I've been reading Emma Lord for years now, and I love seeing how her writing has matured. Tweet Cute was sweet, dessert filled, mud slinging YA, but The Getaway List is a solid coming of age book about self-discovery (but with the same New York backdrop and witty banter). I liked being taken along on the magical ride that Riley and Tom took through New York trying to complete their Getaway List. It was escapist in a way - a reminder of what it was like to be young and free with all the possibilities ahead of you (aka before bills & mortgages and un-fun adult stuff).

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
❣️ Childhood friends to more
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Loveable side characters
🤍 Found family
🏙 New York
🎼 Lots of Swiftie moments

Overall, this book was such a lovely boost of serotonin and made me reminiscent of my post-high school summer. A quick, sweet read for YA readers and adults alike.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Emma Lord and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Riley is a recent high school grad who was denied from every college. She's also tired of being the good girl her mom wants her to be. With all of this, Riley packs her bags and heads to NYC to be with her childhood BFF Tom. Back together, they both hope to complete the Getaway List they created after Tom moved away. Once in NYC and with Tom, things don't take off as easily as they did when they were children. Something else that is different is Riley's feelings for Tom. Will Riley be able to profess her feelings for Tom? Will they be able to finish their Getaway List?

Emma Lord is the queen of cute and fun YA novels. A book about friendship, adventure, finding yourself, and doing what's in your heart. The characters in this book felt very genuine and were loveable!

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

I just absolutely love anything @dilemmalord writes. The Getaway List is possibly my favorite. Nothing says coming of age, like leaving home at 18 right after graduation and moving to NYC. This story covers first loves, changing of parent/child relationships, found family, and new beginnings. The side characters are also top notch! But most of all, I love the friendship and support between Riley and Tom as they find their ways into adulthood.

5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio

Typically, Lord's books absolutely blow me away. I would even consider labeling her my favorite YA author. So far, I haven't had a single one let me down... until now.

The Getaway List held a lot of promise for me since friends-to-lovers is my absolute favorite trope. However, it just felt like one incredibly drawn-out miscommunication--or really, refusal to communicate. This was both a strong part of the romance as well as the relationship between Riley and her mom. If any character in the story had chosen to actually talk about what they were feeling or thinking, without being defensive or stubborn, the book would've been 20 pages long.

It completely broke my heart that I didn't enjoy this one. There were some cute moments between Riley and Tom, but not enough for me to say that I actually loved (or really even liked) the story. It was okay, but it wasn't something I would pick up again (or even purchase for myself).

3.75 stars rounded up!

Okay, cuteness! Set in NYC, The Getaway List is an adorable YA romance/coming-of-age story filled with sweet moments, funny dialogue, and a cast of characters you won’t be able to help but adore 🥹

I haven’t had the best luck with YA books, but I have to say that this one was a surprise— The dialogue was well-written and believable, and even with their funny quirks, each character in Riley & Tom’s friend group had depth, displaying feelings and dreams that my teen self would’ve related to.

Overall, I think this book was absolutely adorable & I’m looking forward to reading Emma Lord’s other books!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Even though I am probably not the demographic for this book, I couldn't stop listening/reading it! I loved the idea of the getaway list, and the conflict between Riley and her mom was heartbreaking and very real.





I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Maybe this book was totally unrealistic, but it was totally cute. A coming-of-age story full of personal realizations, family drama, friendships new and old, budding romance, and New York City. I think everyone dreams of having a group of friends like the characters in this story, who support you no matter what when no one else does, with whom it is ok to make mistakes, who will forgive when an apology is made. I loved every single one of them!

The Getaway List is the sweetest book I've read in a long time! I'm OBSESSED with Tom. He made me so emotional in all of the things he did. The whole plot was just so heartwarming and this book has the best friend group probably ever. I love them all so much! I don't know Emma Lord but the way she's written this book and specifically the character of Riley feels like she's put a part of her into it and I love that!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank You Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is classified as YA, but the romance and slow burn is exactly on brand for an adult book without all the smut. At the end of the story I felt like this book was made for cinema. One of those classic movies where the love story is written in the stars.

The found family portion is enjoyable with a bunch of misfits eighteen-year-olds. They demonstrate a lot of maturity in many areas. First moving and exploring New York City and emotionally supporting each other’s dreams and goals.

The “will they/won’t they” portion of the story is what drew this reader in. At certain points it felt like Riley and Tom are better off as friends. But the author throws little nuggets of romance in there that captures the reader’s interest.

Most of the story revolves around the miscommunication trope. All the characters are withholding parts of themselves that cause problems for the other characters.

Kudos to the author for writing a cute romance perfect for YA and adults alike!

This fell short for me, which made me sad. I love Emma Lord and still have immense respect for her fun sense of humor and love for all things NYC, but this was just meh. The plot was simultaneously too long, but also felt rushed? The characters were likeable but felt one dimensional. Lots of potential, but struggled with the execution.

This was my second Emma Lord and certainly won’t be my last. Here are some things I loved about this sweet coming of age story:

💡Self discovery: This is first and foremost a book about figuring out who you are what you want. I loved watching not only Riley but all the characters on their journeys.
👯‍♀️ Friend group: I love the group of friends and their support for each other and how they call each other out on their BS. No one is perfect but they’re all trying and in it together.
🗽 NYC: This is a love letter to NYC in the most wonderful way. I want to go and follow a Getaway List!
💕 Romance: While friends to lovers is not my favorite romance trope, it worked well here and I was rooting for them to be together.

There were a few things that irked me, including the storylines with their moms (just felt odd) and how overly mature they are for 18 years old and having freedom for the first time (felt unrealistic), but overall I definitely recommend this one.

I used to really like Emma Lord’s writing. But every book seems the same. The writing is super young and the story is so predictable. I keep saying I am not going to read anything else by her but for some reason I keep reading books by her. This book was pretty predictable and boring.

The vibes with this book were absolutely immaculate! The whole premise was so fun and I really enjoyed our main characters Riley and Tom,

Emma Lord truly kills it at the YA game and I need to keep working through her backlist after how much I enjoyed this!

A very cute read for the YA crowd! My past self would have eaten this up in one class period. I haven’t read Emma Lord before but I’ll definitely check out her other titles.

Thank you to Emma Lord, NG, and Wednesday Books for an ARC on The Getaway List!

This was a super cute coming-of-age story with a bit of romance and adventure in NYC. Riley's journey to find herself after high school while making new friends and solidifying old relationships was sweet and wholesome. I'm always a fan of friends to lovers (though in this case, make it "friends to relationship" because it's YA) so Riley and Tom having been friends for a decade that have seen each other grow was very sweet.

I really would have enjoyed if Riley had an ADHD diagnosis! A lot of her behaviors seemed to be hinting at ADHD, and I am never mad about more neurodivergent representation in books, especially YA. As it was, her behavior read sometimes as immature, whereas an outspoken diagnosis would have really explained things.

Definitely give this book a try if you're a fan of YA, young love, self-discovery, and big-city adventures!

The Getaway List by Emma Lord is a coming-of-age YA romance that follows Riley the summer after her high school graduation. Riley has always been a ‘good kid’ but after not getting into any of the 10 colleges she applied to, she finds herself a little lost with who it is she is. Deciding to spend the summer visiting her best friend, Tom, in New York and working through their ‘getaway list,’ but soon they find that their feelings for each other may be a little more than platonic.

I LOVED this. Filled with pop culture recs this was such a sweet and relatable coming-of-age novel about two characters rediscovering themselves. That transitionary period after high school is such an emotional turmoil for so many. I loved seeing Riley and Tom's budding relationship grow, but moreover, I loved seeing them find themselves and work on their relationship with their parents.

The writing is funny, heartwarming and engaging. I had a physical and audio arc and I binged it in one night on audio - the narrator was incredible.

Such a perfect read for teens, definitely recommend it.

This story was sweet and inspirational. It’s more than just a love story but also reveals what it’s like to be a newly graduated teenager. New adults trying to figure out what the world has to offer and making lasting friendships along the way.

I loved how the bond between the two main characters Tom and Riley remained true and never faltered throughout all the changes in their lives. Having a best friend who truly understands you and shows up for you is a rare gift in life. The best part about their bond is how they spread joy and laughter to their friend group.

Tom and Riley’s story can teach a valuable lesson to young adults trying to navigate this big scary world of adulthood. Growing up is scary at first but it can also be a thrilling adventure. It’s okay to not have a plan or know what you want to be because there is time to make mistakes or just have fun while figuring it all out.

Love Always, Catherine

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord, 314 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2024. $20.
Language: R (137 swears, 48 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
High school has been just okay with Riley’s best friend, Tom, having moved to New York City shortly before they would have started together. They made big plans for meeting up during breaks, but something always came up, so they added the activities to their “getaway list.” Now having both graduated, Riley is going to New York to do all the things on their list—but four years apart have changed things, and it seems like everyone has a secret.
Riley has inspired me to want to go on some mini adventures—too bad my town doesn’t have the same kind of opportunities as readily available as fictionalized New York. Nevertheless, I think it’s important to go out and do fun things with other people because you want to figure out who you are—no matter your age. The characters, their adventures, and little mysteries along the way are written in a dynamic way that made the book itself feel like it had personality. I enjoyed my time spent reading it.
Riley and Tom are depicted as White on the cover. Mariella is Puerto Rican. Jesse is part of the LGBTQIA community. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, innuendo, and for mentions of drugs, illegal activity, and sex.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Emma Lord is one of my favorite YA authors, her books are consistently funny and feel good!

This book has characters that have just graduated HS, and the books spans that summer that comes right after.

With themes of found family, second chances with friends, finding yourself and realizing the space you need to find yourself. This all takes place with NYC as the backdrop and I couldn’t help but fall in love with it.

This coming of age book, with light themes of romance, will have you cheering for every single character, especially Riley and Tom.

This was truly the perfect book to read while on a trip to NYC! It's certainly a love letter to the city and also a love letter to finding yourself. Riley graduates high school and wants to reconnect with her best friend who moved to NYC a few years prior. As she's getting ready to leave her hometown, she realizes while talking to her mom that her mom has been purposely filling Riley's schedule with activities to keep her away from Tom. As Riley defiantly leaves for NYC and experiences the wonder of the city, she starts to figure out who she is and what she wants. And one of those things she wants may be Tom...

As much as this is a YA romance between Riley and Tom, this really is a story of found family - which is just catnip to me. I loved every single friend and what they brought to the group. It's also a story of self discovery for both Riley and Tom. I think this worked really well as a single POV story, which I don't always say!

And of course I'd be remiss to talk about this book without mentioning all the incredible Taylor Swift references - I particularly loved Jesse's obsession with Taylor's discography because...same!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.