An enchanting journey through vividly imagined worlds and compelling characters. This fiction gem weaves a tapestry of emotions, adventure, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The author's masterful storytelling evokes a powerful connection, making this book an absolute delight to read. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a captivating escape into a richly crafted story!

Solid 4.5
I’ve read all of Emma Lord’s books, and none have lived up to Tweet Cute for me- until now. Absolutely loved this- Riley & Tom were the cutest and as usual, all of Emma’s books should be made into a teen rom com, immediately. #justicefortheteenromcom

Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday books for the ARC! I will definitely be recommending this one for my high school’s library.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an entertaining YA ARC of “The Getaway List” by Emma Lord. This story is about Tom and Riley, best friends since they met at eight years old. They are inseparable until Tom’s mom moves them to NYC when he is fourteen and Riley and Tom don’t see each other again for four years. They soon find that their deep love as best friends may have evolved into something more.

The supporting characters in this book are great. They each have distinct personalities and help propel the book forward as well as clearly illustrate the gelling of a friend group. They are the kind of friends you meet in your adolescent/YA stage that stick with you for life.

The author explores the relationships between parents and their children who are on the cusp of trying to assert their independence while still needing their Mom’s emotional safety. It’s a sweet look at a complex dynamics that seem a little contrived but this is a WILL THEY/WON’T THEY YA romance fiction and it doesn’t need to be deeper than that.

This was a fast and pleasant read and the setting of NYC was so magical, I have added it to my “Getaway List”!

Perfect for lovers of NYC, coming of age stories and tales of best friends discovering there is more to their relationship with not an ounce of scandal or smut to be seen. The Getaway List is an easy read and a delight from start to finish with enough modern references to entertain and help readers relate to the characters.

I loved how this book had many characters and they were all very well fleshed out. The book felt complete instead of just focusing on the main characters.

This. Book. Was. AMAZING. I have followed Emma Lord since Tweet Cute, and honestly, I found myself enjoying this book more than I thought I would? I'm putting in a preorder ASAP!

The opportunity to read and devour one of Emma Lord’s books is a true privilege. The Getaway List was a perfect Nee York escape to end the summer ready journey for me. Tom and Riley’s story begins early on in elementary school but the story begins at high school graduation, focusing on Riley looking for her next steps when the traditional path doesn’t materialize. Her mother has worked hard not to have her follow in her own destructive decisions. The story unfolds as she takes off for NYC to see Tom and explore the possibilities of their “getaway list” crafted a few years back when he had to suddenly move —-a way to stay connected and provide for meaning and adventure. The story that unfolds chronicles the getaway lists’ impact and guidance through that liminal space of post high school. The character development and friendships, the nuances of joy, lightness and fun mixed with real musings about place and identity and love were expertly woven in. Emma Lord has created a fantastic new book to explore these themes of moving out into the world after high school and what friendship and adventure provide in the process. This was a gem!

This YA romcom has a pretty chunky list of interesting plotlines: fraught mother-kid relationships, the NYC adventure, a chaotic group of friends, and a fantasy franchise that unites the two main characters. Despite many of the highlights for me, this felt a bit more of a trek than a delightful bucket list adventure. I think I just didn't jive with Riley and Tom--the romance itself felt like it was on the backburner. I'm STILL looking forward to Emma Lord's books, because I think she does a great job infusing her stories with tender concepts, but unfortunately this one wasn't a fave.

I am on the fence with this book. There is a lot that would merit a 4 star, but in the end I am staying at a 3 star because I just didn't get blown away enough. And my opinion of Emma Lord is now that I probably won't be reading more of her books - movie adaptations maybe - because they just don't capture my attention the way I was hoping for them to.

For all that the book focuses on Riley and her growth as a character, I felt very little connection to her and was more annoyed by her as a person. From start to almost finish. Tom and the other characters were very much on the periphery of Riley figuring out who she wants to be, but those characters were the ones with the most potential to infuse the book with more life. Riley alone was not that interesting. Luca, Tom, etc. all had their things and they were truly fun characters. So, why did we not get more of them and less of Riley? I get it. I do. Because this book was not a romance and wasn't really about the List. It was about the main character breaking away from something in order to figure out who she wants to be and then to have the courage to take that step into the unknown. But it was a little bit madly off in all directions because there was romance; there was adventure; there was making new friends; and there was conflict with a parental figure.

The book was well written. The ideas had so much potential. The secondary characters were solid when they got page time. Riley, however, was a disappointment to me as a character. She complains that her mother stifles her with activities, but as a mom, if my kid were pulling stunts like Riley (and Tom) did, I'd probably find ways to keep them busy too so that they don't get in trouble. Sure, Riley thinks it's innocuous, but not everything she does sounds that way and definitely could be seen as leading to something less innocent. Then, she up and abandons a job to stay in NYC. Sure, she starts out going to visit, but she never comes back. And the job is at a workplace where her mom is already pulling in extra shifts and running herself ragged. So, she just ditches her mom and a job and her college (which would likely already be paid for at this point)? I won't go on from here because too many spoilers, but everything she did was really selfish and childish. She says she's doing things for others too, but I feel like everything revolves around her and her desires from start to finish.

Ok. I will stop now. This was a bit more of a rant than I would normally share.

Since my last read by Emma Lord was a similar feeling, albeit more to the positive, I am going to assume that this is her style and, while it may not be my favourite thing, this book is likely going to appeal to anyone who read and enjoyed her other books.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the eARC of this lovely new book by Emma Lord.

When I saw that I was given this opportunity, I was so incredibly excited — historically I’ve loved everything that Emma has written and I was so so excited for this one. As a fellow ao3 and fanfiction girlie, Emma has my heart with her references to fanfic culture, ships, tropes and everything in between.

The Getaway List follows Tom and Riley through so many adventures: writing, a fictional app, big moves, big feelings, love, friendship and so much more. I adored the characters, but absolutely felt like there was a LOT going on. You’re catching little segments of different characters, but I would have loved a little more detail on a few of them, rather than a ton of plot points with various detail.

I think that this is a great read and a great story, but I really struggled with the shift in the storyline so many different times or the quick resolution or “oh yes! I forgot to mention that these other two characters are dating now so I should probably resolve that now.”

Overall, The Getaway List is a sweet book with so so so much potential and I can’t wait to see everything Emma has in her future!

Snapshot of The Getaway List:
- friends to lovers romance
- himym/friends vibe with the supporting characters and NYC setting
- clean romance (just kissing)
- bucket list -esque element, in addition to a secret admirer app element
- themes of identity, independence, struggling relationship with mom, found family

Overall I really enjoyed this book!! Riley felt like a unique main character- spunky and impulsive (almost reckless), but with deeper insecurities too. Her relationship with childhood friend Tom was so sweet and cute. Emma Lord knows how to write longing and adorable mini-interactions. The book drew me in from the beginning! It did slow down a bit in the middle for me, though. I think both the subplots of the "getaway list" being accomplished in addition to the secret admirer "dear, love" app drama and reveal made it busy and while I don't think both were necessary, they were both fun to read. It was a light, feel good romcom I thoroughly enjoyed!!!

I received this arc via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a fun book and a quick read for a summer beach day! Looking forward to reading more Emma Lord novels.

As always, Emma Lord’s cast of characters are so so real. I want to be friends with all of them. Lord makes New York feel like its own person in this one, and effortlessly paints a picture of friendship and growing up.

I loved Tweet Cute by Emma Lord but have struggled with her releases since. The plot of the Getaway List sounded so fun and I love best friends to lovers. However, the book just wasn't for me. It felt a little too forced and unnatural. I could see it being a fun read for a young adult but I wasn't fully sold!

Emma Lord does it again with her signature wit, charm, and heart. You will fall in love as this group of misfits band together to discover themselves in one of the best places for it - New York City.

This book gave me Dawson and Joey vibes. I enjoyed the friendship but just couldn’t connect with the romance that should have been there.

It is a great read and easily to read over a summer day but I was hoping for Joey and Pacey vibes which I just didn’t find.

Read it for the journey and the friendship.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

I adored Emma Lord’s novel Tweet Cute and was so excited to be able to read her newest book early through NetGalley. This book begin’s with our main character graduating from high school and getting rejected from all 10 of the colleges she applied for. She feels lost about the future and goes to New York for a weekend to spend time with her best friend Tom who moved away years ago and hopes to complete some items on The Getaway List (a list of things they wanted to do together over the years but didn’t get the chance)! When she gets there, she realizes Tom might not be as happy as she thought and ends up choosing to stay for the summer to complete the list together with some friends.

I love a good coming-of-age story and getting to see the characters’ journey of self growth and discovering what is important to them. Emma Lord does such a fantastic job of this! The side characters were also well developed, which is sometimes hard to find! I love stories set in New York and really felt the “Welcome to New York” vibes reading this one!! ❤️

If you’re looking for a sweet novel featuring friendship, self discovery, and light romance, you should pick this one up. If you have loved her other novels, I have no doubt you’re going to enjoy this one as well!

It is no secret that I love Emma Lord’s books. I was so excited when I got the email with the ARC to her next book, The Getaway List. I had to drop every other book on my list in order to start reading it immediately. It did not disappoint. The Getaway List is full of Emma Lord’s signature charm and Taylor Swift references.

I love the way Lord’s books center familial and friend relationships just as much as romantic relationships. Riley finds a group of friends during her summer in New York including Luca, whose parents own a viral brownie bakery, and Mariella, a budding app developer. Lord makes them feel like real people with full lives outside of the scope of the story.

Parent and child relationships also feature prominently in Lord’s work, and The Getaway List is no exception. Both Tom and Riley harbor a lot of resentment against their mothers at the beginning of the novel. They manage to help each other work towards healing these relationships in a beautiful way.

Similarly, Tom and Riley have to address some old wounds in their friendship. At the beginning of the book, Riley laments that she and Tom used to be so close, but that he barely texts her anymore. They are able to address these issues and work through them together. Lord has a knack for making her readers laugh while feeling all the feelings.

Lord has a descriptive style that is distinctively her. It is funny and incredibley vivid at the same time. Riley describes summer in NYC, “Summer in New York makes me feel jealous of fried eggs, because at least at some point they get taken off the pan.” As someone reading this line in the summer in the New York City area, I cackled reading this line, and then read it out loud to my husband. Lord so perfectly captures the specific experience of a humid day in the city.

Lord is a well-documented Swiftie, and the way she references Taylor Swift and her music in this book brings me such joy. Jesse, Riley’s ex-boyfriend, has a Taylor Swift tattoo, and Lord even describes “his punk-rock cover of ‘Cardigan.'” I love that Lord brings whimsy and humor into her pop culture references.

As someone who used to live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the little easter eggs about the UWS made me smile. Lord references a Housing Works on Columbus Avenue and 74th Street, and I used to live around the corner from that thrift store. The book also references the branch of the Strand Bookstore on 82nd and Columbus, and I go there all the time. It made me feel lIke I was in my old neighborhood.

I already cannot wait to read Lord’s next novel. In the meantime, I’ll just have to reread all of her other books while I wait for the next one. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of The Getaway List when it is released in January.

Emma Lord has never disappointed me. Her latest, The Getaway List, is another winner. Friendship, a bit of romance, and a little mystery, all add up to a fun summer where the characters learn not only about those around them but most importantly themselves. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook to read and review.

I was so happy to receive this book by this particular author before its release! Riley is graduating from high school and realizes she has no idea who she really is or what she wants, because she spent so much time being on the straight and narrow for her mother. So she takes off for the summer to New York, to connect with her best friend Tom and check some items off of The Getaway List (their own compiled list of adventurous things to do together, which they've been adding to since he moved away years ago). But since it has been years since Riley and Tom have actually seen each other in person, she doesn't know what to expect - and doesn't anticipate the direction things go, either. This was another fun read from this author, full of YA fun, romance, and joy - a perfect combo for this friends to more story, and, once again, expertly crafted by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.