I'm going to start this off by saying, I love Ferris Bueller's Day Off. So when I heard this was inspired by it, I was very excited to read it. Now that I have read it, I have some issues. The reason why Ferris Bueller's Day Off works (in my opinion) is because there is only one real driving force behind the entire day. Cameron is so the total opposite of his best friend and so uptight that this day does everything it can to get Cameron to finally loosen up and let go. There are other things going on obviously in the movie, but there is one big character arc moment of growth and it's Cameron. This book, it has wayyyyyyy too many things going on and because it has way too many things going on, it can't dial in well into one specific problem. So you end up irritated or let down because you probably chose a story you preferred and it just got watered down because of all of the competing major life things going on. For me, I preferred Grace's story. So I found absolutely everything with Isa and James beyond annoying. Because Isa was having to fight for her side of her story, she came across as the villain in Grace's.

I loved the idea of a Ferris Bueller's Day Off reverse gender retelling, but it just didn't work for me. But I think if you've never seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off, you will probably like it more than me because you have nothing to compare it too.

As an 80’s child, I was super excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. I loved the setting and all of the cult movie references!

“While We’re Young” by K.L. Walther is such a heartfelt tale of friendship, love, and loss.

Confession— I’ve never seen “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Regardless, I was immediately hooked by the story. Each of our four main characters (Grace, Isa, James and Everett) had so much emotional depth and charm to them (especially Isa and Everett) and I couldn’t stop rooting for them.

What I especially loved was that their “day off” had so much meaning to their friendship due to the history of their family. It made the story so authentic and touching. This emotional depth is what makes K.L. Walther’s books (including my personal favorite, “The Summer of Broken Rules”) so endearing and unique.

—> Sidenote: I LOVED all of the other cult classic movie references, from “Rocky” to “National Treasure” to “10 Things I Hate About You.” Added so much charm to the story!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

YA romcom, Philly setting, Ferris Bueller's day off retelling, senior skip day, hijinks, friendships, college worries and crushes.

I loved this! SO easy to read and SO fun!!! Definitely don't have to be a YA reader to read this one. Mature for YA, this author knocks it out of the park with this genre.

Panic attack rep, death/grief of a parent, general anxiety

I really loved the Ferris Buller skip day vibe— it was full of adventure, friendship, love and just a pinch of real world experiences. Really appreciated the 4 POV from each main character — overall a quick read + recommend for ages 13-18!

Big thanks to Net Galley + K.L. Walther for giving me the opportunity to read this book — it was a pleasure ✨

I absolutely loved this. What a sweet and fun romance, and I was obsessed with the movie references and Los Angeles details. I fell in love with KL Walther's writing in her previous book The Summer of Broken Rules (the assassin game, the MMC, the Taylor Swift mentions, the older characters) and this completely lived up to my expectations. What a force to be reckoned with in the rom-com book world!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3⭐️
A group of friends about to graduate high school play hookie for the day. Things are changing; friendships,relationships, and families. With everything about to change its their last time do something like “the old days”.

I enjoyed this book. But it didn’t give me that “I love this!” feeling like “the summer of broken rules” did.

I couldn’t get over how teenagers who are playing hookie went to museums. I know it tied in with their past but I think amusement parks or something to that effect would make more sense.

Also with everyone about to graduate would all the work this book did with getting everyone back together be undone? With everyone going to different places for college I don’t see how the relationships would be maintained.

And one particular part wasn’t explained on how it came to be. How did James come to sing at the wedding?

I loved the friendships. You could feel they really cared about one another.

Overall, it was a good book. I think a younger audience would really enjoy this coming of age story.

*Will post reviews to Goodreads and TikTok on Feb 18 2025*

I LOVED The Summer of Broken Rules and What Happens After Midnight. Completely, utterly loved them. 🩷🩷

So, to finally get to read While We’re Young….I was beyond excited. “A spin of Ferris Bueller” was what I kept reading. It was that - but So. Much. More.

I don’t want to give you too much plot. I think it takes away from the joy of reading it yourself. But this book is everything you love and adore about K.L. Walther.
Humor ✅
Hijinks ✅
Friendships ✅
Emotional ✅
Characters you can’t help but love ✅
Love ✅

There are points of utter sadness but then there is life affirming joy. It is one amazing day and one amazing ride though Philadelphia that will have you wishing it wasn’t over and wanting to spend more days bending and breaking rules. 🩷🩷🩷

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for and ARC of this book!

This book was such a cool concept. Student body president fakes sick to take the day off of school. Her best friend, Isa, is the model student, going to Brown, and a perfect attendance record. Grace convinces Isa to skip school, which is the worst idea in the world for Isa. They decide to kidnap one of their friends from school, to Isa's utter shock.

This book is filled with romance and it also has so many twists and turns.

With that being said, I found it a little boring. When I started the book, I had no idea what was going on. The only thing that really kept me hooked was the romance between the characters.

I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes the movie Ferris Beuler's Day Off, because i is basically just a spin of that movie.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an arc of this book.

this is my fav one yet!
this was such a fun "retelling" of ferris buellers day off!
i actually have zero complaints. i was completely hooked right from the start and i really liked every single character. i loved the multiple povs, it was a really interesting way to read the story and it added a lot to the overall experience.
one of my favorite things about this book, is that while it was a fun and goofy time, deeper and more emotional topics were discussed/portrayed, which added so much more depth to the characters and the story.
the portrayal of friendships and how they change throughout your lives was so beautiful and this book was just perfect.
read this, buy it, fall in love with it when it releases march 4th 2025

I love a book that has 80s teen comedy/romcom vibes, and this was so full of that. It was a delight. Three friends who used to be inseparable embark on a skip day in the city. They're not the kind of teens who'd do this, and they also have seen some changes in their relationships. The day is about the adventures they find and the way they (re)connect. It was a fun read - like a movie in a book - and that's a good thing. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this March 2025 release!

If K. L. Waltzers has no fans… I am dead.

While We’re Young is a fantastic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off inspired story, following four childhood friends on their epic trip to Philly. Grace, our Ferris Bueller, decided to organize this ultimate skip day to reconnect her two best friends, Isa and Everett, after their catastrophic break up three years earlier. The only caveat? Both Grace and Isa are hiding something that could ruin this reunion tour before it has a chance to work. Grace is harboring a secret love for Everett, Isa’s ex, and Isa has been going out with James, Graces brother, for the past six months. Over the course of one ultimate skip day, the foursome will visit the highlights of Philly, secrets will be spilled, and hopefully their hearts can stand the wreckage that follows.

This was so so cute and each character was so well written with the love only an author can create. I will never stop recommending K. L. Walther’s books. They are the perfect feel good YA romances with just a touch of angst that gives them the feeling of reality that sticks with you after you read that last page.

While We’re Young will be out March 4th, 2025!! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

the perfect summer book. i feel as if walther has truly perfected her craft at writing quick and easy fast paced summer vibe romances perfect for palette cleansing or getting out of a slump. this one was no different, and i thought every second was overall pretty cute!

3 friends decide to have a last hurrah before college and skip school to go on an adventure. Their other friend, also the brother of one of them, isn’t invited and wonders where they are. It is told from 4 different viewpoints about their day.

They were all very close growing up, but there is tension between all of them due to various things that have happened. Their adventure is supposed to heal their friendship.

It’s hard for me to rate this one, because I feel like I wasn’t really the target audience. While it was enjoyable, I felt this book was more meant for people in about 8th-9th grade based on the themes of the book, which is way younger than I am. 😂 I think this book will be very enjoyable for high schoolers.

I did enjoy that they all had secrets that came to light throughout their adventure and that they were able to heal from their past. There is also mention of depression and seeking help for that which I thought was good representation.

Overall, it was good, but unlike some other YA books, I felt this one wasn’t really for adults too.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review. 🩵

Sometimes you just need a day off. When Grace decides it's more than time for her two best friends to make up and return to their former closeness, she plans an elaborate day exploring Philadelphia in an attempt to recreate some great memories of their childhood. What she doesn't count on is Isa and Everett having some big things they need to share, or her brother being involved in any way. Can this extremely structured rule-follower help them all pull of their biggest adventure? Or will one of their secrets prove too much to accept?

Told in 4 alternating viewpoints, this was an amazingly planned funny retelling of an iconic film, and both older and newer fans of the movie will find this a great read. I especially loved James' sections and his interactions with the principal, but the emotional growth and relationship repair that all of the characters go through in a single day was also very well written. Readers will get just enough of a back story of their younger lives to understand what emotional baggage they are carrying as the characters try to share their feelings and reasons for their actions without feeling a big slow-down of the current day story. All of the characters were important in their own right and each came to a new understanding of themselves and their friends.

A great coming-of-age story full of fun and emotion that fully addresses the unknown of moving into the future of adulthood.

While We're Young is a fun spin on Ferris Bueller's. We have three friends taking an epic senior skip day, and follow them along the adventure that ensues. However, not without some strife while dealing with mixed emotions, loyalty and being courageous. This was a fun book to read and I know by students will love it.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of While We're Young by K.L. Walther

Another hit read from KL Walther. I enjoyed this book very much. From the Ferris Bueller references to the adventures in Philly, this was a lot of nostalgia for me. As always, I enjoyed the character development and complexities of their friendships. Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Romance for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is captivating and had me feeling nostalgic! The story whirls through a day of adventure and feelings. The characters' journey is both exhilarating and touching, brought to life with vibrant writing that captures the essence of youthful passion and resilience. A must-read for anyone craving a blend of excitement, friendship, and a budding romance.

I’m an xennial raised on 80’s movies so The Ferris Bueller’s Day Off references (I mean, naming the family dog Rooney? Genius.) made me chuckle but, dare I say, they might be lost on the intended audience?

A little slow at times, I did enjoy that the majority of the book was set in one of my favorite cities, although now I’ve got a hankering for a cheesesteak from Geno’s!

Another solid four star read from KL
Walther.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Romance for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

K. L. Walther's While We're Young is a captivating and heartfelt journey through the trials and triumphs of friendship and young love. The story centers around Grace, Isa, and Everett, a once inseparable trio whose lives have become entangled in complicated emotions and secrets.

With graduation looming, Grace, secretly in love with Everett, hatches a bold plan for an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia. She hopes that this spontaneous adventure will mend the fractures in their friendship. The narrative is driven by the tension between Grace, who is unaware of Isa's budding relationship with her brother James, and the unresolved feelings between the trio.

K. L. masterfully captures the essence of teenage life with its whirlwind of emotions, insecurities, and the desire for connection. The characters are richly developed, each grappling with their own dilemmas while trying to preserve their bonds. Grace's unspoken love for Everett, Isa's secret relationship, and Everett's position between his friends create a dynamic and engaging storyline.

The backdrop of Philadelphia adds a vibrant layer to the narrative, with the city's landmarks serving as the perfect setting for their escapades. From racing up the Rocky steps to tasting the city's iconic cheesesteaks and even crashing a wedding, each adventure is a step toward confronting their truths and healing their friendships.

While We're Young is more than just a tale of teenage romance; it is a touching exploration of loyalty, forgiveness, and the courage to face one's true feelings. K. L. Walther's writing is both poignant and humorous, making this book a compelling read that resonates long after the final page. This novel is a must-read for anyone who cherishes stories about the complexities of friendship and the bittersweet moments of growing up.