If This Gets Out
Ratings53
Average rating3.8
*4.5
Sophie Gonzales is one of my favorite authors, so when I saw that she was coming out with a new book about a boy band, I was so excited! If This Gets Out read a lot like fan fiction to me in the beginning (it's probably because I read a lot of boy band fan fiction when I was younger) and it definitely wasn't a bad thing. Although it did effect my rating. Overall this was such a cute, fun, and quick read, and I really enjoyed it!
I would recommend picking it up once it comes out in December, especially if you enjoy reading fan fiction!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with aE-arc copy in exchange for my honest review
leaving similarities to a certain worldwide famous boy band aside, i really enjoyed reading this book and it was a good read to start off my year.
but i do have to say that it was a slow start for me, personally. i couldn't get into it for some reason and i had to put it down after the first 100 or so pages. it was a bummer because i was so excited to read it but as soon as i picked it up again i finished the rest of the book in one sitting. i don't know if my mood affected how i got into it in the first place but what matters is that i got hooked on it the second time around.
the plot is quite unique i would say, as in i would expect to see it in fanfiction and i have seen it in fanfiction before but it hits different when it comes in the form of a source material.
so we have a boy band that's at the peak of their career and things are just getting better from here. throw in a controlling management, an international tour, a boy forced into the closet ever since he was 16, some (il)legal drinking and you have the perfect recipe for chaos.
what i liked about the characters is how real they felt. now, granted, we don't know much about who celebrities really are underneath their public persona but i felt like the authors did a good job portraying the members of the band as individuals, teeangers who just want to be themselves but also as rising stars who are under surveillance at all times. i like that they have flaws and they admit to them. i love how our main characters, zach and ruben, both get to challenge their inner demons and admit that there are issues they both struggle with and are willing to work towards fixing them.
zach's coming out journey was beautiful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. i also loved having ruben being so confident in his sexuality and already out in the story, it was a nice touch. sure, coming out plots are inspiring and the representation is needed as well but already established queer characters are just as needed.
i love how this was more than just about their relationship, though. sure, that played a huge part and the lgbtq+ topic was one of the reasons i picked up this book in the first place, but it also addressed how controlling and cruel the industry can be. all the things the boys and the people involved had to go through should definitely be eye opening and if not for changing anything, at least it's important for them to be acknowledged.
i have to admit, i feel like the last straw for their rebellion being their relationship and them not being allowed to come out felt a tiny bit flat after angel ALMOST DIED. i feel like that should have been a wake up call, not just the beginning of the end. but i do understand why they did it this way and it still made me emotional.
i appreciate how nothing was rushed and the things didn't all get resolved over night, as i really loved the pace throughout the whole novel, but it still ended on a nice, positive and hopeful note that left me with a smile on my face.
For me, the focus on the boyband romance isn't even the main thing. I am literally appalled at how the band members were treated on tour. It's made me more certain that being famous isn't everything. I could feel the mental pressure that each band member experienced.
Enjoyable read **
I don't know if this book was based off of One Direction/Larry fanfiction but I think it has too many similarities to not be somewhat based on them. Two members of a boyband begin a relationship with each other but their management team forces them to keep their sexualities and relationship a secret?? Yeah.
The romance was not the greatest. The main characters were very one-dimensional. I often couldn't tell who's chapter I was reading. Just kind of blah overall. The side characters were more interesting.
This was absolutely such a cute read. My first book from both authors so now that I've read this I'll definitely read their other books – I believe Dietrich has like two YA mystery/thrillers that are very appealing to me. Which is great! I love when you read books that have two authors or even anthologies that have a lot of authors and then you can find more authors to read from! I recently reviewed two anthologies with new-to-me authors that I'll definitely be reading from their backlists or looking at their upcoming books!
I spent most of this book grinning like a total fool because it just was so cute! Literally in the first few minutes of the first chapter I know it would be a 5 star read. And that I would read it quickly – which was a relief as some of my reads lately have been taking long
It didn't take me long to love all four members of Saturday, the fictional band in If This Gets Out. Ruben Montez quickly established himself as the one who isn't allowed to be himself (although you could argue that the whole band isn't allowed to be themselves). He isn't allowed to show his theatre background. He's not allowed to come out or even sing the higher notes – which he definitely can hit (which I still don't really understand why he isn't allowed).
Zach Knight, whom Ruben says he's like a puppy – and that's true – but the band's marketing team makes him out to be dark and twisty.
Even though the novel does focus on Zach and Ruben we get to know the other two band members very well. It's like Jon Braxton and Angel Phan switched personalities. Angel's pushed into outfits that make the fans think he's the fun and innocent when he's more like how Jon is shown as. Even though Jon definitely doesn't want to dress in really tight clothing.
Knowing all of that and seeing it in action – telling the boys to act this way or to not act that way – all to keep that perfect image, was really sad. They're teens and they're taken advantage by adults who want to make money off of their talent. And you know this will have consequences for them later in their lives! You always see the child actors going rogue after they turn 18 or even before and it's like yeah! You wonder why?
Zach and Ruben were so, so cute together. I loved seeing their budding relationship – which is interesting as I'm not really a fan of friends-to-lovers. I'd read every friends-to-lovers there is if it were written like this. They had so many cute moments together – even before they actually got together. I'm definitely a big supporter of them two because they're just so cute!
Like I said, we get to know Angel and Jon pretty well (there's a scene with Angel's parents that I chuckled so hard at). There's a strong friendship between the boys – difficult not to when they're around each other basically 24/7. And even when there's issues within the band, there's still that feeling that they'll remain friends.
Most of the plot is tied to Zach and Ruben so I won't go too much into it – other than to shake my fists at the management that decided to force these boys into personas and reprimand them for acting like themselves anywhere near a camera! What I will say is that I loved there was a good balance between plot and characters. Neither seemed to play a bigger role, one didn't overshadow the other one – all well-balanced!
[MY RATING] 5/10
DID NOT FINISH AT 62%
- i wanted a fun, quick, BL story to read and this sounded like fun! however, the more i read it, the more i felt like this was more of a fanfiction of one direction for some reason rather than an actual gay story.
- it was nice but the more i read it the more i decided that i disliked how the romances and the story was progressing.. it started to get draggy and boring and overall i would recommend this only people who loved shipping one direction together LMAO
12.15.2021 Update:
This is so good omg. makes me want to scream “Fuck Simon Cowell” at the top of my lungs but this book is totally not inspired by that man and a certain boyband he may or may not have formed on the XFactor on July 23rd, 2010...
Alexa play One Direction
Prereview:
I may or may not have a tattoo that may or may not reference two songs that people may or may not associate with a certain conspiracy theory about a popular boyband and two of it's members that may or may not be the first thing people think of when they read the synopsis of this book
but anyways I am 100% the target audience for this book so I need it asap please and thank you
but I got the tattoos because I like those songs, not because of other reasons implied
Ah, If This Gets Out was so very good! I figured that I would love this book, from the moment that I read the synopsis. A story about a boy band, their behind the scenes lives, rounded out with a romance? Yes please!
First off, let me give some love to the authors for writing such stellar characters. Ruben, Zach, Angel and Jon were all such vividly written people, each with their own personalities and flaws. It always makes me happy to see characters who are still going through growing phases. I mean, what could be harder than trying to be a teenager while simultaneously trying to be a famous singer? This story doesn't glorify the bright lights of fame, but instead shines the light on what they can put people through. Each of the boys has their own baggage that they're already carrying around, and fame only makes that burden a lot heavier.
That's not to say that this book is all doom and gloom though. Like I said above, the boys are vividly written and lovely to read about. Their relationships with one another felt genuine. A strong love for one another, maybe laced occasionally with a bit of exasperation or worry. Even their witty banter and bickering felt realistic to me. I giggled a lot, especially at Angel's sense of humor. It's something that really elevates the rest of the story, and makes you root for the boys as they navigate their separate lives and separate issues.
As for the romance, well, I can't say too much without spoiling so I'll keep it simple. Ruben and Zach's relationship truly felt natural and believable. It was a slow burn, and watching Zach navigate his true feelings made me smile and tear up in equal measures. What I especially appreciated about this particular part though was how open they were with one another. As an adult, I know for a fact that nothing is solved when people refuse to communicate to one another. That is something that is highlighted in this story. These two went through a lot to get what they wanted, and I truly adored them for it.
The absolute only reason that I gave this a four star rating was that it's a dual POV book, and that is always rough for me to keep up with. The only difference between the two sets of chapters was the name of the boy under each chapter header. Since they essentially sounded the same while speaking, it made it hard for me to distinguish between the two. I found myself stopping to double check that I knew who was speaking, more than a few times. This is not say that others will have this same problem, so take that with a grain of salt! The book is definitely more than worth it.
I'm too old to know enough about One Direction or BTS to tell if the MCs of this novel are based on real people. The popular boy band of my 1970s childhood was The Bay City Rollers, and I can't imagine shipping any of their members - or even knowing what “shipping” meant! Fortunately, If This Gets Out is a strong book that doesn't require any knowledge about the bands that are currently trending on Twitter. The romance between Ruben and Zach is swoon-worthy, but the relationships between all four members of Saturday, and the effects of the highly protected and curated life in a manufactured boy band, are arguably even more compelling. Ruben, Zach, Jon, and Angel went from being in a summer camp music group together to being superstars with millions of screaming fans. Every minute of their public life is strictly controlled for optimum impact on popularity and sales. Each boy has a designated persona targeted to a certain type of girl. Ruben has agreed to keep his homosexuality a secret from the public to preserve the band's fantasy image, but one day he hopes he can truly be himself. Meanwhile he is struggling to hide his crush on Zach, his straight BFF. When Saturday embarks on a European tour, the pressures and restrictions increase and the boys start showing signs of stress. Angel's occasional recreational drug use intensifies, and Jon, whose father is their manager, desperately tries to keep him from going overboard. Meanwhile Zach and Ruben's drunken kiss and its confusing aftermath threatens the boys' friendship and the band's cohesion. Even if Zach and Ruben can get past the fear and miscommunication, the fact remains that if their romance is revealed, the band's popularity will likely plummet - and hundreds of people who depend on them, from hairstylists to roadies, will lose their jobs. This book is co-authored by Sophie Gonzales, whose breakthrough novel [b:Only Mostly Devastated 45046743 Only Mostly Devastated Sophie Gonzales https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558716772l/45046743.SY75.jpg 60447162] was a pleasant surprise, and Cale Dietrich, a new-to-me author. Their voices are distinct but their writing styles mesh well, so it reads like Zach and Ruben are definitely different characters living in the same story. There is a little too much predictable lack of communication after the boys first get together, but once things move past that point, the plot becomes much more satisfying as their relationship growth takes place against Angel's increasingly erratic behavior, complex family dynamics, and their manager's deviousness in claiming to accept the boys' relationship while actively sabotaging it. I was less worried about the survival of “Zuben” than the band's, and the resolution to both issues was satisfying in the best possible way. These authors should consider co-authoring another book, as this one hit all of the right notes. ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for objective review.
This book offers a look into the heavily manufactured world of boy bands through the lens of Saturday, a rising pop sensation that consists of four members. There's Angel, who is made out to be the sweet boy next door to his fans but is actually a party-boy sadclown; Jon, the unofficial leader, and son of Saturday's manager, who is uncomfortable with his sexyboy image; Ruben, raised on Broadway and hiding a show-stopping singing voice in catchy choruses, while also resenting the fact that he can't publicly come out; and quiet Zach, Ruben's best friend who somehow got roped into being the token bad boy when all he wants to do is write songs.
Saturday deals with all of this during their rise to fame as they embark on their first European tour. Zach and Ruben's relationship grows closer than ever, though not without some bumps along the way. Will the band - and their relationship - survive the increasingly high demands from management?
I thought this book was pretty sweet and had enough of an edge to keep me engrossed. I sometimes felt the POVs between Zach and Ruben were a little hard to distinguish. Still, I found it a fun - and occasionally dark - look at fame and the various hoops one has to jump through to achieve it. The cute relationship and incredibly supportive group of friends made it all the more enjoyable. A 3.5 rounded up. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
If This Gets Out is about 4 members of a boy band, 2 of which fall in love, but it's also about all 4 struggling to be themselves while constantly being under control.
I absolutely loved this book! It was one of my favorites of the year so far, and I don't see it being dethroned anytime soon. I was up reading it all night until 7am, just because of how difficult it was to put down, and how much I enjoyed reading it.
When I started reading, I thought it would be mainly about the romance, so I'll comment on that first. Zach and Ruben are so incredibly cute together! From the moment you start hearing from their perspectives and how they react to each others' presence, there's such a bond between the two, and a beautiful and accurate depiction of having a crush. I had flashbacks to high school and crushes and how every small thing meant so much when it came from that certain someone. All of that is done so well in the book. And that's just the beginning, Throughout the book, I truly felt the bond between the two, and everything from their growing love, to the chemistry between them, from their arguments to how they support each other was so beautiful.
Romance is not what this book is all about, in fact, I'd say that other plot lines are more important and poignant. Since the band is so big across the world, the 4 members live their lives under the thumb of the record company. As the book goes on, the pressures increase and they're under constant scrutiny. These kids have to deal with so much, from toxic parents, to substance abuse, being forced to stay in the closet, and other emotionally manipulative and abusive behavior from people who are supposed to be looking after them. I loved how the psychological pressure was handled. Even if you don't relate to being a mega world star, their struggles and how they react to it feel incredibly relatable, and more importantly very genuine. It's impossible to not feel for these 4, and not to find something from yourself or from your life in them.
The four characters are also written so well. Even only based on what is being said, you can guess who's speaking, because they truly feel like completely distinct characters that are well fleshed out. I know I would love to have these 4 as friends and getting to read about their world, and feeling like I was there was just delightful.
Aside from the plot though, I also found this very beautifully written. This might be one of the books that I highlighted the most. There were so many instances of lyrical prose, I was in awe most of the time.
Overall, as you can probably tell from my gushing review, I adored this book, and I don't even have a single nitpick. This will stay with me for a while. The only thing that makes me sad is that it won't be out for another 6 months, so the rest of my friends won't get the experience this book until December.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Tw: homophobia, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, toxic relationships, emotional abuse
I love both Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich so I was suuuper excited to get my hands on this one!
If This Gets Out is a beautiful story about two members of the most famous boy-band who fall in love, discover themselves and take down the music industry, one song at a time.
I loved all the characters, they were very well-written and I could feel the friendship that bonded them. I especially appreciated the fact that being queer wasn't an issue for any of them and they weren't weirded out by people shipping them.
Sophie and Cale both write beautifully and I hope this is just the first of many more collaborations in the future!
I highly recommend this to any YA lover and to those who love a story about discovering themselves and finding love in the most unexpected places.