While this will likely be marketed as "the queer boy band romance", this book is really so much more than that. It's really about the pressures and abuses of the music industry, especially on vulnerable young adults.

Much of the plot does revolve around the relationship that develops between Ruben and Zach and the story is told from their alternating perspectives. Ruben is gay and has been forced to remain in the closet by the band's management, so while he is out to friends and family, the broader public doesn't know. Zach on the other hand only comes to terms with his sexuality through his developing relationship with Ruben and this was covered with a lot of sensitivity. So even though Ruben and Zach come clean about their relationship early on with their bandmates and management, they are pressured and coerced to keep it secret and soon find themselves kept apart from each other in public.

Another big part of the plot deals with the serious substance abuse issues that another band member, Angel, is increasingly struggling with. This part I found harder to reconcile with the story of Ruben and Zach. While of course they were connected and spoke to the issue with the band's toxic management, I was far more consumed with worry and fear as Angel spiraled out of control and his friends and bandmates struggled to help him. This whole storyline was very realistic and will feel very familiar to anyone that has dealt with a loved one struggling in the same way. I only wish I had known this would be a substantial part of the story going into the book, because it was much more challenging content, especially if one goes in thinking this is going to be a light YA romance.

Overall, this book is well written and you really come to know and love the four boy band members, each with their own distinct personality. While the relationship between Ruben and Zach and sweet and charming, much of the book deals with much darker and more serious issues like addiction, homophobia, emotional abuse, and self-harm.

If This Gets Out is maybe the book I needed the most right now.
As a person who grew up on boybands like 5 Seconds of Summer and One Direction, this really made me relive some of my favorite memories. But also being so intrigued about what's going on in the music industry, this really entertained me somehow.
The characters of this book, Zach, Ruben, Jon, and Angel, will stay in my heart forever. They were so good.
I, personally, have always been a fan of Cale and Sophie's books. I read Only Mostly Devastated and the Friend Scheme last year when they have just came out and I love them so so much that I entered the book with so high expectations. As I also expressed to the authors themselves too, they did not disappoint.
Everyone loves a coming-out story. But this being so realistic made it even better.
All love to Sophie and Cale, this will be forever on my favorite books shelf.

I went into If This Gets Out having no idea what to expect as Sophie Gonzales always manages to surprise me with her writing. A romance between two members of the same band? Sign me up! I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to read this lovely book through NetGalley as it was more than what I could ever imagine out of the premise of this novel. Now, let’s get into the finer details of the writing:
Characterization: The characters of Ruben and Zach were believable and I loved reading their struggles and seeing the ups and downs of their psyches. There were many moments where Ruben’s actions blew me away! I love him. He is so unapologetically himself. I also have to give kudos to Angel’s character. Angel was a mess of a human being and I thoroughly enjoyed watching his journey.
Plot: I have been wanting to read a book following a boy group since my days of reading Wattpad stories and this book DELIVERS. I never felt bored of reading and there was always something waiting for me up ahead. I think a lot of people, including myself, only think of the bright side of the entertainment world, so seeing the ins and outs of it was astonishing. I can tell the authors did their research and it paid off.
Point of View: For those worried about reading a book in first person, trust me, this is a first person novel that is worth it. Ruben and Zach’s POVs are so unique and carry such intricate detail that it is easy to overcome the weird feeling first person occasionally gives off when done.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading If This Gets Out, but it really blew me away on how much love and research went into it. I ended up rating this book five stars because of how magnificent this book truly is. I cannot wait until the novel officially comes out later this year. This is definitely a book to keep on your radar as it is worth the wait. Happy reading everyone!

This book was seriously the cutest! I adored the characters, especially Ruben and Zach. I love that the guys were all completely ride-or-die, and that they always had each other’s backs. I can identify so much with Zach, as a bi person who has stressed and second guessed myself. This was my first queer book and I loved it! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc in exchange for my honest opinion. An aside; way to highlight the industry’s abuses especially for LGBTQ artists. Speaking up helps!

Note: I received an ARC via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow. What a page-turner! This novel far exceeded the expectations creates by the keywords "boy band" and "gay romance". The writing is fun, the plot is gripping and the book deals with a wide range of topics including self-discovery, being in the closet (by choice and due to outside pressures), the power structures and abuses in the entertainment industry and standing up to forge one's own path and identity. I highly recommend this title to all young adult readers and am sure they will find it as hard to put down as I did. Special shout out to the designer/s of the book cover, it's a great fit.

It was definitely cheesy, but in a good way. Honestly, I expected this considering that it's a gay romance inside a boyband. I really liked Ruben and Zach's character development (I wanted to see Jon and Angel a little more in depth though).

First, if there are any pointed references to any specific boy bands, I am not the person who would know. That being said it doesn't feel like it was trying to reference more than the culture that surrounds boy bands and the ways they've been managed (or MISMANAGED) in the past.

Second, I liked it. Truly. It was a fast, fun read for the most part.
Any overly dramatic miscommunication felt grounded in a clear understanding that these characters are young and under a microscope and a tremendous amount of pressure and maybe with more than a little past trauma and a peppering of unhealthy coping mechanisnms that most of us can at least empathize with.
It's also sweet and hopeful and I was impressed with how much basic research must have been done into the realms of the entertainment management to carry this off in such a seemingly realistic way.
The two voices and perspectives came together well, in harmony with each other, one might say, if one likes puns at all.

I would definitely recommend, and look forward to checking out more from both of these authors.

“It's been so hard for me to believe that being adored doesn't mean I'm one mistake away from being despised.”


If you are looking for an escapist read, look on further. If This Gets Out is a cute and ultimately uplifting YA romance. It does have the sort of tropes and scenarios that you would get from fanfic but I happened to be in the mood for something cheesy and fun.
I have never been a fan of boybands nor am I into 'shipping' real-life people so I read If This Gets Out on its own merit (ie without drawing comparison to that boyband). Our dual narrators, Ruben Montez and Zach Knight, are members of a famous American boyband, Saturday. While Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon all love being in a band together and enjoy the perks that come with their job, they have little freedom (creative or otherwise). Their management has forced them into adopting a certain personality (for example Angel and Jon's 'personas' are shaped by racial stereotypes) and the boys are beginning to resent this. Ruben is gay and is tired of being forced to keep his sexuality a secret. Zach is not too happy with his lyrics always being turned down for not being 'pop' enough. Angel, who is very energetic and loud, turns do drugs and partying. Jon, who happens to be the son of their manager, is clearly not comfortable with being the band's 'sex' symbol.
On a tour to Britain and Europe, things get worse. Their management controls their every move and the boys feel increasingly under pressure. They aren't allowed to do any of the touristy things and their management are constantly monitoring them (often criticising them). Ruben and Zach become particularly close during this time and their feelings are definitely less than platonic. Zach, however, is unsure of his sexuality or what he wants and briefly, things between them don't go too well. Thankfully the story doesn't dwell on their disagreement for too long and the two get together. But as you might guess their management isn't too keen on their romance (given that their audience consists mostly of young girls they have to remain 'available').

The story is certainly entertaining. While most of the adult characters are rather one-dimensional I did like the dynamics within the band. Some of the disagreements between Ruben and Zach did not make much sense (especially towards the end, it seemed like the plotline needed an argument so an argument happened). The narrative mostly focuses on showing how controlling, manipulative, and downright shitty the adults around the boys are (Ruben's mother being the worst of the lot, even if she was not entirely convincing) and the downsides of fame (creepy/stalkery fans etc.). The story is clearly about the freedom to be yourself and being allowed to figure yourself out without others pressuring you into being someone you are not. I appreciated these messages and I did find the novel to be engaging. The writing was decent, but I did find myself preferring Ruben's chapters. At times Ruben and Zach seemed a bit undefined but I didn't really go into this expecting nuanced character studies. If you are looking for an easy read (kind of silly, lil bit angsty) that manages to lightly touch upon some important issues, If This Gets Out may be the right read for you.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Tw: homophobia, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, toxic relationships, emotional abuse

I love both Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich so I was suuuper excited to get my hands on this one!

If This Gets Out is a beautiful story about two members of the most famous boy-band who fall in love, discover themselves and take down the music industry, one song at a time.

I loved all the characters, they were very well-written and I could feel the friendship that bonded them. I especially appreciated the fact that being queer wasn't an issue for any of them and they weren't weirded out by people shipping them.

Sophie and Cale both write beautifully and I hope this is just the first of many more collaborations in the future!

I highly recommend this to any YA lover and to those who love a story about discovering themselves and finding love in the most unexpected places.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. I’m so glad got to read the ARC from NetGalley. I loved all four of the boys, and the relationship between Ruben and Zach is stunning! Ruben and Zach are both such relatable characters for the LGTBQ+ community. Sophie and Cale did an excellent job of portraying the music world and the pressures that are put on musicians! Even, and maybe most especially, by the people who are supposed to be their support systems. I also love how strong and resilient all four boys are! The connection between the four boys is outstanding, like any family they have their ups and downs but ultimately they are always there for each other. I was so excited for this book and IF This Gets Out did not disappoint! I can’t wait for my hard copy in December!

This was so cute!! I loved the boy band romance troupe and thought sophie and cale did a great job with the execution! really great queer representation that fights against the hiding in hollywood.

5 stars.

I have been excited for If This Gets Out since it was announced, so when I saw that NetGalley was offering arcs I knew I had to read it. I went in with few expectations for this book. I was never really into the boy band thing, so what drew me to this was my love for Sophie Gonzales’ writing and the premise of a queer relationship. I am happy to say that it did not disappoint on either account.

My favorite part of this book had to be the characters and their relationships with each other. I loved them all so much. The book was written from the shifting perspectives of Ruben and Zach, but it never felt like the other characters fell flat. They all had their own motivations, distinct personalities, and compelling backstories. Each member of Saturday (I loved this band name) was a well developed character. The relationships between them all, whether romantic or platonic, were what kept the story moving. I also usually don’t like when books shift character perspectives, because I always get attached to one character and am bored until it is their turn to narrate again, but I fell in love with both Ruben and Zach through each other’s eyes, which was a very nice experience. The characters were realistically flawed but they had notable personal growth throughout the book. I also never felt as if the process of their relationship was rushed, like it is in so many romance books. Zach had the time to figure out his own identity as a bi man outside of a relationship, and I value this representation.

Aside from the main characters, the management company was also portrayed fantastically. Something to note is that this book is not a rom-com. Both Zach and Ruben had to deal with homophobia and emotional manipulation from the very people that were supposed to be looking out for them, and there were many examples of different forms of emotional control. One of the band member’s struggle with addiction and the lack of support he receives plays a significant role in the plot. As horrible as the band was treated, none of it ever felt impossible, the authors were very good at portraying the way the characters were physically, mentally, and financially trapped in their situations.

I honestly loved this book. I plan on buying it when it is released and I recommend that anyone interested in the idea of a boy band romance should too. I know that the characters and their story will stick with me for a while and I am excited for them to be shared with the world.

This story reminded me of the good ol’ One Direction Wattpad stories of in-band romance. Even if it had that sort of Wattpad atmosphere, I’m not disappointed at all!
The characters all had their own struggles beside the fact that they are in a band who is being controlled by a record label. Sophie and Cale were able to show their individual and group conflicts and blended that so well. Even with only the perspectives of two characters. Although there were too many descriptors that made me skip a few parts.
All in all, the story feels nostalgic (even if I don’t read wattpad in-band romance) and just makes me want to go back to the days of One Direction and 5SOS. I can’t wait for others to read this come December!

I received an ARC through net galley.

This book was so good, I didn't really know what to expect going into this book but I was blown away. I think how the book ends might set it up for a sequel and I would be very down for it.

*slight spoilers*
I do really wish that at the end they said I love you but they basically said it without actually saying it.

If this Gets out is a wonderful tribute to the boybands of my youth. I kept desperately thinking about One Direction which was such a momentous band when I was growing up.
I was lucky enough to also read Sophie Gonzales' Only Mostly Devastated as a Proof copy and knew that I had found an author who was so talented in the Contemporary Romance plot.

The characters were vivid and the whole story had so much colour and it was an easy lovely romance!

I don't want to say too much as this book doesn't come out till December and I don't want to spoil anything. But if you love music and want to see behind the curtain in a cute, fluffy, romance then this is the perfect read for you.

Maybe it's how If This Gets Out had all of my favorite tropes condensed into one. Maybe it's how I was immediately invested in these boys after a mere 2 pages (that’s how captivating the characters and writing were). Maybe it’s how I stayed up all night desperately trying to finish this book and couldn't bring myself to put it down. I don't know what happened, but my heart literally pounded throughout the entirety of ITGO - and I say this in the best way possible.

If This Gets Out follows Ruben and Zach, two members of the boyband, Saturday, and their fellow bandmates Angel and Jon, as they navigate the music industry, identity, sexuality, mental health, family, and being scrutinised by the public eye.

As romance blooms between Zach and Ruben, they’re forced to deal with coming out in an industry where their public image and identities are tightly controlled.

Where do I even start on a book that has quickly earned a special place in my heart? Friends to lovers, yearning, oblivious idiots in love, oh my god there’s only one bed, fighting against the manipulative music industry. Gonzales & Dietrich have crafted the most amazing cast of characters with their individual nuances and intricacies, and I cared deeply for each of them. I felt so much viseral joy, pride, hope, fear, anxiety, frustration, and resentment alongside these boys throughout the entire story.

If I could just hit pause on my frenzied babbling for a moment, I want to say that, more importantly, ITGO addresses really important themes as well - it sheds a lot of light on the silencing of those who do not fit society's straight/"normative" narrative, the consequence of it, and the importance of courage and taking pride in your own path. I think that because these themes hit close to home and because I felt so much for these boys, ITGO lit a fire in me to continue pressing on in our fight for the freedom to live one’s truth, so one day, others won’t have to go through Ruben & Zach’s pain or anything remotely similar. And I think that speaks volumes to how impactful and special this book is to me.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is equal parts comforting, sweet, eye-opening, and heart-wrenching. I can’t wait to hold the physical copy this book in my hands!!

To Sophie & Cale - from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I read the NetGalley ARC; this is my honest review.

It's the perfect title for this plot, something I always admire. The boy band guys are distinct - and the two POV characters get different fonts, which helped me immeasurably as they each have (different) mom issues. The plot is given enough time to develop; the issues are taken from some real-world scandals. The individual ways the guys handle problems was great. And, I liked how it ended, which is key to gaining a fourth star. I didn't mind at all that it's fade-to-black (no sex scenes). The boy band/management issues felt real, and were creepy, but the entertainment industry can be, and if you don't know that, just remember: no business is your friend. The bottom line is inherently dangerous to individuals. It's an important message, particularly for young readers.

I had issues with how poorly one of the guys deals with his inner awareness, or rather how long it lasted. That's probably just me. It isn't my own experience at all.

I give this four instead of five stars because the prose is full of showing a feeling and then telling me what it is, so double-telling, which feels like distrust of readers to me. Each POV character over-describes his state of mind multiple times, another symptom of telling instead of showing. Done sparingly, it's fine. But here it is constant.

All in all, not sorry I came across this one and gave it a try.

If you're looking for an engaging, swoony romance to sweep you away for a while, this one's pretty good! While it's not ground-breaking, it's a fun take on the classic boyband romance, unapologetically queer, and reads very true to the experience of "oh no am I bi?" (at least in my experience!).

Thank you to NetGalley for making this book available to me.

I was excited to receive this early since it was on of my highly anticipated reads of 2021.
As a previous reviewer stated it had similar vibes of Red White and Royal Blue and I would say that is definitely an accurate statement. Felt like a mix to me of that and some good Larry Stylinson fanfic. (Yes, I said it)
I’m not a fan of boy bands but I highly enjoyed this story and found myself squealing at the end of chapters. I sign of a good book for me is one where I am thinking about the characters still when I am not with them and I found that happening here, they felt like real people and I felt for their trials and their successes. I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the music industry even though it wasn’t really anything new if you’ve read stories like this before, rockstar romances, etc. My reason for taking off a star was I felt like the drama at the end of the book just dragged for a little long, could have used some tightening up in some spots.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books, for the chance to read one of my most anticipated reads of 2021!

Careful of spoilers!

TW: drugs, drug abuse, closeting, homophobia, toxic parents

Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturdays and along with their bandmates, Jon Braxton and Angel Phan are teen heartbreakers in front of the camera and best friends in the real life. But behind the scene all of them are suffering from the pressure of their management and fame, above all for Ruben, forced to be closeted. During an intense tour through Europe, Ruben and Zach start to rely more and more on one other, until their already close friendship develops in a wonderful romance. Wanting to live free and to tell their fans, Ruben and Zach right away realize their management will do anything in their power to keep their love secret and separate them. With the support of Jon and Angel, Ruben and Zach fight to be free to love one other and from the management homophobic rules and chains.

I LOVED reading this book, it was such a pleasure and a privilege to have gotten the chance to read before the release date and I can't wait to have the physical copy in my hands. A queer love in a boy-band? Sign me in!

Told by two POVs, Ruben's and Zach it's a journey, physical and emotionally, a journey that involves all the member of the band. The characterization is brilliant and even though the story is told by Zach and Ruben, so the reader gets to know them better, their fears, doubts, love and passions, Jon and Angel are not side characters. They are also skillfully written and complex, with their doubts and pressures, fears and desires.
The friendship between Zach, Ruben, Angel and Jon is beautifully written, with its ups and downs and fights, between friends who truly love and care about one other and who would do anything in their power to keep each other safe and happy.

Zach and Ruben are best friends and even though Ruben has ever had feelings for Zach, he has never told anyone (he was sure Zach was straight), but when something wonderful happens between them during the tour, their relationship changes, with cracks and tension, fear and confusion.
It was really intense, heartbreaking reading how Zach starts to understand his own sexuality, Ruben's fear to have lost his best friend, Jon and Angel trying to solve their tension and understand what happened between them.

I had to admit I feared misunderstandings and unnecessary dramas, but this book is perfect!
Zach's and Ruben's relationship changes and evolves in a romance and, after a moment of "crisis", silence treatment, tears and confusion, they emerge more strong and together than ever.
Their romance is adorable, I loved how they first feared to have lost one other, until they decided to finally talk and admit their own feelings. It was so beautiful, moving and satisfying and I loved how they were supported right away by Jon and Angel.
The romance is amazing, it made my heart sings and I love Zach and Ruben so much, I was squealing and swooning all the time, they are adorable together and I loved the way the author talked about their relationship, how it grew in something so beautiful and powerful, how they love, support and help one other, facing the world, the parents', the management together.

Through If this gets out and through Zach's and Ruben's romance, the authors talk about the awful pressure placed on artists, queer above all, within the entertainment industry, the invasion of privacy, the exhausting working conditions, the abuse of power, the closeting, documented by many other real artists in the world. It's not rare, expecially if they became famous at a young age, to hear about artists who struggled with unhealthy coping mechanisms, as drugs and alcohol, eating and psychological disorders, because they are forced to play a role imposed on them, because they wanted to escape the pressure and the control.
If this gets out explores this pressure, how someone can lose sense of oneself when forced to play a role they never choose, how they are abused and controlled by people in power and, also, in Ruben's case, how the pressure and abuse can come from one's family too.
It also tackles the homophobia in the entertainment industry, "justified" in their eyes, by sales and money issues, the sexualization of, basically, children and young men, how artists are treated as things and not people, how they are isolated, used and abused in order to make more and more money.

It was clear in every member of Saturday how they were forced by the management to be four different heartbreakers in front of the camera, to play a specific role, even though they were very different from it, how Jon was forced to dress and act agains his own feelings and morality, how Angel was struggling to escape the pressure and control through substances, how being forced to be closeted for so many years weighed down on Ruben, how Zach, who discovers his own sexuality, was separated by his best friend and love.

If this gets out is a book about love and friendships, about fighting against abuse of power, control and bindings, about fighting to be oneself and not to caged anymore by pressure and people.
I loved everything in this book. The romance is to die for, Ruben and Zach are the cutest boyfriends ever, Angel and Jon are amazing characters and the story is amazing, full of cute and funny moments, flirting, jokes, adorable, while tackling important issues and problems.

I definitely recommend this book to those who love queer love and the power of love and friendship.