Books › What If It's Us
What If It's Us
464 pages
A bustling, Broadway-infused summer romance that asks if the universe actually knows what it is doing when it pushes two opposites together.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a humid, bustling New York City summer where anything could happen. It perfectly captures the dizzying thrill of a meet-cute, then grounds that magic in the awkward, fumbling reality of trying to actually date someone. The dual perspectives create a delightful friction between starry-eyed, Broadway-fueled optimism and bruised, pragmatic cynicism. It is a brisk, witty, and deeply earnest exploration of what happens when the fantasy of a perfect romance collides with the messy truth of two very different teenagers trying to make it work. Fans of swoony but realistic contemporary YA will devour this charming, chaotic, and ultimately bittersweet celebration of first love and the unpredictable universe.
- Mood
- summery
- bustling
- romantic
- chaotic
- Tone
- earnest
- witty
- hopeful
- pragmatic
- theatrical
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the reality of romance · fate and the universe · first love · navigating differences · coming of age
- The writing
- Conversational and snappy, bouncing effortlessly between two distinct teenage voices that balance starry-eyed optimism with bruised pragmatism.
- The arc
- Moves from the dizzying high of a serendipitous meet-cute through the awkward, messy reality of dating, landing on a bittersweet but deeply hopeful note.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave the swoon of a rom-com but appreciate when the messy, awkward realities of actual dating are left intact.
Content notes
- breakups
- mild homophobia
About the book
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?
Description from Open Library.
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