Review for ‘If This Gets Out’

✎↷: Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a free ARC of ‘If This Gets Out’ in exchange for an honest review.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

Most especially, for those fans who read hundreds of fan fictions or AUs about their favorite boybands who are secretly in love with each other.

When I’m reading 𝗜𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁, I certainly forgot that this was written by two authors. Their writing style didn’t feel off and any readers won’t get trip up on the two different point of views. It’s absolutely perfect from the beginning until the end. Everything is enthralling. You might assume this is just a light, fluffy, and cringe-y read, but as the story drags you along the life of Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon; and how Zach and Ruben fell in love during their tour on Europe, there’s no denying that this isn’t just a simple YA queer story because it speaks volume and tackles just about many topics.

Saturday, the boy band composed of Zach, Ruben, Angel, and Jon, was currently the One Direction in this world. Unfortunately though, at the expense of their fame, everything in their lives were being controlled or decided by their management/label. You would see here how their personalities are being planned when they are in front of the camera; how their looks should be the management want in order to appease the fans; what style of music should they only make; which action and words they should make and say; and how being their true selves isn’t possible. It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating how the boys felt suffocated and I can only imagine how much worse this is in real life. And speaking of real life, this could possibly be actually real and we’re not just aware of it nor paying attention to.

This might be close on what we can grasp to what’s actually happening to the celebrities behind the camera.

This story doesn’t just revolve around Ruben and Zach — but mainly, it is — but also on how the demanding and controlling pressure of life and work can affect one person. How one person will resort to any possible way to soothe the growing stress and anxiety, even if it’s mean using illegal drugs.

Their lives here were shown on how everything we see on newspaper, articles, and news sites is just a facade of a dilapidated building. Day by day, they are tucked away in their hotels like prisoners, and they don’t have time to unwind or relax for a second. Work is work. Business is business as it seems. And it’s so wrong. They are just 17 and 18 years old, and they want nothing but to make themselves and other people happy.

“The thing about your dreams coming true is that, for a gold-spun moment, you catch a glimpse of what life could be like for you. Then when you lose it, and you crash back to reality, it’s from such a great height all you can do is lie there, winded and bruised, while you come to terms with the idea that a happiness like that isn’t meant for you. It never was.”

This came from the book and I just can’t erase that from my memory. I can really relate to every pain, anguish, and fatigue that the boys have felt — most especially of Ruben. Ruben is my favorite character here. He’s funny, charming, wise, sweet, and has a big heart. Ruben is too good to be true and I don’t think we deserve him if ever he’s someone real. And the fact that he makes everyone choose what they want, motivate them, charm them with his looks and alluring personality, and how he can make everyone happy, comfortable, and make anyone feel important is a proof that he deserves everything.

Zach’s reaction and how he processed his sexual identity crisis is remarkably concocted and perfectly plotted along the story. I can say that I’ve been on Zach’s position when I’m still questioning my sexuality, so I’m really impressed that the author/s have conjured the very same images on how I acted before through their words. In all honest, Zach is an interesting character he’s not just a simple jock who gets what he wants but, he’s such a darling who will work hard so much to get what he wants. He’s very selfless too, which is one of the things that will be tackled in the story, and although that’s a problem, it’s actually the personality that I can just picture for Zach even from the first few chapters of the book.

Jon and Reece’s (Angel) moment during in which Reece is apologizing to Jon for all the things he had said was really great, and when Reece apologized to Jon for being so shitty it made me really cry. The emotions are just so raw and genuine. You can see that beyond their image, these are still boys who are vulnerable — and it reminds us that it’s okay to be vulnerable even if you’re a guy.

I honestly enjoy reading book, and I will definitely re-read this on and before this get published officially.

The two authors did an amazing job to show us a story beyond the camera, beyond false pretenses, and beyond fairy tale. The world building for this book is amazing. You will see how a boy band works and how the music industry is as toxic as some celebrities/artists came forth to tell us.

I already love Sophie Gonzales from the moment I’ve read Only Mostly Devastated. But now, I even love her more. I haven’t heard of Cale Dietrich yet, and this is my first time reading one of their books and it’s safe to assume that I’ll be reading her other published works for sure!

I am a fan girl, more specifically, I am a boyband fan girl and I love mm romances so can you imagine how I felt when I heard this plot? I loved Sophie Gonzales’ “Only Mostly Devastated” so I did go in with high expectations, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. It paints a realistic picture of 4 teen boys experiencing fandom + having every moment of their lives orchestrated and monitored by the people that manage their careers. And even more so, teens trying to figure out who they are and facing criticism and the harsh reality of real life. It was realistic, devastating at times, and also achingly beautiful to read.

It is a slow burn and while I don’t usually read YA because I don’t love fade-to-black, Sophie does it so well and I never felt like I needed more. I would die for every one of these kids.

Oh man I loved this book so much! Sophie Gonzales is quickly becoming an auto buy/ auto read author for me! I'm not normally a huge fan of a slow burn romance but I loved Ruben and Zach so much! I loved them on their own but together it was perfection! OMG! This book is just the best. I mean I never knew I need a boyband rom com in my life but OH MY GOSH DO I! Everything about this story is charming, witty and heartfelt. It's the kind of book you just wanna hug! I can not wait to read this one over and over again!

This is such a fun read about two members of a boy band falling for each other. Their celebrity and management are portrayed realistically, making it all feel even more voyeuristic.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Firstly I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity for a free read of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Moving on - as someone who was a fan of boy bands in my childhood and then later on was also a fan of One Direction this spoke to me. If you ever enjoyed boy bands this is kind of the perfect read. Now in my late 20s this book is not marketed toward me which is why I’ve rated it 3.5/5 stars. Enjoyable but not generally to my taste. Anyone who enjoys more realistic YA instead of fantasy would have a great time reading this.

I really enjoyed all four boys though maybe would’ve liked seeing more of their personalities- especially Angel and Jon because they never felt like whole characters. Angel more-so than Jon.

I can safely say that I was shocked when *it* happened and felt that both writers manoeuvred very well around the plot.

If this Gets Out follows Ruben and Zach, two members of the boy band, Saturday, as they fall in love and struggle to remain true to themselves even as their record label tries controlling and changing almost every aspect of the way they portray themselves to the public.

I fell completely in love with this book, its characters, and the journey of each of the four boys in Saturday. Although the story is only told from the perspectives of Zach and Ruben, the book follows their band members Jon and Angel as well as the boys are on an overseas tour. Each chapter alternates between the point of view of Ruben and Zach, and I loved how distinctive each of their voices was. Ruben was my favorite narrator as he was witty and sarcastic and just a general joy to read about. The way he described the world around him and the events of the novel often made me laugh. He was very perceptive as well and it made for an interesting contrast to Zach, who was definitely an optimist at heart and often missed some of the signs Ruben would pick up on.

I have never related to a main character in a novel before to the level that I related to Zach. He tries his best to make sure everyone around him is happy, often forgetting to think of himself first, and his journey in discovering and accepting his sexuality mirrored my own so much so that I found myself transported back to when I was also eighteen and questioning. I became emotionally invested in his coming-out story and was teary-eyed for most of the ending as I was just so happy for him and Ruben. One particular moment near the ending reminded me just how important it is to feel represented in the media, and it quickly became one of my favorite scenes.

This book tugged at my heartstrings multiple times, and I'm sure others will experience this as well. Accepting who you are, speaking up for yourself, and breaking free from toxic environments with toxic people are such important parts of life and I hope that people reading If This Gets Out who finds themselves relating to the characters or in similar situations will find the courage to try to do the same.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

So id like to start off and say when I saw the arc up for grabs I knew I had to grab it because I loved perfect on paper so much. Let me tell you this exceeded my expectations.

For awhile I couldn’t find a couple that matched Alex and Henry from RWRB and guess what Reuben and Zack are the boyband versions of them. I absolutely adored both of them and getting to know them.

I would like to point out that it does touch on drug addiction abs how the music industry can be very corrupt and toxic.

All of the characters were amazing and unique, I specifically loved Angel my soft boy who has been through so much. I just want to give each of these characters a hug.

Everything about this book was wonderful and I definitely recommend especially if you’re fans of RWRB. But the romance and the pining is top notch. Add this to your tbr, if this gets out comes out Dec. 7th

On its surface, If This Gets Out is a tender, well developed romance between two boy band members forced to hide their relationship from the public.

This surface level story is incredible all on its own. The authors bring the main characters to vivid life, shaping them into lovable, realistic, well rounded people that you root for from the very beginning of the story. Their transition from friendship to something more feels organic and as a reader, you cheer them on as they discover their feelings towards one another and navigate new relationship territory. The depiction of their romance is sweet and honest and doesn’t skirt around the hard stuff. Often times, young adult novels can portray young love and young partners as immature and much of the conflict stems from lack of communication or maturity-that is not the case here. The characters communicate and work through the hiccups they experience in a way that feels authentic and doesn’t dumb the characters down for the sake of a plot point. If this love story was all the book contained, it would still be great and one of the best YA love stories out there.

Luckily for us, the romance is just the foundation that this novel builds upon. Where this story gets things really right, is the timely, deeply-human exploration of the way we view and treat celebrities or people with platforms. At its crux, this is a book about how we, as a society, reduce “famous” individuals into characters. That we expect them to fulfill roles that we have constructed for them. In the age of social media and greater opportunity for someone to be put upon a pedestal, we have collectively forgotten that they are humans too. This is a book about what happens when we begin to care more about someone satisfying our expectations of who they should be rather than appreciating them for who they truly are. Each of the members of the boyband are forced into roles that were crafted to suit the desires of their fandom and are stripped of what makes them unique. We see the effects of this censure throughout the story and it echoes the cries of our real-world stars.

I think this book comes at a crucial point in publishing history when queer literature is becoming more prominent and accepted. With this growth, we have seen an emergence of nastiness from individuals who would force authors to declare their identities to the world or suffer the erasure of their stories from queer literature. Readers expect authors to be who we want them to be. If you are given a platform, you are expected to fit the role that we create for you. You need to be the right gender, the right amount of queer, the right race, the right age, on and on and on. This culture is toxic and is coming from the same community that has begged for representation in media for years. I think this book does an incredible job of calling this to its readers attention and showing the consequences of what happens when creators are limited by expectations.

Whether our own or those we experience through the eyes of another, great love stories teach us something. About ourselves, about the world, about relationships, and this story is no exception. The love between these boys shows us that we are worthy of being authentic to ourselves. That we deserve to not put on a performance for the sake of others expectations. That we should be allowed to love and create without boundaries set by a society that reduces us to who they want us to be. This book was incredible and important and I can’t wait to see the way that it impacts the world.

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.