While I haven't had a chance to read anything by Cale Dietrich yet, I loved Sophie Gonzales's ONLY MOSTLY DEVASTATED and knew I would get my mitts on anything of hers I could. Then I read the synopsis for IF THIS GETS OUT and know that I HAD to read it.

Dietrich and Gonzales handled this book and all of the subject matter with absolute aplomb. Readers expecting ONLY sugary rom-com goodness should be warned since the book does tackle heavier subject matter at points. While we see everything exclusively from Ruben's and Zach's perspectives and the growth and change they undergo, it's also fantastic to see the maturation and growth of their band mates throughout.

CW: substance abuse, underaged drinking, forcible closeting, verbal abuse/manipulation by parental figures

A queer boy band rom com?? I'm dead. This book was incredible! Well written, well developed characters, with deep feelings that felt incredibly real. I would hesitate to classify it as YA, because there was a LOT of sexy-time stuff, but I would think this is appropriate for the high end of YA, definitely not the middle school grouping. However, I loved it!!

I needed this book and I didn't even know it !

C’était super touchant ! Les personnages sont adorables et très bien construits. Ca m’a parlé car j’étais Directioner, et que je défendais Larry avec mes tripes, donc je me suis 100% reconnue dans cette histoire. Les chansons pop, les concerts, les fans, les dramas, je l’ai vécu pendant plusieurs années. Forcément que cette histoire allait me plaire!
C’est un roman écrit à quatre mains et c’était très intéressant à voir! Si j’ai bien compris, les chapitres du POV de Zach étaient écrits par l’un des deux auteurs et ceux de Ruben par l’autre!

J’ai aimé cette fin qui était tout ce que j’espérais. Et c’est rare !
J’ai également aimé que ça aborde des sujets importants comme la pression dans l’industrie de la musique évidemment, mais aussi l’anxiété, la difficulté de prendre des décisions importantes et de savoir ce que l’on veut indépendamment des autres, le coming-out, la manipulation familiale, le gaslighting et les parents toxiques.
C’était divertissant et en même temps très prenant et enrichissant.

Come for the sweet romance, stay for the sharp critique of the music industry. This book may appear to be a story about two boyband members falling in love, and on one level it is, but it is also an exploration of the demons facing each boyband member, from themselves, their parents, and the industry at large. It is about growing up in the public eye and being controlled in all aspects of life. It is written introspectively and with care, and is a delightful rollercoaster to read.

I think this would’ve resonated a lot more with me had I been a One Direction or BTS fan. It’s been a long time since I was into this kind of musical group, though I’m obviously not too old to understand the dynamics and the archetypes and the pressure; I’m not blind or deaf to social media. But it was hard to transport myself into this mindset because, well.. I was too young to pay that kind of attention when I was into these kinds of groups. Not to mention, I think the media and paparrazzi, while they were probably no less toxic back in the day, the coverage was just different. Because the internet. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to deal with for those who were the subject of it all, of course, but how it was later consumed? The frenzy. The focus. The demand for more, for all? I feel that’s such a different animal now.

But anyway, that’s a long intro that isn’t saying much, so lets move on.

Overall I don’t have a lot of feelings about this. Or at least not strong ones. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it, and it was a quick consumption of entertainment. But don’t take that to mean this was light or fluffy or easy to process; there are real issues, some heavy subject matter, mixed in with the boyband and romance elements. But I felt the same way around the story as I do reading about the aforementioned real-life bands; my brain was processing the information, I would sympathize, but ultimately my investment was low.

That said, I think a lot of people will like this — I don’t think being into these bands is at all a prerequisite. I just, personally, think I would’ve liked it more if I was.

2.75 stars

Ideal for young teens who are obsessed with boy bands. This focuses on a fictional boy band and wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

This book was incredible and I couldn’t put it down.
You know a book is good when I can not make myself read (or listen) to ANYthing else while I’m reading it.
The relationship between the two main characters (two boy band stars) was romantic and beautiful. The relationship between the band members was complex and fun to read. It was a beautiful example of found family and how even found family isn't always perfect.

I absolutely loved the Bi rep in this book. I related so much for Zach and his coming to the realization about his sexuality. I loved the relationship between him and Ruben.

The other characters were good too. I loved how ever character was complex. It really helped me as the reader understand how someone can get trapped in abuse because everyone has a good side... even villains.

I also loved how these world famous pop stars had all the same (if not more) insecurities as we all do. The part of the story that focused in the music and celebrity industry was well written and obviously well researched. It really made me think about past boy bands and music stars and what they must have gone through (and probably still do).

I am so grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

It was absolutely amazing and it made me feel all the feels!

Saturday is at the top of the boy band game! Members Ruben Montez, Zach Knight, Angel Phan, and Jon Braxton are living their dream...at least publicly...behind the scenes is another story. Chorus Management is keeping the boys on a tight leash, molding them into the ideal boyfriends in order to boost record sales. This is especially hard on Ruben...whose sexuality is being firmly kept in the closet. During their European tour Ruben and Zach's friendship leads to more and when they decide they want to tell the world they realize their lives are not their own.

This book was everything I wanted and more. Full disclosure I am boy band stan. I love them all...NKOTB, BSB, NSYNC, O-Town, One Direction. This book was so well written and the characters were amazing. I would buy a Saturday album like that *snaps fingers* and they're not even a real band...that's how invested I am. Ruben and Zach's love story felt genuine. Neither of them were perfect, which was refreshing...they had flaws and didn't always do the right thing, but their love felt real. Jon and Angel were great characters too, really rounding out the band and the story. Chorus Management portrayed the music industry at its worst and were a great nemesis to the boys' characters. The only tiny thing that bothered me, though, was Zach's naivety. How he could possibly think Chorus ever had his best interests at heart was hard to believe...unless this book exists in a world where the aforementioned bands did not exist. I will definitely reread this book and recommend it to anyone who will listen. LOVED IT!

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Do you ever read a book that gives you the most nostalgia ever while still giving you the euphoria of reliving a time that was so memorable to you? Yeah, this book is it. If This Gets Out is basically a giant One Direction fanfiction and I am LIVING for it. Reading about the boyband and seeing Ruben and Zach's side of things really reminded me so much of being in the One Direction fandom, but reading this book was like living through the other side of the band.

It follows the lives of Ruben, who is a closeted gay (not by choice! Management's got them all down!) and Zach who slowly starts to realize that he's bisexual and has a crush on Ruben. As they work through their relationship and how to come out to the world while still being under the tight leash of their management, we get to see just how exhausting and terrifying it can be to be that famous.

I absolutely loved this story. Both POVs were well written and while it felt a little bit like Zach and Ruben's relationship was rushed (Zach finds out he's bisexual not even a quarter through the book), it was fun to witness through their eyes. There's great mental health rep (Ruben's got some major emotional trauma from his mother who's a total narcissist and has messed with his head) and drug abuse which was interesting to see as it's a common occurrence in celebrities especially ones as young as the boys. I highly recommend reading it!!

I always struggle so much more with writing reviews of books I loved. They always make me pretty incoherent but I will try my best.
Ruben and Zach are two members of a world-famous boyband, they've been friends for years but recently Ruben has developed a crush on Zach and much to his surprise - Zach might just like him too. We follow them alongside their fellow band members, Angel and Jon, as they go on tour across Europe for the first time, dealing with not only their developing feelings for one another but also the pressures of being in a boyband and not having the freedom to be themselves.
I have read some romances recently that have not made me feel anything at all, but this book was in no way one of them. I thought the character's emotions were so well portrayed and my mood was constantly changing with theirs. I also loved the travel element of the book on the tour, how each of the characters were so well written, and how while at first glance it might look like a fairly average romance it was actually so much more than that.
Exploring difficult topics such as drug addiction, homophobia, parental abuse, and exploitation in the music industry, If This Gets Out was not always a happy read, but it felt genuine and did so often put a smile on my face that it might be a new favourite. If you couldn't work it out already from context cues I will be buying a physical copy of this book when it comes out in December because this is definitely one I will reread.

A moving story about love and fame. Ruben and Zach proved to be unforgettable characters that I found myself rooting for. While the plot picks up quickly, we’re really taken for a ride while the boy banders of SATURDAY go on their European tour.

You may expect a straightforward romance, but this book is about so much more. How the music industry often mistreats its talent, the freedom that’s taken away with contracts, and how love can overcome all obstacles. I loved the message and the sweet romance between the guys, which ultimately kept me reading until the end.

While I enjoyed the plot of the books and found aspects of it entertaining, the writing didn’t hook me. Some of the dialogue was confusing, and the way Zach acted in Ruben’s POV chapters vs in his own POVs truly made me believe they were two different characters. Angel is definitely a stand-out character and I loved all his dialogue.

This book is so good! I am beyond amazed by the way this was written. the character development was so good and consistent with how the characters were written I could not put this book down. it will be going on my bookshelf as soon as I can get my hands on it. it covered important issues in the LGTBQ community and was written in a way where it was not a hard read but it is truly a book I would consider to be important for the younger generations to read. I love this book so much.

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for making this available to read early.
Huge thanks also to Sophie and Cale for writing such an engrossing story.

If This Gets Out follows two members of a famous boyband, Saturday, as they come to terms with falling in love and coming out as international pop stars while under scrutiny from their management and what seems like the whole world.

I became so captivated by this book that I've had to take a few weeks to get my thoughts in order before writing this review.

As a fan, it's easy to forget that the people you may idolise are sold to the world as a product that has been manipulated to portray a perfect picture, while their whole life has been altered to fit this box.
On the other hand, as a fan, there's a certain part of you that does know these things and want to use your tiny influence to support these people as they push against such a heavily controlled life.

When your life has been so impacted by somebody, you begin to feel this inherent need to protect them, especially when you find out for sure just how bad they've been treated by the people that are supposed to be helping them.
Once you become member of a "fandom it often starts to feel like a family and because of that, one of my absolute favourite parts of the book is when the fans react to big news and come together to send a message to both the band and their management. (I feel like there's very few things in life as powerful as a fandom made up of predominantly teenage girls!)

Oftentimes in this book, it can be hard to read the portrayal of abuse within the music and entertainment industry, but that's why this story is so important.
The authors have really done their research and even though it's upsetting at times, it's real, and that's what makes the book so relatable to both fan and idol.

This book has done a wonderful job of balancing the good and the bad and even making the ugly side of fame become more relatable, in the sense that most people will never experience fame from the inside but will gain a better understanding from reading this book because the story has been composed so well.

The writing style of both Sophie and Cale is easy to follow and the story flows very nicely. The story of Saturday, being openly queer artists, and the band members' intricacies are all very enjoyable and real.
We always need queer stories by queer authors and this is one of the best ones I've read recently.

I really loved this book and I can say for sure I'll be reading it again. I can't wait to have a physical copy of this book when it's released.
With absolutely no doubt, I give this book five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I confess, I'm slightly on the fence about this book.

I didn't hate it, but I didn't LOVE it.

I gave it 4 stars primarily because of it's handling of Zach coming to terms with his sexuality. The journey from "straight" to "not necessarily straight" to "in love with my best friend." was handled with sensitivity and realism.

I also thought the exploration of Reuben's past relationships and the way his fame impacted his ability to trust. The constant having to be on one's guard, and having to question "Does he want me for me or what I can do for him?"

I did wonder where the adult chaperones were given the boys were still mostly 17 and therefore not technically adults.

Over all, I thought the book was well written and the characterization was solid. A few minor points gave me pause.

When I first read the premise of this book, I was shocked. It seemed like something that came straight out of my fangirl, past fanfiction-writer brain: a romance story about a famous pop boyband with two of its members dating in secret. As a die-hard lover of boybands since my teenage years, this summary was enough to sky-rocket If This Gets Out to the top of my TBR pile. And it did not disappoint!

I absolutely loved Zach and Ruben's relationship. It felt natural and cute, and gave me all of the happy feels that I was expecting. I especially appreciated the juxtaposition of Zuben's romance with Jon and Angel (Anjon)'s bromance, which I felt highlighted the tricky, confusing, and sometimes toxic nature of ships within fandoms. Even if you adore an artist and worship their art, you never truly know what goes on behind closed doors, which is a message that this book communicated so well in my opinion.

I also really liked the depiction of Zach discovering his bisexuality. As a queer person myself, I could easily sympathize with his feelings, although his reactions were so frustrating at times... but hey, everyone processes things differently! This is another thing that this book demonstrates beautifully through its two different narrative point of views. Speaking of which, I did not mix up the two point of views while reading, which is something that scared me due to past experiences with books of a similar format. In this case, I could easily distinguish Ruben's voice from Zach's, and found myself enjoying them both equally for what they brought to the story.

Finally, the somewhat open-ended conclusion to the story leaves me hopeful for a sequel in the near future, although the ending felt satisfying enough on its own. But still, can I please get more?? I am not ready to leave these characters yet!

All in all, would 100% recommend to any fangirl out there, but be warned: you may become addicted to a fictional boyband.

Okay so this was quite the frustrating read 🙈 I was expecting a fun (and hard-hitting maybe) read, but the band members just had everyone against them it seemed. Nobody listened to what they thought and wanted and they just followed along. Which I guess makes sense because they are quite young, but it was still frustrating to read because they deserved to be heard! 😅 BUT I did like the band itself and their relationships with each other, and when they actually started communicating and started coming up for themselves, it led to a satisfactory ending of the book.

So yeah, this isn't really a fun and adorable YA contemporary - there was a lot going on in the main characters' lives which made it somewhat harder to read. It does, however, offer perspective in what could be happening behind the scenes in the music industry.

This book was absolutely fantastic.

If This Gets Out follows a boy band called Saturday, who, at the moment, are one of the biggest names in the music industry. We see the dark side of the music industry as we watch two of the members, Zach Knight and Ruben Montez, spark a beautiful romance. But with their own management not on their side, their relationship becomes strained with the pressure placed on the both of them.

If This Gets Out is already one of my favorite reads of 2021. The characters were so dynamic. It was so fun watching each character have their own doubts and problems, and seeing how other characters fit into those issues.

This book managed to play out an unconventional love story while also bringing attention to many difficult topics. I expected this to be quite a light read, and while it was still such, there were definitely some darker elements, which brought a tone of seriousness to this novel and enhanced it as a whole.

Like I said earlier, every character was so well written and had their own story. The entire plot as a whole felt so real, and it felt like if I were to search up Angel, Jon, Zach, and Ruben right now, I would find them. That's how real each of their characters felt. The entire story could actually happen, which also made the book better. It felt real.

Please, I am begging you, get your copy of If This Gets Out in December. You will absolutely not regret it.

A good rom-com gives you a set of characters with sparkling chemistry and a love story you can root for. A great rom-com gives you all of that, plus a richly built world beyond just the relationship between the two characters.

I am happy to report that IF THIS GETS OUT is a great rom-com.

The premise is the stuff of fanfic dreams: Ruben and Zach, two members of an internationally famous boyband, slowly fall for each other and struggle with what that means for them and for their careers. To start with, Ruben and Zach are fully formed, intriguing characters on their own. Ruben, who is openly gay to a small circle but is pressured into waiting until the "right time" to come out publicly, struggles with toxic parents and a yearning to be permitted to be his full, musical-theatre-loving self. Zach, meanwhile, is frustrated both by his label-assigned identity as the band's broody bad boy and by his own burgeoning realization of his own sexuality. Their romance is awkward and start-and-stop and also swoony and heart-stopping.

But then you add in the rest of the world of the book around them. It's a sharp, unflinching portrayal of the insidiousness of celebrity culture and fame in the social media era, including the habit of corporate "entertainment" talking a big talk about inclusivity but in reality brutally stamping out anything that doesn't fit the pre-planned mold, whether that's about race, gender, sexuality, or even just style. Angel and Jon, the boys' bandmates, are equally rich characters, dealing with their own stresses and struggles. The found family bonds between the four of them provide the book's emotional core (yes, even though it's a romance).

You can probably guess where the plot is going to go most of the time, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable of a ride. It's both a witty, flirty rom-com and a quietly devastating reminder of just what really goes into crafting those superstar performances that are so easy to watch if you just push out of mind the humanity of the people performing.

Boy bands, queer romance, overpowering record label... These factors add up to a quick, easy read. While the book does touch on difficult subjects - closeted gay characters, drug/alcohol abuse, emotional abuse, etc. - it isn't a heavy-handed, After School Special type of book. In fact, the plot focuses more on the controlling aspects of the record label and its focus on money instead of the welfare of the band members. This has the effect of normalizing Ruben and Zach's relationship rather than using it for dramatic effect - no one close to the guys is scandalized by their new relationship and there's no "angry" outing of the two as their relationship develops.

The author has created four distinct characters, even though the book is told just from the points of view of Ruben and Zach, so none of the characters feel two-dimensional. There are times when it feels like the author had a checklist of characteristics needed to create a diverse cast - ethnicity, religion, sexual identity, etc. All the boxes are checked. This isn't a bad thing, but it is a little in-your-face at times.

This book is so much more than a queer boy band romance.

From the start, it's clear that there's an appropriate weight given to the realities of a life in the spotlight, particularly for people who find it when they're young. Body image issues, drugs and alcohol, a need to push yourself harder than is healthy. All four of these teenagers are dealing with their fair share of too much, and it felt inevitable as it all fell apart.

But watching them pick themselves up and realise their worth? Watching them fight for themselves and each other? That brotherhood is what I'm here for.

The romance between Ruben and Zach felt so natural, as did the conflict between the two of them. It's refreshing to see characters with flaws that aren't magically fixed, but instead committed to be worked on. Angel's troubles with drugs was clear from the start, but the way it built up still gripped my heart the whole time. Jon's struggles with his father seemed the least personal since they also affected the rest of the band, but they were still present and still made me feel for him.

I'll definitely be reading this again.