Ben and Arthur don't intend to spend the summer together. If fact, they don't even know each other at the start of the summer. And then, they have one short, magical meeting, and get separated. If they can find each other again, could it be that the magic that they felt could mean something real? As Ben struggles with summer school and his best friend obsessing over a new girl, and Arthur worries over his parents' rocky relationship and his buddy ghosting on him after he came out, it seems that the universe may be trying to bring them together. But as always, the intentions of the universe are rather complicated.
Why It's Worth Reading:
I love both of these authors, who never fail to bring us stories that are the perfect blend of heartfelt, emotional romance and realism (even in They Both Die at the End, which takes place in a speculative alternate world. Impressive.) The meet-cute in this book is adorable, the way that Arthur & Ben find each other again is amazing, and the not perfect, often awkward way that they get together took me right back to my early days of navigating relationships. (Equally awkward, much less successful.) I grew to love everything about these two characters, especially Arthur's obsession with Hamilton and Ben's hilarious relationship with his best friend, Dylan. I especially love how the book ended, a perfect blend of satisfying, but not implausible. This book is the rom-com you're always hoping for, but almost never get. Pick it up for Memorial Day weekend or save it to experience the summer with Arthur and Ben.
Book Details:
Title: What If It's Us
Author: Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
ISBN: 9780062795250
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: October 9, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Awards/Accolades: 3 starred reviews and a listing on the 2019 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Top Ten list.
Does the NHS Library Own a Copy?: Yep.