Book 1: You + Me: Against the World - Now a Prime Video Film

by Emma Green

They wanted to make movies. Instead, they're about to live one.

When Alma Lancaster meets Vadim Arcadi at a Los Angeles film school, they couldn't be more different.
Eighteen-year-old Alma is Franco-British, comes from a wealthy family, has the perfect boyfriend, and her entire future mapped out before her. Vadim is American with Russian roots, a troubled past, and no family to call his own. She's trapped by the expectations of her world. He's driven by an unshakable need for freedom.
They shouldn't work. Everyone around them agrees.
Yet despite themselves, they can't stay away from each other. Something pulls them together—and keeps pulling, no matter how hard they fight it. They clash. They push each other away. They come back anyway.
They don't know it yet, but the day they meet will change their lives forever.

Discover the novel behind the Prime Video film!

458 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2026

Reviews

[Audrey Antoniello · Rating 1.25 out of 5]

I’m sorry, absolutely not. The writing was so bad. I know I did this to myself bc this was a wattpad turned published book so like of course it was going to be terrible but all around just no. And of course it left on the biggest cliffhanger so I have to keep going kill me now

[ᗯᗩᒍEᕼᗩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful and I'm eagerly awaiting the rest of the parts.

[Ralu · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's really my fault for going in blind with this book and not searching it beforehand. It was one of the most horrendously written books I have ever come across. It should have stayed on Wattpad, where it belonged. It reads like journaling the stream of consciousness of a 15-year-old teenager. There was no editor involved in this at all.
Pages upon pages with no dialogue, just the same juvenile thoughts, little to no character development for the main characters, absolutely no personality for any of the other characters, full of tropes handled with superficiality (stereotype of the bad boy with Russian descent, rich but shy good girl, almost cheating, pregnancy scare, daddy saves the day, the most used clichés in existence).

On top of that, it was extremely boring. And do not get me started on the fact that this is just book 1 and the author left it open-ended. 480+ pages and they don't get to be together at the end? What abomination is this? Why would someone want to turn this into a movie is beyond me.

For those who reviewed it more than 3 stars, please, I beg you, do better. Raise the bar. Read better books. There are SO MANY out there that are worth your time. This is not it.

[Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much—these characters now live rent-free in my head! The pacing was fantastic; the author packed so much into the story, yet it never felt rushed. Everything flowed seamlessly from start to finish.

I actually watched the movie before reading the book, and the film left me feeling pretty annoyed. In the adaptation, it felt forced—like the characters were thrown into a group and made to fall in love simply because they were together. If they had adapted this into a 6-part limited series instead, it would have given the characters room to breathe and helped viewers actually understand the reasoning behind their decisions.

The dynamic between Vadim and Alma in the book is incredible. I loved how they genuinely help each other and bring out the absolute best in one another as their connection grows.

All of the supporting characters are wonderful, too—little sister Lily was easily a favorite of mine! I also loved the close relationship between Clem and Alma, especially watching Clem try to pull Alma out of her shell.

We need the English translations for Books 2 and 3 right away!

[Bailey’s Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written book. All the characters are so well described. I found myself picturing the classmates, friends, siblings, parents, in such detail. Like a true movie in my head. The story was entertaining, frustrating, thought provoking, inspiring and romantic. I read the book in 2 days. I found myself thinking about the story and plot, when folding laundry, or driving kiddos to swim lessons. When I got to the end and realized the second book hasn’t been translated to English, I found myself wishing I took French in high school. Please adapt book two ASAP.

Thanks for a great story. And seriously, anyone know how to get book 2 in English immediately?

[Jen Calorme · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE 😭💗 I loved the movie, but the book?? EVEN BETTER. I’m actually obsessed with these two and their love story. The way they fell for each other, kept choosing each other, and just how they fit together.

Two souls searching for something more, who somehow become everything to each other. My heart.

BUT THAT ENDING????? EXCUSE ME????? 💔😭
She chose him over them and now I’m just supposed to sit here and be okay with that????
Needless to say, I’m emotionally invested and I NEED to read the other two books like yesterday 😮‍💨

[Kelly Stanworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy, albeit somber, read that pulled me in from the beginning. The writing was just okay, and at times the book felt a little more young adult than I typically prefer, but I found myself breezing through it. The characters were definitely the highlight for me—they had a way of drawing me into their lives and making me want to keep turning the pages. The ended has me wanting to read the next book to see where their lives go.

[Erica Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

so badly written and nothing like the movie

Wow. That was bad. I’m not sure if an English speaker reviewed it after it was translated. It’s not even close to the same story as what they show in the move so I’m surprised they put the actors on the cover and are promoting it as if it is the same story.

[Chey🌟 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slowwwwww. This was good but not my favorite.

[Greta Rossmeissl · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine, I found the first half-ish pretty redundant but I can see how it will make for angsty teen movie

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fire read 📚

[Jan Stenzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh…. Maybe the movie is better than the book in this case??