Title: What If It’s Us

Authors: Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK

Cover:

Summary: from Amazon

Meet Arthur and Ben.

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 carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when the boys have a chance meeting at the post office, they leave wondering what exactly the universe does have in store for them.

What if – in a city of eight million people – they can’t find each other again?

What if they do … and then 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?

Review:

I was quite excited to read this book because I really enjoyed Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli and I’d heard lots of good things about Adam Silvera’s books. My expectations were pretty high which may have been the reason What If It’s Us fell a little flat for me. I certainly didn’t hate it, it was an enjoyable read, but I found myself not feeling particularly attached to any of the characters. I really wanted to love it and unfortunately I just didn’t.

The story follows Arthur and Ben through the many stages of their relationship but if I’m being honest, by the end I wasn’t that invested in their romance. I liked them both as characters but I also found them a tad moany and annoying at times. I do feel like I’m perhaps being a little harsh because cutesy romance is so not my thing unless it’s unbelievably well done so I’m not an easy person to win over in this specific genre. To be fair, there were also things I did really like about What If It’s Us. I loved all the references to Harry Potter and pop culture in general even if they were maybe a little too frequent. I also liked the fact that friendship was just as important as romance in the lives of these characters – that felt real and provided a break from the romantic hurdles.

Overall I think a lot of people will love this book even though it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. The melodrama and teenage angst just got a bit much for me personally but there was enough I liked about it that I definitely don’t regret reading it. If you are a fan of young adult or romance then I think it’s worth giving What If It’s Us a shot.

3/5

I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley. My review is completely honest and unbiased.