Although it wasn't as impactful as other Emma Lord books, I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The highlights were definitely in the side characters and relationships. I absolutely loved reading about Riley and Tom, even though they weren't exactly what I'd describe best friends to lovers as. Their relationship development was so sweet. I particularly adored Tom.

The relationships between the friend group was incredible! I think they were my favorite part of the book. I loved shy Luca, sweet Jesse, confident Mariella, and their interactions with each other were both adorable and hilarious. Their exploration of the city was always so entertaining and engaging. And though I dislike New York myself, I loved the vibrant descriptions of the setting. Riley and her friends' love of the city was described beautifully and their passion shown through the page.

Overall, I highly recommend this if you're a fan of Emma Lord or sweet coming of age novels! I've been a huge lover of her books for a long time, and every time I'm reminded why.

The Getaway List was a truly adorable and genuine coming-of-age novel. After being rejected from every college she applied for, Riley feels aimless and takes off on a trip to NYC to visit her best friend Tom, even after four years apart and a diminishing amount of communication from Tom's side. Being in NYC opens Riley up to a whole new world, full of possibilities, new dreams and new friends. They begin to take on their Getaway List - a list of tasks and experiences they always meant to do together. There are a lot of fun characters, plenty of shenanigans, and young love and longing. This is the third novel I've read by Emma Lord and found myself laughing out loud and holding back tears multiple times. A great novel of love, self-discovery, friendship, and family (both real and found families) - definitely recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press for giving me the chance to read this novel.

A fun coming of age story that sees newly graduated Riley reuniting with her best friend Tom in NYC. Running away from the complicated relationship with her mom, Riley forms a new friend family and fully embraces her writing while in the city. Heartfelt with a touch of romance and lots of family drama. This wasn't my favorite Emma Lord book but I still enjoyed it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Gah this was so cute and quintessential Emma Lord! She really writes some of the best YA out there and I love recommending her books to friends. In the Emma Lord-verse, this one clocks in right after Tweet Cute as my all-time favorites!

THE GETAWAY LIST is an expertly crafted story of teenage longing and following your own path. It follows recently-graduated Riley, who escapes to New York to reconnect with distanced-bff Tom. Together they embark on a summer of bucket list items and rediscovering their friendship (and hidden secrets?)

Emma Lord is such a talented writer, and her books are truly a joy to read. She's able to hone in on an authentic emotional teenage experience, while taking us a genuinely fun adventure. I love her characters, I love her writing, and I love her descriptions of desserts!

Such a fun read!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE GETAWAY LIST is out 1/23/24!

Riley isn't sure what's next after high school graduation, so she heads to New York to spend time with her best friend Tom. She and Tom once built a list of things they wanted to do together, so with the summer ahead of them, they start chipping away. Along the way, there is a cast of characters/friends that add some layers and fun to the story. There's also some navigating of relationships with moms (and can I just say as a mom, there were moments I definitely related most to them because this is literally who I am now) as they figure out who they are. This was just a good read of two friends figuring out who they are - as individuals and together, and I loved the way the list was part of that story. There were some unexpected reveals of truths during the story that really kept me engaged. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this February 2024 release!

Emma Lord, you will always, always, always be famous for me!!

While I knew I had enjoyed every Emma Lord book I'd picked up in the past, in the back of my mind I was worried that either they may have lost their charm, or YA might just not resonate with me as much anymore (at my big and distinguished age), so I was taken aback by just how brilliant this was and how much of a punch it packed.

THE GETAWAY LIST delivers what the bright jolly cover may suggest - a summer in New York, fun shenanigans and young love (as a generally friends-to-lovers hater, I was extremely impressed by how well executed and palpable the tension between the two protagonists was, as well as by how undeniably well suited for one another they were), with the addition of a ragtag group of friends that become a found family of sorts. This was joyous and exhilarating and so, so fun, in the way a summer day that feels like another slice of life, but becomes a core memory by the end is.
THE GETAWAY LIST, however, also hides more under the surface - the book explores the desire to find an old you that you lost in order to be able to work away at creating the new you. It explores the way we lose parts of ourselves as we grow up, and we hide away the things that hurt us most to protect ourselves and those attached to our old selves from the realities they create. It is, at its core, a book about allowing yourself to choose you, put you first, and refuse to be guilted for it.
Part tender young romance, part empowering coming of age narrative, this was an absolute banger through and through.

Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Graduating high school doesn’t always come with a clear path forward. For Riley, the safety of her future disappeared the moment she walked across the stage and was handed her diploma. With no college prospects on the horizon, she defies her mother’s wishes and takes off to New York. Will time in the city give her the answers she is looking for, or will it leave her further confused?

Emma Lord’s latest YA novel, The Getaway List, is a love letter to New York and the people that inhabit it.
The setting of the book played a vital role in the story, so much so that it could almost be another character. It is the only city Riley could have gone to that would have allowed her to discover who she is becoming, what she wants in life, and who she wants to spend her time with.

In addition, The Getaway list beautifully explored the themes of friendship and family (both relational and found). I appreciated that Lord did not glamorize either, instead opting to lean into the hardships. Both friends and family can be difficult to navigate especially when we see things through different lenses.

Special thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books), Macmillan Audio, and Emma Lord for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

*** I had the privilege of both reading and listening to this story. I found the narration to be one of the best I have encountered. A great narrator is hard to come by and Norma Butikofer did a terrific job making this story come to life!

Riley and Tom are best friends. They’ve been long distance both physically and emotionally for a few years, but when Riley graduates, she decides she’s going to New York City to see Tom. Since Tom moved away, they’d been keeping a list of all of the things they didn’t get to do together, the Getaway List. This summer, in New York with new friends, Riley and Tom vow to do all of the things on the list. From writing classes to camping trips and other experiences in between, Riley and Tom not only find their way back to each other, but they start to find themselves along the way too.

Emma Lord just knows characterization. The core friend group in this book was amazing, and Riley and Tom’s respective relationships with their mothers were handled really well. There was so much in this book too from a whole fictional fantasy fandom to a character obsessed with Taylor Swift, these details really make the plot and the characters seem real and relatable.

This is another must read YA novel by Emma Lord. Readers will be drawn in by the will-they-won’t-they romance, but they’ll stay for the whole group of friends and their adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with both audiobook and ebook advanced versions of this story.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Riley heads to New York to reunite with her best friend, complete their Getaway List, and find herself in the process.

If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times, I am never disappointed with an Emma Lord book. This is my fifth book by Lord, and she continues to delight me. We were back in New York City for this book, and I feel this is a setting where Lord always shines. Her affection for the city shows, and as a native New Yorker, I loved visiting familiar places. Speaking of familiar places, I was giddy from the two nods to her other NYC books. If there's one thing I adore, it's those Easter eggs.

Much of this book was dedicated to Riley reclaiming her future. I was devastated for Riley when her college plans went up in flames, but I had to give her credit for taking the initiative to figure out her future. As a mother, I was none too pleased with the way she fled, but it was important for her to exercise that autonomy and reclaim what she had lost.

Luckily, Riley had a nice soft place to land with her best friend. Though she had not seen Tom for several years, their bond was still rather strong. It seemed Tom was also dealing with some internal struggles, and it was fantastic that they had each other during this time.

Then, there was the Getaway List, a sort of bucket list that Riley and Tom had written when they were younger. Early tasks led to the expansion of their little framily, and each addition was a great one. Together, the five of them checked off the tasks, and I had so much fun watching them do it.

These list items weren't just fun for Riley, they resulted in a lot of self reflection, and I thought it was a great way to propel her on her personal journey. One part of that journey being the recognition and acknowledgment of her growing feelings for Tom.

Overall, I found this to be a wonderful tale of friendship, romance, and self-discovery which was filled with humor, wit, and warmth. I loved spending time with this group as they checked item off the Getaway List and figured out their futures.

After graduating high school, Riley realizes that she wants nothing more from life than to see her best friend, Tom. She was rejected from every college she applied to, hasn’t seen her friend in years since he moved to New York, and just needs to feel like she can do something on her own. This novel lets you follow along with Riley as she learns what she wants from life and not only reconnects, but begins to forge new relationships in the big city.

This book was a wonderful coming of age story!! I loved the friends to lovers relationship, but also really loved that she made real friendships and the book didn’t just focus on the romance.

Great read!

I really enjoy Emma Lord's writing style. She manages to create a story that encompasses YA romance, as well as a lesson about how to live a better life. As Riley graduates from college, she discovers that she has missed out on a lot of life, mostly due to all the activities her mom made her sign up for. One of the biggest things she's missed out on over the last few years is her friendship with her best friend Tom who lives in NYC. In a spur of the moment decision, she decides to head to NYC to spend the weekend with Tom and accomplish some things on their Getaway List. During her time in New York, Riley starts discovering herself and finding some new friends along the way. Her friendship with Tom sparks new feelings. But what kind of risks is Riley willing to take on this new journey?

It's a heartwarming tale of self-discovery that makes you root for Riley, Tom and all of their friends. It's a fun, happy book that will give you all the feels.

Riley graduates highschool and wants nothing more to get out of her town and travel to New York City to see her long lost best friend Tom. Even though she goes against her mom’s wishes this is the only thing in the world she feels she needs to do. And not only that she has a getaway list of things she must do with Tom and has had this list since they were kids.

While a weekend turns into a summer Riley learns so much about herself. She’s becoming independent without her mom constantly babying her. The city changes Riley and even her relationship with Tom. She makes friends, she finds out her passions. And even rebuilds a relationship with her mom.

This is a cute easy YA read I did enjoy it. It’s friends to lovers, big city vibes.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advanced in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Getaway List is another YA coming of age story from Emma Lord and much like her other books, it's charming, full of heart, and reminds what it's like to be young and finding your place in the world. At her high school graduation, Riley realizes her high school years have been focused on making her mom happy and now has no clue what SHE wants out of life. The solution? Go against Mom's wishes and hightail it to New York to see her best friend so they can work their way through the Getaway List they crafted years before.

This was such a sweet story with a fantastic setting and a delightful cast of characters. I loved the banter between Riley and Tom as well as the balance between finding out who you are as you grow and change and how to navigate important relationships amidst those changes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

The fluidity of this author’s writing style is beyond impressive. She has a way of captivating her audience of all ages and making her characters relatable, though she is writing a YA novel. This book is entertaining and has a nostalgic feeling when it comes to plot. The feeling of being carefree with friends while also finding your place in this world.

It’s a really good coming of age story that takes place in that weird transition from high school to adulthood. Reading the personal growth and new found independence was refreshing to see in a YA novel. The emotions felt authentic and reflected the actions that a newly graduated high schooler would do. This was such a good read and I would highly recommend this to anyone. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC

Much like every other Emma Lord book I’ve read, The Getaway List is another captivating coming-of-age story of a young woman working on figuring out who she is and who she wants to become. Riley is a recent high school graduate with no plan for her future who has spent the last few years having all her free time scheduled out by her single mom. Missing her best friend Tom, who moved away a few years prior, she defies her mother’s wishes and runs off to NYC to surprise Tom, and to give herself freedom to pursue her interests and dreams. Along the way, the pair fulfill items on their long running ‘Getaway List’ and pick up some friends along the way. As Riley and Tom become closer and rediscover their tight bond, secrets drive them apart, and they have to come to terms with who they want to be, and whether they fit into each other’s futures. Exciting, earnest, and endearing, The Getaway List is perfect for any age reader, and asks the question if its ever too late to figure out who you want to be.

After graduating from high school, Riley realizes she doesn’t know what she wants. Having spent the last four years trying to be the perfect daughter to her mother, she doesn’t even really know who she is. So instead of dolling her current path, she packs her bags and heads to NYC to visit her best friend Tom for the summer. What started as running away, leads to a summer Riley will never forget.

I just love a good coming of age story! Add in the streets of New York City and it just makes it the much better. I struggled so hard with both Tom and Riley and their relationships with their mothers. I remember those years and how hard it was to communicate with my own mom, Lord hit the nail on the head with navigating those times. I listened to this book while I moved all my furniture away from the leaking ceiling, and it made such an un-fun activity so much more enjoyable! I love Emma Lord’s books and this one was no exception!

I adore Emma Lords writing. Her books are always so lovely and enjoyable, which says a lot coming from me as I’m a very hard YA sell. I almost never fully enjoy them, and I definitely never choose them over other books but I always do hers. They feel real and relatable without over doing it.

While I do feel like a lot of her books follow very similar paths with very similar characters, they’re all special in their own way and they always tug at my heart and put a smile on my face. This one was no exception - I loved it. I loved the relationship with her friends, with her mom and with Tom. I loved her personal journey so much too! Overall it was an excellent book, with excellent writing - just lost that one star for me because I can’t super differentiate between all her books.

“Oh to be young and in New York and living out a rom-com trope…”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Riley is graduating high school and has no plans or college acceptance letters to lean on. She feels like she’s been living for other people (namely, her mom) and is hoping to use the summer to get back to the old Riley.

What better way to find yourself than to jet off to NYC to visit your childhood bestie?

I LOVED being in Tom and Riley’s world.

It was a wholesome whirlwind of sentimental bucket lists, new friends and hobbies, finding yourself and where you belong, karaoke, brownies, love of books and writing, anonymous DoorDash (omg love), lovable side characters and summer crushes, stargazing, and grand gestures.

This was sugary sweet while not shying away from the complicated feelings of growing up and navigating friendships/parent relationships.

Emma Lord is a comfort author to me and this is a new favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the e-arc.

Emma Lord books are truly just like a warm hug.

The Getaway List is charming and fun; a story of a summer of friendship and love. Riley graduates high school with no offers for secondary education and decides to take a trip to New York to reunite with her childhood best friend. Together they embark on their “getaway list” to try to make up for lost time together.

I loved that this book explores teens finding their own way and managing parental expectations. It was the perfect mix of cute and real. Emma Lord writes fantastic young adult contemporary stories, blending tough issues with humour and fun. I just love the wholesome vibe of it all!

4.5/5 ⭐
0.0/5 🌶️
5.0/5 🎧

The Getaway List was a really cute coming of age story from Emma Lord. The audio was fantastic and I thought it was a great listen. I really loved these characters and their friends and was rooting so hard for them all to find their way as young adults. Tom and Riley were best friends and their journey to being more was filled with angst, right along side Mariella and Luca's. I also loved the bi rep in Jesse and what we saw of his relationship with Di.

As a mom, it broke my heart seeing Tom and Vanessa's relationship... Especially at the end as we find out exactly what's up with her. But ultimately I was happy with how it all turned out. Riley and her mom's relationship was rocky, but I understood her a little more, not wanting Riley to repeat past mistakes, even if those mistakes were the best part of her life.

Up next from Emma is her debut adult novel and I'm so excited to dive in.