So, from the moment I knew this book was coming, I was excited. The fact that Sophie Gonzales was one of the authors was a very big plus, because I loved her debut novel The Law of Inertia very, very much. Impressive writing and an engaging story. And then the blurb, of course, because gay love within a boyband, well, let's just say that rings a lot of bells. It had a lot of potential and chances were high I was going to like it.
So when I was able to grab an ARC through NetGalley, I couldn't resist.

About the book: Zach, Ruben, Angel and Jon are the members of boyband Saturday. Their management and record company owns them. They tell them how to dress, how their hair should be cut, they've created a fake persona for each one of them just to please the audience, that mainly consists of young teenage girls. They are controlled beyond acceptable. Every interview is arranged because of a mile long list of prohibited questions and topics. Every step they take has to be questioned twice, because there's always someone with a phone or a camera to record and to get things out in the world through social media.
So, basically the four members are imprisoned by their success, forced to lie about who they really are. Nobody would be able to survive such a regime, and in the midst of their European tour, things start to fall apart. Eating disorder, drugs abuse, mental issues...it's an endless list of coping mechanisms that are only human. This book is written to question the music industry and the power the record companies have and the authors have done a wonderful job doing so. It's clear they've done a lot of research. The creepy thing about it is that it all seems acceptable in the beginning, but getting deeper into the European tour, disturbing things start to surface, both from the way the boys have to deal with their situation, as well as with the management team/record company, who force rule upon rule on them until there's no way they are able to deal with it in a healthy way.

Beside the complaint, this book is also a love story. Zach and Ruben have always had a certain feeling about each other, but it isn't until they are in Europe that they start to understand what those feelings mean to them. Ruben is gay, has always been out and proud to the people surrounding him, but the outside world (meaning: the fans and the press) don't know and he's tired of lying about himself. Tired of pretending to be someone he isn't. But management keeps telling him to wait for the right moment. Which is never. Then he and Zach become an item. Zach just discovers he's bi-sexual and just like with Ruben being gay, his sexuality has to be kept from leaking out. Their relationship has to stay a secret. Of course this puts extra pressure on them and on the group, above all the other pressure they are enduring.

I enjoyed this book. Great writing, engaging characters. It did take me a while to get into the story, though. It's told in both Ruben's and Zach's pov, and in the beginning I kept mixing them up, which is probably all me. But it was kind of annoying to have to scroll back to the beginning of the chapter to see who's pov I was reading. But then something happened. I can't really tell at what point, or which moment, but suddenly I couldn't put this book down anymore. It sucked me in. I wanted nothing more than these boys to find happiness, to be able to be the person they truly were instead of a fake persona someone invented. Not just Zach and Ruben, but Angel and Jon as well.
Of course things derail. They had to. Without spoiling, I'd say a big round of applause for the moms!!

I tried to read this book with an open mind. I tried not to compare this novel to One Direction and Stylinson. But I couldn't stop my mind from going there every now and then. For well, obvious reasons, I suppose. But this book is more than a story about queer guys in a boyband. Even if you're not a Directioner or into Kpop, (or whatever boyband is out there) this book is engaging enough to grab you, because it's also about two boys falling in love and it's a story about firsts and finding the one you were supposed to be with. So, yes, I highly recommend this book if you are into all those things! You won't be disappointed.

Im a fan of both authors' previous works, so when I heard they were teaming up I was excited. Then, to hear they were writing a queer boyband romance? SUPER excited.
And it was just as good as I hoped. Both main characters were flawed but loveable and while the story didn't have any major twists it was engaging and well-written anyway.
Seriously, this was so good I blasted through it in a few hours. Zuben has my heart.

A queer YA romcom about a boyband? What is not to love about that incredible premise? Plus a sweet romance, thoughtful bi rep, and behind-the-scenes drama within the music industry. This book is a must-read!

When I saw this book on twitter for the first time a couple of months back I was so excited because it had almost every single element that I look for in romance novels. I love reading about famous people dealing with the press and fans and this books was no different. I literally have so many nice things to say about this book so lets jump right in!

SUMMARY

Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressures of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he’s feeling smothered by management’s pressure to stay in the closet.

On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben start to truly realize that they will never have the support of their management. How can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them?

REVIEW

If you liked Red, White, and Royal Blue this book is better. Actually, this book is everything! A lot of the times when books are written in more than one perspective, one character always ends up boring me, especially when they are written by two different people. This was not the case. Both Zach and Ruben felt authentic to me and I never cared who’s perspective things were in, which is rare for me to find.

This book also reminded me a lot about what went down with One Direction when they were still together and for a 1D fan it was almost eye opening. I was only like fifteen when they broke up and looking back now at what happened to them, I am truly shook (for lack of a better word). At the same time, though, this does not read as fan-fiction at all. There were times when I did compare it to One Direction but that is simply because I was such a huge 1D fan. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a published book.

CONCLUSION

To be completely honest I really have nothing bad to say about this book and for that reason I have awarded it 5 stars. If This Gets Out is set to release December 7th, 2021 and I will be preordering myself a copy so I can own this absolute masterpiece. Everyone needs to pick up this book when it comes out because it is actually that good and I will die on this hill.

Infinitely readable. This is the 2021 book we all needed! The characters were flawed but lovable (which is good, who wants to read about someone perfect?) As always with SG, the queer themes were spot-on and treated with the nuance they deserve. The portrayal of emotional abuse was also treated very well.

I also applaud this story for exposing the not-so-glamorous side of the entertainment industry, including homophobia/forced closeting and careful image control.

If This Gets Out is a story told in alternating points of view through the eyes of two members of a world-famous boy band, Saturday. The characters are Ruben, written by Sophie Gonzales, and his bandmate and best friend, Zach, written by Cale Dietrich. Ruben and Zach are half of the band Saturday, with their two other friends Angel and Jon. The boys are all eighteen in the novel, and are micromanaged and controlled by their management team as they have been their whole careers.

The story focuses on Ruben, who is gay and has been wanting to come out publicly for at least two years and has been forced to stay closeted due to the band's record labels homophobic agenda. Ruben is frustrated with this from the beginning, but it all comes to a head when he and Zach realize that they might think of each other as more than just friends. As their relationship progresses and Zach comes to terms with the fact that he is bisexual, they reveal their relationship to their bandmates and management team. Their bandmates couldn't be more supportive, and the record label does its best to look supportive as well, while continuously coming up with excuses for why the boys shouldn't go public with their relationship or their sexual orientations. This, along with other controlling aspects of the boy's lives, forces them to make a decision: be complacent and continue lying about who they are, or take a chance and go against management and publicly come out.

This book was a really wonderful queer romance, with two points of view that melded together perfectly, creating two incredible characters and effectively telling the story of how many in the entertainment industry are silenced and controlled, with a focus especially on queer people. This book also explores drug abuse, parental abuse, and the ethics of having sixteen-year-olds sign a multi-year contract that they don't understand, and what kind of abuses of power can happen when people have the wrong intentions. It was a really sweet romance with layers of moral dilemmas and interpersonal conflicts. It did not disappoint.

So I kind of dropped everything once I got approved for this, and I regret nothing.

This is the story (told in dual POVs) of Zach and Ruben, two members of the popular boyband, Saturday. As their friendship grows into something more, they face pressure from their management to keep it hidden. Will they finally be able to share their relationship with the world, or will they be forced to keep it a secret?

I liked how this wasn't a typical rose-colored glasses romcom. There's the pressure of maintaining the "perfect image." Zach grappling and coming to terms with his sexuality. Drug and Alcohol addictions. Toxic parents. Homophobia. Honestly, it's a lot for a romcom, and this book manages to have enough cutesy light moments to balance out the darker realities of the boyband lifestyle.

But given the subject matter, this is another young adult book that is almost new adult. (Speaking of new adult, this book is definitely one that fans of Red, White, & Royal Blue will enjoy - hey this even had the secret dating plotline, too)

Saturday is great! I really liked the friendship between the members. Angel, Jon, Zach, & Ruben's dynamic was so well done. Yes, they do get frustrated with each other, but they're a supportive family. I just want more of them. (Can we please get a sequel - or two? I'm not opposed to more Anjon ....)

All in all, this book tackles problematic people and gives us some pretty great ships. If you like boybands, LGBTQ+ romances, great friendship dynamics, and great characters, give this a try.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books (St. Martin's Press) for this eARC. I am really thankful that I got the opportunity to read this before its December 7, 20201 release!

Saturday is a boy band that has become an international sensation. Their management company oversees every detail of Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon's lives from what they wear to what they can say during interviews. As part of that, they have pressured Ruben for years not to come out publicly as gay. But how will that change when Ruben and Zach start dating?

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I am amazed by so many aspects starting with the collaboration between Cale Dietrich and Sophie Gonzales with Cale writing Zach as Sophie wrote Ruben. How they so beautifully put together a story is amazing. I am so impressed with the way in which they tackled the pressures of the entertainment industry, particularly for children. The depth of not only Ruben and Zach's characters and romance but also Angel and Jon's storylines and their relationships with their parents are all so detailed and real. I cared so much about the members of the band. I found the story simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting.

I had first learned of the book in an author chat with Sophie Gonzales when Perfect on Paper was being released, and I knew I could not wait to read the book. I recommend you not wait either.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

I'll admit that I don't typically read "rom-com" because... well, to be honest, I don't have that good of a reason other than the fact that I'm typically drawn more toward SFF stories. But, from the moment I heard about this book being announced on Twitter, I wanted to read it - and I am so grateful for the opportunity to get the chance before this wonderful book is released in December.

From the writing style to the characters, I just had such a good time reading (even when my heart was breaking or I wanted to scream in frustration) "If This Gets Out". I had been in a bit of a book slump before starting this book, but from the first chapter, I was hooked. The pacing was quick, the story never dragging, and I just kept telling myself "one more chapter" before bed. From the very beginning and all the way to the end, I was rooting for Zach and Ruben. Honestly, I could gush about this book for ages (and likely will). Needless to say, I've already preordered a physical copy to display on my shelves.

It's the perfect standalone but by the end I was practically begging for a sequel just to get some more time with Zach, Ruben, Jon, and Angel. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up when it releases!

*Spoiler free*

Sophie Gonzales had a hand in writing this book, so of course I wanted to read it. And it's also queer. And about a boy band. And about two boys in that boy band who fall for each other and want to come out, but their management won't let them. Yes, I was completely intrigued by this and I was incredibly eager to read it. <strong>Trigger warnings: emotional abuse, addiction, homophobia</strong>

This is such a good book. It's everything that the synopsis promises it will be. It's messy and it's queer and it's painful and it's adorable and it's really, really good.

This book is really freaking queer. I know that is obvious because of the synopsis, but I loved the conversations surrounding and of queerness. One boy, Zach, is figuring out his sexuality, how he wants to define it, how he feels comfortable with it. And just, the denial and the pushing down, that is something that I have done. I loved, loved seeing Zach come to terms with and explore his identity.

I honestly loved Zach as a whole character. The way he is so kind and so sweet. And how he struggles with wanting to please everybody around him. He wants everybody to be happy. He is a people pleaser to the max.

And Ruben, I adored him too. I loved seeing how confident and sure he was in his identity, how he wanted to badly to claim it publicly. He also deals with familial pain, and the weight of wanting to perform to the very best of his ability. He puts so much pressure of himself, and just, watching him deal with that was amazing to witness.

Plus, the other members for the band were all around incredible too! Jon, with his steadiness and Angel with his ball to the walls wildness were just incredible. The whole band was freaking adorable together, and I loved the comradery they shared. Plus, they are genuinely love each other, and it was super cool to see guys caring about each other platonically (and non-platonically too haha).

The whole boy band aspect was incredibly amazing haha. I loved the music part to it, the way that all the boys were so into what they are doing. They all handle it in different ways, and they all have their own struggles, but they are so passionate about what they do.

This book is adorable, and super sweet, but it also stings. It deals with the stress of being such a public figure, under the thumb of a big corporation who wants as many profits as possible. It explores queerness in this, it explores the pains that it brings, and the limits that it can push people to. And it does messy so, so well. Emotions run high, callus things are said, and drastic actions are taken. And there is no perfect solution, but there ways to figure it out, to talk about it, to find the people to figure it out with. I've gushed about how well Sophie deals with messy emotions, and combined with Cale, this book does it so incredibly well.

There were also moments in this book were the emotional beats were just spot on, and completely top notch. I wanted to scream during some of them, because they worked so well. They way it came together, the way the characters felt, what they did, oh I could gush about them so much.

The one not completely positive comment that I have is that Zach and Ruben sort of blended together for me in the beginning. But, as the book went on, their distinct personalities started coming out more and they started shaping themselves into themselves.

Overall, I adored this book. I punched my straight down into my heart, but it was also sweet and amazing and spectacular. If you're wanting everything that the synopsis promises, I can tell you that this book delivers. It so queer, and so amazing.

First thing’s first, HUGE thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this early!

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be “disillusionment”. Reading this story felt like looking behind the wizard’s curtain and seeing something that, deep down, I expected, but hoped like hell wasn’t true. The themes of autonomy, addiction, family and friendship wrapped up in contracts and legalese, and what it means to be queer in the spotlight all wrapped in the flashing lights of a world tour was, frankly, one of the best reading experiences of my life.

The romance in this book was nothing short of beautiful. I’ve always been a fan of the best friends to lovers trope, but this really took that to the next level. Watching Zach and Ruben lean on each other during the roughest times (and there are some ROUGH times) only to come out the other side stronger and ready to tackle the next challenge is exactly what I hoped for from this book, and it ever once let me down. Seriously, get ready for all the warm fluffies from them… once they work their crap out, of course.

Despite being a work of fiction, this book relates heavily to modern, real world issues in the entertainment industry. I found myself frequently drawing parallels between Saturday and Taylor Swift fighting to gain ownership over her own music while reading, as well as the work Alyson Stoner is doing currently to increase safety for child actors on TV and movie sets. If either of those issues interests you, or if this is a subject you can see yourself being passionate about, read this book. Like, as soon as humanly possible.

I read this in less than a day and was so hooked that I even read it during class at college, oops. It was so good and I can’t recommend it highly enough!! (Also apologies this is my first review haha) I’m so glad I already preordered this as there’s no regrets and I definitely would have preordered it after reading.

Look, you had me at “queer boy band romance,” but the reality was somehow so much better?? You already know that Ruben and Zach are falling in love, but the journey to get there, through learning to communicated and self-exploration and owning their own inner selves was a magical, beautiful journey. The in depth discussion of the insidious nature of the music industry as the backdrop was so well-researched and heart wrenching. I need more books, I have to know what happens with Saturday!

THIS WAS THE CUTEST BOOK. I pretty much never read real life books, sticking to fantasy and sci-fi, and I'm not even a fan of any current boybands, but oh my god. I devoured this book. The writing was amazing and the characters felt so real. The pace was also so, so good. I constantly wanted to keep reading, and never felt like anything was dragging. Honestly I just want a million sequels already as long as it features the boys of Saturday.

I READ THIS IN ONE SITTING I LAUGHED I CRIED I HAD SO MANY EMOTIONS

PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK

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Okay, now that I've calmed down.

This book is excellent. You know when blurbs say "compulsively readable" or "unputdownable?" Yeah, that is this book. I literally could not stop reading. It's got such incredible heart to it, and it takes you through the journey of this band, highs and lows, and through it a genuinely wonderful romance and exploration of being true yourself and your art. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

This is one of my top reads of 2021! The premise of this book was really intriguing, and the authors did an excellent job executing it. The book is about Saturday, a top boy band, and especially two of its members, Ruben and Zach. Ruben and Zach have always been close since they met at a summer camp. During the course of a tour, they become closer than either thought possible, leading them to question their tightly controlled existence where their management company dictates everything from their clothes to their movements to even whether they can be honest about core aspects of their identity.

The book switches back and forth between the perspectives of Ruben and Zach, with each written by one of the authors. I really enjoyed this approach to telling this story, which allows the reader to see two overlapping but distinct views on both their relationship and the overarching issues they are facing. The depiction of the music industry and how artists are treated is also powerful and thought-provoking.

Very highly recommended!

If This Gets Out is the story of two bandmates who fall in love which kickstarts their journey to coming out to the world. There is a lot to like about this book, but ultimately it didn't fully work for me and it's hard to articulate why. I wish there was some (more) commentary/plot exploration about the role shipping plays in the fans' lives and their own--not only shipping, but when it gets into conspiracy theory territory.

I was so excited to get to read this book as an ARC and it didn’t disappoint! I love a book with a focus on character relationships and I adored the friendship between the 4 bandmates. And the romantic relationship was so adorable and sexy with just enough gay teenage angst to make it interesting.

There were a few strings that weren’t fully tied at the end, like Zach never addressing a specific comment his Mom made that (I felt) needed addressing and I’m still concerned about the future of the relationship between Ruben and his mom, but that is a particularly complicated situation. I think an epilogue could have resolved those issues, it could have offered some comfort around Ruben’s relationship with his mom, and on Angel’s recovery journey. Of course, if they plan on making a sequel then an epilogue would be redundant, so fingers crossed!

I really loved this story. It made me smile and giggle at all the cuteness and I love that it ended on a hopeful note. This is very much a coming out novel and a YA romance. It’s a fun read!


TW: emotional abuse, homophobia, alcohol and substance use disorder

I literally finished this book in one sitting. It’s one of those feel-good stories where you know exactly how it’s going to end, and you couldn’t be happier to be proven right.

However, I, addition to being heartwarming and life-affirming, If This Gets Out also sheds light on a number of issues such as borderline abuse within the entertainment industry, the perils of excessive parental criticism and systematic homophobia among the rich and famous.

I definitely enjoyed the read and I highly recommend reading it. It’s perfect for fans of Red, White and Royal Blue, so if that sounds like you, I would add this to my TBR immediately. It’s the perfect pick-me-up!

This is a terrific read! It is the story of Saturday, one of the biggest boy bands in the world. Ruben and Zach, two of the members of the band, have always been close and, over the course of their international tour, find their friendship evolving into a romance. As it does, though, they realize how little control they exercise over their own lives and begin to question whether they want to remain under the thumb of their management company.

I enjoy both of these authors and together they created a wonderful story of finding yourself, friendship and family, and the pressures of working as a professional musician. Highly recommended!