If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich is a new fave for 2021, and it’s live!
“You’re in the most popular boy band in America . . .
and all you want is the boy singing next to you.”
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Blurb
Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich’s “If This Gets Out is an absolute showstopper! Equal parts edgy and adorable, this bright, joyful book has everything I look for in a queer YA romance.” —Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us
Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartthrobs in front of the cameras and best friends backstage.
But privately, the pressure to stay in the closet has Ruben confiding in Zach.
On a whirlwind tour through Europe with an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, the two come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben realize they will never truly have the support they need.
How can they hold tight to each other when their whole world is coming apart?
Review
“I know what I want, and it’s you.”
5 huge stars!
Wow, what a phenomenal read! A first-time co-write by two authors who are both new to me, I was instantly sucked into the story, I fell in mad love with the characters, and I was captivated the whole way through. Both joyous and heartbreaking, it’s a funny, sweet, romantic and emotional coming-of-age story about figuring out who you are and then fighting to be that person, no matter the cost. It’s an utterly addictive read, and I loved it!
Saturday is the hottest boy band in the US. Featuring four gorgeous young teens, they are the closest of friends and loving their success, but everything about their lives is completely out of their control. They don’t choose their songs, their life is a whirlwind of concerts, press, photo shoots and promotions across hundreds of cities, and each of them have been given a public persona to live up to (one is the bad boy, one a sweet virgin, etc.). It’s strictly organised chaos, and the boys go along with it, having placed themselves in the hands of their management, and unwilling to rock the boat.
But lately, things have started to become more difficult. Ruben is actually gay, and he’s been desperate to come out of the closet, but management won’t allow it, afraid it will ruin the band’s image. He’s also in love with his best friend and fellow bandmate, Zach, and it’s getting harder and harder to hide it.
Zach’s shirtless in my hotel room, which is both amazing, and a travesty on multiple levels.
Essentially, I’m doing my very best not to stare. And it’s, uh, hard.
Zach is oblivious to Ruben’s feelings, but when he starts to feel something more than friendship for his friend, he begins to question everything. A crush on a boy isn’t new to him, but it’s always something he’s brushed aside, never wanting to examine it too closely, not wanting it to be real. But his feelings for Ruben aren’t going away, which leads to a whole lot of confusion.
I’m sure it’s common to get such miniscule crushes on other people. It doesn’t mean I’m queer. If I felt the way about guys that I felt about guys I’d know it.
… If he was a girl, I’d have known I’d found the next person I’m into. But it’s Ruben. My very male best friend and band mate.
So, essentially, what the fuck?
I freaking love these characters so much! The story is written from the dual perspectives of Ruben and Zach, and they are amazing. Funny, smart and witty, they are both beautifully real and so well-written, and I could feel everything they were feeling as their relationship starts to change. They have a lot of emotions to sort through, and it’s definitely not an easy ride for either of them, but it’s realistic, and I could see it all playing out before me like I was watching a movie. And as they slowly came to accept everything that was between them, I revelled in their blooming romance.
“It’ll be okay. No matter what happens, you have me. That’s not going to change. Not as long as you still want me.”
… “I’ll always want you.”
“Then you’ll always have me.”
It’s sweet and beautiful, and one of those reads where even the smallest moments mean so much.
The smile he gives me kind of makes my life.
So. Freaking. Cute!!!
We get to see lots of the band together as they are rushed through a whirlwind tour of Europe, and I loved getting to know not only Ruben and Zach, but also Angel and Jon (God, I hope we get books for them!). The boys are each so different, but I love their closeness and their friendship. It’s real, and they have issues that they’re dealing with, but they love each other deeply and have each other’s backs through all of the ups and downs.
“I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect this.”
But band life is starting to take a toll on all of the boys, and the secrets keep piling up as they are forced into personas that are starting to stifle them. When the cracks start to show, they’ll have to figure out what it is they want, and then pull together like never before to fight for it. It’s exciting, emotional and so uplifting, and I loved every moment of it.
“The freedom to be ourselves, and express whatever truest version of ourselves we know of to the world as we see fit, is the most important freedom we have.”
This is such a special read. It’s an absolutely gorgeous love story, but it’s also so much more than that. There are some wonderful messages in the book, and I loved the journey that these boys take together. It’s beautifully, seamlessly written, with humour, heart, and so many feels, and I loved it.
5 huge stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.