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madeline 's review for:
If This Gets Out
by Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrich
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are eighteen years old and two of the most famous people in the world. As half of the wildly popular boy band Saturday, they're touring the world with their two best friends Angel and Jon, playing to sold-out crowds every night, surrounded by adoring fans, and just generally living the dream. Except - they're not. Ruben is frustrated he has to keep his sexuality a secret, Zach wants management to take his songwriting talent seriously, and Angel and Jon are feeling the pressure of what seems like an unending tour, too. Add into the mix that Zach is increasingly unable to deny the feelings he has for Ruben, even if he isn't sure what the name for those feelings are. It's make or break, not just for the band, but for the four boys' friendships, and for this brand new thing between Zach and Ruben. Can they all stand together when it feels like the whole world is trying to keep them apart?
What a delight. From the opening chapter, you can't help but love all four of these boys. Ruben and Zach are the only narrators, but you get such a great feeling for all of them and their relationships with each other. This book is a pretty unflinching look at what fame and industry can do to vulnerable teenagers, but also at how resilient people can be if they have friends willing to support them through anything but also call them out on dangerous choices. Ruben and Zach are infinitely sweet, and it's a real pleasure to watch them both grow in their relationship.
There were a few loose ends here that I wish had been tied up earlier or eliminated - I think the book was about 30 pages too long. Jon's religion is wielded weirdly, and Zach and Ruben's relationships with their respective mothers aren't really fleshed out until it's almost too late. None of this detracts from the reader's enjoyment, though, and I think this book will find fans just as supportive and invested in its success as Saturday did.
Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
CWs:drug and alcohol use, drug abuse, non-narrative character is injured while high, homophobia and the threat of homophobia used as a reason to stay closeted, the inability to come out, emotionally manipulative parents
What a delight. From the opening chapter, you can't help but love all four of these boys. Ruben and Zach are the only narrators, but you get such a great feeling for all of them and their relationships with each other. This book is a pretty unflinching look at what fame and industry can do to vulnerable teenagers, but also at how resilient people can be if they have friends willing to support them through anything but also call them out on dangerous choices. Ruben and Zach are infinitely sweet, and it's a real pleasure to watch them both grow in their relationship.
There were a few loose ends here that I wish had been tied up earlier or eliminated - I think the book was about 30 pages too long. Jon's religion is wielded weirdly, and Zach and Ruben's relationships with their respective mothers aren't really fleshed out until it's almost too late. None of this detracts from the reader's enjoyment, though, and I think this book will find fans just as supportive and invested in its success as Saturday did.
Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
CWs: