I love the premise of this book, but I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion, it could have been way more shorter!

Two friends, one list. Riley and Tom haven’t seen each other since Freshman year in HS but this is about to change after Riley makes the decision to visit Tom for the weekend at his home in NYC. They decided to start crossing out as much as they can from “The Getaway List” that they created during all those years that couldn’t see each other in person. What starts as a weekend, ends as to be a summer where Riley, Tom and their friends discover who they really are.

This is a cute book of transitioning from a teenager into an adult. It is about discovering and finding that friends can be your family and your emotional support. It is about love and friendship.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

LOVE!! Okay, truthfully I wasn’t sold on the book at first, but halfway through it clicked for me and I fell in love with the characters, their adventures, their friendships, their new loves. It’s an emotional book and so delightful and I shouldn’t have doubted Emma Lord cause her books are amazing.

Emma Lord truly knows how to tell a story that is heartfelt and shares a positive message. Ryle and her friends explore New York City as they learn on how to find what the true meaning of being at home. Home is not always a location, but a feeling or belief inside oneself. I will be purchasing this title for my students.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy

Emma Lord continues to write fiction about coming of age teenagers with the best banter. Riley leaves home in somewhat "unmitigated chaos" while unexpectedly on the outs with her mom, seeking to be known. Tom is dealing with his own struggles that he's mostly kept hidden, but he picks right up with Riley. Riley and Tom revisit their Getaway List that is full of adventures where they were supposed to reconnect after Tom moved away but some conflict came up to prevent their reunion. They form a new friend group from past friends and new friends and face their current struggles and futures together.

Riley and Tom are entirely relatable even for someone like myself who is so different from Riley's character when I was 18.

It's a relief to read about the promise of teenagers and coming into adulthood through a world full of possibilities rather than drudgery and bureaucracy.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC copy.

I just love Emma Lord’s writing! This was another great book from her that discusses growing up, growing wings, and also growing roots, along with the importance of the people in your corner. She has important themes through her books that just make my heart warm. Riley and Tom were goals in this book and what a cast of secondary characters! I love a good found family story and this was top notch. If you like YA rom coms, you absolutely need to check this out!

When she graduates high school, Riley feels a bit lost. She’s spent the last few years trying to be the perfect daughter and stay out of trouble for her mom, but she has no idea who she really is or what she wants out of life. So she decides to take a spur of the moment trip to visit her best friend Tom, who she hasn’t seen in years. When she arrives, the two decide to complete the items on their Getaway List, a list of all the adventures they want to do together since Tom moved away. As they go through the adventures on their list, they make new friends, they begin to find themselves, and they reconnect with each other, maybe even developing feelings for each other along the way.

I have loved all of Emma Lord’s books, but this might just be my favorite. This is a love letter to NYC and a beautiful story about friendship and finding your own way. I loved Emma’s journey in particular. Seeing her come into her own and fall in love with NYC was so fun. She and Tom were so cute together and I loved how the friends to lovers trope played out. This book was just so sweet!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the advance copies.

Overall, I thought this book was cute. The characters were likable, and I liked reading about the main character’s journey to finding her true self and what makes her happy. I loved that parts of it took place in NYC. Living close to the city, I was able to make a lot of connections to the setting. I did think the story was a little slow at times, but if you’re looking for a quick, easy read this is a great choice!

During a summer in New York City Riley finds herself, friends new and old, and romance. This was a cute ya romcom that shows the importance of finding your people and rediscovering who you are. Riley and Tom’s friend to lovers arc was well done, you could tell that they were meant for each other even after not seeing each other for years. I also loved the friend group that was formed over the course of the book, with each of them trying to find their own place in this city after high school. But I think my favorite relationship in this book was Riley’s relationship with herself. At the start of the book we see her graduate high school unsure of her future and not happy. By the end, her future might still be unsure but she’s found what makes her happy again, she found a place and people that make her happy, she found herself.

Overall, this was a good ya romcom full of love in all forms!

THE GETAWAY LIST was pretty middle-of-the-road for me. It was a cute coming of age-story, about Riley trying to figure out who she is by going to visit her friend Tom in New York after she graduates High School. While that is oversimplifying you get point. It took me a while to start enjoying the plot. I think I just was having a hard time believing that Riley was a troublemaker and that Tom was an instigator. As you get to know the characters you realize they are really good kids. So, that plot point r felt shaky to me. Once I decided I going to ignore that "fact" about them I was able to enjoy the book more.

"The Getaway List" by Emma Lord is a charming and heartwarming coming-of-age story that explores the complexities of self-discovery, friendship, and the unexpected twists that life brings. Set against the backdrop of New York City, Lord weaves a tale that resonates with authenticity and leaves a lasting imprint on the reader's heart.

Riley, the protagonist, faces a crossroads on the day of her high school graduation, realizing that she has lost touch with her true self while trying to be the ideal daughter. Fueled by a desire for adventure and a quest to rediscover her authentic self, she embarks on a summer journey to New York. The connection with her childhood best friend, Tom, and their shared project, The Getaway List, becomes the catalyst for Riley's transformative journey.

Lord's storytelling is infused with a delightful blend of romance and cheer, creating a narrative that captivates readers from the very beginning. The effortless reconnection between Riley and Tom, despite the challenges they face, is portrayed with a sense of nostalgia and authenticity. The unexpected complication adds layers to the storyline, keeping readers engaged and emotionally invested in the characters' journey.

The concept of The Getaway List, a compilation of adventurous activities, serves as a creative backdrop for the characters' experiences and personal growth. As Riley and Tom, along with their newfound friends, navigate the chaotic yet delightful items on the list, the novel unfolds as a celebration of friendship, love, and the joy of embracing life's unexpected moments.

Emma Lord's writing style is both engaging and uplifting, making "The Getaway List" a perfect escape for readers seeking a heartwarming and romantic experience. The novel seamlessly combines the exploration of self-identity with the magic of friendship and love. Lord's signature cheer shines through, leaving a positive and lasting impression on those who delve into Riley's journey.

In "The Getaway List," Emma Lord delivers an enchanting and uplifting read that settles into the reader's heart and lingers long after the final page. This inescapably romantic novel is a testament to Lord's ability to craft stories that resonate with emotion, making it a must-read for those who appreciate tales of self-discovery, friendship, and the transformative power of love.

In solidarity with the SMP Boycott I will be withholding my review for this title (which I was given prior to the boycott) until SMP acts on the following:

1. Address and denounce the Islamophobic and racist remarks from their employee.
2. Offer tangible steps for how they are going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
3. Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian influencers, authors and readers, in addition to supporting their BIPOC influencers, authors, and readers.

This is not a reflection of the author personally, nor is it a call to boycott buying this particular book. And this star rating (4.5) is a reflection of how much I enjoyed the book.

I am a big fan of Emma Lord and this book was no exception! I loved Riley's New York adventure and all the people she met along the way.

Riley and Tom are one of those couples that you can't help rooting for. I loved that at the beginning of their story Tom helps Riley out of her shell and later she returns the favor. Their inside jokes are beyond adorable and you can't help rooting for them.

One thing that I loved about this book is that I would have happily read a book about any of the side characters as well. While I love reading interconnected standalones where the side characters get their own book, I also love getting to see Riley's friends figure their lives out alongside her.

I particularly connected to Tom's story as I also struggled with fitting in after I moved as a teen. It is easy to blame a city for a bad experience with a person or group of people. In my case, I was going to run away to New York but I also fell in love and was back in the original city within a year and happy to be there.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who likes a YA romance. This one would be suitable for both teens and adults. I think it captures the transition from high school and college and what that feels like particularly well. If you are a big Sarah Dessen fan (like I am) this book will be for you!

🌶️ - This book contains a few kisses.

This started off very slowly for me but I'm glad I stuck with it. It's a sweet charming story with fun characters who are all distinct and memorable. The romance is very slow burn and this is more about discovering your place in the world rather than falling in love. I appreciated the relationships Riley built with each character and the NYC setting was like a character in itself. I'd recommend this to younger YA audiences who want a feel-good story.

Emma Lord is a must read YA author for me! The Getaway List is a great addition to her growing list of novels. The Getaway List follows Riley who upon high school graduation feels stifled by her mom and the reality that she did not get into any colleges. The only time she feels free and alive is with her best friend Tom who she hasn't seen in 3 years since he moved to New York City with his mom. As kids, Tom and Riley were inseparable, but since his move their have been many missed connections, canceled visits and few texts. Riley decides at graduation that she will go to New York to spend the weekend with Tom to complete their getaway list which includes all the fun things they planned to do on those cancelled trips. When Riley arrives in NYC it is like nothing has changed and everything has changed with Tom, their relationship and herself.

This was a good coming of age story about that scary transition from high school to whatever comes after. I really enjoyed the romance in this story. It was perfect for YA. I enjoyed Tom and Riley's friendship as well as the side characters that become part of their group. My biggest complaint was the portrayal in the beginning that Riley and Tom were troublemakers. I just didn't see that in either of them and so the explanation for Riley's moms concerns fell flat for me, even if she was a helicopter parent. I also wish we got more closure with Tom and his mom. Overall, this was a cute and fun read about love and found family read.

i love a ya romance and this had all the elements to make a fun one! best friends reuniting on a summer of mischief in new york city? sign me up! i loved all the side characters that lord created to build their crew because they made the story come to life. it definitely was a little preachy for me at points, spending longer chunks about self discovery than i think was needed and i would have loved more of young tom and riley, but overall a fun and sweet story!

I really really enjoyed this read. This definitely tugged a string from when I was this young. And how the city makes you feel, the possibilities, the freedom, I could relate.

Riley is feeling stuck at her high school graduation because she has no plans for the fall. After talking with her long-distance best friend, she decides that she should visit to complete a list they made at the beginning of high school.

I thought this story was really well written and I think there are themes that teenagers (and new adults) will connect with. I really enjoy all of Lord's books, but this one felt "older" to me compared to her others. There was a lot of soul bearing, which definitely happens, but it felt a little off. I would still recommend this to my older students as I do think that would enjoy it!

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this early via Netgalley!

I used to be the self proclaimed queen of YA, but here I am giving this novel 2 stars. I'm so sad, and I think I'm going to have to stop reading YA except for a few very, very special to me authors. Because man, this book just didn't land well with me.

I think the main reason this was so awful for me was that I could not get over the all together brattiness of the main character. This is why I think I'm done with YA. She was immature, entitled, and overall frustrating to read.

That said, I do like how Emma Lord composes stories - the adventure style writing so fun. I think I just need to stick to her adult novels from here on out!

The Getaway List is another delightful, heartfelt YA romance with endearing characters lovingly crafted by Emma Lord.

Tropes:
-Childhood Friends-to-Lovers
-Found Family
-Fresh Start

Plot at a glance: High school graduation makes Riley realize she no longer knows who she is or what she wants in life. She spent the past four years trying to be a Good Kid for her mom, that she’s forgotten what it feels like to make decisions for herself. Desperate for a change, Riley packs her bags and heads to New York to tackle The Getaway List with her childhood best friend Tom. The list is a compilation of all the adventures they’d dreamed of doing since Tom moved away years ago. Riley hopes that each adventure she crosses off the list will bring her closer to discovering what she wants to do next, but she gets much more than that.

Review: I don't even like the friends-to-lovers trope, but I absolutely adored The Getaway List. Emma Lord has an amazing gift for crafting realistic and charming characters that you want to spend as much time with as possible. It was a joy to watch Riley and Tom discover their feelings for each other. As with all Emma Lord books, there's an eclectic group of loveable friends who help Riley and Tom work through The Getaway List and get closer to discovering what they want out of life. I had a smile on my face every time the friend group got together.

Emma Lord also wove in compelling family issues for both Riley and Tom. She took great care to explore the different issues they had with their mom's - Riley's mom let her own past negatively impact Riley's ability to take chances and trust herself throughout high school, while Tom's mom's hands-off parenting caused him to shut down in New York and lead a sheltered life.

I cannot recommend Emma Lord's writing enough! I'm incredibly excited to see what she does with her adult debut in summer 2024.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) for the chance to read this digital ARC.

I received an e-galley of The Getaway List by Emma Lord from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked:
- the concept of the Getaway List that Riley and Tom put together as a list of all the adventures that they wanted to go on since he moved away
- the best friendship between Riley and Tom; and the subsequent found family that they create in New York together
- the friends to lovers trope, because I love young love based on a foundation of friendship
- the excitement that is New York City which Emma Lord seems to capture in this story

What I didn't like:
- the best friendship between Riley and Tom; I liked it but also didn't because of the way in which they became distant and I'm not sure if I believed that they truly resolved what went wrong

Generally I enjoyed this book. It was cute, fun, and filled with a cast of young teenagers in New York City as they navigated through friendship, love, and family.