Such a fun romp through New York! It makes me want to go there and follow the Getaway List, too. Emma Lord always has such fun books - makes me nostalgic for my younger years. The characters were believable and relatable - loved their journey.

A charming, light read perfect for fans of YA romance or who dream of visiting New York City. Friends and found family are big themes, as are following your dreams, listening to your heart, and taking those little adventures that make life interesting.

13/10 for all the Taylor Swift references 😍

I requested this because it sounded like a YA People We Meet on Vacation but I hadn’t read anything by Emma Lord before and was NOT PREPARED for how absolutely funny and precious this was. I binge-read it all yesterday afternoon and was crying for like half of it

Literally just everything about this book slapped. Adorable romance? ✅ Effortless humor? ✅ Nuanced friendships? ✅ Complicated parental relationships? ✅

If you like cute romances you should be SPRINTING to read this. It takes place the summer after the MCs graduate high school so it’s in a nice sweet spot between YA and NA.

Massive thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed Emma Lord's first two books: You Have a Match and Tweet Cute. Both were heartwarming, sweet and memorable. The premise of her last two books didn't grab my attention, to be honest. This one was super appealing: Teen romance in New York City. For me, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan wrote two of the most perfect NYC teen romances. So starting, I knew I was going to compare it to both Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares.

I read this The Getaway List in one day. It's an easy read with likeable characters. The interactions with NYC itself are more grounded and not at a breakneck pace like Cohn and Levithan. But anyone familiar with the city will feel Lord represented it well.

Romance wise the chemistry is there. It's a teasing slow burn. While the novel is a romance, it's also a coming of age novel. It's a satisfying read. I'd recommend it to fans of her two first books, but also anyone who wants to visit NYC again or for the first time.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an advanced reader copy.

Thanks so much for the review copy. I love Lord’s books so much and this one is excellent. I loved the romance in the book and also the friendships. I look forward to reading more books by her.

Emma Lord sure does know how to write a book! No misses. This one has shot up towards the top of my Emma Lord books ranking.

My favorite part 100% was the relationship between Riley and Tom. Deeply close relationships are one of my favorite things to read about, and this one was done so well. They know each other so well and love each other so much, even beyond the romantic interest (this is very important for this sort of relationship and Lord delivers). They just want to do what's best for each other!! (Even though they disagree or can't quite see what that truly is.)

The friendship group dynamic was also so fun and I loved all of its members. They played off each other so well and were so supportive. (I also liked how they treated Riley and Tom as a matched set as a matter of course. Only have one of them? Ask them what the other would think or want or where they are.) Additionally, I thought Riley's relationship with her mother and the tension and love there were also well developed.

Finally, I liked Riley and Tom's arcs, with how they wanted to be seen a certain way by different people and also wanted to figure out who they are now. I personally related to it and I think it will connect with a lot of young adults in such transitional stages of their lives.

Cute story. I thought it went a little slow for what the overall plot was about. I think the relationship between Riley and Tom was heartfelt and a great friends to lovers. I thought the issues they were both going through with their mothers was realistic and a great point of contention that wasn't between Tom and Riley. I think it actually helped the relationship progress to be what it came to be. I think this is a great YA story and would definitely recommend for someone looking for a story about friendship, finding yourself, and love in multiple forms.

I have read every single one of Emma Lord’s books, and I can confidently say that Riley and Tom are my favorite characters she has ever written(I think I also said this about Andie and Max from Begin Again, but oh well). I absolutely adored this book. It was such a sweet coming-of-age story.

This book begins at Riley’s High school graduation ceremony. All her friends have huge plans for college and moving away from their small Virginia town, but not Riley. She was rejected from every college she applied to and felt lost and no longer like herself. After her best friend Tom moved away to New York City after becoming a successful screenwriter.

Tom has been MIA for several years and has not kept in touch with Riley as much as he promised before moving. During her graduation ceremony, she makes the impulse decision to buy a bus ticket and spend the weekend in New York City with Tom. She hopes they can work on some activities added to their “Getaway List.” This is a list of activities and things they have created to do once reunited after years of failed visits and meetups. After an argument with her mother, she decides to spend the entire summer with Tom in NYC.

While on her quest for new experiences and trying to find her old self, Riley finds her feelings for Tom evolving unexpectedly, threatening the stability of their friendship. Is she ready to take the dive and risk her heart by falling for her best friend? Through personal growth and new friendships, Riley recognizes that happiness demands risk-taking, a realization that propels her to embrace new opportunities rather than dwell on regret.
This heartwarming coming-of-age narrative celebrates self-discovery and the transformative journey from friends to lovers.

I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for graciously allowing me to read and review a copy of this enchanting book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A cute coming-of-age story with a heavy emphasis on found family. This is the exact kind of YA book that I would have loved as a 14- or 15-year-old. It didn't quite work for adult me though. I struggled a bit to understand the essence of a few of the characters, including our main character Riley, which made it hard for me to connect. The only character that I really had a good sense of was Luca, and only because he was so Cam Cameron-coded (at least the prime series version).

I <i>do</i> think this would make a fun short Netflix series, in a <i>Dash and Lily</i> sort of way.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martins Press for the E-ARC! Loved this so much! The travel vibes & romance was so cute. Perfect summer read. Definitely will read more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of The Getaway List by Emma Lord in exchange of an honest review.

The Getaway List is a delightful YA romance that immerses readers in a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and unexpected love. The story follows Riley as she embarks on a summer adventure in New York, ticking off items from her 'Getaway List' alongside her best friend Tom. Emma Lord weaves a captivating tale filled with swoon-worthy moments, endearing character development, and a sense of wonder that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The friendship-turned-romance between Riley and Tom is beautifully portrayed, evoking genuine emotions and making the reader root for their relationship to blossom. I highly recommend The Getaway List as a must-read for fans of charming and heartfelt young adult fiction."

This is a very cute story. The dialogue is witty and fun. But, this was just ok for me. I am on old fogey I guess but there was just too much language for me. It is classic Emma Lord but this was more language than I remembered her having in other books I have read by her. I was given an ARC copy to read through NetGalley and I appreciate them giving me that chance.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved going on the travels with the characters and them doing the list. I liked the character development with each other and their parents. I would definitely recommend this book!

Man, what a ride this book was for me!
Riley and Tom are childhood best friends. Tom moved away a few years ago and Riley is feeling the distance between them. When she graduates and everyone has plans but she only has rejection letters from colleges she’s feeling understandably lost. Her and Tom made a ‘getaway list’ of things they would always do together but never have so she decides to pack up and visit Tom in NYC so they can finally do the getaway list together.
NYC as the backdrop was a lot of fun. It’s almost another character in the book. There is a sweet childhood friends to lovers trope going on but it’s mostly two freshly graduated kids who are now adults and have so many life choices to make. The coming of age story for Riley was really nice. Both Tom and Riley grew up with single mothers. Riley’s mom is overprotective and Tom’s mom is neglectful. It was really interesting watching all that play out. It was honestly heart breaking to me. For both the kids and their moms. The friend group they make in NYC is truly special. They were all different and I loved them all so much. I loved Riley. She was very mature when it came to her issues with her mother. I loved Tom too. It’s kind of crazy that Riley describes him as someone people navigate towards and it felt that way for me as a reader too. He seems like someone I would want sitting next to me as a supportive friend.
The only thing I wish this book had was a little more resolution with Tom and his mom. We get a good scene with Riley and her mom. I loved it and it made me understand the mother’s POV better. So I just wish we got that with Vanessa as well. Other than that, this was a truly special book. It made me emotional. I think it’s a really nice book about 18 year old kids suddenly being forced into the adult world. I’m really happy I had the opportunity to read this one.

This is a cute, coming-of-age story about two childhood best friends reconnecting right after high school graduation in NYC. Riley and Tom, along with a newfound group of friends, come together to check off items on the Getaway List, a list the two have been putting together since childhood.

This is my first book from the author. I enjoyed some of the banter, but had a hard time feeling invested in the characters or the story. Though I can see this being a great read for others, this book isn't for me at this time. I could see myself eating it up as a teenager though.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect Emma Lord combination of hijinx, joy, romance, chosen family, and dessert. Her New York-set books capture exactly how it feels to feel unstoppable when you're young and surrounded by people that you love and who love you back.

Riley's been lost ever since Tom moved away. Tom's been lost, too. What happens when you've met your 'person' at the age of 8? They are best friends who inspire each other creatively (and sometimes a bit mischief comes along for the ride). But once they are separated due to a family move, Riley's penchant for getting into trouble causes her mom to overschedule her to the point that she loses her self-identity. Post-graduation Riley wants one thing - to see her old best friend Tom. Off she goes and the reunion is (almost) everything you would hope for. Will the planets align for these two star-crossed lovers?
This was a great Emma Lord read - it's cheesy in all the right places and in all the right ways. I think this generation of teens definitely has a set of kids that can relate to Riley and Tom - one overscheduled and the other left to raise himself by a successful single mom. Lord name drops a lot of NYC landmarks but it's not isolating to the reader. She does it all through the shiny, new eyes of Riley. This was a fun, easy read.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

I really loved this book and I couldn't read this fast enough I really enjoyed the entire friends to lovers story long distance the list was a great way to get the story going

If, like me, you devour each of Emma Lord's resonating, exquisitely sweet, and perfectly developed YA books, and if you're also one of the most ardent fans of the Big Apple (again, just like me), then this book is calling your name. You simply must secure your own copy, dive in without knowing too much, and prepare to be swept away by the exhilarating and heartwarming adventures of Tomley (Riley & Tom: undeniably the sweetest couple the author has crafted).

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for inviting me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Getaway List is officially my new favorite Emma Lord book. I feel that with each new release, her story-telling just keeps getting better and better.

"Take me to the realms of possibility...
Take me back to the home where I'm known."

Riley and Tom are childhood friends who were separated by distance and Riley's over-protective mom. After her graduation, when Riley realizes what her mom has done, she makes an impulsive decision to take a trip from Virginia to New York to reunite with Tom over the weekend. In the midst of catching up, they come up with the plan of completing The Getaway List, a list of random goals they came up with years ago. In between making brownies from scratch at the Brownie Bonanzer, watching her ex-boyfriend's band play live, visiting filming locations of their favorite book adaption, and meeting new people while delivering goods from an online app called 'Dear, Love', Riley begins to fall head over sneakers for her best friend. Navigating the fast-paced streets of New York is becoming easier for Riley but having to face her new and intruding feelings for Tom, and figuring out what she wants to do with her life without the presence of her mother, are not.

"All these feelings - my love for the city, for the life I'm building here, for Tom- are all so new and flashy and bright. I should have known that some of it wasn't built to last."

I truly adore Riley and Tom, Jesse and Dai, and Luca and Mariella. All of them have such great character development. I couldn't help but root for all of them to overcome their own personal struggles. The friendships, whether new or old, are so relatable and realistic. As much as I love the friendships, I also enjoyed reading about Riley and her mother's bond. It was well thought out. I feel like many readers can empathize and sympathize with their mother-daughter relationship.

The romance is super sweet. I liked the slow burn / will-they-won't-they development between Riley and Tom. Their relationship kept me on my toes, and it had me impatiently (in a good way) waiting to see if they would level up or not. Besides Riley and Tom, I was very interested in the building blocks of Jesse and Dai's and Luca and Mariella's romantic endeavors. My favorite moment in the whole book is when Jesse and Riley finally have their 'closing chapter' and talk about Dai. They had previously dated in high school, but while their relationship fell apart, they stayed good friends afterward. I love it when authors show that it's okay to be friends with an ex, especially if it's all on good terms.

"You don't need stars, Riley. You are one. You have your own gravity and I cannot wait to see what you do with it."

I love the getaway list moments. I wish there was more, but that's more of a selfish request on my part than the story needing more. I wish I lived near a place like the Brownie Bonanzer and the café Riley begins to work at. It might also be a good thing that I don't because I would visit them often and I'm broke. I'm originally from Brooklyn, NY, so stories like these always make me feel like I'm home again. Honestly, reading this book is like looking at Emma Lord's Instagram: it's colorful and full of life and adventure.

"I don't need to ask for wishes now; I have choices all my own. Ones that will always be built on love, on hope, and on infinite, daunting, beautiful realms of possibility."

It's such a heartfelt and entertaining story that kept me engaged from beginning to end. I highly recommend The Getaway List if you're looking for your own little getaway from home.

5 stars