Gonzales manages to the MC in this book with an authentic vibrancy, creating a cast and a storyline that you can’t help but fall in love with. It is adorable. It will fill your heart, And you will love it.
The story is very well crafted. It's sweet with a bit of angst, funny, with a serious side.
Two highly likeable MCs, and great supporting characters.
Compelling characters who I cared so much about throughout the book.
It was a gorgeous read and I’m so grateful that I was able to read an advanced copy and experience this
The audio book was such an amazing experience. I felt everything these characters were feeling. The narrator did an amazing job!

Macmillan Young Listeners,
Thank You for this Audible.
I will post and tag to my platforms closer to pub date!

I was provided an audiobook version of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ruben and Zach are just two ordinary boys... except for the fact that they are part of an internationally famous pop group Saturday, along with fellow members Angel and Jon. Life as a pop star isn't so easy for the boys as management controls every move they make, going so far as to completely deny the boys from being themselves publicly. Ruben and Zach's friendship slowly evolves into something more and both are left wondering what this means for the band.

When I started this book, I was only semi-invested. As much as I love the idea of books about bands and the music industry, I often end up not liking the end result. However, this book really nailed it! This book takes its own spin on friends to lovers and what it means to be queer in the spotlight. I loved that the book wasn't so much focused on homophobia from the family and friends, but on the industry's manipulation of the truth in order to serve their needs. I loved seeing the boys in the group interact and I felt that despite the book being focused on Ruben and Zach, we also got to really know more about Angel and Jon.

Another thing that I loved so much about this book is the way it portrayed many different types of family dynamics. For a romance, there was so much more to it than just that. We got to see supportive parents, flawed parents, and parents who were selfish. We also got to see a wildly different group of people come together to stand up for what is right. It was definitely a feel-good story at the end, despite absolutely shattering my heart earlier on.

The audiobook's narration was well-done and I thoroughly enjoyed the listening experience!

I highly recommend this book to fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue, friends to lovers, forbidden romance, queer romance, and all things music and boy bands. I hope there is a sequel, and if so I will be definitely reading it!

Upset of the year but uh… this book was very mediocre to me. While the message was good (don’t settle, and don’t let anyone try to keep you from being exactly who you are), the story fell flat. I didn’t find myself caring for anyone, they all just felt kind of one dimensional. Zach was good, but his passiveness was so irritating (I know they acknowledged it but it still was almost too much), and the end felt too quick and tidy. Still cute, but it did not leave a lasting impression on me.

If This Gets Out is about a boy band called Saturday and its members, mainly Zack and Ruben, who form a romance and feel unable to come out of the closet publicly due to their management.

This story lost my interest about ¾ of the way through, simply because we already know everything that is going to happen (the description gives everything away). It’s not a bad story, but it isn’t one of those novels that you just can’t put down. I also listened to this audiobook, and I really don’t understand why they chose the narrator they did. These are supposed to be teenagers, and the man narrating it sounds like he’s a 40 year old radio host.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun take on boy bands! This romance is such a fun story that also explores the exploitation of teens in the entertainment industry.

The found family relationship between the bandmates is really wonderful and felt really true. As did the bands relationships with their parents.

My only complaint about the audiobook is that it was only one narrator and so it was a little challenging to keep the POVs clear for Zach and Rubin.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked: It dealt with the real issue that even in 2021, it can be very difficult for celebrities to live their authentic lives and that often money is more important than their happiness. Also loved the representation and that PREP got a shoutout!

Where it missed: I didn’t actually find myself rooting for the romance that much, which defeats the point of a romance I think.

I’ve seen a few people talking about how this loosely correlates to a fanfic that I know nothing about, so perhaps I’m not the target audience or people who are knowledgeable about that would enjoy this book more.

This was almost a solid three stars for me, which is where many romance-types books fall for me. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it, I’ll never reread it. I think it’s worth a shot for people who think the synopsis speaks to them.

I truly expected this to be a lighthearted contemporary about two boys discovering their identities and falling in love. Picture those old 1D YouTube videos for the vibe I was expecting. What I was pleasantly surprised by was how serious this book turned out to be while still maintaining that fun, adorable feeling. This covered everything from exploitation in the music industry to substance abuse to stage moms, and I appreciated that so much. This wasn't a fun journey, but it was a realistic one, lined with victories and losses, good memories and terrifying ones, and I was left with such a good feeling once I finished it. The audiobook had two separate narrators for Zach and Rubin, which I appreciated, but the only thing keeping this from a full 5-star rating is that I occasionally lost track of whose chapter we were on at a given time because the voices were very similar. Overall, I would highly recommend this one, and I'm super excited to read more from Sophie Gonzales :)

This story feels big to me, like it will be important and share a story of hope to people who might not usually have access to a book like this As a life-long fangirl, I Ioved this one. The beginning feels a little bit like I'm reading about One Direction or 5SOS, but in the very best way possible..it was SUCH a fun read. I LOVE the boy-band dynamic and all of the characters. The dual perspective was really well done and Ruben and Zach's perspectives were easy to differentiate! With themes including coming of age, real life struggles, found family, coming out and finding yourself somehow Sophie Gonzales and Cake Dietrich crafted a story that was also REALLY fun to read. This story is about finding out who you are and living outside the expectations others have for you (on stage and in life--its relatable, I swear)

I am genuinely struck with how important to the young queer 'fangirl' types I know and the other out there this story will be. I think about the young people who mostly read fanfic because they want to see famous role models who are queer--this story will beautifully fill that need and hopefully open up some new to explore their identity! The characters experience love and intimacy, but without graphic details--in a way that is cute and very appropriate for teens (and older) to read. ALSO IMPORTANT: I loved the way this story exhibits AND explains healthy communication as the characters work through their personal and professional issues, it felt realistic and also may help people who are learning to communicate better themselves! I can't wait to buy this book for some people I know and love.

The audio book was good. However, as an AVID audio book listener, i preferred and recommend reading it yourself. While I loved the dual perspective in the book, the audio book dual perspective was kind of hard to follow for me since there is only one narrator. I did like the addition of the accents and thought the narrator was great though, for the record!!

Zach and Ruben are best friends and members of a boy band on a whirlwind tour through Europe. With their management company keeping them under tight control, Ruben can't publicly acknowledge his orientation. But when Zack realizes that he's attracted to men, and to Ruben specifically, things start to get complicated. How long can they keep their relationship under wraps? And what will happen when their fans learn the truth?

This book is absolutely brilliant. The audiobook is an immersive experience, the kind it takes a while to recover from once it's over. Zach and Ruben are adorable, while the strong subplots keep the tension high.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

From the outside, Zach Knight and Reuben Montez have perfect lives. As two of the four members of the hit boy band, “Saturday,” they’ve got fame and fans to spare. But, the band looks a bit different from the inside. The boys are each forced to portray record label-designed personas that don’t suit their actual personalities. When Saturday embarks on their first world tour, the pressure begins to weigh on each of the boys, pushing Zach and Reuben closer together. Romance sparks between them, but their queer identities don’t exactly “fit” the versions of Zach and Reuben that the record company has been working so hard to sell. Together, they must fight back to reclaim themselves from the weight of fame and falsehoods, no matter the costs.

Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich outdid themselves with this book! I’ve enjoyed their individual works before in the past, but I think I loved their combined style even more. I was so invested in both Reuben and Zach’s sides of the story that I cannot honestly choose my favorite between them. Their romance was sweet, well-written, and so much fun to read about! I especially appreciated the nuance and delicacy with which the topic of coming-out was handled, as that can be make-or-break for me when it comes to stories like this one. While reading, I kept wishing that Saturday was a real band, because I would definitely want to listen to them!

My Recommendation-

If you love stories about characters living in the spotlight, you need to pick up a copy of If This Gets Out right away! I would especially recommend the audiobook version to folks looking for an engaging listen this holiday season.

This was a really cute and fun read! The story focuses on the relationship between two members of the boy band Saturday (think: One Direction or 5 Seconds of Summer level fame) as they navigate their European tour and growing feelings for each other. The romance between Zach and Ruben was really sweet, and I also love that this book covered more serious topics like family dynamics and expectations, handling fame, coming out, and substance abuse. I think the hard-hitting topics were all handled well and I liked the extra layer that it added to the story. The ending of the book dragged a little bit for me, but I think this is definitely a great read for fans of YA!

Read this if you:
- Went through a boy band phase (or are still in that phase)
- Love hard-hitting YA books

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy!!

This YA novel is engaging and edgy. A queer love story surrounded by music and fame. The characters are distinct and well-defined. Book themes cover substance abuse, friendship, queer love, and parent/teen relationships (both positive and negative). At 416 pages, this book is pretty long, but very enjoyable and full of depth. While some character traits were a bit predictable and cliché, this book covers important issues with a skilled hand. I definitely recommend this book!

I absolutely LOVED this one! Its queer, coming of age and living ones truth. I love how sweet the boys were with each other. Without spoiling Ill just say this was romantic, heart wrenching and uplifting all at the same time

Rainbows and Sunshine
December 7, 2021

Wow!! I'm absolutely in love with this book! All I can think about is Zach, Ruben, Angel and Jon!!!!! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing.

This book is for everyone who's every shipped people in a music band! I love rockstar romances in general but this one hits all my buttons, especially because the relationship is within the band. So yes, a queer boyband romance for the win!!!

It has best friends to lovers, strong friendships and a forbidden love setting. Ruben and Zach have wonderful chemistry from the beginning and I loved seeing Zach come to terms with his sexuality. The slow development of their relationship from friends to more was beautiful.

The friendship between the four of them is one of my favourite parts of this book, their jokes and banter and arguments were all the best interactions. Found family at its best.

The book also deals with a lot of topics like substance abuse, emotional abuse and manipulation, pressure of being famous etc. I love how everything was handled and I cannot reccomend this book enough!!!! #Zuben is definitely a new favourite!

P.S: Yes I shipped them in 1D. Yes I also have various ships in kpop now: BTS, Red Velvet, Mamamoo etc. So this book is something very close to my heart now!

*ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

I was granted eARC and audio ARC access to If This Gets Out via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the double approval! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

If This Gets Out is a cute and complicated love story for angsty queer teens and teens-at-heart, especially the ones who love cheesy mainstream boy bands. Young band mates finally express their love for one another in the midst of one discovering his own queer identity (the other was already out) but it seems like no one is going to let this happen easily. Parents, band managers, etc., this just can't get out.

This was cute, parts were fun, and the ending made me see what everyone who ARC read it before me was squealing about. This absolutely has and deserves its place on the shelves and if queer teen romance is at the top of your list of genres then you absolutely need to read this one. If you're only marginally interested, though, know that it's long, it's slow, and there are not insignificant sections that just didn't feel relevant to the story. I ended up listening to the audio ARC when I got it, but I see the eBook is well over 400 pages. This story only needed 300.

The narration performance is well done and sounds quite familiar (probably because Audible tells me Ramon de Ocampo also narrates for Casey McQuiston among his 265 titles on the platform.) Normally when I end up knee-deep in a book that isn't paced as fast as I think it should be, the audiobook saves it. I can't honestly comment on whether or not it did for me because unfortunately NetGalley's shelf app was glitching out over the few days that I was trying to listen to this book and I kept having to hit play every 2-8 minutes. I think it's a safe bet, though, knowing what I do about de Ocampo's other work that it would have been a more enjoyable experience had the platform behaved itself. Listeners of the final product shouldn't have that problem and I wish I give better feedback in this regard.

Loved this book. Although it felt a little like a Harry and Louis one direction fan fic but I enjoyed it non the ,ess

This was a super enjoyable read. I knew it would be cute, but it was so much more.

Obviously we know from the cover and Synopsis that two of the band members fall for each other, which is the main story of the book. But what I really enjoyed is how the author incorporated the ups and downs of the entire group and management. The story isn't all sugar plums and fairytales.

I liked how the author tackled hard topics that you don't always think about when you think of your fave celebs. That management kind of owns you to a degree and what we see isn't always how/who people really are. It tackles drug/substance abuse. But also the inside struggles of someone figuring out who they are and how that fits into their life.

In the end, you are the one in control of your life, whether others accept things about you or not. It was an all around feel good story that made you feel for the characters and think about the hard things as well.

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book. I'm morally opposed to real person fanfiction shipping real people on principle, so I was wary of the whole concept of If This Gets Out, but it was executed really well.

Ruben and Zach are two members of a popular boy band who fall in love and have to keep their relationship secret, and that relationship definitely forms the emotional core of this book. But the plot also gives time to the other two members of the band, Angel and Jon, and explores some difficult subject matter pretty gracefully.

I really appreciated the bisexual representation, which Sophie Gonzales always does excellently. I enjoy forbidden romance, and I thought that aspect of the book was also executed well. The familial relationships were difficult to read—one of the characters has an abusive parent, and there's another truly awful parent character in the book as well—but they were difficult in a way that felt realistic and was acknowledged by the characters.

The audiobook narrator put me off a little bit at first because he sounded quite a bit older than the characters, but I got used to the narration pretty quickly.

If you like secret relationships and fictional celebrities and queer young adults, you'll probably enjoy this book!

I just want to reiterate that it very much reads like a One Direction fanfic at times, and the knowledge that the book was at least partially inspired by that sort of thing did make me pretty uncomfortable.

Content warnings: car accident, parental abuse, drug use, drug addiction, homophobia, racism

Sophie Gonzalez and Cale Dietrich have penned a tender, heartfelt-yet-excruciating tale of self-discovery, love without conditions, and finding strength in one’s voice in their first co-authored novel, IF THIS GETS OUT.

Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon are the four heartthrob members of America’s biggest boy band, Saturday. Together, they each represent an archetypal “perfect boyfriend” for mass audience appeal. Ruben is soft and approachable in cashmere, Zach is dangerous in ripped jeans, Angel is safe and virginal in his oversized non-sexy shirts, and Jon is pure passion and seduction with lip biting and body-hugging clothes. However, none of these forward-facing personas even comes close to the boys’ true natures. As pop stars, their every moves are controlled and contrived by their management company, Chorus.

The level of control turns insidious when members Zach and Ruben want to come forward with their relationship. The boys are coerced into staying in the closet, and mayhem ensues from there.

IF THIS GETS OUT doesn’t stop the conversation there, but barrels into serious dialogues concerning mental health, substance abuse as a coping mechanism, establishing boundaries with toxic parents, and ultimately learning to ask for what you truly want and need from this life.

Each of the boys grows and learns how to advocate for themselves, and IF THIS GETS OUT is truly a novel not to be missed.

Wow. If This Gets Out was incredible. A YA boy band romance is everything I didn’t know I needed in a book.

Ruben and Zach are 2 of the 4 members of the boy band Saturday - one of the biggest bands in the world. Although they seem to have it all, each of the 4 boys is struggling with the way their managers are controlling their lives. For Ruben and Zach, that control includes being forced to stay in the closet and hide their relationship, even when they want to make it public.

There are so many things about this book that I adored. I loved how we got the dual perspective of both MCs to really get in their heads and see what they were thinking. Seeing their friendship slowly grow into more was beautiful and I loved how natural and easy their love felt. I also appreciated getting the perspective of what some teen stars go through and the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that arise. This story felt so real and honest and I loved every second.

I’m so thankful to the @lovearctually crew for putting this one on my radar. I loved every second of this.

I switched between ebook and audio and loved both equally. The audiobook was narrated wonderfully.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copies.