I loved how this book made being a teenager in the verge if changes so realistic. The issues and feelings could be related to by anyone reading the book.

2.5/5 stars rounded up.

I didn't mean for this to be my first Emma Lord book. I had interest in her past YA works but ended up taking them off my to-read list because I wasn't interested enough. This one only caught my attention because it was free to grab on NetGalley for some time.

I do recognize that Lord's writing is good. Like, really good. She uses a lot of colorful metaphors and similes, and all her characters have clear, distinctive voices. Plus, the themes of finding yourself and reconnection with an old friend are perfect for YA; Lord seems to do the friends-to-lovers trope very well.

But, despite me enjoying the first six chapters or so, I found myself spacing out and becoming disinterested once Riley's summer stay in New York became official. Other characters are introduced, but rather than enriching the story, they made it stale. Even with their stand-out personalities, I couldn't bring myself to care about any of them; there was such a big disconnect. Plus, the themes kept running around each other chapter after chapter that I didn't felt like things were going anywhere until the last three chapters.

Overall, this was a fine read, but not for me.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord is a touching contemporary story about transitioning into adulthood and finding one's path in life. Such huge topics and something we all go through to varying degrees of emotional upheaval; I could easily relate and felt so much empathy for each character.

Riley is a fun main character, but I never doubted she would find her own way and barrel through life with her head held high. It is Tom who stole my heart. He has been Riley's best friend since they were eight, and the story sees them back together again after Tom had to move away a few years ago. He is in a tumultuous head space. Tom feels abandoned by his mother and never entirely fits into his new home. He is going through so much in his head and feels he has no one to talk to about it. When Riley re-enters his life unexpectedly, it's clear all he is missing in his life.

The romance is friends to lovers, though the pacing is much faster than in most of this trope. It felt inevitable, and I love that they took their time and it wasn't angsty. I also loved the group of friends they brought together and the different romantic entanglements. The group of friends pulling together to complete the getaway list was a lot of fun and probably was responsible for the faster pace. Overall, this was a fun yet powerfully touching story that left a lasting impression.

3.5 rounded down.

This is my second Emma Lord novel, and I think I'm starting to get a feel for her writing style. It's very Contemporary YA--think more along the lines of the difference in prose and writing style in Women's Fiction and Romance. Though this novel does have a heavy romance plotline beautifully strung throughout the book. It's heavy on inner monologue with characters that are oddly mature in an introspective way that only adults writing teens can master. It feels long, it feels slow paced, and while things happen, it also kind of feels like nothing happens at the same time? All-in-all, it reads like a book that you know you'll like at the end, but takes you a bit to get through. It's not a devour kind of story to me, but her last one I read wasn't either, so it's just my taste as a reader.

This book is single, 1st POV that has a lot of totally normal, teenage miscommunication in it. The teens did feel age appropriate to an extent, and I did appreciate that. I thought Riley's cussing was dumb and out of character though. I liked that not all the characters spoke that way--props to the author because she gave all the characters distinct voices. The romance is slow and sweet, just like 18 when you realize you love your best friend. It was heartaching and beautifully done.

Even though I felt like Riley's introspection was a little faux-mature, I also love love loved the internal struggles she was going through to discover herself and realize what she wanted and who she wanted to be. It's very coming of age, new horizons to discover, Contemporary Young Adult. And it's done really, really well for the genre and age range. I just prefer my stories to feel like quicker reads than this one ended up being for me.

All of that said, if you've enjoyed Emma Lord's YA stuff before, you will absolutely adore this one!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review!

A new Emma Lord book is always a treat. I enjoy both her YA and adult books.

This is a YA, coming of age rom-com about Tom and Riley. They are BFFs who have been living in separate cities for 3 years. The day after high school graduation, Riley has had enough of their separation, and letting her mom planning her life for her. She plans a spur of the moment weekend trip to see Tom in New York. That weekend, quickly turns into the whole summer. Tom and Riley have that will they or won’t they chemistry. Riley is easily immersed into Toms delightful group of friends. They decide to work their way through Riley and Toms old Getaway List, kind of a bucket list of adventures.

There are lots of fun moments and experiences, but also some deep stuff. The deep moments, such as Riley’s troubled relationship with her mother give the story depth and make the cute fun stuff even better.

This book has great witty/banter and delightful plot points and pace. She also perfectly captures the mindset of characters who are seventeen years old. The world is their oyster, full of possibilities. They are full of energy, and have lots of free time to immerse themselves in their friendships.

A joy from start to finish!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

Will I read every book Emma Lord puts out? Yep.

The Getaway List is a list created by Riley and her best friend Tom when Tom was moving to NYC early in their high school careers. After Tom left, they both tried to get together and go on adventures, but they always failed. With this, they created the list. All of the things they wanted to do, but couldn't because something got in their way. Fast forward to high school graduation, Riley didn't get into any of the colleges that she applied to, and Tom is taking a gap year. What better way to celebrate her graduation than a trip to see Tom and check something off.

Riley decides to stay in NYC longer than expected, and wants to check off everything on their list. Will they be able to do it? Riley meets some friends along the way, and has to deal with various relationship issues during her time.

This was a fun after high school read. I feel like not many novels focus on students taking a gap year, or not going to college after high school (though moving to NYC after high school may be a bit of an unrealistic expectation for some.) I loved the characters and loved the ending!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

Emma Lord's books hit every time, and The Getaway List is no exception. Tom and Riley have been best friends since they were kids, but Tom moved away to NYC as they entered their teenage years. Despite not seeing one another for years, they maintained that special connection that only best friends can. Following graduation, Riley has a bit of an existential crisis and a fight with her mom, which lead her to steal away to NYC and knock on Tom's door. From there readers will enjoy a delightful will they/won't they friends to maybe something more story, the BEST group of nerdy found family buds, and the journey of young people on the cusp of adulthood trying to negotiate new, different, and better relationships with their parents, all while crossing items of their Getaway List.

This is the perfect book for older teens who are almost out on their own (younger teen readers will enjoy it too!) and are interested in a glimpse at what finding your own way can look like!

Tom and Riley have been best friends since childhood, when Tom, a gregarious and outgoing little boy, took Riley, a shy and awkward little girl, under his wing. However, their worlds were turned upside down when Tom and his mom moved to New York City and the best friends have struggled to stay connected ever since. Two years later Riley has no idea what’s next after graduating from high school. Riley feels like she is suffocating under her mother’s pressure to sort out her future and all she really wants is to see Tom.

Riley decides to go to NYC to see Tom after getting in an argument with her mother. She’s nervous, but relieved to see Tom seems genuinely happy to see her. Her planned weekend stay turns into a summer long stay in which she and Tom plan to complete the Getaway List they have been working on since childhood. Along the way they meet old and new friends who help them check off items on their list.

Their reunion has forced the best friends to consider that they may have more than just friendly feelings toward one another, but Riley can’t help but notice that Tom is no longer the happy and outgoing person she knew. He is more reserved, quieter and seems lonely. Riley understands, she too felt lost since Tom moved away, but she finally feels like she found her place in New You, but she not sure Tom feels the same.

The Getaway List was the story of Tom and Riley and the possibility of them becoming more, but it was also a charming and adorable coming of age story by Emma Lord.

Emma Lord is undoubtedly one of my favorite YA authors and anything she writes is an instant read. The book is fine but, this is my least favorite book from her. The story follows childhood best friends Riley and Tom. They have a list of best friend activities that they’ve always wanted to do together once they meet up again since Tom moved away to NYC. After high school graduation, Riley surprises Tom by showing up on his doorstep and they set out to accomplish the list with a group of new friends

This was a delightful book. Riley is a relatable character who is trying to discover who she is at the start of her adult life. Many teenagers will relate to this feeling of being lost as the world is starting to open up to them. Riley runs away to the big city to her childhood best friend to regain her adventurous self and figure out who she is. She and Tom make new friends and have plenty of adventures, all while discovering there is more to their relationship than friendship. Readers will enjoy the development of the characters and their relationships in this story.

A sweet story about best friends in New York City. Full of first love and Taylor Swift references. It's very cutesy.

I enjoyed Emma Lord's The Getaway List. It's an easy, fun read.

Riley, the main character, is relatable, especially for anyone who is a people pleaser. She spends her days trying to live up to her mom's expectations. She lives a busy life as a high school kid. But she misses her best friend who has moved to New York. On a whim, and against her mom's wishes, she moves to New York for a summer where she reconnects with her best friend, Tom, and meets his NY friends.

Together they tackle the Getaway List, a bucket list of adventures. Beyond the bucket list, both Riley and Tom have family drama they need to work through and help each other out with. Along the way, their relationship begins to fall back into routine. Let's just say, I'm a sucker for friends to lovers...

I'm extra grateful to have received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my review. This book will be published January 23, 2024.

I loooooved this! I went into it expecting a romance but got a found family instead that made my heart feel so full. Emma Lord has become one of my favourite authors in 2023 and her writing is amazing always!

The Getaway List by Emma Lord is a sweet YA rom-com full of friendship and adventure. Riley's hit with a double whammy on her high school graduation day... First, she realizes she's been trying way too hard to be the perfect kid for her mom and has lost sight of who she really is. Second, she's clueless about what she wants in life because of it. What was intended as a weekend to New York City to see her childhood bestie, ends up as a summer of discovery.

Riley and Tom created the Getaway List of adventures when they were kids but Tom moved away before they could be completed. Tom's been distant since his mom's career took off but when Riley shows up in the city, it's like no time has passed at all. Except for one twist that throws Riley's feelings for a loop.

This heartwarming story is all about finding yourself, the magic of friendships, and the unexpected twists of love.

Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book. Look for this on 1.23.24.

This was a super cute and fast read…had all the feels and smiles you would expect from a YA rom-com. I loved all of the characters and their interactions with each other, and their growth both individually and as a group. And it also made me want to go back to NYC, and had me majorly craving some sweets lol. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for access to this e-arc.

Tweet Cute remains one of my favorite reads of 2020, so I was ecstatic to get an ARC of The Getaway List.

Tom and Riley have been best friends since they were little. However, after four years of living miles away from Tom, Riley worries their friendship is falling apart. Further, having just graduted and unsure of what path she wants to take, she feels stuck. On a whim and faced with her mother's irritation, she takes a train to N.Y. and lands on Tom's doorstep. Riley finds that after three years apart, a lot has changed, including a newly found attraction to Tom.

Emma Lord's signature charm and sweetness shine through in this coming-of-age, young-adult romance wrapped in a love letter to New York.

I adored the romance - Tom and Riley are so cute, navigating their changing lives and feelings while spending their days exploring N.Y. However, the romance was just the cherry on top. I love how Lord navigates Riley's relationship with her mother and Riley's need to please her and be a good kid, all while trying to find her place in the world. However, I think what I loved most was the found family. This was one of the most supportive and loving found families I have read in a YA book in a long time. The female relationships were everything.

I think fans of Tweet Cute will love this!

Perfect for fans of:

Friends to Lovers
Coming of Age
New York
Female Friendships
Found Families
Bucket Lists
Heavy Dialogue

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

3.5 stars!

The Getaway List was like traveling to New York for a couple of hours and having fun at 18!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an e-arc copy of this book! All thoughts and ideas are my own<3

Another fantastic YA romance about teens moving into independence by Emma Lord.
Identity, parent-young adult relationships and taking a chance on love are all thoughtfully explored.

And as always, NYC shines as the background to it all, making even those who've never lived or worked there feel connected to its energy.

Highly recommend!

Riley is now a high school graduate with no real plans. She got rejection letters from every college she applied to … even her safety schools. Although she did get in trouble a few times in high school, she has strived to be a good kid for her mom. In her first real act of rebellion, Riley decides to pack her bag and go to New York City for the weekend. Her best friend, Tom, lives there and they haven’t seen each other in ages. They also created The Getaway List while they lived apart and she thinks this is a good time to knock some of those adventures out of the way. Riley quickly learns she needs more than a weekend … she is staying for the summer!

The Getaway List is a stand-alone romance that had me fully invested after only a few chapters and I kept returning to the book and thinking about it while doing other things. This was a very clean romance that was primarily Riley and Tom not admitting they were attracted to each other. Lord made New York City seem like a place where everyone should spend a summer. I’m not condoning everyone going to NYC against their parent's wishes, but this escape read will have many readers wondering if they should.

This is a very cute YA/NA romcom with a likeable cast of characters. I enjoyed seeing the friends as they completed tasks on the getaway list.

This book very much gave me the vibes of Lorelei and Rory's relationship on Gilmore Girls circa season 6 (which isn't a bad thing, just saying)

I would likely recommend this book to fans of YA and this authors previous works. However, this has been my least favorite so far.