Book: What If It’s Us
Author: Becky Albertalli
Published: October 9th, 2018
Rating: ★★★
Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.
Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.
But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?
Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.
Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.
But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?
What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?
What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?
But what if it is?

I mentioned in my 2020 Releases post that Becky Albertalli is an author I’d like to read and lucky for me, she has a great backlist of books to choose from!

Unfortunately, I don’t think I picked the best one to start with. This book fell quite short of my expectations but I’m hoping it’s only up from here.

The best thing I can say about this book is that it was age appropriate. It was a queer teen love story. I don’t even want to call this a romance. It didn’t feel like a romance, really at any point in the book.

In fact, there really wasn’t… much, in this book. I personally don’t know what the plot was or where it was supposed to go. The conflict(s) seemed weird, exaggerated, and childish.

I am 26 and I still read a lot of YA. I’ve never felt “too old” to understand or enjoy YA but this book just made me feel like I was too old for it. I just didn’t really understand why half of the things that happened needed to happen. 

Do I think others would like this book? Sure! Perhaps people that don’t read a ton of romance or don’t care about the typical HEA (happily ever after) would enjoy this one. Will I read another Albertalli book? Yeah, probably. Unless something is egregious, I’m a “three-strikes-you’re-out” type of reader. I like to give authors a couple chances before I abandon them completely.

Have you read any other Albertalli books you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments below!