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sam_gartley91's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Cute meet cute, loved the search for each other. The city felt like a character. Loved the two POVs and their thought process of young love. Can’t wait to see what happens next. I understand that they didn’t want to push to have a long distance relationship but also wish they had tried. Loved the scavenger hunt through the city to the first meeting spot. And the twist that the two romper guys were the Dino roommates haha. Interested to see how it goes in the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content and Homophobia
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
asc1006's review against another edition
2.0
I'm giving this book 3 stars although it's definitely a 2.5 stars. I really didn't like the writing style and the overall story was cringy af. Plus, I hated all the pop-culture references. There were too many and they didn't even make sense most of the time. Also, the majority of the characters were super annoying.
adelle_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Vůbec nevím, co si o tom myslet. Bylo to sladký, zároveň rychlý i pomalý a spousta věcí tam byla fakt ňuňu, ale... s tím vyústěním a celkovým vyzněním moc spokojená nejsem. Ale bavilo mě to, to jo.
meggie82461's review against another edition
4.0
Reread 12/28/23 - still over 4 stars. I wanted to reread it before I read the sequel. I still love these crazy kids, and honestly, YA in general... but just in small doses. So I might need to read another book or two before I jump into the sequel
Original read 9.7.2021: 4.5 stars ✨
I really liked this book, even without a *traditional* HEA. There is a sequel coming out in December though, so I bet we get our HEA in that one
Original read 9.7.2021: 4.5 stars ✨
I really liked this book, even without a *traditional* HEA. There is a sequel coming out in December though, so I bet we get our HEA in that one
sofias_reading_obsession's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
cxmxrxnm's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kaitjboyer's review against another edition
4.0
What if it’s us and only us?
I had just come off of reading a really heavy book and needed a cute little rom-com to pull me out of this depressive reading slump.
Seeing as Adam Silvera is one of my all time favourite authors, I picked up this lovely gem I have seen all over my fyp on tiktok! I, as well, loved “Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda” a couple years ago so I had massive high hopes for this book:)
This book was your typical rom-com, but who is to say that those do not have potential or they’re not awesome?! I’m a sucker for love, even if it’s cheesy, and that’s exactly what this was! Although some things were predictable, it was interesting to see the ways in which Albertalli and Silvera approached them - the first kiss, the sex scene... seeing as Silvera works a lot with the rule of 3s. This, for me, is what I really love about Silveras work! Even if some stuff is predictable, he keeps me intrigued! The writing, in both of their works, is super fast pasted and I am able to finish their books in such a short amount of time!!!
Starting off strong, being a theatre kid myself and a massive Harry Potter fan, the references to musicals - “Dear Evan Hansen”, “Hamilton”, “Avenue Q”, “Wicked” - and to Harry Potter - this one being my favourite: “Okay, but... I don’t want to be Ron. No one wants to be Ron. Rupert Grint probably didn’t even want to be Ron” (116) - really connected with me on a personal level that drew me in instantly, especially with the mention of DEH on the first page of the book - “No giant folding maps, no Fanny packs, no eye contact. No humming songs from Dear Evan Hansen in public” (3). It was an awesome realization, about half way through the book, about the books title being related to the musical itself and the parts being named from the lyrics of the song “Only Us” from the musical! I really loved realizing this! Awesome touch:)
The characters themselves were super unique! It was awesome, again, to witness a theatre nerd, Arthur, in a book as well as a nerd for fantasy aka Harry Potter, Ben. The idea that one believes in fate and the universe while the other is the total opposite was SO cliché, but was SO good! Along side the main characters, the sides, as well, were super unique themselves - Dylan being the classic best friend who makes flirty comments, Jessie being the extremely supportive best friend, Ethan being awkward and weird, etc.
I am looking forward to this December for the sequel “Here’s To Us” because I absolutely adored this book. It pulled me out of this dark reading slump and made me laugh constantly! I don’t think there was a moment I wasn’t laughing! I was laughing throughout all 437 pages:)
Arthur and Ben are coming back and I can not WAIT!
And what if that’s all that we need it to be?
I had just come off of reading a really heavy book and needed a cute little rom-com to pull me out of this depressive reading slump.
Seeing as Adam Silvera is one of my all time favourite authors, I picked up this lovely gem I have seen all over my fyp on tiktok! I, as well, loved “Simon Vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda” a couple years ago so I had massive high hopes for this book:)
This book was your typical rom-com, but who is to say that those do not have potential or they’re not awesome?! I’m a sucker for love, even if it’s cheesy, and that’s exactly what this was! Although some things were predictable, it was interesting to see the ways in which Albertalli and Silvera approached them - the first kiss, the sex scene... seeing as Silvera works a lot with the rule of 3s. This, for me, is what I really love about Silveras work! Even if some stuff is predictable, he keeps me intrigued! The writing, in both of their works, is super fast pasted and I am able to finish their books in such a short amount of time!!!
Starting off strong, being a theatre kid myself and a massive Harry Potter fan, the references to musicals - “Dear Evan Hansen”, “Hamilton”, “Avenue Q”, “Wicked” - and to Harry Potter - this one being my favourite: “Okay, but... I don’t want to be Ron. No one wants to be Ron. Rupert Grint probably didn’t even want to be Ron” (116) - really connected with me on a personal level that drew me in instantly, especially with the mention of DEH on the first page of the book - “No giant folding maps, no Fanny packs, no eye contact. No humming songs from Dear Evan Hansen in public” (3). It was an awesome realization, about half way through the book, about the books title being related to the musical itself and the parts being named from the lyrics of the song “Only Us” from the musical! I really loved realizing this! Awesome touch:)
The characters themselves were super unique! It was awesome, again, to witness a theatre nerd, Arthur, in a book as well as a nerd for fantasy aka Harry Potter, Ben. The idea that one believes in fate and the universe while the other is the total opposite was SO cliché, but was SO good! Along side the main characters, the sides, as well, were super unique themselves - Dylan being the classic best friend who makes flirty comments, Jessie being the extremely supportive best friend, Ethan being awkward and weird, etc.
I am looking forward to this December for the sequel “Here’s To Us” because I absolutely adored this book. It pulled me out of this dark reading slump and made me laugh constantly! I don’t think there was a moment I wasn’t laughing! I was laughing throughout all 437 pages:)
Arthur and Ben are coming back and I can not WAIT!
And what if that’s all that we need it to be?
thepetitepunk's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
What If It's Us is the unlikely yet adorably humorous and awkward story of Ben and Arthur, two gay teens in New York who can't stop thinking about each other after one odd encounter at a post office. Spoiler, they find each other again, and a new relationship quickly forms.
Although I have loved both Adam Silvera's and Becky Albertalli's books in the past, I was a bit apprehensive to read What If It's Us. Books written by two authors have the potential to end up really, really bad if one author's writing style flows much better than the other's. However, both Arthur's and Ben's point of view were unique, interesting, and well-written, so the two author thing worked out quite well.
For me, the problem was with the content of the book. I couldn't keep up with the pop culture references, which therefore made it hard to relate to some scenes. I just didn't get it. But that's a personal problem for me, so if you like Broadway musicals (especially Hamilton), pop music, and Harry Potter, you'll appreciate Ben and Arthur's interests. The book is still enjoyable if you don't understand every reference since at heart it's a romance, but I found myself skipping over the huge paragraphs drooling over Hamilton. (Side note: I have not delved into the world of Hamilton yet so I have nothing against it, I just had no idea what Ben and Arthur were talking about.)
Even though the pop culture references got a bit annoying and I found some of the characters' reactions unrealistic (and the ending was frustrating!), I would still definitely recommend What If It's Us. It's funny and sweet, with diverse representation such as main characters that are Jewish, Puerto Rican, have ADHD, and are from the LGBTQ community, and will simultaneously make you laugh and cry.
What If It's Us is the unlikely yet adorably humorous and awkward story of Ben and Arthur, two gay teens in New York who can't stop thinking about each other after one odd encounter at a post office. Spoiler, they find each other again, and a new relationship quickly forms.
Although I have loved both Adam Silvera's and Becky Albertalli's books in the past, I was a bit apprehensive to read What If It's Us. Books written by two authors have the potential to end up really, really bad if one author's writing style flows much better than the other's. However, both Arthur's and Ben's point of view were unique, interesting, and well-written, so the two author thing worked out quite well.
For me, the problem was with the content of the book. I couldn't keep up with the pop culture references, which therefore made it hard to relate to some scenes. I just didn't get it. But that's a personal problem for me, so if you like Broadway musicals (especially Hamilton), pop music, and Harry Potter, you'll appreciate Ben and Arthur's interests. The book is still enjoyable if you don't understand every reference since at heart it's a romance, but I found myself skipping over the huge paragraphs drooling over Hamilton. (Side note: I have not delved into the world of Hamilton yet so I have nothing against it, I just had no idea what Ben and Arthur were talking about.)
Even though the pop culture references got a bit annoying and I found some of the characters' reactions unrealistic (and the ending was frustrating!), I would still definitely recommend What If It's Us. It's funny and sweet, with diverse representation such as main characters that are Jewish, Puerto Rican, have ADHD, and are from the LGBTQ community, and will simultaneously make you laugh and cry.