e-Audio, 10:09:43
Narrated by: Noah Galvin & Froy Gutierrez
Release Date: December 28, 2021
Published by: Quill Tree Books
Read from: December 28-30, 2021
What if Its Us, #2
Source: Library’s Overdrive
TW:
For Readers Interested In: Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ+ (Gay), YABecky 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?
*MY THOUGHTS*
As soon as I finished the first book, I thought that was it. I even believed they would do us like that because Adam Silvera loves to play with our emotions. Thankfully something said not to leave us hanging like that, so they gave us a sequel. Thank you for that lol
Ben has finished his first year of college, but now everything feels like a chore. He doesn’t feel like he’s getting anything out of his life where he is now, and that’s not ok. And then there’s Arthur, who has everything going for him. He’s got a great boyfriend and he just got an amazing opportunity to be an assistant for a play director…….. And it’s actually in New York. He is going back for the first time in 2 years. What will happen when they finally end up back in the same area?
I don’t know how to feel about this one. I felt this was more fairy tale than the first. The first was actually realistic with the way they handled the long distance and what happened in the end. I really felt like this one was a complete reaction to the reaction they got from the fans of the last one. Because that’s all that I really took from this. The ending. The rest of the story felt like a filler until the [SPOILER] HEA.[/END SPOILER]
And again I didn’t care for all the play references. I think in some time when Hamilton isn’t the forefront of everyone’s brain, and Dear Evan Hansen isn’t one of the last few out, it’s going to be a little dated. I think if they just mentioned that they were a looking at musicals or something it would make more sense. Thankfully we are now still in the society that knows and loves those two plays, so for now it’s still a classic.
The characters were again my favorite part. Dylan was again the best, but there were some times he got a little annoying. But then there was Arthur who I LOVED. He was the most real thing in this book. And by that I mean that Ben just felt really fantastical. Like they were basically saying his life would change when his book sold… But no one prepared him for the very real possibility that it might not sell. And I didn’t like that. He was having money problems yes, but I think it would have been worth it to see how in real life he would have had to keep sending out his drafts and how it could possibly take years.
I’m not going to lie and say I wasn’t anticipating this for any other reason besides the guaranteed HEA this time. That was the main thing I wanted from this book. And I have to say, I was not disappointed. The “promposal” was AMAZINGLY CUTE, and I loved what followed even more than that. I’m also not going to lie and say that I didn’t cry during this book. It will definitely play on your heart strings like it did mine. So basically, the best thing about this was the romance. I could have done with more of them together instead of so much of them trying to “find each other,” but whatever.
Me and the rest of the first book’s fans spent a long time wondering what if they met again And now we don’t have to wonder anymore. This romantic, nerdy book will put your heart back together after they shattered it last time. I hope it finally soothes you like it did for me.
Overall, I give this
