Name: If This Gets Out
ISBN: 9781250805805

Sophie Gonzales

Cale Dietrich

A Novel

If This Gets Out

Luise ×͜×

Nimisha Singh

Scarlet kelderman

Ivory Flores

“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 picked this up expecting a cute, light-hearted romance with obvious inadvertent parallels to a certain real boyband romance conspiracy. If This Gets Out is that, but it's also a painful, darker rendering of the pressures of that kind of fame, the weight of image and expectations, and complicated family relationships. The central relationship is healthy and fierce, and it's very much us-against-the-world rather than a novel's worth of internal queer struggle. Some of this hit incredibly hard for me specifically, and it's an unexpected new favourite.

Ruben and Zach quickly became one of my favourite queer YA couples, if not YA couples stat, and I was rooting for them the whole way. I hate the miscommunication trope usually, but this book resolved it quickly but naturally, and the miscommunication also made sense--Zach's internal turmoil about his sexuality, exacerbated by his anxiety, felt incredibly real and resonated strongly, and it made the impact when they finally did get together all the stronger.

I loved how diverse the boyband was, as well as how comfortable their friendship felt. It sets a foundation for the cracks that fame and expectations start driving between them, with a slow, agonising downward spiral in the second half. Yet while the book doesn't shy away from darker topics of addiction, emotional abuse, and mental health, it's ultimately a joy of friendship and queerness.

Julia Moran 

1.5/5

Bad, bad, bad, just BAD.

A stack of Pancakes has more depth and personality than all of the characters combined; All of the characters feel like cardboard cutouts, and what you see is what you get, even tho they REALLY try and pretend they have some profound stories and hidden depths to them. 

This whole book feels like a bad fanfic I could've written at 13. 

Just about anything in the book is terrible. The only reason I'm giving it a 1.5 instead of a flat 1 is that the free fragment I read on Amazon fooled me enough to think it could be an okay book and I bought the ebook. To be honest I kinda wish I had bought the physical copy so I could throw it against the wall, stomp on it, and set it on fire. 

I really don't know why this book aggravated me so much, like I'm sure I've read worse books that haven't caused me this much rage, maybe it's because of 1D and the fact I kinda have "a vela en el entierro" 

Now I need to re-read some actual (GOOD) 1D fanfiction, God knows I need it after this bullshit.

grace 

One of the world's biggest boy bands. A secret love. What happens if the world finds out? A queer YA boy band romance from Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich, perfect for fans of Only Mostly Devastated and What If It's 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 heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressures of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he's feeling smothered by management's pressure to stay in the closet. On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach 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 start to truly realize that they will never have the support of their management. How can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them? "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

amber baardsen

** spoiler alert **
           i’m kinda mad cuz i actually wrote a review and it got deleted without me saving it so😐

queer boy band queer boy band queer boy band queer boy band😁🤞one bed trope one bed trope one bed trope one bed trope one bed trope!!
 

- fluff🤞
- angst😏
- mental health🧐
- gay people😁

-THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A FIRST KISS-SCENE PEOPLE
-literally my favourite part of the entire fucking book. and the one bed trope? are you fucking kidding me? sensational 🤚chefs kiss💅
-i loved it! it was very cute and i liked the characters, relationships and friendships<33 
-i did kinda wish it had *a little🤏* more depth? like more character depth and more women and other characters
-the writing was kinda mid
-i usually don’t like books written from a first person pov, but i didn’t really mind this:) 
-also: DUAL POV🤞🤞SUPERIOR

the ending felt a little rushed and unresolved? i kinda wanted at least an epilogue? but yk, you can’t have everything

that’s probably the main reason why i didn’t give it 5 stars, but i also didn’t really feel like it? i felt like it was missing something yk
-but all in all i liked it very much and loved reading it😁🤲❤️

also: (Anjon is canon to me. to ME)☹️

"It's not going to be okay, or good. It's going to be great."

Going into this book, I didn't have high expectations. I thought the storyline would be predictable and the characters trivial and boring. Boy was I wrong, and I've never been so glad to be wrong about a book. The plot was in some places a little predictable, but once the plot really got going it was addicting. I felt as though I could relate in some way with all the boys, Jon, Angel, Zach and Ruben. I was able to find a piece of myself in this book. The characters felt like real people, and not pure works of fiction that are unreliable. I laughed and I cried while reading this book. To put it simply, this book moved me.

absolutely amazing, i loved it so much. i was on the edge of my seat the whole time and my stomach was churning from all of my emotions 

hanna cannell

If you read One Direction fanfics this one is for you. This is a sweet romance with just enough conflict to keep it interesting.

Sydney Alston

riven

** spoiler alert **
           Okay I need a book two. I need to know how everything is going. This was INCREDIBLE. I’m speechless. I cried a lot and squealed and swore and jumped around (definitely mimicked Angel there) and I loved every second.

Raye Parker

Loved, loved, LOVED this book, especially the ending <3

potentially the worst book i've ever read. firstly, the characters were completely unbearable, which sometimes makes a book fun to read but that was not the case with If This Gets Out.this book is marketed as YA, which is completely wrong. this book is written like a YA contemporary however the contents are definitely not for a YA audience. the writing style was too immature for the book and would have been a hundred times better if it was written by a different author.
ironically, the acknowledgements were the best written part of the book and i wholeheartedly agree with the message and the issues that this book aimed to tackle - acknowledgements-- 'we hope that it's [what you take from the book] a greater awareness of the pressures placed on artists--particularly queer and/or otherwise marginalised artists--within the entertainment industry.'the message is important and a unique one for a book to cover, but unfortunately it was not given the justice it deserved by Gonzales & Dietrich.
i came very close to DNFing this book at multiple points, but i was desperate to give it a chance. it's a shame that the ending was not any better than the rest of the book. it seems like there should be a second book, considering the ending, however i haven't seen anything about a sequel. i feel that this would be much more enjoyable as a movie.
1.25 for queer rep and a unique storyline.

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?

It was engaging and fun. Honestly, it’s a bit hard to follow if ur not a Larry believer. Not saying that u have to be to read it, but its Is obviously based off Larry and there is sort of an expectation of the presumed knowledge of the context.

Adnelis ochoa

I love this book so much because it’s show readers about behind the scene of music industry. This book is so much different then other books because two queer boys are in love with each other and they are in same boyband. Everyone loves boyband specially me growing up boy bands era and fangirling over them. It’s best friend to lover trope and forbidden love mix together which make very good combinations. I love this book so much specially when I shipped member in band.(1D)

sophia n

* 4.5 stars

this was so precious oh my god i did not expect this to be such a WARM QUEER HUG. zach and his journey in particular was such a beautiful surprise in here and really touched me, i totally teared up especially at his realization of his bisexuality. beautiful baby boy. i really wish i'd been able to read books like this when i was a teen.

i think the only thing that's holding me back from 5 stars is that the story had some points that felt rushed, especially some stuff in the end. i just really think they tried to jam pack SO much into this, and some of it was super successful, but then by extension some parts felt like they were resolved too quickly. it wasn't bad at all but gave me whiplash a few times, there's def some super angsty moments here.

also totally not the book's fault but my younger brother's name is ruben and he also is a theater kid so. that's. not as weird as i thought it would be though which tells me the authors really did a good job building a strong character. but still LAWL. also i'm too old for one direction anything so idk if that's like. something people would compare it to here? wasn't an issue for me so idk.

anyway i *tea kettle whistle*'d multiple times with how insanely cute ruben and zach were but also really loved the friendship the entire band had with each other and the journey each of them went on, i would genuinely just read a completely fluffy book about the 4 of them after this.

tws: drug & alcohol use, emotionally abusive parents, homophobia

Took a long time to get “captured” by the story. Honestly reminds me of my younger self reading novels on Wattpad. 

Jasmine Hanson 

Tegan Bell

Expected a queer romance. That was certainly delivered. Didn’t expect how well issues such as safe sex, homophobia, drug abuse, problems in the music industry and discovering one’s sexuality would be handled. This book really tackled a lot, and did so with grace. A must read for any queer or questioning youth. Great start to pride month! 💜

Megan Lowe

I absolutely adored this book!
I loved the four guys. I loved the story.
It did get a little hinky for me around page 300-ish, but I stuck with it and the boys pulled through.
I also found it a touch difficult at the start when you’re getting to know the boys, and their on-stage personas, it gets confusing, but it’s okay.
Another thing is the almost overuse of the word “like”. I get it, but it doesn’t mean I want to read it.
Still, this is a great book, and very uplifting. 
If you’re a what if it’s us fan seriously give this a go!

sydney

I received an ARC through net galley.

This book was so good, I didn't really know what to expect going into this book but I was blown away. I think how the book ends might set it up for a sequel and I would be very down for it.

*slight spoilers*
I do really wish that at the end they said I love you but they basically said it without actually saying it.

if i had a nickel for every time i’ve read a novel that i absolutely adore about a teen boyband with repressed, soft, queer boys, i’d have two nickels. which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

i love these boys to pieces and i can’t believe i’ve waited so so long to read this book after it released. i knew i was going to enjoy sophie gonzales’ writing after also whole-heartedly enjoying perfect on paper. and this was an incredible introduction for me to cale dietrich’s writing.

these boys, with their flaws, and their growth throughout the book was incredible. i loved seeing how zach continued to process all of his emotions on his own, allowing for his space and acceptance of his queer identity. i loved seeing ruben learn to rely a bit less on his emotionally abusive mother less and less. i loved getting glimpses into john and angel’s pyschees as well throughout the book. i just, i loved it all. their dynamics were incredible as a friend group. and just between the two main characters.

being a directioner myself, it was so interesting to see this take on the behind the scenes of the all too real life for those boys (and i’m sure many other young singers out there). it showed how truly life-controlling this profession can and has been. it shows the dark sides of getting into the spotlight at such a young age. and it discusses so much more.

all of it, led me to an incredible story with an audiobook that i could not stop listening to. i haven’t felt this way about a book in a while. the pure feeling of overwhelming love for fictional characters. i truly truly just want the best for these fictional boys. i hope they can get that at the end of the events of this book.

you ever just want to slap yourself in the face because you waited a stupid amount of time to read a book you knew you’d love? that was me for this book.

ash (smokedshelves)

if i had a nickel for every time i’ve read a novel that i absolutely adore about a teen boyband with repressed, soft, queer boys, i’d have two nickels. which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.

i love these boys to pieces and i can’t believe i’ve waited so so long to read this book after it released. i knew i was going to enjoy sophie gonzales’ writing after also whole-heartedly enjoying perfect on paper. and this was an incredible introduction for me to cale dietrich’s writing.

these boys, with their flaws, and their growth throughout the book was incredible. i loved seeing how zach continued to process all of his emotions on his own, allowing for his space and acceptance of his queer identity. i loved seeing ruben learn to rely a bit less on his emotionally abusive mother less and less. i loved getting glimpses into john and angel’s pyschees as well throughout the book. i just, i loved it all. their dynamics were incredible as a friend group. and just between the two main characters.

being a directioner myself, it was so interesting to see this take on the behind the scenes of the all too real life for those boys (and i’m sure many other young singers out there). it showed how truly life-controlling this profession can and has been. it shows the dark sides of getting into the spotlight at such a young age. and it discusses so much more.

all of it, led me to an incredible story with an audiobook that i could not stop listening to. i haven’t felt this way about a book in a while. the pure feeling of overwhelming love for fictional characters. i truly truly just want the best for these fictional boys. i hope they can get that at the end of the events of this book.

original review:
you ever just want to slap yourself in the face because you waited a stupid amount of time to read a book you knew you’d love? that was me for this book.

Steph L 

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich narrated by Ramon de Ocampo-***** (5 stars)

Pitch: this book was described to me as One Direction if they were American and LGBTQ+, and that was all I needed.

Rep: MLM, Gay, Bi,

Spice Level: 3-4/5- some sex scenes.

This was the first audiobook I listened to in full, and I just loved it. I loved the characters, and they were so sweet, also, they were so very raw and real. The story was excellent, and honestly, it was a story that needed to be told, and we need to have more stories like this. The audio production and narrator Ramon de Ocampo were excellent. I love the romance in this book. It was so so so sweet, and I was cheering by the end of the audiobook. I recommend this book for anyone who loves boy bands and/ or wants an LGBTQ+ story.

marie

zac ruben get behind my back imma defend and protect u

4.75 ☆

Mijs Franssen

4/5✨ I enjoyed this book

This was such a sweet, fun, queer coming of age story. I thouroghly enjoyed every second spend in this book. As a girl who was/kinda is a big boyband fan, this was the perfect book. The writing was good, and the plot was well-structured. It was a lovely read. I do feel that some parts of the relationship between all the characters were either not worked out enough, or focused on too much. But I liked the book a lot and would defenitly reccomend it :)

Abigail Coley

I could not put this book down. Ruben, Zach, Jon and Angel deserve the world. A beautiful queer teenage romance. 

Emma Kamer

hannah :)

this was the perfect book to help with my Heartstopper hangover. it is such a fun and happy read. 

i fell in love with all four boys (especially Angel!!) and Zach and Ruben's relationship was so beautifully written- especially on Zach's behalf when he is struggling with coming to terms with his sexuality. 

i have never read anything like this and i enjoyed every second of it. if you loved Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, just know that you will LOVE this standalone and i definitely think you should read it!!

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