This is a very cute story. The dialogue is witty and fun. But, this was just ok for me. I am on old fogey I guess but there was just too much language for me. It is classic Emma Lord but this was more language than I remembered her having in other books I have read by her. I was given an ARC copy to read through NetGalley and I appreciate them giving me that chance.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved going on the travels with the characters and them doing the list. I liked the character development with each other and their parents. I would definitely recommend this book!

Man, what a ride this book was for me!
Riley and Tom are childhood best friends. Tom moved away a few years ago and Riley is feeling the distance between them. When she graduates and everyone has plans but she only has rejection letters from colleges she’s feeling understandably lost. Her and Tom made a ‘getaway list’ of things they would always do together but never have so she decides to pack up and visit Tom in NYC so they can finally do the getaway list together.
NYC as the backdrop was a lot of fun. It’s almost another character in the book. There is a sweet childhood friends to lovers trope going on but it’s mostly two freshly graduated kids who are now adults and have so many life choices to make. The coming of age story for Riley was really nice. Both Tom and Riley grew up with single mothers. Riley’s mom is overprotective and Tom’s mom is neglectful. It was really interesting watching all that play out. It was honestly heart breaking to me. For both the kids and their moms. The friend group they make in NYC is truly special. They were all different and I loved them all so much. I loved Riley. She was very mature when it came to her issues with her mother. I loved Tom too. It’s kind of crazy that Riley describes him as someone people navigate towards and it felt that way for me as a reader too. He seems like someone I would want sitting next to me as a supportive friend.
The only thing I wish this book had was a little more resolution with Tom and his mom. We get a good scene with Riley and her mom. I loved it and it made me understand the mother’s POV better. So I just wish we got that with Vanessa as well. Other than that, this was a truly special book. It made me emotional. I think it’s a really nice book about 18 year old kids suddenly being forced into the adult world. I’m really happy I had the opportunity to read this one.

This is a cute, coming-of-age story about two childhood best friends reconnecting right after high school graduation in NYC. Riley and Tom, along with a newfound group of friends, come together to check off items on the Getaway List, a list the two have been putting together since childhood.

This is my first book from the author. I enjoyed some of the banter, but had a hard time feeling invested in the characters or the story. Though I can see this being a great read for others, this book isn't for me at this time. I could see myself eating it up as a teenager though.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect Emma Lord combination of hijinx, joy, romance, chosen family, and dessert. Her New York-set books capture exactly how it feels to feel unstoppable when you're young and surrounded by people that you love and who love you back.

Riley's been lost ever since Tom moved away. Tom's been lost, too. What happens when you've met your 'person' at the age of 8? They are best friends who inspire each other creatively (and sometimes a bit mischief comes along for the ride). But once they are separated due to a family move, Riley's penchant for getting into trouble causes her mom to overschedule her to the point that she loses her self-identity. Post-graduation Riley wants one thing - to see her old best friend Tom. Off she goes and the reunion is (almost) everything you would hope for. Will the planets align for these two star-crossed lovers?
This was a great Emma Lord read - it's cheesy in all the right places and in all the right ways. I think this generation of teens definitely has a set of kids that can relate to Riley and Tom - one overscheduled and the other left to raise himself by a successful single mom. Lord name drops a lot of NYC landmarks but it's not isolating to the reader. She does it all through the shiny, new eyes of Riley. This was a fun, easy read.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

I really loved this book and I couldn't read this fast enough I really enjoyed the entire friends to lovers story long distance the list was a great way to get the story going

If, like me, you devour each of Emma Lord's resonating, exquisitely sweet, and perfectly developed YA books, and if you're also one of the most ardent fans of the Big Apple (again, just like me), then this book is calling your name. You simply must secure your own copy, dive in without knowing too much, and prepare to be swept away by the exhilarating and heartwarming adventures of Tomley (Riley & Tom: undeniably the sweetest couple the author has crafted).

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for inviting me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Getaway List is officially my new favorite Emma Lord book. I feel that with each new release, her story-telling just keeps getting better and better.

"Take me to the realms of possibility...
Take me back to the home where I'm known."

Riley and Tom are childhood friends who were separated by distance and Riley's over-protective mom. After her graduation, when Riley realizes what her mom has done, she makes an impulsive decision to take a trip from Virginia to New York to reunite with Tom over the weekend. In the midst of catching up, they come up with the plan of completing The Getaway List, a list of random goals they came up with years ago. In between making brownies from scratch at the Brownie Bonanzer, watching her ex-boyfriend's band play live, visiting filming locations of their favorite book adaption, and meeting new people while delivering goods from an online app called 'Dear, Love', Riley begins to fall head over sneakers for her best friend. Navigating the fast-paced streets of New York is becoming easier for Riley but having to face her new and intruding feelings for Tom, and figuring out what she wants to do with her life without the presence of her mother, are not.

"All these feelings - my love for the city, for the life I'm building here, for Tom- are all so new and flashy and bright. I should have known that some of it wasn't built to last."

I truly adore Riley and Tom, Jesse and Dai, and Luca and Mariella. All of them have such great character development. I couldn't help but root for all of them to overcome their own personal struggles. The friendships, whether new or old, are so relatable and realistic. As much as I love the friendships, I also enjoyed reading about Riley and her mother's bond. It was well thought out. I feel like many readers can empathize and sympathize with their mother-daughter relationship.

The romance is super sweet. I liked the slow burn / will-they-won't-they development between Riley and Tom. Their relationship kept me on my toes, and it had me impatiently (in a good way) waiting to see if they would level up or not. Besides Riley and Tom, I was very interested in the building blocks of Jesse and Dai's and Luca and Mariella's romantic endeavors. My favorite moment in the whole book is when Jesse and Riley finally have their 'closing chapter' and talk about Dai. They had previously dated in high school, but while their relationship fell apart, they stayed good friends afterward. I love it when authors show that it's okay to be friends with an ex, especially if it's all on good terms.

"You don't need stars, Riley. You are one. You have your own gravity and I cannot wait to see what you do with it."

I love the getaway list moments. I wish there was more, but that's more of a selfish request on my part than the story needing more. I wish I lived near a place like the Brownie Bonanzer and the café Riley begins to work at. It might also be a good thing that I don't because I would visit them often and I'm broke. I'm originally from Brooklyn, NY, so stories like these always make me feel like I'm home again. Honestly, reading this book is like looking at Emma Lord's Instagram: it's colorful and full of life and adventure.

"I don't need to ask for wishes now; I have choices all my own. Ones that will always be built on love, on hope, and on infinite, daunting, beautiful realms of possibility."

It's such a heartfelt and entertaining story that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I highly recommend The Getaway List if you're looking for your own little getaway from home.

5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I was very excited to have been approved since I know that Emma Lord will always deliver a sweet, wholesome, feel-good read.

The Getaway List definitely fit the bill. The cast of friends, old and new, that Riley gathers in NYC were adorable and perfectly quirky and the author's love for the city shines through on every page. The loving but complicated mother-daughter relationship between Riley and her mom felt realistic as did her 18 year old quest to truly find herself on her own terms.

There were some parts that were a bit slow for me but overall found it enjoyable and would recommend to YA readers and fans of the author.

This book had a great setting that really immersed you in NYC culture temporarily. The extended cast of characters added to the storylines. I did feel that the end was a bit rushed and I didn't feel a great resolution with his mom but otherwise it was enjoyable to read!

1 Sentence Summary: It’s Riley’s high school graduation and she has no idea who she is or what she’s going to do now—she was rejected from every college she applied to and has spent the last four years only doing what her mom wants—until she makes an impulsive decision to move to NYC for the summer and visit her childhood friend Tom to complete The Getaway List, a list of everything they’ve wanted to do together since he moved away.

My Thoughts: This was so cute!!! Emma Lord never disappoints. It was very well written and the perfect mix of fluffy cuteness and heavier emotions.

I loved all of the characters and the relationships—the romance and the chemistry and the FRIENDSHIPS omg why do I not have a friend group like this? Riley and Tom were so cute together. Childhood best friends to lovers?? Come on, so freaking adorable.

Also, the communication in this book??? Next level. Riley’s whole friend group was so good at talking to each other and having healthy communication. (And for someone whose least favorite trope is miscommunication, this was greatly appreciated.)

Okay, and tell my why all of Emma Lord’s books make me want to one, move to New York, and two, eat dessert?

(Oh, also, I love when books have other books in them that don’t exist in real life. Like, I want to read the Tides of Time series now, even though it’s not a real series!)

Recommend to: Fans of adorable YA contemporary novels featuring NYC shenanigans, amazing friendships, and friends to lovers romance.

(Warnings: swearing; parental neglect)

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Immediately after graduating high school, Riley leaves behind her uncertain future to NYC to visit her long lost, best friend Tom. While reconnecting with her friend, falling in love with NYC, and gathering a new group of friends, Riley finds herself.

A sweet, fun read with some great tension between Tom and Riley throughout.

Loved every minute of being in Riley's head as she narrates through this sweet, heart-felt coming of age novel. 'The Getaway List' is full of witty banter and New York City fun and shenanigans! It's also full of just-graduated-high-school teenagers finding themselves and trying to navigate their next move, to figure out what is best for them; not necessarily what their families are trying to push onto them. I loved this small group of close friends and especially liked the dynamics between Riley and Tom.

Highly recommended YA reading!

3.5 rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this new to me author. I really enjoyed the storyline and plot. It was quite cute at times. However somehow the story fell a little short for me. I liked the characters enough but I wasn't really deeply invested into them as I feel I am for other books. The romance was cute but at times I felt the story dragged on a bit or it's just that I wasn't super invested in it. Cute read and id definitely recommend for lovers of young adult books or NYC. I want to go to that brownie place!! Loved that plot point!

Pub date: 1/23/24
Genre: YA, coming of age
Quick summary: Riley graduates high school with no college acceptances and no clear plans for the future. So she heads to NYC to visit her BFF Tom, and an impromptu weekend turns into a summer to remember.

I love coming of age stories, and a summer in NYC with a best friend is such a fun plot starter. I liked Riley as an MC - some teens feel older than their ages, but Riley really felt like a new high school grad trying to figure everything out. I also enjoyed getting to know Tom as Riley helped him open up about his struggles with his family. There are some romantic elements, but ultimately this is more a story of friendship and finding oneself. This was a 3-star read for me because there was a little too much going on plot-wise, but I enjoyed the chance to visit NYC through teenage eyes!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another perfect book by this author. I could not get enough of Riley. Her growth as a character was absolute perfection. Emma Lord writes YA books that remind me of 90s romcoms in the absolute best way.

The Getaway List ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is such a feel good YA romance.

Riley and Tom are childhood best friends who were separated in high school. Riley lives in Virginia and Tom moved to New York with his mom. After graduating Riley impulsively decides to take a trip to see Tom. They make a plan to tackle some of the items on their “Getaway List” while she’s there. With the help of friends they accomplish them. Riley decides that she wants to stay in New York to find herself while Tom leaves for North Carolina. Will their friendship turn into more?

I loved Tom and Riley’s characters and how much they grow throughout this book. The friend group is great too and I liked how each one of them overcame their own struggles. I also liked how this is a closed door romance but also just a sweet romance too.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to read more from this author. Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @dilemmalord for my arc. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Emma Lord is an auto-read author for me. She has not put out a book yet that I dislike, and this falls in the same category. This might even be her best. I loved the friendship between Riley and Tom so much. I also loved all the side characters in this book. By the end they felt like they were my friends too. The setting was also just so dreamy. I love all books set in New York City. Books that include a plot about writing also just make me so happy. I felt like this book was made just for me. Truly, no complaints and no issues.

I love Emma Lord's books and this one was just as great. There might be some pacing issues, and some things that just feel like they could ONLY happen in a YA book, but overall this was a very enjoyable read! I absolutely loved the characters and felt like I was a part of the group too. Super fun read!