Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Holiday House, for letting me read an eARC of this book! This book released on May 13, 2025.

In this book we follow Chloe Torres as she grapples with getting older, gradating high school, and eventually going to college. This book takes place during the summer before her freshman year of college! Chloe Torres gets surprised with 3 tickets to go see her favorite boy band, and she comes up with a hair brained scheme to get her old best friend group back together. She devises a plan to go on a road trip to Las Vegas with her 2 best friends whom she hasn't spoken to in years. They agree and off they go on a wild ride across the United States!

This book explores themes of love, loss, friendship, nostalgic boy bands, and growing up. I adored this book! Sometimes characters in YA books don't seem as old as they're supposed to be, but I feel like Chloe, Sienna, and Ramona acted perfectly their age. Their trip was a little chaotic, but in a good way. I adored getting to know the friend group and watching them work through all their issues. The queer representation was amazing also! I've never read a book that featured a drag queen so that was awesome. I loved it. Overall, I really enjoyed this book! There was something missing for me though, so that's why I didn't give it 5 stars. I think I just didn't connect with the main character as much as I had hoped I would. Otherwise, i highly recommend you pick this one up!

Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so fun!! I loved Chloe getting her old best friends together to go on a road trip of a lifetime together to fulfill an old bucket list and to see their favorite band. I really loved getting Chloe’s perspective throughout the book. Her personality, family, vibes, etc made the story so fun.

I loved how they slowly made their way through their bucket list throughout the trip. They were able to go and see/do some pretty cool things.

Since they haven’t spoken in a few years, they all have to have some difficult conversations with one another… what more of a perfect way to do that than being confined in a car and hotel rooms together for a week? They were able to display their hurts and frustrations to one another and work through them together. They were all able to be there for each other in different ways, and I loved watching their friendships blossom once again.

The slow reconciliation between Chloe and Ramona after their kiss 4 years ago felt authentic and easy to route for them. 🫶🏻

We don’t get to see him throughout the road trip much, but I truly loved getting glimpses of Chloe’s relationship with her cousin Diego. They’re so supportive of one another, and I thought it was so special that Chloe knew she always had Diego to come back to if everything went terribly wrong.

There’s queer rep (bisexual, gay, pan, lesbian), ADHD rep, fat rep, Latine rep… I meaaaaan, what more could you want in a YA novel?!

CW: abandonment, cursing, alcohol, fatphobia

Get Real, Chloe Torres (publication day May 13, 2025) by Crystal Maldonado is young adult chick lit of the finest kind–it centers on rekindling an old friendship, through a cross-country road trip and boy-band fandom!

Newly-graduated Chloe is working at her summer job as a non-Disney princess at little-kid birthday parties, when she realizes that a cousin of the birthday girl is Sienna–her longtime former crush, and one of her former two best friends, who went to a different school for high school and who she hasn’t seen for 4 years. Chloe has ADHD and is super-awkward when they interact. Then, later that night while she’s supporting her own cousin in a drag competition, she sees the third member of their friend group–Ramona–at the club, and hides behind the bar so she is not seen.

Chloe has a lot of feelings about leaving home to go to college–in this case, Rhode Island School of Design–and, after her father gets her tickets to see the famed boy band in Las Vegas for her birthday, hatches a plan to invite her two former best friends to take a road trip across the country (they are in Massachusetts). So she writes a letter to them inviting them on the trip and explaining why she’d like to rekindle their friendship.

And they both actually come! There are awkward moments, but Chloe is relieved to find that her former crush on Sienna is completely over. But she finds herself very drawn to tattooed Ramona, who had disclosed her own feelings about Chloe 4 years ago which resulted in Chloe ghosting her and the end of their friendship. So she has some bad behavior to make up for.

All three are different varieties of queer; Chloe is neurodiverse and fat; and all three are Latina–Maldonado does a good job of writing fat characters–I reviewed her Fat Chance, Charlie Vega two years ago. And I loved the road trip aspect, especially because Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Zoo had a small feature in the book.

I highly recommend if you’re looking for a YA road trip book primarily about friendship with great queer and fat representation!

This was a super fun coming of age summer road trip between three estranged queer friends who agree to take a road trip together in order to attend a reunion show of one of their fav boy bands in Vegas. I loved the female friendship in this book, the ADHD rep, the diverse characters, the humor and heart and of course the swoony Sapphic romance between Chloe and her former crush Ramona. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Sisterhood of the travelling pants and Once upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.

this one was so exciting and relatable! the whole aspect of fandom culture and a boy band was so nostalgic and hilarious i was utterly obsessed! the friendship group in this was also amazingly unique and misshaped and felt so raw as a girl who has experienced queer female friendships. Chloe was realistic and open and i loved that about her. Ramona was eerily attractive and cool which gave so much lesbian jealously 🤭. their whole relationship dynamic was soo adorable and i loved the whole rekindling!!!

This was a pretty sweet read. Getting to know Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna as they rekindle their friendship while on a roadtrip was nice 💖

There were several things I enjoyed about this novel. I loved (as always) the Puerto Rican rep, and we got the nice addition of ADHD rep. These felt authentic and familiar to read about. I also loved that our 3 main characters are all queer girls. I feel like this is not a perspective I’ve often had in books, so it was refreshing.

I think the main reason this is sitting at a 3🌟 for me is that something about the writing style just didn’t click for me. The pacing felt too fast for all the events that were happening. I didn’t feel like we truly got to exist and breathe in certain vital moments. I think this might be due to the shorter page count. I’m guessing it was meant to keep the story snappy and engaging, but I found it did the complete opposite for me ☹️

I would say that I genuinely want to reread this as an audiobook some time in the future to get a clearer sense of how I feel about it.

For the time being, I still definitely recommend it. It’s cute and sweet. It features a main character and a friendship I found myself easily rooting for. I’m never gonna be mad about that ✨

Chloe Torres’ wants to try to fix what happened between her best friends, and decides the perfect way is a ROAD TRIP! What could go wrong?

Lots, actually, as two weeks in a car with her, Sienna and Ramona brings up ALL the stuff from before.

Good if very light read. YA novel, with fun characters, okay plot and decent writing. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it, but it's a decent enough read.

Thank you @holidayhousebks @coloredpagesbt for the gifted copy! If Crystal Maldonado writes it, I’m going to read it. Get Real, Chloe Torres was one of the most fun coming-of-age road trip stories I’ve ever read!

Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna are the friend trio of my dreams and I found all of their characters to be sweet and loveable as they balanced each other out. I definitely related most to Chloe and her Type A with ADHD personality! Also loved the chronic illness rep because I wished I’d known how to handle my own migraines at 17 let alone have two friends who knew how to handle them.

I enjoyed seeing Middle America through these adorable (and Queer) young adult’s eyes as they navigated their way and found fun adventures to partake in. While there is a friends-to-lovers sub-plot, this story is very much a celebration of friendship and Queer joy. Also shoutout to Diego, the best cousin/best friend/drag queen a girl could ask for!

Read this book for all the fuzzy feels and to inspire some summer adventures ☀️

I adored this book, just like I adore the author. The characters were lovable, and Chloe's voice was both fun and heartfelt. The friendships were a standout for me, honest, supportive, and full of the kind of chaotic love that makes you wish you were part of the group.
If you're into stories with strong character dynamics, genuine friendships, and a lead who feels like someone you’d root for in real life, Get Real, Chloe Torres is a must-read. Crystal Maldonado's books are auto buys for me!

Thanks to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Crystal Maldonado does not disappoint in this absolute gem of a book!!!

Chloe, Ramona and Sienna's journey to rekindle their friendship was so beautifully written, and made my heart feel so full.

The writing style is super engaging and the pacing is perfect!

Please do yourself a favour and pick up this wonderful book!!

This book was so good! Maybe it’s because I was once a young girl deeply entrenched in the fandoms of various things, but this book just hit all the right notes. The book follows Chloe Torres in her summer before going off to college, who embarks on a cross-country road trip with her two former best friends in order to see their favorite band for a one night only reunion concert. This plot was enough to intrigue me and it didn’t disappoint. The book is relatively short, which made it an easy read; the road trip element made it so that the pacing was very consistent throughout. I never felt bored while reading this. This was a real love letter to young female friendships, queerness, nostalgia, and fandom. I’d definitely recommend this book, and it might be my favorite of Maldonado’s that I’ve read.

Thank you to Holiday House and Netgalley for my arcs, these are my own opinions.

Get Real, Chloe Torres was a blast, it's such a fun, relatable and hopeful novel. When I hear about this book being pitched as a sapphic romance with a boy band loving ex best friends i knew i would like it as a boy band loving lesbian myself.
This was exactly what i wanted it to be, it's a beautiful story about being oneself, reconnecting, forgiving and being present.
I loved Chloe, Ramona & Sienna as characters, i had some moments in the book where i thought the characters read a bit older than they are portrayed and i would have loved to see a coming of age maybe in university but even thinking of that i loved this, they have distinct personalities and i wish this book was longer just so i could spend more time with all the characters and Intonation.
Definitely recommend checking Get Real, Chloe Torres if you are interested in such a delightful YA title.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

This book was so cute! The premise of 3 friends reconnecting after 4 years, with them now being 18, for a spontaneous road trip to see their favourite band reunited was so fun.
I loved all the queer rep in this book and such a wonderful slow burn between two of the characters. The platonic and romantic relationships were all so well done. As a YA book, it leans slightly towards the older side, with Chloe, Ramona and Sienna entering adulthood. It explodes themes of growing up, finding out who you are, what you want and ultimately, friendship.

Chloe Torres is bold, creative, and ready for art school—but before she moves on, she’s determined to fix what’s broken: her friendship with her two ex-best friends, Sienna and Ramona. Cue a spontaneous road trip to a boy band reunion concert in Vegas—what could go wrong?

This book is a heartfelt mix of road trip chaos, unresolved feelings, and emotional growth. Chloe’s voice is funny, honest, and vulnerable, and I loved how the story explored friendship, queer identity, fat positivity, ADHD, and Latine culture with so much care.

If you love stories about messy friendships, second chances, and figuring yourself out along the way—this one’s for you. Crystal Maldonado delivers a charming, emotionally rich YA that’ll leave you smiling (and maybe a little teary).

Thank you so much @coloredpagesbt @holidayhousebks @crystalwrote for having me on this tour 🩷🌷

Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours, Holiday House Books, and Crystal Maldonado for sending me an early copy for tour! 🥰🫶 Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🥰🫶
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OMG! I loved this book so much and I think it might be my favorite of Crystal’s (idk though because I love them all 😊). Okay, let's start from the beginning - Chloe is dressed as a princess working a children's birthday party (what an opening!) when she runs into one of her two best friends from middle school. The trio had a messy breakup and hadn't seen each other all of high school so this sent Chloe for a loop. Since the group’s fallout Chloe’s best friend has been her cousin Diego whom I absolutely adore 🫶 and the two planned a bar crawl, but for museums, to celebrate Chloe’s 18th birthday. Chloe isnt a fan of change or growing up and her alot of things are changing in her life at the moment - she is turning 18, she moving out of state for college in a few weeks, her stepmom is giving birth to Chloe's first sibling soon, and so many other firsts that come with being an adult. I am a total Chloe in not waiting to grow up or have things change so I really relate to the character throughout the novel as she desperately tries to cling to nostalgia instead of looking toward the future. Unfortunately plans fall through for the birthday trip with Diego, so Chloe’s parents gift her with Intonation tickets - the boy band she and her friends adored in middle school. Their love for the band actually brought them together. Chloe’s dad is so beyond generous (and kind, caring, and protective - pls be my dad 🙏) and gifts her with 3 VIP tickets to the reunion show in Vegas. Chloe is beyond grateful but then realizes she doesn't know who to take. Until Chloe comes up with this beyond-crazy idea to reunite the friendship trio by taking a week-long road trip to Vegas and somehow the girls - Sienna and Romana agree. The three have become strangers in the years since their friendship and feelings (platonic and romantic) rise back to the surface for the girls during the week. Ugh, I love a road trip and this one is SO fun! 😫 I really felt like a fellow passenger while reading. The girls visit so many planned and unplanned places as they make their way across the country; each stop bringing a new surprise. It’s wonderful to see as the girls work through their past with each other and begin to reform their friendships. Chloe grew a lot as a character throughout the trip as it helped her become more independent and by the time she gets home, she feels a bit more ready for her future. Oh and of course, the love triangle resolves during the trip and I just love how it's handled and how they all three remain friends even with a relationship in the mix. I also LOVE Sienna and Ramona as their own characters. Sienna is very sweet and is excellent at planning things, I feel I have a special connection with her as during the book she has a migraine (something she mentions she has often) and as someone with chronic migraines, it felt amazing to be seen. 😌 I especially love how thoughtful Chloe and Ramona were while she had a migraine. And Ramona - omg she is super cool, has tattoos all over her arms, and is a tattoo apprentice. She has a rough exterior at first and we definitely see that at the beginning of the book, but she is loyal to those she loves, and once she lets you in, she's a total sweetheart. Oh and another thing, Chloe has ADHD, and it's shown throughout the book! I don't have ADHD - I don't think - I mean I actually might now that I’m thinking about it 😅, Autism and ADHD do go hand in hand 😂. Either way as someone with a neurodivergent brain, I think it was excellently represented. Overall, I really really loved all the characters (even the side characters), the story, all the vibes and thought it was such an amazing and fun read! 🥰
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Get Real, Chloe Torres is a perfect summer read for those looking for a fun road trip with queer Latine girls as different feelings and emotions are explored. Expect: a love triangle, fangirls, boy bands, adventure, and at the core, a book full of love! 💕
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Review ends here this is just a book tangent lol - When this book was announced, I was over the moon excited and then realized I never read Crystal’s previous book, The Fall of Whit Rivera. 🤦‍♀️ Curse you ARC pile I built myself! (read that in Dr. Doofenshmirtz's voice pls 😭) So I debated on if I should read it before starting Get Real, Chloe Torres, but Crystal’s other books were standalone, and Whit Rivera has all the fall vibes so I promised myself I would read it at the first hint of a cold breeze. 🍂 Welp, literally like in the first few chapters Whit Rivera is mentioned. 😅 Chloe and her are friends and she is seen throughout the book but not like a main side character I'd say. So you can totally read this as a standalone - I am just a person very passionate about reading/consuming stuff in general “in order”. Anyway, it totally wasn’t a problem in the end, I just wanted to share my own personal woes! 😂 But I am definitely even more excited to read The Fall of Whit Rivera and now I’m wondering is Chloe in that one??? 😮
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🏳️‍🌈Rep: Puerto Rician Fat Bisexual MC with ADHD, Argentinian Pansexual Prominent SC with Migraines, Latine Vegetarian Lesbian Prominent SC, Puerto Rician Gay Drag Queen SC

This was an extremely quick, and fun read. However, I think it tries to do to much to be really succesful to me personally. The set up for this sounded like an absolute blast, and honestly it was. However, the pacing of this book is just incredibly quick + it is a relatively short read as well. I do have to say that I did really like the road trip element. I thought it was really fun, and all the different stops they made along the way created some fun variety. On top of that the bucket list added for some fun shenanigans as well.
I adored the focus on friendship in this book, and I honestly wish it was the main focus of this book. Obviously there's a lot of hurt between these 3, and I would have loved to see them unpack that a little bit more than they eventually did. However, I did really love just how well they knew each other. Their dynamic together was so much fun as well, and I really loved the little moments they had together throughout the book.
However, the romance is where this falls flat for me. I really don't think it should have been included in the book. It is extremely underdeveloped, and I just didn't really see the chemistry there. I also feel like considering the very little amount of page time I just feel like cutting the romance and giving that page time to the friendship just would have strenghted that a whole lot more. I don't know if I'm making sense, but I do think the inclusion of the romance worked to this book's detriment to me.

I always love Crystal Maldonado books for their diverse representation of queer and brown characters. This was a sweet story of friends who had fallen apart who decide to take a roadtrip with the hopes of rekindling their friendship.

The roadtrip was a fun adventure as each character grew during the one week trip. The bucket list items were a fun way to draw the audience in.

I can’t wait to read more by this author.

We have seen things change in wavelengths between friends lately, due to more focus on interpersonal priorities, changing needs which don't connect anymore, but then you see these friendships which last despite the odds due to the focus on the moments of connection of being there together at the right moment, rather than basing off their personalities, which truly brings back the friendship to full circle, that you want to keep forever.

Well, in this book, Chloe had such a connection with her besties Sienna and Ramona, in middle school, but then sudden change in circumstances brings the friendship to an end abruptly due to different priorities and crushes. After a few years have passed, she is moving to college soon but she feels stuck, as if the world outside her is moving fast, but then she doesn't want to because she holds people far more important to her than other needs and she hates change. When she gets gifted tickets for a concert by their favorite band, she jumps on it to reconnect with them, to maybe make peace with the external world.

The book covers a road trip filled with items they plan on checking off their BFF list made years ago, what follows are great moments of self discovery, reconciliation, connection peppered with blooming of love, making it quite a heartwarming read. The writing kept me hooked till the end. The plethora of characters added their own touch to the whole story, bringing back nostalgia of pure connections. I enjoyed reading this one.

Book Recommendation - Definitely, for pure joy and fun of wholesome friendship connections.

Rounded up to 3.5 stars

When Chloe Torres plans the perfect summer to reunite her estranged childhood besties on a cross-country road trip to see their favorite boy band! —There’s only one problem: they haven't spoken in about four years.

I saw myself in Chloe and her friends. The characters and the storyline were relatable. It was nice that we were taken along for the road trip. I loved that this story was centered around a platonic relationship, but still had some romantic elements. I highly recommend. It is a great book to read for spring/summer.

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story! The characters were fun and all very relatable at different points. Crystal Maldonado also does such a great job with writing about complicated family dynamics without making it feel too heavy for the rest of the book. I think that this is a wonderful young adult read with great LGBTQIA+ representation that highlights friendship, family, and a little bit of romance!

If you enjoy reading young adult coming of age novels I definitely recommend it. Additionally, if you are looking for books to recommend for younger queer folks, this could be a great option.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the E-arc!