If Emma Lord writes it, I will read it. As one of my favorite YA authors, Emma once again knocked it out of the park with the main character Riley a recent high school grad who is embarking on a summer of adventure with her childhood friend Tom. For years, Riley and Tom have added things and made plans to check things off on their bucket list. They've never quite managed to be in the same place to do it and now is the time. As they begin to work their way through this list, Riley begins to make some big self-discoveries.

Riley and Tom have been besties forever, but then Tom moves to NYC and contact has been dwindling. But when Riley gets the opportunity to spend a weekend with Tom, she jumps on the opportunity. It will be the chance to work on their Getaway List, a list of things they need to do in the city.

I read When You Get the Chance and I fell in love with Emma Lord, so I snatched this one up. It was okay. I didn't love or hate any of the characters. I wasn't completely in love with the story either.

Thanks for NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Norma Butikofer was a good narrator. She fit Riley's character perfectly.

I really enjoyed this! This author has constantly delivered for me and this was no exception. It was such a nice light, but still emotionally deep novel. I read this in the middle of the winter but it gave me all the summery feels. I loved the friendship vibes in this one! Riley and Jesse were so Finn and Abby coded. Though, of course the RileyAndTom friendship was the best part.
My only complaints are that I thought the pacing was a bit slow and a couple of the small 'reveals' were easy to see coming. I wanted more items from the list, but it kind of fell to the background instead.
Some of my favorite parts came once the mom and daughter reconciled and the mom was able to help with one of their final "missions." All things considered, I liked it a lot!
The narrator did a great job with the audiobook and made for an awesome listening experience.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book didn't work for me. I gave it multiple tries, but I just couldn't connect to the characters or their relationships. I felt that the narrator didn't really fit in with my perception of a teenager/young adult and sounded much older.

I have enjoyed all of the books I have read by Emma Lord and The Getaway List is no exception. It isn't my favorite book by her, but I still enjoyed it. It felt a bit long to me for some reason.

I found this book very difficult to listen to. The narrator spoke too slowly, and without enough emotion, to capture my attention. The plot moved slowly and there were not enough plot twists to keep me listening for extended periods of time. Overall, this book wasn't horrible but not one I would readily recommend. Mediocre in all aspects!

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Getaway List" for its endearing characters and genuine portrayal of friendships. While the transition from friends to romance followed a predictable path, witnessing Riley and Tom explore their feelings was heartwarming. The supporting characters added depth and charm to the story.

I express my sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for generously providing me with a digital review copy of this enchanting book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭
𝐁𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏.𝟐𝟑.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐻𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑃𝑢𝑏 𝐷𝑎𝑦!


It’s been a minute since I read a young adult romcom, and 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 was heartwarming and romantic, just what I needed to chase the winter blues away.

After graduating high school, Riley decides to break free from consistently doing the “right thing.” She packed her bags and went to see her childhood best friend, Tom, in New York City.

She and Tom had started “The Getaway List” when they were young, things they always hoped to do together. Now, with her in NYC, they hang out with an eclectic bunch of friends, even one of Riley’s exes.

What makes this an entertaining rom-com is that, within the friend group, there are romantic dynamics going on and anonymous gifts being sent, so you are not quite sure who likes whom. But you really want to root for Tom and Riley, or at least I did.

Besides some good romantic tension, there are some great friendship moments, and family plays a big part too as Riley’s mom keeps calling her home. 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺!


Thank you @wednesdaybooks for the gifted book. And thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted audiobook.

3.5 stars

I adored Begin Again by this author so when I saw she was coming out with a new book I instantly had to snatch it up! I really so enjoy Emma Lord’s writing style, she writes very fun and fluffy books that make you look at life in a new light, and enjoy the simple things. I found this book to be very fun and the New York setting was amazing because I love New York! Emma also has this way of coming up with unique ideas to add to her stories to make the story flow and more interesting, in this one for me it was the delivery app, how you could anonymously get gifts from someone and it would be delivered to you through a type of delivery service, and some of the most random things were delivered! I also loved the whole premise of The Getaway List, and the fact that the characters were doing this list after highschool while they were finding themselves. It was such a sweet story but unfortunately for me I had some high hopes for this one with loving Begin Again and this one fell a little short for me. My interest was not held the entire time, and I didn’t connect with the characters like I wanted to, and it could be my mood. Emma’s writing is magical, and im hoping to give this another go in the future and i’m sure I’ll connect with it more and end up loving it!

4.5 Stars

I’ve genuinely loved every Emma Lord book I’ve read because she captures the magic of what it’s like to truly be on the verge of becoming a new adult; that weird time between senior year and OMG I JUST GOT DROP KICKED OUT OF THE NEST. The Getaway List might be her best version of this time in a young adult’s life and reading it as a 34 year old filled me with so much nostalgia. It almost felt as if I was reading a love letter I would write for my younger self.

Riley has just graduated high school and has a plethora of college rejections and is almost gleeful about not knowing where she wants to go with her future. Her mom (almost a Lorelai Gilmore like character) has helped keep Riley on a track towards success and Riley is ready to have one last adventure before committing to any future.

Enter: The Getaway List - the list she and her somewhat estranged bff, Tom, created as a way of staying connected after a move forced them apart. After realizing she is an “adult”, Riley heads off to find Tom in NYC and fulfill the missions on their lists. As they reconnect, new friendships are formed, relationships are tested, and unsuspecting feelings emerge. And it’s all done in such a magical way as our characters traipse through NYC.

I loved how the friendships were handled and the topic of forging one’s own path were the main focuses. The romance was there and cute, and I did find myself wanting a bit more, but I was still squealing as I watched it unfold.

This story gave me a bit of the vibes of that one Gilmore Girl episode where Rory skips school to head to NYC to see Jess and they have their magical day together and then Rory misses Lorelai’s graduation had. I definitely recommend!

Also, I listened via audio and the narrator does an incredible job and I absolutely enjoyed it and would 100% recommend that version if you enjoy listening to your books!

Cute. Nothing too deep, simple friends to lovers. 18 year olds finding themselves and their independence as they enter adulthood. The world is theirs and they finally have friendships that matter, a few hiccups along the way and a goal to do all the things on their getaway list.

December 17, 2023
No one does YA like Emma Lord. This was a wonderful coming of age story that is so sweet and charming.
We meet Riley who has just graduated high school, and does not know what she wants to do next. She's enrolled on her local community college, but not for anything she is passionate about. What she does know is that she misses her best friend Tom, who moved to New York a couple of years ago. On a whim she decides to go visit him in New York. When there they decide to complete a Getaway List they came up with when he moved away. A set of adventures to do when they are reunited. What ensues is fun outings with new and old friends. Riley and Tom have to deal with their feelings for each other and their issues with their mothers.
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy. The audiobook was great and Norma Butikofer did an amazing job narrating.

The Getaway List had loveable characters and I really enjoyed the found family aspect of the novel. Riley’s character arc was relatable being a teen and finding her own way without a meddlesome parent to dictate it. There were tender moments between best friends Tom and Riley that were sweet and I liked how supportive the new found friends were of each other.

Also, the narrator did a great job with keeping me engaged within the story.

3.5 rounded up to 4 based on the strength of the ending.

The Getaway List is a sweet coming of age story with a lot of heart. Riley graduates high school without a clear plan for her future. A spontaneous trip to NYC to see her best friend Tom might just be what she needs to jump start the next phase in her life. Having spent high school apart, the two friends added items to their getaway list to be completed when they were together again. As the being to work through the list, Riley finds her direction.

While I enjoyed this book, I did feel that the beginning was rather slow. I loved the concept of the getaway list and found the dynamic between Riley and Tom to be effortless and genuine, but much like Riley, I felt a lack of direction. I kept waiting for something that took a while to come. And when it finally did, it was so satisfying.

The book really picked up for me in the final third as secrets were revealed and Riley had honest conversations with multiple important people in her life. And then by the time the epilogue rolled around, my heart was full. The ending was so strong and satisfying. If you love a good coming of age story, this book is for you.

This was everything I wish I had when I was eighteen.

Riley's journey of self discovery as she grapples with her flawed relationship with a mother who had her way too young was something I related to deeply. The later revelations about Tom getting overwhelmed after moving to a big city and losing himself and his happiness were also massively relatable to my experiences at eighteen. There were so many quotes that resonated <i>hard</i> and I found myself wishing for a physical copy so I could highlight all of the lines I loved.

My favorite part of the whole novel, though, was the friendships. Riley, Tom, Mariella, Luca, and Jesse were a powerhouse found family and I squealed at each adorable interaction between members within this friendship circle.

Overall, this review is going to be unusually short for me because I have no notes. Emma Lord seriously knocked this one all the way out of the park. The plotting was perfectly paced and gripping, the characterization was strong, and the relationships between all of the characters were heartfelt and resonated greatly with me. This was the first book I read in 2024 and I really started the year out with a bang because this is already a favorite.


<b>Audiobook Review:</b> Norma Butikofer’s performance was amazing! Her voice is generally very pleasant, but her acting really brought this novel to life.


<b>OVERALL RATING:</b> 5 stars.


<i>A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!</i>

4.5 Stars, rounded up!

If you are looking for a sweet YA RomCom, pick up The Getaway List!
🚲 Coming of Age
🚲 Finding Yourself
🚲 Best Friend Banter
🚲 Will they or Won’t they?
🚲 Summer of Adventures
🚲 New York Setting

This book starts with Riley’s high school graduation - she’s ending one chapter, but is at a loss for what comes next. On an impulse, she jumps on a bus to visit her best friend Tom in NYC. And her summer adventure begins - reconnecting with Tom, meeting new friends, and finding who she is in this new stage of her life.

Ms. Lord creates characters that are easy to connect with from the first page. The pages flew by as Riley discovered herself in her first time away from home. And The Getaway List (a list of adventures for Tom and Riley to go on together) is the perfect background for a summer of discovery. I laughed and smiled a lot throughout the book, it’s just a great feel-good read.

I listened to the audio book, narrated by Norma Butikofer. She does a great job capturing Riley, especially her joy in exploring NYC and I loved the banter between Riley and Tom. This was a pleasure to listen to!

I loved it! Such a cute story about finding and making your own success, future and finding yourself. It was so well done and the characters were so relatable and likeable. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley, Emma Lord and the publishers for the arc!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Emma Lord for this delightful audiobook. The reader did a fabulous job and was so easy to listen to.
"The Getaway List" by Emma Lord is a delightful and heartwarming contemporary romance that takes readers on a journey filled with love, self-discovery, and unexpected adventures. The characters are well-developed, and readers will find themselves easily relating to Riley’s quirks and insecurities. As she embarks on the adventures outlined in the getaway list, the novel explores themes of personal growth and the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone.
The chemistry between Riley and Tom adds an extra layer of charm to the story. Lord skillfully builds the romantic tension, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages to see how the relationships unfold. The picturesque settings and vivid descriptions enhance the overall reading experience, making it easy to envision the characters' escapades.
One of the strengths of "The Getaway List" is its ability to balance lighthearted moments with deeper reflections on life and relationships. The novel is a perfect blend of feel-good moments and poignant insights, making it a satisfying read for fans of sweet contemporary romance.

Another great book by Emma Lord. It was fun and cute and had romance in all the right places. I thouroghly enjoyed listening and was sad when it ended.

This book was such a sweet, well-written YA coming of age novel. Tom and Riley were both very likeable characters who were each struggling to figure out what to do next after high school graduation. It had typical themes of expectations, both parental and self-imposed. Underneath it all was a lovely friendship and two people finally realizing that there might be more than just friendship involved.

I also loved the New York setting and the app that that played a big role in the plot of this book. I highly recommend this book both to a YA readers and older readers who want to be reminded of this time in their lives.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC of this book.