What if It's Us - Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli

Title: What If It's Is
Authors: Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Format: E-book
Rating: 3 stars

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

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, a novel written by best friend duo Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli, is the third book I've read by Albertalli, and the second by Silvera.  As much as other people loved this book, I thought it was just okay. 

The idea for the book sounded cute, but for me, the execution just fell a little flat. 

The Characters:

*The characters were all a bit one-dimensional.  There didn't feel like there was really a lot of growth for the characters in this novel. 

The Drama, Drama, Drama.

*I know this is a book about teens and revolving around teen issues.  And even with adults, there is bound to be a *little* bit of drama in life.  But there is never 24 hour "OH MY GOD THE WORLD IS ENDING" drama, even among teenagers.

Their Meeting?!

*Ok, so maybe some people thought the way that Art and Ben meet the second time is so cute!  I mean, they really wanted to see each other again, and so Art goes and hangs up a poster of Ben's face in a coffee shop after he did some light internet stalking of Ben?  And that doesn't seem a little weird to anyone else? 

The Writing/Story

*The story and writing could have been better.  I know that the author's are both good writers, and it wasn't as bad as some books I've read (I'm looking at you Fifty Shades and Twilight), but this book wasn't as well written as their other books I've read, nor did the story feel as strong or well developed as it could have been.


So, while I did think this book was alright, I didn't love it - it was just alright.  I'd say read it if you want, but don't get your hopes up to high. 

If you've already read this book, let know what you think in the comments!

Bout of Books - Friday Wrap-Up

Hey there reader friends!  It's time for another Bout of Books wrap up. 

Friday was alright - but I did fall asleep on my couch early in the evening while reading.  I was up late Thursday for work, up early Friday morning for no reason. But I still read and did some stuff. 

So...

Books Started: 4
Books Finished: 2
Pages Read Friday: 87
Total Pages Read: 398


Books I've Read so Far:
Fresh Ink - ed. by Lamar Giles
Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating - Christina Lauren

Books I've Started and Need To Finish:
Ace of Shades - Amanda Foody
What If It's Us - Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you doing the readathon?  Tell me what's going on with you in the comments! 

Bout of Books - Thursday Wrap Up

Hi reader friends!  Welcome to my Thursday Bout of Books wrap-up. 

Here's my progress so far:

Books Started: 2
Books Finished: 3 (Both were books that I had somewhat started before the readathon, so easy to finish)
Pages Read Thursday: 50 
Total Pages Read: 311

Books I've Read so Far:

Fresh Ink - Edited by Lamar Giles 

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating - Christina Lauren 

Books I've Started But Have Yet to Finish: 

What if it's Us - Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now, reader friends: Challenge Time!  

Today's Challenge: Favorite Hero/Favorite Villian

If you know me or follow my blog/facebook/twitter, what have you, you probably have figured out that I really love Leigh Bardugo's books, and Marissa Meyer's books.  

So, taking from their popular books:

My Favorite Hero:

Adrian Everhart, the renegade and secret young man behind the fabulous "not a hero to some": The sentinel

My Favorite Villain: 

I don't know how many people would agree with me, and I am going to be totally transparent in saying this is sort of a love/hate relationship.  But if I had to pick a fave villain at the moment: it would be The Darkling from the Grisha Trilogy.  Now don't get me wrong - the darkling is total trash, and I know it. But, he's so good at being trash! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you doing Bout of Books this week?  Drop a comment below and let me know what you're reading!  HAVE FUN!

Bout of Books - Wednesday Wrap-Up

Hi reader friends!  Welcome to my Tuesday Bout of Books wrap-up. 

Here's my progress so far:

Books Started: 3
Books Finished: 2 
Pages Read Wednesday: 3 (Slacker day.... Work took up a lot of time!)
Total Pages Read: 261

Books I've Read so Far:

Fresh Ink - Edited by Lamar Giles 

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating - Christina Lauren 

Books I've Started But Have Yet to Finish: 

What if it's Us - Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you doing Bout of Books this week?  Drop a comment below and let me know what you're reading!  HAVE FUN!

Bout of Books 25 - Tuesday Wrap Up

Hi reader friends!  Welcome to my Tuesday Bout of Books wrap-up.

Here's my progress so far:

Books Started: 2
Books Finished: 2 (Both were books that I had somewhat started before the readathon, so easy to finish)
Pages Read Tuesday: 25
Total Pages Read: 259

Books I've Read so Far:

Fresh Ink - Edited by Lamar Giles 

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating - Christina Lauren 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you doing Bout of Books this week?  Drop a comment below and let me know what you're reading!  HAVE FUN!

Bout of Books - Monday Wrap Up

Hi reader friends - welcome to Day of Bout of Books 25!  HAPPY TUESDAY!  It's raining here right now, so what better way to spend the day than reading and doing a wrap-up from day 1 of the readathon. 

What Did I do Monday?

Books Started: 1
Books Finished: 1 (I started it right before the readathon over the weekend, and it was an easy read, so it was easy to finish on Monday.)
Pages Read Monday: 234
Total Pages Read: 234

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And Now, reader friends: A little bookish challenge!  

Today, the bout of books challenge is: Bookish Favorites. 

I am picking my favorite bookish YA romances!  

1. When Dimple Met Rishi - Sandhya Menon - This is tied for my #1 fave YA Romance.  Fun, sweet, cute, and funny. (Just wait until Dimple's mom asks Dimple if she has Pond's wrinkle cream!)

2. Lucky In Love - Kasie West - Total cheeseballs, but total cuteness overload.  

3. I Believe in a Thing Called Love - Maurene Goo - My favorite part of this book is the relationship between the main character and her dad.  

4. The Way You Make Me Feel - Maurene Goo - This is the book that almost beats out When Dimple Met Rishi - they are tied for #1 YA romance for me!  There was seriously so much I loved about this book! 

Bout of Books!

Hey reader friends - GUESS WHAT?!  Today is the first day of Bout of Books 25.

What is Bout of Books, you ask?  Well, if you've been around my blog, you probably know.  But in case you don't: here's a little intro from their blog!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, Twitter chats, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 25 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


I don't have a set reading this for the week - I just want to play it by ear because I have a stack of library books that I want to finish.  So, that's the real challenge for me this week - finish as many of the library books I have at my home as possible. 

Are you doing bout of books?  Let's talk about what you're doing this week!

Avengers: Endgame

SPOILER WARNING: Massive, massive spoiler warning. 

Ok, so, if you're reading this, there's also a good chance you know that the Avengers: Endgame movie just came out.  And of course: This lady right here went to see it.

So, reader friends - let's diverge from the book path again so we can chat about this movie!  As I said just above, this post will have major, massive spoilers everywhere. So, if you haven't seen the movie yet and you hate spoilers, go away and come back later.  I'll be waiting with popcorn so we can chat then.

Now, darlings, let's get into this. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things I Love: 

- Fat Thor.  That's right - I said Fat Thor.  Obviously Chris Hemsworth was wearing prosthetics and fat suit stuff for this, but still.  He could do chubby and make it work.  Now, a lot of people have been complaining about Thor being fat in this movie - but let me tell you why I think it works:

A. Thor just lost Asgard.  He lost his home - his entire fucking planet, and had to evacuate everyone to New Asgard.

B. That sent him into a sort of depression - and I don't blame him at all.  He turns into a fat beer drinking recluse, and I can totally understand that. I wish he could find a way to move towards peace, but where he's at in Endgame works.

I mean, how many of us could handle the total and complete destruction of our homes like that without having problems afterwards?!  I think none of us. 

- New Asgard. - I don't have too  much to say about this, except that I think this works.  The village is right next to a lake where they can fish, which makes sens since they are Norsk gods and folks.

- That moment when Thor is 5 years in the past and gets is hammer back!  HELLO HAMMER.

- Valkyrie being named the new queen of New Asgard. This works for me.  I am so here for all of this! Thor did the right thing there. I mean, Thor is the leader of Asgard, but where he's at in his life - he knew he needed to do the right thing for his people, and I feel that Valkyrie being their new leader is good for them!

- SHURI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I. Love. Shuri.  Okay - so those folks from Wakanda are here and back and I love it all, but I love Shuri the most. 

- Thor seeing his mom again and having a chance to talk with her.  She can tell he's troubled. She can tell he's future Thor who is struggling with stuff.  And she is there for it all. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things I Hated: 

- Okay, there was only one thing I hated.  Iron Man dies at the end. I understand why it had to happen, because I mean - he put on the glove, saves everything, gets rid of Thanos.  But still WHY DID IT HAVE TO HAPPEN?!  Why, Marvel, Why?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know a lot of people are not here for this movie. I so am though - and you should definitely go see it. NOW!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, go listen to the Immigrant Song and Iron Man.  Because why not?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you've seen this movie - talk to me.  Tell down below what you thought!