Short and Sweet Review
Riley recently graduated from high school and she feels like she doesn’t really know who she is. She’s spent the last four years trying to be a good kid for her mom but now she just feels like she’s been suppressing herself. Riley decides on a whim to go to New York and visit her friend Tom, who she made a “Getaway List” with. The Getaway list is a list of things Riley and Tom want to do together and now’s their chance to cross somethings off. Riley isn’t sure what to expect after not seeing Tom in a while but they both fall into their same rhythm and even make some friends along the way to help accomplish things.
The Getaway List is a book that I found to be slow and unfortunately because of this and how bored I was I didn’t connect to the characters at all. Let’s start with Riley. Riley is our main character and apparently she has a knack for getting into trouble especially when she’s with Tom. Her mom has been keeping her on a tight leash and she’s even been doing her best to keep Riley away from Tom, because of this tight leash that Riley has been on for the past 4 years when she graduates she thinks its time to cut the cord. Riley decides to spend the entire summer in New York City to try to figure out who she is. I think my main issue with Riley is how much her and her mom were arguing over Riley leaving and how Riley felt like she didn’t have any freedom. I dreaded any conversations between the two because it just felt like a dark cloud would pass over the book. Tom on the other hand has been alone because his mom’s scriptwriting career has taken off. Tom felt a bit abandoned and like there wasn’t much of a relationship left between him and his mom, he even thinks of leaving New York to go stay with his aunt at her winery. The funny thing about this book is that Riley and Tom tried to pass it off as if they were just friends but they obviously wanted to explore the next step I just think it was ridiculous that it took them so long. We also meet a few other characters like Mariella, Luca, and Jesse. These three tag along with Riley and Tom to try to help them complete the getaway list. I did like the addition of these characters because they added great insight and they were just fun. What’s also cool is that Mariella and Tom created an app for deliveries so we see Riley complete a few that take her around the city.
Overall, I thought the book was just okay it’s not one that I would rave about. I didn’t connect with Riley or Tom and I kind of found that book to be bland and while reading it I felt like a mindless zombie just trying to get through the book. I did like the elements like trying to finish a adventures on the list and being in New York and their friend group, but the things going on in their personally lives especially Riley weren’t pulled together all that well for me.

Sometimes we read books that are good but don't always make sense outside of the story, and The Getaway List falls into that category for me. Riley graduates high school, and has no idea what comes next, so she takes off on a bus for New York City where her long-lost best friend Tom has been living since his mother made it big as a writer. It would seem that Riley is a big personality, yet she fell through the cracks at school and wasn't accepted into any colleges. Also, her mother simply lets her go to New York on a bus minutes after graduation. What?

There is a lot of plot setup that goes along the lines of parents do not know best, so just throw caution to the wind and go after what you want. But there are also a lot of fun New York adventures with blossoming romance and budding friendships and hanging with the band. It doesn't make sense outside of the world in the book, but it is so much fun.

So, while I liked the book, my rational brain went into overdrive. I read a lot of YA, a side effect of my job, but this one hit differently.

Emma Lord has such a way of writing stories geared towards my age group, and I absolutely love it!
The way she wrote this friendship and romance and all of the Swiftie references?! I loved this so much!

This was just so sweet and endearing and the cover perfectly encapsulates the general vibes of the story!

Emma Lord’s books are always a win for me, and The Getaway List was no exception! I loved the strong sense of place, with NYC essentially being its own character. I’m not in the target demographic as a 37 year old woman, but I still found Riley and Tom to be so relatable as they struggled to figure out who they were and what they wanted. The secondary characters in the found family friend group were also well written and really likable. The slow-burn, will-they-won’t-they, friends-to-lovers romance was cute and easy to root for. Despite the tension and distance between Riley and her mom through a lot of the book, they also had some really sweet moments that I loved. I loved The Getaway List, and highly recommend it if you love a delightful and adventurous coming of age story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for early access to this book!

Well, I might be the only one, but I did not like this. Riley is an annoying character and her mom is even worse. I can't believe a grown woman would be such a brat to her adult daughter. Riley and Tom are best friends who are obviously in love with each other from the very beginning but they are too silly to realize it. Or something. I didn't like the app. I didn't like how they pretended to be such great friends but the thought of romance never seemed to materialize. And if they really were THAT close it seems weird to not really speak for years. The peripheral characters are the best part by far. The ending really tipped me over the edge with 1) the green hair being remembered many years later in NYC and 2) the disgusting brownie teeth thing. No thank you.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Lord manages to craft another wonderful and heartfelt YA Story. When Riley graduates from high school she realizes she spent her whole life trying to be perfect and she doesnt know who she really is. She decided to to see her friend Tom in New York for the summer. The two of them have been friends since they were little and created The Getaway List together. The list consists of all the fun stuff they want to do together. They reconnect and start to work on the list together but Riley soon realizes that her feelings for Tom have changed. The Getaway List is so charming and cute! I loved it!

A solid 4 star read that I absolutely enjoyed! A super cute and sweet will-they-won't-they/coming of age story about high school best friends getting their first taste of independence as they navigate New York City after graduating college.

I loved all of the characters, they were well developed and flawed. There were times I wanted to reach out and hug each one of them, then other times I wanted to shake them by the shoulders and yell at them to get their s**t together.

I found myself laughing and crying in this. This is the first book I've read by Emma Lord and I definitely want to read more now!

Highly recommend this if you're looking for a sweet YA romance that is a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The day of her high school graduation, Riley realizes two things: One, she has spent the last four years trying so hard to be a Good Kid for her mom that she has no idea who she really is anymore, and two, she has no idea what she wants because of it. The solution? Pack her bags and move to New York for the summer, where her childhood best friend Tom and co-creator of The Getaway List — a list of all the adventures they’ve wanted to do together since he moved away — will hopefully help her get in touch with her old adventurous self, and pave the road to a new future. Riley isn’t sure what to expect from Tom, who has been distant since his famous mom’s scriptwriting career pulled him away. But when Riley arrives in the city, their reconnection is as effortless as it was when they were young―except with one, unexpected complication that will pull Riley’s feelings in a direction she didn’t know they could take. As she, Tom, and their newfound friends work their way through the delightfully chaotic items on The Getaway List, Riley learns that sometimes the biggest adventure is not one you take, but one you feel in your heart.

This was the book I needed as a teen. My past 18-year-old self related to Riley so much. This was the story of my dreams, moving to NYC for a gap year. Finding myself? Who wouldn't wanna do this? The friend group Tom and Riley put together was so perfect. Each one of them brought a different perspective to the group. The family drama with Riley and her mom was really relatable. I loved how it played out. Overall I enjoyed this one!

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 1/23.

Emma Lord's best yet, I think. This is such a wonderful coming-of-age story. The growth–the conversations and introspection that happen around that–is something I can always count on, with Emma Lord's characters.

I loved Riley and Tom (Tom and Riley). I loved their friend group.

I loved their New York adventures. I loved it so much that it's making me want to plan a trip East!

But what I loved best of all was how this made me think about being a better mom to my kids. Truly, it's one of reasons I continue to read YA books. And the good ones stick with me. This is a good one.

Thank you so much for the ARC, Wednesday Books. I had a wonderful time reading this!

5 stars

Main Characters:
-- Riley – recent high school graduate, hasn’t been accepted to any college she applied to, loves to write, lives with her single mom who co-manages a coffee shop in Virginia, decides to take the bus to New York to spend a weekend with her best friend Tom and ends up staying the summer
-- Tom – also a recent high school graduate, intends to take a gap year, moved to Manhattan with his screenwriter mom the summer after his and Riley’s freshman year of high school
-- Jesse – graduated with Riley, his band The Walking JED is moving to New York
-- Mariella – former classmate of Tom’s, wants to be a photographer
-- Luca – wants to be a writer, meets Riley and Tom at a writing class and is a little obsessed with Tom’s famous mother

I can always count on Emma Lord for a fun, quirky, well-written young adult story when I want (need?) a quick read that I know will put a smile on my face. The pacing of Lord’s novels is perfect, and she really seems to grasp the frenetic physical and mental energy of young adults. I think it can be challenging for author’s to write young adults well, and they can sound either too mature or too childish. As the mother of a teenage daughter, I can tell you that Lord’s characterization is spot on.

-- “Far as I know, I’m going to be stuck in Falls Creek until I Falls Croak.”
-- “Tom is my all-time best but worst friend—best because we would literally die for each other, and worst because in the last year he’s texted with the frequency of a prehistoric rock.”
-- “What is he going to do, suspend me again in the last five minutes of my high school career? Been there, permanent recorded that.”

Riley narrates her own story in The Getaway List, as she graduates high school missing her best friend and completely uncertain what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Her solution is to hop on a bus from Virginia to New York to spend the weekend in Manhattan and maybe, just maybe, check off some things on The Getaway List she and Tom started after he moved away:

1. Go on a road trip once we’ve got our licenses.
2. Take the Tides of Time interactive fiction writing class.
3. Go on the Tides of Time exploration walk in the Central Park.
4. See the Walking JED live in concert.
5. Go to karaoke.
6. Go on a camping trip.
7. Be “Dear Love” Dispatch coworkers.
8. Make custom brownies at Brownie Bonanza.
9. Actually see each other in our corporeal forms.

When Riley decides on a whim to stay in New York for the summer, she and Tom are determined to check off as many things on the list as possible. Along the way, they enlist the assistance and company of Mariella, Jesse, and Luca, who also help Riley discover what she really wants. We know there will be a happily ever after, and this book actually has several, which adds a nice touch.

I loved seeing Riley develop over this one summer away from home so that she could realize who she wants to be, both together with and separate from Tom and her mom. She also learns a lot about her best friend that she didn’t appreciate or understand at all. Drama permeates every corner of life at 18, and Riley and Tom are no exception. This is a great read for teens and young adults…and parents who might want a peek into the scrambled heads of their teenagers. 🙃

4.5/5 - The Getaway List is a coming-of-age book with a rom-com. Riley graduates from high school with no plans and no direction. She finds herself in New York, on her best friend Tom's doorstep. They reconnect, after years apart, working through the Getaway List, a list they created of things they wanted to share when they were separated in freshman year.

Tom and Riley learned a lot about themselves and each other as they worked through the Getaway List. I liked the exploration of relationships throughout this, and especially liked Riley's changing relationship with her mom.

Riley and Tom have a lot of chemistry, and you can tell they care for each other a great deal. You see them figuring out their feelings for each other, but also wanting what's best for the other. It felt real in the teen, entering adulthood way.

I loved the secondary characters in this book too. I felt like I knew Mariella, Luca and Jesse just as well as the main characters and they added to the story. The setting of New York was perfect and the author transported me there. I felt like I was in New York with the whole gang and even was one of them.

This is such a great book about growing up and finding yourself and your passion. Emma Lord adds so much love and care to her stories. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

3 stars.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for an ARC of The Getaway List. I've been a follower of Emma Lord since Tweet Cute (have read every single one of her books!) and was so excited to get a chance to read this one ahead of its publication.

The Getaway List is a sweet coming-of-age meets rom-com kind of book. There are lots of really cute and fun moments in the book and I think the secondary characters (Jesse, Luca, and Mariella in particular) really help make the story shine. I also think Emma Lord really, really nails the 80% to 90% section of the book (aka the talk with her mom). Riley's "growing up" really tugs on the heartstrings in that moment.

And while I enjoyed the book, I could help but feel like this book is very close to being some sort of autobiography for Emma Lord. I follow her on IG and it just felt very "her life" which kind of took me out of the book a lot. Now, I'm not saying that the book is actually autobiographical... I'm only saying that is just how I felt while reading it. (shrugs). I also would have liked to see character development happen consistently throughout the novel. Instead we get a lot of "action" in the middle and then at the end... bam it's a lot of character development/resolution. I wanted to see Riley's growth progress slowly throughout and not rushed at the end. Lastly, I felt like this novel could have benefited from what Morgan Matson did with The Unexpected Everything aka having sections of the fictional book placed in between chapters of "real" novel. For all of the talk of Tides of Time, there definitely should have been some chapters of it in The Getaway List.

All in all, I thought The Getaway List was a really fun, quick read. It definitely isn't as good as previous Emma Lord books (in particular my favorite, Tweet Cute), but it is a solid addition and will surely entertain her fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Emma Lord is the queen of contemporary YA fiction. Her books are always such a good mix of romance/coming of age/ and comedy and the “Getaway List” was no different. I really loved how much this book focused on Riley’s growth as a character and less on her relationship with Tom. For me it was a very “girl power” storyline which I think is awesome.

My only real negative is that the book reads a little long. There were a couple chapters that I felt could have been edited more or cut altogether because they didn’t add anything to the story for me but still another great book.

What a great growing up story! Teen readers and those of us still young at heart will enjoy the story of Riley, who just graduated high school and uses her new found freedom to take a trip to New York City to visit her childhood best friend, Tom, whom she hasn’t seen in years. They have an unfinished bucket list of adventures still to complete, called the “Getaway List,” from when Tom had moved away three years ago.

Riley and Tom learn about themselves, their friends, and their relationships as they adventure their way through their Getaway List. I particularly liked the relationship between Riley and her mom. They generally have a solid relationship, but it becomes strained when Riley chooses to move to New York City for the summer instead of coming back home to her mom. I appreciated how the novel approached their relationship and contrasted it against Tom’s difficult relationship with his mom.

Easter Eggs: Readers of Emma Lord’s previous novels will enjoy spotting specific references of places and foods from “Tweet Cute” and “When You Get The Chance.”

Quote: “…I’ve been waiting so long for a chance like this to be right smack-dab in the center of my own life instead of waiting on the sidelines.”

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

When I was in my early 20's I moved to NYC to attend grad school and I only knew one other person in the city. Reading this book brought back all my fondest memories of that time in my life and filled me with nostalgia. This was such a fun, joyful, adventurous story that included romance, but was more a story of friendship and family. Emma Lord captured that cusp of adulthood excitement and confusion so well and it was easy to put myself back in that era from my own timeline.
In addition to being a love letter to friendship, this was a love letter to NYC. All the adventures and unique nooks and crannies they visit and the energy of the city --- almost made me feel like I was there. The deep bonds and affection between Tom and Riley were beautiful to read and it was a joy to have a front row seat as they reunited and figured out who and what they wanted to be from there. Jesse (and his band), Luca, and Mariella were the perfect personalities to round out the epic group of friends that Tom and Riley build. With all our MC's being in the in-between of high school and college, their families are a part of the story as well. Each of them is dealing with their relationship to their parents as they feel the pull to go off into the world and become their full self. Tom and Riley, especially, have to traverse some complicated parental dynamics, but it's a good reminder that communication is key and having a solid home base makes it so much easier to go off and explore the world.
While this is a YA book and the MC's are in their late teens, it's a book that I think will speak to other age groups as well. I am grateful for the review copy I received and all opinions are my own.

Note: If partial stars were possible on review sites, this would be a 3.25

Emma Lord does it again with a delightful, heartwarming coming-of-age YA that I couldn’t put down. Her quirky, endearing, and believable characters are easy to root for and has me invested in their world. While parts of the plot were a bit predictable, there were enough charm and surprises to keep me flipping. I’ll continue to read anything that Lord writes!

The Getaway List was a refreshing and fun read! Riley is graduating from high school - once chapter closing and she decides enough is enough. Her best friend, Tom, moved away several years ago and it’s been since then that they saw each other. She spontaneously decides to go to NYC to reconnect but also to work through their “getaway list” they created long ago. Little does Riley know that she will also find herself and set herself on a new course along the way.

Riley and Tom both grow and develop individually and together throughout the book and it was a delight to read!

I’m so glad I finally got to read one of Emma Lords books! It was so good!! The characters were so well written, I loved seeing them grow and work through their problems throughout the book! The plot was incredible and I loved the concept of the GetawayList and Dear Love Dispatch! I’m so glad Riley and Tom worked things out with their Moms! The ending of the story was a 10/10

This is a super cute novel! I loved the whole premise of the app that was created to give others gifts anonymously in order to build them up and make them feel good about themselves. Also, when someone in their friend group tried to put themselves down, someone else was always there to tell them the truth. How great to have teenage friends like this! It was so uplifting and I was here for All. Of. It! I can read books like this any day. I loved the way she handled the relationship between teenager and mother. She kept it real but shows how it is constantly a work in progress.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.6 rounded up to 5/5.

Before getting into my review, let me start out by saying this: Emma Lord is quickly becoming an author who will be receiving all of my money as long as she keeps writing books!

Emma Lord's "The Getaway List" takes readers on a delightful journey of self-discovery, friendship, and unexpected romance. Riley faces the familiar dilemma of trying to conform to others' expectations, leaving her uncertain about her own desires and identity. The story unfolds on the day of her high school graduation, as she decides to break free from the mold she created to please her mother.

The central plot revolves around Riley's decision to spend the summer in New York with her childhood best friend, Tom, who co-created The Getaway List—a compilation of adventures they dreamt of sharing. As they embark on this nostalgic journey, the narrative beautifully captures the essence of a coming-of-age story, emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and pursuing one's dreams.

The chemistry between Riley and Tom is palpable, and their reconnection is portrayed with an effortless charm that resonates with readers. However, the story introduces an unexpected complication that adds an intriguing layer to their relationship, pulling Riley's emotions in directions she hadn't anticipated.

One of the highlights of the novel is Lord's ability to craft well-rounded characters. Riley and Tom shine as the main protagonists, but the supporting characters have the capacity to steal the scene. The exploration of friendship and the sense of camaraderie among the group adds depth to the narrative, making it more than just a romance between the lead characters.

The concept of The Getaway List itself is a brilliant device that propels the plot forward, providing a framework for a series of adventures and allowing readers to witness the characters' growth and transformation. The incorporation of this list ensures that the novel is not solely focused on the romantic journey but also celebrates the importance of friendships and personal milestones.

While the story is undeniably charming and heartwarming, one drawback lies in the resolution of conflicts. Some issues could have been easily resolved with open communication, and the lack thereof might frustrate readers seeking more nuanced resolutions.

In conclusion, "The Getaway List" is an inescapably romantic and uplifting read that will settle into the hearts of readers and linger. Emma Lord's signature cheer permeates the narrative, creating a charming and sweet experience. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories, self-discovery, and friends-to-lovers journeys, this novel is a delightful addition to your reading list.