Here's to Us (What If It's Us #2)

by Becky Albertalli

This is every relationship. You start with nothing and maybe end with everything.

p 147, book 1: "But Arthur? I barely know him. I guess that’s any relationship. You start with nothing and maybe end with everything."

She writes back instantly. It’s probably turned the wrong way, check and see if it has one of those top or bottom labels. My bedsheet has its own grindr profile now??

“I know! But, Arthur, cheating’s not the only thing that can strain a relationship, okay? Here.” She hands my phone back. “Just take it. But use it responsibly, okay?” “So I should delete the nuclear codes from my Notes app?”

Because how is Ben allowed to just show up with that face? It’s pretty rude, to be honest.

like he was starting to realize my brain was just one big surprise egg full of mystery weirdness, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing at all.

I catch Ben looking nervously back and forth between Mario and me like we’re the crossover series he never asked for.

Yes, Arthur and I broke up because we didn’t think long distance would work. Yes, Arthur started dating Mikey and didn’t let distance get in the way.

I’m certain about my feelings, though, and when it comes to Arthur, they’re completely platonic. Obviously.

Obviously. 🙃

Mario, who immediately cups his hands around his mouth and calls, “Where’s my fashion show? I need some swagger.”

Mario is totally trying to get a three way going.

“It’s our link to the generations who came before us, and it’s how we hold space for the ones who haven’t been born yet. L’dor v’dor, Aharon,”

I tap over to Mario’s Stories again, just to ride that misery spiral all the way down. Why the fuck not, right? It’s Pride Weekend Eve, and crying in my boxers about my ex’s hot boyfriend is a deeply valid expression of gay culture.

“I didn’t,” he says. “I had a spy on the inside—” I buzz him in before, God help us all, he starts rapping.

“Here’s a hint.” Jacob smiles. “It’s your life. You’re always the protagonist.”

I haven’t stopped thinking about this line since the first time I read it.

I stare at Jessie, dumbfounded. “Pregnant, like pregnant? With a baby?” “I mean, I hope that’s what’s in there.”

now I get to show up sopping wet and panting, like a sad, gay Mr. Darcy.

“Okay, stop being morbid. First first kid is alive and healthy. And you”—I prod his arm—“need to stop rereading that YA book where everyone dies at the end.” He tips his palms up. “It’s a good book.”

Best line ever.

Jeff Östberg, for a cover that was love at first sight. Froy Gutierrez and Noah Galvin for sharing their unbelievable talent with our boys yet again.

Mark Oshiro, who pulled the ultimate Mario by schooling us in Spanish and making this book a hundred times more super.