Title: Here’s to Us
Author: Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: December 28, 2021
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Summary
The last time we saw Ben and Arthur, they had decided to go their separate ways. Ben has spent the year working on his fantasy novel with his new partner, Mario. He’s a great writing partner, Spanish tutor, and kisser. But for some reason, Ben can’t get Arthur out of his head.
Meanwhile, Arthur is spending the summer in New York as an intern in an off Broadway play. The only downside is leaving his boyfriend back in Boston. But when he finds himself back in Ben’s orbit, he wonders if his feelings really ever went away. Maybe the universe is trying to tell them something. Maybe they’ve actually always been meant to be.
Review: Here’s to Us
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy of this to review! What If It’s Us is such a fun romance, I was excited to get back in Ben and Arthur’s world. Knowing both Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, this was going to be both a swoony romance and tug at my heart strings. And I was definitely right!
At the beginning, I was a bit worried that some sort of cheating was going to happen. Both Ben and Arthur start the book in relationships, and I hate it when cheating happens. But, the book is more about them realizing that maybe their feelings never went away, and taking steps to change that. Yes, their journey is a bit messy, but you have to keep reading to know if they’re going to end up together.
Also, without spoilers, can we just talk about that ending? I was almost tearing up when I read this at the desk at work. I loved it that much. Honestly, I need someone else to read it so I can talk about it with them. Because ah! I can’t get over that ending. Hits you right in all of the feels.
Not only do Albertalli and Silvera have excellent chemsitry writing together, their characters do too. And not just between Ben and Arthur, but all of the side characters as well. This little found family in New York is fantastic, each of them adding their own thing to the story. Silvera and Albertalli are royalty at creating characters, and that shines in this book.
All in all, if you’re looking for a swoony, gay romance, this will be the book for you! Definitely one to put on your holiday wish list.
5/5 stars
[…] sequel to What If It’s Us comes out this month, and you should all be excited for it! Here’s to Us builds on our favorite characters from the original book. Like Arthur! So, in honor of that book […]