For teens exploring first love and the messy, uncertain journey of finding that special connection, this book captures the magic and mishaps of summer romance.
For a teen questioning if real life can ever live up to their romantic ideals, or feeling anxious about a new relationship, this book offers a heartfelt and realistic look at modern love. It follows two boys, Arthur and Ben, who have a cinematic meet-cute in New York City but then struggle to recapture that initial magic through a series of awkward but endearing dates. Exploring themes of anxiety, self-doubt, and the role of fate versus effort in relationships, it’s a sweet, funny, and honest story. Appropriate for older teens, it normalizes the imperfections of first love and provides wonderful representation of a gay romance that is both hopeful and grounded in reality.
A single scene involves teens drinking alcohol at a party.
Sad ThemesMild
Deals with heartbreak from a past relationship and has a bittersweet, uncertain ending.
Sensitive Topics
The book's primary focus is on LGBTQ+ identity, which is handled directly, positively, and in a secular context. The characters' gay identities are central to their story but are not a source of trauma or external conflict; they are well-supported by friends and family. The story also touches on the complexities of breakups and moving on, resolving these themes with emotional realism and a focus on growth.
Ideal Reader
A teen aged 14-17 who loves character-driven contemporary romance, particularly stories with a rom-com feel. It's perfect for a reader who is a bit of a romantic but also struggles with social anxiety or the pressure to make every moment perfect. An ideal book for a teen seeking positive, funny, and heartfelt queer stories that feel true to life.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold. Parents should know it contains some profanity (including f-words) and a scene with underage drinking at a party. The romance involves kissing and discussions of attraction, all handled in a sweet, age-appropriate manner. There is no explicit content. A parent hears their teen expressing frustration that their own life and relationships don't feel as perfect or effortless as they see in movies or on social media. The trigger is the teen's anxiety about dating: “What if it’s awkward?” or “Am I doing this right?”
Age Experience
A younger reader (14-15) will connect with the humor, the sweetness of the meet-cute, and the central “will they or won’t they” romantic tension. An older reader (16-18) will likely have a deeper appreciation for the book’s commentary on fate versus choice, the nuances of the characters' insecurities, and the poignant, open-ended conclusion that reflects the realities of post-high school life.
What Makes It Special
The dual-author, dual-perspective narrative is its key strength. It masterfully balances Becky Albertalli's signature sweet, funny, and earnest voice with Adam Silvera's more poignant and emotionally raw style. This creates a uniquely layered story where the main conflict isn't an external villain, but the protagonists' own anxieties and mismatched expectations, making it an incredibly relatable and authentic take on first love.
Read plot summary
Arthur, a Jewish teen from Georgia interning in New York for the summer, is a hopeless romantic who believes in Broadway-style destiny. Ben, a Puerto Rican New Yorker, is cynical about the universe after a recent bad breakup. They meet-cute at a post office but get separated. After a city-wide social media search reunites them, they discover that real-life dates are far more awkward than the movies suggest. The novel, told from their alternating perspectives, follows their fumbling attempts to build a relationship amidst friendship drama, family life, and the ticking clock of Arthur's departure.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Arthur believes strongly in signs from the universe, while Ben is more skeptical. Whose perspective do you agree with more, and why? Do you think their beliefs changed by the end of the book?
2
Arthur and Ben have several 'do-over' first dates. Why do you think they struggled so much to connect at first? Was it pressure, nerves, or were they just not compatible?
3
Ben's friend Dylan is very present in his life and sometimes critical of Arthur. How did Dylan's friendship affect Ben's relationship with Arthur? Was he being a good friend or was he interfering?
4
The ending is not a simple 'happily ever after.' How did you feel about the way the authors chose to end Arthur and Ben's story for the summer? Do you think it was realistic?
