At a surface level this was good, swoony and fun - all the stuff you want from a YA romance. But if I examine it a bit more there are a few things that irked me and reduced my enjoyment overall.

Other reviewers speak about this better than I will, but it ostensibly seems as though this is not own voices LGBT+ rep, which in itself is okay except that there's some arguably harmful stuff in here. For one, the closeted gay character routinely dates girls and then unceremoniously drops them in order to keep his sexuality hidden and it's never really addressed that this is a shitty thing to do. Secondly, one of the big complications in the book is that one character breaks up with the other because he's not out, and the solution to this is that the closeted character comes out so that he can be with the other guy. Nobody condemns this either. Part of this book's marketing is comparing it to Becky Albertalli, and that's pretty spot on, in fact I think that's partially what this book is relying on to be a success.

The plot also relies quite a lot on the miscommunication trope which I'm just over at this point. I didn't buy that Sage and Charlie were really such good friends because they don't tell each other anything!!! Sage's entire plot was simultaneously frustrating and boring tbh, boring in that it seemed like it was just there as background to Charlie's plot, and frustrating in that Nick basically disregards her feelings at every turn, and doesn't trust her?

Ultimately this book is a fun enough read, and I enjoyed the setting of a boarding school, but I wouldn't go out your way to read it, it's not doing anything new and has some harmful ideas.

It was alright, but I felt like it was missing something. I never really connected to the characters.

I liked this book, but I also didn't. I loved Sage and Nick, but Charlie was extremely annoying. He was so selfish and I was annoyed at Sage for putting him first. I liked Luke, but I didn't love how he forced Charlie to come out either. I liked what this book was trying to do, but I feel like it just didn't go about it the right away.

If We Were Us is told from Sage and Charlie’s perspectives. I enjoyed Charlie’s perspective a bit more than Sage. Sage seemed a bit bland? Not a bad character by any means, there just didn’t seem to be anything unique about her. ⁣
The friendships and relationships in this book are what made it for me. Charlie and Sage’s dynamic, and all the various couples, were enjoyable to read and made me want to be a part of the group. There were parts where I genuinely laughed out loud. I would have loved to join in their shenanigans. ⁣
I did feel pretty strongly about a certain aspect of the book rubbing the wrong way, but I don’t want to spoil anything. So feel free to reach out if you want to talk about it!⁣

Thank you, Sourcebooks Fire and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sage and Charlie have been best friends their entire lives. When Sage found out that Charlie was going to Bexley School, Sage immediately applied because she couldn’t imagine going through high school without her best friend. Everyone at Bexley thinks that they belong together, but they don’t know that Sage is in love with Charlie’s twin brother Nick and that Charlie is afraid to tell anyone, even Sage, that he’s gay. When Luke shows up at Bexley in their final year, their world starts to shift, and they’ll have to fight for the boys that they love.

My favourite thing about this book was all of the friendships. I liked that Sage and Charlie had been friends their entire lives, and that they were able to rely on each other, and that it was awkward and stressful when they kept secrets from each other. I liked Charlie and Nick were such great friends, I liked the sibling bond that they had, and I liked that they were protective of each other. I enjoyed the friendship between Sage and Luke; I liked that they gravitated towards each other and that they were able to talk to each other about their boy issues.

I also really liked the characters in this book in general. I liked that Sage went all out for themed school events and that she was unsure about her future. I liked that Charlie was a huge Survivor fan and that he was involved in theatre and sports. I liked that Nick was super into astronomy and that he was a bit of a hopeless romantic. I liked that Luke was incredibly observant and that he opened up and became a lot more confident once he felt comfortable with someone. I also liked the side characters, and I thought that the group of friends that the characters had at Bexley was a lot of fun.

I liked that a large part of this book was about Charlie struggling with his identity. Charlie spent most of his time at Bexley going from relationship to relationship while struggling with knowing that he’s gay. When he meets Luke and starts falling for him, the struggle starts to eat him up inside, and it starts to take a toll on his physical health because he’s scared to admit that he’s gay. I don’t know if the representation in this book is good, because this isn’t something that I can relate to, but my heart ached for Charlie and his struggle. I’m also glad that he had a friend like Sage, and that she kept his secret, even though it impacted her relationship.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There were a few moments that annoyed me (Survivor hasn’t been in Thailand since 2002), but overall, the book was very enjoyable. I liked the characters, I liked the relationships, and I liked the friendships.

3.5 stars.

This was a cute book but needed a little bit of work I think.
In the beginning it opens up and reads like a second or third book in a series, I actually had to check it wasn’t. No one was explained, nothing was explained and you were left trying to figure out what the heck was happening. It doesn’t take much to set the scene but it wasn’t done here.
Because of that I was genuinely confused about sage, much, Charlie, and Luke. So much of the book relies on their relationships but you need to know what how they all relate in order to do that.
I also wished it was a little more clear just what was going on. It takes a while for this book to get going and I feel like it kind of gets stuck in second gear.
As I said, it’s a cute book, but does need work.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review.

If We Were Us is the story of two teenagers, Sage and Charlie. They have been best friends for years and everyone assumes they will eventually date. This plan is complicated by the fact that Sage actually likes Charlie's brother Nick, whilst Charlie has started to fall for the new boy at school, Luke.

This book was fine but there really wasn't enough to keep me compelled, and I ended up skim-reading half of it. I don't know if it was because I wasn't super invested or whether it was the writing style, but it felt like there was a weird sense of the story skipping over details and scenes kind of blending together. Charlie is not a nice character and his dating patterns were just weird. The whole school thinks he is a ladies man because he only dates girls for two weeks and then dumps them, but this in itself is handled weirdly with none of the girls he dates referring to it. I get that it's meant to be a cover up for him being gay but it seems more suspicious for him to dump his girlfriend when he is falling for Luke, rather than keep dating her. And dating someone new every two weeks without sleeping with them does not seem like it would gain him that kind of reputation.

Overall, this book wasn't really for me. It had potential but I couldn't get invested and it felt like it needed a little more polish. I can see some people getting more out of this but I couldn't get into it.

Overall Rating: 3/5 stars

Charlie and Sage are two friends at Bexley Boarding School, and they seem inseparable. One day, a boy named Luke becomes a student at Bexley, and Charlie finds himself immediately drawn to Luke. Sage, now with more free time on her hands, fills the void by spending time with Charlie's brother Nick. Charlie and Luke grow close quickly, but a hard impasse comes between them, and it could finish their budding romance. Meanwhile, Sage is trying to slow things down with Nick without derailing it all, but that's easier said than done. Can Charlie and Sage figure out how to navigate love and friendship as their lives are upended by their hearts?⁣
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The best part of If We Were Us is Charlie and Sage's friendship, bar none. They're always there for each other, and that carries the book for me. Even though they both face tough situations in their own right, they're not so consumed as to let their friend down, and I really enjoyed that aspect. One part I didn't enjoy is that a character is given an ultimatum to come out of the closet for the sake of their relationship, and I felt like that was manipulative and ugly. Love doesn't tell you where and how to identify who you are, and I felt like the wrong message was sent here. Still, aside that aspect, I enjoyed the other parts of these relationships and friendships, and I wanted both couples to find a path that suited them, even if it wasn't what they expected at first. If you're after a tale of love at school and friendship, this will likely do it for you.⁣
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⭐⭐⭐💫⁣/5⁣

I found this to be a truly enjoyable read. As someone who never attended a boarding school, I didn't have a great frame of reference (Gilmore Girls? I dunno). But the relationships between these characters, as well as the cuteness of the romance(s) kept me reading.

That was utterly adorable. I really loved every character, especially Luke. The character development was STELLAR and I so felt for Charlie.
The relationships felt so real, and I loved the dialogue and pacing of everything - nothing felt rushed. Cannot wait to read whatever the author brings out next.
I’m definitely going to be buying a copy of this soon.

If we were us is about Charlie and Sage, two bffs who happen to find love in the most unexpected moments of their lives: Luke and Nick, respectively. All four are friends, but from the moment they met, Charlie and Luke make a connection not only as friends but as guys who find each other attractive. On the other hand, Sage and Nick (he’s the twin brother of Charlie) also have a thing between them, but they must keep it a secret for now.

I think this book tried really hard to say that figuring yourself out might not come as easy as it is for others. Knowing who you are and what you want to do with your life can mess your mind, but you never stop learning, even from your mistakes.

Now, I really wanted to love this book. I mean, the synopsis sold me some nice things I tend to enjoy, and while it did have them, I just couldn’t’ connect with any of the characters (at least not on a deep level). For the most part I was just thinking that I’ve outgrown YA books, and perhaps I am.

Anyway, there were a few things I did like, such as:

-The friendship between Sage and Charlie. I totally understand what is like to have a bff that you love so much, but not in that way.
-Nick and Charlie being really cool brothers to each other. I mean, the fact that they both protected the other from harmful situations says a lot. Also, Nick being totally OK with Charlie being gay was a plus.

On the other hand, the list of things I didn’t like is bigger:

-Some scenes and chapters were abruptly finished, and when another began I had to re-read the last paragraph.
-This is a book told by two POVs (Charlie and Sage) but they feel almost the same. More than 5 times I had to go back to the beginning because I didn’t know who was narrating the chapter.
-The big drama here (Charlie coming out of the closet) was solved in barely a page. I mean, I kind of liked that it wasn’t a big deal (because in reality it shouldn’t be), but I still felt like it was lacking something important. It was the biggest bummer, really.
-So much drama could have been avoided if the characters talked to each other. This whole miscommunication trope is really a turn down for me. I know they’re teenagers and they make a lot of mistakes, but c’mon, it’s 2020, talking to other person is like the easiest thing ever nowadays.
-For the most part, I couldn’t stop thinking that Charlie was really selfish. I mean, I totally get what it’s like to create a different version of yourself in order to fit in, but when you use people like objects (all those girls he dated and then dumped like they were nothing), and when you hurt people for not telling the truth (Luke, and Nick and Sage), then I think you have to realize you’re doing something wrong and coming clean is the only answer.
-Also Luke said he was OK with being in a secret relationship until Charlie was OK to tell his parents but then he’s obviously not, and he even breaks up with him for the same reason. I don’t think that was true love, or at least, I don’t feel like they will last a lot.

Anyway, I don’t think this book was for me, since I’m a full grown queer adult, but I think it might be good to teenagers who are still trying to figure it out what they want in life ‘cause sure has some quite a few topics that are entertaining to see in contemporary books. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it had a good premise but the execution wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

This was such a great coming of age book with not one but TWO love stories in it. Charlie and Sage are such great examples of what a supportive and caring friend should be like. Both are navigating developing feelings for two different guys and in turn, lean on each other for support. This was a light book, but had some emotional chapters towards the end. A YA book with lots of heart.

This story is told through two points of view - Sage and Charlie. Their friendship was my favourite thing throughout the book. I really like Charlie's twin, Nick, their brotherly love is so refreshing, I don't often see sibling relationships told so well. Luke is a force to be reckoned with, he knows exactly who he is and won't take any crap, even from the person he loves. All of the characters have their own flaws, of course. I got tired of all the ups and downs caused by the secrets and misunderstandings between all of the main characters. The happy ending was nice but I'm a little tired of angsty stories with the "will they, won't they?" trope, which is used twice in this book.

I very much liked this story. It takes place at Brexley, the boarding school all the characters attend. It is its own little world contained within the story. I loved the friendship between Charlie and Sage. I do wish the LGBT angle was handled a bit differently in some parts. Nothing overly wrong with what was done in the book, just maybe an overly tired trope in some areas. But the overall story was heartwarming and gave all the good feels. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read it.

At the prestigious Bexley School everyone believes that Sage Morgan and Charlie Carmichael will end up being together, eventually. But Charlie dates a different girl nearly every week. His twin brother, Nick, has had a crush on Sage forever. When transfer student, Luke, shows up to take a gap year, Sage, Charlie, and nick’s lives will never be the same. Charlie and Luke are drawn to each other, giving Sage and Nick, plenty of time alone. Life long friends Sage and Charlie must face the secrets they have been keeping from everyone including themselves.
Sage and charlie's friendship is something I wish i had growing up. It was slow to get into but by the end i found myself wanting to know how it would end. Plus i wanted to know just how stupid the smart guy charlie would be when it comes to Luke.

Three relationships are at the heart of this story: a friendship and two romances. Only two of them really held my attention, however.

Sage and Charlie are best friends, but everybody at their private boarding school thinks they’re in denial and that they are destined to be a couple. They do love each other—just not that way. Instead, Sage has fallen for Charlie’s twin brother, Nick, and Charlie is drawn to a new student, Luke. But Sage and Charlie both let their fears hold them back from being open about what they feel and instead hide behind their friendship until faced with the possibility of losing Nick and Luke forever.

Of the three relationships, Sage and Charlie’s friendship and Charlie and Luke’s romance worked for me. Although he’s never admitted it to her, Sage suspects Charlie is gay, and she does what she can to support him, including spending time with him rather than dating. Charlie is a golden boy at his school, and he’s terrified of coming out and possibly losing the love of his family and the respect of the students. Instead, he hides his sexuality by being a serial dater and by not challenging people’s assumptions about him and Sage. Even after he swoons over Luke (and they do have some swoony moments as a couple), Charlie struggles to overcome his fear of people knowing he’s gay, and Sage feels like she can’t be open about her feelings about Nick until Charlie comes out. So, all four of them are tangled up in a web of love and secrets and lies.

Charlie is just one of the complications in Nick and Sage’s romance, though, and it’s the other one that lost my interest. Sage’s parents got together young, and their marriage ended in divorce, so Sage is afraid to be with Nick because she doesn’t want the same thing to happen to them. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” says one of the characters when Sage tells them what she fears. I agree, to the point that I rolled my eyes every time it came up, which kept me from getting invested in their relationship.

While this novel isn’t perfect, it is the author's first book, and I liked it enough that I’m going to be keeping an eye for more by her in the future.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

This follows a pretty standard, expected plot. It makes gestures towards progressive thought with lgbt relationships. The problem is, that lgbt plot essentially becomes strictly a coming out story. There's no more complexity than that. With familiar elements organized in familiar ways, this doesn't really stand out from the crowd.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

DNF

Unfortunately, the writing style is really not my cup of tea at all. I feel like the author expects me to know tons of information about the characters without explaining anything, too many people were introduced at once and they all blended into one, and the plot jumped around too much for me. I definitely see why people would like this, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

If We Were Us is a pleasant, well-written romcom.

Let’s start with the writing style. Well it was utterly pleasant. I dove into the book pretty quickly and in a couple of hours I was already in the middle of it.

The relationships between the main characters are interesting in the sense that they’re built on diverse things (other than love). The friendship between Sage and Charlie is adorable, with no implied feelings to each other and I miss having great f/m friendships in YA literature. The only flaw is that they seemed a little bit « too much » alike. When I was reading a chapter, I found myself wondering for a second wether I was reading Sage’s POV or Charlie’s.
2.5/5

I could tell if the rep were good (for the gay and the half Japanese characters) but something bothered me along the way but I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly. Maybe I’m getting tired of reading gay men struggling with their masculinity and fake-dating girls in order to drown the fish, especially when the book is not written by an ownvoice on this topic. At the end, I was a bit ill-at-ease with Luke’s take : not wanting to be with someone still in the closet seems a bit rough to say, especially when all the characters are in the twenties.

The four main characters are likeable. Maybe a bit too much. They’re not very deep, very two-dimensionnal in their reactions and their habits. They are not helped by the lack of strong storylines because the book is basically just about romance and friendship. It’s ok though, I could have enjoyed that, but I got bothered about a lot of stuff with Charlie’s chapters and Sage’s ones were just meh.

It’s overall an okay book and I will probably read an other one from this author, but the flaws in this one disturbed me and kept me to really enjoy it.

I did enjoy this book. It was a light hearted, YA story about love.
The characters were very run of the mill. I didn’t really warm to them, but there wasn’t anything to dislike either. The story worked well, and had a predictable ending, which sometimes you need.
Overall, a decent 3 out of 5 stars.