Review: Here's To Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
- Courtney
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
A queer New York romance brings together two exes and they fall all over again.
Dates read: 31/12/24 to 06/01/25
Word to describe: Cutesy
Star rating:⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Teen Romance, Queer Fiction, Young Adult Fiction.
In the sequel to Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera's best selling teen romance What If It's Us comes Ben and Arthur's second change at love. This fluffy fiction gives readers exactly what they want. A little bit of romance drama, side characters to fall in love for, and the perfect ending to wrap up this queer story.
The last time readers met Ben and Arthur they were sixteen and on the verge of greatness. They had a whirlwind summer romance and then parted ways when Arthur moved back home. In Here's To Us we find out that Ben and Arthur stayed in touch until contact became sparce when Arthur met another boy to love Mikey. With a mixture of jealously and loneliness after losing his best friend Ben throws himself into writing his new novel and eventually into the arms of friend with benefits Mario. Determined to work on their own lives Ben and Arthur focus on their future with their significant others and it is all going to plan - at least until Arthur gets a summer internship in New York right next door to Ben.
What I love about this book is that it displays the turmoil of romance in the best possible way. Ben and Arthur have both grown up but when faced with old feelings they become teenagers again, fumbling their words and afraid to break each others hearts. It displayed the messiness of falling for someone who hasn't fell for you (Mikey confessing his love and it doesn't get returned), the danger of waiting too long to make a move (Mario waiting until the last possible second to tell Ben he likes him and wants more than friends with benefits but missing his chance), and the feeling of everything being just right (Dylan and Samantha).
I feel like Becky and Adam really poured their hearts into making sure this sequel not only pleased the fans but showcased the unsteadiness of relationships and the ups and downs of dating. The book ends with two happy couples and two broken hearts but it wraps up each story nicely into a neat parcel (ready to get sent to that post office no?). It features lovable side characters which steal the show in every scene - I think the only thing that would make this sequel better is if it was all about Dylan.
Onto the negatives - and I really hate to be negative in my reviews. But, Ben and Arthur are the most selfish characters to ever exist. Yes - as the main characters they are destined to be paired up and don't really suffer as a result of their actions (literally main character syndrome). Yet, everyone else in the books get hurt. They spend the entire book moping over their current relationship statuses whilst lusting for one another and constantly thinking about each other. The internal monologue was so repetitive for each character it may as well have been reduced to "Arthur Arthur Arthur" "Ben Ben Ben" and then an obligatory "oh no Mikey/Mario the person I am supposed to be thinking about". Neither character is ever confronted for their emotional cheating and at times are even encouraged.
Why is this an issue? Because I like characters to be well rounded and get the negative repercussions for their actions. But instead Arthur and Ben got their happily ever after and everyone else got hurt instead.
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