This book was a really cute coming of age story. Tom & Riley were so easy to fall in love with along and easy to root for. I felt like I maybe would’ve enjoyed this more if I was a little bit younger and possibly going through a lot of what the characters went through (18, graduating, moving to a new city, starting fresh, etc.). Although still loveable, after awhile the characters felt really needy / complained a lot which is not what I cared to read about. It was cute, just a slight miss for me personally!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book / audiobook!

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."

A super cute coming of age story. I really liked that the main characters finally got their second chance and realized their feelings for each other. I also appreciate that she was willing to let him go to make sure he was doing what was best for him and not for her. The relationship with the mom felt a little too rocky for me but I guess I see how it fits.

🌀Synopsis
Riley is graduating high school and feels completely lost. She suddenly realizes she doesn’t really have a future. When the opportunity to go see her old best friend, Tom, in New York comes up - she takes it.
Against her mother’s wishes, she goes to the city. Her and Tom pick up right where they left off- working on what they called the Getaway List. They complete several tasks and get to know more about the “new” versions of each other.
Riley makes friends in the city and finds that she loves it. She’s even able to tell Tom how she really feels about him too and they have mutual feelings that grow. Until Tom tells her he’s leaving the city right when Riley is telling him that she’s going to stay. Now they have to let each other go, again.

Part coming-of-age story, part friends-to-lovers tale, part found family adventure—this one is another YA hit for Emma Lord. Right after high school graduation, Riley heads to New York to visit her longtime best friend, Tom. He’s been living there for a few years and things just haven’t been the same for either of them since he moved. What begins as a visit turns into finding home, purpose, and love for the recent grads.

Riley is full of life. Tom is the sweetheart who takes care of everyone else. Together, along with friends new and old, they work their way through The Getaway List that they started when Tom moved away. From recreating missed birthdays to touring the spots from their favorite book and TV show, the friend group grows closer together with each adventure. Along the way, Riley of RileyandTom/TomandRiley begins to realize that she feels more than friendship for her best friend.

Many parts of this book are just plain fun, and I mean that in the best way. This is a young group full of energy in New York City, where there is always something to do. In some ways, the book is a love letter to New York, and fans of Emma Lord will appreciate her nods to previous books set in the city. We get banter and exuberance, but we also get character growth and depth, too.

Norma Butikofer's narration captures the youthfulness and energy of the characters. I was easily able to keep track of which friend was speaking based on Butikofer's vocal choices for each character. Mariella's voice was my favorite.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Emma Lord's "Getaway List" takes readers on an enchanting escapade filled with heart, humor, and a delightful dose of adventure. This novel is a treasure trove for anyone seeking a delightful read that combines the warmth of a cozy romance with the thrill of a bucket-list adventure.

Lord's storytelling prowess shines brightly through her well-crafted characters, each uniquely flawed yet immensely relatable. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery while ticking off items from a quirky bucket list is both endearing and inspiring. The witty banter and genuine emotional depth between the characters make them feel like old friends, drawing readers deeper into their world.

What truly sets "Getaway List" apart is its immersive setting. Lord skillfully paints vivid landscapes and charming locales that make you feel like you're right there alongside the characters. From bustling cities to serene landscapes, every destination on the list comes alive with vivid descriptions that awaken a sense of wanderlust in the reader.

The pacing of the plot keeps you engaged from start to finish, balancing heartfelt moments with lighthearted humor and just the right touch of romance. Lord weaves in important themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone, making this book not just entertaining but also thought-provoking.

While the story is immensely enjoyable, there are a few moments where the pacing felt slightly rushed, leaving me yearning for a bit more depth in certain character arcs. Nonetheless, this didn’t detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, "Getaway List" is a delightful and engaging read that captures the essence of adventure and self-discovery. Emma Lord's storytelling prowess and vivid imagery create a captivating experience that will leave readers longing for their own daring escapades. This novel is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming journey filled with laughter, love, and the beauty of exploring the unknown.

Thank you Net Galley and Emma Lord for a copy of this ARC :)

I think I have come to the conclusion that Tweet Cute was an outlier because this will be the third Emma Lord book that fell flat for me. It is well-written and the premise sounded interesting to me but I never felt connected to the characters the way that I did with Tweet Cute. I love that her books stay solidly YA as to romantic content but I wouldn’t recommend this to a teen because there was just so much foul language and frankly, disrespect for parents. I keep finding that language seems to be a thing in YA books perhaps to show immaturity but all teenagers don’t speak this way.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook via NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Absent parent, kisses, lots of foul language

Thank you for this book and exchange for my honest review. I will give you what I think. Exactly.
I don’t know why I keep taking out books by this author, because I never enjoy her books. She just isn’t the author for me.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The female narrator did a wonderful job with this story! She seamlessly transitions between both male and female characters without skipping a beat! The story itself was very sweet for a young adult audience. I have an almost 17 year old daughter who I will definitely be gifting this when it comes out because her dream is to go to college in New York. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes sweet, young adult romantic comedies that have very little spice!

Tweet Cute remains one of my favorite reads of 2020, so I was ecstatic to get an ARC of The Getaway List.

Tom and Riley have been best friends since they were little. However, after four years of living miles away from Tom, Riley worries their friendship is falling apart. Further, having just graduted and unsure of what path she wants to take, she feels stuck. On a whim and faced with her mother's irritation, she takes a train to N.Y. and lands on Tom's doorstep. Riley finds that after three years apart, a lot has changed, including a newly found attraction to Tom.

Emma Lord's signature charm and sweetness shine through in this coming-of-age, young-adult romance wrapped in a love letter to New York.

I adored the romance - Tom and Riley are so cute, navigating their changing lives and feelings while spending their days exploring N.Y. However, the romance was just the cherry on top. I love how Lord navigates Riley's relationship with her mother and Riley's need to please her and be a good kid, all while trying to find her place in the world. However, I think what I loved most was the found family. This was one of the most supportive and loving found families I have read in a YA book in a long time. The female relationships were everything.

I think fans of Tweet Cute will love this!

Perfect for fans of:

Friends to Lovers
Coming of Age
New York
Female Friendships
Found Families
Bucket Lists
Heavy Dialogue

I listened to this via audio and thought the narrator did a great job. I would listen to anything that Norma Butikofer narrates. She captured Riley's thoughts and feelings perfectly.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Queen Emma can do no wrong. There’s not a single book of hers that hasn’t immediately sucked me in and didn’t let me go, and this was no different. I ADORE Riley and Tom, and the theme of checking things off a list. This coming-of-age set against the backdrop of New York and navigating the minefield that is moving from friends to lovers, I highly recommend this to all YA romance readers.

A cute coming of age story and finding yourself in the big apple!

Riley graduates from high school and realizes her mom has dictated her whole life to keep her from her best friend so she takes off to NY to find her best friend and make some memories.

If you need a book with many a mommy issue this one is your pick lol. The angsty relationship with the mom is definitely relatable but was a little annoying. What I loved most was Tom, the best friend and love interest. He was darling and had a great personality

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. Enjoyable YA book about finding your way at 18 when your choices seem so life changing but finally yours to make. The narrator had a very pleasing voice and the story was entertaining, fun and sweet. 3 1/2 stars rounded up!

This is a very cute YA/NA romcom with a likeable cast of characters. I enjoyed seeing the friends as they completed tasks on the getaway list.

I really enjoyed the narrator for this one as well.

This book very much gave me the vibes of Lorelei and Rory's relationship on Gilmore Girls circa season 6 (which isn't a bad thing, just saying)

I would likely recommend this book to fans of YA and this authors previous works. However, this has been my least favorite so far.

A very fun “bucket list style” book that takes you through the city. I found nearly everything about it to be delightful, I loved the characters and how they felt well rounded and complete. Loved that the book had aspects about being about writing and the creative process. Overall a very sweet and nice fun good time

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for both an ebook ARC and the audio of The Getaway List. I absolutely loved this one. Emma Lord gives you all the feels. It’s been years since I’ve seen NYC but it felt like another character in the story. I loved the idea of the Dear, Love Dispatch. The development of the relationships felt realistic and I enjoyed how they all unfolded on the pages. The ending felt all around good. I can’t read on flights and wanted to continue the story so I was grateful to have the audio to listen to while traveling. This is probably my new favorite Emma Lord.

The Getaway List is an endearing young adult coming of age story in which our main character, Riley, confronts her desire to appease her mother’s desire to always be the good daughter with her own desire to discover who she is. Following high school graduation, Riley feels aimless. She has no plans to go to college and her only real desire is to see her best friend Tom again after Tom moved to New York City when his mom’s career took off.
Instead of starting work as planned, Riley embarks on an adventure to the city to discover herself again in the presence of her friend.
Thanks to Macmillan audio for the ALC of The Getaway List

This was cute. A LOT of dialog- a very dialog driven book for sure. Riley, the main character, was a typical 18 year old high school graduate who just didn't know what she wanted to do with her life (and she didn't have confidence in her talents). Luckily her BFF Tom lives in New York, so she heads out to visit, and over the course of the summer, she figures out that she's actually in love with him. But are her feelings returned? A sweet, happily-ever-after YA rom-com.
The narrator did a great job with the characters.

“The Getaway List” follows Riley, a recent high school grad with no post graduation plans after having a rough few years and a suspension on her record. She’s getting ready to spend the summer working and getting ready for community college courses in the fall. The big hang up is Riley’s best friend, Tom, moved to New York a few years ago and Riley misses him and them being together. She doesn’t know what to do and isn’t sure what is holding her back. A spur of the moment decision to board a bus to New York and a fight with her mom puts Riley in New York seeing Tom after all these years. The book follows Tom, Riley and the bunch of friends they have assembled over the summer through the “getaway list” with adventures and mishaps along the way. I absolutely adored this lighthearted read from Emma Lord, and listening to all of the characters backstories and listening them grow up over a New York summer.

Thank you so much Net Galley for the audiobook advanced read in exchange for my thoughts.

This was the type of audiobook where fun and adventure meets romance and they couldn’t have picked a better narrator. The story was adorable and the narrator kept me engaged the entire time.

This was such a fun new Emma Lord contemporary romance—the story of finding your way after high school, combined with navigating friendship, family, and love, was so relatable and moving. A joy!