So (cowritten with Aisha Saeed); Kate in Waiting; and Imogen, Obviously, a Stonewall Honor Book. Becky lives with her family near Atlanta. You can visit her online at beckyalbertalli.com.

Adam Silvera is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of They Both Die at the End, The First to Die at the End, More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, the Infinity Cycle, and—with Becky Albertalli—What If It’s Us and Here’s to Us. He worked in the publishing industry as a children’s bookseller, community manager at a content development company, and book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. He was born and raised in New York and now lives in Los Angeles. He is tall for no reason. Visit him online at adamsilvera.com.