The book is about a group of teens who were once very close childhood friends. As they got older, they drifted apart. Grace, trying to fix things before they all go to different colleges, plans a day for her, Isa, and Everett to skip school and explore Philadelphia. Their adventure doesn’t go as planned, though. Meanwhile, Grace’s brother, James, spends the day trying to figure out what’s going on and looking for his sister and her friends.

K.L. Walther writes about the bittersweet feeling of growing up, showing how one moment you’re a kid, and the next, you’re about to face adulthood. The story is filled with hidden secrets and feelings that come to light, showing how quickly things can change. It’s a reminder to enjoy every moment before it’s gone.

While the story includes romance, it also talks about important issues like grief, anxiety, depression, loyalty, and forgiveness. The book was inspired by Ferris Bueller's Day Off and has fun nods to 80s movies. It’s a sweet read that will especially connect with younger readers about to experience big changes in their lives.

Very cute book, with some sad moments. It was a love letter to Philadelphia and left me wanting more of the city! As someone who loved Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, I most definitely appreciated the homage as well as the Easter eggs. I did think it was a bit brand-heavy, which at times almost felt like I was experiencing ads while reading. But overall it was a fun read.

Thank you Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a fun and fast-paced book about a group of friends skipping school to revisit some of their favorite memories together from growing up. This book was filled with nostalgia and although this book was overall fun and lighthearted, it did touch on some heavier and more emotional topics throughout that I thought was handled well and with care. I liked how the book was quick paced, but I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. Overall, this book was good, but not my favorite by the author.

Personally, remixes of popular culture content are a favorite of mine. I find it makes for an entertaining experience when readers have a general idea of where the story will end up, because they're familiar enough with the original premise.

Grace, Isa, and Everett take Philadelphia by storm while they skip school and attempt to relive their happier days. Through many antics, we see each character's POV, along with James, who was not part of the plot. It's amazing how in such a short book, each character had a full story where readers got to see their backstory, their joy, and their plans for the future.

I loved it.

While We're Young captures the chaos of senior year friendships, first loves, and the bittersweet feeling of growing up. K. L. Walther delivers another engaging, nostalgia-filled story, this time set against the backdrop of a whirlwind day in Philadelphia. The dynamic between Grace, Isa, and Everett—once inseparable but now tangled in romantic complications—drives the novel, making for plenty of tension, humor, and heartfelt moments.

While I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure and the natural, witty dialogue, the tangled relationships and miscommunications sometimes felt frustrating rather than compelling. Grace’s determination to "fix" everything made her a relatable but occasionally exasperating protagonist. The book thrives in its big, cinematic moments—crashing a wedding, racing up the Rocky steps—but some of the emotional beats didn’t land as strongly as I’d hoped.

Overall, this was a fun, emotional read, but it wasn’t my favorite of Walther’s books. Fans of her signature blend of romance and friendship drama will likely enjoy it, especially those looking for a lighthearted yet sentimental take on the uncertainty of life after high school.

While We’re Young is a gender swapped nod to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that also serves as a love letter to Philadelphia. Grace, Isa, and Everett were the best of friends, an unbreakable trio, before Everett broke up with Isa freshman year fracturing their friendship. Three years later, Grace plans a last-minute senior skip day hoping to repair their friendship before graduation. Left out is James, Grace’s brother, who was the fourth part of their friend group when they were younger but has felt overlooked for a while. As the three visit various sites throughout the city of Philadelphia, with James on their heels, they must learn to forgive each other so new relationships can emerge. This book had me laughing out loud at parts, but other parts were more serious and tender. You get to hear each character’s POV, which was entertaining, and the descriptions of Philadelphia landmarks was a bonus.

4 friends. Grace is class president, the "perfect" daughter, and just might be in love with her best friend's ex. Isa is the perfect student, destined for Ivy League, and is in a secret relationship. Everett used to be the third in the best friend trio until he dated one and fell in love with the other, and could really use his friends back after losing his dad. And then there's James... the guy who's always getting into trouble, misses hanging out with his twin sister, and, oh yeah, is in love with her best friend.

1 day of skipping school filled with adventure, secrets, lots of tangled feelings, intertwined relationships, and just maybe a chance to get it all right before they graduate.

This book was so fun! I loved all the references to Ferris Beuller's Day Off. I'm glad each character had a POV so that we got to see their perspective throughout the day as all 4 of them come together to share their secrets and work out their issues. A perfect quick YA read with laughs, drama, adventure, and heart.

2.75 stars

While We're Young by KL Walther is a updated version of Ferris Bueller's Day Off with three best friends Grace, Isa, and Everett finding ways to skip school in order to head to Philadelphia for a day of reconnecting. In order to pull this off, there are countless hijinks, secrets revealed, and a love triangle (or love quadrilateral?). Add in a dash of pressure from overbearing parents, stupid school staff, and a bucket of fake vomit and you have While We're Young. Told from the POV of ALL the characters, the only character I really enoyed reading was James. His POVs had me cackling and he seemed like the most level-headed of the quartet.

I really loved Walther's The Summer of Broken Rules. It was just so cute and fun and easy to read. While We're Young felt like I was dropped into a story that had already started, but I didn't get any notes as to the background of the group. I think the problem is that this one was written so young, if that makes sense. I think I would have loved it as a younger teen, but it seemed even young for a YA novel. I hate to say that maybe I'm not the right demographic for this author's writing style anymore.

There are a number of great reviews out there, so I encourage you to try this book for yourself! It does have it's fun parts, and as one living in central PA I personally enjoyed all the Philadelphia and other PA references.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a cute, quick read and a modern YA take on Ferris Bueller's day off. I enjoyed spending the day with Grace, Isa, Everett, and James.

I had a really hard time reading this and tried for 100 pages. It didn't give a lot in terms of character and likeability. This could be someone else's cup of tea but unfortunately was not mine.

If you’re a fan of “Ferris Buellers day off” you’ll love this book. 3 friends who are about to embark on their college careers decide to play hookie, what could go wrong? Everything? This book has drama, humor, heartbreak and some light romance.

#whilewereyoung #netgalley
**A Heartfelt and Hilarious Coming-of-Age Adventure**

This delightful novel perfectly captures the chaos and charm of teenage friendship, love, and self-discovery. Grace, Isa, and Everett’s tangled history set the stage for an unforgettable senior skip day filled with humor, heartache, and unexpected moments of connection.

The author brilliantly weaves together complex emotions and witty dialogue as Grace plans a spontaneous day in Philadelphia, hoping to heal old wounds and rekindle friendships. From iconic city landmarks to hilarious mishaps (like crashing a wedding), the adventure keeps readers entertained while allowing the characters to confront their past and uncover hidden truths.

Grace’s unspoken love for Everett and Isa’s secret romance with Grace’s brother adds emotional depth to the story, while James’s attempts to keep his sister in check provide plenty of laughs. The tension between the characters feels authentic, and their gradual growth and vulnerability make their journey all the more relatable.

With its perfect blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and a touch of romance, this book is a must-read for fans of coming-of-age stories and messy, unforgettable friendships. It’s the kind of story that leaves you smiling and reflecting on the bonds that shape us as we step into the future.

I enjoy a young adult book every now and then and this sounded cute. While I did enjoy the characters, I had a hard time getting into it and keeping the flash backs and present time straight in my head. The friendship aspect was nice and it was fun to watch James try to figure out what was going on with his sister and friends.

I read/listened to the audio book. I’m sure teens will enjoy this more than I did. I think I will still look into other books by this author though.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 4 March 2025

A YA romance inspired by the classic film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? Say less.

As senior year comes to a close, Grace hatches a plan to create a memorable skip day for her and her two best friends Isa and Everett. Meanwhile, her twin brother James hatches his own escape plan from school to track down his sister and missing friends. A chaotic day of adventure and mishap brings these friends closer together, patching past wounds and exposing new romance.

While We’re Young is a cute YA romance, it touches upon topics of grief and trauma and gives major friends to lovers vibes.

Thanks to Random House, Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for my copy; all opinions are my own. While We’re Young is out now!

While We’re Young by @klwalther9

Thank you to @netgalley and @delacorteromance for the ARC of this book!

“A whirlwind romance inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off about four friends whose hearts are broken and mended over the course of an epic senior skip day—from the bestselling author of The Summer of Broken Rules!”

This was such a fun, easy and enjoyable YA Romance. This really centered on the importance of friendships in high school and how to handle the pressures that life can throw onto teens.

This was clever and had great banter and adventures for the MCs! I loved the audiobook too by @prhaudio with the Duel Narration between the 4 narrators. I thought they did such an amazing job bringing this to life!

If you like:
🩷YA Romance
👯‍♀️Importance of Friendships
❌Best friends Ex
💪Best friends brother
🤣Cute banter

Give this one a try!

#whilewereyoung #netgalley #youngadult #yabookrecs #friendship #friendstolovers #bestfriendsbrother #ferrisbuellersdayoff #bookrecommendations #bookreview

All the Ferris Bueller's Day Off magic & old school vibes!! I'm not necessarily the target audience, but I still had such a fun time reading this. If I had read this while being in the same era/age as the characters, it definitely would have been my favorite book. K.L. Walther does a great job balancing the fun, carefree attitude with deep, introspective moments. I do feel like the character arcs/issues were a bit unresolved at the end, but I loved that it stayed true to an overall theme of endurance through love and friendship.

This is the third book of hers I read, and personally I really like how there's always some type of quest that guides the narrative and moves things along in interesting and amusing ways. She just nails what it feels like to be a teenager on the cusp of the unknown, in the best way. And this one being based off of an iconic movie made it feel even more nostalgic and happy :)

3.5 stars rounded up <3

K. L. Walther, aka our YA Queen. For those looking to read books that makes you nostalgic for your youth. Walther always manages to capture the fun memories of sunny & younger days, youthful late night pranks, and young love. Her books are fresh air and always hinted at deeper themes without makes you too depressed. While I like this book, it wasn’t my favorite of hers! I think the multiple POV’s kept me from being too invested in anyone characters.

The senior “day off” was such a fun premise but wish more had been at stake! But that’s also something I love about Walter, she & her novels are just FUN! So if you’re looking for a break from your heart pounding, life or death novels. Maybe this is your sign to pick up her books!

This was such an adorable book! I do feel very old reading a book inspired by Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starring characters who weren’t even born in the decade after that that movie came out.

Now this might come as a shock but I really liked the miscommunication in this book. It felt really natural & not just put into the book for the heck of it. In fact all the characters felt very natural & fleshed out.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

YA is a tricky genre for someone in their 30s to read. I often really enjoy it but, of course, sometimes it will seem too immature.

My lukewarm reception of this book is more about it being intended for a different audience than anything about the actual quality of writing.

While We're Young has all the ingredients for a great, feel-good read: romance, friendship, and some classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”-inspired antics. It’s a whirlwind of a story that brings together four friends with messy love lives, broken hearts, and lots of secrets. And while I enjoyed the adventurous vibe and the strong sense of nostalgia, the book ultimately felt like it tried to do too much without fully resolving some of the emotional weight behind it.

Grace, Isa, and Everett’s complicated relationships are at the center of the story, and I appreciated the author’s attempt to explore the intricacies of their friendship and romantic entanglements. The tension between Grace’s secret feelings for Everett and Isa’s history with him creates a lot of drama, and I found myself rooting for Grace throughout. However, some of the emotional moments didn’t land as well as I hoped—partially because the plot felt rushed at times, especially during the chaotic senior skip day.

The day itself is packed with hijinks, like racing up the Rocky steps and crashing a wedding, which definitely adds to the fun. However, I couldn’t help but feel like the book became a bit too distracted with these side adventures, leaving some of the deeper emotional conflicts underexplored.

Overall, While We're Young is a light, quick read with some heartwarming moments, but it didn’t quite have the emotional depth or cohesion I was hoping for. If you’re in the mood for something breezy and fun, it might hit the spot—but don’t expect it to completely satisfy on the emotional front.