A good story for starting to figure out who you are and how to be true to yourself. This book seemed a little deeper than other books by the author. It has a lot of language in it as well. I enjoy this authors books and would recommend it.

I was excited to receive a complimentary copy of “The Getaway List” by Emma Lord from Netgalley. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Possible spoilers.

I enjoyed the premise of this novel. It was a fun coming of age story with a great friendship group. I liked how Riley and Jesse had stayed friendly after dating and how their group of friends was kind of nerdy and liked books. Not gonna lie, I kind of want to read Tides of Time now. One thing I did not like was how Riley’s mom kept her and Tom apart. I didn’t feel like any of the things described as getting into trouble really justified this and it made me sad that she couldn’t see how much Riley missed him. Also, I felt sad for Tom and how he was basically abandoned in the city. He was still pretty young when his mom did this, and she seemed pretty selfish.

Overall, this was a light read that brought me back to my younger days and just made me feel good. I enjoyed it.

The Getaway List
By Emery Lord
January 23, 2024

The Getaway List is the story about Riley who is unsure of what she wants to do with her life. She has made a ‘Getaway List’, a list of all the things that she has been wanting to do with her best friend Tom ever since he has moved away. First move to New York for the summer to find herself and figure out what she wants for the future.

This book was a sweet YA romance with all the swoon from the endearing friendship turned romance and wonder of the journey. It kept me wanting to keep coming back for more.


Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the e-copy for my honest opinions.

When Riley doesn't get into any of the colleges she applied to she decides that after graduations she decides that while she figures out what she wants to do, she will go to New York to reconnect with her friend Tom and together they will complete The Getaway List, a list of adventures they compiled when they were younger. During this time Riley comes to learn what she wants and how to follow her heart.

I've enjoyed previous book by Emma Lord and was looking forward to her latest release, while I enjoyed some parts, there were times the book dragged for me. I liked seeing Riley spending time with Tom in New York and seeing her make new friends who also wanted to join in on this list of adventures. While I enjoyed hearing about Riley and her time in New York, there were times the plot felt scattered, which made it hard for me to hold my interest.

This was a quick, light read for me that was an overall, okay read.

The Getaway List is such a fun escapist narrative! Emma Lord really nails the coming-of-age plot in most of her books, but this one particularly felt like a lighthearted journey of self-discovery. I loved the friendship/belonging arc through the whole story. (Mariella and Luca, are you kidding? Such fun supporting characters.) The romance was sweet, but the importance of friendship was the star for me in this book. I loved the best friends to something more trope. I thought Emma Lord treated that perfectly.

It was very creatively constructed, which required a few moments of suspending disbelief...I mean, I know high school seniors and the characters in this story were much more equipped to manage some of the "adulting" than most 18 year olds in real life. However, that doesn't necessarily turn me off to the story, just an observation.

Another win for Emma Lord in the YA romance genre!

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

While I enjoyed this book, I do not think it was for me. And my age is definitely showing. The Getaway List tackles an newly graduate 18 year old leaving home and traveling across state lines to meet back up with her best friend. I’m the mom in this situation and can too easily relate to Riley’s mom. For the right audience, I think this book would be amazing. As a mom with an almost 18 year old, it wasn’t me. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just ok for me. Definitely YA (which I love!), but it leaned a bit on the younger/more immature side for me. It was well written, but the emotions fell flat…the banter didn’t sizzle and the romantic angst wasn’t developed. It was more of a more letter to NYC than anything else.

This is YA at its best. I loved the growth Riley experiences when going to New York - all these new experiences and people and figuring out who she wants to be. I also loved the group of friends they created and how they supported one another.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Getaway List is a love letter to being 18, New York, summer, and finding yourself in a way that is gentle and warm where it could be harsh and jaded. There are multiple cute friends to lovers stories within the book, and I love that the kids really felt like they were 18 freshly in the city. Gorging themselves on sour patch kids and going to concerts but drinking milkshakes, that type of explore that happens when you’re freshly on your own but still very much a teenager. It’s a book I would have enjoyed as a teen and really had fun with now. It covers figuring love, relationships with parents, and loneliness while letting the reader off the hook when things could get too heavy. A great summer reader.

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).

The narrative unfolds with the backdrop of Riley's graduation ceremony, a bittersweet occasion for her. As she watches most of her friends depart their town for college, armed with the prospect of reinventing themselves, Riley can't shake off her melancholy. Compounding her woes, a slew of college rejections leaves her disheartened. To add to her emotional turmoil, her best friend Tom, who means the world to her, has recently relocated to Manhattan due to her mother's professional commitments. (Kudos to the author for avoiding the cliché route of the mother moving to LaLa Land, allowing for a more engaging plot that flourishes in the bustling streets of New York.)

Tom reveals an unexpected twist: instead of following her initial plan to enroll at Columbia, she's opting for a gap year. Seeing an opportunity to extend her own timeline, Riley decides to embark on their special "Getaway List" that she and Tom had meticulously crafted. She's determined to rediscover her inner adventurer, although she wrestles with uncertainties about Tom's level of enthusiasm. Yet, her journey isn't solely about bringing Tom on board to complete the list; it also entails forging bonds with Tom's new circle of friends who rally around her, offering unwavering support every step of the way.

Amidst her quest for new experiences, Riley finds her feelings for Tom evolving in unexpected ways, threatening the equilibrium of their longstanding friendship. Is she prepared to take the plunge and risk her heart by falling for her best friend? Through her personal growth, Riley recognizes that happiness demands risk-taking, a realization that propels her toward embracing new opportunities rather than dwelling in the shadow of regret.

This illuminating and heartwarming coming-of-age narrative is a celebration of self-discovery, the pursuit of new horizons, and the transformative journey from friends to lovers. The supporting characters, particularly Mariella and Luca, shine brilliantly as scene-stealers. Emma Lord once again showcases her prowess in crafting inspiring, joyful, and promising YA romance novels, populated by endearing characters who resonate with readers on a profound level.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for graciously sharing a digital review copy of this enchanting book with me, in exchange for my candid thoughts.

I've read and enjoyed every one of Emma Lord's books, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Getaway List—and I absolutely loved it! On the day of her high school graduation, Riley Larson realizes that she's been so busy trying to be perfect for her mom that she has no idea who she is and what she wants. So, what's a girl to do but pack her bags and head to New York for a life-changing summer? Once she arrives in the city, Riley and her childhood best friend, Tom, decide to revisit the "Getaway List" they made, packed with adventures they've wanted to do together since he moved away. With the help of some new friends, can the duo pick up where they left off, complete the list, and make this a summer they'll never forget?

The Getaway List contains all the ingredients of a classic Emma Lord YA novel—swoon-worthy romance, mouth-watering treats (seriously, you might not want to read this book hungry), likable, vibrant characters, and tons of pop culture references to look out for (especially Taylor Swift ones—think "Welcome to New York" meets "You're on Your Own, Kid"). The romance between Riley and Tom was so sweet to read about, but I especially loved the whole friend group dynamic, the complexity of Riley's relationship with her mom, and following Riley's journey to finding herself. I also really enjoyed how NYC felt like its own character—the book is truly a love letter to the city, and it was so much fun to see it through Riley's eyes. Emma Lord is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what she has in store next! And of course, I'd highly recommend The Getaway List. Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC!

a love letter to new york city. i loved it. riley goes to new york city for a weekend to spend time with her best friend, tom, to complete their getaway list they had written together, but she ends up spending the entire summer falling in love with the city. the two of them were really cute, and i loved all of their friends as well.

The Getaway List is a fun young adult coming- of- age story. There is a light romance trope of best friends to lovers. I loved reading about the story of Tom and Riley unfold all the way from childhood. I really enjoyed the other characters as well and the group of friends that formed. While definitely geared more towards young adults, I still really did enjoy this story. A great YA heartwarming story!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Getaway List", by Emma Lord, centers on best friends Riley and Tom. They've been best friends for years, but that friendship has slowed down a bit when Tom's mother moves them to New York City for her screenwriting career. While Riley and Tom try to keep connected through texts and calls, things become a little more difficult once they both enter their busy senior years of high school. However, Riley is feeling increasingly frustrated with her single mom's smothering, so she spontaneously decides to visit Tom after her high school graduation. Once they're back together, they fall back into their easy friendship but also start to realize there's some sparks between them. Will they just stay friends, or will they start to examine these new feelings they're experiencing?

I enjoyed this book, and the progression of the sweet relationship between Tom and Riley. I also really liked the side characters, and the way the author emphasized the importance of friendship. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

On the day of her high school graduation, Riley realizes that she has been so wrapped up in pleasing her single-parent mom, that she lost herself in the process. She cancels her summer plans and jumps on a bus to New York to reunite with her childhood best friend, Tom. They decide to spend the summer completing their Getaway List, a list of all the things they wanted to do together but didn’t because of distance and timing. As they work through the list, they make some new friends and reunite with old ones while carving their own place for themselves in a city of millions.

This is very similar to Emma Lord’s previous publications in the sense that the story centres around a young adult craving a sense of belonging and yet finding their identity, and what their journey to get there looks like Although sharing similar themes, Lord’s characters manage to differ vastly in tone and concept. My favourite part of any of her books is just the way her characters see others. Even when the characters are fighting with their parents or their friends, they still manage to view others with only their best qualities in mind. It results in feelings of warmth and heart that aren’t easily replicated.

And like all of her other books, they deal with an undertone of seriousness but are still mostly upbeat sunshine. It’s almost as if a Chip City cookie was stuffed with Bonne Maman’s finest and coloured Barbie Pink. That was basically my way of telling you I’m a fan of this author without telling you and will make zero sense to you unless you too are a big fan. If you aren’t you will still appreciate the scattering of pop culture references, particularly if you are a Swiftie. How many Taylor Swift references are too many? Don’t ask Emma Lord because she certainly hasn’t figured it out. It was perfect.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing an ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This falls into the "just okay" category for me. It took me a while to get into it, and then when I did finally sit down to finish it, I'd forgotten a lot. Like, where the winery is and other things like that. So while it's a really cute story and a wonderful love letter to New York City, I don't think it will make it to the top of my list of Emma Lord Favorites.

Riley is in a bit of a tailspin. She just graduated high school after receiving rejections from every college to which she replies. Then a seemingly inconsequential text from her childhood best friend who has since moved to New York City changes everything. She takes a spur of the moment trip intending on staying with Tom for a weekend, and ends up staying the whole summer. But Tom has his own beef with NYC and isn't sure how long he'll stay in town.

It was fine, but no Tweet Cute for sure.

(received an e-arc from netgalley in exchange for a honest review)

loved this book so much! it was so sweet yet heartfelt, and such a beautiful depiction of friends to lovers (one of my favorite tropes!). emma lord did such a wonderful job of showing the depth of tom and riley's friendship.

vibes were great (nyc in the summer! five friends just living their best life). unrealistic? of course. but i don't care :). and we got an epilogue!

This one made me really sad. It really didn't work for me the way other Emma Lord books did. I've really liked a lot of her previous books, and Tweet Cute is a five star read for me, but I just never got a sense of connection or fizziness that I do from her other books from these main characters. The chemistry was just lacking.

This was not my favorite Emma Lord book, but it was not the worst either. It would probably fall somewhere in the middle.

I think I was missing a lot of the joy that comes with her books. The Getaway List had a lot of more drama than I would have liked. I needed more fun and adventure. I mean the characters are completing a list, which is basically a setup for some crazy and hilarious moments, but I don’t think the book delivered on that.

I also wasn’t a fan of Riley or Tom. Their romance was underdeveloped and I still don’t understand why they like each other. I was much more invested in what was going on with the supporting characters.

All in all, it was a quick and easy read, but it just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a coming of age YA with a “will they, won’t they” romance thrown into the mix.

Two best friends, Riley and Tom, were separated by a long distance move and have been slowly drifting apart.

Graduation happens and Riley decides to visit Tom in New York for an adventure. When they were younger they created a Getaway List with random tasks they felt they needed to accomplish together. It leads them all over the city and develops a new friend group.

There is a lot of self reflection along the way and some growth. They both have regrets and secrets. Will they drift apart after the list is completed or will it bring them closer together…OR will they become more than just friends?

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC. I will always and forever be a YA reader!