as soon as i saw riley was described as "trying so hard to be a Good Kid for her mom that she has no idea who she really is anymore, and two, she has no idea what she wants because of it" i felt SEEN AND KNOWN. emma lord's books are always such fun and delightful YA stories, full of joy and sweet young love and the best characters, and this is no different. friends-to-lovers, found family, a bucket list (which i always love), with the added dynamic of a mother-daughter relationship... this is a fun one!!

I unfortunately had to DNF this one. I struggled to get into based off content that was presented. However, I have enjoyed other books by Emma Lord. I am hoping that I can revisit this book at another time. I will not be posting a review anywhere since I did not finish.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. I was just bored and ended up not finishing this one. I found the main character was just really hard to like.

I immediately got Gilmore Girls vibes from the mother/daughter relationship focus in this book. Also I love how much Emma Lord loves New York! I do think the pacing got bogged down by all of the internal monologuing, but this was an easy, enjoyable read.

As they tackle items on The Getaway List, the story balances humor and heartfelt moments, showcasing the joy of friendship and the thrill of adventure. The friendships they forge along the way add an extra layer of warmth, making the chaotic city feel like a playground for growth and exploration.

Overall, The Getaway List is an uplifting read that celebrates the importance of self-discovery, friendship, and embracing the unknown. It’s a perfect choice for fans of contemporary YA looking for a story that reminds us that the most significant adventures often take place within our hearts.

I started reading this book while I was standing in line at the pharmacy, and I found myself a little bit disappointed when it was finally my turn at the pickup window– I wanted to keep reading.

Emma Lord’s books have historically been a win for me. I enjoy her quirky characters and the development of the romance, so I also went into this book expecting to enjoy it, and I did.


I liked the opening chapters, but once Riley got to New York and connected with a friend group, that’s when the story really took off for me. At first, I wasn’t sure about bringing in all those extra people. I found myself really invested in Riley and Tom and wanting to know what would happen between the two of them, and I worried that additional characters would distract from the two of them. And they do, a bit.

But they’re such fun characters, and those relationships help Riley reconnect with herself, learn to trust her instincts, and imagine what kind of life she wants for herself for the first time in years. Riley has a complex relationship with her mom, and I loved the way that was handled. It felt real, and Riley’s mom’s behavior made sense, considering her own background and backstory, but it still wasn’t what Riley hoped to or needed to hear at times.

The romance is a bit of a slow burn. I loved that. I also loved the way that Riley’s understanding of her relationship with Tom evolved as the story progressed. That felt pretty real, too.


All in all, I’m calling THE GETAWAY LIST another win. It’s a really fun, New York-centered slow-burn romance. Definitely worth checking out.

This review will post live on October 20, 2024

I adore Emma Lord, and I'm so happy to say that this title is up there with my favorites by her. It's not number one, but it was still so great. It follows a girl who is desperate to get away from the pressure her mom is putting on her post high school graduation, so she heads to New York City to reunited with her childhood best friend for the summer. Once they are together again, she realizes she has feelings for him, which only grow as they work to complete an NYC bucket list they created as kids. The premise is fun, there's a couple fun supporting characters (something Emma Lord is great at), and the romance is very sweet. It's a story about how dreams and plans can change, and also how everyone's paths post-high school are different. College isn't for everyone, and I like that Emma Lord touched on that. There's also a complex mother-daughter relationship that ends up being very sweet and touching.

Ultimately, teen readers will love this and benefit from the themes. Emma Lord did what she does best, writing a fun book with depth and great characters, and I hope to read her YA books forever.

I love Emma Lord, but out of all her books, this was the toughest for me to really get into. I liked the characters and the setting, but something just wasn't clicking for me. I'd still recommend it because I think the writing was great and so was the premise.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord is a delightful and engaging read that combines adventure, friendship, and self-discovery in a heartwarming way. The novel follows the journey of a group of friends who embark on a spontaneous road trip to fulfill a list of dreams and aspirations before their lives change forever.

Lord’s writing is vibrant and full of energy, capturing the excitement and unpredictability of the road trip experience. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own dreams, struggles, and growth throughout the journey. The dynamic between the friends adds depth to the story, making their adventures both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

The plot is filled with charming moments and unexpected twists that keep the reader invested. While some of the events might feel a bit predictable, the book’s warmth and genuine character interactions make it an enjoyable read. The themes of friendship, self-discovery, and chasing dreams are handled with sincerity and humor.

Overall, The Getaway List is a fun and uplifting novel that will appeal to readers looking for a feel-good story with a touch of adventure. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys books about travel, personal growth, and the bonds that shape our lives.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. Review previously withheld as part of the St. Martin’s Press influencer boycott. All opinions are my own.

Emma Lord has become a very hit-or-miss author for me (her previous release was a DNF), but fortunately, The Getaway List hit the right spot for me. It had all the ingredients of things I love in a YA coming-of-age romance, and executed them wonderfully.

Riley is easy for me to relate to, even at almost twice her age, as I totally resonate with the idea of having spent all your life being a Good Kid, but not really knowing who you are as a result. I admire her daring in taking a chance with a gap year to move to New York with her best friend Tom to have all the adventures they’ve always wanted to do together. Given all the pressure on kids, both when I was growing up and now, to focus on one’s education, it’s great to see a book about a recently graduated teen focusing on finding herself and really figuring out what she wants to do with her life.

And the romance that grows amid the self-discovery is super cute. I’ve spoken ad nauseum about how I adore a well-done friends-to-lovers romance, and this delivers in that regard. The uncertainty about where they stand, and how their paths will diverge once this gap year inevitably concludes, amps up the tension, and I rooted for them to admit their feelings and get together.

I really enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy YA contemporary romance.

thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

⭐️=4 | 😘=2.5 | 🤬=4 | 15+

summary: friends to lovers; recent high school graduate Riley runs away to New York to see her best friend after years of separation so they can check items off of their getaway list (basically a bucket list) and wait are they in love?? do they fall in love?????? who can say!!

thoughts: main critique is that the pacing slowed a lottttt from about 50-80% of the book. otherwise, this was really fun and funny with great banter and characters. I loved the MCs (and I looooooove a well-executed friends to lovers jam-packed with yearning), but it was also really impressive that Emma Lord had actually distinguishable side characters, since those often get blurred together in romcoms. anyway. this was super cute, there’s just some iffy pacing.

I usually love Emma Lord's books, but this one was just okay for me. I loved the NYC setting and the friendships. I found it a little repetitive. Miscommunication is one of my least favourite tropes. I liked the idea of Riley and Tom's "getaway list". My favourite books by Emma Lord are Tweet Cute, Begin Again, and When You Get The Chance.

This was so cute and fun!! Reading this book made me want to go travel! It's the perfect fluffy rom com set in a big city and I thought it was such a fun diversion!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a very fun book. Riley moves to New York to spend the summer with her childhood best friend Tom. She is hoping to rediscover her adventurous self, find out who she is now, and plan the future she chooses for herself. Thank you to Netgalley and St Marten’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a charming feel good YA romance and I really enjoyed it. I liked the friends to lovers trope. This was a clean romance with no spice. I loved the relationship development between the two and how they grew from friends into something more.

I also really enjoyed the side characters that made the story so good! I loved their friendships and how they all supported each other.

This was such a good book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy. This was a cute ya story about friends that reconnect after years of friendship through their phones., finally spending time together now that they’re older. I thought this was a sweet story about a girl trying to find herself. She doesn’t know what she wants, but she knows she needs something new. Enter her best friend. But obviously there’s twists and turns before they end up together. I really rooted for them the whole time.

Emma Lord's YA romance novels are always a great escape from reality, especially the ones that take place in New York, her home city. I liked the romance tied to the story, but it felt a little unbelievable that Riley, the main character, would be able to live on her own in New York without her mother going absolutely ballistic.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me early access to this book, and thank you to Emma Lord for writing such a delightful book. I adore her writing and this book is every reason why.

I was super excited for this one and it really lived up to my expectations. the banter was adorable and I loved our Mcs. the plot was interested and kept me reading. highly recommend.

-emma lord has fully cemented herself as a favorite author with this one. she writes ✨girlhood✨ in a way few writers can, in my experience
-all of her main girls are sooo YOYOK-coded and riley is no exception. she is so emotionally mature and such a good character to read the story through
-tom is EVERYTHING and the ending had me swooning!
-their whole friend group was lovable and i could see all the adventures so vividly thanks to lord’s writing