Goodreads Synopsis

Critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera combine their talents in this smart, funny, heartfelt collaboration about two very different boys who can’t decide if the universe is pushing them together—or pulling them apart.

ARTHUR is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

BEN thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them . . . ?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t nail a first date even after three do-overs?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

What if it’s us?

My Mini Review

This book starts out with an incredibly adorable meeting between the two main characters, which begins a delightful adventure filled with finding and losing each other amidst a journey of self-discovery. Arthur has never had a boyfriend and thinks it is fate whenever he stumbles upon Ben, but Ben is trying to get over the loss of his recent relationship and struggling with feelings of not being enough. They teach each other valuable lessons about love, especially that it doesn’t have to be instantaneous or last forever to be impactful, meaningful, and worth fighting for. I enjoyed all the characters in this novel, but I especially loved Ben because his struggle with making meaning out of his previous relationship while trying to do better for Arthur was very engaging. I loved all the pop culture references, and they cemented my love for the characters by hammering home their extreme level of nerdiness. The main problem I had with the book was the pacing; the search and awkward dates lasted a bit too long and bogged everything down at times. Spending so much time on those parts of the story also made it seem like the rest of the relationship progressed too quickly. However, once the relationship started in earnest I couldn’t stop listening and finished the rest of the book in one day. The narrators were fantastic and did an excellent job of bringing the two boys to life. I especially loved the voice of the narrator who did Ben’s chapters; the voice just made me fall completely in love with character. Overall, I enjoyed the book despite some pacing problems and rate it 4 out of 5 stars.