A review by ramunepocky
If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrich

emotional hopeful inspiring
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5* — I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were all well-rounded and complicated, they had their flaws, they had their vices, they have their good qualities and their bad. My favourite, particularly, was Zach. I think he really grew into his own confidence and worked on being more assertive and less with the people pleasing as the story progressed, and I was really happy for him when he was able to stand up for himself and say what he wanted. I also well and truly adored Angel; his struggle was very realistic, and something many people in the spotlight go through as a way to feel something and cope with their heavy schedules and expectations. His frustration, his want to be himself and live the way he wanted was very relatable, and I wish he hadn’t had to get to the point he did for management to actually take action and get him some help. 

I also think this book does an incredible job on criticising and commenting on the narrative of how destructive and toxic the music industry, or any industry within the spotlight, can be. How much fame can be like a cage, especially when you’re forced into narrow little boxes and don’t get to be yourself, or tell the world the things about you, that you want to share, to simply be yourself. It’s heartbreaking to think about how many really bands, and people in the spotlight, go through something of that ilk; being forced to be someone else so they can be likeable, to pretend to be who they’re not. It is why so many people turn to alcohol and drugs to cope, to feel some freedom from the pressure and expectations. I certainly think we as a society need to change the way that we think about celebrities, and I think the industries need to stop forcing their artists to be people they’re not. It shouldn’t just be about the money, it should be about the people involved, about their lives too, and the freedom to live them as they choose. The romance was also super sweet, the way that one of them went from being super sure he was straight, to questioning, to coming to terms with his bisexuality and realising all the times he did very queer things without realising was very realistic and relatable. 
I really went through a whole rollercoaster of emotions with this book; I laughed, I cried, I got so incredibly stressed!! It really put me through it!!
Also, I really loved the way that it ended on an open and hopeful note, it was perfect for the story and left it to the reader to imagine how it continued.

I’m excited for this is actually released in December, and so happy I got the chance to read an ARC as it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it lived up to it!! Thank you Netgalley, and y’all should go preorder this book!!

ps stories with bands can exist w/o being compared to fanfiction y’all thanks 
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