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A review by jelkebooks
Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed What If It's Us when I read it back in the day, and I'm actually one of the few people who really liked the non-traditional ending that book. Truly, to this day it's the main reason why this book has always stood out in my brain, despite me not absolutely loving it. So, when I heard there was going to be a sequel I actually was kind of excited, however subconsiously I apparently was also quite dissapointed because it took me this long to actually get around to reading it.
Truth is I just think this sequel was completely unnececary, and reading it completely confirmed that to me. It's very obvious while reading this book, that this wasn't the original plan from Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, and was instead written because so many people loved this book but didn't love the end. I wouldn't neccecarily say this book was bad, because it wasn't, it just was completely pulled out of thin air and you can tell.
This is basically a second chance romance, which is a trope I absolutely ADORE when it's done well. It absolutely isn't done well in this book. For the entirety of my time reading this book I just couldn't help find Ben and Arthur quite pathetic. The way they are both just so hung up over a relationship that happened TWO YEARS AGO at this point, just wasn't it. Especially considering both of their lives had moved in such a different direction from where we left them in the last book. It's also not like throughout this book they formed any kind of new connection either. It was all just based on these feelings they had TWO YEARS AGO. That's truly what convinced that this book was never the original plan, because this is the lamest second chance romance I've ever read. There was just no effort put into it. Ben and Arthur also have new love interests within this book, and they were awesome. Honestly, they were really good characters, and great love interests. The two pairings also had more chemistry together than Ben and Arthur did within this book. If I have one actual complaint of this book it's that they just put more effort into developing these two side romances that lead to nothing than into our main romance.
All of that being said, I did still enjoy my time reading this book. The story was engaging enough, and the side characters absolutely stole the show for me. Especially Dylan, he stole absolutely every scene that he was in, and actually made me laugh a couple of time while reading this book. I can definitely understand why die hard fans of the first book would really enjoy this one (especially if you were dissatified with the ending) but even a casual fan will notice that this sequel was nothing more than a cash grab.
Truth is I just think this sequel was completely unnececary, and reading it completely confirmed that to me. It's very obvious while reading this book, that this wasn't the original plan from Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, and was instead written because so many people loved this book but didn't love the end. I wouldn't neccecarily say this book was bad, because it wasn't, it just was completely pulled out of thin air and you can tell.
This is basically a second chance romance, which is a trope I absolutely ADORE when it's done well. It absolutely isn't done well in this book. For the entirety of my time reading this book I just couldn't help find Ben and Arthur quite pathetic. The way they are both just so hung up over a relationship that happened TWO YEARS AGO at this point, just wasn't it. Especially considering both of their lives had moved in such a different direction from where we left them in the last book. It's also not like throughout this book they formed any kind of new connection either. It was all just based on these feelings they had TWO YEARS AGO. That's truly what convinced that this book was never the original plan, because this is the lamest second chance romance I've ever read. There was just no effort put into it. Ben and Arthur also have new love interests within this book, and they were awesome. Honestly, they were really good characters, and great love interests. The two pairings also had more chemistry together than Ben and Arthur did within this book. If I have one actual complaint of this book it's that they just put more effort into developing these two side romances that lead to nothing than into our main romance.
All of that being said, I did still enjoy my time reading this book. The story was engaging enough, and the side characters absolutely stole the show for me. Especially Dylan, he stole absolutely every scene that he was in, and actually made me laugh a couple of time while reading this book. I can definitely understand why die hard fans of the first book would really enjoy this one (especially if you were dissatified with the ending) but even a casual fan will notice that this sequel was nothing more than a cash grab.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol