Thoughts on WHAT IF IT'S US by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera
*Originally posted on Goodreads.
**Some spoilers (sorry)
I read What If It's Us the day it came out, October 9, rushing after class to pick up me pre-ordered copy before heading to my room and reading the whole thing, from start to finish. I barely finished before midnight. The days, weeks leading up, besides listening to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack on repeat, I'd done my homework in preparation, because, knowing Adam Silvera's and Becky Albertalli's writing styles, I'd get upset with myself for not reading it all in one sitting.
The wait was definitely worth it. Obviously, the book was excellent, two wonderful authors standing behind it, their writing styles fitting perfectly together, making me wonder how Albertalli's books would have been like if Silvera had worked on them as well, or, vice versa, had Albertalli written any of Silvera's books with him.
The story had me hooked from the start, because while it is known prior that Ben and Arthur would be reunited, would have not-so-good-dates, as with any book by these two, I really wanted them to be together. Additionally, being a huge fan of musicals, especially Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton, it was a great addition to have so many nods to Broadway, including musicals beyond these two.
Of course, that ending did not let me sleep once I'd finished. As those who finished the novel know, Ben and Arthur break up as the summer closes, and haven't seen each other in real life since then, just through FaceTime. The ending was both hopeful and deeply saddening, ending on question upon question. The first thing that came in my mind was: this is a Silvera ending. Having read More Happy Than Not, History is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End, and having cried at each, all I could think was, well, I should have expected something that would make my insides sad. Yet, as I thought about the book as the night went on - I wasn't able to sleep - and the days that followed, I noticed, no, you see Albertalli there too. The ending includes two chapters, from both perspectives, first Arthur, then Ben. And it's not that one ends happier than the other, that one has a definitive ending, that one proves the other unnecessary. Both perspectives are needed for this ending, Ben's and Arthur's, Silvera's and Albertalli's. With Albertalli's work, I find myself happy at the end, energized by the powerful story. Silvera's stories, powerful as well, leave me thinking, pondering, trying to find a way to flip the ending around, especially in They Both Die at the End. It's perfect, this ending. You can see it as happy - perhaps Ben and Arthur do reunite, do get that perfect happy ending. Or you can see it as sad - perhaps they never see each other again, or their feelings, either of one or both, will never be regained. Or, you can take both, and make yourself hopeful, accept the "What if" ending, and let yourself decide the ending, you seeing at as you wish. There is no definitive conclusion, which I know many people expect in stories, but many times that is how they are meant to be. And it's fitting.
Perhaps Silvera and Albertalli will write a sequel, some day in the future, in which we see whether Ben and Arthur are reunited or not. Or perhaps the movie version - because, yes, in case it wasn't heard, it looks like <What If It's Us> might just become a movie - Ben and Arthur will end up together, the movie perhaps ending earlier than the book did. Either way, this is a perfect read, fan of Becky Albertalli, fan of Adam Silvera, fan of both, or as an introduction to both of these amazing authors.
And, if you just like musicals, you'll have a blast reading this as well.
**Some spoilers (sorry)
I read What If It's Us the day it came out, October 9, rushing after class to pick up me pre-ordered copy before heading to my room and reading the whole thing, from start to finish. I barely finished before midnight. The days, weeks leading up, besides listening to the Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack on repeat, I'd done my homework in preparation, because, knowing Adam Silvera's and Becky Albertalli's writing styles, I'd get upset with myself for not reading it all in one sitting.
The wait was definitely worth it. Obviously, the book was excellent, two wonderful authors standing behind it, their writing styles fitting perfectly together, making me wonder how Albertalli's books would have been like if Silvera had worked on them as well, or, vice versa, had Albertalli written any of Silvera's books with him.
The story had me hooked from the start, because while it is known prior that Ben and Arthur would be reunited, would have not-so-good-dates, as with any book by these two, I really wanted them to be together. Additionally, being a huge fan of musicals, especially Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton, it was a great addition to have so many nods to Broadway, including musicals beyond these two.
Of course, that ending did not let me sleep once I'd finished. As those who finished the novel know, Ben and Arthur break up as the summer closes, and haven't seen each other in real life since then, just through FaceTime. The ending was both hopeful and deeply saddening, ending on question upon question. The first thing that came in my mind was: this is a Silvera ending. Having read More Happy Than Not, History is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End, and having cried at each, all I could think was, well, I should have expected something that would make my insides sad. Yet, as I thought about the book as the night went on - I wasn't able to sleep - and the days that followed, I noticed, no, you see Albertalli there too. The ending includes two chapters, from both perspectives, first Arthur, then Ben. And it's not that one ends happier than the other, that one has a definitive ending, that one proves the other unnecessary. Both perspectives are needed for this ending, Ben's and Arthur's, Silvera's and Albertalli's. With Albertalli's work, I find myself happy at the end, energized by the powerful story. Silvera's stories, powerful as well, leave me thinking, pondering, trying to find a way to flip the ending around, especially in They Both Die at the End. It's perfect, this ending. You can see it as happy - perhaps Ben and Arthur do reunite, do get that perfect happy ending. Or you can see it as sad - perhaps they never see each other again, or their feelings, either of one or both, will never be regained. Or, you can take both, and make yourself hopeful, accept the "What if" ending, and let yourself decide the ending, you seeing at as you wish. There is no definitive conclusion, which I know many people expect in stories, but many times that is how they are meant to be. And it's fitting.
Perhaps Silvera and Albertalli will write a sequel, some day in the future, in which we see whether Ben and Arthur are reunited or not. Or perhaps the movie version - because, yes, in case it wasn't heard, it looks like <What If It's Us> might just become a movie - Ben and Arthur will end up together, the movie perhaps ending earlier than the book did. Either way, this is a perfect read, fan of Becky Albertalli, fan of Adam Silvera, fan of both, or as an introduction to both of these amazing authors.
And, if you just like musicals, you'll have a blast reading this as well.
-Thanks, Covy
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