A longer version of this review was published on Lost in a Good Book

I love collaboration novels because it is interesting to see the two different authors and voices coming together to make a single story. Both Albertalli and Silvera bring their characters to life on the page and their uniqueness and their complicated relationships and histories are captivating to read which results in an incredibly sweet story that pulls you along through the endearment of the two narrators.

This is a massive character driven novel. The relationships each character has with their friends and family is the centre point of their lives and the different relationships they have with those around them drive this story. The combination of the quiet, reserved Ben with outgoing and talkative Arthur sounds like it wouldn’t work but it does, they are super cute together and watching them fall in love and develop a friendship in unconventional and uncertain steps was great. Both Arthur and Ben are flawed but they also are allowed to grow in this story and find their feet which is amazing.

There are cute romance scenes and small gestures, little relationship moments that make you smile; Arthur and Ben respect each other’s limitations and boundaries, and their nervousness and eagerness to know one another is incredibly sweet while they try and work out what they’re doing. These two make even the simplest things seem sweet and wonderful. The entire world revolves around them and even when other friends get involved, it is so much the Ben and Arthur show it’s pure delight going on this road of discovery with them both.