While there are a lot of things to love about this book, I found that it just wasn't for me! Nothing is wrong with it, it's more about my personal tastes!

We follow Chloe as she is facing some changes in her life : she just turned eighteen, she has to figure out what she wanna study, she's gonna have a baby sister...
She's not talking to her 2 best friends anymore, but when she is gifted concert tickets for her birthday she invites them, because it's their favourite boy band who are reuniting for only one night !
They haven't talked for a while, but they accept to go with her on a road trip to L.A, where the concert will take place.
I liked the characters and how they managed to work out the issues of their friendship.
Chloe has a great evolution regarding her fear of change.
I also liked the romance, it was sweet
It's a story about friendship, love and family. I had a great time reading it !

Chloe Torres, like most teen girls in her small Massachusetts town (and the rest of the world), is OBSESSED with Intonation. For her 18th birthday, Chloe's dad gifts her 3 tickets to the charity reunion tour the boyband is playing in Las Vegas. The problem is, the two other people she would want to go with haven't spoken to her in 4 years, and Chloe has to convince them to join her on the cross-country drive to Nevada. In an attempt to rekindle their friendship, Chloe tries to plan the ultimate road trip. Things get off to a rocky start, and Chloe isn't sure Ramona and Sienna are here for the right reasons. However, as the trip progresses, Chloe cannot ignore the past. Their friendship imploded for various reasons the first time around, and it looks like they'll be headed toward the same fate if they don't start communicating soon. Will their love of Intonation bring them back together, or will this trip be for naught?

I LOVE CRYSTAL! I would also say this even if she weren't my hometown author (I promise). I have loved every one of her books, and this one was easily her best yet. I loved Chloe and all of the girls; I easily related to them as a boy band fan and someone who has rebuilt a friendship through said band (it's the Jonas Brothers if you haven't guessed). Also, if you're a Western Massachusetts resident (or former resident), you'll enjoy all the little easter eggs from our happy valley! This is a book I really wish I had when I was growing up. If you like feel-good books, please don't let the YA label scare you away. Crystal has a true talent and is SO good at being inclusive in her writing. Chloe is my ADHD twin, and it was so nice not to feel so alone. I can't stop saying it, but I LOVE CRYSTAL AND HER GIRLIES!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

As a fan of crystal Maldonado, I love this book. The book reminded me of the classic “Crossroads” movie with queen Brittany Spears and Zoe Saldaña with the story really being about friendship and finding yourself in terms of who you are and love life.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC! Our three leads, Chloe, Sienna, and Ramona, are three queer, former friends who agree to go to a concert for their favorite band. But Chloe decides they should make it a road trip from Massachusetts to Las Vegas over a week. This book is still YA, but older YA (they are all 18) so there is a little swearing, drinking, and kissing, but nothing more. The beginning of the book felt a little cliché queer and almost gimmicky. But that fell away once the road trip started and it felt more realistic. Some plots were obvious, but all of the representation was nice. I was very unsure at the beginning but ended up really enjoying the book.

Get Real, Chloe Torres is a sweet coming-of-age romance about three childhood friends rekindling their friendship along a road trip to Las Vegas. Although I loved seeing them work on their friendship, I loved the road trip even more. It made me want to take on a road trip of my own. (Until I remembered I hate being in a car.)

Although the characters are eighteen years old, making them on the older side for YA stories, I do appreciate that it's innocent enough that younger readers can read this without any issues. The characters are exploring adulthood, but nothing they can't tell their parents (except the getting drunk part, maybe). This makes it the perfect book for younger teens who can't wait to grow up.


Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for giving me access to an e-arc for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book as it showed coming of age, friendship and a cosy romance. It had great varied representation throughout.

Thank you so much to @coloredpagesbt @holidayhousebks @crystalwrote for the advance copy of the book!

This book is out on May 13th, 2025.

I am such a fan of Crystal Maldonado that when I saw she was writing about a plus size character who is going on a road trip to see her favorite BOY BAND - say less, I'm there! If you do not already know, I am a fan girl through and through and love my share of boy bands. But this book is SO much more than our FMC Chloe love for them.

"Growing up seems to mean losing the parts of myself that have made me who I am. I don't want to get a job that keeps me so busy I only have four hours to myself at night - most of which I'll probably spend dreading the next day at work. It's inhumane and capitalistic and horrible and I hate it. But I know I won't have a choice."

Chloe is a newly graduate and embarking on her 18th birthday. Things in her life are changing and she is just not sure she is ready to grow up yet. She loves nostalgia and with her favorite band Intonation doing a charity gig in Vegas, she has been doing a lot of reflecting on the past. Her father and stepmom gift her on stage (you read that right) tickets to see the band in Vegas there are only 2 people she would want by her side. The relationship with Sienna and Ramona is estranged. We see Chloe's point of view of why she felt the relationships went astray and I was happy that she was able to have the conversations with both Sienna and especially Ramona on what went wrong all those years ago. Especially for a teenager, though reflecting back it may have seem like such a small thing but at the time felt like a huge deal.

I love Chloe's relationship with her cousin Diego who is more like her brother than anything. They are super close and share everything with one another. And guess what - he's a drag queen! Chloe's dad was very protective of her and for good reason. I didn't think he was super overbearing but just an average father looking out for his young daughter. He wanted to be cautious but at the same time knew that she needed to experience things on her own without him breathing down her neck. Overall the family was supportive of not only Diego but just in Chloe in general.

I thought the characters felt very much their age a la I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet a Woman. There were times where they felt grown but also times when I felt like they were normal 18 year olds experimenting and embracing their "freedom" being away from their parents. I love the representation that Maldonado wrote in the book! I love the openness of the girls' sexualities and how it was never questioned or was some big revelation, it just was.

This is not a long book and easily digestible in a setting or two. If you are looking for a book about friendship, reconnection, road trip, bucket list and of course boy bands - give this one a read!!

PS - As an adult reading this book, the quote that I highlighted above hits hard - oof!

PSS - HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS COVER!

4.5

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is ADORABLE. Oh gosh, it was such a throwback to my days as a Directioner (forever love Niall 💕). This book was very nostalgic in that way. I like how the plot progressed and watching the three work through their problems. The side characters like Diego were just perfect at moving the plot along while also being hilarious. I just love how the author emphasized how much music can bring people together. I wish I could go see a reunion tour of One Direction (RIP Liam 😢) with friends from high school that I don't talk to anymore. But being able to live it through this book was honestly such an amazing experience. Gotta go put together a 1D playlist now. I highly recommend reading this book if you're a fan of boybands, road trips, and yearning!

4/5 stars

Tropes:
Coming of age
Sapphic love
Pining
Love triangle
ADHD rep
Latinx rep
Fat positivity
First love
Road trip
Single POV

I really enjoyed how the author managed this friendship/ love triangle. It could've been really dramatic and over the top but it was surprisingly low conflict and focused more on Chloe's personal journey and the friendships. I really appreciated the honesty of these characters, despite this being a YA, they were having confrontations and conversations that I couldn't even imagine having at 18 years old. As a reader is easy to relate to Chloe's struggles and coming of age journey.

Overall, the story was fun to read. I loved the characters and the representation. Highly recommend for fans of low conflict, cozy romances, and coming of age stories.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House/ Peachtree/Pixel+Ink for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

The writing is very readable; I flew through this in a couple of hours. Based on the synopsis, I had expected more drama, but for the most part, any conflict that occurs is pretty quickly resolved.

I found the characters likable and easy to root for. While Chloe can come off a little too optimistic and naive, I found her rather charming and endearing.

Not gonna lie, I'm lowkey a sucker for books about fan wish fulfilment type stuff where the characters get to have their fan-ish dreams come true because I get to experience secondhand happiness from them, so this book made me VERY happy.

As a whole, this was a fun and easy read!

This was my first book by Crystal Maldonado, but I just read online that apparently Whit has her own book. I definitely want to read that!

Get Real, Chloe Torres is exactly what I'd hope for in a YA road trip romance: fun, heartfelt, dramatic, and just a little bit messy (in the best way, obviously.)

Chloe is navigating friendships, big feelings, and even bigger decisions as an 18-year-old, all while on a cross-country adventure to see her favourite boy band (also One Direction vibes? or just me?). I was hooked!

The ADHD rep felt super accurate, and I really appreciated how every character had their own layers from family dynamics to identity to emotional growth. It made the story relatable. I loved watching everything unfold. Oh, and I enjoyed my time so much when Diego made an appearance, I NEED his book (I'm aware that he doesn't have a book but I need it!)!!

This book had the perfect blend of summer vibes, emotional depth, and chaotic teenage energy. I flew through it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This was my second Crystal Maldonado book, and I loved it almost as much as I loved The Fall of Whit Rivera; I also loved getting a tiny peek at Whit and Zay.
Get Real, Chloe Torres is precisely what you would expect from a YA road trip romance.
It´s fun, cute and dramatic. I loved all the drama, Diego and I were sitting there eating popcorn and enjoying this mess because Chloe wants Sienna, Ramona wants Chloe, and I know I did say multiple times that I do not like love triangles, but this doesn’t count, it´s ok when he queers do it!!
In addition, the ADHD rep was really on point, and the characters are well developed, each with unique struggles, family dynamics, and identities.
This was a very fun and easy read; I basically breezed through it; it´s the perfect summer read. Now I am craving a road trip!

Get Real, Chloe Torres
by Crystal Maldonado

Chloe Torres, a spirited recent high school graduate, seizes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reconnect with her best friends on a nostalgic road trip to see the boy band that once solidified their unbreakable bond. However, as the journey unfolded, I found myself increasingly frustrated. Chloe, the main character, often came across as overly sensitive; while I understand the depth of her emotions, it began to feel repetitive as the story progressed. Despite my personal gripes, this charming young adult novel shines with its authentic representation of bisexual and pansexual characters. While it may not align with my age group, I can easily see how it would resonate deeply with younger readers, capturing the essence of friendship, identity, and the bittersweet nature of growing up.

I had so much fun reading this book! It’s the kind of book that feels like a big, messy, emotional hug in the best way. I loved Chloe as a main character; she’s funny, stubborn, full of heart, and her determination to fix a broken friendship (even if it’s complicated and kind of chaotic) made me root for her right away. The road trip vibe was everything I wanted, hilarious moments, awkward tension, late-night talks, and, of course, a lot of feelings bubbling up. I thought the way the book handled friendship breakups, crushes, and that confusing in-between space of growing up felt super real. Plus, the representation, from Chloe’s fat positivity to the ADHD and Latine identities, added so much depth without feeling forced. If I had one small thing to nitpick, it’s that the love triangle got a tiny bit messy at times (but honestly, it made sense for the characters and their history). Overall, this book had me laughing, cringing, and smiling like a dork by the end. It was such a heartfelt, chaotic, and joyful ride.

Sometimes the characters in YA books seem younger than their actual ages. In this book, Chloe Torres and her two best friends from middle school, Sienna Aguilar, and Ramona Cruz read like mature 18 year old high school graduates and maybe even older. Chloe split from her childhood friends when they all entered high school. It happens. Teenagers start to explore individual interests and spread their social circle. But when Chloe’s dad gifts her three VIP tickets to the trio’s favorite boy band’s reunion concert, she decides to reach out to her estranged friends.

Road trip books are some of my favorites. There’s something about the sense of movement along highways and the close proximity of people crammed into a car that creates good stories. Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna drive from Boston to Las Vegas, finding adventures and heartbreak along the way.

What I like best about the book is the young energy, the spirit of looking out at the world and knowing a life of possibilities is in front of you. As the three friends make their way from Niagara Falls to the Indy Zoo and on, past grudges fall away between them the way that only the young can let things go. The ride is chock full of funny, sweet, tender moments, sing very loud playlists, and truths. But it all comes down to three friends reconnecting as young women now and sealing their friendship before stepping out into adulthood. Strong supporting characters but my favorite is Chloe’s cousin, Diego, or as his stage persona, Coqui Monster. I enjoyed this book very much and could see it as a cute NF or Prime movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC!

This book was an okay read. I appreciate the representation, and I really wanted to enjoy it, but I feel like I'm not the intended audience. The writing style didn’t click, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters.
It's not a bad book, it just isn't for me.

The most adorable book about reconnecting friendships and the rocky relationships of being a teen girl. Watching Chloe, Ramona and Sierra reunite and form a bond was incredible and hilarious. Their antics and experiences were an absolute joy!

⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — 4.5 Stars!

Get Real, Chloe Torres is the ultimate feel-good, heart-tugging, summer road trip romcom you didn’t know you needed. Crystal Maldonado absolutely nails the chaotic beauty of friendship, heartbreak, and young love, delivering a story that’s as laugh-out-loud funny as it is tender and emotional. Chloe is a main character you’ll root for from page one — messy, creative, determined, and full of heart — as she embarks on one last wild plan to reunite her estranged best friends with an epic cross-country trip to see their favorite boy band. But this isn’t just about concert tickets and travel selfies (though those moments are a blast!) — it’s about repairing broken bonds, facing old feelings, and learning how to show up for yourself and the people you love.

What makes Get Real, Chloe Torres so special is its honest, joyful representation. From fat positivity and ADHD rep to its diverse Latine cast and beautifully written sapphic romance, this book brings so much warmth and authenticity to every page. The love triangle? Chef’s kiss. The banter? Absolutely perfect. And the emotional payoff? It hits so hard in the best way. Whether you’re here for the friendship drama, the swoony kisses, or the pure serotonin of a boy band reunion concert, this book delivers it all. Grab a copy, queue up your favorite pop playlist, and get ready to fall head over heels for Chloe and her crew.

Thank you to Holiday House and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I have pretty mixed feelings on this one tbh.

I loved the start, and the concept of a road trip to rekindle old friendships was really cool. It sounded so much fun and honestly, that aspect didn’t disappoint. I felt like I was really there with them in some moments.

I loved the romance. It was very sweet and felt natural.

The bits at the concert reminded me of my fangirl years and that was a lot of fun.

But something about the way this was written made it really hard to feel close to these characters for the longest time which did bring my enjoyment down.