2020, Young Adult Fiction
WISE Score
A boarding school romance that flips the script on expectations, proving the 'perfect couple' everyone sees might not be a couple at all.
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If your kid is into the 'preppy boarding school' aesthetic but wants something more inclusive and modern, this is a winner. It avoids the toxic drama often found in older series like Gossip Girl while still delivering the romance and 'Bexley School' atmosphere.
It’s a breezy read that handles serious topics like coming out and the fear of the future with a light but sincere touch. It’s not going to change the world, but it’s a solid, affirming choice for a weekend read.
Perfect for the 13-18 crowd. It's squarely aimed at teens navigating their own identities and the social hierarchy of high school.
Focuses on genuine friendship and the courage to be honest about one's identity. The central bond between Sage and Charlie is a solid model of platonic support even as they navigate romantic confusion.
While it uses a familiar boarding school setting, it earns points for subverting the 'best friends to lovers' trope that usually dominates the genre.
Standard YA romance territory. It deals with identity and dating in a way that's appropriate for the target teen audience without leaning into shock value or gratuitous content.
Provides a thoughtful look at the internal and external pressures of coming out, especially in high-pressure social environments like a prestigious boarding school.
If We Were Us lands in a crowded field of YA contemporary romance, but it manages to stand out by being honest about a very specific kind of social pressure: the 'shipped' couple. We’ve all seen it—the two best friends that every parent and teacher assumes will end up at the altar. By making that assumption the central conflict rather than the end goal, the book allows its characters to explore who they actually are when the spotlight of expectation is turned off.
The setting of the Bexley School provides a high-stakes backdrop. In a closed environment like a boarding school, your reputation is your currency, which makes Charlie’s hesitation to embrace his feelings for Luke feel earned rather than just a plot device. It’s a 2020 release that feels very 'now,' avoiding the dated feel of early 2000s teen lit while keeping the cozy, academic aesthetic that remains a staple of the genre.
For parents, it’s a low-stress recommendation. There isn't the 'edge' or darkness found in grit-heavy YA; instead, it focuses on the emotional intelligence required to maintain a lifelong friendship while your romantic lives head in opposite directions. If your teen enjoyed books like Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, this will be right up their alley.
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