A two-for-one friends to lovers + if Ferris Bueller's Day Off took place in 2024 Philadelphia!

While We're Young by K.L. Walther follows a once unbreakable trio (Isa, Grace and Everett) and their last-ditch attempt to rebuild their friendship before they graduate and go their separate ways. After Everett broke Isa's heart Freshman year, the trio became Grace & Isa, and.. Everett. However, unknown to Isa, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, and, unknown to Grace, Isa is secretly in love with Grace's Irish twin brother, James (and thus gives us the two-for-one friends to lovers !!!).

Grace plans an epic day for Isa and Everett, trying to recreate the magic Everett's late father used to plan for the foursome. Racing up the famous Rocky steps and taste-testing Philly cheesesteaks while trying to find the perfect moment to tell each other their respective secrets made for a quick, easy and atmospheric read that made me want to simultaneously book a trip to Philadelphia and rewatch Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

I'm slowly but surely realizing I'm aging out of the Young Adult genre, unfortunately. While I do still love and have a soft-spot for overly-sweet, quick, low stakes reads like this one, it's getting increasingly harder for me to find pieces of the story to relate to. Not sure if it was this book specifically, but I kept finding myself getting bored and tired of the juvenile writing, conflicts and pop culture references. I do, however, think this would be a favorite among 13-16 year olds and wish this author's books existed when I was that age.

My last little note -- love that K.L. Walther is so transparently and unashamedly a Swiftie -- I immediately clocked the mention of "Dancing With Our Hands Tied (Taylor's Version)." Walther and I are the same person because like her, I also thought Reputation (Taylor's Version) would have been out by now.

Thank you Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!!

🕶️ While We’re Young by K.L. Walther

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars

General Thoughts:
I absolutely adored this friend group. Anything K.L. Walther writes never ceases to amaze me. Each book has the ability to pull anyone out of a slump and it’s like a breath of fresh air every time. This book was exactly that for me, I loved it! I also love Ferris Bueller's Day Off, so I knew this book would be a hit for me!

Tropes:
💛Best friend’s brother
🤍Multiple POV
💛Close friend group
🤍Childhood friends to lovers

What I loved:
🤍Love love loved the friend group!!!
💛By the end I couldn’t even decide which couple I liked best, they were both great!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and K.L. Walther for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!! <3

i remember adoring the summer of broken rules last year and was so excited to be selected to arc review k.l. walther’s new release! her stories feel like a warm hug, filled to the brim with intricate family traditions and beautifully capturing the highs & lows of older adolescence.

our characters skip a day of school during their senior year in the spirit of a gender swapped ferris bueller’s day off. they spend the day making memories together, reminiscing the years of their complicated relationships with each other and pondering what’s to come in their next era.

i loved how individual each character felt in their respective chapters and thought the author did a great job giving voice to multiple angsty teens. i wish we got a little more insight into their college years and how their standings with each other hold up but i think it’ll be nice to think abt grace, isa, james and ev and wonder to myself how they’re doing :)

while we’re young features themes around the complexity of childhood friendships, grieving the loss of a parent, and navigating mental health.

thank you so much to the author and random house children’s for the opportunity to read a digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts ✨

This book is so cute! Essentially grace the fmc wants to get her friend group back together so she decides to pull a Ferris buellers day off faking sick and man the adventure that they go on and the secrets that unfold are so good! Grace Everett Isa and James are everything I wanted in a friend group add in a principal who has it out for James makes this a funny easy read. It very much gives graduation nostalgia vibes. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

This wasn't too bad. Was a cute easy read, though I didn't love having four different POVs. I did enjoy the Ferris Bueller-type vibe. This is the second book of hers that I have read and it was decent.

The characters were pretty likeable, though I just kept waiting for them to tell each other the truth like the dumb teenagers they are. Everett was probably my favorite of the 4 POVs. All around, cute concept and a decent execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte/Random House Publishing.

- Thank you sm to the author and the publisher for the arc <3
This book was super fun and I loved it!
What I liked-
♥ The vibes of this book were just super fun
♥ I loved the exploration of family and friend group dynamics in this book
♥ Both of the couple in this book were so cute! I especially loved James and Isa so much!
♥ The plot was so interesting
What I didn't like
♥ I loved how this book was based on Ferris Buellers day off but sometimes I felt like the plot lines were just too similar, and it seemed kind of unoriginal

3.75⭐️ While We're Young takes a fun modern-day sping on"Ferris Bueller's Day Off." It was a super cute romance filled with friendships, grief, romance, and preparing for college.

I liked the fact that we got a POV from all four characters. I enjoyed Grace, Isa, James, and Everett equally and found them to each have unique personalities. While four POVs sound overwhelming, K.L. Walther did a great job of making each chapter flow with one another. This book is truly just a feel-good, happy contemporary romance. I think it's perfect for those spring/summer months.

One thing I would've liked to explore a bit more here was Grace and James' relationship. This whole book takes on rebuilding friendships and talking about feelings, and with these siblings, I feel it lacked. Additionally, the ending felt pretty abrupt. I understood why the book ended where it did and thought it was cute, but I couldn't help but feel there were other storylines mentioned that could use some closure.

Overall, Grace, Everett, James, and Isa's day off was an enjoyable read. I have enjoyed every book by K.L. Walther, and this one was no different. Although 'While We're Young' is a young adult romance, I think anyone could appreciate it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's | Declatore Romance, and the author for providing me with this ARC!

Such a fun and perfect senior year YA read, the angst was giving, adorable tropes and i always love Whalter’s writing :)

This was an adorable young adult book! It is based off of one of the greatest movies of all time - Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but gives it a more modern twist. I loved the character's relationships and how they have all been friends for so long. There were a couple of plot points that I wish could have been expounded on (Isa's dad - IYKYK). And I also wish the ending had gone a bit more in depth I think that it could be really fun to see a book 2 where we watch these characters embrace their last summer before college!

⭐️: 3.5/5

I know that I’m no longer the intended audience for YA books but somehow I can’t stop reading them. I particularly enjoyed two of K. L. Walther’s previous YA books, What Happens After Midnight and The Summer of Broken Rules, since they so perfectly captured the hope that magic that you have when you’re young and not yet an adult and have the world and your whole lives in front of you. This one fell a little short of that mark though, and was rife with distractingly unrealistic plans to the point where it was even too much for a YA book.

First off, it was inspired by and loosely based on the storyline of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which while an admirable effort, would perhaps not be my first choice of a movie to base book off of, since it felt a little contrived at times trying to hit the plot points and feelings of the movie in ways that didn’t work as well as they could have. There are so many other great, iconic, adventurous, coming of age movies that would lend themselves so well to retellings such as this, but in my opinion, this one was not a good pick.

The ignorant adult characters in any teen movie are a staple, but they come across much funnier on the screen than in books, and they were too much here, and too obviously ~out of touch with their youth~. I also have a love hate relationship with books that use Taylor Swift references, and in this one, it was even worse because some of the references were like, factually incorrect (we don’t have Rep TV yet so…). I also found one of the main couples, James and Isa, to be kind of just like, the worst people and really annoying together and apart, but that does happen a lot of the time for me in rom coms. The ending didn’t have nearly enough closure for me either.

This was cheesy, sometimes in a good way and sometimes in a bad way, and wasn’t nearly as good as the author’s two other books that I read. I added an extra half star for me not being the target audience. I won’t give up on great YA books coming from Walther, because I do enjoy the way she writes characters, but this was was just ok for me.

Thank you to @netgalley , @randomhousekids , and @delacorteromance for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

📚ARC REVIEW 📚

While We’re Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a mess. Grace is in love with Everett but he dated Isa and broke her heart freshman year. But Isa is over Everett and has been talking to James, Grace’s brother, but worries that could hurt their friendship. With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. But can they really pull off this plan and if they do, will it help?

This was such a fun, cute YA book with a modern day twist on "Ferris Bullers Day Off". I loved the characters and how each one had a point of view during the story. Such a great story on rebuilding friendships, dealing with grief and preparing oneself for college. I also enjoyed the romance between the couples in the friend group. I do wish we would’ve had more of a backstory between Grace and James and why their relationship wasn’t as tight anymore siblings. Also, wished the ending didn’t end so abruptly. I wanted more! Overall, it was still a good read.

This book will publish on March 4, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s | Delacorte Romance for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

K. L. Walther always knows exactly how to hit me in the feels. I absolutely tore through this book, finishing it in less than 24 hours. I know the inspiration for the story was Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, but this book had such a life of its own that I barely even noticed the parallels.

So, what worked? I loved how well thought out each character was and how we got perfect glimpses into how their lives all intertwined together. I’ll admit, when I first read the blurb for this book and realized I’d be reading four different POVs, I was a little skeptical. But truly, it was done so well. Every POV felt like a puzzle piece and they all sorta clicked together. We also got to know each character and it was easy to see the different personalities play a part in the ditch-day story line. I especially loved Isa’s POVs, and she had the most growth in my opinion. Her change in attitude just felt so natural once we reached the end of the book.

Now, what I didn’t like. Give that I’m still rating the book 4 stars, there isn’t a lot to mention here. The main issue I had was that the relationship between James and Grace wasn’t explored enough. I thought the romance was super cute, and it was nice to see those story lines come together, but I think the book needed more of the sibling dynamic to balance it out. It would’ve been nice to see James join in on the adventure with his sister rather than immediately splitting off with Isa.

The second thing, although minor, was the ending. It was so abrupt. I think as a reader, we deserved to see the resolution of Isa’s conversation with her mom. After all the worrying she did in the book, I think that would’ve wrapped up her progression nicely.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I wish romance didn’t overtake the book. I still think the romance was done well, and it all just felt very *real*, but it ended up overshadowing the other plot points introduced in the book, ones that definitely deserved more attention.

Overall, this is such a great read! I would definitely recommend to all of my romance lovers and people who just want a quick story that they can immerse themselves in.

A modern day twist on "Ferris Bullers Day Off" with a chance to reconnect and fall in love before they all head off to college. Thank you to Netgalley, K.L. and Delacorte Romance for the eARC!

What to Expect:
⭐ Multiple POV
⭐ Young Adult Romance
⭐ High School Seniors Skipping School to reconnect
⭐ Best friends falling in love over the years
⭐ A day full of fun, memories and breaking rules
⭐ TW: Discussion of depression

My Thoughts:
I am not the target audience for this however it was a clean, fun and great book for those that are in the audience. I loved that the senior skip day involved way more than just a day at the beach or in the city, but was a lot more memorable for the group of friends. Watching them all reconnect and share secrets they ALL had been hiding was such a beautiful story of TRUE friendships at that age.

Hands down ONE of my FAVORITE parts was the Philly Phanatic making a cameo! What a genius idea by K.L.! It had me laughing and wishing I had been there when it all happened! The second was the strong representation and discussion of depression but also getting help when needed. That it is brave to ask and get help. That clarity I think in this age gap is so important!

Overall the story was well written, there were some times where the flash backs weren't as clear in the overall plot but it just meant taking the time to watch it all unfold.

Synopsis:
Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart in the infamous Freshman Year Fracture. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace’s brother—and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.

With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who’s certain his sister is up to something.

In an epic day that includes racing up the famous Rocky steps, taste-testing Philly's finest cheesesteaks, and even crashing a wedding, their secrets are bound to collide. But can their hearts withstand the wreckage?

Thank you Netgalley for this arc in exchange for a review. I really wanted more from this book. I know it is a YA Book and k was excited about the aspect of a take on FBDO this fell super flat for me. It was cute but it’s more of a super young YA book. It felt like a short story that just dragged out to no real ending.

this was such a fun and refreshing read! KL walther never dissapoints, and this book was just as wonderful as the others I have read by this offer. I am so grateful for this copy of the book!

✨ ARC Book Review ✨

🌆 While We’re Young - K.L. Walther 🌆
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

When I saw this book was inspired by the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off I was immediately intrigued! Obviously I’m no longer in high school and so it was nice to have a bit of nostalgia! Did anyone else go through a John Hughes movie phase in HS or just me? Anyways I digress…

While We’re Young follows a group of high school seniors who decide to skip a day of school and go on an epic adventure! The ways they got out of school were quite far fetched but also very entertaining! You can tell that Grace, Isa, Everett and James have been a part of one another’s lives for forever but there was some definite underlying tension between them. I was curious to see how it was all going to play out. I did like that each chapter was from their different POV as it gave us a little more insight as to what they were thinking. While there was a lot of laughs, there was also heart to hearts as they navigated the feelings of grief as well as trust being broken.

While overall I enjoyed the book, I do wish there was more resolution at the end of the day. I wanted to see what happened with Isa and her parents, and of course Grace and Everett.

That being said, this was a quick run read and would definitely recommend if you’re wanting to feel the nostalgic vibes of high school!

✨ While We’re Young comes out 3/4 ✨

A huge thanks to @netgalley for providing me with the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Ok, this book is very YA. I know I’m not in this demographic but I still love reading YA books. This book seemed very rushed and incomplete. While reading I was annoyed that it was still going. There was a bit towards the end where I was like yes! This is what the book needs. However, it flipped and was so rushed but also incomplete. These issues arise throughout the book and you never know what happens bc the book just ends. These relationships don’t really exist at the beginning of the story but things happen so quickly at the end. The whole story happens in one day and apparently that’s enough time for whole lives to just flip and happily ever after. I loved Summer of Broken Rules but this book was not it.

This author writes perfectly for the nostalgia of high school. I devoured her other books. Unfortunately this book didn’t have the same draw. I tried so hard to get into the book and it didn’t ever draw me in and make me want to continue reading. I still have faith in this author I just don’t think this is her best book.

Incredible dad as 3 (4) seniors take one last hurrah for their friendships, each other and themselves!

Fun take on a retelling of a classic movie. Only hitch for me was the last scene with Grace and Everett. Jumping from longtime friends with crushes on the each other straight into bed was a jump too far for me and unnecessary and something that pushes my recommended age higher. This book tackles some tough issues for young people and does so in a sensitive way. Overall, I truly enjoyed it.