Nothing like a good summer read in the winter time. 😎 The Getaway List is the latest YA novel by Emma Lord (author of the adorable Tweet Cute), as well as the latest book I’ve snuggled up to with hot cocoa this season. The fun vacation vibes of the story is a nice escape, as it follows protagonist Riley fresh out of her high school graduation and desperate for some change. Like, now.
Riley has had her entire high school life strictly scheduled by her mother, but after getting rejected by every college she applied to, she has no idea what lies ahead for her. So she takes advantage of her newfound adult freedom and takes off to New York to spend the summer with her childhood best friend Tom. There, their relationship picks up right where they left off, and they’re eager to finally have the time to cross off some things from their Getaway List — a list of all the things they wanted to do together.
The pacing in Tweet Cute was perfect for a light rom-com, in that the story was constantly busy and constantly moving, and the same goes here. A lot of things happen very, very quickly, and Riley ends up in New York much sooner than I expected, after having an argument with her mom. It’s disorienting at first, but I think it fits with the theme of Riley feeling overwhelmed and lost. She needs to find herself again, and we’re immediately thrown into that search with her. She reunites with Tom, they call in a bunch of friends to help with their Getaway List, and away we go. A summer filled with bike rides, delicious food, and unmitigated chaos.
Riley and Tom have great chemistry — the kind of friendship that just clicks, with hints of something more. I love that they know each other so well, even though they’ve barely talked the past few years, and that there’s not much awkwardness with their growing romantic feelings. Everything just kind of feels organic, like it’s all supposed to happen. But there is something off with Tom, and once that unravels, Riley learns that she wasn’t the only one feeling lost. I’m glad he had just as much character development as our spunky main character — it’s all the more fitting that they paralleled each other in that way.
The chemistry with the group of friends is just as great, and there are so many ships to go around. I love the constant merry-go-round of people saying “He/she is so into you” and “No, they’re not,” when they totally are. The side characters are, of course, vital for Riley and Tom’s growth, but they also feel like real people with their own lives going on — the best kind of side characters.
I read quite a lot of (good but) heavy material in 2023, so this was the best book to start the new year with. Emma Lord’s writing style is very fun and fluffy, and even when there’s some heavier stuff going on, there’s always a tinge of hope.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Getaway List will be released on January 23.
Rating: ★★★★★
Sara Bechtol 