Draft:If We Were Us
| Submission declined on 4 June 2025 by Rambley (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of books). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
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| Submission declined on 9 March 2025 by AlphaBetaGamma (talk). No additional sources were provided since the last decline. Declined by AlphaBetaGamma 3 months ago. | |
| Submission declined on 12 February 2025 by Bonadea (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of books). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by Bonadea 3 months ago. | |
| Submission declined on 10 February 2025 by Bonadea (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of books). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. Declined by Bonadea 4 months ago. | |
Comment: Sources show no real indication of notability, rather than the book just.. existing. Some sources have qualities of blogs or just general summaries. Rambley (talk) 11:33, 4 June 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: Resubmitted without any attempt to address the notability issue. The commercial links to Sourcebooks are not sources and have to be removed. bonadea contributions talk 17:57, 12 February 2025 (UTC)
| Author | Kaethe L Walther |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Kat Goodloe |
| Genre | Young adult Romance |
| Publisher | Sourcebooks Fire |
Publication date | June 1, 2020 |
| Publication place | United States |
| ISBN | 978-1-7282-1026-1 |
If We Were Us (also: Maybe Meant To Be) is a young adult romance novel by KL Walther, published by Sourcebooks in 2020. It follows the story of Charlie and Sage, two best friends, through their senior year at a New England boarding school.[1]
The book follows the duo as they navigate new friendships and romance. It highlights Charlie’s struggle with his sexuality due to his attraction towards Luke, a new student. It also narrates Sage’s relationship with Charlie’s twin brother, Nick.[2]
The narration utilizes dual first person perspective, alternating between Sage and Charlie's point of view. The author has stated that her inspiration for the book was the boarding school she attended, and the song ‘You Belong With Me’ by Taylor Swift.[3]
Plot
[edit]Sage and Charlie are best friends who are beginning their senior year at The Bexley School, a boarding school they have attended for the last four years. On the first day, they meet Luke, a new student from Grosse Pointe. They become friends, and Charlie finds himself attracted to Luke despite having had only girlfriends in the past.
Meanwhile, Sage begins a relationship with Charlie’s twin brother, Nick. They keep this a secret from the students at Bexley, because Sage believes that Charlie will not approve of their relationship. Nick is committed to Yale University as a hockey recruit, and she fears that they will be separated from each other soon.
Charlie breaks up with his girlfriend due to his increasing feelings for Luke, after they go out together a couple of times. Luke tells Sage that he is gay, something he has known since he was fifteen years old. He also decides to attend University of Virginia as it was his father’s alma mater. Sage’s and Charlie’s mutual friends presume that they are in love with each other, something that Nick also begins to believe. This leads him to break up with Sage, leaving her devastated.
During Thanksgiving, Charlie finally admits his feelings for Luke and they begin a relationship. He tells Sage about it, and she is supportive, but still forlorn due to her breakup with Nick. Sage gets into her dream college, Middlebury, and it is revealed that Charlie had also applied to University of Virginia and received an acceptance.
Luke and Charlie visit University of Virginia together, and it marks the first time they publicly display their relationship. However, Luke breaks up with Charlie when they get back to Bexley, stating that he cannot be with someone who refuses to acknowledge their sexuality, and instead chooses to uphold his reputation as a womanizer.
In response, Charlie comes out to his brother, who realizes he was wrong about Sage. He gets back together with Sage, and Luke gets back together with Charlie after he comes out to his family while on a visit back home. The book ends with their graduation, and reflecting upon their memories at Bexley. Charlie and Luke are a public couple now, and Sage and Nick are in a relationship as well.
Characters
[edit]- Sage Morgan: a senior at The Bexley School, Charlie’s best friend, and Nick’s girlfriend. She is extroverted, kind, and supportive of her friends. She hides Charlie’s sexuality for him when he is not ready to come out, even if it means losing her relationship with Nick. She is also close friends with Luke, whom she bonds with over their shared interest in television shows and movies.
- Charles “Charlie” Christopher Carmichael: A student at The Bexley School, Nick’s twin brother, and Luke’s boyfriend. He used to have a reputation for dating multiple girls and breaking up with them, which were efforts to conceal his sexuality. He is extremely popular, social, and smart, being named valedictorian of the graduating class, and attending University of Virginia. He has close relationships with his twin brother, and his best friend Sage.
- Luke Morrissey: a half-Japanese student at The Bexley School and Charlie’s boyfriend. He grew up with a single mother and three sisters, after his father died of colon cancer when he was twelve years old. He is sharp, observant, and open about his sexuality. He runs on the cross-country team at Bexley and attends University of Virginia.
- Nicholas “Nick” Lawrence Carmichael: Sage’s boyfriend and Charlie’s twin brother. He is an introvert and a traditional romantic who harbors longtime feelings for Sage. He plays hockey on the school team and is recruited by Yale University.
Reception
[edit]The book was originally published by Sourcebooks in 2020, and republished under the title Maybe Meant To Be in 2023. It received mixed reviews, with commentators praising the setting and diversity but criticizing the narration, saying that Charlie and Sage’s voices were not distinct enough and often seemed to merge together.[4] Kirkus Reviews stated that it ‘surprisingly and entertainingly depicts mature views on life, friendship, and romance’.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Fitzgerald, Ellen. "If We Were Us". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ "If We Were Us (Book 1)". Fantastic Fiction. Archived from the original on June 4, 2025. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ^ "Interview With KL Walther". Buried in a Bookshelf. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
- ^ "If We Were Us | K.L. Walther | ARC-Review". Bookish Blades. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ "If We Were Us". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2025.