Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Here's to Us

I loved this book so much more than the first one that I can hardly believe the were written by the same people! It was funnier, more loveable, more raw and mature. I loved the misunderstandings and the mutual oblivious pining and the constant tension. The characters, both main and side, were the highlight of what if it’s us and the same can definitely be said for its sequel too! Ageing them up was an excellent choice and I loved the growth and journey that they all went on in this book. I loved that their actions had consequences and their decisions had weight and complexity.

Spoiler

The scene between Arthur and Mikey was SOOOO well done and actually addressed the harm that had been done. Ben’s acknowledgement that he had to hurt someone was equally mature and realistic, and I appreciated how honest he was with Mario.

In writing 18 instead of 16 year olds, I felt the authors tried less to sound like teenagers and this really benefitted the story. Also, it would be wrong not to mention Dylan and Samantha, who were as loveable as ever! However, it was also with the characters that I had a few issues. Jessie and Ethan showed up sporadically and I missed what their friendship with Arthur offered him as a character. The parents were conveniently missing at times and then popped up when they could further the story. Hudson and Harriet disappeared then the former was brought back with a surprise falling out which hadn’t been mentioned before. I also felt like pride was a missed opportunity that could have been more fruitful. But these issues aside, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read, providing much more substance, character development and tension than its predecessor. The epilogue, and perhaps the whole book, felt almost like reading fanfiction and I mean that as a compliment!! This book was everything a YA romcom should be!!

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ladygetslit's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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imstephtacular's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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merah's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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mattheo's review

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funny lighthearted

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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lilly_anne's review

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funny hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book feels like the unnecessary sequel to a mediocre Netflix romcom.
It's not really bad or problematic, it just has this "go girl give us nothing" energy and I feel like I wasted a lot of time and energy on reading it. You can basically tell the main plot twist just by reading the synopsis.

This book felt a little bit as if the authors regretted how they'd ended "what if it's us" and are trying to save things with this sequel - but 460 pages are just a little bit too much for it.

Apart from that the more personal reasons why I didn't enjoy it were (a) that I didn't like the main characters who spent the first 400 pages whining and self-pitying, (b) that I found most references and "jokes" extremely cringy and (c) that this book is often very American which led to me having a hard time relating to the character's problems and simultaneously understanding cultural references (this is of course nothing bad, it just made it even harder as a non-American to dive into the story)

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ollie_again's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The conversation of the authors when writing <i>What If It's Us</i> as I imagine it:
'Hey, Becky.'
'What's up, Adam?'
'Do you think we should do a happy ending in the book?'
'Nah, we'll do a shit ending and then squeeze another four hundred page book out of it four years later.'

As the first book dragged out with the nonsensical do-overs, this one dragged with Arthur constantly choosing to ruin other people's feelings. Especially his boyfriend Mikey. Who, surprise surprise, after getting his heart shattered multiple times does not get the happy ending.

Spoiler

And I don't count that one namedrop in the epilogue that insinuates he has a boyfriend.

The person who did the shattering? Oh, you bet, he gets the happily ever after with fireworks and double epilog. I literally groaned when I saw there is another epilog after the epilog, I was ready to be done with this book.

Technically, there is no cheating in this book. But 'technically' is the operating word here. Because stringing your boyfriend along because you are not sure about him but also not sure if you want to be alone and also in the back of your mind salivating over your ex is shitty. If this sentence didn't make sense to you, welcome to the dumpster fire of this book. Ghosting a dude about an important conversation because you are not sure is shitty. And then being scorned by the fact that he ghosts you is just mind-boggling. Having jealousy fits in your head over your ex and his boyfriend, when you have your own boyfriend is shitty. How can be Arthur so self-centered and not recognize he's acting like a complete asshole for 75% of the book until then he says "oh I'm an asshole' and proceeds to continue with his assholery.

Spoiler

Tell me how the hell you do not understand your ex soft-blocking you after you dumped them after they made the grand gesture you said you craved in the relationship.

Before starting this book, I hoped there will be some elegant way that will keep away from ruining other characters' feelings and still get Arthur and Ben the happily-ever-after they never got in the first book. Wrong assumption. Aside from the obvious victims in the story, I still can't wrap my head around Ben

Spoiler

contacting Hudson, his first ex, to ask what he's supposed to do about his ex and his current boyfriend. What the actual fuck is that train of thoughts

.

I'm not even going to get into the Dylan and Samantha's subplot because nope. I'll just say that Dylan being nasty to Samantha's best friend just because it's a guy is a decision, that I can't help but side-eye. Like why is that even a thing?

Spoiler

She's your girlfriend, you are getting married and she is pregnant with your baby, the fuck are you pressed over another guy?

The only redeeming quality (if you can call it that) is the fact the pop-culture references which were rampant in the first book are toned down by 150%. If it was as bad in this one as it was in the first book, I would have DNF it for sure because I like my brain cells too much to endure that. The sad sad takeaway from the book is that you apparently do have to want to have a big bang love story straight out of Broadway because the content, normal relationships are boring. And if you meet a person in a meet-cute straight out of the romance book you have to push and push and just fuckin make it work somehow even if it went to shit previously. Arthur's and Ben's relationship (in both books) feels like when you are trying to slam two random puzzle pieces together and they don't click together, so you just mash them together with force. And it's obvious they don't fit. Because it's ugly and unsatisfactory shit of a puzzle.

My favorite piece of dialogue out of the whole book:

Spoiler

<i>"Well," I say, "maybe I want more big moments from you."
"Like when I told you I loved you?" says Mikey</i>.
What a remarkable verbal punch in the face. Go, Mikey!

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