Book Review: Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Here's to Us

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Here's to Us 〰️

That ending!!!

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Here's to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

This was the perfect sequel to a fantastic LGBT+ novel. We need more diverse books like these in the world. I'm sure they exist, but I have yet to find them. I'll be on the lookout, that's for sure.

I will admit, having most of the book with Arthur being with Mikey and Ben sorta with Mario, I was worried about how the authors would get these two back together. It was bound to happen given that the perspective was both of Ben and Arthur. I'm so glad the authors found the perfect way to have them meet-cute all over again and get back together.

This book had me going for all the feels. With Dylan and Samantha's secret life, to the will-they-won't-they of pretty much every couple, to that OMG ENDING! And how Ben proposed to Arthur!?! It was so cute!!!. I loved it from start to finish.

The only thing I didn't entirely like (and in book one, but I failed to mention that in my review of it) was that sometimes it was hard to tell who was talking. But other than that, I don't have anything negative to say about this book. Or the first one.

If you want to read a good love story where there isn't any doom and gloom (like most of the stories I read) this is the book for you. I mean you could technically count breakups as doom and gloom, but I'm not in this case. This duology is a breath of fresh air. Anyone in the LGBT+ community (or anyone in general really) would enjoy these books and I highly recommend them.

Book Review: What if it's Us? by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

What if it's Us?

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What if it's Us? 〰️

Before I start, I just want to say I'd give this book more stars if I could.

What if it’s Us? by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

This book was a wonderful breath of fresh air after reading so many doom and gloom books. Not that I don't like doom and gloom, but it's nice to cleanse the pallet now and then.

This wonderous LGBT+ story warmed my heart with so much cuteness that I could die of happiness. A simple boy meets boy story filled with adorable awkwardness and falling in love. Sure there is sadness during the final act, but there had to be some conflict after all. And the payoff to the conflict was worth it.

Not gonna lie, the epilogue threw me off. Didn't expect things to go the way they did. But there was room for more, and would you know it there is a book two. Can't wait to dive into that.

The characters have to be the best part. I LOVED Arthur's POV and I absolutely LOVE Dylan. Everyone needs a Dylan in their life. He low-key kinda reminds me of Mark in my own LGBT+ novel, SOUTH.

Honestly, everything and everyone read like a romanticized New York novel version of a movie and I'm here for it. It was great to just read a cute story about two boys falling in love with nothing super high stake beside the will they or won't they stay together sort of thing. Nothing world ending. No serious mental health. No deaths. Just a sweet love story. I think we all need a little bit more love in our lives.

If you're looking to escape the world and follow two loveable characters and their awesome friends on a cute journey through New York, this is the book for you. Just make sure you have the sequel nearby when you finish so you can jump right back into Ben and Arthur's story.