If you ever find yourself at loose ends, with everything you think is certain shifting, and you're not sure what is going to happen next, you need to read an Emma Lord book. Suddenly you will find yourself full of hopeful possibilities. This one will do nicely! It opens with Riley at her high school graduation, her graduation cap papered with college rejections (all ten of her applications). She's not particularly sad to be leaving high school, which felt choked with all the activities her mom made her participate in, but she has no idea what she's doing next. Except her graduation cap has an inside too--the Getaway List she's made with her long-absent best friend Tom. And pretty soon she's on her way to New York City to check in with Tom and check off the list. It means fighting with her protective mom (whom she's always been very close to), digging into various secrets, and taking risks Riley's not sure she's up for. But the rewards are great.
This might be Lord's gentlest book yet, full of app developments and city explorations and anonymous deliveries of odd objects (sunscreen, a hunk of cheese) and lots of dessert as Riley and her friends figure out who they are and who they want to be and be with. The characters are delightful, and the book captures that shaky but exciting rush of the first brave summer of adulthood. I highly recommend it, whether you are about to take your own first brave steps into adulthood or you're much older and starting over.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc. My opinions are all my own.

Wow! This is the first book that I have read by Emma Lord and I am hooked! I will be going back and reading the rest of her books!

Riley and Tom met at a young age when their moms brought them to a play group. Tom was at the center of the group while Riley was quiet and stay off to the side. He suggested that she read his favorite book series and they have been best of friends ever since. They were always getting into some sort of trouble up until Tom had to move to New York when his mom's career took off. They kept in touch over the years, starting their Getaway (bucket) List but unfortunately things kept coming up and they were unable to tackle their list.

Now they are graduating and Riley hasn't been accepted to any of the colleges so she decides to take a weekend trip to NY to surprise Tom (who has decided to take a gap year himself). She finds out that her mother had been keeping them apart and so she decides to stay the whole summer which is perfect for them to start checking things off their list! They start out together and then it becomes a group effort as they pick up friends (old and new) along the way. Good friends, good food and even a road trip, these young adults have the time of their lives experiencing life in New York!

This book has got to be one of the most well written YA Romances. While I love YA, I often have to remember that the characters are kids (often immature). I didn't have to do that with this book. I absolutely loved all of these characters! I would love to read more books with this group of friends! They have such a great connection, I loved their individual stories included in this book.

Not only is this such a heartwarming story, the cover is just lovely! I can not say enough great things about this book! I highly recommend it!

𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℍ𝕒𝕤:
Best Friends to Lovers
YA Romance
Coming of Age/Self Discovery
NY Setting
Closed Door
Family Drama
Found Family
LGBTQIA rep

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Riley is so ready to graduate high school and do something else. She doesn’t know what, but something. It’s not going to her first choice college, because they turned her down, as did her second choice and all her choices that came after. So she has no real plans for the future. And then she looks in her cap.

Her best friend Tom had moved to New York City from their small Virginia town a couple years back, when his mother had become a successful and popular screenwriter. They had kept in touch, but more importantly, they had kept added to their shared Getaway List through the years. The list was a compilation of things they had wanted to do together, like take a writing class based on their favorite fantasy series or go on the camping trip they’d had to miss sophomore year. Riley had put the list inside her graduation cap, to remind her of all the things she’d wanted to do. She’d kept the list close.

On a whim, Riley decides to take a trip to New York City to see Tom after all the years. She can take a bus and be there in hours, and they could do something from the list that weekend. Her mother isn’t very happy about the idea, and lets it slip that she’d purposefully been keeping Riley busy with extracurricular activities for the last couple of years to keep her distracted from Tom. Riley is hurt and angry, and takes a bus straight to New York.

When Riley and Tom see each other after all that time, their connection is still electric. They pick up where they left off, and though things are left unsaid between them, they start to plan adventures immediately. They are up early the next morning for the writing class, and they go from there, tackling things on the list and getting to know each other again. The weekend turns into longer, and before long, Riley is planning on spending the summer in the city. Its energy is infectious for Riley, awakening her creativity in new and exciting ways.

Almost immediately they find more friends, Riley’s friend Jesse who has just moved to the city with his band, Tom’s friend from Columbia Mariella, and their new friend from the writing class Lucas. As they make their way around the city together, crossing off things from the Getaway List and finding inspiration and enjoyment in everything, Riley and Tom also find the spark they’d both been missing.

The more Riley finds herself falling in love with the city and finding her voice again, the more she worries about telling her mother she wants to stay. But will her mother trust her enough to let her stay in the city that’s lighting her up? And how will she tell Tom what she wants for her future when he’s been so clearly unhappy living in New York? Once they finish up the list, will that be the end of their friendship, or the beginning of their futures?

Masterful storyteller Emma Lord is back with The Getaway List. She has a way of crafting these complex, fascinating characters with full lives and agendas, and these characters draw you into her stories like you’re hearing about your best friends. There is not a minute of boredom or confusion in her words, just a lovely composed novel filled with laughs and frustrations, friends and adventures, and sweet concoctions that make your stomach rumble and your teeth hurt just to read the descriptions.

I adored every page of this The Getaway List. I am a big fan of Lord’s, and this book is just as sumptuous as her other novels. I love her big characters and how they drive her stories, like the vibrant colors of a sunrise. Just try to read a few pages of one of her books, and see if you can walk away from the rest of the story. I know I can’t, and I can’t wait to see where she will be taking me next.

Egalleys for The Getaway List were provided by Wednesday Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Happy pub day to The Getaway List by @dilemmalord, one of my favorite YA authors.

Riley should be celebrating on the day of her high school graduation. But instead, an uncertain future looms. After spending her high school years trying to be the good girl she thought her mother wanted, Riley isn’t sure what to do with her life. Add to that, rejections from all the colleges she applied to, and a weekend in New York with her best friend Tom, who she hasn’t seen in forever, to work on their “Getaway List”—a list of all the adventures they want to do together since he moved away—seems like the perfect tonic. Only her mother doesn’t want Riley to go. Riley defies her mother for the first time in a long time, and a weekend exploring the city turns into a summer of finding out who she really wants to be.

I loved this book so much. The NYC setting was idyllic, and Tom was the kind of best friend I would have killed to have as a teen (and honestly, I’d take an older version now). I loved the relationship between Riley and her mother, and I really respected the journey Riley took in the book. I think a lot of teens who don’t know exactly what they want to do with their lives will find comfort in a story like this one. The romance in this book was so sweet. It was a slow, but sure, burn. I think Emma Lord writes some of the very best love interests in the YA market and The Getaway List is no exception. There are also a lot of great side characters and I found myself routing for all of them.

I definitely loved the audiobook. I don’t think I’d heard the narrator, Norma Butikofer, before, but she did a fantastic job immersing me in Riley’s journey.

I would recommend this one to any lovers of YA romance or coming of age stories.

This was a book that had some deceivingly deep stories interwoven with a little bit of "summer after high school" romance thrown into it.

I have always enjoyed Emma Lord's work, so this was a no brainer for me. I knew that in the end I would have absolutely loved it, and I did.

3.5 stars.

A very sweet and fun read, the friend group is the best! They dynamics between everyone is really fun and the support of each other is perfect. It did slow down a little in the middle but overall a great coming of age, finding romance and finding yourself story.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Lord is a master when it comes to young adult rom-coms. This book was full of sweetness, love, and friendship. I loved it so much.

The Getaway List - Emma Lord

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plenty of the same charm, wit, and snark of Emma Lord’s other YA books, but I especially liked the plot of this one.

After graduating high school without getting into any of the colleges she applied to, Riley decided to head to NYC to reunite with her long lost best friend, Tom, and work on their “Getaway List” which is a sort of bucket list they made in their early teen years. They haven’t seen each other for a few years and a lot has changed, but their adventures over the summer help them learn about themselves and what they really want in this cute coming-of-age romance.

There are also some fun callbacks to things from Emma Lord’s other books (like The Milkshake Club- which sounds like a dream!) as well as a ton of love for the magic of New York.

This book is out this today! Be sure to add it to your TBR!

Thank you to @netgalley, @wednesdaybooks, and @dilemmalord for the early read!

“It turns out I am not a royal burdened with ancient power or a knight infiltrating a distant realm with a dark secret, but just Riley. Powerless and ordinary and unsure of myself.”
Riley Larson has a record of mischief and is uncertain what her next steps will be after graduation. She was rejected from all the colleges she applied to and has been lost since her best friend Tom moved to Manhattan after freshman year. Before the move, the duo started building The Getaway List—a checklist of made-up adventures—to accomplish once reunited and make up for lost time. Riley’s first decision after the rejections is to visit Tom in New York, much to her mom’s disapproval. The pair tackles the list, everything from taking an immersive writing workshop to seeing a favorite band play live, forging a new group of friends along the way. Riley feels alive for the first time, but her mom urges her to return home to avoid repeating her past mistakes, leaving Riley to question what her future should look like and who should be a part of it.

Emma Lord has always been one of my favorite authors; however, her latest novel felt repetitive. Riley, in particular, reminded me of Lord’s past heroines: young, passionate women are looking to prove themselves and do not let anyone stand in their way. While I love a strong female lead, all of Lord’s heroines approach their self-growth journey in the same manner. They always experience fear about what they will do in the future, renounce the wisdom of their singular, present guardian, do something “reckless” or out of their ordinary life in an attempt to find themselves, and, in the end, fall for their best friend only for everything to be tied up a little too neatly by the last page. I would like to see Lord step out of this blueprint and experiment with flawed characters who are not perfect goody two-shoes or explore a love interest who makes mistakes. Currently, everything in the Lord universe is just a little too flawless and unrealistic. Nonetheless, I did appreciate the more mature themes Lord explored in The Getaway List, particularly the conflicts that arise when a child leaves the nest and how parents can become blinded by the fear their kid could repeat their past mistakes. Riley’s newfound independence in New York helps her to discover herself, and I loved watching her transformation into a writer as a writer myself. If you are looking for a familiar narrative, The Getaway List offers readers a repetitive but safe story.

*slow clap for this wickedly adorable book*

Stories about friendship groups? Just slap me in the face with sparkles of happiness & cheer! Emma Lord really did that with "The Getaway List" and I am still living rent free in the pages. *happy sigh*

Thank you Wednesday Books and Talking to My Books for the advanced reader copy of Emma's latest young adult beauty.

This books message can hit just as hard for a 30 year old...yup, I said it. "The Getaway List" fell into my life at the right time. Riley experiences a big transition in her life following high school graduation in the hopes that it will lead her to figure out her deep inner self. I found comfort in this book experiencing a big change myself. I really appreciated the entire plot of this book. I loved that Riley decided to take the leap to move to New York City.

Change is hard at any age.

I found it incredibly bold of Riley to drop everything to find herself. It's really inspiring and comforting reading a plot where a big transition ends up in a positive & happy place.

Seriously, there is a lot to swoon about from these beautiful pages that Lord wrote. Between the Big Apple adventures to the decadent deserts littered throughout the prose I never wanted the book to end. My favorite part had to be the friend group. I want to be officially adopted into this pack of pals immediately. I could get used to checking off fun adventures from a getaway list and building fun apps or write short stories with my nerdy buds for the rest of my life. Truly, it sounded like the most fun any semi-adult person could have in their year following graduation.

Oh...don't even get me started with how incredible sweet beau Tom is. EEEE! Love his sweet lil soul! I just wanna pinch his face cheeks forever. Tehehe!!!

Here's to all of us channeling the unmitigated chaos that Riley & Tom had into our 2024!!!

- NYC Whimsy
- Bucket Lists
- Friends to Lovers
- Living Your Fullest List
- Value of Friendship
- Mom & Daughter
- Summer Vibes
- SWIFTIES!!!

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this book but everything has been a nice surprise so far. This felt like a YA rather than a romance novel. I honestly don’t know the specific genre but it doesn’t matter because I enjoyed reading it. I loved Tom and Riley’s friendship. In fact, I envy it. Even though it was a little rocky when Tom moved to New York. Not only that, their friendships with Mariella, Luca, and Jesse were heartwarming as well. Do you have any idea how hard it is to make new friends after high school? Very. But Riley did it so seamlessly. This book was a nice, heartwarming read. I wished there was more of Tom and Riley’s relationship after they admitted they were in love with each other.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Not me over here drying my tears and feeling like I just finished a therapy session about things I couldn't comprehend or understand in my early 20s.

The Getaway List captures the awkward stage for many of us where we feel old enough to make our own decisions, want to be independent, and feel as though we should know what we want to do with the rest of our life....when really we don't even know who we are. It beautifully navigates changes in not only friendships, but also in a familial bonds that often adapt and change with time. I adored the way young love and new relationships developed and it made me nostalgic for my early 20s.

I really wish this book would have existed for me then, but the reflection it gave me and insight into things I didn't understand then really hit home.

After Riley’s high school graduation, she decides to stop being the obedient daughter her mother expects, and move to New York City for the summer to see her friend, Tom. They plan to finally finish their “Getaway List”—a list of all the things they wanted to do together since he moved away. Riley embarks on an adventure through the city with Tom and her other newfound friends, finding herself in the process.

Emma Lord consistently delivers wholesome young adult books that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to my middle school students, but are enjoyed just as much by older teens and adults. This feel-good story combines friendship and coming-of-age on the cusp of adulthood as the group tackles this “getaway list” bucket list of sorts on adventures throughout New York City. The novel paints a beautiful picture of NYC, embracing the setting almost as another character in the story. I’d definitely recommend this YA book to teens and adults alike.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy + e-ARC!

4.5 stars
What to expect:
*friends to lovers
*coming of age
*found family
*strained relationships
*single moms with teenagers

What I loved:
The character arcs for both Tom and Riley, seeing how they were both struggling on their own and they didn’t turn to each other to fix it. But they were both there to support one another through it.

I’m a sucker for a good ‘let’s complete this list’ trope and watching all the adventures ensue. I love how it brought this group of friends together.

It was inspiring to read her fervor of being young and figuring everything out. To hear her describe what writing felt to her, it was weirdly electrifying.

What was missing:
Honestly just a dual POV 😂 I loved Tom and I would have liked to get in his head more although I recognize it wasn’t that type of story. Maybe just a couple of chapters to understand his world and struggles more? I loved the whole group of characters but I think there was a little bit lacking, like I wanted more of all of them. But I’m also not sure how that would have happened without muddying Riley’s story too much.

Overall, this was such a fun read. It felt like a love note to New York and to finding your own place in life. Recommend for fans of other Emma Lord books and Morgan Matson.

All of Emma Lord's YA books are exceedingly charming and The Getaway List is no exception. It is filled to the brim with all of the things I have come to expect in Lord's books: an adorable found family of misfits, hijinks, deliciously described desserts and the type of issues that kids on the precipice of deciding their futures have to deal with. I so appreciated how Riley doesn't have it all figured out yet and so much of her journey in this book is finding out who she is and finding a place for herself. This book really felt like Lord's love letter to NYC and ultimately finding a place where you feel like you can spread your wings. I loved Riley's friendships in this book and most importantly her friends to potentially more with Tom which unfurled slowly and lovely.

The Getaway List was a very cute conceit and it was entertaining to follow this group of kids around the city as they completed the things on the list. It ultimately kept the book going and the pacing never dragged, but I'm not sure that it leant the book as much meat as I might have liked. It felt like the book was stringing along the concept a little too much and I would have liked a little more maybe conflict or something. As a character study though, I so appreciated Lord really going there with mom issues and not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the past while also letting kids make their own mistakes and figure out where they belong by themselves.

Lord is a most read for me and even her YA books that aren't my favorite are still so enjoyable and I always find something to love.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for giving me an opportunity to read an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE THE TAYLOR SWIFT REFERENCES!!! It was a good older YA story - light and cute, coming of age. The only criticism is that it was a bit cheesy.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

The Getaway List is a Young Adult romance featuring 18 year old Riley spending the summer in New York City.

This is a sweet coming of age story. Riley is 18 and just graduating high school. She goes to NYC to spend the summer with her best friend Tom, who she hasn't seen in 3 years. They are both trying to decide what they want to do with their lives. With a group of friends they travel around the city checking off items from the "getaway list" (a list of adventures that they created when they were 15).

This book is about friendships, each of their relationships with their moms, a fun delivery app that they work for, and of course the list.

The setting was incredible. I love NYC as a setting. The friendships were amazing. I really liked Mariella, Tom, Luca and Jesse. The getaway list was super fun. And the delivery app, where people send gifts anonymously was definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. There is also romance and some surprising developments, which made this such an enjoyable read.

The last third was good. However I thought that the epilogue dragged a bit. But overall definitely a fun YA read!

Such a great coming of age book that showed the importance of friendships and navigating complicated relationships with parents. I love the New York setting, the adventures they had thanks to The getaway list and the book that started it all. Riley and Tom are more than best friends and facing those feelings while figuring out life is tough. I love Riley and Tom and how well they fit together and know each other. I also love Mariella, Luca and Jesse. The group dynamic is supportive and loving and everyone should have people like that in their lives.

This is such a sweet story ~ part coming of age, part romance, part love letter to New York... it was filled with fun, family relationships, and found family. I loved the journey through the relationships, the places in the NYC setting, and how everyone worked their way on their own paths. I look forward to the author's next book! Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the advance digital copy.

Thanks so much to St Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books,and NetGalley for the ARC.

THE GETAWAY LIST is another charming book by Emma Lord. She’s a fave for me in the YA department and an auto buy author. I have been so fortunate to read her last few books early and I always adore her characters and the realness they bring to growing up and coming of age. This one specifically highlighted parental relationships at the pivotal time of graduating high school. The New York setting was like a love letter to the city and I liked seeing Riley figure things out. The overall story was much less a love story and more about her finding herself and navigating her relationship with her mom, with some romance sprinkled in. I liked it!