What If It’s Us

📖 What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Vibe: New York City, fate vs. reality, awkward beginnings, and first loves that don’t always go as planned

"Not every love story is meant to be perfect — and maybe that’s okay."

This book left me with mixed feelings, and I think that’s exactly what it was meant to do. What If It’s Us isn’t your typical YA romance where everything falls neatly into place. It’s messy, awkward, hopeful, and kind of painful in the way real life can be.

The story follows Arthur, a Broadway-obsessed ball of energy visiting NYC for the summer, and Ben, a quieter, more grounded boy dealing with a recent breakup and summer school. Their paths cross at a post office (of all places), and what follows is a whirlwind of missed connections, second chances, and trying to figure out if the universe is actually trying to tell them something — or not.

🌆 What I Liked:

Arthur and Ben felt real. Like, awkward silences, oversharing, insecurities, and all. I appreciated that their chemistry wasn’t instant or smooth — it took effort, and that made it believable.

The NYC setting gave the book a warm, buzzing background that felt romantic in itself. All the little dates and spontaneous moments made the city feel like its own character.

It talked about expectations vs. reality in a very honest way. Both characters had different ideas of what love should feel like, and watching them navigate that was refreshing and frustrating at the same time.

Friendship dynamics — both Arthur’s and Ben’s best friends were involved in meaningful subplots. It wasn’t just about romance, and I liked that.

💭 What Didn’t Hit Home:

There were a lot of back-and-forth moments that felt repetitive after a while. I get that teens are figuring things out, but sometimes it felt like the same conversation was happening over and over again.

I expected more emotional depth, especially from Adam Silvera (who wrecked me in They Both Die at the End), but this felt lighter than I thought it would be.

The ending. I won’t spoil it, but I was torn. It wasn’t bad, it was just… real. And maybe I was in the mood for a bit more closure or hope.

💬 Final Thoughts:

If you’re in the mood for a realistic portrayal of teenage love — the kind that’s sweet, clumsy, sometimes magical but often uncertain — this is a solid pick. It’s not the kind of book that wraps everything up with a bow, and maybe that’s its strength.

It reminded me that sometimes two people can have a beautiful connection without it turning into forever — and that’s still valid. If you’ve ever had a summer crush that felt like the whole world for a while, you’ll get it.

🪄 Would I recommend it?

Yes, but with the expectation that it’s more about the “what ifs” than the “happily ever after.” It’s soft, sincere, and a little messy — just like real life.