I feel awful as I loved book one so much, and this just felt like overkill.
Ben and Arthur are not together, they each have new boyfriends (of sorts) and they are moving on with things…and then events conspire to have both of them back in New York for the summer. They meet up to show how much they’ve moved on - and it’s painfully clear that they haven’t at all.
The majority of the book sets them up on a number of double dates or meet-ups with new partners and friends, but each occasion offers a reminder of their past in some way. Nobody calls them out on it, but it’s pretty obvious that each is holding something back because they haven’t quite got over their past.
For most of the book it felt like I was reading a collection of scenes rather than a cohesive narrative. Things shift into predictable territory near the end, and I’m afraid that I found myself thankful that it would all draw to a close soon. Much as I wanted to love this, I couldn’t help but feel this book stemmed from a desire to do-over decisions made in the past, which were made for a reason. Sometimes it’s best not to look back!

I can only say one thing about this book. It was a pleasure to read from the first to the last page. I was so happy to see that Ben and Arthur got the second chance for happiness. I do not care if it was too soppy in places, I loved every bit of this book.

It has been a long while since I have rooted so fervently for a couple of characters. I felt myself getting to the point where I would either a) throw the book in frustration because Ben and Arthur are meant to be together or b) shouting out loud "Kiss him, you fool!"

Okay, so it is always tricky with a sequel. Will it live up to the predecessor? Will it ruin the story? I can genuinely say that Here's To Us is on par with What If It's Us or possibly even better.

Ben and Arthur have grown up and so have their problems and I feel they make it a bit more relatable. Ben and Arthur needed a challenge to their almost perfect love story start and boy do Albertalli and Silvera provide it. But oh, how they pull at those heartstrings.

Here's To Us is phenomenal as is the whole series. My heart was stolen by this book and I don't want it back.

Here's To Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera is available now.

For more information regarding Becky Albertalli (@beckyalbertalli) please visit www.beckyalbertalli.com

For more information regarding Adam Silvera (@AdamSilvera) please visit his Instagram page.

For more information regarding Simon & Schuster (@SimonBooks) please visit www.simonandschuster.com.

I loved What If It's Us the first time I read it, and I recently reread it in preparation to reading this book and I still really enjoyed it.
Arthur and Ben are adorable characters and I adored them in their first book and when finishing that book I did wonder about what would happen after that book ended so part of me was excited to read this book, but when I started reading this I was a little bored as this book starts with Ben and Arthur dating completely different people, so it took me a little while to warm up to this story but I am glad I stuck with it because I did enjoy this book in the end.
I ended up listening to this book on audiobook and I really did enjoy the audiobook and felt like I flew through this book because I listened to it rather than reading it physically because this book is almost 500 pages. I definitely feel like this book is too long because not a lot actually happens in this book.
I loved Mario. One of the only good things about this book, apart from seeing old characters again, was the new characters which were introduced, one of which was Mario. I loved Mario, he was such a happy guy and so understanding of everyone, especially Ben and he always encouraged people to make decisions that were best for them. Mario deserved better because I adored him.
I loved seeing Arthur and Ben again, but this book could've been a lot shorter. Reading this book was only worth it because of the epilogue which I did find myself tearing up at.
If you loved What If It's Us and you are wondering what happens next with these characters, I do think you should check this book out but I don't think that it is a necessary read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I discovered how much I enjoy second chance romances at the end of last year, so when I heard that Here's to Us was just that, a second-chance romance, I bumped it up my TBR.

I was expecting a sweet contemporary that would be an enjoyable read, but perhaps not a new favourite. Instead, I got a book that was fun, emotional, and brilliant, with just the right amount of drama and 'will they/won't they' moments.

The book picks up two years after the events of What If It's Us, with Ben in college trying to keep his writing dreams alive and Arthur returning to New York for an internship. Arthur has a boyfriend, Mikey, back at home and Ben is interested in Mario, a friend, who also seems to be interested in him.

But when the universe throws them a second chance, both begin to wonder if they called time on their relationship too early. As they begin to reconnect, Ben, Mario, Arthur, Dylan and Sam all start hanging out together and both Ben and Arthur begin to realise that they're not quite as over each other as they thought.

In this book, both Arthur and Ben are a little bit older and more mature and they're both considering what they want out of the next few years of their life. Ben is trying to decide if college is actually the right route for him and Arthur is thinking about what to do after his internship.

I've seen quite a few people saying that Here's to Us doesn't have much plot, but for me it was one of those books where lots of little things/events happen to give us a linear progression from point A to B. The group go for dinner, they go to the theatre, Arthur works at his internship, Ben works on his novel. We start at point A of them both being in New York and we get to point B which is the HEA we were rooting for.

Things start to get really interesting when Mikey travels to New York to visit Arthur, who then has to reevaluate what he wants in a relationship and if it's actually Mikey he wants to be with. It's messy and complicated, and there's a lot of back and forth (on Arthur's part) but I actually think it's quite realistic to real life.

Relationships can be very messy; sometimes people realise they like someone else while they're still in a relationship, or they figure out they still like an ex but the ex is in a new relationship. I definitely think Arthur could have treated Mikey with more kindness and respect, but he does realise this and apologise later on, and on the whole I just felt his actions were quite representative of how people often behave in real life.

While I liked how fresh the ending of What If It's Us was (because it wasn't your typical happy ending), I'd always hoped for a happily ever after for Ben and Arthur. And this book gives us just that. And then some.

I wasn't quite prepared for how intensely uplifting and soft the final few chapters of this novel were (was I on the verge of crying, yes, do I regret it? No.) but they were definitely my favourite parts of the book. (Yes, they're saccharinely sweet and yes I loved it.) There's a ~particular scene~ that made me GASP out loud with how heart-warming it was. I don't say this often, but I actually think this was the perfect ending for Ben and Arthur's story.

Content warnings for relationship break ups, infidelity, financial problems.

I loved the sequel to What If It's Us so much! It had all the fun of the first book with even more pining that was physically possible. The plot twist near the end had me speechless and I enjoyed the ending very much. A great start to the year!

How many of you here had the urge to flunk the book across the room when you finished What If It’s Us? Cause you’ll definitely feel this way too hahahaha *Siri spell Spain without the s*

One word that would summarise my feeling throughout the whole book is frustration. The amount times I went “why tf would you do/say that omgggg” and the amount of secondhand embarrassment I got is surreal. I also felt really emotional and the urge to cry is just so real 😭 Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike nor do I hate the book but it really tested my patience and boundaries.

The book certainly offers the perfect dosage of fluff, way too much angst and drama & I’m living for it. The writing and plot are very likeable and I certainly enjoyed it. I would certainly get a physical copy for myself (to complete the collection and future reread, duh!).

I think what made me really enjoy the book was the writing, the characters method of processing their emotions (cause I’m very similar to the characters in that sense) and suspense.

There isn’t any major plot twist or whatsoever so it was fairly straightforward. BUT I have to say when I reached that back alley scene, my heart did a little somersault and I was internally screaming “ahhhhhhhh”.

If you guys had read the first book, and like me, felt really frustrated with the ending, then I would highly recommend you pick this up. Even if you didn’t feel frustrated, I would still recommend you to pick it up. I would like to thank NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Here’s To Us is the sequel I didn’t know I needed but was so glad that I got! When I finished What If It’s Us I wanted to know what happened to Arthur and Ben next but had it in my head that we would never find out. I’m so glad we got to see what happened next with Arthur and Ben and reading this book brought a huge smile to my face. Don’t read anymore of this review if you haven’t read the first in the series though because I don’t want to spoil it for you!

Going into this book I was quite worried that despite time having past in real life and in the book itself the characters would not feel as though they ‘aged-up’. This was not the case though. Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera perfectly managed to age-up the two main characters and all the characters that surrounded them, all whilst still making it feel like a YA book. It is like they wrote it as if we grew up alongside them.

This story was fast-paced and full of sweetness and adorable moments alongside drama and heart-felt moments. I loved watching Arthur and Ben be pulled back together and as readers you cannot deny that they seem to belong together. I really enjoyed the characters Mario and Mikey. Both of them were lovely and I would have loved to learn more about them. That is why I was kind of upset with the outcome they have in this story. Although it was necessary for the story to progress it still felt sad to witness. Each of their relationships was sweet but with a slice of bittersweet on the side.

I loved learning more about the ‘side’ characters in this book. Jessie and Dylan really do have my heart and I would love a book all about them in the future! Arthur and Ben still have my whole heart and I loved watching them grow, mature and learn from their mistakes. There are so many wholesome moments between them and then the wider friendship group which really brought a smile to my face.

Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera have written another beautiful novel that filled me with joy as I’m sure it will do to so many more readers. This book gave me the ending to Arthur and Ben that I have been waiting for since What If It’s Us and I adored it. I’m sure so many more readers will feel satisfied and happy with how this story ends.

Overall, I adored Here’s To Us and I cannot recommend it enough. It is sweet, adorable, full of drama and wit and just an all-round excellent read! I highly recommend you pick this series up if you are looking to put a smile on your face.

This was my first read of the year, and I'm glad it was. This is a sequel to the previous book and shows Ben and Arthur with other love interests, and portrays how much they've grown and changed within a year. It was uplifting and heartwarming, I would recommend it.

Beautifully written, and much-anticipated sequel. The first book is so popular in my secondary school library that getting the sequel is a no-brainer! I raced through this desperate to continue Ben and Arthur's journey. My pupils are going to love it.

Brilliantly contemporary read from this popular author duo.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

Oh boy, what can I say about this! It was a long wait to finally see Arthur and Ben again. Just like What If it's Us, the sequel is a love letter to New York, to musicals, to friendship, and to love itself! Silvera and Albertalli are both so skilled in creating these vivid characters, where we not only enjoy reading about their story but we're right there with them, experiencing the emotions with them at every level. Their different skills blend so well together, I hope they will be writing together for a long time, because I will pick up every book.
And for those who have read it, the last few chapters had me in tears the entire time. So worth it!

I really enjoyed reading this sequel. I think it was a little slower than the first book, but it suited the plot line.

I lost count of how many times I cried. Four? Five? Gosh, this was so wholesome and wonderful and beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. I never knew how things were gonna play out and I definitely didn't expect to shed so many tears.

To be honest, I've never read anything by either of these authors. But consider me a fan now cos this YA romance is EVERYTHING. The writing is amazing (I highlighted so many favourite quotes!), the romance sucked me in and I adored the characters.

And if I loved this so much despite reading it on a clean slate, I can’t imagine how fans of the first book would feel with all their emotional investment!

Anyway. This book can definitely be read as a standalone because it is very detailed and provides a lot of backstory, such that you have a pretty good idea of what happened in What If It's Us and can follow this sequel easily. But of course, you should read in order if you can!

Seriously, now I'm questioning how I have never read anything by either of these authors before. Brb off to change that.

‘Here’s To Us’ is a great follow up to ‘What If It’s Us’. Both Ben and Arthur have been charming and engaging characters in the previous book, and now, two years older, they are even more so. Both more mature and yet not completely, still chasing their dreams and trying to figure what to do. Their lives are equally exciting, messy and complicated, and it’s nice to see them again.

While I have enjoyed following Ben and Arthur’s journey here, they both spend the majority of the book in different relationships (or almost relationships), and some of their actions are a little questionable. But generally, ‘Here’s To Us’ has been a good second-chance romance book.

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

"Just make sure you're living it for yourself and not anyone else."

" Because for me, it's always you. You're the point of every story."


Here's To Us is one of the hyped books for me as I've read many good reviews about its first book. As soon as I got an ARC of this book, I excitedly read What If It's Us, but I had mixed feelings about the story. I liked it, but at the same time I didn't. I know it doesn't make sense, but the story puzzled me😕

However, I started this book with hope. The journey was a bit chaotic, sometimes I was like "hey! just make up your mind boys!"
It was a cute and slow burn story and how its ends paid off the mixed feelings. Therefore, overall I quite enjoyed it😊 I just wish Ben and Arthur didn't take that long to figure out about them…as I started liking the side characters...😢

What I like
❤The universe is telling them to be together
❤Happy characters
❤The ending!!😘

I got a bit disappointed by the first book, but I'm glad I read this sequel! I love the ending, it's sweet and cute! If you like slow burn, second chance story, you'd like it😉

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

It's been two years since Ben and Arthur just didn't work out.

Now Ben has Mario - funny, caring, creative Mario who is definitely too hot for him and definitely almost his boyfriend. He's rewriting his fantasy novel, living in New York and life is great. He's almost forgotten about Arthur, really.

But when Ben and his friend stumble across an oddly familiar couple getting married in the park, he can't help but think about Arthur again. Who, as it turns out, is just about to start his dream internship at a theatre in New York. It feels like the universe is pushing them together again and again, but they really have to ask themselves - is this a happy ending, or a new beginning?

"But I was sixteen. That's just what falling in love at sixteen feels like. Just because it's different now doesn't make it less real."

This highly anticipated sequel to the wonderful 'What if it's us?" continues our journey into the lives of Ben and Arthur in a totally different place and time - but even though they've grown and learned, they're still the familiar boys we fell in love with the first time round and growing some of the hilarious and wonderful side characters like Dylan into fully rounded people who we grow to love just as much.

A beauty story and relationships in all their forms - the ones that ended, the ones that stay forever, the ones that slowly slipped away - and how important and special each one is. Each friendship and relationship was full of love and complexity - I adored every single one. It is a celebration of old and new relationships and had me feeling so much love for everyone in my life and a kind of nostalgic fondness for those who were there before.

Ben, Arthur and his friends perfectly capture what it's like learning about love when you're trying to learn about yourself - and how our idea of love can change as much as we can.

As usual, this left me beaming with pride for my fellow LGBT+ family - this story as with Adam and Beckys others - shows the beauty of individuality and uniqueness in a simply stunning way.

"I once wondered if we were a love story or a story about love. I now know the answer."

I was equal parts excited and nervous for 'Here's To Us'. I loved the ending of the first book, and the reality check that it provided. I enjoyed the open ending and the idea that not every relationship works out - especially in teenage relationships - and that's okay.

However, 'Here's To Us' delivered on every front. The conclusion was predictable from the beginning, but that didn't make the journey and less valid or necessary. Ben and Arthur are both seeing different people, and they're both in reasonably healthy and happy relationships. Neither Mario nor Mikey was demonised or used as an excuse for a relationship to end. Similar to the first book, both Ben and Arthur made mistakes, faced difficult decisions and had to experience growth.

I liked that this book picked up several years after 'What If It's Us?' left off. All of the characters have matured and learned valuable lessons about love and life, which makes this book more realistic and impactful.

I enjoyed that some of the minor characters had more major roles in this one. I was so happy that Dylan and Samantha returned, as they were my two favourite characters from the first. Dylan is even more 'Dylan' than ever, but Samantha evens him out in a great way. They provide a grounding base of a real relationship within the novel.

Albertalli and Silvera's novels all contain a mixture of love, humour and reality, and Here's To Us contains the best of all. Watching Ben and Arthur attempt to chase their dreams while also searching for love and figuring out who they want to be made this book even more deep and meaningful than the last.

While I was originally apprehensive about this book, as many fans of the first will be, it was the perfect conclusion to Arthur and Ben's story (although I'll still be begging for a Dylan and Samantha spin-off for years to come). I urge all fans of 'What If It's Us?', new and old, to read this book. You won't regret it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I loved What If It's Us SO MUCH and was thrilled when Here's To Us was announced. I couldn't wait to dive back in to Ben and Arthur's story. It picks up 2 years from we last saw the boys and follows them during a summer in New York. Both seeing other people, will Arthur and Ben find their way back to each other.

I flew through this in less than 24 hours as I was so desperate to find out what happened to Ben and Arthur and, I have to admit, had a good cry at the end. Whilst I'm sad to know that this is the end of their story, I was thrilled with how it ended up.

Thanks NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I enjoyed What If It's Us, but was a little apprehensive to see that Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli were writing a sequel. One of the things I liked most about What If It's Us - which depicted a sweet, whirlwind romance between two gay teenagers, Arthur and Ben - is that, unlike most YA, it seemed to acknowledge that a relationship can be both good and important, and yet not last forever. While it was sad to see Arthur and Ben go their separate ways, it also added a level of nuance to the book that's often lacking. Would Here's To Us, then, just deliver the expected happy ending that What If It's Us didn't?

SPOILERS FOLLOW

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And yes, it does, but I ended up disliking this turn of events less than I'd expected. Reuniting Ben and Arthur, now two years older, gives Silvera and Albertalli the opportunity to flesh out their characterisation. Both are developed really effectively from the people they were in their earlier teens, and I found both of them more sympathetic, especially Arthur. I also really liked what Silvera and Albertalli did with the inevitably ex-boyfriends, Mikey and Mario. While we soon realise that Ben and Arthur are ultimately going to get back together, their relationships with Mikey and Mario are written sympathetically and realistically, rather than either of them turning out to be horrible or obviously incompatible. This immediately puts Here's to Us ahead of almost all YA and adult romance. I really could have done without the final wedding scene- fine, Ben and Arthur are back together, but does it have to be so locked down at such an unrealistically young age? - but other than that, I thought this sequel was handled well. If only there had been no Dylan, who is even more insanely annoying in this book than he was in the first.