...I couldn't put down this book, and found myself audibly shouting and squealing out loud at the end (along with squarely confronting my boy band fan past.) This might be one of the best LBGTQ+ titles this year!

I was given an early copy of this book to read for an honest review.

This book peaked my interest because I think it would be hard to not draw a parallel between the synopsis and one direction fanfiction. Which I am guilty of reading a lot of back in the day. This book is NOT one direction, but if you were a fan of such fanfiction than I think you would enjoy this novel!

As I said, this book is not modelled after one direction. The boys in the band bare no resemblance and they do well to stand on their own as their own characters. I was a huge fan of the diversity we saw in the band itself. A latinx main character, an asian supporting character (who speaks on the fact that they won't 'allow the asain guy to be seen as sexy') and a mixed race black character as well. Not only that but we see one of our main characters navigate his anxiety and another faces issues of emotional abuse by his parents. There were some aspects of the novel where I wish the conversations would have been deeper but I think that in the end the authors really tried to shed light on what was important. Discussions about personal boundaries with parents, about the importance of boundaries in general. We also see the inclusion of therapy and seeking help when it feels like it's all too much and that's really important.'

I did feel like there could have been more time spent on developing the relationships (not just between Zach and Ruben) but between the band as a whole. They all had such a deep history with each other and I would've liked to see it all explored a little more. Maybe have our two main boys spend time with the others.

Additionally, it was good to see Zach's journey of realizing he was bisexual (and what that means being under their managements control) contrasted against Ruben who knows he’s gay and has been fighting being pushed into the closet for years. We were able to see first hand the harm and the hurt that these boys were going through not being able to proudly be themselves, and it does make you think about all of the awful things celebrities have to go through. I don't envy them sometimes.

In contrast there were certain things about this novel that I didn't enjoy as much. Firstly, having two authors write a novel can be tricky because sometimes their writing can be so different that it doesn't feel cohesive. Personally I became much more attached to one authors writing style and therefore liked the perspective she was writing about better - even though the character wasn't my favourite I liked reading from his POV more because of the authors writing. However, they both did a good job of moving the story along in a good pace and keeping me entertained the whole way through.

Lastly, the plot itself wasn't outrageous or groundbreaking, I was able to guess what was going to happen throughout the whole story. However, that doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining as hell. I was captivated the entire time I was reading. I cared about all of the boys, and their wellbeing to an agonizing degree! It would be hard to not read this book and root for them to get the happy endings that they deserve. This novel gave you many characters to love (Angel my sweet, sweet child) but also many to hate (I'm looking at you GEOFF) and so the thrill of seeing them succeed was gripping! Where it lacked in excitable plot reveals it made up for in exciting interpersonal struggles.

Whenever you can get your hands on this book I recommend you do so! It was a captivating, romantic, fun read and despite some of its short comings I really enjoyed it!

This was so cute! My first read of pride month and it did not let me down. I’m always in the fence about books like this because I knew the story can go one of two ways. Luckily for me, this story when right where I wanted it

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. First, Trigger warnings for parental shame, car accidents, LGBTQIA+ 's being forced closeted,miscommunication, underraged drug use, and underage drinking. Did you ever wonder what could have happened if Lance Bass was younger when he came out and dated one of the other band members in the process?? This book is for you. This presents the negative implications of being in a famous boy band that was negatively controlled by their record company especially when it comes to their image. Although at first, I wasn't sure how this book was going to go, I appreciated what was presented such as the act of coming out as a public figure and what is best for yourself vs what is best for your career. There's a ton of friendship feels, relationship feels, and family moments that makes the book deeper than I expected in a good way. Plus I loved all the music pop star education that shows the authors' research in the music industry. My only gripe is that I had was that it took me a little bit more time to get invested in on one of the characters' perspectives (I think I just was getting annoyed at some of his inner thoughts but I am sure this character is perfect for someone else to relate to). Because of these points, I have to give this book a 4 out of 5 stars

I quite enjoyed this book! While I haven't read any books by Cale Dietrich, I have read several by Sophie Gonzales and they are all incredible. This is no exception.

Do you like boy bands, MM romance, and stories about fighting the system? Then you will probably love If This Gets Out as much as I did. I flew through this read and did not want to put it down. The pacing was great, and I enjoyed that the story is split up between the POVs of the two band members who discover their attraction for one another. It was interesting to see how the two of them processed the events of the book in different ways. All four of the band members were actually very well developed characters with important journeys of their own in addition to the adorable romance story-line.

This book tackled a lot of difficult and important topics that I wasn't really expecting. Going into reading this story, I anticipated getting something like a glorified fan fiction story, which I was completely down to read. While there were some elements similar to fan fiction, this book had a weight and gravity to it that made it stand out. It shined a light on the abuses of the music industry and the ridiculous extent to which much of what we see of celebrities is a fabricated, inauthentic version of their lives. The story also highlighted some of the negative side effects of fame, including substance abuse, mental health issues, body image struggles, and the hypersexualization of teenagers. I was particularly disturbed reading the boys' reactions to constantly being touched and photographed because I had never really stopped to think about how objectifying much of fandom culture can truly be.

Unsurprisingly, the queer rep in this story was fantastic. I especially appreciated how the bisexual character was presented. Seeing his thoughts about the struggle of coming to terms with his sexual identity was almost surreal. It was as if they plucked some of them straight from my own head. It is still weird for me when I see this type of representation because for most of my life I never saw anyone like myself (in this regard at least) in the media I consumed. So, it is still a very cathartic experience when I come across it in my reading, and I had that type of experience with this book. I particularly loved that the author took a little time to make connections between the similarities in feelings of the character toward his current romantic partner (a man) and his previous partner (a woman). It was a subtle reminder of the character's bisexuality while also illustrating deeper issues and patterns relevant to the character. This is often something I find is missing in MM romance with a bisexual character; once with the perfect man, the bisexual character is usually that in name only with no references to attractions or feelings about women. So, I really appreciated the way it was handled here.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The romance was adorable, and the authors tackled some heavy, compelling topics with a great cast of characters. I recommend it to anyone but especially those who enjoy MM romance and stories about exploring one's sexual identity. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

3.5 - 4 STARS

I definitely enjoyed this one but it also wasn’t what I was expecting.
Of course I loved all the interactions and cute moments between Zach and Ruben! But it also focuses on a lot more than just romance from the relationships with their parents to the difficulties from being in the music industry to learning to stand up for yourself.

I loved some of the scenes near the end and was constantly rooting for the band. The authors did a great job with the four main characters and it was so heartwarming seeing their friendships.

The romance was a little quick for me and the ending did feel abrupt so I would have really liked another chapter or epilogue.

Overall an fun, easy read with a beautiful message.

Sophie Gonzalez and Cale Dietrich are the dynamic writing duo I didn't know I needed!!!!!

I absolutely adored If This Gets Out with my entire heart, and was totally shocked by this. I didn't expect such a well written, fan-fiction inspired read. As a hardcore Directioner and lover of other American boybands, I expected to find parallels between the characters and real-life boyband members.

Instead, I grew to love Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon for their incredibly unique personalities and their fierce and loving friendship. Sophie and Cale DEFINITELY did their research in terms of how artists feel stifled under their management, but they really let each character flourish under their pen.

The book is told through alternating POVs from Ruben (Sophie's character, born to be a star in his own right from many years of musical theatre training, but is being tied down by management) and Zach (Cale's character, a punk-loving people pleaser who is questioning his sexuality). I love this format, as it really lets you get inside both of their heads and develop a true sense of appreciation for every character.

I will give a content warning for 1. forced coming out (sort of) and 2. some language that depicts disordered eating from Zach. From the full scope of the story, I see why this was included (it is because their management is essentially forcing Zach to be a ripped heartthrob with no autonomy to what he wants to eat), but I wish it was addressed better in the end.

I cannot recommend If This Gets Out more if you love LGBTQIA+ stories, boybands, and characters that will make your heart burst with happiness (and then sadness when you remember that they are not real).

Beautifully written. My heart soared and ached with Zach and Reuben, and this story was such an enjoyment to read. The Author's Note about how the authors wrote the story was also illuminating and fun.

I'm so glad I got the chance to read this now! I already didn't want to wait until next year so when I spotted there was a chance to read it, I jumped at the chance and it was so worth it! It's such a good book!!
I love the characters and the look inside the music industry.
We know how controlled musicians can be but oooh it's still frustrating when you read it.
All the characters are great. I felt like there could have been just a liiiittle more to Jon, like he wasn't quite fully formed but it didn't matter overall. Zach and Ruben were great as leads and the switching back and forth between character and author worked seamlessly. The voices and writing style were unique enough to be two separate entities but close enough that they totally complemented each other.
For the most part, the story was a solid marching pace. I admit it lost me a bit at the midpoint - I put the book down and just didn't pick it up again for ages. but as soon as I did, I got right back into it.
I loved that it built so much stress and tension and yet was very sweet and funny.
Absolutely need to buy a physical copy once it does come out!

I think I’m starting to realise that some of even the best YA contemporary will still fall in the good part of ‘meh’ for me.

I don’t really know how to describe my feelings aboutthis book. I think it has very good parts, like its disucssions around safe gay sex. Like using PrEP and condoms. I think the romance was cute. I liked the characters, but I guess it wasn’t a love.

The book had good things to it. I liked watching Zach figure out his bisexuality. I liked how it explored Rubin’s frustration with being forced to stay in the closet by his managament.

I think overall I don’t have much to say. It was a fine book, if it sounds good I’d suggest to read it. I think the characters were good, I like how it explored certain aspects of being in the closet while famous. It was a nice read overall.

There’s nothing like an LGBTQIA+ YA boyband read to kick off pride month!

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich not only checks the boxes of an adorable and emotional story that takes center stage amongst the ever-popular boy band scene, but has a dedication to turning that scene on its head. Ruben Montez and Zach Knight, two of the four members of Saturday, one of the world’s biggest boy bands, already have a hard time discovering themselves in an industry which is eager to put them in a box. So when Ruben and Zach find themselves falling for each other, they must decide how to approach their futures, debating between standing proudly and keeping their personal lives just that. But when their management team starts pushing back, the whole band must make a decision. One that will change everything they’ve come to know.

This book hooks you straight from the beginning, dropping us in the middle of a high-energy concert, and immediately setting the tone for Saturday's journey. The chemistry between Ruben and Zach is strong straightaway and the co-authors do a fantastic job of developing the four band members so seamlessly and uniquely. In having two POVs, there’s always a risk of the voices being indistinguishable, but Gonzales and Dietrich have developed unique characters with backgrounds and perspectives that can only belong to them.

The banter between the members of Saturday is natural and believable. The diversity of the band is well developed - having their experiences being acknowledged and factored into the way they are portrayed by their management or how they wish they could be truly seen. This is also true in terms of the battles with mental health and eating disorders that are brushed upon. In Zach’s POV we see that many negative views are ingrained into his way of thinking, not even realizing how much of an impact they’ve had on him until a stand is taken. The dramatic irony is powerful, and gives the reader even more empathy towards the lack of the boys’ autonomy.

One of the aspects of this book that worked both for and against it was Zach’s path to accepting his sexual identity. On the one hand, we are dropped into a very specific moment of the lives of these characters, having little indication of their thoughts before this time. But, on the other hand, Zach seemingly goes from “I am 100% straight” to “I know who I love” very quickly. While his coming out journey is a whole other story, the few chapters we see of Zach struggling seems to resolve themselves a little too quickly. This can be said about some of the other main conflict points in this book, as the characters (all late teens) have the answer for pretty much everything almost immediately.

All in all, this is a book about hope. And as I reached the end of Saturday’s journey, I wanted more. I wanted more of these characters that were so well-rounded and complimented each other so well, more of the chemistry, and the electric performance scenes. But much like the start of the story, we leave the characters in the middle of something large, something inevitable, something that feels like a new kind of beginning.

This story feels big to me, like it will be important and share a story of hope to people who might not usually have access to a book like this As a life-long fangirl, I Ioved this one. The beginning feels a little bit like I'm reading about One Direction or 5SOS, but in the very best way possible..it was SUCH a fun read. I LOVE the boy-band dynamic and all of the characters. The dual perspective was really well done and Ruben and Zach's perspectives were easy to differentiate! With themes including coming of age, real life struggles, found family, coming out and finding yourself somehow Sophie Gonzales and Cake Dietrich crafted a story that was also REALLY fun to read. This story is about finding out who you are and living outside the expectations others have for you (on stage and in life--its relatable, I swear)

I am genuinely struck with how important to the young queer 'fangirl' types I know and the other out there this story will be. I think about the young people who mostly read fanfic because they want to see famous role models who are queer--this story will beautifully fill that need and hopefully open up some new to explore their identity! The characters experience love and intimacy, but without graphic details--in a way that is cute and very appropriate for teens (and older) to read. ALSO IMPORTANT: I loved the way this story exhibits AND explains healthy communication as the characters work through their personal and professional issues, it felt realistic and also may help people who are learning to communicate better themselves! I can't wait to buy this book for some people I know and love.

When I sent the request to read this book early I wasn't sure I was gonna get it. But then I did, and I'm so happy it happened. This was one of the books I was looking forward to most this year, and it did not disappoint. Not one bit.
I read the acknowledgments the authors wrote and I have to say that the points they wanted to make got to me.
They wrote, and I quote "If there's anything we hope our readers take from this book, we hope it's a greater awareness of the pressures placed on artists - particularly queer and/or otherwise marginalized artists- within the entertainment industry" but also "Closeting, whether blatant or insidious, is a well-documented occurrence, with the multiple celebrities over the years openly discussing the pressures they felt to appear straight in order to preserve their careers". I, now, definitely feel more aware of what queer artists must feel and go through in order to keep their jobs, and it's disgusting just to think about it. What I felt throughout the entire book was pure anger towards the guys's team apart from like one character, and I honestly would too be part of the "Mom squad" because Yass queens!!
anyway, in conclusion, I recommend this book and I declare that I would give my life in order to protect Ruben, Zach, Jon and Angel.
thank yew.

When I saw queer romance and boy band I was automatically in. I really enjoyed getting to m me the characters and the alternating POVS were fun.

What I liked:
Ruben. Ruben and Zach. Their romance!
Supportive family members.
How it showed the music/entertainment industry really controls everything you do.

Dislike:
It was way too long.
There was not nearly enough romance!
How it handled addiction.

Solid read, but wasn’t quite what I expected. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed everything I have ever read by Sophie Gonzales, so I was relatively sure I would enjoy this book too. Cale Dietrich was unknown to me before this, making me a little hesitant about his contributions to the story. The authors each took on a different perspective, as the story is told by both Zach and Ruben, and I am glad to say that I loved both perspectives equally.

A lot of people will speculate about which particular boyband inspired this story, or they'll try to draw similarities between this fictional group's members and real people. And while the romance in this story is the perfect slow-burn hesitant "is he into me or not?" journey, I especially love the hard-hitting look at the exploitation in the music industry. The impact on their mental health is most obvious in Angel, who is dealing with a drug addiction, but all four members of the band are shown to be under a lot of pressure that could potentially lead to bigger issues down the road.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC through NetGalley, but I'm definitely buying a copy once the book gets published in December, because this was a phenomenal story masterfully told.

4.5 Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.
I loved If This Gets Out. There are so many great things about it; I loved all four of the main characters, and how they each had their own unique personalities and problems. There was a lot of depth to this book that I wasn't expecting, and about things that I don't usually think about such as the pressures that are put on individuals who have companies that manage them. I'd be lying if I didn't say that my favorite part about this book was Ruben and Zach's relationship; it's very sweet and vulnerable, which I think is an extra difficult thing to be when the whole world is watching you. This book gave me Red White & Royal Blue vibes, which is a high praise from me because I loved that book as well.
I wish I had more to say in all, but it really was a great story that covered a lot of unique topics, and to top it all off, the characters were great too. 100% recommend.

TW: Drugs, drug addiction, alcohol, (serious injury) car accident, verbally abusive parent, queerphobia

Honestly I don't know how to write nice looking reviews anymore so please bear with me. This book is good!! Reading this made me super happy because I'm always looking for good queer rep and band books so this being both of those made my chaotic bi heart rejoice.

If this gets out follows Ruben and Zach, two members of the hit boy band Saturday, as they tour with one another and Zach starts to realize he might not be as straight as he thought when he realizes he wants to kiss his bandmate. Ruben spends the first part of the book introducing the characters' personalities and also just pining, which is 10/10. As their lives and tour start to spiral out the two have to figure out where they stand on their relationship with their bandmates, label, fans and each other.

Not gonna lie, I was super hyped for this, but kind of wary because this is the 3rd Cale Dietrich novel that I've read and I haven't been thrilled with his other books. He just has such great concepts that I keep coming back to try them anyway 🤡 That being said, I actually really enjoyed If This Gets Out! I loved the friendship and romance between Ruben and Zach, and the way the entire band took care of one another but still fought and were friends? *chef's kiss* I am a sucker for found family and these boys are exactly that and it makes me emo.

I felt like Dietrich and Gonzales (who I haven't read before but am super excited to start Perfect on Paper from now) did a really good job balancing out the pros and cons of fame and being in a boy group in a much more realistic way than I had honestly been expecting. A lot of the YA band/music novels I read usually have a few negative things to the fame aspect, but never quite like this. That's not to say that either one is bad, it's fun that way for escapism purposes, but this was a nice change of pace to have things so honest about the industry.

My only complaint is that I really felt like the third act break up felt kind of forced. It felt like it had been sort of dropped in for the sake of having a break up, since the actual reason wasn't really shown or mentioned all that much in the story itself.

Overall, if you're looking for a queer romance, band book or just something to make you emotional and happy, this book is for you! It was a pretty quick read for me, and I loved both the plot and the characters.

Oh. My. Gosh. This book. The concept itself is just amazing on its, but it's combined with a great plot and characters you can't help but love even when they're being annoying. I would absolutely die for for Ruben and Zach - they're just so cute together - and I loved that they were each on their own journeys within the growing relationship, as well. I also loved that If This Gets Out explores the price and struggle and burden of stardom and what it can be like for musicians and singers in the industry. I will definitely be preordering a physical copy and will recommend this to everyone who will listen. Love, love, love.

If This Gets Out is a refreshingly relatable story about identity, coming out on your own terms, and male friendship, even with the main characters being in a very famous boy band, a less common experience.

I really enjoyed that Ruben and Zach had very different experiences in exploring their identities, and that the reader gets to see them through those lenses. I thought that the author also did a good job of highlighting some of the pressures that celebrities face, such as invasion of privacy and control by their management team. I also really loved the portrayal of friendship and support between the band mates as they navigated through some tough things together.

I think that this book would be great for older teens, as there is frank conversation about sex, but in a very positive light. It is definitely a sex positive story. There is also a storyline involving addiction that might be inappropriate for younger readers.