THE GETAWAY LIST: A NOVEL, by Emma Lord, Wednesday Books, Jan. 23, 2024, Hardcover, $20 (young adult)
Two friends reconnect while completing a list of adventures in The Getaway List, a YA novel by Emma Lord.
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. —Synopsis provided by Wednesday Books
The Getaway List is a smart rom-com that focuses as much on personal growth and development as it does romance.
Riley is sort of the star of the show, but Tom is a close second. And he’s followed in quick succession by the duo’s collection of friends Jesse, Luca and Mariella. They’re all wonderfully explored with engaging and eclectic personalities that really make The Getaway List fun to read. It’s hard not to root for each and every one of them as they work through their own individual situations and developing relationships with others.
Author Emma Lord’s writing is warm and inviting. And the romance is a sweet, slow-burn that feels right for her characters. And as Lord takes readers through New York both for work and adventure, The Getaway List becomes an ode to the city.
It’s a lovely, heartfelt read that feels authentic.
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