As a lifelong Philadelphian, I loved this book. It felt like such a love letter to the city. It was also a beautiful story about young love and grief. The characters were so much fun and I really enjoyed the changing points of view. I do think there was a bit too much pro Mets propaganda for my diehard Phillies fan self but I will let Everett slide because he truly was just the sweetest boy. The dynamics of the Grace, Everett, James, and Isa as they healed from their past and dealt with their current challenges were really well written. This book quickly skyrocketed to one of my favorite YA romances.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

This was a fun, simple read heavily inspired by Ferris Bueller’s day off. I loved Isa and James, Grace just really bothered me as a main character. I think this book was a lil too YA for me, also now that I’m 22, it’s kinda hard for me to connect to HS romances ig.

I definitely want to read her other stuff!

I loved this gender-swapped modern take of Ferris Bueller's Day Off! As a fan of the movie, I enjoyed all the little easter eggs and call backs the author wove into the story (like the news team).

This book showed the challenges of growing up and the pressures that can come with it well. I loved all of the different dynamics between Grace, Isa, Everett, and James. It also felt like a good homage to the city of Philly.

The chemistry felt natural amongst the group. Whether platonic or romantic, the connections were good! The plot was enjoyable, and the adventures and mishaps were fun. I will say the sex in the last chapter felt odd (very vague! Not graphic or explicit! Mentions condoms and tangled limbs, really nothing horrible), but it felt unnecessary for the plot, ya know? Especially since it was tagged on at the end. Personally, I don't love the mirco-trope of "We're in love! To prove it, we must have sex now!" But I can be a grandma like that so *shrugs*.

*disclaimer; I love “the summer of broken rules” + wholesome coming of age, ya, teen drama ok so obviously I liked this. This truly read like a teen rom-com movie and I loved every bit of it! The storyline follows 4 best friends participating in a skip day during their senior year before they go separate ways for college - the awkwardness and suspense, it was so cute & nostalgic.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, & K. L. Walther for this gifted copy for an honest review ◡̈

While We're Young is a story of an epic senior skip day based loosely on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. In it, three friends, Grace, Isa, and Everett were an inseparable group who drifted apart. Grace schemes to reunite them through the perfect adventure in the city of Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Grace’s brother, James, is suspicious of his sister’s illness, much like in the movie, and plans to figure out what these three are up to.

As someone who spends a lot of time in Philadelphia, I enjoyed the setting and the familiar landmarks. Being able to picture where the adventure was happening added a lot to the experience for me. This reads firmly as YA. I did enjoy the nostalgic vibe that came via the homage to the classic movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It was a cute, but lacked the depth of Walther's favorite of mine, The Summer of Broken Rules which had a much fuller and adult leaning story. I would have loved a bit more, especially regarding the ending. I think it will appeal more to its intended audience!

Grace, Isa, and Everett are seniors in high school and are all best friends. Things started getting a bit messy with all of their love lives, which caused their friendship to take a hit. So they skipped school to explore the city of Philadelphia which I really enjoyed.

I loved that the story was told through multiple POV’s with each character. Each chapter was based on another character which flowed really well.

The description says the book is inspired by the 1980’s classic movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I think it more than inspired it, the majority of the book reminded me of the movie with just a few modern tweaks to it. I am still going back and forth on how I feel about that. I love the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but I think I just wish the book was more loosely based on it.

Overall, I did enjoy this YA romance and I loved them repairing friendships and fixing things with one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars. In this “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” inspired story, four friend embark on an epic senior skip day. Grace, Isa, and Everett were an inseparable trio that drifted apart, so Grace plans to reunite them through the perfect adventure in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Grace’s brother James is suspicious of his sister’s “illness”, and plans to figure out what these three are truly up to while missing school.

This book is set in Philadelphia, so as someone from the area I really enjoyed the setting and all the familiar landmarks. While this is for sure a very YA book geared towards Gen Z, it does offer a nostalgic vibe to those of an older generation {like myself} with the retelling of the classic movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It was a cute story, but I would have loved a bit more, especially in terms of the ending. Overall, it was a quick, fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Underlined, and Delacorte Romance for my gifted physical copy + e-ARC!

What an enjoyable YA read! Perfect beach book. Did not think I could love anything more than her first novel and Martha’s Vineyard but this did not disappoint teenage girls will love this book. I received this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review..

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Romance & KL Walther for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

As an elder millennial- this was SUCH a fun read. It's truly a completely different take on Ferris Bueller's Day Off- but the nods and easter eggs were sooooo exciting to come across!

As a romance reader- I found this book to be rife with the miscommunication trope- but as it should be for YOUTHS! They don't know how to communicate! Especially as they are processing coming of age issues- as simple as dating within the friend group (we've all been there! Girl code to a teen is sooo legit but when they are 30+ they will look back and laugh)- and as complex as grieving the loss of a parent and/or discovering your parent's infidelity. Add in heading to college soon and going separate ways-- these kids are all over the place- as most are.

I was a little taken aback that this YA was more open door than most closed door Adult Romances. So if that matters to you when choosing YA- please be aware!

I would love an epilogue to see where they end up- and some of the fallout of their actions. But I'm pretty sure that's not as common in YA as it is in Romance. Again- they are young- anything can happen!

Teens who are looking for a fairly mindless, mostly fun book about being a senior in high school with a little bit of romance, should like this. The book takes place on one day and is an ode to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Because it takes place in one day, the writing is sometimes hindered because a lot of backstory needs to be included. The change between the four narrators is also a bit clunky at times. This has over-the-top scenes (just like the movie) but has a few serious issues included in the storyline. This won't win any awards but it should be a good escape for teens - and could be a good suggestion for those who prefer watching screens to reading books.

“While We’re Young” is the perfect escapist, fast-paced story of friends skipping school together. I loved the juxtaposition of these 4 friends, as they live out this one day together. Many different friend and family dynamics unravel, and it’s sweet to see how this friend group puts it all back together. Walther always does the best job of pulling the reader in, and keeping them invested through the fun adventures and romance!

For those who love:
🚘One day timeframe
🚘Fast-paced
🚘Two Romances
🚘Friends-to-Lovers
🚘Multi-POV
🚘”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
🚘Philadelphia, PA Setting

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I thought this was a cute story about a group of friends skipping school during the end of their senior year to go on a day of adventures. This story began with the main character Grace pretending to be sick so that she could skip school and "kidnap" her friends Ethan and Isa for the day. I feel as if the story immediately drew you into the storyline, though there were parts throughout where I felt as is if the story drug on a little bit too long.

Overall, it was a cute story about friendship mixed with romance and some comedy. It definitely gave the Ferris Bueller’s day off vibes. I feel if you like Lynn Painters YA novels this book might be right up your alley.

Thank you dommich neg galley and K.L Walther for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. Although this went my favorite of hers books I did really enjoy the story. 3.5stars

[arc review]
Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
While We’re Young releases March 4, 2025

In this reimagining of <I>Ferris Bueller’s Day Off</I>, we follow the lives of four high school seniors and their skip day when Grace orchestrates a last hurrah between friends as a way to give this final chapter of theirs a good ending.

Grace, Isabel, and Everett used to be a close-knit trio, until a romantic breakup between Isabel and Everett caused Grace to publicly side with her best friend, Isabel.
As the years went on though, Everett and Grace continued to be close friends behind closed doors, enough for them to both gain feelings for each other.
Meanwhile, for the past six months, Isabel has secretly been in a relationship with Grace’s brother, James.

Having read the entirety of Walther’s backlist, I’ve come to the realization that I don’t prefer her books that are written with multiple pov’s — the settings and characters just don’t have that same magnetic pull found in TSOBR and WHAM, which makes it more difficult to be invested.

The way the community reacted to Grace having the stomach bug was too over the top to be realistic or enjoyable. Taking into consideration the virality of #savinggrace, I’m surprised that no one outside the group of four caught onto their sham, especially after seeing Everett’s winning contest photo.

I understand the appeal that comes with keeping a story like this isolated to one day, but I really wanted to see the fallout of Isabel breaking the news about her dad to her mother, and him finding out about his vandalized car. I also wanted a follow up with the principal and what went down in Rittenhouse Square!

cw: grief, loss of a parent due to cancer, infidelity, depression

3.5 stars (6.71)
I’m only vaguely aware of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, as it came out before I was born, as is the case for the target audience for its reimagining, While We’re Young. However, familiarity with the source material isn’t necessary to enjoy it, although I imagine this could be a great way to introduce a new generation to the film. And if nothing else, it absolutely does capture the spirit of youth and independence, making the title feel very appropriate.
The characters were fine, but not super-deep. There being four POVs was sometimes a detriment, as their voices weren’t super unique, and I would sometimes forget whose POV I was meant to be following. But the relationships they had with one another were well-defined, and while it all boils down to lower stakes teen drama, I enjoyed following them nonetheless.
And with the framing of a single “senior skip day,” the pacing is fairly brisk, even if there isn’t a ton of external direction to the narrative, with it being more focused on their internal relationships.
Walther also continues to wear her Swiftie heart on her sleeve, with multiple references to Taylor and her work. One of the hazards of traditional publishing, however, is not knowing how well a reference will age, even before a book is released. A brief reference to Reputation (Taylor’s Version) being already out is a solid prediction on Walther’s part, but sadly, inaccurate.
And speaking of awful references, I was much more disturbed by the fact that the characters’ adventures occur in a Tesla, and this reference is much less excusable, as while Elon Musk’s public pivot to the alt-right has been public knowledge for a few years now even before he gained substantial control of the US government, and his rancid behavior toward women has been documented even prior to that. If it was just a single reference, I could live with it, but every time I had to read about the characters driving a Tesla, I wanted to hit something. Granted, these references might be fixed in the final copy, but this one in particular impacted my reading experience so intensely, I couldn’t not comment on it.
Minor (ish) issues aside, this was a fairly enjoyable read, and I’d recommend it to readers in search of lightweight YA contemporary romance with a slight adventure plot.

If I'm going to endure a tangled love triangle with a side of amateur kidnapping, it might as well come with a complimentary cheesesteak and a warning label.

Senior skip day. A time-honored tradition where teens throw caution (and apparently, logic) to the wind in favor of reckless hijinks, unnecessary emotional turmoil, and love triangles—or in this case, love octagons. While We’re Young promises an epic, Ferris Bueller-inspired day of adventure, but instead delivers a front-row seat to the world’s messiest friend group trying (and mostly failing) to resolve years of romantic baggage in a single afternoon. Spoiler: It doesn’t go well.

Let’s start with Grace, our protagonist and the self-appointed captain of this chaos train. She’s in love with Everett, who used to date Isa, who is secretly dating Grace’s brother, James. Grace’s solution? A forced group bonding experience where she kidnaps Everett and drags everyone through Philly like a caffeine-fueled tour guide with a vendetta. Because nothing says “let’s fix our friendship” like trapping people in close proximity with their exes and hoping for the best.

The book is essentially 300 pages of unresolved feelings, questionable decision-making, and lots of running—running up the Rocky steps, running from their problems, running out of time before graduation. Do they learn anything? Sort of. Do they stop making bad choices? Absolutely not. At one point, I started rooting for Philly traffic to intervene and end the madness.

While the narrative does race up the famous Rocky steps (in more ways than one), the story trips over its own ambition more than it soars. But between the will-they-won’t-they melodrama and the characters’ complete inability to communicate like functioning humans, I found myself less invested in their romantic woes and more interested in how they all managed to make it this far in life without imploding.

Final verdict? If you love teen angst, dramatic declarations, and the absolute worst way to handle interpersonal conflict, you’ll probably have a good time. But if you’re looking for an actually fun and charming senior skip day adventure? Maybe just rewatch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off instead.

I love KL walthers books but i couldn’t get into this one unfortunately. Maybe eventually I’ll pick it up again and then this book will be for me but this time it wasn’t.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers of While We're Young.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to complete this novel. It has nothing to do with the writing or plot but simply that it’s not in my age bracket. I found it very cute, fun and perfect for teens/YA! This is something I would definitely recommend to all the young adults/teens in my life. The plot was fun, full of different secrets and issues to be solved. Really felt like I was watching a rom-com movie or tv show! I just couldn’t really connect with any of the characters or what was going on, which I highly believe is due to me being older. I would’ve absolutely loved this as a teen.

4/5 ⭐️

A perfect homage to Ferris Bueller's day off and sure to delight young readers! This YA coming of age high school romance features four friends, narrated with a full cast, and has them skipping school for a fun-filled skip day where they explore Philadelphia and confess to long-held crushes and secrets. I really enjoyed this latest from K L Walter! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Was this a nostalgic, cute read for millennials? Absolutely. It certainly captured the essence of the time, offering a fun trip down memory lane. However, it also came with its fair share of drawbacks, namely its slow pace, occasional repetition, and tendency to be a bit long-winded.

As a Ferris Bueller fan, I was genuinely excited to start reading this ARC, but I found it challenging to fully immerse myself in the story. The “morning” section seemed to drag on for what felt like an eternity, and then, almost out of nowhere, it was suddenly afternoon, and the plot seemed to have moved on without much progression. I also had difficulty distinguishing between the FOUR different points of view, as they often felt blended together, which made it harder to stay engaged with the characters' individual stories.

That being said, the idea and plot were undeniably charming and full of potential. The author’s creativity shone through, and I appreciated the overall concept, but I couldn’t help but wish the execution had been a little tighter to keep the momentum going.