Review: What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

“If you pretend something hard enough, could it become real?”

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?

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I so wanted to love this book. I did not love this book. In fact, I feel kind of blasé about this book. Separately, I have loved both Adam and Becky’s books that I’ve read. I don’t know if it was this book in particular or if I just do not care for these two authors to write together. I found this book boring. I found both main characters very annoying (but I’d love to see a book about Dylan!). It took me forever to get through this book because it felt like a chore reading it, but I kept on hoping it would get better. (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t) I felt there was no real substance to this story, and in turn, I felt like both Adam and Becky were trying too hard to make it seem like there was. Ben and Arthur would be in a good place (as much of a good place two strangers who have been dating for 2 seconds can be), and then something random and not at all realistic would cause them to fight. I am still confused at how this story could have fit in a 433-page book. It was just not realistic in the fact that so many of the characters would be fighting over stupid things, and then magically be friends again after nothing. I felt like both authors didn’t truly want any conflict but in order to keep the story going, they needed to add some, and then after they had no clue how to fix it so they just half-heartedly fixed it. Overall, I really wanted to like this book and the characters, but it just didn’t do it for me. Sorry, Adam and Becky.

Guest Review- Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyer

*This is a guest review written by the awesome Kelsey of Darcy’s Book Blog.*

“Try not to get caught up in antiquated gender roles.”

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of Twilight! This special double-feature book includes the classic novel, Twilight, and a bold and surprising reimagining, Life and Death, by Stephenie Meyer.

Packaged as an oversize, jacketed hardcover “flip book,” this edition features nearly 400 pages of new content as well as exquisite new back cover art. Readers will relish experiencing the deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful love story of Bella and Edward through fresh eyes.

Twilight has enraptured millions of readers since its first publication in 2005 and has become a modern classic, redefining genres within young adult literature and inspiring a phenomenon that has had readers yearning for more. The novel was a #1 New York Times bestseller, a #1USA Today bestseller, a Time magazine Best Young Adult Book of All Time, an NPR Best-Ever Teen Novel, and a New York Times Editor’s Choice. The Twilight Saga, which also includes New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella, and The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, has sold nearly 155 million copies worldwide.

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2 stars

It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since Twilight first released, and a glittery Edward was released upon the world! In honor of it’s anniversary, Stephanie Meyer’s gave us a gender swapped story, which was an interesting choice to make.

Confession time: I was a twihard back in the day. I was caught up in the Team Edward/Team Jacob argument (Team Edward!), and went to a book signing for Eclipse. Even at the time, I recognized that the writing was terrible, and there were disturbing aspects to the story. Not to mention that Bella was a weak heroine. There was still something about the story that drew me in.

The plot line for Life and Death is pretty much the same as Twilight, with a few changes made to some of the lines to fit to the swap. Instead of Edward, we have Edythe (which, why Edythe instead of Edith?) Instead of Bella, we have Beau (or Beaufort). Then there are the rest of the Cullens–Carine (Carlisle), Earnest (Esme), Royal (Rosalie), Jessamine (Jasper), Eleanor (Emmett), and Archie (Alice). I don’t understand the reasoning behind changing the gender of all the Cullen clan. Why not leave them the same? Or maybe just gender swap Alice and Jasper. Why Rosalie and Emmett? I don’t get that. Not to mention all the other characters that were gender swapped, for what I feel, no reason at all. Why did Eric have to become Erica? There just seemed no point behind the choices. The choices of names really bugged me, I will admit.

I did not have high expectations going in, so I was not disappointed. I thought it was a pretty fun way to celebrate it’s tenth anniversary, but the writing is still not terrible. This book was basically an edit of the original book, with edits made to fit the gender swap (and a different ending for Beau!)

Can this please have this be the end of Twilight? Please? No more sparkly vampires. Just no.

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Big thanks to Kelsey again for writing up a guest review! Go check out her blog! Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to see even more of her awesomeness.

Review: Eleanor and Park

“Holding Eleanor’s hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.”

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough…Eleanor.

Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises…Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

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I was really surprised with my reaction to Eleanor and Park. I stayed up all night reading Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl but with this book I just couldn’t get that same feeling. I loved both the main characters, but I felt like I was reading two different story lines in one book. Eleanor’s home life is horrible, but we don’t ever get closure with her family. I felt like I was screaming at the decisions she was making in regards to her school, home, and romantic life with Park. I also noticed that it felt extremely rushed or something in the end. All of Eleanor’s relationships were just ended and I couldn’t understand why she was acting the way she was. Overall, I loved the connection both her and Park felt with each other, but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth. Sorry Rainbow.