What do you think?
Rate this book
What If It's Us #2
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 the New York Times bestselling rom-com What If It’s Us.
Ben survived freshman year of college, but he’s feeling more stuck than ever. His classes are a slog, his part-time job working with his father is even worse, and his best friend Dylan’s been acting weird for weeks. Ben’s only real bright spot is his writing partner Mario, who’s been giving him a lot of Spanish lessons and even more kisses. Mario’s big Hollywood dreams make Ben start to dream bigger—and the choices he makes now could be the key to reshaping his future. So why can’t he stop thinking about a certain boy from his past?
Arthur is back in New York City for the first time in two years, ready to take the theater world by a storm as the world’s best . . . intern to the assistant of an off-off-Broadway director. Of course, it sucks to be spending the summer apart from his sweet, reliable boyfriend, Mikey, but he knows their relationship is strong enough to weather the distance. Which is why it’s no big deal when his ex-boyfriend Ben stumbles back into the picture. And it’s definitely fine that Ben’s blissfully happy with some mystery boy. First loves are special, but it’s way too late for what-ifs. Right?
Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there’s a do-over in their future?
Ben survived freshman year of college, but he’s feeling more stuck than ever. His classes are a slog, his part-time job working with his father is even worse, and his best friend Dylan’s been acting weird for weeks. Ben’s only real bright spot is his writing partner Mario, who’s been giving him a lot of Spanish lessons and even more kisses. Mario’s big Hollywood dreams make Ben start to dream bigger—and the choices he makes now could be the key to reshaping his future. So why can’t he stop thinking about a certain boy from his past?
Arthur is back in New York City for the first time in two years, ready to take the theater world by a storm as the world’s best . . . intern to the assistant of an off-off-Broadway director. Of course, it sucks to be spending the summer apart from his sweet, reliable boyfriend, Mikey, but he knows their relationship is strong enough to weather the distance. Which is why it’s no big deal when his ex-boyfriend Ben stumbles back into the picture. And it’s definitely fine that Ben’s blissfully happy with some mystery boy. First loves are special, but it’s way too late for what-ifs. Right?
Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there’s a do-over in their future?
466 pages, Hardcover
First published December 28, 2021
1841 people are currently reading
62737 people want to read
About the author
Becky Albertalli
17 books20.4k followersBecky Albertalli is the author of the acclaimed novels Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (film: Love, Simon), The Upside of Unrequited, and Leah on the Offbeat. She is also the co-author of What If It's Us with Adam Silvera. A former clinical psychologist who specialized in working with children and teens, Becky lives with her family in Atlanta. You can visit her online at www.beckyalbertalli.com.
add blog
(Photography by Decisive Moment Events)
add blog
(Photography by Decisive Moment Events)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,389 reviews
April 14, 2022
I got the happily ever after I wanted but I'm so not happy 😭😭😭
This was unbelievably messy. There was no character development, so much unnecessary drama with Arthur's and Ben's current boyfriends and the way they got back together was painful to read. I felt so fucking bad for Mikey, so much that I wanted to punch Arthur. The Arthur that I loved and cherished for years, the one I prayed would end up with his Universe picked soulmate. And when he finally did, I was relieved. Not because I was still a fangirl at that point, but that the book was ending.
The only saving grace was Dylan and his over the top love story. And the mildly cuteish epilogue.
***
Dear God, Becky and Adam, pleaseeeeee let there be a happy ending. I can't take anything else. I really can't.
This was unbelievably messy. There was no character development, so much unnecessary drama with Arthur's and Ben's current boyfriends and the way they got back together was painful to read. I felt so fucking bad for Mikey, so much that I wanted to punch Arthur. The Arthur that I loved and cherished for years, the one I prayed would end up with his Universe picked soulmate. And when he finally did, I was relieved. Not because I was still a fangirl at that point, but that the book was ending.
The only saving grace was Dylan and his over the top love story. And the mildly cuteish epilogue.
***
Dear God, Becky and Adam, pleaseeeeee let there be a happy ending. I can't take anything else. I really can't.
April 4, 2023
I’m on BookTube now! =)
”Everyone looks so happy, and I hope this is the first of many documented memories this summer. And maybe the more I share my world with him, the more he’ll want to be part of mine and let me into his.
This is every relationship. You start with nothing and maybe end with everything.”
Oh boy did this book kill me! I swear Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli definitely don’t do things by halves. When I finished “What If It’s Us” in October 2019 I was so heartbroken and instantly demanded a “do-over” of Ben and Arthurs love story. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one because Becky and Adam obviously graced us with a sequel and to say I’m a happy camper doesn’t even get close to the truth. This ending! It was everything I wanted to read and more! It was legit the best do-over EVER and I cried and laughed and smiled through my tears and was a total mess by the end of this story, but it was worth it! So, so worth it! T_T
”People don’t warn you that heartbreak is a chronic condition. Maybe it quiets down a little over time, or you can muffle it with distance, but the ache never quite dials down to zero. It’s there lurking in the background, ready to flare back up the minute you let your guard down.”
But I’m getting ahead of myself here so let’s not start with the ending but with the beginning of “Here’s To Us” instead. ;-) At the beginning of the book we get Ben’s and Arthur’s POVs. Two years have passed and they aren’t together anymore and are both with other people instead. Ben is casually dating a guy named Mario but they don’t define as boyfriends (yet) and Arthur is in a relationship with Mikey and they’ve been together for quite a while. None of them is looking for love because they already have someone in their lives. So the universe obviously needs to mix things up a little bit and lands Arthur a job in a New York off-Broadway production. Arthur is once again spending another summer in the big apple and even though he and Ben lost contact for a little while, they start to write messages again and eventually meet.
Ben laughs. “I’m good. Holy shit. Arthur.”
And the next thing I know, he’s hugging me and I’m hugging him back, and it’s as familiar as breathing. The way he smells, the way the toes of our sneakers touch, the way I fit beneath his chin. Maybe these last two years were all a dream. Maybe I’ve been here in Ben’s arms this whole time. Maybe I never left.
Well, it doesn’t take a lot for them to start to hang out together again. They meet for double dates, get to know each other’s love-interests and go for activities with their friends. But despite the fact they are both in love with other people, Ben and Arthur still can’t seem to be able to let go of each other and feel more than they probably should.
”I guess you changed your mind about long-distance relationships, huh?”
That sentence hurt so much! ARGH! It was a stab in the heart because one of the main reasons why Ben and Arthur’s relationship didn’t work out was because they would have had to do long-distance. Something Ben thought he wouldn’t be able to pull off and that ultimately led to them having different lives. T_T Honestly I felt so much for Arthur in this book because uff, his feelings were all over the place and he seemed to be so lost sometimes. Yet at the same time, I also felt sorry for Ben because he wasn’t happy with his life and how things turned out. He decided that college wasn’t for him but had no idea what he actually wanted to do and where his life would go. He felt at least as lost as Arthur did and I could understand his wish to change something. The conversation he had with his dad is one I’ve had as well and I know how tough it can be to own your feelings and to stand by them. You know you’re lucky to have the life you do, but that doesn’t mean you’re happy with it and that you can’t want more out of it. It’s only human to want to be happy and to do something that gives you fulfilment.
”I’m sorry you feel so stuck here, but many people would love to be in your position.”
“I know.”
I’m tired of not being able to own my feelings because someone else has it worse. I know I’m lucky to have a roof over my head and parents who love me and food on the table. I know, I know, I know. I can also want more for myself.
And as if that wouldn’t already be enough, there’s also the fact that they are both drawn to each other but are more (Arthur) or less (Ben) in a relationship with someone else. I swear to read this was so confusing because Mario as well as Mikey are both decent and nice people. I really liked them both and I honestly could see them having a future with Ben and Arthur. The problem is, sometimes you love people but it just isn’t enough and they are not the right choice for you even though it seems to be like they are. Does this make any sense? *lol* I’m speaking from experience here so I can say, just because someone seems to be perfect for you, that doesn’t mean they actually are. ;-) So yeah, I liked Mario and Mikey and I didn’t want them to get their hearts broken even though I wanted Arthur and Ben to get together as well. Talk about conflicting emotions. I was on the fence about how this story should be resolved. *lol*
”They tell me all about their plans, but I get distracted when Arthur and Mikey swap cone and cup, wordlessly, like they’ve done this a thousand times. And when Mikey’s phone buzzes on the table, Arthur silences it for him. I would’ve thought that was passive-aggressive, but Mikey thanks Arthur. Maybe Mikey likes being present, and Arthur knows that about his boyfriend.”
You might say not only Ben and Arthur are struggling, you as a reader are struggling as well, because there’s no way you won’t feel torn about all the relationships in here. Kudos to Adam and Becky for making this realistic once again. The fact that this was so relatable and lifelike reminded me of the first book and I remember loving it so much for it. It’s refreshing to see real obstacles and problems in YA literature every once in a while and what made “What If It’s Us” and “Here’s To Us” so special and interesting for me was exactly that. The problems Ben and Arthur have to face are normal troubles a lot of teens have to get through and I guess in some way this also makes it some sort of coming-of-age story. At least for me it does.
”Delicate but fierce,” says Dylan, “with the face of an angel.”
“No, his face is the worst thing to happen to saber-toothed tigers as a species, including extinction. I was going to say he’s too jammed in there. He’s not winnable.”
And speaking of relatable: Can we acknowledge the fact and truth that Dylan is one of the best side-characters and besties in a book ever?! I just love this man and the way he thinks and I had to laugh every single time he was on page! That saber-toothed tiger conversation between Dylan and Arthur will live in my head rent-free for eternity. *lol* Honestly, Ben’s friendship with Dylan is such a wholesome relationship and it’s obvious they both love and value each other more than they can convey with words. I’m really glad Dylan found Samantha because I think no one else (aside of Ben, of course) would be able to understand him the way she does. =) Those two are a match made in heaven. XD
”Ben Alejo, I love you. I’d never do this without you. I mean, I had to do it without you, but I couldn’t do it without you.” Dylan grabs my hand. “You have been there during all the major steps.”
So yeah, a lot of things happen in this book and emotions are running high, especially near the ending. It’s been quite the roller coaster for me because I love all the characters so much, the old and the new, and I had no idea how to solve this mess! Haha! Thankfully, Adam and Becky took over that part and all I had to do was to read how they decided to resolve it. I was pretty happy with the outcome but I won’t say anything about how this ends because you just gotta read it yourself. No spoilers from me – as always. ;-P
”It’s your life to live, Alejo,” Mario says, resting his hands on my shoulders. “Just make sure you’re living it for yourself and not anyone else.”
All told, I absolutely loved to read this sequel. I always wanted a second book but I had no idea how much I actually NEEDED it. To be back in NYC, to see Ben and Arthur together again, to find out what they’ve been up to, to see how much they grew - It felt like coming home after a very long time. Everything is still the same, yet somehow everything seems to have changed as well. I needed to be back in this world as much as I needed to find closure and in the end, I got both. I’m content, I’m happy and after almost 4 years it feels like my mind can finally relax. I’m once again able to breathe. So yes, for me this was the perfect ending. Thank you Becky and Adam, you did well. =)
And because I just need to write those amazing quotes in my review, because I can’t live with not quoting them here I’ll just place them in a spoiler tag:
________________________________
Okay, but this was legit the best do-over EVER!
I cried and laughed and smiled through my tears while I read the ending.
It was perfect!! So, so perfect! Love it. <3
Thank you Becky and Adam! <33
Full RTC soon! I need to get control over my emotions first. XD
_________________________________
I can’t believe it’s been almost 4 years I read the first book “What If It’s Us” and I remember having a little meltdown after finishing it. XD
My mind wasn’t able to comprehend the ending and I think I remember demanding a second book and a “do-over”. *LOL* Well, guess my screams into the endless void that is the internet were heard and Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera decided that the first book indeed wasn’t the end of Arthur and Ben. YAY!
Fast forward, four years later I found this in my library and I NEED to read this so badly, you have no idea. I’m ready for this HEA! Please give it to me!
Find me on:
My Blog
Instagram
____________________________
*somewhere in the depths of the internet*
*a whisper*
What if It's Us? Sequel....
Me: Did I just hear the word "sequel"??!!
There's going to be a second book? OMG!
Will I finally get the ending I always wanted?!!
Please internet say "yes"!!!
The internet: ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Damn! >_<
”Everyone looks so happy, and I hope this is the first of many documented memories this summer. And maybe the more I share my world with him, the more he’ll want to be part of mine and let me into his.
This is every relationship. You start with nothing and maybe end with everything.”
Oh boy did this book kill me! I swear Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli definitely don’t do things by halves. When I finished “What If It’s Us” in October 2019 I was so heartbroken and instantly demanded a “do-over” of Ben and Arthurs love story. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one because Becky and Adam obviously graced us with a sequel and to say I’m a happy camper doesn’t even get close to the truth. This ending! It was everything I wanted to read and more! It was legit the best do-over EVER and I cried and laughed and smiled through my tears and was a total mess by the end of this story, but it was worth it! So, so worth it! T_T
”People don’t warn you that heartbreak is a chronic condition. Maybe it quiets down a little over time, or you can muffle it with distance, but the ache never quite dials down to zero. It’s there lurking in the background, ready to flare back up the minute you let your guard down.”
But I’m getting ahead of myself here so let’s not start with the ending but with the beginning of “Here’s To Us” instead. ;-) At the beginning of the book we get Ben’s and Arthur’s POVs. Two years have passed and they aren’t together anymore and are both with other people instead. Ben is casually dating a guy named Mario but they don’t define as boyfriends (yet) and Arthur is in a relationship with Mikey and they’ve been together for quite a while. None of them is looking for love because they already have someone in their lives. So the universe obviously needs to mix things up a little bit and lands Arthur a job in a New York off-Broadway production. Arthur is once again spending another summer in the big apple and even though he and Ben lost contact for a little while, they start to write messages again and eventually meet.
Ben laughs. “I’m good. Holy shit. Arthur.”
And the next thing I know, he’s hugging me and I’m hugging him back, and it’s as familiar as breathing. The way he smells, the way the toes of our sneakers touch, the way I fit beneath his chin. Maybe these last two years were all a dream. Maybe I’ve been here in Ben’s arms this whole time. Maybe I never left.
Well, it doesn’t take a lot for them to start to hang out together again. They meet for double dates, get to know each other’s love-interests and go for activities with their friends. But despite the fact they are both in love with other people, Ben and Arthur still can’t seem to be able to let go of each other and feel more than they probably should.
”I guess you changed your mind about long-distance relationships, huh?”
That sentence hurt so much! ARGH! It was a stab in the heart because one of the main reasons why Ben and Arthur’s relationship didn’t work out was because they would have had to do long-distance. Something Ben thought he wouldn’t be able to pull off and that ultimately led to them having different lives. T_T Honestly I felt so much for Arthur in this book because uff, his feelings were all over the place and he seemed to be so lost sometimes. Yet at the same time, I also felt sorry for Ben because he wasn’t happy with his life and how things turned out. He decided that college wasn’t for him but had no idea what he actually wanted to do and where his life would go. He felt at least as lost as Arthur did and I could understand his wish to change something. The conversation he had with his dad is one I’ve had as well and I know how tough it can be to own your feelings and to stand by them. You know you’re lucky to have the life you do, but that doesn’t mean you’re happy with it and that you can’t want more out of it. It’s only human to want to be happy and to do something that gives you fulfilment.
”I’m sorry you feel so stuck here, but many people would love to be in your position.”
“I know.”
I’m tired of not being able to own my feelings because someone else has it worse. I know I’m lucky to have a roof over my head and parents who love me and food on the table. I know, I know, I know. I can also want more for myself.
And as if that wouldn’t already be enough, there’s also the fact that they are both drawn to each other but are more (Arthur) or less (Ben) in a relationship with someone else. I swear to read this was so confusing because Mario as well as Mikey are both decent and nice people. I really liked them both and I honestly could see them having a future with Ben and Arthur. The problem is, sometimes you love people but it just isn’t enough and they are not the right choice for you even though it seems to be like they are. Does this make any sense? *lol* I’m speaking from experience here so I can say, just because someone seems to be perfect for you, that doesn’t mean they actually are. ;-) So yeah, I liked Mario and Mikey and I didn’t want them to get their hearts broken even though I wanted Arthur and Ben to get together as well. Talk about conflicting emotions. I was on the fence about how this story should be resolved. *lol*
”They tell me all about their plans, but I get distracted when Arthur and Mikey swap cone and cup, wordlessly, like they’ve done this a thousand times. And when Mikey’s phone buzzes on the table, Arthur silences it for him. I would’ve thought that was passive-aggressive, but Mikey thanks Arthur. Maybe Mikey likes being present, and Arthur knows that about his boyfriend.”
You might say not only Ben and Arthur are struggling, you as a reader are struggling as well, because there’s no way you won’t feel torn about all the relationships in here. Kudos to Adam and Becky for making this realistic once again. The fact that this was so relatable and lifelike reminded me of the first book and I remember loving it so much for it. It’s refreshing to see real obstacles and problems in YA literature every once in a while and what made “What If It’s Us” and “Here’s To Us” so special and interesting for me was exactly that. The problems Ben and Arthur have to face are normal troubles a lot of teens have to get through and I guess in some way this also makes it some sort of coming-of-age story. At least for me it does.
”Delicate but fierce,” says Dylan, “with the face of an angel.”
“No, his face is the worst thing to happen to saber-toothed tigers as a species, including extinction. I was going to say he’s too jammed in there. He’s not winnable.”
And speaking of relatable: Can we acknowledge the fact and truth that Dylan is one of the best side-characters and besties in a book ever?! I just love this man and the way he thinks and I had to laugh every single time he was on page! That saber-toothed tiger conversation between Dylan and Arthur will live in my head rent-free for eternity. *lol* Honestly, Ben’s friendship with Dylan is such a wholesome relationship and it’s obvious they both love and value each other more than they can convey with words. I’m really glad Dylan found Samantha because I think no one else (aside of Ben, of course) would be able to understand him the way she does. =) Those two are a match made in heaven. XD
”Ben Alejo, I love you. I’d never do this without you. I mean, I had to do it without you, but I couldn’t do it without you.” Dylan grabs my hand. “You have been there during all the major steps.”
So yeah, a lot of things happen in this book and emotions are running high, especially near the ending. It’s been quite the roller coaster for me because I love all the characters so much, the old and the new, and I had no idea how to solve this mess! Haha! Thankfully, Adam and Becky took over that part and all I had to do was to read how they decided to resolve it. I was pretty happy with the outcome but I won’t say anything about how this ends because you just gotta read it yourself. No spoilers from me – as always. ;-P
”It’s your life to live, Alejo,” Mario says, resting his hands on my shoulders. “Just make sure you’re living it for yourself and not anyone else.”
All told, I absolutely loved to read this sequel. I always wanted a second book but I had no idea how much I actually NEEDED it. To be back in NYC, to see Ben and Arthur together again, to find out what they’ve been up to, to see how much they grew - It felt like coming home after a very long time. Everything is still the same, yet somehow everything seems to have changed as well. I needed to be back in this world as much as I needed to find closure and in the end, I got both. I’m content, I’m happy and after almost 4 years it feels like my mind can finally relax. I’m once again able to breathe. So yes, for me this was the perfect ending. Thank you Becky and Adam, you did well. =)
And because I just need to write those amazing quotes in my review, because I can’t live with not quoting them here I’ll just place them in a spoiler tag:
________________________________
Okay, but this was legit the best do-over EVER!
I cried and laughed and smiled through my tears while I read the ending.
It was perfect!! So, so perfect! Love it. <3
Thank you Becky and Adam! <33
Full RTC soon! I need to get control over my emotions first. XD
_________________________________
I can’t believe it’s been almost 4 years I read the first book “What If It’s Us” and I remember having a little meltdown after finishing it. XD
My mind wasn’t able to comprehend the ending and I think I remember demanding a second book and a “do-over”. *LOL* Well, guess my screams into the endless void that is the internet were heard and Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera decided that the first book indeed wasn’t the end of Arthur and Ben. YAY!
Fast forward, four years later I found this in my library and I NEED to read this so badly, you have no idea. I’m ready for this HEA! Please give it to me!
Find me on:
My Blog
____________________________
*somewhere in the depths of the internet*
*a whisper*
What if It's Us? Sequel....
Me: Did I just hear the word "sequel"??!!
There's going to be a second book? OMG!
Will I finally get the ending I always wanted?!!
Please internet say "yes"!!!
The internet: ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Damn! >_<
Want to read
April 11, 2020what the FUCK
January 10, 2022
Finally! An HEA do-over for the shitty, unsatisfying ending that left me so annoyed and pissed off at the end of book 1.
Two years after their mutual split, both Ben and Arthur were in college and were seeing other people, then a sudden, unexpected summer internship landed Arthur back in NYC. With Ben. And old feelings. And guilt. Lots of guilt over feelings that neither of the guys could really control. After all, you can't just tell your heart to stop loving someone, right?
I loved Ben and Arthur so hard in the first book, so I was thrilled when I heard their story was continuing. I was also going to kill a bitch, if this one didn't end with the well-deserved HEA that *should* have happened in the first book.
My favorite parts of this story were the times that Ben and Arthur spent reconnecting, seeing that they still clicked just as well now as they had two years prior.
And any scene with Ben's best friend, Dylan? OMMFG, that was the stuff of legends and pure comedic gold, folks. He hadn't changed at all since the first book and I was totally there for all of his craziness and hilarious nonsense.
My absolute *least* favorite aspect of the book was how freaking guilty I felt for constantly wanting to push both Mikey (Arthur's boyfriend) and Mario (Ben's would-be-boyfriend) in front of a moving bus, so that Arthur and Ben could finally, blessedly be together again.
Which sucked so hard for me, because both Mikey and Mario were in no way bad guys here. Yes, Mikey may have sounded too boring for words, but I did genuinely like him. And Mario sounded pretty amazing, too. And hot.
Honestly, I fantasized multiple times about Mikey and Mario falling for one another, to clear the runway for Arthur and Ben, however unrealistic those thoughts might've been. Dare to dream, I guess.
I will say that one aspect of this story that I absolutely appreciated was that there was never, not once, even the remotest hint that either Ben or Arthur entertained even a slight possibility of them cheating on their love interests.
I did mostly enjoy the book; however, I do have to admit that my enjoyment was constantly tempered by my never-ending internal monologue of, "UGH, they belong together, but they're with other people!", which got tiring quickly.
So when their HEA finally arrived, I breathed a gigantic sigh of relief.
My only real complaint about their HEA was that, after the last book's terrible ending, it seemed as if the authors wanted to make this one's two-part, years-apart epilogue(s) an exercise in OTT, sappy, next-level sweetness. It was a LOT, and a bit much for my personal tastes.
I'd rate this story at around 4 stars, while biting my tongue about the fact that this story would've been entirely unnecessary, if the guys had gotten the HEA they'd more than earned in the first book.
January 1, 2022
The minute this book was announced I knew that all of the things that I enjoyed about the first book were going to be erased. Namely because the only thing I really cared about was the epilogue, aka the only part of the book that everyone else hated... So yeah, my expectations were at rock bottom for this book.
Look, for the fans who have been hounding the authors to go back and subvert the decent story about two people meeting and falling in love and ultimately walking away with the understanding that they weren't right for each other... yeah, you're going to be happy with this book. If you want canon fix it fic, you'll get that in this book.
What you don't actually get though is a plot... You don't get character development. You don't get any reasoning for these characters, namely Ben, to suddenly have a full change of heart and suddenly want to rethink the decision that he made two years ago. Instead what you get are two characters that spend those 400+ pages looking at the series of events that transpired two years ago through rose colored glasses. Even the reasoning behind them reconnecting in the first place feels flimsy at best and not really supported by anything that was happening for the hundred or so pages before our two POV characters are actually in the same place at the same time in this novel.
I get that this was marketed to a YA audience, but I wish that literally anything about the prose could have felt a little more nuanced. Especially if we were going to forgo an actual plot, even the traditional beats of a second chance romance felt ignored as both Arthur and Ben have significant others, one up until the last ten percent of the book where the narrative makes a hard left turn into something that they almost certainly hadn't been building toward.
It's hard... Even some people who read the first book in the series could have aged out of the target demo in the time spent waiting for this book to be published and I don't feel like the narrative choices here grew with them. Maybe I'm just old and spiteful because I kinda liked the idea that out there was this sort of bittersweet story that didn't give you everything you wanted... And while maybe there was probably no way to please me personally I do wish that the story at least tried a little harder to sell the actual story it ended up telling. Instead I got this, a book that reads like 400+ pages written by authors trying to please fans upset with how they told a story the first time... Honestly if this was how they saw Arthur and Ben's story ending this is the book they should have written the first time, particularly if the follow up was always going to be this shallow and treat all the characters, side and main, this shallowly.
Look, for the fans who have been hounding the authors to go back and subvert the decent story about two people meeting and falling in love and ultimately walking away with the understanding that they weren't right for each other... yeah, you're going to be happy with this book. If you want canon fix it fic, you'll get that in this book.
What you don't actually get though is a plot... You don't get character development. You don't get any reasoning for these characters, namely Ben, to suddenly have a full change of heart and suddenly want to rethink the decision that he made two years ago. Instead what you get are two characters that spend those 400+ pages looking at the series of events that transpired two years ago through rose colored glasses. Even the reasoning behind them reconnecting in the first place feels flimsy at best and not really supported by anything that was happening for the hundred or so pages before our two POV characters are actually in the same place at the same time in this novel.
I get that this was marketed to a YA audience, but I wish that literally anything about the prose could have felt a little more nuanced. Especially if we were going to forgo an actual plot, even the traditional beats of a second chance romance felt ignored as both Arthur and Ben have significant others, one up until the last ten percent of the book where the narrative makes a hard left turn into something that they almost certainly hadn't been building toward.
It's hard... Even some people who read the first book in the series could have aged out of the target demo in the time spent waiting for this book to be published and I don't feel like the narrative choices here grew with them. Maybe I'm just old and spiteful because I kinda liked the idea that out there was this sort of bittersweet story that didn't give you everything you wanted... And while maybe there was probably no way to please me personally I do wish that the story at least tried a little harder to sell the actual story it ended up telling. Instead I got this, a book that reads like 400+ pages written by authors trying to please fans upset with how they told a story the first time... Honestly if this was how they saw Arthur and Ben's story ending this is the book they should have written the first time, particularly if the follow up was always going to be this shallow and treat all the characters, side and main, this shallowly.
November 3, 2021
Here’s to us, here’s to love
All the times that we messed up
Here's to you, fill the glass
'Cause the last few days have gone too fast
Nueva York siempre le pertenecerá a Arthur y a Ben.
Es difícil empezar a escribir una reseña para mi libro más anticipado, no solo del año, sino de la vida. Creo que ya hemos dejado muy claro lo mucho que significa What If It’s Us. Entonces, cuando vienen y me dicen que iba a tener una secuela era obvio que iba a esperar este libro con cada fibra de mi cuerpo. Y ahora que lo leí no puedo creer que todo acabo, y que además amé por completo lo que sucede en este libro.
La mejor forma que tengo para describirlo que mientras lo leía me sentía en paz. Mi miedo más grande era que al leerlo no me gustara, que se sintiera raro, que no reconociera a los personajes que se robaron mi corazón en 2019, pero mientras pasaba las páginas se sentía correcto lo que leía. Podía respirar las palabras y no me lastimaban al entrar a mis pulmones. Me calmaban, y me llenaban de amor una vez más.
Ver crecer a estos personajes es una dicha que no puedo empezar a explicar. Eso era poco de lo que esperaba de este: que hubiera una maduración y un progreso, y puedo decir que no estoy decepcionado en ese ámbito. Pasé de tener 18 y leer a dos chicos de 17 a tener 20 y leerlos ahora con 19. Me es imposible no sentirme como un padre. Que ve a sus hijos crecer y, aunque tule mucho ver como ya no son los niños que eran antes, es más grande la felicidad ver las personas en las que se convirtieron.
Para mi What If It’s Us es color naranja, y este es azul cielo. Es más brillante, más claro y más lindo. No se como explicarlo, pero todo lo que pasa en este libro me gustó más? No tengo Gea, tengo que leerlo para poder dirigirlo de nuevo ahora que ya se la historia completa. Pero es us cambio muy notorio, uno que me gustó demasiado.
Aún no estoy listo para decir adiós, de verdad no. Pasé un año anticipando este libro, pasando mis noches escuchando canciones que me pintaban a Arthur y a Ben después del final de What If It’s Us y no quiero creer que ya no necesito hacerlo, porque ya lo leí y porque ya terminó. Estos niños llegaron a mi vida cuando aún. No me conocía tan bien como lo hago ahorita; fueron los personajes que me dieron claridad y que me hicieron enamorarme del amor. No quiero despedirme de ellos, pero al igual de algo que vi mucho en este libro, esos son los dolores de crecer. Puede que no quiera hacerlo, pero cuando lo haga recordaré mucho a estos dos, lo haré por el resto de mi vida. Ellos fueron quienes se robaron mi corazón y en este libro me lo regresaron.
Gracias Adam y Becky por haberme dado a estos dos chicos y por haberme permitido enamorarme de la vida una vez más. Julio 9 nunca volverá a ser lo mismo después de ustedes y ahora me doy cuenta que a veces los hubiera se pueden hacer realidad.
—————
UPDATE: 25/08/21
Hace unos días le lloré a este libro porque lo quiero demasiado, y hoy otra vez le estoy llorando.
Es irreal cuanto lo necesito. ME DUELE EL PECHO.
-------
Pues que puedo decirles, llevo esperando el anuncio de esta secuela básicamente desde que terminé de leer el primer libro. No me mal entiendan, amo con cada fibra de mi cuerpo el final de What If It’s Us. Es nostálgico, agridulce y realista, pero siempre me quede con esa espinita de que podría pasar, y por fin esa espinita se hará realidad.
What If It’s Us es mi historia de la misma forma en la que lo es Divergente. La amo como no tienen idea y el hecho de que voy a volver a leer a estos personajes me hace muy feliz. Había pasado mucho tiempo desde que yo me sentía totalmente conectado con un libro y este vino a darme en todos lados, probablemente llenándome de serotonina como nunca antes. Le he dedicado noches incontables a esta historia, pensando en que es justo lo que mi corazón empedernido necesitaba cuando la leí y no puedo esperar a dedicarles varias más para cuando Here’s To Us salga a la venta. Tengo miedo, más por lo que pueda pasar con Ben y Arthur, pero justo como ellos se que el universo tiene un plan para nosotros, y espero el mío me lleve a amar esta secuela que tanto necesito. Here’s To Us sale en otoño de 2021, y ya quiero brindar con estos dos chicos que me enseñaron cosas a través de citas fallidas, besos incómodos y la desesperada necesidad de hacer que las cosas funciones, a pesar de que todo apunte a estar en su contra. Los veo en otoño, Arthur y Ben. Por lo mientras, me iré a llorar otra vez.
------
ya lloré.
All the times that we messed up
Here's to you, fill the glass
'Cause the last few days have gone too fast
Nueva York siempre le pertenecerá a Arthur y a Ben.
Es difícil empezar a escribir una reseña para mi libro más anticipado, no solo del año, sino de la vida. Creo que ya hemos dejado muy claro lo mucho que significa What If It’s Us. Entonces, cuando vienen y me dicen que iba a tener una secuela era obvio que iba a esperar este libro con cada fibra de mi cuerpo. Y ahora que lo leí no puedo creer que todo acabo, y que además amé por completo lo que sucede en este libro.
La mejor forma que tengo para describirlo que mientras lo leía me sentía en paz. Mi miedo más grande era que al leerlo no me gustara, que se sintiera raro, que no reconociera a los personajes que se robaron mi corazón en 2019, pero mientras pasaba las páginas se sentía correcto lo que leía. Podía respirar las palabras y no me lastimaban al entrar a mis pulmones. Me calmaban, y me llenaban de amor una vez más.
Ver crecer a estos personajes es una dicha que no puedo empezar a explicar. Eso era poco de lo que esperaba de este: que hubiera una maduración y un progreso, y puedo decir que no estoy decepcionado en ese ámbito. Pasé de tener 18 y leer a dos chicos de 17 a tener 20 y leerlos ahora con 19. Me es imposible no sentirme como un padre. Que ve a sus hijos crecer y, aunque tule mucho ver como ya no son los niños que eran antes, es más grande la felicidad ver las personas en las que se convirtieron.
Para mi What If It’s Us es color naranja, y este es azul cielo. Es más brillante, más claro y más lindo. No se como explicarlo, pero todo lo que pasa en este libro me gustó más? No tengo Gea, tengo que leerlo para poder dirigirlo de nuevo ahora que ya se la historia completa. Pero es us cambio muy notorio, uno que me gustó demasiado.
Aún no estoy listo para decir adiós, de verdad no. Pasé un año anticipando este libro, pasando mis noches escuchando canciones que me pintaban a Arthur y a Ben después del final de What If It’s Us y no quiero creer que ya no necesito hacerlo, porque ya lo leí y porque ya terminó. Estos niños llegaron a mi vida cuando aún. No me conocía tan bien como lo hago ahorita; fueron los personajes que me dieron claridad y que me hicieron enamorarme del amor. No quiero despedirme de ellos, pero al igual de algo que vi mucho en este libro, esos son los dolores de crecer. Puede que no quiera hacerlo, pero cuando lo haga recordaré mucho a estos dos, lo haré por el resto de mi vida. Ellos fueron quienes se robaron mi corazón y en este libro me lo regresaron.
Gracias Adam y Becky por haberme dado a estos dos chicos y por haberme permitido enamorarme de la vida una vez más. Julio 9 nunca volverá a ser lo mismo después de ustedes y ahora me doy cuenta que a veces los hubiera se pueden hacer realidad.
—————
UPDATE: 25/08/21
Hace unos días le lloré a este libro porque lo quiero demasiado, y hoy otra vez le estoy llorando.
Es irreal cuanto lo necesito. ME DUELE EL PECHO.
-------
Pues que puedo decirles, llevo esperando el anuncio de esta secuela básicamente desde que terminé de leer el primer libro. No me mal entiendan, amo con cada fibra de mi cuerpo el final de What If It’s Us. Es nostálgico, agridulce y realista, pero siempre me quede con esa espinita de que podría pasar, y por fin esa espinita se hará realidad.
What If It’s Us es mi historia de la misma forma en la que lo es Divergente. La amo como no tienen idea y el hecho de que voy a volver a leer a estos personajes me hace muy feliz. Había pasado mucho tiempo desde que yo me sentía totalmente conectado con un libro y este vino a darme en todos lados, probablemente llenándome de serotonina como nunca antes. Le he dedicado noches incontables a esta historia, pensando en que es justo lo que mi corazón empedernido necesitaba cuando la leí y no puedo esperar a dedicarles varias más para cuando Here’s To Us salga a la venta. Tengo miedo, más por lo que pueda pasar con Ben y Arthur, pero justo como ellos se que el universo tiene un plan para nosotros, y espero el mío me lleve a amar esta secuela que tanto necesito. Here’s To Us sale en otoño de 2021, y ya quiero brindar con estos dos chicos que me enseñaron cosas a través de citas fallidas, besos incómodos y la desesperada necesidad de hacer que las cosas funciones, a pesar de que todo apunte a estar en su contra. Los veo en otoño, Arthur y Ben. Por lo mientras, me iré a llorar otra vez.
------
ya lloré.
January 8, 2023
•| ⊱✿⊰ |• 4,9 Stars •| ⊱✿⊰ |•
This book is so needed for those who read the first.
The last book of the year to end up so amazing!!!
This story is so real, and it's what happens when people just don't talk about their feelings.
Arthur and Ben said they goodbye, and the big question it was if they'll make it with long distance relationship...
They didn't...
But now, two years later, and they're back where they started, New York.
Things are different now, both Arthur and Ben have relationships, but not with each other.
Arthur has a sweet boyfriend named Mikey, and Ben has a light relationship with Mario.
Dylan and Samantha are still together.
I love, love Dylan!!!
He's the fun part of the story.
All the characters are amazing.
These are clean romances.
This one is more "heavy", now they have responsibilities with other people, people they love and don't want to hurt, but someone will get hurt, it's inevitable.
This book made me laugh, cry, smile...
It's so sweet...
I've loved it.
(...)I remember the night Ben let me read his draft, how sacred that felt.
At the time, it seemed like the most intimate thing you could share with a person.
Your unfinished heart.
But Mario’s the one carrying Ben’s dreams over the finish line.
I may have been Ben’s first draft, but Mario’s his hardcover.
I guess that’s how it goes, though.
Sometimes happily ever afters aren’t about your happiness at all.(...)
(...)“Mikey, I want to be in love with you so badly.”
He closes his eyes, smiling tightly.
“But you’re not.”
I shake my head slowly.
“I’m not.”(...)
(...)Ben, I cried watching the end of the Kissing Booth sequel, because for me, it’s always you.
You’re the point of every story.”
“And I want to tell you it’s okay that you’re leaving and that I’ll get over you, I’m sure it is, and I’m sure I will.
But right now?”
I shut my eyes for a moment.
“I don’t even know what getting over you looks like.
I can’t even imagine it, and—God, I shouldn’t be telling you this.
It’s not fair to you.”
I wipe my eyes.
“I know.
I know it’s not.”(...)
(...)“I’m scared I’ll regret not taking this chance to make things right with Arthur.
And I’m terrified that if it doesn’t work out, then I’ll have lost the only other person who wants to be with me.”
“Don’t worry about that,”
Pa says.
“There’s still Dylan.”
“Very true,”
Ma says.
“There are no vows powerful enough to keep him away from you.”
I give my parents the tiniest of smiles for trying to cheer me up.(...)
January 27, 2024
I have a bit of a confession to make, If I gave What If It’s Us a reread today, I probably wouldn’t rate it five stars. So this rating is going to look like a bit of a downgrade, but I promise that it's really not. This is perfectly on par with the original! I was a little surprised that there was even going to be a sequel, but then again it's probably because I was the one person who didn’t mind the ending of the first book. (Spoilers?) Sometimes people don't end up together, even if they love each other. I mean, come on, we've all seen The Breakup starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn (if you haven't, don't. It's a terrible movie). Besides, it felt like it was pretty heavily implied that Ben and Arthur would eventually get back together regardless, even if it didn’t happen on page. I was always fine leaving it to the fan-fiction! Oh, also I already said this in the updates, but Adam Silvera always has this thing where he has his characters go on a weird rant about how everyone always gives them shit about how they play Zelda in Super Smash Bros.! It's a little funny because this also happens in History is All You Left Me, and it really felt like he was winning an old argument he had in the past, like how you always think of the perfect come-back in the shower the next day! Maybe I'm just being ignorant, but nobody gave a damn who you played as in Super Smash Bros. when I was growing up! But then again, they might've been too distracted and angry at the fact that I'd just play shirtless Shulk and spam backslash over and over again. Hard to talk shit when you're in 4th place.
Well anyway, I'm not going to be the the guy who complains about the book that everybody was asking for. I'm not that much of a hater. As for the story, this time around both Arthur and Ben have new boyfriends. And while this is fine and dandy, the book was so heavily advertised as “the one where they finally get their happily-ever-after,” that I got the sense that this whole thing was developing doomed characters, or rather relationships, just for the sake of padding the story. I know this is rich coming from the guy whose favorite book is The Song of Achilles, but this is different, I swear! Here, Arthur and Ben basically go through the same character arcs as the first one, the only difference being that there's more baggage. Sure, it's realistic or whatever that the two main characters would "move on," between novels, but we all know who's going to get together, so it'd be nice if we got to that a littler quicker. Still, what’s an LGBT+ love story without properly allotted yearning. I don't know, I think the key to doing a story with false romantic leads is to cleverly hide the fact that they're literally just obstacles to overcome, and I'm not so sure that this book did that in a convincing enough way. I don't even remember their names! Guy #1 and Guy #2, I think. Otherwise, a lot of this just felt like I was reading an extended epilogue for most of the story. if you liked the first one (which I did), you will most likely have a good time with this one. Here's to a happy ending; never needed, but always appreciated!
Well anyway, I'm not going to be the the guy who complains about the book that everybody was asking for. I'm not that much of a hater. As for the story, this time around both Arthur and Ben have new boyfriends. And while this is fine and dandy, the book was so heavily advertised as “the one where they finally get their happily-ever-after,” that I got the sense that this whole thing was developing doomed characters, or rather relationships, just for the sake of padding the story. I know this is rich coming from the guy whose favorite book is The Song of Achilles, but this is different, I swear! Here, Arthur and Ben basically go through the same character arcs as the first one, the only difference being that there's more baggage. Sure, it's realistic or whatever that the two main characters would "move on," between novels, but we all know who's going to get together, so it'd be nice if we got to that a littler quicker. Still, what’s an LGBT+ love story without properly allotted yearning. I don't know, I think the key to doing a story with false romantic leads is to cleverly hide the fact that they're literally just obstacles to overcome, and I'm not so sure that this book did that in a convincing enough way. I don't even remember their names! Guy #1 and Guy #2, I think. Otherwise, a lot of this just felt like I was reading an extended epilogue for most of the story. if you liked the first one (which I did), you will most likely have a good time with this one. Here's to a happy ending; never needed, but always appreciated!
August 14, 2022
⚜️ Here's to the most epic disaster of the year. And it's only 2nd of January. ⚜️
For such a long time, I waited for this book to come out. God knows how many I checked Google and Goodreads to see if it has been released or not; how frustrated I was to see the release date being pushed further away more than once. And now, I get This? I'm disappointed beyond any extent right now.
I guess the joke is on me. Disappointments are bound to come when you get yourself attached to the characters too much. But this is me! I easily get attached to fictional characters. First, I got stood up by this book and now I have to shelve a broken heart. My soul is crushed.
Gosh! How much I want to hate the book. But I can't. I hated most of the part of the story. Yet, some of it, were like dreams come true. The confusing-est situation ever.
_______________________________________
☆ My Actual Review :>
"Here's to Us" picks up the story of Arthur and Ben, a couple of years after the events of "What If It's Us". They are no longer 16. They have grown up. Both of them are adults now; living their separate lives. Life has ups and downs. But the boys are enjoying their lives to the fullest. Arthur has a boyfriend named Mickey. Ben is involved with a guy named Mario. They definitely have moved forward.
But when Arthur returns to New York after two long years for his internship, Ben and Arthur meets again. They decide to stay as friends. Hanging out with exes are tricky, yet they are friends first. So they think it would be fine. But soon the boys realizes that it isn't as easy as they thought. Maybe they haven't really moved from each other. As they reminisce their older memories, their long suppressed feelings start to resurface.
Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there’s a do-over in their didn't like
Though the ending of "What If It's Us" wasn't my favourite, I thoroughly enjoyed that book. But this time, it was a whole different case. I didn't like the writing. The flow wasn't smooth, it was very slow at times. Arthur and Ben are not teenagers anymore. They have become older. But it felt like the authors had forgotten this thing. Both of their arcs read like teenagers'. None of their voices have matured. The authors literally decided to portray the characters as adults but the narratives didn't change a bit. It is very irritating when the characters are 18/19 years old but talk and behave like little kids.
Excuse me! What happened to the characters development? The characters grew up but received no developments. Infact, the quality of them as characters, degraded. Specially Ben. Arthur was still okay. He was still a total firecracker but a bit matured and calm. But Ben completely turned into a new character. He was immature, jealous and rude throughout the full story. He did nothing but whining.
The cast of side characters were better than the lead ones. They were truly awesome. I loved Dylan in this book. He was so cool, amazing and wonderful. Dylan is Dylan. But this Dylan is a lot more matured and flourished. I absolutely loved the grown up version of Dylan. Dylan and Samantha had the most wonderful love story. If you want to read this book, read it for them.
The book didn't really have a plot. The plotline is messy and weird. Half of the time, the main characters kept messing around and fucking up and the side characters continued to clean up their mess. While going into "Here's To Us", I expected the book to be emotional. After the mind jarring conclusion of book 1, the sequel should should have been a roller coaster of emotions. But I literally felt no emotional connection to the characters. They didn't have to go through problems and indecision; they brought problems upon themselves. And how do you expect me to connect with two immature, irrational and annoying 19 year olds?
Then, this book felt more like two stories than one. This wasn't Arthur and Ben's story anymore. There were Ben's story and there was Arthur's story. STORIES - Plural and separated. I saw no chemistry, no build up for the romance. Both of them were together with Mickey and Mario until the last 10% or so. They had some feelings for each other but not as much as to break up with their present boyfriends; who (let me tell you) were amazing people. Mickey and Mario accordingly were better fit to Arthur and Ben. Having a history together is not everything. Present matters more than the past. So, I personally didn't see the point or what the authors did here (tried to did here?).
It was a total waste of time. Never thought I would give this book 2 stars. Still don't want to but I will give it what it deserves. I amnot sorry.
______________________________________
Edit 29/12/2021 I can't believe that I got stood up by a book. The release date has been pushed forward to early January. And here I had all plans set to wrap up my 2021 with this baby. Now I want to cry.
For such a long time, I waited for this book to come out. God knows how many I checked Google and Goodreads to see if it has been released or not; how frustrated I was to see the release date being pushed further away more than once. And now, I get This? I'm disappointed beyond any extent right now.
I guess the joke is on me. Disappointments are bound to come when you get yourself attached to the characters too much. But this is me! I easily get attached to fictional characters. First, I got stood up by this book and now I have to shelve a broken heart. My soul is crushed.
Gosh! How much I want to hate the book. But I can't. I hated most of the part of the story. Yet, some of it, were like dreams come true. The confusing-est situation ever.
_______________________________________
☆ My Actual Review :>
"I once wondered if we were a love story or a story about love.
I now know the answer."
"Here's to Us" picks up the story of Arthur and Ben, a couple of years after the events of "What If It's Us". They are no longer 16. They have grown up. Both of them are adults now; living their separate lives. Life has ups and downs. But the boys are enjoying their lives to the fullest. Arthur has a boyfriend named Mickey. Ben is involved with a guy named Mario. They definitely have moved forward.
But when Arthur returns to New York after two long years for his internship, Ben and Arthur meets again. They decide to stay as friends. Hanging out with exes are tricky, yet they are friends first. So they think it would be fine. But soon the boys realizes that it isn't as easy as they thought. Maybe they haven't really moved from each other. As they reminisce their older memories, their long suppressed feelings start to resurface.
Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there’s a do-over in their didn't like
Though the ending of "What If It's Us" wasn't my favourite, I thoroughly enjoyed that book. But this time, it was a whole different case. I didn't like the writing. The flow wasn't smooth, it was very slow at times. Arthur and Ben are not teenagers anymore. They have become older. But it felt like the authors had forgotten this thing. Both of their arcs read like teenagers'. None of their voices have matured. The authors literally decided to portray the characters as adults but the narratives didn't change a bit. It is very irritating when the characters are 18/19 years old but talk and behave like little kids.
Excuse me! What happened to the characters development? The characters grew up but received no developments. Infact, the quality of them as characters, degraded. Specially Ben. Arthur was still okay. He was still a total firecracker but a bit matured and calm. But Ben completely turned into a new character. He was immature, jealous and rude throughout the full story. He did nothing but whining.
The cast of side characters were better than the lead ones. They were truly awesome. I loved Dylan in this book. He was so cool, amazing and wonderful. Dylan is Dylan. But this Dylan is a lot more matured and flourished. I absolutely loved the grown up version of Dylan. Dylan and Samantha had the most wonderful love story. If you want to read this book, read it for them.
The book didn't really have a plot. The plotline is messy and weird. Half of the time, the main characters kept messing around and fucking up and the side characters continued to clean up their mess. While going into "Here's To Us", I expected the book to be emotional. After the mind jarring conclusion of book 1, the sequel should should have been a roller coaster of emotions. But I literally felt no emotional connection to the characters. They didn't have to go through problems and indecision; they brought problems upon themselves. And how do you expect me to connect with two immature, irrational and annoying 19 year olds?
Then, this book felt more like two stories than one. This wasn't Arthur and Ben's story anymore. There were Ben's story and there was Arthur's story. STORIES - Plural and separated. I saw no chemistry, no build up for the romance. Both of them were together with Mickey and Mario until the last 10% or so. They had some feelings for each other but not as much as to break up with their present boyfriends; who (let me tell you) were amazing people. Mickey and Mario accordingly were better fit to Arthur and Ben. Having a history together is not everything. Present matters more than the past. So, I personally didn't see the point or what the authors did here (tried to did here?).
It was a total waste of time. Never thought I would give this book 2 stars. Still don't want to but I will give it what it deserves. I am
______________________________________
Edit 29/12/2021 I can't believe that I got stood up by a book. The release date has been pushed forward to early January. And here I had all plans set to wrap up my 2021 with this baby. Now I want to cry.
December 30, 2021
3.5 stars
Want to read
April 15, 2021sequel? a SEQUEL??
*screams silently at all the cuteness that i am expecting*
*screams silently at all the cuteness that i am expecting*
March 14, 2022
this book felt like fanfiction. i loved it so much 🤧
“But maybe this isn’t how life works. Maybe it’s all about people coming into your life for a little while and you take what they give you and use it on your next friendship or relationship. And if you’re lucky, maybe some people pop back in after you thought they were gone for good.”
I first read What If's Us in 2018, and I really enjoyed it. It was a fun, cute, quick read, and it ended up being one of my favorite books of that year.
The best part of What If's Us for me is the ending; I love it so much. I think it's such a realistic ending. I like how the story ends in ambiguity; how it literally ends on what if?
Here's to Us is exactly the sequel that you would expect after the ending of What If It's Us. Ben and Arthur are in different places in their lives, each dating different boys, and they stumble into each other in New York over the summer. The universe constantly makes their paths cross, forcing them to question if they’re really meant to be?
I was a bit apprehensive going into this sequel because I didn't really think it was necessary. But I ended up completely loving it.
This book has confirmed that the second-chance romance trope is my favorite thing. Everything about it is amazing. The pining!! The yearning!! The angst!! it's *chef's kiss*
I loved seeing how Arthur and Ben's characters changed over the years but still continuing to be two messy boys as they stumble around each other. They continue to be chaotic messes as the universe continues pulling them apart for do-overs.
This sequel was just so much fun to read. I never wanted to put it down. And yes, it's kind of cringy and cheesy. Yes, it reads like a fanfic. But I don't really think those are problems. I feel like this series is very much like a Netflix rom-com.
My biggest problem with the first book, and the only reason I didn't give it a full five stars now and when I first read it, is the pop culture references. I don't mind pop culture references, but it had a real oversaturation of them. They appeared every few pages, and it got annoying. They also felt really dated reading today. But Here's to Us thankfully fixes that. There are very few references, and they didn't get annoying!! (also, they reference Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, so it obviously didn't bother me 😌)
I loved this so much, it was my first full five-star read of the year!! Also, kind of controversial? But I think this is my favorite Becky Albertalli and my favorite Adam Silvera book.
“But maybe this isn’t how life works. Maybe it’s all about people coming into your life for a little while and you take what they give you and use it on your next friendship or relationship. And if you’re lucky, maybe some people pop back in after you thought they were gone for good.”
I first read What If's Us in 2018, and I really enjoyed it. It was a fun, cute, quick read, and it ended up being one of my favorite books of that year.
The best part of What If's Us for me is the ending; I love it so much. I think it's such a realistic ending. I like how the story ends in ambiguity; how it literally ends on what if?
Here's to Us is exactly the sequel that you would expect after the ending of What If It's Us. Ben and Arthur are in different places in their lives, each dating different boys, and they stumble into each other in New York over the summer. The universe constantly makes their paths cross, forcing them to question if they’re really meant to be?
I was a bit apprehensive going into this sequel because I didn't really think it was necessary. But I ended up completely loving it.
This book has confirmed that the second-chance romance trope is my favorite thing. Everything about it is amazing. The pining!! The yearning!! The angst!! it's *chef's kiss*
I loved seeing how Arthur and Ben's characters changed over the years but still continuing to be two messy boys as they stumble around each other. They continue to be chaotic messes as the universe continues pulling them apart for do-overs.
This sequel was just so much fun to read. I never wanted to put it down. And yes, it's kind of cringy and cheesy. Yes, it reads like a fanfic. But I don't really think those are problems. I feel like this series is very much like a Netflix rom-com.
My biggest problem with the first book, and the only reason I didn't give it a full five stars now and when I first read it, is the pop culture references. I don't mind pop culture references, but it had a real oversaturation of them. They appeared every few pages, and it got annoying. They also felt really dated reading today. But Here's to Us thankfully fixes that. There are very few references, and they didn't get annoying!! (also, they reference Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, so it obviously didn't bother me 😌)
I loved this so much, it was my first full five-star read of the year!! Also, kind of controversial? But I think this is my favorite Becky Albertalli and my favorite Adam Silvera book.
Want to read
May 17, 2021THE SYNOPSIS IS HERE!
_________________________________________
Arthur and Benneeddeserve a happy ending. Period.
Just reread What If It's Us, and realised how much more I actually need this to exist. I'm not sure if I made any sense, what I basically meant was...
That's totally me rn!!!
I need this rn!!!!!!
(See the exclamation marks!? Totally Arthur!)
I literally want to rate this 5 stars without even reading it, but that would be unethical ig.
Also, the cover's so fucking pretty!
I want this!!!!!!!!!!
(Even better than Arthur🥴? Huh?)
I should probably go take a chill pill 😅
________________________________________
Pre-rereading What If It's Us Thoughts
Wow! We got a title! I did think this might be a sequel to What If It's Us. Feels nice to have been correct.
_________________________________________
Arthur and Ben
Just reread What If It's Us, and realised how much more I actually need this to exist. I'm not sure if I made any sense, what I basically meant was...
That's totally me rn!!!
I need this rn!!!!!!
(See the exclamation marks!? Totally Arthur!)
I literally want to rate this 5 stars without even reading it, but that would be unethical ig.
Also, the cover's so fucking pretty!
I want this!!!!!!!!!!
(Even better than Arthur🥴? Huh?)
I should probably go take a chill pill 😅
________________________________________
Pre-rereading What If It's Us Thoughts
Wow! We got a title! I did think this might be a sequel to What If It's Us. Feels nice to have been correct.
January 19, 2022
What If it’s Us was my second book by Becky Albertalli and my first by Adam Silvera. I loved it so much that I decided to read all their other books. I went to the library, borrowed everything I could find, and spent weeks reading books by the same authors. Especially Adam became one of my most favorite YA authors ever. As some of my GR friends know, I’m a lover of the sadder and more devastating stories. That’s probably why I belong to that one percent of all those readers who weren’t mad at that ending of What If it’s Us? I didn’t need a sequel. The ending was just fine. I didn’t understand all those people who hated it. Story closed. Until I found out there would be a sequel. I was beyond ecstatic!
Just like What if it’s us? Here’s to Us is so easily readable. I flew through the pages and never got bored. Both authors did a tremendous job of writing a worthy sequel. It’s sad and messy at times, but also funny and sweet. And even though I liked Mikey (Mario a little less), I loved how Ben and Arthur still fitted together so perfectly. How they looked at each other, talked to each other, laughed with each other, and longed for each other. I had a smile on my face each time they met again.
So, maybe I needed that sequel after all?
Follow me on Instagram
Just like What if it’s us? Here’s to Us is so easily readable. I flew through the pages and never got bored. Both authors did a tremendous job of writing a worthy sequel. It’s sad and messy at times, but also funny and sweet. And even though I liked Mikey (Mario a little less), I loved how Ben and Arthur still fitted together so perfectly. How they looked at each other, talked to each other, laughed with each other, and longed for each other. I had a smile on my face each time they met again.
So, maybe I needed that sequel after all?
Follow me on Instagram
March 5, 2022
2.5 stars, and yes not 3 at all.
This book wasn't necessary at all, if this is how it was supposed to be.
It was super messy and hardly had any development in terms of characters as well as their love story.
I was bored at a point and had to only go through the entire book to see if anything new and good comes out of this.
But alas, nothing as such comes into picture and we just get a somewhat okay epilogue but that wasn't enough.
This book wasn't necessary at all, if this is how it was supposed to be.
It was super messy and hardly had any development in terms of characters as well as their love story.
I was bored at a point and had to only go through the entire book to see if anything new and good comes out of this.
But alas, nothing as such comes into picture and we just get a somewhat okay epilogue but that wasn't enough.
January 1, 2022
my last read of the year was a pretty good note to end 2021 on.
this book was definitely a bit cheesy and perhaps overly earnest at times, but it was also really sweet and, for the most part, extremely satisfying.
3.75 stars rounded up.
this book was definitely a bit cheesy and perhaps overly earnest at times, but it was also really sweet and, for the most part, extremely satisfying.
3.75 stars rounded up.
July 31, 2025
Here's to Us is the sequel to What if it's Us, both co-written by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, which I read a few years ago. The protagonists from the first one, Ben and Arthur, two 16-year-old gay kids with enough sarcasm and hopes for an entire city, have since moved beyond their relationship and are busy freshman-ish guys in college. They tried keeping in touch, but it didn't stick. For a variety of reasons. Yet they never stopped loving one another. Now, they're back in the same city, NEW YORK, again... and they both have new boyfriends. How's that gonna work? I bet you can guess! Minor spoilers about the ending, so if you don't want to know, maybe skip my review.
Ah, to be young again. So much about my 20s came flooding back to me in this one. I was never as sassy and flighty as these two young heroes, but I give them full credit. Smart, mature, and curious. Not without their stupid moments, to be honest. But we all have them in our youth. What I love about this book is also what I dislike about this book. Everything is so perfectly smashed together. And it's completely unreal. But you want fantasy (not real fantasy but emotional fantasy) in your literature, so it works. I just can't think of anyone that age who always has the perfect comeback or wordsmithing ad hoc in any moment. Between Dylan and Arthur, I could totally laugh my ass off... but I could only be around them once every year or so without needing to lock them in a box and beg them not to try so hard!
Samantha is the only real and worthy character for me (I love them all, but I could only hang with her). Truthfully, you get all the feels from the book. You root for the romance. Poor Mikey got the shaft. Mario was just a passerby. The boys belong together, so let's let them have their win, right? Good romcom. Good young adult. Good LGBTQIA. Just know it's very much buttoned up in a way that is NEVER reality. Still a wonderful read.
Ah, to be young again. So much about my 20s came flooding back to me in this one. I was never as sassy and flighty as these two young heroes, but I give them full credit. Smart, mature, and curious. Not without their stupid moments, to be honest. But we all have them in our youth. What I love about this book is also what I dislike about this book. Everything is so perfectly smashed together. And it's completely unreal. But you want fantasy (not real fantasy but emotional fantasy) in your literature, so it works. I just can't think of anyone that age who always has the perfect comeback or wordsmithing ad hoc in any moment. Between Dylan and Arthur, I could totally laugh my ass off... but I could only be around them once every year or so without needing to lock them in a box and beg them not to try so hard!
Samantha is the only real and worthy character for me (I love them all, but I could only hang with her). Truthfully, you get all the feels from the book. You root for the romance. Poor Mikey got the shaft. Mario was just a passerby. The boys belong together, so let's let them have their win, right? Good romcom. Good young adult. Good LGBTQIA. Just know it's very much buttoned up in a way that is NEVER reality. Still a wonderful read.
March 4, 2022
“You end up wasting so much time by trying to force something that will never work, instead of moving on to the next best thing. It’s a really tough lesson, especially when there’s years of comfort and happiness involved. It’s even tougher when big dreams are involved. But saying goodbye can be really freeing and open new doors for you."
I must confess that 3-star reviews are the most difficult ones for me to write. It is kind of funny though, because somehow I only have two possible scenarios here: these reviews might end up being positive, or on the contrary, negative. I have never been capable of writing a completely neutral review, and the thing is that just when I have finished typing, it's when I realize how it has ended up; so, let's see how this goes from now on.
I would like to start by saying that the first book of this duology, What if It's Us?, it is an important reading for me. Not only because I really enjoyed reading the story, and about some characters*, but also because it was the first book I read in English in my life.
After a conversation with a friend of mine in February 2020 (the last time I saw her so far), she told me that if I was into reading novels, and if I was also really interested in speaking a second language, reading in my target language could give me some advantages. She speaks four languages, so I took her advice seriously, but then I was scared: "what if I am not able to understand?" "what if it is quite difficult to follow the story?"
Many questions and fears were in my mind during many months after our conversation, since my English level two years ago was further from being good.
So, when I decided to read What if It's Us?, since I was a huge fan of Becky Albertalli's first novel (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda), I immediately knew that I had made a right decision. It took me like three weeks or so to finish my reading, however, with a dictionary and a lot of enthusiasm it was actually possible.
It was indeed a good experience, and now, almost two years after my first reading in English, I decided to continue reading almost everything (novels, tales, articles, and the like) in my target language every single day, which means that something somehow is going well (I can't complain, even though I am conscious I am not so good at speaking it yet).
Now you can see how meaningful this first novel was for me, and the fact that I decided to read the second one, two years later, basically without hesitating, without looking up words constantly like the first time, and being more confident and conscious of my progress, means that this novel, Here's to Us, is in fact an important book in my life as well. I read it with the same feeling, with the same smile on my face as though I was reading the first novel; besides, I read it without fear of being lost among many paragraphs, phrases, idioms, and the like. It was me again, but two years after my first experience reading a novel in its original English.
Speaking of how time flies, Here's to Us takes place two years after the first book, and where our protagonists, Arthur and Ben, have changed – they are more responsible and mature (well, maybe one of them not so much) than what they used to be in the first story, and furthermore, they have a new relationship, and they haven't been in contact during all this time. In short, many things have happened after two years – it is not a big surprise though.
Arthur, however, is back in New York since he got a new summer job in a theater of the city, and thus, he remembers his past life next to Ben. So, the fact that they might bump into each other, in a big city such as New York, is almost improbable, but not impossible at all.
You can almost predict what this story is going to be about from begging to end, and nevertheless I prefer not to say anything more about the plot since it is also the first sequel I read in my life, and I don't know how to review a sequel without spoilers on the previous novel; so, I think it is time to talk about my experience reading it.
Disclaimer: in the end there will be minor spoilers on the first book from now on – it was impossible for me to talk about this sequel and my experience without talking a little bit about the previous book, sorry for that.
First of all, I know this is a fiction love story, and nevertheless, there are some things that didn't make much sense to me. For instance, who on earth is in love with their ex, with the same intensity, two years after breaking up? In real life you move on, keep forward, and so on, right? In this case, Arthur and Ben were together for three weeks in the first book and then their paths took different directions, but three weeks are not enough to be in love with someone for two years more, two years without seeing or talking to the other person. During these two years you are supposed to meet new people, to live new experiences, a new life. Again, I am aware that this is just fiction, but somehow it could have been more realistic and true. For instance, I was expecting to see (or to feel) my own 17-year love story in this book; unfortunately that didn't happen.
Secondly, Arthur and Ben were good at following one rule in this story: The ends justify the means. "It doesn't matter who is going to suffer due to my decisions, what matters is my happily ever after". In the end I was actually really sorry for Mikey and Mario, I think they deserve someone much better (I can't say why I am saying this because of spoilers, again).
On the other hand, good news, there is one character who is undoubtedly my favorite one, who was also my favorite character in the previous novel: that's right, I am talking about Dylan and his extravagant sense of humor. I like him, and even though his personality might be sometimes annoying(?), I found this character really nice and true, basically a loyal and a very good friend**.
In fact, if you ask me, I enjoyed Dylan's story even more than Arthur and Ben's story, I felt the former more realistic, practical and honest.
Speaking of the ending, overall it was not my cup of tea, and don't get me wrong, it was in fact the ending I was expecting, but everything was too fast at the end – reading the epilogue felt as if we were running a marathon, there were many things missed in this part, and it is a shame because it would have been perfect to know further details after the 'real' ending.
All in all, and despite my bad experience with the love story, the book was overall good, the story was entertaining and mostly compelling, perhaps except for some Arthur’s chapters, especially those ones at which Arthur is in his job, since this part was not necessarily a part of the main plot, and therefore, it was boring.
In the end I am grateful though, because this duology was the start of something new in my life, and of course, there is a big difference between 2020 Oswaldo and 2022 Oswaldo, at least in terms of my approach to my second language. Needless to say we will carry on working on it.
----
* There were some things that were not for me though, but for this time I prefer to focus more on the second book, and not so much on the previous one. Just for the record, I have a review of the first book (in Spanish) here on GR.
** Dylan reminds me of one character who appears in a series that I enjoyed watching quite a bit. This series is Love, Victor, a spinoff of Love, Simon (the movie that is based upon the first novel by Albertalli), and this character is, of course, Felix, Victor's best friend. I am really happy to say that I have a Dylan/Felix as a close friend in my life, and I feel really lucky as well. :)
I must confess that 3-star reviews are the most difficult ones for me to write. It is kind of funny though, because somehow I only have two possible scenarios here: these reviews might end up being positive, or on the contrary, negative. I have never been capable of writing a completely neutral review, and the thing is that just when I have finished typing, it's when I realize how it has ended up; so, let's see how this goes from now on.
I would like to start by saying that the first book of this duology, What if It's Us?, it is an important reading for me. Not only because I really enjoyed reading the story, and about some characters*, but also because it was the first book I read in English in my life.
After a conversation with a friend of mine in February 2020 (the last time I saw her so far), she told me that if I was into reading novels, and if I was also really interested in speaking a second language, reading in my target language could give me some advantages. She speaks four languages, so I took her advice seriously, but then I was scared: "what if I am not able to understand?" "what if it is quite difficult to follow the story?"
Many questions and fears were in my mind during many months after our conversation, since my English level two years ago was further from being good.
So, when I decided to read What if It's Us?, since I was a huge fan of Becky Albertalli's first novel (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda), I immediately knew that I had made a right decision. It took me like three weeks or so to finish my reading, however, with a dictionary and a lot of enthusiasm it was actually possible.
It was indeed a good experience, and now, almost two years after my first reading in English, I decided to continue reading almost everything (novels, tales, articles, and the like) in my target language every single day, which means that something somehow is going well (I can't complain, even though I am conscious I am not so good at speaking it yet).
Now you can see how meaningful this first novel was for me, and the fact that I decided to read the second one, two years later, basically without hesitating, without looking up words constantly like the first time, and being more confident and conscious of my progress, means that this novel, Here's to Us, is in fact an important book in my life as well. I read it with the same feeling, with the same smile on my face as though I was reading the first novel; besides, I read it without fear of being lost among many paragraphs, phrases, idioms, and the like. It was me again, but two years after my first experience reading a novel in its original English.
Speaking of how time flies, Here's to Us takes place two years after the first book, and where our protagonists, Arthur and Ben, have changed – they are more responsible and mature (well, maybe one of them not so much) than what they used to be in the first story, and furthermore, they have a new relationship, and they haven't been in contact during all this time. In short, many things have happened after two years – it is not a big surprise though.
Arthur, however, is back in New York since he got a new summer job in a theater of the city, and thus, he remembers his past life next to Ben. So, the fact that they might bump into each other, in a big city such as New York, is almost improbable, but not impossible at all.
You can almost predict what this story is going to be about from begging to end, and nevertheless I prefer not to say anything more about the plot since it is also the first sequel I read in my life, and I don't know how to review a sequel without spoilers on the previous novel; so, I think it is time to talk about my experience reading it.
Disclaimer: in the end there will be minor spoilers on the first book from now on – it was impossible for me to talk about this sequel and my experience without talking a little bit about the previous book, sorry for that.
First of all, I know this is a fiction love story, and nevertheless, there are some things that didn't make much sense to me. For instance, who on earth is in love with their ex, with the same intensity, two years after breaking up? In real life you move on, keep forward, and so on, right? In this case, Arthur and Ben were together for three weeks in the first book and then their paths took different directions, but three weeks are not enough to be in love with someone for two years more, two years without seeing or talking to the other person. During these two years you are supposed to meet new people, to live new experiences, a new life. Again, I am aware that this is just fiction, but somehow it could have been more realistic and true. For instance, I was expecting to see (or to feel) my own 17-year love story in this book; unfortunately that didn't happen.
Secondly, Arthur and Ben were good at following one rule in this story: The ends justify the means. "It doesn't matter who is going to suffer due to my decisions, what matters is my happily ever after". In the end I was actually really sorry for Mikey and Mario, I think they deserve someone much better (I can't say why I am saying this because of spoilers, again).
On the other hand, good news, there is one character who is undoubtedly my favorite one, who was also my favorite character in the previous novel: that's right, I am talking about Dylan and his extravagant sense of humor. I like him, and even though his personality might be sometimes annoying(?), I found this character really nice and true, basically a loyal and a very good friend**.
In fact, if you ask me, I enjoyed Dylan's story even more than Arthur and Ben's story, I felt the former more realistic, practical and honest.
Speaking of the ending, overall it was not my cup of tea, and don't get me wrong, it was in fact the ending I was expecting, but everything was too fast at the end – reading the epilogue felt as if we were running a marathon, there were many things missed in this part, and it is a shame because it would have been perfect to know further details after the 'real' ending.
All in all, and despite my bad experience with the love story, the book was overall good, the story was entertaining and mostly compelling, perhaps except for some Arthur’s chapters, especially those ones at which Arthur is in his job, since this part was not necessarily a part of the main plot, and therefore, it was boring.
In the end I am grateful though, because this duology was the start of something new in my life, and of course, there is a big difference between 2020 Oswaldo and 2022 Oswaldo, at least in terms of my approach to my second language. Needless to say we will carry on working on it.
----
* There were some things that were not for me though, but for this time I prefer to focus more on the second book, and not so much on the previous one. Just for the record, I have a review of the first book (in Spanish) here on GR.
** Dylan reminds me of one character who appears in a series that I enjoyed watching quite a bit. This series is Love, Victor, a spinoff of Love, Simon (the movie that is based upon the first novel by Albertalli), and this character is, of course, Felix, Victor's best friend. I am really happy to say that I have a Dylan/Felix as a close friend in my life, and I feel really lucky as well. :)
November 6, 2021
AHHHHH VALE LA PENA TOTALMENTE! YA QUIERO QUE LO LEAN :))
January 13, 2022
“i guess that’s how it goes, though. sometimes happily ever afters aren’t about your happiness at all.”
this was exactly what i needed, as i’m slowly but finally coming out of my reading slump. so much fluff, so much cuteness!! especially seeing ben and arthur grow up and mature in their own ways was so heartwarming to read about, i love them so much :(
the writing style was as easy and smooth as used to by becky albertalli and adam silvera; and i think that in this sequel you could see even more, how the authors’ own personal colors shined through. i really missed reading stories from both of them, and the fact that we could revisit these characters’ story is so dear to me. loving the fact, that ─ while this story is obviously focused on ben and arthur ─ we got to see more from the secondary characters also!!
→ 4 stars
pre-read:
WAITTT omg how did i miss this??? what if it’s us is getting a sequel??? sobs
this was exactly what i needed, as i’m slowly but finally coming out of my reading slump. so much fluff, so much cuteness!! especially seeing ben and arthur grow up and mature in their own ways was so heartwarming to read about, i love them so much :(
the writing style was as easy and smooth as used to by becky albertalli and adam silvera; and i think that in this sequel you could see even more, how the authors’ own personal colors shined through. i really missed reading stories from both of them, and the fact that we could revisit these characters’ story is so dear to me. loving the fact, that ─ while this story is obviously focused on ben and arthur ─ we got to see more from the secondary characters also!!
→ 4 stars
pre-read:
WAITTT omg how did i miss this??? what if it’s us is getting a sequel??? sobs
December 28, 2021
This was just exactly what I wanted
January 7, 2022
This is my first 5 star read for 2022! I am so happy that it is. It was my January book club pick for Queerreads and I'm so happy we picked this one out for the new year!(:
October 21, 2024
Yes! That’s the HEA I wanted for the precious puppies. I basically binged this in one sitting and I have zero regrets. Perfection. 🥰
May 24, 2022
"All I can think is: sometimes what-if's come true."
°•*⁀➷
First things first, when Samantha has that moment with Dylan where she says "I'm powering you down for two minutes" and brings out a timer. That has to be one of the healthiest relationships I've ever seen come to life. I'm so glad I read these books even if it had only been for Dylan and his incredibly beautiful self. I adore him. I wish I had a friend that is as kind, understanding, funny and loving as he is. Ben is so lucky.
This book, however, was not just about Dylan and Ben's friendship for me. There was so much about this that was good. So much healthy relationship talk. I love that everyone's parents (for the most part), were so present in their lives. It's so annoying sometimes when books completely avoid that it's basically impossible to be on your own at 18 without parental guidance. There is always an exception, and always circumstances that make that impossible to follow, but as none occured here, I'm glad the parents were always there. It made the story come to such life right in front of me.
Arthur and Ben were the couple of this book, but everyone felt so important outside of them. It feels impossible that in ends here. That I don't get more about Ben and Arthur. But what a perfect happy ending with a glimpse into their future. I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion. How happy.
- Paige
°•*⁀➷
First things first, when Samantha has that moment with Dylan where she says "I'm powering you down for two minutes" and brings out a timer. That has to be one of the healthiest relationships I've ever seen come to life. I'm so glad I read these books even if it had only been for Dylan and his incredibly beautiful self. I adore him. I wish I had a friend that is as kind, understanding, funny and loving as he is. Ben is so lucky.
This book, however, was not just about Dylan and Ben's friendship for me. There was so much about this that was good. So much healthy relationship talk. I love that everyone's parents (for the most part), were so present in their lives. It's so annoying sometimes when books completely avoid that it's basically impossible to be on your own at 18 without parental guidance. There is always an exception, and always circumstances that make that impossible to follow, but as none occured here, I'm glad the parents were always there. It made the story come to such life right in front of me.
Arthur and Ben were the couple of this book, but everyone felt so important outside of them. It feels impossible that in ends here. That I don't get more about Ben and Arthur. But what a perfect happy ending with a glimpse into their future. I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion. How happy.
- Paige
February 16, 2022
3.5 stars
When I read ‘What if it’s Us’ several years ago I fell in love with Ben and Arthur. It ended in sort of an open way and I was excited to get the rest of their love story. Well, I got the ending I wanted but it took so long to get there. This one felt so… messy to me. It had something I really don’t love in books and it stressed me out. Even so, the ending was pretty perfect and honestly I couldn’t get enough of Dylan. He totally stole the show for me!
“Here’s to do-overs, right?”
“Here’s to us,”
When I read ‘What if it’s Us’ several years ago I fell in love with Ben and Arthur. It ended in sort of an open way and I was excited to get the rest of their love story. Well, I got the ending I wanted but it took so long to get there. This one felt so… messy to me. It had something I really don’t love in books and it stressed me out. Even so, the ending was pretty perfect and honestly I couldn’t get enough of Dylan. He totally stole the show for me!
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Noah Galvin & Froy Gutierrez
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 10h 10m
Want to read
April 24, 2020IM SORRY WHAT?? THERE IS A SEQUEL??? I NEED ANSWERS
January 1, 2022
THIS IS EVERYTHING I WANTED AND MORE😭🤍!!! the ending was PERFECT!! Ben & Arthur are forever two of my favorite characters I have ever read about and I hold them dearly to my heart.
I relate to Ben on so many levels. Him, a white passing Puerto Rican, me a white passings Mexican. I found comfort in Ben because of the way we shared so many of the same feelings about our identity and how the world sees us and how we have to fight for the fact that we are Hispanics.
And ARTHUR!! my ball of sunshine! I adore Arthur so freaking much. He is the cutest human ever & I always looked forward to his POVS and getting into his crazy, all over the place mind.
the two are so freaking special. their love story is like no other. all the what ifs, second chances, long distance. but they made it work. Ben and Arthur are freaking soULMATES!
I relate to Ben on so many levels. Him, a white passing Puerto Rican, me a white passings Mexican. I found comfort in Ben because of the way we shared so many of the same feelings about our identity and how the world sees us and how we have to fight for the fact that we are Hispanics.
And ARTHUR!! my ball of sunshine! I adore Arthur so freaking much. He is the cutest human ever & I always looked forward to his POVS and getting into his crazy, all over the place mind.
the two are so freaking special. their love story is like no other. all the what ifs, second chances, long distance. but they made it work. Ben and Arthur are freaking soULMATES!
February 20, 2022
The second collaboration between popular YA authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera,
Here's to Us
is an utterly squee-worthy story of love and friendship and finding your own path.
This was one of a few long-awaited sequels to books I loved that came out toward the end of last year. I loved the first book, What If It’s Us , so much, and couldn’t wait to spend more time with the characters. But would the sequel be as good as the original? (Spoiler alert: It is.)
Two summers ago, Ben and Arthur lived an adorable love story in NYC. But after Arthur went home to Georgia, the strain of a long-distance relationship became too much, and they eventually went their separate ways. It’s gotten to the point where they’re mostly friends who text occasionally, which is sad, but, well, it’s life.
Now Arthur has landed a summer internship working for an off-Broadway director, so he’ll have a dream job back in NYC. He’s sad to leave his adorable, sweet boyfriend Mikey behind, but they can survive the summer. And the city is a big place, it’s not like he’ll even see Ben.
But of course, he sees Ben constantly, and they try for a friendship, which isn’t always easy when you’ve so much history together. Plus, Ben seems to be happy with his new boyfriend, Mario, even if Mario is talking about going to Los Angeles to pursue his screenwriting dreams. It’s all going to be fine, right?
Why is it that the universe keeps pushing them back together even when they’ve both tried to move on? Is Ben as happy as Arthur thinks? Has Arthur really moved on? Could a second chance be possible even with the same issues that cropped up for them before?
Here's to Us book made me laugh, made me tear up, and got me all emotional. If you love YA romance, these books are great!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
This was one of a few long-awaited sequels to books I loved that came out toward the end of last year. I loved the first book, What If It’s Us , so much, and couldn’t wait to spend more time with the characters. But would the sequel be as good as the original? (Spoiler alert: It is.)
Two summers ago, Ben and Arthur lived an adorable love story in NYC. But after Arthur went home to Georgia, the strain of a long-distance relationship became too much, and they eventually went their separate ways. It’s gotten to the point where they’re mostly friends who text occasionally, which is sad, but, well, it’s life.
Now Arthur has landed a summer internship working for an off-Broadway director, so he’ll have a dream job back in NYC. He’s sad to leave his adorable, sweet boyfriend Mikey behind, but they can survive the summer. And the city is a big place, it’s not like he’ll even see Ben.
But of course, he sees Ben constantly, and they try for a friendship, which isn’t always easy when you’ve so much history together. Plus, Ben seems to be happy with his new boyfriend, Mario, even if Mario is talking about going to Los Angeles to pursue his screenwriting dreams. It’s all going to be fine, right?
Why is it that the universe keeps pushing them back together even when they’ve both tried to move on? Is Ben as happy as Arthur thinks? Has Arthur really moved on? Could a second chance be possible even with the same issues that cropped up for them before?
Here's to Us book made me laugh, made me tear up, and got me all emotional. If you love YA romance, these books are great!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 8, 2020
Wait a damn minute...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,389 reviews