Really great YA queer book. If you like following all the Hollywood gossip/tea and boy bands, then this is a great book for you. The book follows the band Saturday, composed of Ruben, Zach, Jon, and Angel as they embark on their European tour. During the tour, Zach and Ruben kiss and navigate their relationship, as well as Ruben having to keep it a secret that he's gay, and Zach coming to the realization he's bisexual. I really liked the setting of this book, I thought that the real struggles of living as a celebrity were accurate, and it was a quick read. Definitely add this book to your list!

CW: anxiety, depression, use of drugs and alcohol

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.

Headlines:
Self discovery
Friendships to moreships
Band life

If This Gets Out was a read with plenty of drama that I think has particular appeal for teens who love bands, fandoms, band life and are questioning or closeted. I appreciated all those themes and how Zach and Reuben navigated life with their restrictions. I'm not a fan of some of the big bands out there and I think this might have affected my enjoyment somewhat.

The developing more-ship between Zach and Reuben was sweet and made for easy reading. The life of the band on tour was tough, exactly how I imagine in terms of control and restrictions and that was uncomfortable reading.

Self discovery, identity and the desire to come out felt well-handled in this book. One of my yuk factors in YA is crappy parents and parenting; be ready for those elements.

This was a roller coaster of a read with sweet elements and a relationship to buy into.

Thank to TeamBKMRK for the review copy.

I gotta say, I was 50/50 going into this book on whether or not I was going to like it. I've had a harder time with YA lately, but this one was really great. Both the main characters were really complex, and I loved how the story focused not only on their relationship (and the hurdles they had to go through around that) but also on their growth as characters. I had a fun time reading this!

An absolutely brilliant book for lovers of bands, shipping and friends to lovers!!!!

I loved how this book went into the behind the scenes look into bands and their management and how the boys of Saturday were controlled in a lot of ways, even if they didn't realise it at first.

Zach and Ruben just made my heart melt every step of the way through the book and I loved the banter that was shared between all four bandmates.

By the end of the book, I was itching to read more but also absolutely satisfied with how it all played out.

I am so excited to see this book in store and buy my own copy!

I’m a big fan of author collaborations—I almost always really like them. (I’m not sure why, but maybe, just as in my life, collaborating pushes authors to be better?) Since I was already a fan of both Sophie Gonzales, author of Perfect on Paper, and Cale Dietrich, author of The Love Interest, requesting If This Gets Out seemed like a good choice. I was so, so right.

At the center of If This Gets Out is a boy band, Saturday, made up of four kids who met at a summer camp, threw together a fun performance for the end-of-camp concert, and have never looked back. The four teenagers—Ruben, a classically trained singer who grew up on Broadway; Zach, a fan of punk and emo who is painfully shy; Angel, an outgoing, fun-loving partier; and Jon, a Type A, conservative heart throb whose dad manages the group—have remained close friends and have enjoyed their meteoric success, even as they strain against the roles in which they’ve been cast. Their carefully curated image presents all of them as straight (Ruben is not) and each of them somehow playing against type. Angel’s role, for example, is the sweet, conservative, shy boy, which he is *definitely* not.

The story centers on Ruben and Zach and is told in their alternating points of view. Though all four are friends, Ruben and Zach are best friends, so Ruben has kept his attraction to Zach a secret. And then something happens that makes Ruben think Zach may return his feelings. Their relationship changes, at first bringing tension to the group and highlighting the tight control their management wields over their lives, and then causing each of them to understand new things about themselves.

I loved so much about this book. First, it is propulsive: I had a hard time putting it down. The romance at its heart is lovely, and I appreciated the way Gonzales and Dietrich worked through its complications, both early on—when Zach is exploring his understanding of his sexuality—and later, when Ruben and Zach are contending with what they each need from the other. Dietrich and Gonzales create fully realized characters here who are dealing with fame but also with their relationships with their parents and friendships and all the drama that happens with teenagers.

I also enjoyed the consideration of the boy band phenomenon. While I’m no student of the music industry, and boy bands aren’t really a part of my current listening, I was a HUGE fan of New Kids on the Block back in the day. So much of the novel here rang true, from the desperate need to have one type of boy for each fan to the denial that fans can handle the truths that all four band members want to share with their public. (I will say that the way the book employs social media certainly adds an angle that would not have been possible in the early NKOTB days!)

If This Gets Out will work for so many readers, and I would definitely be in for further collaborations between Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich (though I do plan to explore the rest of their individual backlists regardless!). This fabulous YA novel is emotional and thought provoking and sweet. I absolutely loved it.

One Direction meets Camp Rock origin story with a fun behind the scenes look at the life of a pop star and the hardships behind the facade of a glamorous life.

Okay I binged this book! It is so good and cute with a mlm relationship that involves a semi-closeted gay pop star and his band mate Zach who is trying to figure out his feelings toward his best guy friend. This is an easy fluffy read that gives you perspective of what it means to be true to yourself.

Sophie Gonzalez and Cale Dietrich have penned a tender, heartfelt-yet-excruciating tale of self-discovery, love without conditions, and finding strength in one’s voice in their first co-authored novel, IF THIS GETS OUT.

Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon are the four heartthrob members of America’s biggest boy band, Saturday. Together, they each represent an archetypal “perfect boyfriend” for mass audience appeal. Ruben is soft and approachable in cashmere, Zach is dangerous in ripped jeans, Angel is safe and virginal in his oversized non-sexy shirts, and Jon is pure passion and seduction with lip biting and body-hugging clothes. However, none of these forward-facing personas even comes close to the boys’ true natures. As pop stars, their every moves are controlled and contrived by their management company, Chorus.

The level of control turns insidious when members Zach and Ruben want to come forward with their relationship. The boys are coerced into staying in the closet, and mayhem ensues from there.

IF THIS GETS OUT doesn’t stop the conversation there, but barrels into serious dialogues concerning mental health, substance abuse as a coping mechanism, establishing boundaries with toxic parents, and ultimately learning to ask for what you truly want and need from this life.

Each of the boys grows and learns how to advocate for themselves, and IF THIS GETS OUT is truly a novel not to be missed.

I was really hopeful about this. I've read other books by Gonzales and enjoyed them, and I was a (much milder than most protrayed here) fan during the Boyzone/Westlife/Take That era. I saw great reviews of this online and I thought it would be fantastic.

But.

It just isn't.

I can't put my finger on much specifically. I thought the pacing was strange and the story was far too long; I found it very hard to tell everyone apart and remember who was who, but that often happens with me; I know I'm not in the industry, but all the angst about 'our managment says we have to Do This Or Else' felt odd to me. That would have been fine when you were struggling, but you're now the biggest band in the world. Do whatever you're trying to do, drop your managment and find a new one. (Yes, I am completely untutored in the ways of the music world, but when the only reason given was a vague 'our manager is the most powerful in the world' it just didn't make sense to me.)

I didn't hate it - I didn't really anything it - and I hope it does well. I'm sure other readers will enjoy it.

As soon as I heard about this book I just knew I had to read it. And I’m so lucky I got the chance to get an advanced reader’s copy.

I loved the characters and their dynamics. I just love to see characters that aren’t perfect and to see their character development and that’s exactly what you get here. And since this is about a boy band you get to see both sides. The way they are in public and what is going on behind the scenes. The problems you face in this industry and how it truly affects all their lives. So it’s refreshing to not only read about a cute love story but also about what they’re going through on a daily basis. And how they’re all individually dealing with it. And how strong their support is.

The author collaboration worked really well in this.

If you’re a fan of boy bands, cute boys doing lots of trope-y things with a tad of angst on top, If This Gets Out is just the right book for you. I’d definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC of this book.

I wanted to love this book. I really did. But I didn’t. I didn’t hate it either, but I was pretty underwhelmed by it. I had heard nothing but raving reviews and have had many friends say it was one of their favorite reads this year. I went in expecting… something else.

The story was interesting, but the characters and writing fell a little flat for me. Within the first chapter or two, I was ready to die for Zach. A few chapters later, I had lost most feeling for him and that would-go-to-war-for feeling never returned. I found myself not really caring too much about any of the other characters, save for Angel, and only at That Part™️.

By the halfway point, I just kind of wished it was over? I didn’t know where things were going and I maybe could have marked it as DNF and moved on, but I had already given up the day to read it, so I might as well finish, right? 🤷🏼‍♀️ If I had marked as DNF, I’m not sure I would have missed out on anything.

I don’t know if I’ll reread this book. If I do, it won’t be for a while. I’m super bummed I didn’t like this as much as I had hoped.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4057968532

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me a copy of If This Gets Out for an honest review.

📖 Summary 📖
From the publisher:

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?
🤯 Exploding Head 🤯
That was … intense. I had a lot of feels, so this is a long one, y’all. If This Gets Out is co-written by Sophie Gonzales (who wrote Ruben’s chapters) and Cale Dietrich (who wrote Zach’s). I don’t know much about Dietrich, but I know Gonzales works in mental health, which is evident in this book’s writing. That is not a criticism. The book’s synopsis doesn’t even begin to describe the depths into which If This Gets Out dives.

If This Gets Out is essentially a rebuke of the entire entertainment industry, especially concerning how it treats, er, commodifies children at a micro and macro level. One detail that stood out so beautifully to me is when Zach is looking at a photo of himself taken early in Saturday’s career. It’s a happy memory, but he muses that he’d had a minor breakout that day, and the team photoshopped his acne away.


While this particular tale is fiction, the authors did do much research. Just anecdotally, I know enough from my peripheral engagement with The Industry that none of the characters’ experiences are a stretch. The ease with which these children procure drugs and alcohol, and their management “team” ignores it is real, is pervasive and leads to tragedy.

The way people within the industry know who’s queer, but the general public doesn’t … it’s all sickening. I mean, this book even touches on the very real desexualization of Asian men!

Sometimes, it’s easy to look at celebrities and think about how charmed their lives must be. It’s easy not to believe they have much right to complain about the bad things that happen to them. I’m glad If This Gets Out shows the darker side of that luxury while also managing to keep a balance of oh yeah, there are things we are grateful for.

No matter how blessed you might be, it’s never going to feel good — or be OK — for your mom to send you YouTube videos criticizing you with an “FYI.” Money buys security, not happiness. So, even if we can’t relate to the specifics, these stars’ troubles are like ours in some ways.

😍 Heart Eyes 😍
Because we drop in on #Zuben three years into their friendship, it feels lived-in, comfortable, believable. I will never not love the trope of a queer person who doesn’t know they’re queer endlessly waxing poetic about people of the same gender. It’s so relatable.

The way Zach lovingly and tenderly describes how attractive various men are and misreads his jealousy and motivations is both endearing and second-hand-embarrassment-inducing. His internal monologues as he figures out his sexuality are golden.

If This Gets Out is also about learning to set healthy boundaries and communicate your needs. No one’s issues are magically fixed by the end of the novel, but everyone’s on the path to recovery. l love that it doesn’t wrap every plot thread up neatly in a bow.

Not in a way that screams, “Sequel!” but in a way that feels true to the pace of life. Not everything gets fixed when we want it to. There are choices and solutions between all and nothing; life is not black and white: it’s a whole frigging rainbow.

🤔 Thinking Face 🤔
As always, a few things kept niggling as I read. On the whole, I think If This Gets Out handles sex well. At one point, Zach makes it clear he feels sex with “just” hands is still sex. Rather than vilify sex or sexuality, the authors celebrate it. I mean, the book even brings up PREP!

I do think; however, there are a couple of ways the book undercuts that fantastic work. One, there’s one incident in the book that implies virginity = penetration, which, yuck. Speaking of anal sex, our leading duo decides to have it at one point. It’s the only time they ever bring up STIs or condom use worries.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s probably realistic, but you can still get STIs from non-penetrative sex, and also, 20 percent of Americans have STIs … this is perhaps a society, not a book thing, but it felt worth mentioning. ALSO, if, as a society, we could maybe move away from saying things like, “I’m gonna jump out of the window,” when we mean we’re embarrassed? I think that’d be a good thing.


🧑‍⚖️ Verdict 🧑‍⚖️
I’ve been thinking about cancel culture a lot lately. One of my biggest fears of ever “making it” as a writer is being canceled before I even start. I think that’s part of why I related so viscerally to this book. This is not an easy read, but it will leave you feeling hopeful and happy. (Also, OMG, YAAAAS there was no horrible outing scene.)

This book was so cute. I didn’t know “friends to lovers in a boyband” is a trope I needed to read, but apparently it is, and the couple in question is as trope-y as it gets, with the soft one and the hard ass. “Friends to lovers” has always been a favorite of mine, but another trope I can’t get enough of is forbidden love. Obviously two boys in a band dating each other would be a bit of a scandal, so they have to hide it as best they can, both from the other members of the band, and from the public eye. And when every move they make is scrutinized, outside forces try to drive them apart.

As cute as this story was, it was lacking in the conflict department. There is conflict regarding one of the other band members later on, but I would have preferred something meatier in terms of the couple in question.

The ending was open ended enough that there could possibly be a sequel, one that I would definitely read.

Wow. If This Gets Out was incredible. A YA boy band romance is everything I didn’t know I needed in a book.

Ruben and Zach are 2 of the 4 members of the boy band Saturday - one of the biggest bands in the world. Although they seem to have it all, each of the 4 boys is struggling with the way their managers are controlling their lives. For Ruben and Zach, that control includes being forced to stay in the closet and hide their relationship, even when they want to make it public.

There are so many things about this book that I adored. I loved how we got the dual perspective of both MCs to really get in their heads and see what they were thinking. Seeing their friendship slowly grow into more was beautiful and I loved how natural and easy their love felt. I also appreciated getting the perspective of what some teen stars go through and the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that arise. This story felt so real and honest and I loved every second.

I’m so thankful to the @lovearctually crew for putting this one on my radar. I loved every second of this.

I switched between ebook and audio and loved both equally. The audiobook was narrated wonderfully.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copies.

If This Gets Out is a storyline that could almost write itself. I"m surprised no one thought to write something like this before now. It is such a great "what if" story and explores how difficult it could be as a member of a boy band. The level of expectation being placed on young men who are already going through the difficult time of puberty, teenage years and young adulthood would be overwhelming. If you add to that mix, the inability to be honest with others about your sexuality and are constantly told to act another way, that would damage you even more from a psychological aspect.

In this story, we meet four boy band members - - Zach, Ruben, Jon and Angel. Together they are the boy band, Saturday. They each have their own personal struggles which make them sensitive to outside influences -- some more than others. Angel and Jon are definitely a good portion of the book as well, but the main storyline centers around Zach and Ruben. Over the course of the book, they acknowledge their attraction to one another and then gradually, they share it with their fellow band members and then management for their label. Naturally, management doesn't want for them to come out and continues to put them off when they ask about it. In the middle of this, another band member goes through a major crisis and there is a great deal of speculation that none of them get along.

I enjoyed the story and found it to address some legitimate issues and concerns. I had a difficult time with some of the character development. I felt a connection to Zach and Ruben, but it wasn't as strong as I would have liked. The other external characters, such as their parents, management, and so on were written very basically and I felt little connection there. Of course, it wasn't difficult to feel a strong sense of dislike for the label's management team. They were intentionally trying to fit these young men into a "box" that they believed would foster their image and maintain their popularity. Little consideration was taken for where any of the boys were at emotionally by this management team.

I thought some strong messages were bassed along via this storyline. The one that stood out most was the need to know what is important to YOU and to not just float through life agreeing with others because it's what you think they want. I think a lot of people are guilty of doing that very thing because it's there easy solution. It doesn't create drama with other people if you just always agree. Unfortunately, those people never get to fully enjoy life because they allow others to make all their decisions for them. Instead, people shouldn't be afraid to have an opinion or take a risk in life. Live your life. Don't let others live it for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review this book. The opinions contained within are my own.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I also received an early copy of the audiobook. For me, I enjoyed physically reading this book more than listening to it. Sometimes I enjoy the audio versions more because of the narration. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me on this book. I couldn't settle into the story when listening to it. Therefore, for me, I'd have to give the audiobook 3 stars.

I expected to enjoy this novel (I mean, trope-filled queer romcoms are my jam after all), but I was honestly surprised at just how genuinely good it was.

If This Gets Out is a friend-to-lovers story (with bonus trope servings of pining and emotionally-repressed bedsharing!!) co-written by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich. The story is set in the ripe-for-fictioning world of contemporary boy bands, and both main characters, Ruben and Zach, are members of an uber-popular (yet tritely-named) quartet called Saturday. (Like really, who names a pop group after a day of the week???)

Since this is a romance novel, they fall in love (of course). The novel switches POV each chapter, so we get to hear about the characters' growing intimacy and rapport from both Ruben and Zach's perspectives. Throughout the book, both dudes are thoroughly likeable, and it's easy to root for their relationship from the get go. But being in love while being famous proves dauntingly difficult, especially when managerial meddling is added to the mix.

Ruben is openly gay in private but deeply closeted by his label/management in public. He relies heavily on his friendship with Zach to help him navigate the highs and lows of a grueling international tour. Zach is sweet and indecisive and more than a little thirsty (even before he realizes exactly who he is thirsting for), and we get to see his personal growth and self-discovery throughout the novel.

Some of Zach's most affecting scenes, in my opinion, were those where he's interrogating his own sexuality and feelings and how he feels about those feelings and even his feelings on the word "bisexuality." It's like the words came straight from my diary (except for the talent, fame, fortune, and devastating handsomeness, unfortunately).

But really, having likable and shippable main characters is kinda of the point of a romance novel. What I was really impressed by in If This Gets Out was the depth and emotional nuance that the authors gave to the supporting characters—specifically the other members of Saturday (ugh, still a bad name). I thought the authors did a fantastic job introducing us to the other band members, Angel and Jon, and fleshing out the friendships between the band as a whole

Angel and Jon are both fully-realized individuals, despite us never getting a peek inside their heads the same way we do Ruben and Zach. They're supportive of the main characters' relationship throughout the novel, and the authors used both characters to explore important social issues, such as racial stereotyping, substance addiction, and acceptance. So many novels have one-note supporting characters, but by the end of this one, I was half in love with Jon, (who is the consummate mom-friend and ultimately an A++ bro to his bandmates).

And more than anything else, I appreciate how the authors handled the depictions of fans and fandom in this novel. Boy band fandoms are primarily the domain of younger girls. Young girls are routinely shamed and derided for anything they like. It's a tale as old as boy bands themselves.

But If This Gets Out eschews this traditional derision and instead gives us a more balanced representation. For each cringe-inducing scene of a fan asking inappropriate questions about intraband shipping, there's a corresponding recognition of the power and positivity of these fanbases—and more importantly, the power that their fans give the members of Saturday.

I honestly have more I could say! But this review has gone on long enough. I encourage anyone with an interest in music, queer representation, or bandom to give If This Gets Out a read! And my sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm looking forward to the official release, so I can give the audiobook a listen. Ramón de Ocampo is doing the narration, so I have high expectations!

The shifts in perspective between Zach and Ruben is really what drew me into the plot. They are two completely different individuals living through the same experiences and getting to really delve into how they view the same things is amazing. At first I thought that most of the book would be a romance but it turned out to be so much more than that. Learning the hardships these four boyband members go through hurts but makes you love them so much more than you already did. If this gets out is a story about love and friendship becoming more important than fame and success. I finished this book in just a day and could not put it down at all. I recommend this book to anyone who was/is a boyband lover.

Thank you to NetGalley, for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a very slow burn read with fun elements and an overall important story. I think despite the premise the plot was lacking at times with the story often relying on telling information instead of showing information. That being said characters such as Zach and Angel were compelling to read.

When I read the blurb for If This Gets Out, I was very excited to read it! I'm a boy band lover, love a good friends to lovers romance and I also was interested in the ins and outs of the behind the scenes of this boy band. I was not disappointed.

We are introduced to the band, Saturday, and it's members Ruben, Jon, Angel and Zach. The four are not only bandmates, but they are friends. They rely on one another, they are there for one another and support one another. They truly are a family that they chose and it was so intriguing to see their interactions, quarrels and discussions just like any other family. Plus, given the "bubble" they are in, they are the only people who can really understand what they are each going through and experiencing when it comes to fame and the music business. We see how the fame they so badly wanted can also cause other issues with drug abuse, the controlling nature of their management/label and even the pressure from their own families, among other issues.

Watching Zach and Ruben navigate their relationship and the new feelings that emerge was so well done. They were both battling different questions, issues and worries over what their attraction meant not only for them, but for the band. They were really wise beyond their years given how they talked through things and worked together to figure out what was going to be best for them. Sure, they had their moments of misunderstandings, but overall, I thought it was handled well.

This is one of the best books I've read for a while. I would highly recommend picking it up. It's well written and it keeps you engaged from the start to the end.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

So, let's get the obvious out of the way first: this book is AMAZING. I've loved Sophie for awhile now, and am now convinced everything she does is gold, and I will definitely be checking out Cale after reading this book!

If This Gets Out tells a story that most fans of a boyband have endlessly questioned and shipped: what if two members fell for each other? Fanfiction aficionados will definitely feel satisfied (and seen), and honestly any fan of YA (especially queer YA) will fall in love with these characters and the story.

Our two main characters, Zach and Ruben, get alternating POVs, which is great as you get to see both of their thoughts and feelings as the story plays out. As things start to develop with them, getting their alternating thoughts to events, especially the others' reactions (and then their reactions to the reactions) was excellent, and I found myself alternately shaking my head, cheering, and wanting to lock them in a room together as typical romance misunderstandings abound. The other two members of the band, Jon and Angel, are extremely well-developed characters, and I fell in love with all of them as the story went on. In addition to telling a story of young love, this book also brings up the negative aspects of fame and how artists can be treated under the wrong management. It also tackles some of the pressures that are a little more relatable to us non-famous people: anxiety, pressure to please people, and difficult family members.

This is a fantastic book, and I can't wait for everyone to be able to read it! NetGalley and the publisher provided me an ARC, and I thank them. All opinions are unsolicited, totally honest, and my own.

TW: substance abuse, emotional abuse, closeting, fitness/body image discussion (not quite disordered but definitely a lot for teens to be concerned about)