What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
*image not mine*
I’m not going to lie. I was skeptical of this book and I’m not entirely sure why. Most of the reviews I saw were positive; but, I did not want to fall into the hype of this book and then not enjoy it. I am fans of both Becky and Adam, but everyone seems to love their books more than I do. But, this book. WHOA. It was too cute. I kept grinning to myself and did not want to stop reading it. I finished it in a day.
Ben and Arthur are awkward dorks for most of the story and I love them.
WHAT I LIKED:
- I could relate to both the main characters
- Ben on a deeper level because he is Puerto Rican, but looks white (I am partially Latino, but look sooo white and it was cool to see representation like this). Also, because Ben loves the Sims, and like, same.
- Arthur because HAMILTON. He is also super awkward because he has never dated someone before and I was like same dude.
- The side characters: Dylan and Samantha were excellent and the other side characters were still enjoyable, but less memorable.
- My note for Dylan is literally “Dylan is a MESS, but adorable”
- THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD QUOTES
- “May the Force be with you Ron Weasley”
- “I guess that’s any relationship. You start with nothing and maybe end with everything”
- “All history should be taught through rap by Lin-Manuel Miranda”
- So many nerdy references
- THE LORAX REFERENCE (Does anyone remember the Lorax movie with Zac Efron & Taylor Swift? No? GO WATCH IT).
- That “Ansel Elgort” scene. I was dying omg
- They talk about the fact that the green skittle was changed from LIME to GREEN APPLE and this was a very important thing in my life and I am glad literature is recognizing this.
- It is such a cute story okay
- This story also deals with friendships in addition to relationships which is so important.
- Adam and Becky need to write ALL the books together because their styles mesh so well together and I loved this more than I have any of their books (don’t kill me).
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
(aside from the first one they are all very minor)
- The ending. I hate to even say that because then if you read this on my recommendation you are going to go into the book anticipating something regarding the ending. If the ending was different this would have been a five star read for me.
- It’s weird to me that Arthur hangs out with law school girls who have to at least be 23 and he is like 16. As a 23 year old I would not hang out with 16 year old boys.
- I did not love that Ben had only been out of a relationship for two weeks before the book started. I think that is too fast to move on, but I guess this is fiction, so it’s fine.
Honestly, my other issues are so tiny they aren’t even worth mentioning. If you like cute romantic comedies in book form read this. If you like any of Becky or Adam’s books read this. Basically read this if you have ever liked a contemporary novel because this is a stellar one.
4.75/5
xoxo, Tree
Since I know a few of you were wondering here are the Becky/Adam books I have actually read and what I rated them.
ADAM SILVERA:
History is All You Left Me: 4/5
I’ve only read one of Adam’s books because people tell me they are sad and I don’t like being sad okay?
BECKY ALBERTALLI:
Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda: 4/5
The Upside of Unrequited: 3/5
Leah on the Offbeat: 3/5
Goodreads Link: What If It’s Us
Words About Words 