54 pages • 1-hour read
What If It's Us
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Symbols & Motifs
Do-Overs
Despite their romantic beginnings, Arthur and Ben have several hiccups on their first date, which they repeat several times. They become dependent on the notion that the universe purposely brought them together for them to be in a romantic relationship, thinking that everything between them will be easy. However, their discovery that their relationship requires work and listening is embodied in the notion of do-overs, which symbolize the process of putting in the effort to build on their natural chemistry.
Ben’s suggestion that they should have a do-over comes after he admits that something went wrong and that it was his fault. Likewise, each time a do-over is suggested, it comes after a moment where either Ben or Arthur recognizes his failure, shares how he’s feeling, and promises to do better for their next do-over. Each time this happens, the boys have more to build on and a stronger relationship for it.
The process of having do-overs also helps each boy to grow as a person. For Arthur, who has never dated anyone before, it feels like a learning experience. For Ben, “dating Arthur feels like a do-over” (295) because they’re working together to both be happy within their relationship. It has its positives, as Arthur points to when he suggests “practicing” (221) kissing more; while at face value a typical statement from someone entering a relationship, it also symbolizes how they can grow together through positive moments as much as through negative ones.
Arthur later brings these do-overs to his friends, allowing them to start over from where they first erred. Arthur comes out to them again and responds better when Jessie restates that she and Ethan are dating. They are able to move on from their past mistakes while also illustrating that they can improve based on how the others feel as well.
Fandoms
Both Arthur and Ben would identify themselves as nerds, each with their own preferred genres and elements of popular culture over which they obsess. These fandoms act as a recurring motif throughout What If It’s Us, providing characterization, setting the 21st-century scene, and offering allusions to other works.
Foremost among the fandoms mentioned is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton. Like Arthur, its main character, Alexander Hamilton, moved to New York and did not “[throw] away [his] shot” (170). Arthur took his chance with Ben. The musical, incredibly popular during its Broadway run, is one of Arthur’s two favorites (the other being Dear Evan Hansen), and he convinces Ben to listen to it. Hamilton is also at the center of the struggle within Arthur and Ben’s relationship, as Ben wins tickets to see the show but does not arrive on time to pick them up, so they are given to someone else. The musical, as a result, becomes a catalyst for Ben and Arthur to have their fight and move forward as a couple.
There are several references to Harry Potter, starting with the mention of Hudson’s wand in the box of items Ben wants to send back. Later, Ben mentions that Dylan once sent him a link to Harry Potter porn, and both boys discuss their desire to go to the Harry Potter-theme amusement park in Florida. After becoming a Hamilton fan, Ben mentions wanting to write a Hamilton-Harry Potter crossover. Even the cover of Ben’s novel has a Harry Potter-esque look. On July 31, after Arthur and Ben’s breakup, Ben, Dylan, and Samantha have a Harry Potter film marathon to commemorate Harry’s birthday, even though Ben’s heart isn’t in it because Arthur is not there. While the Harry Potter references are not significant to the plot, they ground the book in a fandom that will resonate with readers, given the ongoing popularity of all things Harry Potter.
Likewise, Ben is writing a fantasy novel entitled The Wicked Wizard War. He writes in characters from his real life, often having their experiences mirror his own. His shyness in sharing the novel with anyone is tested when Arthur asks to read it. By allowing Arthur to do so, Ben opens himself up to his new love interest, and, by the end of the Epilogue, he shares it on the internet. This decision to post The Wicked Wizard War online illustrates Ben’s growth and willingness to share his talent with others.
Missed Connections
Missed Connections is a section of Craigslist where people post notes for those they may have had a romantic connection with but for whom they do not have any contact details. By coincidence, both Arthur and Ben’s parents bring up the page as a potential means by which they could find the other person. Missed Connections in many ways presents a what if: unlike Ben and Arthur, many people do not reconnect with one another and are still thinking about the other person. It further emphasizes the improbability of Arthur and Ben’s reunion. Moreover, it also adds to the notion of New York as a magical place, as it can be an “agent of the universe. Handling business” (71).
As a motif, Missed Connections returns at the novel’s end when Arthur recognizes the two men escorting him to meet Ben. The two twins—who, by another coincidence, turn out to be Namrata’s boyfriend’s former roommates—appeared at the beginning of the novel, and Arthur’s comment about them were some of his first words to Ben. Bringing it full circle, Ben posted a Missed Connection to find them, emphasizing just as the book closes The Magic of New York City.
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