Book Review Time!!!

 Title: The Getaway List

Author: Emma Lord

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Published: Jan 23, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two best friends, one big city, one list of adventures, and one summer to complete it.

The day of her high school graduation, Riley realizes two things: One, that she has spent the last four years trying so hard to be a Good Kid for her mom that she has no idea who she really is anymore, and two, she has no idea what she wants because of it. The solution? Pack her bags and move to New York for the summer, where her childhood best friend Tom and co-creator of The Getaway List ― a list of all the adventures they’ve wanted to do together since he moved away ― will hopefully help her get in touch with her old adventurous self, and pave the road to a new future.

Riley isn’t sure what to expect from Tom, who has been distant since his famous mom’s scriptwriting career pulled him away. But when Riley arrives in the city, their reconnection is as effortless as it was when they were young―except with one, unexpected complication that will pull Riley’s feelings in a direction she didn’t know they could take. As she, Tom, and their newfound friends work their way through the delightfully chaotic items on The Getaway List, Riley learns that sometimes the biggest adventure is not one you take, but one you feel in your heart.

Inescapably romantic and brimming with Emma Lord’s signature cheer, The Getaway List is an uplifting and romantic read that will settle into your heart and never leave. (Goodreads)

Character Overview: Riley starts out feeling like Tom is the only reason she was able to make friends. She is a little reserved but still independent. As the book goes on she becomes her own person, learning to do what she wants, not whatever everyone else wants her to be.

When you first hear about Tom, he is portrayed as an outgoing, really friendly guy who everyone loves. As the story develops you start to see another side to him.

I really liked both Riley and Tom and how they developed throughout the book. I also liked the side characters Mariella, Luca, and Jesse.

The Setting: This story takes place in New York City. This is very important to the book because it the perfect place for Riley to become independent. There are so many opportunities to express herself and she has room to pursue what interests her. There are many different people with different backgrounds, so it is the perfect place for Riley to grow her friend group! The story would not be the same if it wasn't set in NYC!

Takeaway: One big takeaway that I got from this book was: Don't make decisions based on other people. Riley learns this and demonstrates this throughout the book. I think this is an important message because feeling pressure to be like other people is super common, but it is important to be yourself!

Should I read this book? If you like clean romance, adventure, or friendship this is the book for you! If your not sure, this would be a great book to try out some new genres! Enjoy!