Looking for a cute rom-com book look no further! Riley isn’t sure that do in life after high school graduation day, but she knows she needs to get away from her overbearing mom, especially after being rejected form all 10 colleges she applied to. With a sense of adventure, she hops on a bus to New York to see Tom, her child hood bestie, who she hadn’t seen in 3 years. They decide there's no better way to spend their last summer of freedom than completing all the things on their bucket list - aka “the Getaway list.” Throughout these adventures, Riley and Tom make new friends, while their own relationship becomes something more.

Riley and Tom are very relatable characters; I enjoyed Riley’s goofy nature and whimsical way of just skating through life without a ton of commitment. But when she realizes what she really wants she’s terrified. Riley's journey of self-discovery was a rollercoaster of emotions, one I was all too happy to ride.

I really enjoyed the blossoming of Riley and Tom’s relationship; if you love a good friends to lovers trope here’s a great one. There is also a lot of self reflecting and growth as indiviuals, but also anchoring to each other for love and support too. There are moments of misunderstanding, hurt feelings, and anger, but the authenticity of their feelings and love for each other really shines through.

I read and listened to this book. Lord captures the teenage essence well - full of carefree attitudes, great friend and growing pains.

Growth & Giggles
Sights & Sarcasm
Bands & Brownies
Fiction & Found Family

I loved everything about this book. I feel like Emma Lord just does YA right. If you want a book that will make you think and feel, dive into this.

Riley and Tom have been best friends for a long time, but things changed when Tom moved from Virginia to NYC with his mom. It's been years since they've seen each other, but they've done a decent job of staying in touch. The day Riley graduates she decides enough is enough and makes her way to NYC to see Tom.
Tom and Riley made a Getaway list while in Highschool and never got to it. When Riley heads to New York they start checking them off.

I loved the relationship between Riley and Tom and was rooting for them the entire time. She also had several other characters that I loved as well. This was a heartwarming fun story set in New York and I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending a copy for review.

This was a really cute story! It was fast paced and I didn't find any parts were dragging on at all! I loved the found family vibes of this little close knit friend group that Riley found after arriving in New York! Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves YA or is just looking for a cute, clean romance book!

The Getaway List by Emma Lord, Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC. This is the latest young adult novel from Emma Lord. YA novels have changed since I was a teen because more of the protagonists are 18 and older. This is true for The Getaway List, a love story between Riley and New York City, her mother, and her best friends. Each of these relationships are equally important in this story. Riley leaves her hometown for NYC on the day of her graduation to reconnect with childhood best friend, Tom, who has been more and more distant. In NYC Riley and Tom decide to finally do their Getaway List, a list of adventures they wish they could do together, like going camping and eating at an Instagram-able brownie bakery. Riley and Tom reconnect and feel at once closer than they’ve ever been, but not trusting enough of themselves or each other to be completely honest.



Lord writes NYC through the rosy haze of an 18 year old who sees it as a romantic, magical place of possibilities. It is a sanitized, movie version of the city, and as Riley says, has many realities and many stories crossing at the same time. Emma Lord is able to capture what it feels like to be on the edge of childhood and adulthood, as Riley ventures to make her own decisions for her life, rather than what other people want of her. Riley, Tom. Mariella, Jesse, and Luca are all very relatable and specific characters; each with a chip on their shoulder, missed connections, and guarded hearts. This book made me laugh and cry. It reminded me of the younger version of myself, and I saw myself in Riley’s mom. I would recommend this book for teens and adults alike. It made me want to read all of Lord’s novels. (And maybe hope she will write the sci-fi series the main characters are obsessed with!)

The Getaway List by Emma Lord was such a fun book to read! I felt like I was also on a getaway to NYC, visiting all of the places that the characters enjoyed!
The story begins with Riley, a high school graduate who decides to visit her long lost friend, Tom, in NYC. The two friends had been making a "getaway' list that had never been completed, so while she is there, they start working on checking off the items on the list. While doing this, they meet a slew of new (and old) friends, visit a variety of NYC destinations, and even form a crush on each other.
The characters that they meet along the way were so well developed and lovable. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, and will definitely be recommending it to my students.
A huge thank to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Riley is graduating high school and didn't get into any colleges - even her safety schools. Tom, her childhood friend who moved to New York City several years ago, reaches out to her the day she graduates. She ultimately goes to NYC to spend time with Tom and try to check off items on the getaway list that they wrote years ago. I was never invested in the characters but this is a cute teen romance that some readers will enjoy.

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.