I will forever adore Emma Lord’s writing, and how wholesome her characters are. I fell in love with the found friend group, the friends-to-lovers arc, and the idea of an anonymous gifting service, because how wholesome adorable is that?!?! This was a wonderful summer read that I truly enjoyed!

Riley has just graduated high school and she’s unsure of her next steps. But she misses her best friend who moved to NYC a few years ago. The distance has made them grow apart so Riley books a bus trip to the city to see Tom. They used to have a list of things they wanted to do and see and now sees like the perfect time to check some things off their list. However, Riley’s mother is not thrilled that she’s leaving so soon.

Riley and Tom pick up right where they left off and their friendship is just easy. They hang out with another friend from their hometown and some of Tom’s new friends. As they travel all over the city, exploring and having adventures, Riley is starting to have feelings for Tom. Would it ruin their friendship if they took things to the next level? What is next for Riley? Is Tom happy in the city?

This was a cute novel about moving to NYC. I did this myself in my early 20s and I loved reminiscing on those first few weeks of feeling overwhelmed and on top of the world at the same time. Riley and her friends were surprisingly mature for their age. I think both younger and older fans would appreciate taking a chance on a new adventure.

Thank you @dilemmalord and @wednesdaybooks for my gifted copy. The Getaway List is out now.

Emma Lord explores the uncertainties of young adulthood so well.

In this novel Riley doesn’t know what she wants to do beyond high school so after getting rejected from every university she heads to New York to visit her best friend, Tom. Tom moved to the city years earlier and has slowly been pulling away from her, but for Riley he still represents the best of who she is. At odds with her mother over her (non)future plans, Riley chooses to explore her options in the Big Apple.

Finding the people who accept you as you are, navigating adulthood, being bold enough to strike out on your own (against parent advice) to make your own decisions and choices are some of the themes in this YA novel. Like I said, I believe Emma Lord really gets how hard it is to decide on a future in an ever changing, sometimes uncertain, world.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The Getaway List was a nice read from Emma Lord. While I did enjoy it, I didn't love it as much as her previous books.

It was a bit more tell than show in some parts and the chemistry between Riley and Tom didn't feel strong. I could tell there were deeper feelings but would have liked more moments between them. The friends group was great and I loved how they all connected over the summer.

I'm still glad I picked it up and the audiobook was an easy and quick listen.

A sweet coming of age story. I had moments where I found myself a bit bored with the predictability. That said, I really appreciated the ways in which the friends supported one another and created their own little community. Not only that, but the way in which Riley's mom grew to support her as well was incredibly lovely to see.

Emma Lord is an auto-buy author for one of my fav YA authors and, but this one might just be my favorite out of all of her books. The getaway list was filled with an insane amount of cuteness and had me swooning. I loved the coming of age and finding oneself narratives. I loved the adventure that Riley and Tom went on in the big city as they were reuniting after four years apart as well as the new friends that they made along the way. Overall this was such a heartwarming story and I can't wait for Lord's next novel.

3.5⭐️
This book is truly a love letter to nyc and I love that

-I enjoyed all the descriptions of exploring the city
- the friendships in this book were everything
- we love book loving characters

-took me a little while to get into it bc felt like the main character was a bit immature for 18
-a lot of the story discussed Tom & his mom and I wish we got a little more of that plot line at the end

The Getaway List was a great premise, I love thinking about what adventure next. This book felt like a great coming of age, "what's next" type of story. Some of the chemistry and some of the conflict wasn't believable for me, but overall this was an easy summer read.
Thank you Wednesday Books for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

"The Getaway List" by Emma Lord is a delightful contemporary young adult novel that captures the essence of adventure, self-discovery, and the bonds of friendship. Known for her engaging storytelling, Lord introduces readers to a cast of charming characters who embark on a fun-filled summer with unexpected detours and heartfelt moments. The narrative is sprinkled with humor, romance, and the inevitable challenges of growing up, making it relatable and endearing. Lord's vivid descriptions and witty dialogue enhance the reading experience, creating a book that's perfect for anyone seeking a feel-good escape. "The Getaway List" is a testament to the joys of spontaneity and the transformative power of embarking on new adventures.

I didn't love this one which was a shame because I've enjoyed this author before. Just didn't work for me, felt entirely too long and juvenile.

I read this a couple months ago and all I can think is that it was fine. Nothing really stands out to me, but I remember enjoying it.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a nice young adult romance. I forgot how much I love this author and how fun her plots are.

Riley and Tom were awesome characters that made me so excited to read their story. I love that they hadn’t seen each other in years, and we get to be there for their first meet up. They were both so relatable and realistic. I enjoyed the whole found family aspect of the story.

This was such a fun read. I loved the whole idea of the getaway list and going along for the journey. The whole book was very immersive and I had a great time!

3.5 stars!

I love Emma Lord and this was a sweet book where I mostly cared about the friendships and the rich and authentic descriptions of New York City. I liked all of the characters and I found myself smiling on more than one occasion. My main issue is that I didn't find anything surprising, but another great example of Emma Lord's exquisite writing!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Respectfully, Can I have my identity back now?”
“Ugh. I was really enjoying being hot, and nerdy and six foot holy shit. Can’t you just let me have this?”

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC. I was lucky enough to receive one of Begin Again and it made me a Emma Lord fan for life, so when this popped up, I knew it would be a must read.

Emma write YA in a way that makes me forget it's YA. The character themselves are just graduating high school, but they have so much dimension to them that I feel as though I am there with them, becoming a part of the friend group invited along on all of there adventures.

This story tackles something I think a lot of my generation can attest to--the feeling of obligation to pursue higher education and the fallout with your parents when you don't live up to their dreams and aspirations of you. As a teen we are almost forced into a box with others telling us what to do and where to go, but suddenly we graduate and we're expected to know how to be the adults we've been looking up to our entire lives.

I adore Riley as a character. Rebellious to a fault, and a little unsure on where her life is about to take her, she is so brave for uprooting everything she knows in for the sake of finding herself. I just visited New York alone for the first time just before my 28th birthday, and it was quite possible one of the scariest things I've ever done.

For her to do it 18 is unimaginable to me, but her coming out the other side note wanting to leave was something I felt at a cellular level. My first solo trip to the city mirrored hers so much, though I took a plane instead of a bus, I had to do the whole "figure it the hell out" thing with my friend refusing to meet me at the airport because it was a "character development" opportunity. Love you and hate you Mia.

I left that trip with aa new respect for myself and the overwhelming urge to do it again. Riley feeling like she learned to much about herself in the giant city was something I understood so well, and I wish I didn't have to see her story end.

Apart from my immense love of our Main Character, the entire cast in this story was so amazing, and the premise of "The Getaway List" was so fun, and something I wish my friends and I could've done growing up. Along with that I am never typically a fan of Friends to Lovers stories but everything about Riley and Tom was something I admired and brings back the reminder of how much our parents think they are there for us, when we feel quite the opposite.

There are so many little threads and life lessons in this book that I could talk about for hours, but honestly I think this needs to be a required reading for all soon to be graduating teens. The reminders that it's okay to make your own path, its okay to not know who you are. You are only 18, and you have your entire life to figure it out. Who you are today is not who you will be in four years, nor who you will be four years after that. Embrace it, make mistakes, love with your whole heart, and never forget that you are the author of your own adventure.

Such a cute read with the most lovable characters and sweetest love story
What I loved
Lovable and relatable characters
New York
Riley and Tom
Dear love
Friends to lovers
Fandom love

After reading The Getaway List I want to make my own and force my friends to do it with me.

First let me start off by explaining what a Getaway list is: Childhood best friends Riley and Tom, who haven't seen each other in 4 years, create essentially a bucket list of activities they want to do together that they were unable to do before. For example go on a camping trip they missed out on or go to a writing class about a book series they read as children and are obsessed with (I deeply respect their commitment to the book series).

What I liked: I liked the dynamic of the friend group and the found family concept was very strong. I also appreciate the romance isn't the main aspect instead the Getaway list is more focused on Riley and all her friends finding their place and how they can add value. As a young adult I completely understand the fear and gravity of going into the unknown and trying to piece together what you want your life to look like. I think the author did a great job of analyzing the different ways individuals respond to these difficult moments and that is demonstrated by comparing how Riley and Tom reacted. Although there are moments that leave you thinking and realizing everyone has their hidden structures this was also a fun read.

My only complaints: The part I struggled with was certain unrealistic parts of the book. For me the use of profanity throughout felt almost forced and as a young adult no one I have ever met really talked like that. It wasn't anything major it just didn't read right for me personally since the profanity felt overused and unnecessary at times at least for Riley's character. I think the use of profanity for her character was to give her an edge and it felt overdone sometimes. Also, again this is my personal opinion, I felt that the going out and about all alone in New York as an 18 year old girl was unrealistic. Riley had no unsavory confrontations with anyone and was never worried about the fact that she was alone which is fine she is a very independent main character but I felt that wasn't super realistic especially since it was a city she was unfamiliar with.

Those are just my nitpicks but I did enjoy reading this book and getting to see all the adventures they went on. If you enjoy a book with found family, advocating for your future, and romance that grows with the characters I suggest picking up The Getaway List!

3.5 stars

I have to admit a hard truth to myself. It’s time to accept it.

*deep breath*

I don’t enjoy YA romcoms anymore so I need to stop choosing them.

That was hard. I’ve always found them cute and charming and sweet, but the last few years I’ve found them unrelatable (says the 34-year-old woman 🤪) and too simple. A bit boring. And I’m realizing that makes it impossible for me to rate them objectively. There are a few authors that churn out really deep and enjoyable YA romance, but it’s few and far between.

So now that that is out of the way, here are some components to this story that I did enjoy!

This story and its characters are just so wholesome and sweet. There’s no debauchary, no scandal. Just good, wholesome young adults living life. (I don’t mean wholesome in a Christian value way, just in a not wild and rebellious way). The setting is fun (NYC baby!). I wish they would have given Tom more depth. He’s the character I feel like I know least out of this friend group, which is a bummer.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review!

This was a fun book! Right after graduation, Riley takes off to New York to visit her friend Tom. They both make some new friends. They decide to work on the activities on their getaway list. There are connections made and connections missed. And there is a little romance.

Emma Lord has a unique way of using words and creating characters who say them. The only thing I hate about the THE GETAWAY LIST is that I’ve let it sit in the need to listen to pile for wayyyyy too long. And now that I have heard Riley and Tom’s story, I’m wondering how soon it is too soon to listen again?

Three main things I loved about this book:
1 The adventure. The idea of the actual getaway list is so cute. I love that Riley and Tom have made it since high school and decided to achieve it after graduation.
2 The found family. It’s a favorite trope of mine. When the perfect group of people works together, and you look forward to group scenes, you know something is done right.
3 Multiple Swiftie and AO3 mentions. As a fan of both, it made me giggle and my heart happy!

I found Norma Butikofer to be a great narrator for the book. Excellent job at differentiating the characters and bringing them to life!

I recommend THE GETAWAY LIST as an audiobook. You’ll have a great time listening and might want to go on an adventure with your own getaway list!

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC!

Content Warnings: abandonment, bullying

This was a cute friends-to-lovers story about finding yourself in a new city. Some said it's giving "Welcome to New York" and "People We Meet on Vacation," and I agree.