ARC Review: The Getaway List 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.

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. 

• Title: The Getaway List
• Author: Emma Lord
• Publisher: Wednesday Books
• Publication Date: January 23, 2024
• Genre: Contemporary, Romance 
• Source: Digital ARC via Netgalley/Publishers in exchange for an honest review 
• Targeted Age Range: Young Adult
• Content Warnings: mention of blood from a minor injury (chapter 4), mentions of underage drinking, absentee parenting
• Rating: ★★★★★

Truth be told, before I even finished this book I knew it would end up being 5 stars — that’s why we have 5 star predictions, is it not? After the release of her debut novel, Tweet Cute in 2020, Emma Lord quickly became one of my autobuy and auto-five stars authors. The reason for this being that it is impossible for me to not be happy while reading an Emma Lord novel, and The Getaway List further proves this.

The Getaway List starts with 18-year-old Riley Lawson’s high school graduation, and unlike the rest of her classmates, she has absolutely no idea what she’s going to do next. The 10 colleges she applied to all rejected her (obviously, the rejection letters were used to decorate her graduation cap) and her only post-graduation plans are to get McFlurries with her mom. However, after texting with her long-distance best friend Tom throughout the ceremony, and taking a look at the “getaway list” the two of them created that’s taped into her graduation cap, an idea comes to her — she’s got a free weekend for the first time in four years and New York City (where Tom lives) is only a bus ride away. Much to her mother’s disapproval and objection, Riley takes the plunge and heads to New York. As Riley, Tom and their group of friends (both old and new) explore the city, Riley discovers more about herself than she ever could’ve expected.

When reading one of Lord’s books I’ve come to expect witty remarks, solid banter, lovable friend groups, and some A+ Taylor Swift references. The Getaway List delivers on all accounts. If I had to assign Taylor Swift songs to this book (which, of course I do), the book as a whole would be Welcome to New York (duh), Riley and Tom would be Timeless, Riley would be A Place in This World and Tom would be mirrorball. 

Emma Lord books feel like a warm hug. Her books have a way of making me feel comforted like few others do, and once I start one I have a hard time putting it down. Lord writes atmosphere so well — her books set in New York especially make me feel like I’m there right alongside her characters. I loved reading about Riley, Tom and their friends (Mariella, Jesse, and Luca) and their adventures around the City.

While I absolutely adored Riley and Tom, this friend group honestly means everything to me. They give off such The Band and I by Maisie Peters vibes — there was such a sense of joy and camaraderie with them, it really warmed my heart! I love when Lord writes bigger friendship groups, and I appreciate that they all have distinct personalities. I loved how they supported and encouraged each other, and they were just so much fun! I could read endless books about the five of them.

As someone who loves lists and bucket lists of any kind (I definitely created a bucket list when I started high school and while I no longer have the list, I know that I’ve completed a few items on it) the whole “getaway list” idea appealed to me from the start. I loved how the list started as something just for Riley and Tom, but as they opened themselves up to new people and new experiences, the list became something for the entire friend group to accomplish together, and it pushed all of them to try new things. 

I am a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope, and Riley and Tom are such a perfect example of that trope. Their friendship really was so special to me — long distance relationships of any kind can be difficult, but if someone is meant to be in your life, the distance truly doesn’t matter and I loved how Tom and Riley really did just pick up where they left off once they saw each other again. While as the reader you know that they have feelings for each other and the romantic relationship is on the horizon, I felt such an emphasis on the importance of platonic love with them at the beginning, and I really appreciated that.

The very solid and comfortable friendship between Riley and Tom turned into the loveliest romantic relationship and I really think that Lord has used some of her most romantic writing with the two of them. Even before they got together there were multiple lines that were so beautiful and heartfelt and romantic, I was literally kicking my feet and giggling — I’m obsessed with them. The love confession had me crying, it was just so sweet and lovely, and for me, they were perfect. 

Lord once again delivered a wonderfully funny and heartfelt coming of age story that’ll make readers grin from ear to ear. If you’ve enjoyed Lord’s previous works I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one as well!

Links for The Getaway List: Goodreads | TheStoryGraph | Bookshop