2.25 stars

This was probably my second biggest disappointment of the year.

While this book did have great things going for it, the found family aspect, these heartwarming moments that actually made me cry, it also had issues.

I've read all of Lord's work and I've enjoyed her other books. One of my favorite things is that she does this fantastic job of blending together our YA protagonists plot line along with some drama for their parents as well. This was no different.

But there's some things. Like, I really didn't like Millie our MC. She was really just one track mind and didn't give a fuck who she hurt in the process. And while I understand that the whole part of the story is for her to grow, I skim read about 75% of this book (see rating notes below) because I just couldn't stand Millie.

Also the writing! This one just missed the magic that I've loved from Lord in the past. It just didn't hit with me like it has before.

And the plot? No thanks. I DID want to know who Millie's mom was and that was the only reason I didn't DNF. Unfortunately I guessed VERY early on and was right so it wasn't like a big surprise. Speaking of lacking in surprise, I've NEVER guess a love interest so fast in my life <spoiler> I mean legit, they're at each other's throats on page 1 and I was like, this is it. He's who she ends up with at the end. I like enemies to lovers as much as the next girl </Spoiler> but it's a no from me dawg.

I really love and appreciate Emma for the work that she puts in and she's an absolute joy to follow on social media but this book just wasn't for me. I WILL pick up from her again in the future.

cover 3; characters 3; plot 2; pace 3; writing 3; enjoyment 2; cry *
This one totaled out at 2.75 but I removed .5 because I skim read most of the book.

When You Get the Chance by Emma Lord comes out Jan 4, 2022.

I stayed up late to finish this one! I didn’t want to set it down. This was a 5 star read for me.

Millie lives with her Dad and Aunt and is making decisions about her Senior year while searching for her mom. I loved the Mama Mia theme. Millie is working on her dreams of making it big on Broadway.

I loved Millie’s enthusiasm for live theater. It reminded me of how much fun musicals are. There are many memorable characters including Oliver, her fellow intern, Teddy, her best friend (who is also a geocacher), three potential moms, and more.

I enjoyed the budding romances between several different couples, including Millie.

I like the author’s humor and was totally hooked into the story. I highly recommend When You Get the Chance. Thank you Emma Lord, NetGalley, and the publisher for this advanced copy of the book.

4.25 stars

A heartwarming and humorous take on Mamma Mia, When You Get the Chance felt like it was written specifically for my former high school theatre kid self.

Lord really gets everything right about the very niche experience of high school theatre - the big emotions, the feeling like everything is make or break for your future career, and even the rose-colored glasses when it comes to the industry as a whole. While our protagonist Millie captures all of this beautifully, she is also made more relatable to "normies" through her journey to find her birth mother. It is a great choice by Lord to balance both the specific and the universal.

Did the plot drag a bit after we identify and meet all of the potential moms? Yes. Did the ending also drag out once we figured out who the mom was? Also yes. However, Lord has created such a charismatic, flawed, human protagonist that watching her grow up before our eyes consistently remains an absolute treat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this books in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Are you my mother? That's the question 16 year old Millie has for three women- Steph, Farrah, and Beth- that she's read about in her dad's 2003 Livejournal. She's also trying to figure out a lot of other things. She's determined to be a Broadway star but that's going to mean some changes in her life. She's also competing with her frenemy (and maybe more) Oliver at their temp job for a Broadway manager, Will she get the job? Will she find her mom? No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a lively entertaining read with lots of Broadway references.

Very rarely am I so completely blown away by YA these days as I was when reading When You Get the Chance.

New to Emma Lord, and hesitant about the premise (as much as I love Mamma Mia, theatre isn't really my thing), I wasn't sure what quite to expect from this novel. However, this novel delivered everything I didn't know I needed in my life and more.

When You Get the Chance follows Millie Price, a devoted Broadway hopeful, as she does some sleuthing through her fathers journal to discover who her mother is. When she finds three candidates, all based in New York, she integrates herself into their lives as she tries to figure out which one could be her mother.

This book beautifully illustrates the dynamics of unconventional families and the inner turmoil of having questions about what makes you, you. Something I really enjoyed with Millies quest to find her mother is her reason: beyond the typical "I just want to know," Millie has emotional problems she really wants to figure out. The book doesn't explicitly state any mental illness Millie suspects she may have; however, Millie deals with fits of passionate rage and unshiftable moods that she calls her "Millie Moods," and she wonders if she may have gotten it from her mother, and if her mother may be able to teach her coping skills. This reason was a lot more compelling than the plain curiosity Sophie experiences in the real Mamma Mia play (though that reason is also valid) and gave Millie's character more dimensions.

THE ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK YALL. Millie has a theatre rival in the form of techie Oliver, of which they constantly butt heads. I admit, I've been a bit burnt out on rivals-to-lovers, as it seems to be becoming a very saturated trope, but THIS BOOK DOES IT SO WELL. Their banter, their backstories, the development of their relationship, their chemistry.... its just so perfect. Everything about their romance is a LOVE--think Not Here to Be Liked but... with even more chemistry?!?!

I listened to this via audiobook and the narrator is great. She has a very clean voice that sounds like a teenagers without getting annoyingly sharp as some narrators tend towards when reading YA books. Highly recommend!

Emma Lord is a fantastic writer, and I'll definitely be diving into her backlist after reading this book. I can't even control my emotions rn. This book was insane good.

Millie seems to have it all. She has a dad and aunt who would do anything for her. She's moving mountains at her high school and leaving a legacy to be proud of. She's been accepted into a theater program that should shoot her straight into the big leagues of theater. Her only two issues are Oliver, the boy at school who she could do without and her dad's certainly not on board with Millie changing schools for her senior year. She has one summer to change his mind and maybe finding her mom might be her golden ticket to having it all.
This retelling of Mama Mia (with a parent gender swap) is sweet and Millie is a great character to root for. She lives her life out loud. Her character is so bright and vibrant, it would be hard to miss her. She will definitely be memorable as most MC's written are not remotely similar. It seems like they always play a more minor part and it was so fun to read her POV. I adored Millie's relationships, from her dad to her best friend to her nemesis-turned-friend-turned-maybe-more.
I think, as a mom, it was a little weird to me that a teen her age seemed to lack adult supervision even though her dad and aunt were supposedly so involved. Having recently been to New York, I can't imagine feeling comfortable not knowing at all times where my teen was. My mom brain had some major cringey moments here and there.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

When You Get the Chance Kind of took me by surprise. Not that I didn’t expect to love an Emma Lord book, but I didn’t expect to love this one as much as I did. Honestly I wasn’t that into the description, but I was into reading books by Emma so I just went for it. In the end it was such a great story with so many characters I found myself loving that I kind of couldn’t put it down. Oliver was the shinning star of the whole book for me and I loved watching him and Millie interact and how their relationship grew and changed. But I also loved Millie’s journey. She was on a mission to find her mom who gave her up. She had no idea where it would take her but in the process it took her on a journey she never imagined and brought people into her life that she needed. That was the highlight of the story and one I think readers will take away when they read this. Another Emma Lord gem for sure.

Emma Lord has quickly become my favorite YA author. I loved her debut “Tweet Cute” and her last book “You Have a Match.” I was so excited to get an advanced copy of her newest, which releases on January 4th.

“When You Get The Chance” follows high school theater buff Millie Price. Millie has been raised by her father and is becoming curious about finding her mother. She narrows it down to three options after reading her dad’s old journal (Millie Mia, here we go again!)

She’s also setting her sights on a prestigious theater school for college and battling it out with her frienemy Oliver for a summer internship.

I loved Millie’s passion for theater, and I think former and current theater kids will absolutely love this book! There are many references to musicals throughout, and the whole book is a loose retelling of Mamma Mia! I could semi relate as a former dance kid.

The writing is excellent. Lord’s witty dialogue never disappoints. I will continue to recommend her books to friends and to my students!

I'm a big fan of Emma Lord's novels because the teen voice she evokes is SO good.

WHEN YOU GET THE CHANCE was, at it's core, a Mamma Mia! retelling. Millie was born for the theatre and she won't let anything stop her in her quest for Broadway—until her father says 'no' to her precollege plans across the country. She concocts a plan to get her mother to be on "her side" against her father in this argument, but the problem is.. She doesn't know her mom. With her best friend Teddy's help, she spends the summer stalking (harsh word, but not exactly wrong) and befriending three women who could possibly be her mother. This obviously does not work out the way she wants. (Oh and also she develops a crush on someone she hates.)

And it's FUN. Millie is A LOT in the way that theatre kids are (I say lovingly as not a theatre kid). There are a lot of theatre references, some popular and some that truly did go over my head. But Millie was likeable and all the side characters were as well. I have to say although the mystery's conclusion wasn't surprising, I liked going on the journey with Millie. There are some logistical things that I was like... How does this woman not recognize her but, honestly, who cares lol, it was fun.

Happy I still have another well-received Lord to read (You Have a Match), but definitely looking forward to her future novels.

4.5

when i got the email about this book i just about lost it because i’ve adored every book emma lord has done and this one was no different. let me tell you right now: emma never! misses!

millie price was an ambitious girl that had dreams of making into broadway and i truly admired her passion for it. when you first meet millie, she might seem a bit Much but she grows on you fairly quickly!

i adored every. single. character. i adored her friendship with teddy, i want what they have. teddy and chloe were adorable. the family dynamics between everyone was chefs kiss! the tension between oliver and millie was INTENSE even though i’m lowkey disappointed with the way their relationship developed.

this book was such a fun, quick read that by the time you know it you’re trying to slow down and just keep reading forever.

Let me just say that if you are or were a theater kid in any way, shape, or form, then you'll probably love this story! It's such a love letter to the whole community, and the number of references it backed in was absolutely amazing.

I read Lord's debut novel, Tweet Cute, a year or two ago, and ever since then, I'd been meaning to pick up another one of her books. When I heard the premise of When You Get the Chance, I was absolutely hooked, so I was very happy when I was approved for it. What I've come to recognize as Lord's signature banter was heavily present, which I was glad to see since I loved her writing so much the first time.

While I've never seen Mamma Mia, I know the general plot, and it was so fun to watch Millie grow close to her potential moms and attempt to figure out who it really was! I won't spoil the ending, but I will say that I figured out who it was before it was revealed, and was very pleased with myself.

If you enjoy fun, light-hearted YA, or if you love Broadway, or both, then you're absolutely going to enjoy this one! Not only is our MC a budding star, but a good portion of the novel takes place off the stage as well. From dance classes, to fanclubs, to stage managers - practically all aspects of the community are featured. There's a reference for everyone hidden in there, and it was just such an enjoyable time.

Overall, this book is made for theater kids, and I can definitely see them enjoying every minute of this!

This book is wholesomeness at its best and was just so much fun to read! I loved the Broadway references, swoony moments, and the heart of family and friends at its core.

The book follows Millie, who has BIG Broadway dreams and really really wants to attend a performing arts precollege program that’s located across the country. But, her dad says no. Undeterred, she comes up with a “Millie Mia” plan to discover who her mom is and get her permission.

The overlapping storylines that ensue, Millie’s go-getter personality, and all of the lovable side characters are *a lot* all together. But Emma Lord’s writing is sensational, and she pulls it all together. I really enjoyed the journey!!

This book was heartfelt, adorable, and a must-read for all theater lovers! Emma Lord once again creates a YA novel that entrances readers with a vibrant setting, quirky and lovable characters, and a plot straight out of Mamma Mia. If ABBA references and Broadway musicals are your thing, this book is tailor-made for you! Bold main character Millie Price finds her dad's Live Journal from his college days and with the help of her best friend Teddy, initiates the search for her birth mother. She also competes for an internship against her nemesis, Oliver Yang, but she learns that they have more in common than she previously believed. Throughout this coming of age novel, Millie learns the importance of being content with the people and things she has right in front of her. But does she ever end up finding her mysterious mother who went AWOL 17 years ago? You'll have to read the book to find out!

I liked this more than Lord's second book but less than her first. Millie is absolutely charming and lovely. The supporting cast is excellent. Lord's writing is A+. I'm very excited to get this on my library shelf!

This was a really cute book and story! I didn't totally realize it was a YA novel when I requested it, and I don't always love YA but I ended up really liking this! I loved Millie's relationship with her dad and her growth throughout the book. Also the Mamma Mia vibes (and general theater/musical vibes) were on point! Overall probably a 3.5 stars for me but rounded up to 4.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 Q: what’s your fave musical?

I blew through Emma Lord’s When You Get the Chance, mostly because it’s adorable & funny & that emotion I was looking for was waiting in the wings & regularly stepped out to take stage 💫.

If you love Mamma Mia you’re in luck (I actually haven’t seen it 😬) because this book delights in both it as a stage production & its basic premise (at least I think so—I repeat: I haven’t seen it 😆).

In this book’s case, Millie Price has just been accepted to a special musical theatre program that she believes will take her to the next level but will also separate her geographically from her loving dad. When he says no, she happens to wonder if the mom she doesn’t know anything about might be of some help.

With the help of her best friend, Millie seeks to learn the truth of her mom’s identity, narrowing in on several possibilities & doing what she thinks she has to do to put herself in their paths.

Including competing for a summer internship position at a casting agency against Oliver Yang, the stage manager who has seemingly hated her & her Millie-sized personality for years. The feeling is mutual.

Bursting with love for musical theatre & endowed with a main character who’s dramatic, occasionally impetuous, loving, sometimes sad & confused, irrepressible, & always very human, When You Get the Chance is an utter delight, a joy.

4.5 ⭐️. Release date: 01/04.

[ID: a white hand holds the ebook in front of a floral wallpaper with pink & purple flowers on long green & brown-ish stems.]

emma lord does it again!!! never going to get tired of her funny and emotional and timely young adult stories. her third novel follows millie price, a theatre nerd with the hopes of one day making it big on broadway. when her and her best friend teddy stumble across her dad’s livejournal from 2003, millie realizes her dad’s musings may provide her insight into finding her mom, who she never knew, who could hopefully also support her in her dreams to study theatre elsewhere. combined with her search for her mom, oliver, millie’s rival (??) (her foil??) comes into the picture, bringing lots of sexual tension with him. pure YA goodness.

this book is an ode to theatre kids. there are so many references throughout the story, and it’s basically a loose mamma mia retelling itself. this book is also an ode to standing out, and being bold, and all those lovely things. lord’s characters all have such a strong sense of identity and a comforting presence, and even though millie often made decisions that made me want to scream, i still felt i understood her. the rest of the supporting cast: teddy, oliver, the three women (steph, beth, farrah) who could potentially be her mom, her potential half sister chloe, all the characters were so interconnected, it was gorgeous and hilarious.

this type of story is why i love young adult lit. it’s overexaggerated, pushing the point of believable, and was a delight to read. it’s serious at times, it has an amazing romance, it makes me cringe, it makes me laugh. young adult lit, specifically how emma lord writes it, is truly magical. i love stories like these, filled with love and emotions.

i do want to say, wednesday books, if you're reading this, harry potter references in new releases should NOT be happening. i believe there was only one, but it still was shocking and unexpected, and made me very uncomfortable. including harry potter references is triggering and harmful to trans readers, and needs to stop.

content warnings: harry potter reference, parental abandonment, mentions of divorce

This was an adorable book with so much heart and fun, it will not disappoint! There are some strong Mamma Mia vibes throughout this book, and the main character is someone you can't help but root for. At times the story was predictable, but it was written in a way that you were just happy to be along for the ride. It was an enjoyable light read that will captivate any reader wanting a fun story. Would recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Fun fact: I love Broadway musicals. I own the soundtracks to most of them, and I randomly burst into whatever song feels appropriate in the moment. So I knew I had to read this YA book about a musical theater kid. And I was even more excited to see the similarity to Mamma Mia and that it included song lyrics worked into conversations.

Millie is super extroverted and dramatic in a way that could feel like too much to her. But she was also quite self-aware, and that made her teen angst relatable (and sometimes memorable). I felt like I went on the journey with her.

This is such a sweet and joyous coming of age story. It has themes of helping others, abiding friendship, and pursuing dreams. It's a great take on Mamma Mia, and I am off to listen to all my ABBA now.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

This book was so much fun! This would have been a book I would have loved to read as a teenager. I was (and still am) so broadway obsessed! But alas… I’m almost the teenager’s dad’s age and have the live journal from my high school days to prove it. Sigh.

Millie Price is going to be a star. She already is in her own right, but one day, she’s going to make it big on broadway. She has dreams and plans to back those dreams. Unfortunately, even as supportive as her dad is, he’s not quite on board with her latest plan. Millie’s dad is a single dad. She’s never met her mother… but she’s on a quest to find her now.

This story had a huge family dynamic and I loved that, but it also had a fantastic romance. Talk about opposites attract romance- I couldn’t have loved Millie and Oliver together more. They were less enemies and more rivals, but I had a blast watching them fall for each other.

This book was such a win for me. I truly enjoyed it so much!