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ashley_lieb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
ashction's review against another edition
5.0
This book was seriously so good that I could not put it down today! Sorry to my job, because I was kinda doing work by reading this book but also not really... because I was mostly sitting at my desk reading this book.
If This Gets Out follows a familiar trope and/or theory popular in fandom: are they dating behind the scenes? As a former One Direction fan and a former Larry shipper, this is a trope I not only participated in, but am familiar enough with that I could write a dissertation. I read so much fanfic imagining this scenario, so I was immediately intrigued by seeing Sophie and Cale bring this to traditional publishing.
Much needed disclaimer: This book is NOT about Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles. Contrary to popular belief, that ship did not invent the wheel on boyband members dating (though I wouldn't argue they didn't help reinvent it), and this story came to being without the authors knowing little to nothing about that ship. At initial first glance, you will wonder, but the further you read the less that theory has any weight. The two protagonists are very different from those two real life celebrities, and I promise you won't find a glorified fanfic here. (Nothing wrong with a fanfic-y book, but this isn't it, folks!)
In If This Gets Out, we meet four boys in a boy band called Saturday. Our main characters, Ruben and Zach, are half of the quartet. Ruben is an unwillingly closeted gay teen who's gotten shoved into the meek, palatable role of the boy band and wants to show off who he truly is behind the persona. Zach is an anxious and reserved teen who's pretty sure he's straight. However, one drunken night leads to a make out session that begins the beginning and end of Saturday as the four boys know it.
I really loved this book! Even though I was initially drawn to it as a former band shipper, I think the story does a really good job of being original despite the content being familiar. The story is less about the two band members falling in love and more a critical examination of mental health and identity in the public eye, /especially/ as a queer and/or person of color. Based on the authors' note, that seemed to be the intent of Sophie and Cale and I think they do a great job demonstrating that throughout the novel. (TW: mental health issues, drug use, forced closeting, car accident.) The characters also all demonstrate different elements of fame individually, and the way those forced roles can affect people. The characters may be fictional but they feel real, and you quickly come to care about them.
I love that a story like this will soon exist in YA. There are stories that touch on some of these topics, but none as effectively as this. The only other title I can come up with is "I Was Born For This" by Alice Oseman, which currently isn't published in the US. As an adult still involved in fandom and a person who was involved in fandom as a teen, there's so much value in having a title like this accessible to teens who don't have the time or consideration to really stop and think about the toxicity of fame and exposure. It would have been a good book to give past me the perspective it took growing up to gain! On top of that, the book is deliberately diverse, and that makes it an even more encompassing way for young fans to critically examine the treatment of their favorite celebrities and the power these young fans have in supporting them or stopping fan-made toxicity and hate. All in all, the buzz and hype is well-deserved. Sophie and Cale did a phenomenal job exploring this topic and creating a pair of queer teens to root for along the way.
I received a digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me access!
If This Gets Out follows a familiar trope and/or theory popular in fandom: are they dating behind the scenes? As a former One Direction fan and a former Larry shipper, this is a trope I not only participated in, but am familiar enough with that I could write a dissertation. I read so much fanfic imagining this scenario, so I was immediately intrigued by seeing Sophie and Cale bring this to traditional publishing.
Much needed disclaimer: This book is NOT about Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles. Contrary to popular belief, that ship did not invent the wheel on boyband members dating (though I wouldn't argue they didn't help reinvent it), and this story came to being without the authors knowing little to nothing about that ship. At initial first glance, you will wonder, but the further you read the less that theory has any weight. The two protagonists are very different from those two real life celebrities, and I promise you won't find a glorified fanfic here. (Nothing wrong with a fanfic-y book, but this isn't it, folks!)
In If This Gets Out, we meet four boys in a boy band called Saturday. Our main characters, Ruben and Zach, are half of the quartet. Ruben is an unwillingly closeted gay teen who's gotten shoved into the meek, palatable role of the boy band and wants to show off who he truly is behind the persona. Zach is an anxious and reserved teen who's pretty sure he's straight. However, one drunken night leads to a make out session that begins the beginning and end of Saturday as the four boys know it.
I really loved this book! Even though I was initially drawn to it as a former band shipper, I think the story does a really good job of being original despite the content being familiar. The story is less about the two band members falling in love and more a critical examination of mental health and identity in the public eye, /especially/ as a queer and/or person of color. Based on the authors' note, that seemed to be the intent of Sophie and Cale and I think they do a great job demonstrating that throughout the novel. (TW: mental health issues, drug use, forced closeting, car accident.) The characters also all demonstrate different elements of fame individually, and the way those forced roles can affect people. The characters may be fictional but they feel real, and you quickly come to care about them.
I love that a story like this will soon exist in YA. There are stories that touch on some of these topics, but none as effectively as this. The only other title I can come up with is "I Was Born For This" by Alice Oseman, which currently isn't published in the US. As an adult still involved in fandom and a person who was involved in fandom as a teen, there's so much value in having a title like this accessible to teens who don't have the time or consideration to really stop and think about the toxicity of fame and exposure. It would have been a good book to give past me the perspective it took growing up to gain! On top of that, the book is deliberately diverse, and that makes it an even more encompassing way for young fans to critically examine the treatment of their favorite celebrities and the power these young fans have in supporting them or stopping fan-made toxicity and hate. All in all, the buzz and hype is well-deserved. Sophie and Cale did a phenomenal job exploring this topic and creating a pair of queer teens to root for along the way.
I received a digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me access!
hsecen's review against another edition
4.0
I went back and forth with my feelings on this book. There was certainly some frustrations between Ruben and Zach and it really stemmed from a lot of miscommunication - which no matter where, makes me want to pull my hair out. But also these two were young characters and had a lot going on in their lives so I tried to be more understanding. I did love watching these two characters fall in love though. It was a really well written book that I enjoyed reading.
books4thewin7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
5.0
sis_2512's review against another edition
2.5
The middle was hard to get through. I liked their relationship. It was a teenybopper read I thought. Fun and light read but not very much substance.
cosima_123's review against another edition
4.0
Es ist ein bisschen so wie fanfiction, die man an einem abend verschlingt und manchmal braucht man das halt. Ich fand die story eigentlich ziemlich gut konstruiert und die charaktere waren auch eigentlich alle liebenswert (insbesondere angel), ich finde es auch gut dass das buch bestimmte dinge thematisiert (drogenkonsum, eltern die abusive sind, …)
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There were lots of things i loved about this book. i liked the focus on mental health, identity, and the role of celebrity and paradoxical relationships. i liked that both leads had problems to overcome individually and together. the supporting characters were also handled well. sometimes the narrative could delve into too black and white, but still had enough contemplation to keep me engaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Addiction
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, and Suicide attempt