Sophie Gonzalez and Cale Dietrich have created a story rich with the highest highs of first love, mixed with the confusion of attempting to put a label on yourself, with a *sprinkling* of the unnecessarily harsh reality of the music industry and the public eye.

Zach realizes that he may not be as straight as he has thought himself to be, and Ruben can't help being in love with his best friend and bandmate. While they are both celebrities and under the thumb of their management team, these authors excellently portray them still as teenagers trying to figure themselves and their feelings out. Knowing what *you* want and deserve, communication, and boundaries with loved ones are some of the themes thoughtfully explored within the pages and events. Highly recommend for teenagers in their first experiences and adults who might still be trying to figure these things out for themselves.

If This Gets Out is a book you will not be able to put down once you start it. Told through the alternating viewpoints of Ruben and Zach, it's their story. The story of their relationship. Of them navigating their relationship and in Zach''s case figuring out his own sexuality while being in the US's biggest, hottest and in-demand boyband "Saturday".

It's fast-paced and action-packed and carries an extremely important message as it shines a light on the conditions that many artists within the industry face, especially those who enter the industry at a young age, those that belong to the LGBTQ+ community and otherwise marginalised artists. It shows how overworked they are, they are slowly stripped of all autonomy, their names, who they can and can't socialise with, what they wear, Every aspect of their lives is controlled and manipulated to maintain a public image, an image that is carefully crafted to appeal to an artist/bands demographic so it maximises sale potential.

Both Ruben and Zach have their own distinct voices, their own issues and struggles with the constraints placed on them from their management team who control every aspect of their lives. The relationship between the band and their management team is best described as toxic. The management team is headed by band member Jon's Dad. The relationship between the band and their management is abusive and it's a well-depicted struggle by Sophie and Cale who have clearly done their research into the topic. As there are sadly many very public cases of the things depicted in the book happening. The exploration of what the control of the bands lives does to Ruben, Zach, Jon and Angel both psychologically and physically at times can be uncomfortable reading but it's necessary as it makes you fully understand and emotionally connect with each character. Not just Ruben and Zach but with Jon and Angel as well.

If This Gets Out is one of the most powerful and necessary reads of this year and a must-read for anyone who has ever been in a love with a boyband or an artist who has suffered at the hands of an industry that must change.

*3.5 stars

Did I read this book because it made me think of Larry... yes. Someone mentioned that it was on Netgalley to read and I rushed to go request it. I’ve been on a romcom binge and this was perfect for it.

Overall the premise of this book is really fun and entertaining. The book has a really entertaining writing style, however it does kind of read like a fanfiction. Which I personally don’t really like in published books.

This book does touch on a lot of real issues so I probably wouldn’t recommend it if you just want fluff. The book is also really well researched and that much is clear.

I’m going to be writing a full review in a few days once everything has set in because I tend to be someone who needs time before I write a review but overall it was a really fun read.

If This Gets Out follows Zach and Ruben, two members of America’s biggest boyband, Saturday, as they undertake a forbidden romance behind the scenes of their sold-out international tour.

When Saturday commences its first ever world tour, the band is thrilled to be leaving the USA for the first time and traveling Europe. When Ruben and Zach finally admit their feelings for each other and begin dating, their oppressive management team appears initially supportive, although encourages them to keep the relationship—and their sexualities—under wraps for the duration of the tour, for the band’s safety. But as the rules placed on the boys start to seem less about their wellbeing, and more about keeping all four boys on a tight leash, Ruben and Zach start to realize their management team never intend on allowing them to tell the world the truth.

Amazingly written, with two distinct voices (I can’t pick which perspective I liked most! I’ll just have to pick both), this book deftly explores a range of important topics, from closeting within the music industry, to the pressures of fame, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, homophobia, emotional abuse, childhood trauma… but somehow it doesn’t ever feel heavy handed or preachy. It’s simply an incredible, fast-paced, well-told story.

The characters are so well fleshed out! There’s Zach, the people-pleasing songwriter of the band who’s cast as the Bad Boy against type, who goes through a complex journey of both realizing he is bisexual and coming to terms with his propensity to put other’s needs before him out of fear rather than selflessness. Ruben, the self-assured former theatre-kid, who’s gay and desperate to come out to the world, but gets shoved into the background by management to keep him in line despite being the band’s most talented singer. Jon, the son of the head of management, who gets shoved into the spotlight and forced to, essentially, sell sex to the fans, despite his religion and morals being incompatible with this. And Angel, the ladies-man party boy who lashes out against the managements attempts to turn him into a sexless boy-next-door type.

The romance in this book is top notch. The authors have created two characters who are clearly made for each other, and their chemistry is off-the-CHARTS (#zuben). I ship it. Although this book is sold as a romantic contemporary, it almost leans thriller-esque in parts. The stakes grow higher and higher as the four friends find themselves more and more trapped by their management, and as they begin to suffocate, find their safety, and maybe even their lives, at risk. Still, the heavy stuff is undercut with plenty of humor and romantic fluff (there’s even an only-one-bed scene!) in a way that keeps it readable and not too bogged-down in angst and dread. Also, I loved the way that the fans end up being sort of their own character, as the boys work through their changing relationship with their fans, their ambivalence and awe, and how the fans ultimately play a huge role in the plot (I can't say much more without spoilers). These parts of the book felt like a love letter to fandom.

In terms of diversity, Zach is white, Ruben is Hispanic, Angel is Asian and Jon is biracial. Although Jon’s father is the villain of the story, he is white. Ruben is gay and Zach is on-the-page bisexual, and there are multiple LGBTQIA side characters. The discussions around homosexuality and bisexuality, as well as homophobia, are done very well (as is usually the case when these things are written from experience!).
Overall, a romantic, heart-pounding read that manages to be fast-paced despite its length, inclusive, and in some sections, terrifying. Highly recommend.