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jackelz's review
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I loved the behind-the-scenes look at a boy band. The management, the diets, the lack of freedom… every second of their lives was controlled. Through it all, the guys stayed friends, and we get to know each and every one of them really well through this journey. I also loved the the discussion of PrEP and using condoms for HIV prevention.
It’s so amazing when co-authored books come together so seamlessly. I’m a fan of these guys!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Confinement
Minor: Car accident and Suicide attempt
mayagraci's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Homophobia, Drug use, and Car accident
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
hanahf's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
sbbailey's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Drug abuse
highly recommendnoceur's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Oh my god this was beautiful. I loved the characters they were really great. Tbh i didn't think this was gonna be a good book at the beginning because there were miscommunication (i hate that in books) and in a few chapters i couldn't tell if i was reading Zach or Ruben's pov but it got better afterwards. I really loved Zach and Ruben's relationship especially the last chapters they were so cute and also it was fun to read about the members interactions with each other too. It was a fun read. if you don't have any expectations from it then i think you will have a great time.
Also please check the trigger warnings before reading this, it deals with some heavy topics.
Also please check the trigger warnings before reading this, it deals with some heavy topics.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicide attempt
delz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich have collaborated on something very special in “If This Gets Out.”Saturday is a management made “boy-band” consisting of Ruben, Zach, Angel, and Jon. Jon is the son of Geoff, their manager, but he pulls no punches, he’s definitely the rep for management. The boys however are genuine friends just trying to look out for each other, even when it feels like they’re up against a wall. That’s what happens when Ruben gets tired of the fake persona he’s been given and wants to just “come out” he’s told to wait, but it isn’t until Ruben and Zach begin an intimate relationship that things begin to implode. We’ve seen so much this story in the news with people like Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and Demi Lovato, their management monetize their youth and talent, using them up to just throw them away. The two writers have created a very sweet love story with a backdrop of a very volatile and at times extremely ugly industry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
zoecardigan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
otbval's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship
charlouise's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
What I thought was the perfect Red White and Royal Blue -esque gay romance to get me out of a reading slump turned out to actually be quite the reflective piece. With the trapped, overworked and controlled nature of the tour ending in a tragic accident eerily mirroring the way I spent my summer, the can’t form any opinions of their own romantic interest and the I’ll eventually split from my toxic family but it’s hard cause I still love them lead, this book hit a little too close to home for me to comfortably consider this light hearted.
The book starts off with some nice one liners perfectly defining my sense of humour. Humorous highlights included:“Or am I somehow a bad enough kisser to destroy an entire friendship?”; “They said their worth as a person wasn’t tied to their professional output.” “Weird.” “So weird.”; “Do you?” His voice is light and airy. A little too innocent. “Some of these are very phallic. Didn’t think you were into that.”; “I pretend to dry heave, because I’m pretty sure I legally have to whenever someone says something that cheesy”.
Though these quick tongue in cheek laughs, which grow ever more cliche are marred by a section which feels homophobic even if this was not the intention. After Zach comes out to his mother he is troubled by the sudden inklings of hostility she shows towards him and her comparing him keeping his recently explored sexuality from her, even if only briefly, to the lack of communication from Zachs father about his feelings at the end of their marriage which sadly resulted in divorce. When Zach confronts his mother about this the following exchange takes place and the pair fall instantly into place again.
“Oh, it’s just you’re being such a teenager right now. It’s adorable. Okay, back to our serious talk. All right. Mmhmm, yes, queer teen angst, go on.” I shake my head and laugh. For the first time in weeks, this feels right. “You’re the worst.”
Whilst the writes are likely attempting to use this exchange to price Zachs mum truly doesn’t care where he or anyone else falls on the sexuality and gender spectrum, the dismissal of such serious discussion leaves it falling a little flat. The conversation ends without an apology and the misgivings are all glossed over as imaginary with no continued conversation of how they made the protagonist feel.
Nestled between all this was some unexpected but not necessary reflections on my own life, leaving me feeling eerily like I’ve been live through a pre written romcom, though sadly not the fun kind.
The book starts off with some nice one liners perfectly defining my sense of humour. Humorous highlights included:
Though these quick tongue in cheek laughs, which grow ever more cliche are marred by a section which feels homophobic even if this was not the intention.
“Oh, it’s just you’re being such a teenager right now. It’s adorable. Okay, back to our serious talk. All right. Mmhmm, yes, queer teen angst, go on.” I shake my head and laugh. For the first time in weeks, this feels right. “You’re the worst.”
Whilst the writes are likely attempting to use this exchange to price Zachs mum truly doesn’t care where he or anyone else falls on the sexuality and gender spectrum, the dismissal of such serious discussion leaves it falling a little flat. The conversation ends without an apology and the misgivings are all glossed over as imaginary with no continued conversation of how they made the protagonist feel.
Nestled between all this was some unexpected but not necessary reflections on my own life, leaving me feeling eerily like I’ve been live through a pre written romcom, though sadly not the fun kind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia
betweendotsandletters's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Homophobia, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Toxic relationship
The toxic relationship tag means the unbalanced, restrictive and exploitative relationship the band has with their management. It also fits for the parent-child relationship one of the main characters is in.