I cannot describe how much I loved this book. It was such a cute and fun read while also tugging at my heart strings. It took me back to when One Direction first started and how obsessed I was with them. I cheered and cried for Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna and grew frustrated with each of them at certain points (lots of eye rolls). I couldn’t put it down and can’t recommend this enough. It’s an insanely good second chance romance and second chance friendship, you won’t be disappointed!!

Road trip, broken friendships, and an unresolved love

I received an E-ARC of "Get Real, Chloe Torres*" and from the very first pages, I was captivated by Crystal Maldonado’s engaging storytelling. The book follows Chloe, a young woman about to start art school, who decides to plan the ultimate dream trip to fix a broken friendship. Her plan? Convince her ex-best friends, Sienna and Ramona, to embark on an unforgettable road trip to see their favorite boy band live. But there’s a catch: they haven’t spoken in a long time – and the reason involves complicated feelings and a kiss that changed everything.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is how it portrays female and queer friendships with sensitivity and realism. Maldonado explores the emotional impact of a "friend breakup" and how these relationships can be just as intense as romantic ones. Chloe still deeply feels the loss of her friendship with Sienna and Ramona, and her attempt to bring them back together isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about healing old wounds. The tension between her and Ramona, in particular, adds an extra layer of drama and emotion to the journey.

The characters are well-developed and full of personality. Chloe is a charismatic protagonist—determined yet insecure—which makes her incredibly relatable. Ramona and Sienna also have their own struggles and unresolved feelings, making the trio’s dynamic both engaging and full of bittersweet moments. Maldonado crafts authentic relationships, steering clear of obvious clichés and showing that friendships are complex and require effort to mend.

The road trip isn’t just a fun adventure—it’s a symbol of the characters’ personal growth. Each stop along the way presents challenges and conversations that force them to confront their past. The car becomes a space where all emotions come to the surface, making the journey as internal as it is external. Additionally, their love for the boy band adds a nostalgic and humorous touch, making the reading experience even more enjoyable.

Maldonado’s writing style is light and immersive, perfectly capturing teenage dialogue and emotions. The conversations between the characters feel natural, filled with pop culture references and funny moments, yet also deeply emotional. The author strikes a great balance between humor, romance, and drama, creating a story that is both entertaining and meaningful.

Overall, "Get Real, Chloe Torres" is a heartfelt read about friendship, identity, and growing up. Once again, Maldonado delivers an authentic, representative, and emotionally rich story. It was a privilege to receive the E-ARC and experience this journey firsthand. For those who love stories about second chances, deep connections, and a great queer romance, this book is a must-read!

I was given the pleasure of reading this ARC via Netgalley.

I quite enjoyed this book, it follows 3 women as they reunite and go on a roadtrip to see their favourite boy band, the band in witch gave me one direction vibes.

In terms of rep, there is a Lesbian with ADHD Rep and a Gay Man/Drag Queen Rep too.

I quite enjoyed the plot and found it easy to follow and get emersed in the story.

In terms of spiciness, there is no spiciness in this book, i would've liked to of seen at the very least a spicy scene between Chloe and Ramona, if not a spontaneous threesum "friends with benefits style" between the 3 women.
However obviously i understand this was not the approach intended by the author, this story was intended to be sweet and cute with a hint of romance.

For the lack of spice/romance though, I've deducted a star.

Otherwise, would i recommend this book? Definitely. If you're Lesbian, Have ADHD or Queer like myself, you'll quite enjoy this book.

As always, i would like to thank Crystal Maldonado and Holiday House for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will certainly check out more of Crystal Maldonado's works in the future :)

Crystal Maldonado books have a lot of things I like and "Get Real, Chloe Torres" is no exception. This feels like a very current, very now YA book, despite some obvious Crossroads influence (and if you get that reference you'll know I'm well past YA age).

-Who doesn't love a roadtrip that ends with your seeing your favorite band in Las Vegas?

-As usual, Maldonado's main characters have sweet, very caring relationships with their parents and/or guardian figures.

-Throwback to other characters from previous books always feels like a fun Easter Egg. Love seeing what they're up to.

In short, this was a quick fun read that touched on some serious topics. Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for my advanced reader copy.

Pub Date: May 13, 2025

I enjoyed the characters but stretches of the book had me losing interest. I didn’t fully connect with the content but there is a good book here and I know it will be a favourite book of the target audience.

Thanks to NetGallery for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have enjoyed every book by Crystal Maldonado and I especially appreciated the queer/fat/ADHD rep in this book.

The story of reconciliation after senior year plus the bucket list was moving. I wish we had seen a bit more of the buildup of the romance between Chloe and Ramona but they had some sweet moments. I liked seeing Whit and Zay from previous books.

A fun, light, summery read about friendship -- and how we find our way back to it.

I liked this book! I thought the main characters were great -- Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna -- and each managed to have their own distinct voice and personality which can be difficult when you're focusing so closely on multiple characters. I also adored the side characters -- Papi, Diego, and Karina were especially well written.

The relationship Chloe has with her family is, like I previously said, so well-written and authentic. She loves Karina, her stepmother, but also worries about how where she'll fit into her family when she leaves for college and her new baby sister is born. I loved her Papi too, who cares deeply for Chloe and is also struggling to adjust to her growing up. Their relationship is just so sincere and realistic. Diego was a breath of fresh air with his humor and grounding presence for Chloe throughout.

Of all the storylines, I was most invested in Sienna's. I feel like she was given the most to work with and had the deepest plot points. Ramona and Chloe's storylines were also obviously compelling, but I think Sienna's was fleshed-out the most of all.

The plot worked for me -- I love a road trip story and I love a "bucket list" story so this combined both of my favorite things! I also enjoyed the tension surrounding rekindling an old friendship. It's a topic that hits close to home for many people -- how do we navigate growing up and leaving behind those we used to love? Can we reconnect with lost friends or is sometimes the past too far away?

Lots of stellar representation in this -- body diversity and a fat MC, ADHD rep, lesbian, bi, pan, and gay characters, drag queen characters, and Latine characters.

Unfortunately, I didn't loveeee the romance as much as I wish I had. I think if it had been focused solely on the friendship aspect, it would've worked better for me. I thought they were cute together, but Chloe's crush seemed to flip about halfway through the book, and it was a bit jarring. I think no romance would've allowed the friendship to be deepened either further. However, they had some cute moments, and I wasn't dissatisfied in the end!

Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I was able to get through it pretty quick so it definitely kept my attention! Just a nice, fluffy, fun read that had me considering my own past friendships!

3.5 stars

Chloe Torres is facing alot of change. She just graduated high school. Summer is almost over and she starts college soon. Her dad and step mom are having a baby. She is struggling to handle all the changes. She runs into her estranged best friends from middle school one day. A few days later her dad gives her three tickets to see a reunion concert of her favorite band in Las Vegas. Chloe decides to see if her friends would be willing to get back together for a road trip to see their favorite band.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s alot of fun to get to take the road trip with three queer brown girls as they learn a lot about themselves and their friendship. I also really loved the character Diego, her queer cousin, who is a drag queen. My only issue that Some of the story seems a bit unbelievable, like how each girl can easily get time off from work last minute for more than a week to travel to the concert. But if you ignite that, you will enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Get Real Chloe Torres

Chloe Torres is facing alot of change. She just graduated high school. Summer is almost over and she starts college soon. Her dad and step mom are having a baby. She is struggling to handle all the changes. She runs into her estranged best friends from middle school one day. A few days later her dad gives her three tickets to see a reunion concert of her favorite band in Las Vegas. Chloe decides to see if her friends would be willing to get back together for a road trip to see their favorite band.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s alot of fun to get to take the road trip with three queer brown girls as they learn a lot about themselves and their friendship. I also really loved the character Diego, her queer cousin, who is a drag queen. My only issue that Some of the story seems a bit unbelievable, like how each girl can easily get time off from work last minute for more than a week to travel to the concert. But if you ignite that, you will enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Maldonado is a must-read author and a favorite storyteller of mine. Her characters are smart and I love the self exploration themes throughout her books. Her latest title is no exception. It is full of memorable moments and thought-provoking situations. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I think Maldonado's writing just isn't for me! I always think her books sound really good, and then I don't end up loving them - and unfortunately, this was my least favorite so far. I thought Chloe read very young (there are plenty of books out there about 18 year olds being scared of growing up where the character still feels like an 18 year old). I also felt like the relationship development between the three friends, and particularly Chloe and Ramona, was rushed and didn't feel earned. Overall this just was not for me!

3.75 stars

As soon as I saw the blurb for Get Real, Chloe Torres I knew I had to read it, as I'm always looking for sapphic neurodivergent books, and I wasn't disappointed. It was such a heartfelt coming of age story with great ADHD and sapphic representation. While I did enjoy reading it I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, but overall I would definitely recommend it if you want a fun and quick read. I will definitely read another book by this author soon.


Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

Crystal Maldonado’s Get Real, Chloe Torres is a delightful and empowering YA contemporary novel bursting with humor, heart, and authenticity. Chloe Torres is a lovable, relatable protagonist navigating the ups and downs of teenage life, friendship drama, and self-discovery. Maldonado masterfully tackles themes of identity and self-acceptance with her trademark wit and charm, creating a story that feels as real as it is uplifting. A must-read for anyone who loves vibrant, feel-good stories with an empowering message.

Thank you, Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC!

I enjoyed how this book explores growing up and coming of age. I like how the book deals with an aspect of growing up that people don't acknowledge, and that is how your relationships change with people over time. Also, the characters were very entertaining and brought life to the story. I do think there should have been less emphasis on the boy group "Intonation" and concert towards the end of the book and more on their relationship as friends

Road trip with ex-best friends to see the reunion tour of their favorite band?!? In hopes of rekindling their friendship?! Or more?! 🌄🚙🎶🏳️‍🌈

Chloe is about to go off to college when her family gifts her tickets to her favorite band’s reunion tour for her birthday. The only people she can imagine going with are her ex best friends who grew apart years before. They say yes to this wild adventure and the story kicks off from there ❤️

Snapshot📸
-cast of LGBTQ+ characters (lesbian, pan, gay rep)🏳️‍🌈 all latine characters, ADHD rep, fat positive
-EPIC ROAD TRIP ACROSS THE COUNTRY!! I loved how they were checking off bucket list items from when they were younger.
-sapphic romance 💘
-rebuilding friendships through the fangirl experience🎶

ughhh such a wonderful love letter to rekindling lost friendships and the connection we find while fangirling 💕 I have read everything by this author and looking forward to everyone experiencing this new novel. Thank you for the ARC✨

Unbelievable? Absolutely. But also, undeniably entertaining.

This book is a chaotic cocktail of teenage optimism, road-trip shenanigans, and enough drama to fuel its own reality show. But let’s be honest: you have to squint hard at the logistics. The biggest obstacle—convincing a parent to greenlight and pay for an extravagant, two-week road trip—is swept aside like it’s no big deal. Fun concept, sure, but Chloe’s dad’s casual generosity takes “suspension of disbelief” to a whole new level.

And then there’s the centerpiece of this wild adventure: the boy band concert, with tickets so good you’d think Chloe hacked the Matrix. “On stage” seats for a legendary reunion show? Getting those in real life would take sorcery—or a level of luck that makes winning the lottery look like a breeze.

Now, the characters. Oh boy. Chloe? Ambitious but sometimes exhausting. Sienna? She’s… there. Ramona? “I’m too cool to care, except I secretly care a lot” vibes for days. Still, credit where credit is due: the book captures the messy, all-consuming nature of teenage relationships, where every glance feels like a plot twist and every awkward silence could be a Shakespearean tragedy.

So, if you’re in the mood for a road trip story where logic takes a backseat and melodrama rides shotgun, this book is your jam. Just don’t think too hard about the money, the parental leniency, or how these teens can plan a flawless itinerary but can’t manage a single emotionally mature conversation. Sometimes, you’ve just got to buckle up, hit the road, and let the chaos unfold.

This book was a magical nostalgic journey! I loved everything about "Get Real, Chloe Torres", and I will definitely be purchasing a copy of this book for my personal collection along with a copy for my classroom.

Where do I even begin? This book was not only well written, but it takes place in an area that I actually live in! I love how Crystal Maldonado writes about Western Mass, and Massachusetts in general. Living here my whole life, it's so nice to hear an author capture the small town and quirky vibes of this area. I connected with this book because of where it takes place, but also because of the literal and figurative journey that Chloe takes throughout this book.

Chloe has grown apart from her middle school friends, but when presented with the opportunity to reunite on a road trip to see their favorite boy reunite in Las Vegas, she embarks on a mission to rekindle her lost friendship. Equipped with a love for "their boys" and a BFF bucket list, Chloe and her friends drive from Massachusetts to Nevada over a week's time reconnecting with each other along the way.

Epic friendships and fangirling for boy bands is exactly what I lived for when I was in high school, and this book is a love letter to both of those. I loved every minute of this journey, and now I want to plan a road trip of my own! I highly recommend this book!

disclaimer: I don't normally rate books, but since someone else on SG rated this 0.75 stars, I had to counteract it, and honestly, this book was near perfect to me so I'm okay with this rating!

It's no secret that I love Crystal Maldonado. The way she writes brings me back to when I was a teenager feeling all the things, and I particularly related to Chloe. She's sentimental, emotional, and dreading the next chapter of her life. For her eighteenth birthday, her dad gifts her with three tickets to her favorite boy band's reunion charity concert in Las Vegas. Four years ago, she had a falling out with her two best friends, Ramona (not sure if we're ever told her Latinidad, but she's brown) and Sienna (white Argentinian American), who she bonded with over Intonation. Her cousin/best friend, Diego, can't go to the concert with her because of work, her dad and stepmom, Karina, are expecting a baby soon and can't go, and her one friend Whit (loved Whit's cameos!) already has tickets. So Chloe gets all up in her feels and finds the BFF bucket list she made with Sienna and Ramona in middle school. One of the items on the bucket list was to go to an Intonation concert together. She decides she needs to try inviting both of them on a week long road trip as a final hurrah to high school before they go their separate ways. And maybe they can even be friends again....

As always with a Crystal Maldonado book, I loved all the characters. They were complex and imperfect and relatable. Diego is a new-ish drag queen (fun! we love her!). Chloe's papi is SO endearing/funny in his protectiveness of her. Karina mellows Chloe's father out. Ramona has a tough exterior but is a total softie (don't tell anyone). Sienna is so bubbly and cheerful with a lot of pressure in her home life. Chloe's character really hit close to home for me, as I alluded to above. She has ADHD, and while not all ADHD is the same, I related a lot to hers (especially the time blindness!). She's so nostalgic, which fuels her to invite her former BFFs on a road trip (honestly so bold). She's impulsive when upset, and she's upset when her big expectations don't match up with reality. Sometimes I wanted to scream at her to stop living in the past, but then I realized I also live in the past sooo we love the introspection!

I don't really remember Chloe from Whit's book, so this has made me want to go back and reread that. Whit's book was my first five star read of 2024 and Chloe's book is my first five star read of 2025! (forget that I said I don't normally rate books, LOL, I exist in multitudes)

Read this book for:
🩷 a cast of queer characters, and a queer (sapphic) main romance!
🩷 a semi-love triangle (more like Chloe starts crushing on one of them and then discovers, wait no, she has a crush on the other!)
🩷 the magic you feel when seeing your favorite band in concert (iykyk)
🩷 ALL Latine characters! (Chloe is Puerto Rican, like the author)
🩷 ADHD rep!
🩷 road trips
🩷 reconnecting with old friends and growing together

Thank you so much to Holiday House and Crystal Maldonado for the advanced copy of this book!!! Seriously one of my most anticipated of the year, and you blew it out of the park. Can't wait for the next one!