3.75 out of 5 stars.

The Getaway List is about two best friends Riley and Tom who were separated at the start of high school due to circumstances beyond their control. Riley, who received no college acceptance letters, is okay with this and spontaneously books a bus ticket to New York to visit Tom who she has not seen in three years. When they were freshmen, they wrote a bucket list, The Getaway List. They are on a mission to complete the list during this summer, this last summer before whatever comes after high school.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I feel like this book perfectly captured how exciting and nerve wracking it is to finish high school and not know what you're doing next. The spontaneity and excitement from Riley to complete this Getaway List really enhanced this story that is truly about best friends and gaining new ones. I appreciated how the friendships were portrayed in this book. Everyone was so supportive of each other and they were all positive and healthy connections. I definitely identify with Tom and the "mom friend" tendencies.

Reading this book made me want to take a train to New York for the weekend and just get up to random shenanigans along the way.

This is my first Emma Lord book and it will definitely not be my last!


Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a cute book! There were times where it felt a little too young for my liking, but overall I did enjoy it! It was a such a cute story about romance, friendship, and finding yourself. I loved the whole group of friends and their quick forming bonds. The mother-daughter relationship was so heartwarming too. A cute, fun YA romance!

This book was so much fun. It's the biggest love letter to NYC and an absolute blast to follow this friend group around the city for their shenanigans. I loved that their bucket list was based on their favorite book.

Coming-of-age stories can be very hit or miss for me, but this one was very much a hit. I loved that Riley wasn't afraid to make hard choices in order to stand up for herself. She grows a lot throughout the book, and it was heartwarming to see how all of her choices came to pass.

I adored Riley and Tom's friends-to-lovers arc. The slow burn gives the reader time to fall in love with them as friends before they started acting on their feelings for each other. The side characters in this story also add some top-notch entertainment!

Emma Lord is certainly an auto-buy author, and I was thrilled to get a chance to listen to an early copy of this book. Her writing brings me so much joy, and the narrator's performance made it even better! I don't believe I've listened to anything by Norma Butikofer before, but she played the part of Riley perfectly.

I already can't wait for Emma's next book!

Friendship and second chances are at the heart of this coming of age romance. YA romance is hit or miss for me, but this one was definitely a hit. I not only loved Tom and Riley, the couple at the heart of this one, I also loved their friends Jesse, Mariella and Luca.

So as Tom and Riley work their way back to friends and then lovers, I also loved how Riley and Tom both discovered a lot about themselves too.

The premise is cute. Former friends that drifted away had created a getaway list that was supposed to keep them close when one moved away. To reconnect they work on checking as many items off the list.

Norma Butikofer narrates this gem and she does a fabulous job bringing both the highs and lows, the uncertainties and discoveries to life.

I love a soft and calm romance but this was quite boring. It started out very cute and then began taking turns. At one point it felt like it should just have ended and maybe more was tacked on. By the end, I didn’t care much about anyone in the story. I finished it but I wish I hadn’t bothered.

I'm completely unsurprised that my first 5 star read of 2024 is an Emma Lord book. Her stories are always full of loveable characters that you wish were real life friends. This one is a love letter to New York City, growing up, and the family you find and claim for yourself along the way. I will be re-reading this beautiful story regularly.

3.5/5
The Getaway List is definitely a YA read. While I enjoy a YA romance, this one felt a bit younger than a typical young adult leaving the nest story. I enjoyed the development of the characters and watching them grow up throughout this novel. Riley wasn't an immediately likable lead, but her growth and chemistry with her best friend Tom elevated my initial reaction to her. The rest of the supporting cast of characters added in great backstory for the book and New York City was a great backdrop for the story. Overall I found the book to be very cute and endearing. I would read more from this author and am interested in the adult romance she has debuting later this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Okay this was way sweet. Found family, real family, closed door love, felt like hallmark movie set in New York City in the very best way! It was an easy read with a great pace that I honestly couldn't wait to open back up each time I stopped! This makes me want to grab a coffee and a brownie and stroll Central Park with my best pals. I'm ready to go home and make a bucket list and have so many adventures.

The narrator was good, and the pace felt good for the audiobook, too! So fun!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to review

is a delightful coming-of-age novel that follows Riley's journey of self-discovery and adventure. On the day of her high school graduation, Riley makes a bold decision to break free from the confines of being the "Good Kid" and embarks on a journey to rediscover herself in the vibrant backdrop of New York City. The narrative is infused with a sense of nostalgia and friendship as Riley reunites with her childhood best friend Tom, the co-creator of The Getaway List, a compilation of their dream adventures.

The story beautifully captures the essence of stepping out of one's comfort zone, embracing spontaneity, and rekindling the spirit of adventure. The chemistry between Riley and Tom adds a heartwarming layer to the narrative, making the reader root for their friendship and potential romance. The vibrant setting of New York City serves as a vivid backdrop for the characters' escapades, adding a touch of magic to their summer adventures.

"Summer Escape" is a feel-good novel that balances the challenges of self-discovery with moments of humor, friendship, and the excitement of exploring new horizons. The author skillfully weaves a narrative that resonates with readers, encouraging them to reflect on their own journeys of growth and change. Overall, this book is a delightful read that captures the spirit of youthful exploration and the transformative power of stepping into the unknown.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

Emma Lord is a fan favorite for YA books. The Getaway List is a fun romp following a group of friends checking off activities from said list created by our bestie leads, Riley and Tom. Beside the storyline of best friends reconnecting and uncovering secret romantic feelings, there are also side stories with family struggles, self-discovery and finding your way in the world...the side characters are a nice addition to the foray!

I really enjoyed Riley and Tom and their cuteness overload despite harboring secrets that put a strain on the relationship. I, of course, was hoping for the predictable happily ever after but felt like the angst was too quickly removed. I wish the storyline with Tom and his mom was hashed out/healed on page.

Overall, a quick, satisfying read!

4 stars

Admittedly, I am not the target audience for a YA romance. I still love and read a lot of YA, but I have noticed at the ripe ol’ age of 30, it works less and less for me.

Unfortunately, I put this book down after 17%… I was kind of immediately turned off by Riley. She’s a perfect character for younger audiences to relate to, but as a grown adult, I just couldn’t.

I do think when it comes to YA, I like an MC who is a little more mature. Which sounds silly, I realize.

I did read the epilogue and it sounds like it would be cute for a lot of people!

I am excited for her upcoming adult romance book!!

Another sweet, funny, reference-full Emma Lord novel. While predictable, I still really enjoyed the characters and their journey over one weekend.

“If you think about it, getting rejected from all ten colleges that I applied to is quite the feat.” Here are reasons to read the YA Contemporary book:

High School Grad - Riley just graduated from high school
Log Distance - and really wants to see her best friend Tom
New York - The problem is that Tom lives in New York, which is a ways from her
The List - Besides, there is the little matter of a list made years ago which has all the things they want to do together

Emma Lord is one of my favorite YA contemporary authors and what I love most is how she brings people together to form a little mini community. Not only is this book a very beautiful description of what New York holds, but also the people who are there. The characters have a depth and you come to love them and root for them.

5/5 I am a sucker for a good YA & Emma Lord ALWAYS delivers. This book was no different. I absolutely loved the ode to friendship in this book. It was so special watching Riley, Tom & their friend group find themselves through each other. They pushed each other to do hard things, have hard conversations & go out of their comfort zone. They each ended up better for it. The romance between Riley & Tom was just the cherry on top. I mean come on, I wish all boys were like Tom when I was 18. He is the ultimate catch. I absolutely adored this book from beginning to end. Cannot recommend it enough.

- Childhood Friends to Lovers
- Coming of Age
- Parent/Sibling Relationships
- Friendship/Found Family
- Love letter to NYC mostly but also Taylor Swift

As far as young adult literature goes, Emma Lord is one of my favorite authors. She consistently publishes books that I want to read with characters I care about, a situation I’m all-in on, and a tone that hits just the right mix of lighthearted and emotional. Her newest book, The Getaway List, is out later this month and is every bit as good as her previous novels.

In The Getaway List, our main character, Riley, makes a realization during her high school graduation: She’s been so tightly controlled for the past few years that she has absolutely no idea what she personally wants out of life. Against her mother’s wishes, she takes a spontaneous solo trip to New York for the weekend to visit her best friend who she hasn’t seen in years. One thing leads to another and that weekend trip extends into an entire summer visit. This book is about found family and finding oneself, has a lot to say about healthy parent-teen communication, and has a charming love story to boot. It had me laugh out loud at some moments and then made me feel like I was going to sob the next. I totally recommend this rollercoaster of a book and will be “hand-selling” this, so to speak, to my students.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on January 23. While you wait for this publication date, I recommend checking out You Have A Match, from Emma Lord’s backlist.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord is a fun-loving young adult story. Riley has had it with her overprogrammed life, being the only one in her high school with all college rejections, and she is missing her best friend, Tom. Tom lives in New York City and seems so different from when Riley last saw him before high school. They have not been able to connect over the last few years.

This is such a great story from the perspective of what it is like to be a young adult right after high school. Tom and Riley are old friends from grade school who have changed, but still are able to connect years later. This story sparkled for me and I enjoyed my journey with Tom and Riley! The author made me feel like I was hanging out with their friends and exploring New York City!

The Getaway list allows you to relive that part of life right after high school when you are still freer from commitments and trying to figure out life! The characters are endearing, the setting of NYC fantastic, and you will leave the book with many new friends! I recommend The Getaway List by Emma Lord.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

DNF’d at 68%. I can’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t love this one because it has literally everything I love in a book! I think possibly there was just too much going on with the cast of characters. With so much going on, I couldn’t really relate to Riley and find myself rooting for her.
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Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this eARC!

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This charming coming of age story is full of challenges, growth, pain, self-discovery, and taking risks to chase your dreams.

The eclectic cast of characters also has an emotional intelligence that is both refreshing and startling. I don't remember being that in touch with my emotions at 18, never mind having the words to express myself!

I feel like this needs to be experienced with only the detail the summary provides. It's written in such a way that you're meant to take the ride with Riley. Sitting with changing emotions, grappling with the pain of trying to get back to a self you recognize, running around NYC with her friends -- you need to be in the moment with her.

The thing I love most about this story (and all of Emma's work, really) is that it is 100% perfect for a true YA audience. I can see high schoolers and college students DEVOURING this. But the beauty is that it's a story that will resonate with anyone.

I've already started recommending it to my friends!

Emma Lord is the Queen of YA! This book felt like a big hug and I loved it as an adult, and I would have loved it more as a teen.

Read for: Found family, single mom, NYC setting, finding your own way, finding your passions

Riley has been under her mom’s thumb for the past few years, missing her friend Tom, and thrown into so many activities she can hardly think.

On a whim, and after HS graduation and looking at her Getaway List she and Tom created before he moved to NYC, she takes the bus to surprise him.
She stays the entire summer, making friends along the way, learning about herself and what she wants out of life.
I was hooked immediately, the writing was so good in the first chapter and even though I had a different senior year of HS than Riley, I was transported back to that time and could relate.
Loved this coming of age love story (and love story about NYC!)

Riley and Tom have always been best friends. But Riley hasn’t actually seen Tom in person in years.

Riley graduates highschool and doesn’t know what’s next. She didn’t get accepted to any of the colleges she applied to and she’s not even sure she cares. But she’s spent the past few years trying to be perfect for her mom and she’s lost track of who she is.

So Riley goes to Tom in NYC. They decide to knock a few items off the “getaway list” they’ve been building for the years of their time apart.
But Riley falls in love with NYC and realizes a weekend won’t be long enough.

The absolute last thing Riley’s mother wants is for her to stay in NYC though. Riley’s mom is incredibly worried about her getting in trouble. After all, she herself got into trouble in NYC as a teenager.

I liked the cast of characters in this book. There’s Riley. There’s the sweet best friend Tom. A highschool friend Jesse who’s in a band playing/living in NYC. And a few new friends they pick up along the way.

I did feel like there was a sad element here that kind of weighed the book down. Tom’s story was kind of sad. He was lonely. He seemed like he might be depressed.

I enjoyed that this book is definitely a love letter to NYC. These characters are finding fun around every corner and they’re finding themselves too.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thank you!