The Getaway List: A Novel

by Emma Lord

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Emma Lord knows her way around the rom-com space, and The Getaway List is a shining example. One grouch and one optimist, with layers shared between them, bring this cheery romance to life.

Inescapably romantic and brimming with New York Times bestselling author Emma Lord’s signature cheer, The Getaway List is an uplifting and romantic read that will settle into your heart and never leave.

Most Anticipated by Goodreads * The Nerd Daily * B&N Reads, and more!

An Amazon Best YA of the Month

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250903990
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/23/2024
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	25,092
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Emma Lord (she/her) is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn't writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, a whole lot of love, and copious amounts of grilled cheese. Her books include Tweet Cute, You Have a Match, and When You Get the Chance.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/30/2023

Recent high school graduate Riley Larson, 18, is dead set on leaving Falls Creek, Va. But after receiving rejections from all 10 colleges that she applied to, Riley is at a loss—not because she’s sad that she didn’t get in anywhere, but because she isn’t sad at all. Hoping to embrace spontaneity and rediscover herself outside of academia, Riley rebuffs her overscheduled life of extracurriculars and part-time jobs and, despite her mother’s protests, travels to New York City to reunite with her childhood best friend Tom, who moved there three years ago. Together with Tom’s memorably realized friend group, Riley determines to spend the summer checking off items on their cowritten Getaway List, which includes going camping, road-tripping, seeing their favorite band perform live, and singing at a karaoke bar. In this heartfelt ode to betting on oneself, Lord (Begin Again) enriches a familiar “bucket list” premise with leaps-off-the-page atmosphere and a lived-in setting. Introspective depictions of family, friend, and romantic relationships are riddled with humor and rambunctious energy in this inspired carpe diem romp through the city of dreams. Riley and Tom read as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Janna Bonikowski, Knight Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Getaway List:

"Emma Lord is a rom-com goddess." - In Between Drafts

"Lord (Begin Again) enriches a familiar “bucket list” premise with leaps-off-the-page atmosphere...depictions of family, friend, and romantic relationships are riddled with humor and rambunctious energy in this inspired carpe diem romp through the city of dreams." - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"An entertaining friends-to-lovers story that will have readers laughing and reflecting in equal measure." - Kirkus

"Lord continues to break and mend hearts." - Booklist

“Hopeful, inspiring and escapist in the most wonderful way, The Getaway List is the joyous coming-of-age story that is a must-read for fans of the friends-to-lovers trope and Taylor Swift’s Welcome to New York.” –The Nerd Daily

"Filled with unforgettably sweet moments and charming characters." - Woman's World

Praise for Begin Again:

"This grumpy-sunshine rom-com features a grouch with a secret heart of gold, an eternal optimist with plenty of depth beneath the surface, a healthy dose of banter, and a generous helping of Lord’s laugh-out-loud wit." - School Library Journal

"If you haven’t read a novel by Emma Lord before, you’ve been missing out on something spectacular." - Paste

Praise for When You Get the Chance:

"A shot of joy in book form." - Marie Claire

"Chock-full of musical theater references and humor, the novel includes high-stakes emotional drama that is balanced by supportive friendships and strong, deep family connections...An entertaining personal journey with plot twists galore." - Kirkus Reviews

" A fully joyful story...Readers who love the theater—musical or not—and anyone craving a happily ever after will want Millie to take a series of curtain calls." -Booklist

"With the perfect mix of a bubbly drama queen protagonist that will steal your heart and a delicious rivals-to-lovers romance with a Broadway twist on top, Lord proves herself to be a necessary staple in the YA contemporary genre with When You Get the Chance—a fresh, uplifting voice that invokes excitement of what’s yet to come!" -The Nerd Daily

"Brimming with energy, rapid-fire banter, and affectionate theater references, this memorable Mamma Mia! retelling by Lord (Tweet Cute) explores the meaning of family." -Publishers Weekly, starred

"An exuberant celebration...this gender-bent Mamma Mia! retelling is a touching exploration of what family really looks like, and a powerful reminder that sometimes everything we need is already right in front of us." - BookPage

"Full of Lord’s characteristic quick wit and delightful banter, and the rivals-to-romance development between Millie and Oliver is the stuff great rom-coms are made of." - School Library Journal

"Lord's stories are always bursting with charming characters and wit, against a backdrop of real life relatable issues." - The Young Folks

"Lord’s latest expertly and thoughtfully touches on what it means to be family, mental health, love and friendships, and, of course, musical theater. Trust me when I tell you that you’re going to want to rewatch Mamma Mia when you finish." - Buzzfeed

"A rich and rewarding experience for anyone looking for a light read that delivers dimension...if you’re looking for a new author obsession this year, look no further." - Fangirlish

From the Publisher

02/01/2024

Gr 8 Up—On the day of her high school graduation, Riley Larson, who was rejected from every college she applied to, makes a spur of the moment decision to spend a weekend in New York City and reconnect with her best friend, Tom. This is supposed to be one last hurrah before starting a summer job and community college classes in the fall. But as Riley and Tom begin to check items off of their long-anticipated Getaway List, Riley realizes that one weekend isn't nearly enough time to spend with Tom or in New York City. Over the strong objections of her mother, Riley makes plans to stay in the city for the summer. As she spends days working as a bike messenger and going on adventures with an eclectic group of newfound friends, Riley begins to figure out who she is, what she wants, where her future lies, and who she wants to spend it with. This novel is an ode to found families and a love letter to New York City. Riley's journey of self-discovery is far from trite, and her story is an appropriate balance of earnest realizations and teenage antics as she explores new and existing relationships with friends, family, and romantic interests. Lord has reliably created a cast of fully formed, well-rounded secondary characters who all add something to the overall story, and her signature wit is present as well. VERDICT This friends-to-lovers rom-com is perfect for readers who enjoy books such as What If It's Us? by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera and Now That I've Found You by Kristina Forest.—Alison Glass

School Library Journal

2023-09-23
Two best friends come together after being separated for several years, tackling long-anticipated items on their Getaway List.

Riley was turned down by all 10 colleges she applied to, and she’s not upset about it, which concerns her—and really bothers her mother. With her history of joining childhood bestie Tom in good-natured troublemaking, Riley has spent the past few years of high school since getting suspended overwhelmed by the extracurriculars and jobs her mother sets up for her. Now that Riley’s graduated, she realizes that she has no idea what she wants to do with her life. Against her mother’s wishes, she travels from Virginia to New York City, back into the life of Tom, who moved there after ninth grade. What starts as a weekend away turns into a summer of discovery and adventure for the two 18-year-olds as they hang out with a quirky group of friends and work to complete the list of activities they started making after Tom’s move. Together, Riley and Tom navigate the intricacies of self-discovery and their changing feelings for one another. This is a beautiful story of family, friendship, romantic love, and personal growth. Riley is a witty, reflective narrator, and the supporting characters are well formed and likable, keeping the humor and engagement high. Riley and Tom are cued white.

An entertaining friends-to-lovers story that will have readers laughing and reflecting in equal measure. (Romance. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews