Here's to Us (What If It's Us #2) by Becky Albertalli & Adam Silvera -- Starting January 21st 2022

[Jenn]

Ben has spent his first year of college working on his fantasy manuscript with his writing partner Mario, who is a great Spanish tutor, and an even better kisser. So why can’t he stop thinking about the fact that Arthur’s back in town two years after they called it quits?

Arthur is in New York for a dream internship on Broadway, with a boyfriend back at home that he couldn't be happier with. But when he comes upon Ben cuddled up with a mystery boy, he starts to wonder if his feelings for Ben ever truly went away.

Even as the boys try to focus on their futures, they can't seem to help running into each other in the present. Is the universe forcing them to question if they’re actually meant to be?

Possibly not. After all, things didn’t work the first time around.
Possibly yes. After all, the sparks are still flying.
Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and raise a glass.

Here’s to celebrating old friends!
Here’s to embracing new beginnings!
Here’s to believing in second chances!

[Aly]

Yay, can't wait to read this one!

[Brigia]

It was such a great idea to read them back-to-back!

[Brigia]

Beginning-Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[I kind of hate that Arthur is with someone else. And Mikey is difficult to dislike, so far, he seems like a genuinely good guy.
Though I don't think I like this Mario guy - Ben deserves much better! I can't wait for them to meet up again and realise that they belong together. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brigia wrote: "Beginning-Chapter 4

I kind of hate that Arthur is with someone else. And Mikey is difficult to dislike, so far, he seems like a genuinely good guy.
Though I don't think I like this Mario guy - Be..."

I agree! (view spoiler)[Mario is meh, he doesn't seem committed and I think he might drop Ben at any moment. Mikey is pretty adorable and I would feel bad for him if Arthur broke up with him (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 1-10 (view spoiler)[ Haha I love that Arthur is still so dramatic, it's pretty funny. He and Mikey are cute and even though I want Arthur and Ben back together, I also don't want Mikey hurt. Maybe he can find someone else?

Mario feels more like a friend with benefits and I think he'll drop Ben if something else comes along.

Dylan is still the best and I'm so happy he and Samantha are together (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 11-20 (view spoiler)[ Combining Arthur and Ben and their respective boyfriends/hookups is definitely a bit awkward. I feel like Ben is only thinking of moving to L.A. because of Mario and not because he wants to. Hopefully he changes his mind on that soon (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 21-31 (view spoiler)[ What?? Dylan and Samantha are getting married and having a baby?! Woah that's huge news. I'm glad Dylan told Ben so he didn't move on Monday and I'm still holding out that he'll change his mind about going.

I don't think Arthur handled the break up with Mikey that well and I feel super bad for Mikey. But if Arthur really didn't love him, at least he ended it instead of dragging it out. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Ch 32-End (view spoiler)[ Whew! I was a bit worried there that things might not work out, but it's all good. They had the sweetest wedding, Ben got to be a publisher, and Arthur gets to work on theater shows!

What a fun duology this was :) (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Up to chapter 20

(view spoiler)[ Wow, I think that’s enough awkward moments for me lol I’m hoping something will change soon, because this is a little painful to read. (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Aly wrote: "Ch 11-20 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree, but I also think Ben is just not happy at all at the moment, not just with Mario, but also his life in general. I can understand why he would want a radical change like that! Though I also don’t think he and Mario are meant to last either way. Mario isn’t committed enough. (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Up to chapter 30

(view spoiler)[ I really felt for Mikey and I think he was absolutely right to call Arthur out like he did. He really didn’t deserve that, but I guess he deserved the alternative even less. At least Arthur really didn’t have a clue.

I can’t believe Ben was ready for long distance right before Arthur went back to Mikey! These two and their awful timing! (hide spoiler)]

[Brigia]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ I was a bit impatient with them for a while and it felt like the side characters hijacked the story for a bit, much as I loved them. But - we did get the big revelations and the grand gestures in the end! I even loved the suspense at the end, between Arthur’s declaration and Ben‘s. This way, he had the time to build up to his own big moment. This book made me happy! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Brigia wrote: "Aly wrote: "Ch 11-20 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah that makes a lot of sense

[Aly]

Brigia wrote: "Up to chapter 30

I really felt for Mikey and I think he was absolutely right to call Arthur out like he did. He really didn’t deserve that, but I guess he deserved the alternative even less. At l..."

Poor Mikey :(

[Aly]

Brigia wrote: "Finished

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Definitely had me worried for a minute there, but a cute ending for sure (hide spoiler)]