As a note to potential readers, I would say that this book straddles the line between young adult and new adult. The characters are 18, and while there is no explicit sex or even much cursing, there are lots of more mature topics. I would recommend it for readers 16+.

I will be totally and completely honest: I went into If This Gets Out quite skeptically. The set up to this book is...well, it’s the set up to this book. I was not sure how the “two boys in a boy band fall for each other” thing was going to go over, and I knew it definitely had to be written well for me to think it was good. However, I am quite pleased to say that my expectations were wrong, and I actually really enjoyed this book.

The thing that hooked me was Ruben and Zach’s relationship. At the beginning we had the pining. The butterflies, the cuteness, the gooeyness. And as a romance reader, I obviously loved it. And then once they got together, I really enjoyed their relationship dynamic. The romance is really what got me into the book and held me there until I got invested in the other parts of it.

I think it’s important for any readers going in to understand that while this is undoubtedly a great queer romance, it is also much more than that. If This Gets Out tackles a lot of important topics, most of them involving how getting famous at a young age can detrimentally affect people, and the way the music industry mistreats both young artists who don’t know enough to fight back on their own, and the way it treats queer people.

A theme that is notable from the beginning of the book is the fact that all the boys are forced to repress their true personalities for the sake of marketing. Ruben is forced to keep his gay identity in the closet, Jon is constantly asked to do things he is clearly uncomfortable with, and Angel isn’t allowed to be his true self. Because they are touring without their parents, they are all on their own, and instead being controlled by management. While some readers may not approve of all the boys’ actions, I think it is very noticeable that they are doing the best they can. This is a group of 18-year-olds who, although they know they are being treated unfairly (sometimes even deplorably), they don’t know how to change it. They don’t have the life experience, legal resources, or support necessary to handle the situation that they are in. And while this is fiction (and I by no means keep up with the inner workings of the music industry), I would say that the experiences these characters face are probably not very different from actual young artists in the music industry.

I know others have raised issues on how drugs and drug addiction were handled in the book. And honestly, I don’t know enough about this issue to have an opinion on it. One issue that I do think they handled well was toxic and abusive parenting.

I cannot even count the number of young adult books I have read where the parents exhibit toxic or emotionally abuse behavior throughout the entire thing, and then it’s wrapped up at the end by one parent-child conversation where the parent basically says, “I never wanted to hurt you, I just love you so much, and that’s why I acted in the extremely shitty way that I did.” And then the book acts like this means the parent will be good from here on out. I am quite tired of it, and SO happy that we didn’t get that!

Ruben’s mom constantly criticizes him, and basically acts like he is never good enough for her. And although we do get a moment from her where she gives a stereotypical apology, the book acknowledges that this doesn’t really change much. She still exhibits the same harmful behavior, and we get Ruben contemplating how he wants to deal with the situation, trying to find separation from her without having to cut off his entire family. I just really liked that neither Ruben nor the reader has to forgive his mother for the way she treated him.

But above all, I think my favorite part of this book was the queer representation. For one, I really liked reading about Zach’s identity crisis. I just found it so relatable. As a bisexual person, my own grappling with my identity was very similar to Zach’s. Not the accidentally-kissing-your-best-friend-while-drunk thing, but the looking-back-on-the-constant- repression-of-previous-crushes thing. The feeling when you know deep down that you are queer, but you’re still much too unsure to admit it even to yourself. I also really liked the way coming out was handled. There was a lot of discussion about how coming out is a person’s choice, they shouldn’t ever feel forced into it, it should only be done when they actually want to. I thought it was a really important discussion, that many teens might find helpful. And there was no forced outing! Which is a common trope that I think we all need a break from.

My deepest issue with the book comes from pacing. The pacing wasn’t something I noticed until after I had finished the book. While the first half of the book certainly isn’t slow, upon reflection I believe that it could have been faster, and that would have allowed for a more fleshed-out second half. Either that, or a first half that set us up more for the second half. I would have liked more time with all four of the boys as a group, and there were still some issues that weren’t quite fully addressed (namely, Zach’s potential eating disorder).

Overall, I really enjoyed If This Gets Out. It was a great queer romance that also dealth with many important issues, and I would certainly recommend it if you are interested in either of those things.

3 stars

While i wanted to like this book more, it felt like there was more drama than anything else (WHERE IS THE FLUFF??)

Also I might just be jaded, but like boohoo, you make millions as teenager at the cost of your personal freedom? Like this is still set in a world where people are paychecks away from homelessness and these 4 are complaining because they have to fit stereotypes? They signed up for the industry, I wasn't sure what else they were expecting. In a realistically world, they do this for a few years until the next boy band comes around, and they wane from stardom and then they can have all the personal freedom they want.

I mean it sucks but for a book that claims to be realistic, that's the least they could've showed.

This book was absolutely charming and I am so deeply in love with it. It was a wonderful story of love and triumph.

This was such a great story. The characters moved perfectly together.
(Angel was my boy)
The relationship between Ruben and Zach was well paced, and felt real. Watching how strong Ruben is against Zach's calm nature and wanting everyone to be happy was a great mix.
Jon gave me the mum friend vibe. While Angel was to funny.
This book isn't just all light and fluffy though. It really showed the darker side of the music industry. And the selfishness of higher ups.
Watching the four of them grow to stand up for themselves and each other really made this book.
Sophie and Cale's writing style complemented each other beautiful and I'd hundred percent would read another colab by them.

If This Gets Out was an excellent read on many levels. First of all, I loved the romance between Ruben and Zach, which felt natural and developed at a believable pace as the story progressed. I also appreciated the hard look the book gave to the entertainment industry, focusing on the behind-the-scenes pressures, deceptions and exploitation, rather than the in-front-of-the-camera glamour. That added to the sense of 'realism' about the piece and provided food for thought on matters of celebrities and their fans. From start to finish I was deeply engaged in the story and eager to see how both the romance and the band's future would play out. The only one minor niggle I had was not with the story or the characters but with the formatting. The font changed between chapters as we switched from Ruben to Zach's POV and back. I didn't find this helpful. Instead it was jarring, as my eyes had to adjust to the change each time, which jolted me out of the story. The chapters already noted the name of the POV character as a header, so it would have been clear enough we were changing POV without the font altering as well. But as I said, that gripe is with the formatting only, and it all other respects I really loved this book. As such, I am giving it 4.5 stars, which I would round up to a five, rather than down to a four.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing read. The perspective of the boys was strongly written and felt like a realistic portrayal of the inner thoughts of young musicians in the boy band world. I love the way the tension and romantic between the main characters Ruben and Zach was showcased. It captured the feeling behind being attracted to someone perfectly and it sucked me in as a reader which allowed me to root for them the entire way.

One element I really enjoyed was how Ruben had no shame for who he was along with Zach who later comes into terms with his sexuality rather than wanting to stay hidden which we see represented in countless of stories. If This Gets Out has the perfect amount of angst and romance which not one overshadowing the other. You never want too much angst as reader where you're always waiting for something good to finally happen and you are unable to enjoy the story. On the other hand you don't want things to always be content since it will result in a less than entertaining story that loses you.

I also really enjoyed how the darkness of being in the public eye and the bad hidden side of celebrity culture was given - I believe it really elevated the story and gave it an interesting and real layer.

let's start with the positive things: there's Asian, Black, gay and bi rep. the writing style is fast paced and easy to read. there are two POVs and there weren't hard to differentiate.

it reads like a classic YA contemporary and i'm happy that this queer book will be published, because i do believe that what happens to our mcs is reality for a lot of queer artists and we should be talking about their struggles more.

i also liked that the process of zach questioning his sexuality was shown. this will be helpful for questioning young readers!

however, i do have some criticism. there's a huge lack of female representation in this book, which i'm not used to from other books by sophie gonzales. all female characters are either emotionally abusive and/or don't have an arc.

this also leads us to the fact that the mcs do not have any friends besides their 2 bandmates. a friend could have been an opportunity for an important female character - but no, there's nothing like that. since we already have changing POVs of 2/4 of the important characters, i felt like there was a lack of variety in general.

also, clearly every bandmember is forced to be on an unhealthy diet. especially zach sounds like he has an eating disorder. i would have wished there to be more of a focus on how their eating behaviour is actually harmful and that people can be beautiful without being muscular and/or thin.

thank you netgalley for the ace in exchange for an honest opinion.

I'm obsessed.

Sophie and Cale did such a great job cowriting this. Zach and Ruben are such a great couple to root for and so 3-Dimensional, as are Angel and Jon. (PS Jon deserves the world). This glimpse into boy bands and them having to hide themselves and put on a show/be their brand, is so interesting.

Zuben is so so cute. Zach figuring things out while initially denying that side of himself is relatable. Them working through that, and all their issues with their parents and themselves, while building their relationship flowed so well and felt really special. They're one of my fav book couples.

What happened with Angel sucked, and some of their parents sucked, and while it's hard for me to grasp that reality, I can easily see those things happening in the industry.

I did not want to put this book down. Sophie has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I will read everything of hers. This was my first read of Cale's, and I'll be checking out more of their books.

NetGalley review- two teenagers in a boy band are forced to live in the closet due to the pressures if their management company and deal with the struggles of everything that fame brings. It was a cute read and ends happily ever after. I liked it!

I found this to be an engaging story (I finished reading at 1:00 AM because I just HAD to find out how it ended) with a romance plot that was a good balance of fluff and angst. It touches lightly on a whole bunch of issues but at the heart of it this is a book about having the space to figure out who you are--and having the freedom to share who you are--and I think it does a great job.

Ruben and Zac are members of a world-famous boy band. Along with friends and fellow band-mates Angel and Jon, they embark on their first European tour, where they find their management gives them even less room to be themselves than usual: they must always fit the personae that their management and PR teams have chosen for them, they don't have time for much sight-seeing or downtime, and the stress is definitely getting to them. Zach and Ruben grow closer and eventually begin a physical relationship, but they're not allowed to go public--or even be out--because they're supposed to be available for teenage girls to fantasize about.

One of the things I struggled with was that I just didn't enjoy Zach's chapters. I felt he took too long to figure out what he wanted--which was the whole idea, I get that, but to the point where every chapter for a bit there I just wanted to reach in there and smack him. And then skip to the next chapter because I was tired of him. All of the characters felt underdeveloped, but I guess I was able to connect with Ruben more.

Also some of the adults were a little too horrible to feel believable, but maybe that just shows I'm naive and think too highly of people?

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of YA queer romance, readers of fanfiction, and lovers of boy bands.

This book was BEAUTIFUL. I have to admit, I'm slightly biased towards romcoms which have bands in them so the second I read the premise of this, I knew I would absolutely love this book. And I had guessed right. The writing in this was fantastic and I loved every word. And the band, Saturday had such great dynamics. Jon, Angel, Zach and Ruben are all great characters and their banter in the book was so nice and hilarious. And of course, Zach and Ruben's relationship was so cute and adorable and it just has my heart and soul. I say this about a lot of books, but I always mean it.

If you're looking for a queer romcom with boy bands and cute relationship, then If This Gets Out is the perfect book!

Covering several hard-hitting topics, If This Gets Out was ultimately a book that was immersive and a lot of fun.

I am fangirling over this book and band so much!!! If This Gets Out was everything I want in a story, forbidden romance, angsty days and two adorable characters who I wanted to love and protect with my whole heart!!!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of If This Gets Out in exchange for an honest review.

The tea is, I think the Phil Stamper quote needs to be taken off this book because while it was really well done, it definitely wasn't a "bright, joyful book". I actually liked it more for that because while I've loved some of Sophie Gonzales's previous work and would definitely consider myself a fan, women writers writing fluffy MLM romances always feels a bit icky to me but because of the way attention is given to more real world subject matter here, it's very clear that this story needed to be MLM.

I enjoyed how distinctly all 4 members of Saturday are written and in particular, I really enjoyed how complex Jon was even though he probably got the least page time which is a testament to how well all the characters are written. As mentioned above, I was pleasantly surprised to find that instead of just being fluffy larry wish fulfillment, this genuinely tries to talk about a lot of the shadier industry stressers and pressures the boys are subjected to. On that note though, I do think talking a bit about the negative side of fanshipping could have really elevated this. The #Anjon shit trending among fans is mentioned frequently and both it and Jon's discomfort with it are normally played off for jokes and I think it would have been really powerful to talk about how toxic that kind of fan behavior can be in a book targeted at fans who probably get involved in similar ships.

(3.5/5 stars)
(3.5/5)
Firstly, I wanted to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book.
Trigger warnings for this book --> substance abuse, internalized homophobia, underage drinking, mentions of sexual content etc.
So, this book followed the perspectives of 2/4 boys in a band - Ruben and Zach as they navigate the pressures of coming out and coming to terms with public image and sexuality.
Do you like boybands and Becky Albertalli? If yes then this book may be perfect for you!
I did enjoy this book, I thought it was a fun read that managed to balance cute moments with real struggles - whether we are celebrities or not. This book discussed the challenges and pressures that agencies of power can place on queer relationships as well as the normalization of celebrities having to pretend to be someone they are not, especially being placed in restrictive roles to match a persona.
There was diversity and it highlighted the importance of communication and utilization of substances as a coping mechanism.
The character dynamics were all unique and distinct from one another and the main characters were likeable.
My main qualm was that it sometimes felt like it bordered on fanfiction, but I know some people prefer that more - it may just be a preference on my end.

This is easily the best, easiest book I've read in a while. The characters are so relatable, and there struggles are so believable. Boy band rom com for the win!

First of all, I just want everyone to know that I will never be shutting up about this book! I had high expectations from the moment Cale and Sophie announced it and I have been anxiously awaiting the moment I would be able to get my hands on a copy but oh boy, let me tell you it exceeded my expectations in every way possible! This book was so much more than just a book about 2 members of a boyband falling in love, it was a deep exploration of the trauma that is caused by the pressure put in artists (especially young and queer artists) in the entertainment industry. The industry is notorious for warping young artists to become people that the public finds acceptable. This is the exact reason that so many child actors and musicians turn to substances, partying, and many forms of self harm and it causes a lifetime of damage to many of them. While it explores all of the negative effects the industry has put people through, it also explores hope. Hope that we can create a future where the industry and people in power aren’t able to put artists through this abuse anymore and the hope that fighting back, sticking together, and vying for the things you believe in can improve for future generations.
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This book is also about the family that these 4 guys formed while growing up in this environment together. Even if they weren’t always able to save each other, they did everything in their power to protect each other when it really mattered. I just loved how badly they each wanted to be open and honest, not only for themselves and each other, but for their fans. As a girl that grew up a die hard fan of many boybands, all I ever wanted was to know the real humans behind the manufactured puppets the industry tries so hard to turn them into. I just think it was really important to see that real fans will still by their idols when they’re able to show who they really are!
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Let me just talk about each of these boys for a second. Jon is so soft and vigilant and he just cares about people so much. He can come off as an uptight rule follower but he just wants to keep everyone safe and he’s the exact kind of friend that everybody need in their life. Angel is the honest with a heart of gold that’s always the life of the party but sometimes that turns into him masking what he’s feeling. I not only want to protect him from the world but himself as well. Ruben is the one that has always known exactly who he is and if not for a lifetime of people trying to stamp him down and put out his light would have unbridled confidence. Not in a cocky way either, just steady and sure of himself. Lastly Zach, the people pleaser. The one that would sacrifice everything just to make everyone else happy. The last person he thinks about is himself and loves wholeheartedly. These 4 together are strong and messy and unstoppable because they have each other.
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Now the love story between Zach and Ruben. Their journey was messy and comforting and heartbreaking and butterfly inducing. They bring out the best in each other. There’s honestly so much I could say about these 2 but I don’t want to give too much away! I want everyone to pick up this book in December and fully be able to go on their journey with them! 💙
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The way this book made me fall in love with this fictional boyband so quickly and fiercely is honestly incredible. I felt like I was in this world and I was one of their teenage fans that just want to hug and protect each one of them. Sophie and Cale’s writing styles worked so seamlessly together that I forgot I was reading a book by more than one person most of the time. Literally my only complaint about this book is that it ended. I would read thousands more pages about this band and love every single second of it!

If This Gets Out is a wonderful coming of age story that needs to be told and considered. Many of us have fond memories of our favorite boy bands growing up, but did we ever think about what happens behind the scenes. This is a eye opening read and a very special story about to boys in the public eye who choose to be themselves despite their employers views.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for granting me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Holy wow. This book is a whirlwind.

If This Gets Out is a brilliant story about two members of America's biggest boy band—Zach and Ruben—who fall in love on an international tour. Under increasing pressure from their management team to fit a certain mold, they're forced to consider what parts of themselves they're willing to give up for the band, and for each other.

I was so excited to hear about this book's plot, but let me be clear: this book is not about Larry Stylinson. You guys are weird. The band Saturday bears no resemblance to One Direction, aside from some of the struggles that both bands probably faced due to their massive fanbases. Anyways...

I love Sophie Gonzales' writing, but this was my first introduction to Cale Dietrich, and their chemistry is real. The alternating perspectives of Zach and Ruben were seamless. I loved how the two main characters were able to complement each other, how they found each other's shortcomings and helped work through them, while also acknowledging that some things were out of their control. They interacted in a very healthy way, and that was refreshing to read.

There was also a great deal of tension in this book, which was masterfully done. It felt like I had to breathe shallow at times to avoid setting some of the characters off.

This book only has two drawbacks for me, and they are minor:
- Some conflicts between major characters are not resolved, especially one parental conflict in particular that was disappointing to me.
- The ending feels slightly rushed, and I did not expect to see the acknowledgements when I did. An ending was set up and implied, but not resolved to any super satisfying degree.

Overall, this book was splendid. I absolutely adored the characters, and it dealt with a lot of uncommon issues on the page that are more often seen in real life. I was thrilled to get to read this book early, and I urge my friends on here to pick up a copy in December if they're looking for an empowering MLM story. :')

I absolutely loved this book! It's my most anticipated book of the year and it definitely did not disappoint! There was lots of angst, drama, and cute romantic moments but there was also a lot of hard-hitting moments as well. The critiques on fame and the music industry really added a fantastic layer to the story. I went into this book expecting a cute romance between two guys in a boy band but what I got out of it was much more powerful and nuanced. Sophie Gonzales was already on my list of auto-buy authors after I read Only Mostly Devastated but Cale Dietrich is now also on that list! This is by far my favourite book of the year and I can't wait to reread it over and over again!