Here’s to Us

De: Becky Albertalli, Adam Silvera

Narrado por: Noah Galvin, Froy Gutierrez

Number-one New York Times best seller!

Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera reunite to continue the story of Arthur and Ben, the boys listeners first fell for in the New York Times best-selling rom-com What If It’s Us.

Ben survived freshman year of college, but he’s feeling more stuck than ever. His classes are a slog, his part-time job working with his father is even worse, and his best friend Dylan’s been acting weird for weeks. Ben’s only real bright spot is his writing partner Mario, who’s been giving him a lot of Spanish lessons and even more kisses. Mario’s big Hollywood dreams make Ben start to dream bigger - and the choices he makes now could be the key to reshaping his future. So why can’t he stop thinking about a certain boy from his past?

Arthur is back in New York City for the first time in two years, ready to take the theater world by a storm as the world’s best...intern to the assistant of an off-off-Broadway director. Of course, it sucks to be spending the summer apart from his sweet, reliable boyfriend, Mikey, but he knows their relationship is strong enough to weather the distance. Which is why it’s no big deal when his ex-boyfriend Ben stumbles back into the picture. And it’s definitely fine that Ben’s blissfully happy with some mystery boy. First loves are special, but it’s way too late for what-ifs. Right?

Even as the boys try to shake off the past, they keep running into each other in the present. Is this the universe trying to tell them there’s a do-over in their future?

Here's to Us is sure to be welcomed by fans old and new of these authors and their previous collaboration, What If It's Us. Critically acclaimed and best-selling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in these smart, funny, heartfelt novels about two very different boys who can’t decide if the universe is pushing them together - or pulling them apart.

©2021 Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Good as the first, but not great

Okay, so if you loved the first you'll probably like this one. It has the same kinds of strengths and weaknesses as the first book. Two things that stood out that I didn't like. 1. All of the work details about Arthur's job were boring and pointless to the storyline. If the intent was to somehow show character progress in Arthur, it failed. 2. I genuinely don't know if I'm still supposed to root for them at the end because of how terribly they treated Mikey and Mario.

Other things that I wished were different: they used Dylan as a plot device AGAIN. I love his character and wished he wasn't just there to make the story work. Also, the level and amount of Spanish Ben knows doesn't make sense. If he just knew a little Spanish before starting to pick it up with Mario, then based on the previous vocabulary he has used he should have known some words that this book claimed he didn't and had to have Mario clarify for him.

At least there wasn't anything as bad as the "Hermione lips" nonsense in the first one.

I do wish the resolution came earlier so we could see them actually together instead of the brief glimpses in the epilogue.

All that said, I still loved it, lol.

The Sequel We Didn't Expect But Loved

I had enjoyed What If It's Us for its brilliant depiction of an LGBT teen romcom of sorts that's all about "the universe" bringing these boys together against all odds. But what had surprised me most about that book was how it ended on a rather realistic note given the literal distance between our protagonists and that made it more than just more near-idealistic wish fulfillment, which is what we often stumble across in this genre.

So to say that I was (guiltily) looking forward to the sequel would be an understatement - even given the synopsis stressed that Ben and Arthur aren't together at the start of this book (as was the case at the end of the first one). We were really going to get a story about them learning to be friends and moving on in their lives? Is this what the Universe had prepared for all of us?

Thankfully "the Universe" in this case is Albertalli and Silvera, who have once again crafted a brilliant two-POV narrative that makes it hard to stop reading/listening to the book because you can't help be curious about what the next chapter will bring. And as much as I try to distance myself from rom-com-style stories because of their predictability, this book was really hard to predict with any accuracy despite a lot of familiar setups and circumstances. The ability to effectively subvert the expectations of the genre without necessarily making fun of the genre is a unique skill and the books of this series continue to act as a case study in how to do things right.

And while I had enjoyed reading the first book as a physical novel, the audiobook really took me away and I committed to experiencing this sequel through the vocal work of Noah Galvin and Froy Gutierrez. For all intents and purposes they ARE Arthur and Ben (respectively) to me and they once again brought this novel to life beautifully. If we ever do get movies for these novels, it'll be a little hard for me to appreciate whoever they end up casting as the (age-appropriate?) leads given how much Arthur and Ben will forever sound this way in my head as they do in this audiobook.

I really enjoyed this ride and if we never get another book about these characters, I'll still be happy with the amazing stories we've gotten across these two books. And that says a lot about the thought and care that clearly went into writing these books and giving Arthur and Ben to find each other while allowing all of us readers to find them as well.

The Universe, eh?

Good but not great

I was so enthusiastic to learn that there would be a sequel to book one.. While I did enjoy it, I, I did not love it as I did book one. I found that parts 1 and 2 of this book seemed to flounder and did not connect very well. The saving grace of this book was part 3.

This is one hell of a roller coaster of feelings and my god it’s breathtaking

I cried over the first book and I cried even harder over the second one (this book). This book makes believe in love at first sight and as silly as it sounds, it also makes me believe in infinite do-overs. I will be jerking my heart in-n-out until the day I get to share this book with my own box boy or hot dog tie boy *is crying as writing this* but until then I will keep reminding myself that the universe is on my side and I just have to see it through.

On another Level - Good

Great story check, phenomenal performances check, continued helpless romantic forever. This follow up dare I say is better than the first one? Yes I believe so. Glad that the characters got a fulfilling do over. Thrilled that we got a sequel.

A masterpiece!

I love every minute of it. I hope one day to have a love story like that

Even Better

More realistic than many... good guys learning about relationships and understanding that sometimes people get hurt even when you do your best to do the right things.

The ending became very romantic.

The voice actors are great. The story is cute. It felt like it dragged a little bit in the middle but otherwise what a sweet tail.

Loved this duology

I breezed through this book! I was late for What if it’s us. But I woke up 3AM EST to start this one once it dropped on audible! It put me through a roller coaster but I’m so glad I listened/read these two books! Great collaboration from Becky and Adam! I just finished a few minutes ago and will be re listening tonight!

Must Listen

So excited to listen to this book. I love it! So glad the authors made a sequel. My heart is full. So many twist and turns. Sweet, romantic, funny, and exciting.