Gumption Book Club What if it's US?

We just finished reading What if it’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. The first team up from these two authors delivered laughter, a few tears and an abundance of modern romance between two seemingly opposite teens, Arthur and Ben, set against the backdrop of modern day Manhattan.

jacket art by Jeff Östberg / jacket design by Erin Fitzsimmons and Alison Donalty. image via Variety

Separately Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera are responsible for 2 of my favorite ya novels. Albertalli’s Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda was a favorite from the get go (not to mention the film adaptation Love, Simon was one of my favorite movies of the year), and Silvera’s They Both Die at the End gave me the perfect combination of love and sci-fi I didn’t know I always needed. So naturally, when I heard earlier this year that the two authors would be teaming up to co-write a new novel, I was so on board I turned on alerts for them both on Twitter.

Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera by Seth Abel Photography

Our story begins with a meet cute in a post office between our two protagonists; the ever positive and hopeful Arthur, who believes in the power of the Universe and the quasi pessimistic but secretly romantic Ben, who can’t quite figure out why the universe is seemingly always against him. When the two teens meet, sparks fly, but the connection is lost due to an ill timed flash mob wedding proposal (I mean, because of course it did!). From there we see these two boys find each other, stumble through their version of love, and ultimately question whether the Universe is pulling them together or if its actually pushing them apart, all while figuring out what it means to love someone in every respect of the phrase.

Overall, the book was delightful. Sure, there were a few silly moments, but I think that might have something to do with the fact that I’m 99.9% sure I am over the intended audience targeted demographic.

That being said though, I think that stories like What if it’s Us are important for teens to read today. When I was growing up, the only sort of LGBTQ media there was mainly revolved around unrequited love or tragic loss and separation. To me there is definitely a place and time for those kind of stories, but I think the same can be said for narratives that have a happy ending or at least one that ends in optimism and hope. I love that teens today can have novels about a romance between two teen boys, as it reflects what is real.

Also of note, What if it’s Us is coming soon to a theatre near you. Click this link to read the article on Variety that broke the news of Arthur & Ben’s impending big screen adaptation.

What if it’s Us? by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera is published by Balzer + Bray and Harper Teen - Imprints of HarperCollinsPublishers