This was good in a coming-of-age, summer after high school graduation, kind of way. I wasn't blown away by it but it has some good parts and the story flowed well.

This cute YA tells the story of two recent high school graduates, life long friends who have been separated for several years, coming back together in NYC to check things off their bucket list. This is my first Emma Lord book and I wasn't sure what to expect other than I had seen her name on other YAs as being "if you like Emma Lord, you'll like..." The premise of this one was fun and the characters were interesting and likeable. I did find it a little slow going and found the first things on their bucketlist kind of dull, but it picked up and I enjoyed the story. It's a nice YA and one that I think others who enjoy this genre will like. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

Riley graduates from high school without much of a plan for her future. She runs off with her childhood friend Tom in NYC to accomplish parts of their getaway list that they created. A fairly average coming of age book. This isn’t Emma Lord’s best imo.

The Getaway List
[First, I’d like to say, thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.]

This isn’t the first time I read from the author and probably won’t be my last. While there were times in this that it felt extremely cheesy, I also knew this was a YA romance albeit maybe more so a coming of age subplot, so I expected it at least a little. Having read another of the author’s works, I had a good time with this and found it a lighthearted story about a girl slowly walking away from the life she knew, safe and sheltered by her mother.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded up*

I wanted to give this book a chance, but I think either I'm too old or this book is too young for me. Riley, the main character, came off as spoiled and just rubbed me the wrong way throughout a lot of it. The premise was fun and I liked how what was supposed to be a short trip turned into a grand adventure, but just couldn't get past my dislike for Riley unfortunately. Hopefully others will not be as turned off as I was.

Still not entirely sure what a "The Getaway List is," I just know that I want one for myself, please and thanks.

Emma Lord can do no wrong. I absolutely adore her books both as an adult reader and as a teacher. Her books are easy to recommend to all readers, as they're what I can "Easy to read, low stress books". They're fun, they're relatable, and they're going to have a happy ending.

I thought the character matured a lot as the book moved along, and I thought it was something that all YA readers would enjoy.

A very sweet book about two kids, and their friendship, and what happened as they got older.. After graduating. Riley went to visit her best friend Tom in New York. The weekend visit turned into a stay for the summer. Riley was able to see what she felt was missing in her life and reconnect with her best friend who also felt like something was missing in his life. They make new friends, go on adventures, and finish the list of the created when they are an elementary school.

Thanks so much to Emma Lord, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for my ARC of this book (specific thanks to Alexis at Wednesday Books for always dropping my next favorite reads into my inbox). All opinions are my own.

I’m not entirely sure why this book is getting the ratings it does, but let me just add: I frickin loved it.

I saw so much of myself in Riley and I loved watching her live her dreams for herself. I loved the idea of The Getaway List and that we got to see it come to life - literally - in this story.

The romance was so fun and I cannot wait to see what Emma has in store for us in her upcoming adult release this year 👀

This will be a book my students can relate to as they start thinking about their futures and how they want to spread their wings. Emma Lord has a way of writing characters that the reader can connect to and want to root for, and Riley, Tom, and the rest of the crew are no exception. Just enough of rom-com tropes that feed the storyline without being all in, which is often a fine line that is hard to balance. Pick this one up today!

Riley just graduated high school and is FINALLY going to visit her childhood best friend, Tom, in NYC. What started as a “just for the weekend” trip turns into a summer long adventure throughout NYC complete with a checklist/scavenger hunt of sorts and a found family of sweet young adults.

I loved this one and definitely felt my love for NYC come alive throughout. I am so glad the book focused on both the romance and the found family aspects. And you KNOW how much I love a good friends to lovers story…

Emma Lord always gets it right. This one comes in just behind Tweet Cute, the highest honor I can bestow.

Okay, I’ve figured out my new favorite combination of tropes: found family, summer in NYC, a list, a secret admirer, and friends to lovers (especially when the friend is an overly tall space and time travel nerd). The Getaway List had all of my favorite things!! It was such a fun romp through New York City filled with friendship and adventure and nerdiness.

The only negative at all for me was Riley whining about her mom not connecting with her. Girl, you have a phone. Use it! She had a bit of a victim mentality and it got old pretty quickly.

Overall: Emma Lord’s books are all SOLID reads! If you’re looking for a cutesy goofy YA rom com, her books are always a great choice. ❤️

The Get Away List is a light coming of age story about Riley and Tom who were best friends since they were little. Riley just graduated Highschool and has no idea what she wants to do next. Tom lives in NYC and thought of doing a gap year. Both teens have a GET AWAY LIST that they made back when they were younger and now is the perfect time to get it done!

What I enjoyed most in this book was the friendship that Riley and Tom shared. The cute banter, the unique list they made, the comfort with each other. I also love that this book is a tribute to New York City and all of its charm, the rush, the, the big lights and the dark alleys. I felt like another tourist that is getting to know the city like a local.

Even with all that cuteness, this book feel just okay to me. Unfortunately, I only like it enough to finish but I do not love it like the previous Emma Lord books that I have read. There are redundancy to the story, Riley’s character did not develop when the end came as she did not mature. I listen to the audiobook as well and I think it helped as it made the character alive. However, it is light, its cute and a fun fast read that makes you fall in love with New York City!

Thank you Wednesday books via Netgalley, MacMillan Audio for the complimentary copies in exchange of my honest review.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

I’ve loved all of Emma Lord’s books so I was excited to read The Getaway List, a new YA novel coming out January 23rd. Riley is graduating from high school and didn’t get into any of the schools she applied for but even though she is a little low, she is really ready for adventure. She decides to go to New York City to see Tom, her best friend who moved away to Manhattan with his famous Indie director/screenwriter mom after Freshman year in high school. Riley and Tom decide to do the adventures on a Getaway List (bucket list) that they wrote together.

I admired Riley for getting on the bus to go to NYC to see Tom and find herself along the way. (her mom didn't want her to go.) There is a fun group of friends and of course, the adventures. Their first adventure is a free interactive writing class where they go to different locations and it sounded so cool, that now I want to do one. There's star gazing, a road trip and much more. The author’s descriptions of food are epic and made me hungry. I remember that happening in Lord’s book, Begin Again with all of the fun ice cream flavors. In this book there's Brownie Bonanza (with different toppings). Riley is inspired by their adventures and begins writing short stories and dreams of writing a book.

I think this is Emma Lord’s love story to New York City and I haven’t been there so I was living vicariously though her characters, which was fun but I didn’t connect as much with this one as I have with her other books, which I’ve loved. It is a YA and I recommend it to YA readers who would like a coming of age stories with adventures in NYC. Thank you to Wednesday books, NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

I have enjoyed everything I’ve read by Emma Lord, and this book is definitely no different!

The interplay of relationships throughout this story is perfect, from the two main characters, Riley and Tom, to all of the assorted side characters.

The story is told from Riley’s POV and I loved the insight into her sense of self, and her determination to live her own life and not let her mother dictate the course she should choose. Riley’s sense of adventure is infectious and I love that she surrounds herself with people who make her feel safe enough to explore.

Tom, on the other hand, was a little more closed off. No matter how much he cares about Riley, he’s felt really alone over the years without her. He did his best to hide his feelings while adventuring with Riley and their friends, but ultimately the abandonment he felt from his mother really got to him.

The friend group is amazing and truly a found family! The relationships between each of them with Riley and Tom, and with each other, speaks to true friendship, whether they just met or have known each other for years. I loved the dynamics between all of them and how they lifted each other up, pushed them to chase their dreams, and provided support.

A brief mention to the moms. I initially did not like Riley’s mom and felt she was way too controlling and not supportive of Riley. I’m happy to say that she ultimately redeemed herself for me. Tom’s mom, on the other hand, was terrible! No one should ever put their work ahead of the people they love or make a child feel so lost and alone, no matter how old they are.

Overall this book was a treat and I look forward to many more from this author in future!

Disclaimer: I received a DRC through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Getaway List tells the story of graduating senior, Riley. She decides to go to New York to visit her best friend who she was kind of estranged from but wants to make things right. What was supposed to be just a weekend trip turns into a summer adventure of completing items from The Getaway List that Riley and Tom created when they were younger. They create their own little tribe of friends and begin on the list. It was nice to see the book come full circle with both kids and their moms,

2.5 STARS
I have enjoyed several books from this author and was thrilled to read her latest. Sadly, this was a disappointment. Riley was newly graduated, coming of age, etc but she behaved like a spoiled toddler, especially toward her mom. There was supposed to this deep connection between Riley and Tom, but little came through in the book. Not even the NYC setting could save this one for me.

I love a fellow fanfic writing queen.

This book was cute and fun to read. I enjoyed the little adventures and the friendship .. it’s quite the cute quick read!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!