I love a good coming-of-age young adult story, so this one was definitely up my alley. We meet Riley, who immediately upon her high school graduation hops on a bus to NYC to visit her childhood best friend, Tom, where she ends up finding adventures, new friends and ultimately herself.

This was such a fun YA book. Riley was a relatable MC and I thought it was the perfect mix of light and fun while still having substance and exploring serious topics as she learns to grow and lean into who she wants to be. I loved the story of the friends she met and though there was a romance element, it felt like there was a lot more to this book than just that, which I enjoyed.

If you enjoy a light and fun YA book, I definitely recommend this new release!

Thanks to @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for the free egalley in exchange for an honest review. The Getaway List is out now.

The Getaway List
By: Emma Lord

Genre:
Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary

Red Flags:
Small amount of profanity, but otherwise a very clean romance read

Summary:
Like most high school seniors, Riley is left on graduation day with uncertainty. With her friends and classmates moving on with their plans, Riley is disappointed, being rejected from her top college choices, she has no clue what her future holds. To make matters worse, her best friend Tom is in Manhattan, and planning to take a gap year to figure out life. Riley remembers ‘The Getaway List’ a list they created together to discover the real adventures in life, a list that was cut short when Tom’s mom whisked him off to New York. Together, Riley and Tom decide to complete the list. It is through ‘The Getaway List’ that the main characters in the story rediscover life, their personal goals, and what their future truly holds.

Review:
I loved this read by Emma Lord. It is an engaging coming of age novel, with relatable characters, the plotline flows and transitions perfectly. It is fast paced, and has a theme that everyone can learn from, one of lasting friendships, the importance of bonds within family relationships, honesty, forgiveness and lasting love.

Thank you to Emma Lord, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.


#reluctantreaderreads
#emmalord #netgalley
#thegetawaylist
#advancedreaderreads

Emma Lord always creates such solid YA coming of age stories. I really enjoyed this one and the concept of Riley taking a gap year to find herself is intriguing and very relevant. The relationships among the characters were my favorite part of reading this one. Overall a very enjoyable read that will definitely appeal to YA readers!

Since her debut, Emma Lord has been an auto-read author for me. We've had our ups and downs with different releases through the years, but this was a hit for me! The Getaway List is a fun, coming-of-age romp that captures the thrilling unknown of young adulthood so well!

The cast of characters in The Getaway List felt so well developed, with each character's story and life unfolding to the reader throughout the story as our main character, Riley, began seeing beyond herself, appreciating that her friends had lives and secrets of their own. And the dialogue! Emma Lord is the queen of witty banter. The way her characters talk to each other always makes me smile.

The other thing that stands out in this story (and the other Emma Lord books I love) is New York City. The city is an additional character, an active force driving the story and plot. It creates a playground with endless possibilities, which ties perfectly with our characters' journeys in The Getaway List.

Really loved this one and am looking forward to what Emma Lord has in store next!

An Emma Lord book is guaranteed to put a smile on my face and this one did just that! The Getaway List is Riley’s journey of finding out who she is as she navigates the summer after high school graduation amidst college rejection letters. As the title implies there’s a list that must be accomplished, friends-to-lovers with a forced proximity trope, and a supporting cast to boot! I really enjoyed this fun YA romance.

I tried the ebook and the audiobook and just couldn’t connect with the characters. The plot wasn’t enticing enough to hook me, so I chose to DNF at 17%. Thank you to SMP for the digital ARC. This may be one of those YA books that I just can’t relate to as an adult. Even though this one wasn’t a hit for me, I look forward to reading other stories by Emma Lord.

I loved this book! It was such a warm and comforting read. I loved all the characters and the friends-to-lovers aspect. This was so hard to put down, but luckily I had plenty of time to read it over break.

This was about a girl named Riley whose best friend Tom moved away when they were younger. Tom moved to NYC, but they stayed in touch through the years. We start at Riley's graduation and learn that she doesn't know yet what she wants to do in the future, so she decides to visit Tom. They go on adventures and meet new people all while finishing a list they wrote together when they were younger.

All the characters in this book were amazing I loved Mariella, Jesse, and Luca as well as Tom and Riley. They all made this story so much better and their fun banter brought me into the book.

This book is great for anyone who wants a cute coming-of-age story, with a little romance.

Tom and Riley had been best friends for years when his mom moved Tom to New York. Riley felt lost without him. Drifting and often in trouble, Riley's mom pushed her in into activities she had no interest in. She spent high school trying hard to make her mom happy, but in the process she lost herself. Now 18 and recently graduated from high school, Riley is tired of pretending. For the first time, she defies her mom and heads to New York to visit Tom. What was supposed to be a weekend turns into a summer of new friends, new experiences and the discovery of just who she is.

The characters absolutely made this story. They were fun, interesting and engaging. Though they were only 18 and 19, I could identify with their problems, their insecurities, their hopes and dreams. The questions and issues they faced were things we've all dealt with, and maybe we still are. They were each feeling their way through the difficult transition from child to adult. I had great fun joining them on their adventures, experiencing their highs and lows, and even feeling pride in the people they were becoming. This is a fun, inspiring,, uplifting story that will leave feeling like a kid again - and maybe offer ideas to start your own getaway list.

I was introduced to Emma Lord’s writing in You Have. a Match but after this read I want to definitely read more. Great YA story that adults can enjoy alike. Always great character formation that you feel you are watching unfold.

Such a cute YA friends to lovers romance (just to clarify, there are no steamy scenes)! It was fun watching Tom and Riley's relationship develop. This was however an emotional book, which I also appreciated (typical coming of age issues, and both Tom and Riley had issues with their moms during the book). All the characters were well developed, and the side character group of friends were charming.

I enjoyed this sweet YA story about friendship, coming-of-age, and NYC!

I love NYC myself so I was fully immersed in the setting and the dynamic and banter between all the friends in the group was fun. I was glad to see growth in Riley's relationship with her mom. As a big list maker myself, I thought the Getaway List that Riley and Tom made together over years of their friendship was so cute and definitely something I would have done!

What kept this book from being 5 stars for me was that it just felt a little heavy for a good portion of it. Heavier than I expected this genre and author to be. I was hoping for a little more of the fun hijinks around the city than what we got. At times it seemed like there was a lot of "telling" rather than showing about Riley's emotions and internal thought processes rather than much action happening on the page.
All in all, another good story from Emma Lord that I will recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was my second Emma Lord book and it was so cute and wonderful!⁣
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The Getaway List follows Riley who's a bit lost after graduating from high school. She's spent the past few years trying her best to keep her mom satisfied and not getting into any trouble. At this point she doesn't even know what she wants to do anymore and yearns for her older self - who was self assured, fun and confident. She makes an impromptu decision to visit New York for the weekend and meet her bff Tom - who's been a bit distant since he moved away. And as they work on checking things off their bucket list of sorts - 'The Getaway List', a weekend turns into a week and longer. With Tom and their new group of friends, Riley seems to have rediscovered some things that she'd loved before and newer possibilities too. But, as they spend more time together she finds herself falling in love with Tom too and falling for her bff was definitely not on her bucket list😂⁣
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This was such a cute friends to lovers YA story! But that was actually just one part of the book and there's so much more - from a wonderful group of friends to a supportive mother-daughter relationship and a lot of NYC exploration. I loved watching Riley grow and figure things out while giving Tom the space to do the same. They truly brought out the best in each other and I loved how they were so comfortable with each other. I loved their friendship with Jesse, Luca and Mariella too. I think this one had the perfect mix of everything and left me in a good mood! Would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute YA story with a fun cast of characters!⁣
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Thanks to @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the ARC!❣️✨

This cute YA novel follows Riley, who is graduating from high school as the book starts and didn’t get into a single college she applied to. She decides to go visit her best friend from growing up, Tom, who moved to NYC before high school, and ends up deciding to stay for the summer as she creates a little circle of friends and a life in the city - and deals with whether her feelings for Tom are friendship or something more.

I’m old enough that my older kid is actually older than Riley, but I found this to be a sweet and fun read. It was not necessarily super-realistic - since when are there are so many high achieving kids either not going or taking the year off before going to college, nor is it so easy to afford living in NYC! But the city setting was fun, and I totally want to read the fictional time travel fantasy series that Riley and Tom are obsessed with.

For any parents of younger teens wondering if this one is appropriate for their kids, note that it is totally clean with just a tiny bit of kissing. But it might put extremely unrealistic ideas in your kid’s head about how easy it is to skip college and move to NYC. 😂

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

Published: January 23, 2024
Wednesday Booms
Genre: Teen & Young Adult Romantic Comedy
Pages: 314
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.


I love a well-done coming-of-age story, and this was beautifully written. The development and self-discovery the characters go through are fantastic.

We have all had the feelings Riley has, and we have all wanted to do something spontaneous. Most of us don’t, though; we stick it out and do what we “are supposed to” because it’s what is expected.

I loved this. It was light and heavy but left me feeling so refreshed. I loved the dynamic between the characters and how their romance was like a flower blooming.

The way Emma writes her characters is brilliant. She puts so much love and detail into their being, making them radiate off the page.

This book will hit all your feelings but ultimately satisfy the reader—a delightful jump into 2024.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Riley and Tom have been best friends since childhood. But he moved away to New York at the beginning of their high school years, and they haven't managed to see each other since. When she graduates, she spontaneously decides it's time to visit him in New York and start doing all the adventures they missed and added to their "getaway list."

This book made me want to be a young adult in New York and made me wish I had spent more time there when I was. I loved all the locations and the amazing conversations about books and writing. I also really appreciated the nod to the Milkshake Club from When You Get the Chance.

The friends in the city created the most amazing group and found family. I loved all of them and would greatly enjoy more books set with this same group. And I especially loved the inspiring ways in which Riley and Tom tried to spread joy for others.

There are some tough emotional scenes, especially around relationships with parents. Those added great depth for two coming-of-age stories. Riley was a more fully fleshed out character than Tom, but both were fantastic. I greatly enjoyed this novel.

“Does the blue of this graduation gown make my existential terror pop?”
This book was cute, and in true Emma Lord style leaves you craving your favorite comfort foods (specifically brownies and PopTarts this time around)!
The Getaway List follows Riley, who after graduation, realizes she has no idea what to do with her future especially since she also has no idea who she is. She decided to meet up with her best friend Tom who moved to New York two years ago to reconnect with not only him, but herself.
I loved the found family in this book. Throughout the book, we get to know the ragtag cast of characters: our main character Riley, her best friend Tom (who grew up/ glowed up since they last saw each other), Mariella (an aspiring photographer and coder), Jesse (an up-and-coming lead singer), and Luca (a writer with writers block). This book definitely focuses more on the characters rather than plot, but you won’t be disappointed with these five (ESPECIALLY Jesse and Luca who must be protected at all costs!). I also enjoyed Tom’s story and his struggle with loneliness in a city where it seems impossible to be alone.
The main focus of the book is not only Riley, but all of her friends trying to find who they are and what they’re meant to do. Emma Lord said this is her love letter to New York, but honestly, I feel like this one is for every 17/18 year old staring graduation in the face with no idea what to do with their future. Even at 25, I remember that feeling of being lost and searching.
I also loved the setting and reading about Riley and Tom’s adventures around New York.
Unfortunately I did get bored a few times (I’m not always a big fan of books that are more character heavy than plot heavy). Also, some of the conflicts and resolutions felt a bit clunky and confusing.
Overall, this was another great read from Emma Lord and I’m looking forward to her adult debut coming out this summer!

3.5 rounded up to 4

This book was super good!! I had a really great time reading it, and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun ya novel :)

I enjoyed that the romance wasn't the main part of the novel. To me, the book was mostly about family (found and biological) and self discovery, with a romance as a subplot. Each of the characters spent time throughout the novel figuring out what they wanted to do after high school, for most of them being to take a gap year and explore their interests.

I liked how the side characters had actual plot lines instead of just being there for the sake of having more than two characters. Each character was so unique, but the main friend group really worked well together.

I knew I would love this book since it’s from Emma Lord and it didn’t disappoint. I liked that the story starts right after graduation since that’s when most books seem to end. The characters felt realistic and I had an easy time believing in the friendship of Riley and Tom. I also like the group of friends they make and the flow of the story made it easy to read. Definitely a sweet read for anyone looking for some guidance and hope after school ends. The list was a fun read and I’d recommend others check it out.

Emma Lord's newest book, The Getaway List, was not my favorite of her books. Still well written and had the aspects I’ve come to love and expect in an Emma Lord book, but it didn’t grab me in particular as some of the others have. That being said, the writing is still great and the book still features many enjoyable bits. Part coming-of-age story, part friends-to-lovers tale, part found family adventure—this one is another YA hit for Emma Lord. Right after high school graduation, Riley heads to New York to visit her longtime best friend, Tom. He’s been living there for a few years and things just haven’t been the same for either of them since he moved. What begins as a visit turns into finding home, purpose, and love for the recent grads. The Getaway List is the title of the list of activities Riley and her best friend Tom want to do, started a few years before, prior to Tom leaving their small town for NYC. Now that Riley has graduated high school, without getting into any of the schools to which she applied, she is struggling to figure out what comes next. She decides to surprise Tom by showing up in NYC, even though he’s been a bit distant and they haven’t seen each other in the years since he and his mom left town. Once Riley arrives, she and Tom spend time exploring the city - balancing touristy things while also meeting up with a found family of friends. There’s nothing wrong with this—but I honestly did feel like it fell short in the romance department for me. I liked Tom and Riley well enough together, however it didn’t feel like a true romance.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press as well as the author for the opportunity.

I absolutely love Emma lord, but I unfortunately cannot publicly review due to the boycott. I’m sorry Emma!