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We're Never Getting Home
HBO’s Insecure meets Dazed and Confused in this messy, tender YA novel about a friendship breakup, set against the backdrop of a chaotic night at a music festival, from rising talent Tracy Badua.
Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, have an epic senior year finale queued up: catching their favorite band at the Orchards, an outdoor music festival a two-hour drive away. When a blowup over Maddy’s time-sucking boyfriend exposes a rift that may have already been growing between them, Jana calls off their joint trip and gets a lift to the festival from her church friend Nathan…only to realize Maddy and her boyfriend are along for the ride, too.
All Jana wants is to enjoy the concert and get home as soon as possible. But then Nathan loses his car keys crowd-surfing, and it’s up to Jana and Maddy to find them. As they navigate stolen phones and missing friends, scale Ferris wheels and crash parties, the two of them are forced to reckon with the biggest obstacle of all: repairing their friendship.
Will Jana and Maddy find their way home—and also back to each other?
Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, have an epic senior year finale queued up: catching their favorite band at the Orchards, an outdoor music festival a two-hour drive away. When a blowup over Maddy’s time-sucking boyfriend exposes a rift that may have already been growing between them, Jana calls off their joint trip and gets a lift to the festival from her church friend Nathan…only to realize Maddy and her boyfriend are along for the ride, too.
All Jana wants is to enjoy the concert and get home as soon as possible. But then Nathan loses his car keys crowd-surfing, and it’s up to Jana and Maddy to find them. As they navigate stolen phones and missing friends, scale Ferris wheels and crash parties, the two of them are forced to reckon with the biggest obstacle of all: repairing their friendship.
Will Jana and Maddy find their way home—and also back to each other?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 9, 2024
4 people are currently reading
3728 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Badua
11 books187 followersTracy Badua is an award-winning Filipino American author of books about young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes stormy world. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family time, and bites of her secret candy stash. She lives in San Diego, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 11, 2024
We're Never Getting Home is my first by Tracy Badua and it didn't disappoint. I'm looking forward to checking out her other backlist titles. 3.5 Stars.
We're Never Getting Home is a tale of friendship and forgiveness that follows main character Jana and a few of friends. Prior to the beginning of this novel, Jana had a close relationship with Maddy. However, once Maddy begins to date Tyler, Jana feels as though Maddy doesn't have enough time for their friendship. Instead of driving to a musical festival together as previously planned, Jana decides to hitch a ride with church friend Nathan. Unfortunately, while crowd surfing, Nathan loses his keys. This leaves the group of friends stranded at the festival putting Jana in a complicated position with her parents.
What Worked: I'm a fan of young adult books that explore the complicated nature of friendships. So many titles are now focused on romantic dynamics/relationships that the trials and tribulations that come with friendships are overlooked. This is the type of novel that I would have loved picking up as a teenager. Not only are the characters navigating first love, but they are attempting to figure out how this impacts the dynamic of their friendships. They struggled with expressing emotions, communication, and seeing the bigger picture of their life...all things that many teens face as they get closer to graduation and their first foray into adulthood. The musical festival elements were engaging and fun (I've never been to one) and added an interesting layer to the overall plot. Badua has a way with addressing and handling complicated subject matters as it relates to the teen experience. She utilizes these elements to further address the overall development of the characters.
What Didn't Work: There appeared to be some serious conflict between Jana, her parents, and her sister. While we are made aware of some of that conflict and how it creates stress for Jana, Badua could have used just a little more time and space to explore that conflict in further detail. The book does center the relationships struggle between Jana and Maddy, but the home life of both these characters does dictate how they perceive their own friendship.
Overall, this was a solid book and I'm looking forward to check out Badua's middle grade books as well as her other young adult title.
We're Never Getting Home is a tale of friendship and forgiveness that follows main character Jana and a few of friends. Prior to the beginning of this novel, Jana had a close relationship with Maddy. However, once Maddy begins to date Tyler, Jana feels as though Maddy doesn't have enough time for their friendship. Instead of driving to a musical festival together as previously planned, Jana decides to hitch a ride with church friend Nathan. Unfortunately, while crowd surfing, Nathan loses his keys. This leaves the group of friends stranded at the festival putting Jana in a complicated position with her parents.
What Worked: I'm a fan of young adult books that explore the complicated nature of friendships. So many titles are now focused on romantic dynamics/relationships that the trials and tribulations that come with friendships are overlooked. This is the type of novel that I would have loved picking up as a teenager. Not only are the characters navigating first love, but they are attempting to figure out how this impacts the dynamic of their friendships. They struggled with expressing emotions, communication, and seeing the bigger picture of their life...all things that many teens face as they get closer to graduation and their first foray into adulthood. The musical festival elements were engaging and fun (I've never been to one) and added an interesting layer to the overall plot. Badua has a way with addressing and handling complicated subject matters as it relates to the teen experience. She utilizes these elements to further address the overall development of the characters.
What Didn't Work: There appeared to be some serious conflict between Jana, her parents, and her sister. While we are made aware of some of that conflict and how it creates stress for Jana, Badua could have used just a little more time and space to explore that conflict in further detail. The book does center the relationships struggle between Jana and Maddy, but the home life of both these characters does dictate how they perceive their own friendship.
Overall, this was a solid book and I'm looking forward to check out Badua's middle grade books as well as her other young adult title.
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March 17, 2024A fun YA madcap comedy with a lot of depth. Jana has been looking forward to attending a music festival with her best friend Maddy. Except she and Maddy aren't really friends anymore. So Jana finds another ride to the festival, but finds herself stuck there and trying to get home by curfew.
A funny and sweet book about friendship, family, and learning to follow your dreams.
I'll be interviewing the author soon on my revamped YA site, YA All Day
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
A funny and sweet book about friendship, family, and learning to follow your dreams.
I'll be interviewing the author soon on my revamped YA site, YA All Day
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
May 29, 2024
The only outfits I want described in this much detail are the ones worn by Claudia Kishi.
July 11, 2025
hm. very unlikable narrator but i really enjoyed the plot idea
January 5, 2025
It's Netgalleyback log day, and today, I will review We're Never Getting Back Together by Tracy Badua.
HarperCollins Children's Books, Young Adult and MulitClutral Intrest book.
I enjoyed this book so much -it has all the elements I love. Tracy Badua has a unique talent for crafting flawed and unlikable characters, a quality that many readers may find intriguing. However, I must admit that I was not in the right mindset for this when diving into her latest YA novel. As I read, I wished the characters could have resolved their issues simply by pausing to communicate openly. It's a familiar sentiment, yet the challenges they faced felt like an unnecessary pile-up, detracting from the narrative. This book might resonate well with teenagers who appreciate a lively music festival backdrop filled with the complexities of friendship. I am curious to hear others' thoughts on it, as I still have high hopes for Badua's future work.
The story centres around Jana Rubio, the dutiful younger daughter of Filipino immigrants, who grapples with the weight of her family's lofty expectations, constantly striving for perfection. In stark contrast is her best friend, Maddy Parsons, who embodies a more carefree demeanour but battles the harsh criticism of her weight from her judgmental parents, leaning heavily on Jana for emotional support. Together, they anticipate seeing their favourite band, the Newcomers & Goers (affectionately known as CoGo), at the vibrant Orchards Festival. Yet, their much-anticipated night turns for the worse when a significant argument erupts, casting a shadow over their friendship. Compounding their troubles, they discover that a friend has misplaced the keys to their only mode of transportation home. With these setbacks, Jana and Maddy must unite, confront their underlying issues, and work together to navigate their way back amidst the chaos of their emotions and the festival atmosphere.
#NetGalley #BookReview #WereNeverGettingBackTogether #TracyBadua #YoungAdult #MulticulturalInterest #YAfiction #BookRecommendations #Friendship #MusicFestival #ComingOfAge #DiverseAuthors #LiteraryFiction #EmotionalJourney
HarperCollins Children's Books, Young Adult and MulitClutral Intrest book.
I enjoyed this book so much -it has all the elements I love. Tracy Badua has a unique talent for crafting flawed and unlikable characters, a quality that many readers may find intriguing. However, I must admit that I was not in the right mindset for this when diving into her latest YA novel. As I read, I wished the characters could have resolved their issues simply by pausing to communicate openly. It's a familiar sentiment, yet the challenges they faced felt like an unnecessary pile-up, detracting from the narrative. This book might resonate well with teenagers who appreciate a lively music festival backdrop filled with the complexities of friendship. I am curious to hear others' thoughts on it, as I still have high hopes for Badua's future work.
The story centres around Jana Rubio, the dutiful younger daughter of Filipino immigrants, who grapples with the weight of her family's lofty expectations, constantly striving for perfection. In stark contrast is her best friend, Maddy Parsons, who embodies a more carefree demeanour but battles the harsh criticism of her weight from her judgmental parents, leaning heavily on Jana for emotional support. Together, they anticipate seeing their favourite band, the Newcomers & Goers (affectionately known as CoGo), at the vibrant Orchards Festival. Yet, their much-anticipated night turns for the worse when a significant argument erupts, casting a shadow over their friendship. Compounding their troubles, they discover that a friend has misplaced the keys to their only mode of transportation home. With these setbacks, Jana and Maddy must unite, confront their underlying issues, and work together to navigate their way back amidst the chaos of their emotions and the festival atmosphere.
#NetGalley #BookReview #WereNeverGettingBackTogether #TracyBadua #YoungAdult #MulticulturalInterest #YAfiction #BookRecommendations #Friendship #MusicFestival #ComingOfAge #DiverseAuthors #LiteraryFiction #EmotionalJourney
May 3, 2024
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author and talked with her a little about certain plot points of the book. I'm also a proud member of the #fuzzyjacketcrew. Coincidentally, the book also takes place right around my birthday, so there's a lot for me to love about this story.
Freddie vs. The Family Curse has been my favorite of Tracy Badua's novels, but I have to say that this one comes pretty darn close. The story of high school besties drifting apart is one that so many of us have probably experienced and even if you know it's a natural progression, that doesn't really make it any easier.
Here, unfortunately, Jana isn't really aware that it's a natural progression. She and Maddy have been besties for years and they've even planned to go to college together and room together. (Never mind that Jana has gotten accepted into a design school that she really wants to go to--she knows Maddy needs her, so she's going where Maddy goes.) So why should she expect their friendship to change? And when it does change, she looks for things/people to blame, rather than trying to understand why it's changing and whether that's always a bad thing.
One of Badua's strengths is writing characters that are relatable in how they're feeling, even if the direct experiences aren't the same. Jana's been through a lot in the past couple of years, by the time the book starts, and it's easy to understand where her feelings of needing to be in control and needing stability/predictability come from. It's also easy to understand the instinct to put your own needs and desires aside when you think someone you love needs you (even if they don't). But one of the things about growing up and maturing is knowing what to hold on to and what needs letting go of. Jana's journey to greater self-awareness is so well-written, especially for where she's at in life (a high school senior). And the ending is satisfying and gives you a sense that she'll be just fine moving forward.
Freddie vs. The Family Curse has been my favorite of Tracy Badua's novels, but I have to say that this one comes pretty darn close. The story of high school besties drifting apart is one that so many of us have probably experienced and even if you know it's a natural progression, that doesn't really make it any easier.
Here, unfortunately, Jana isn't really aware that it's a natural progression. She and Maddy have been besties for years and they've even planned to go to college together and room together. (Never mind that Jana has gotten accepted into a design school that she really wants to go to--she knows Maddy needs her, so she's going where Maddy goes.) So why should she expect their friendship to change? And when it does change, she looks for things/people to blame, rather than trying to understand why it's changing and whether that's always a bad thing.
One of Badua's strengths is writing characters that are relatable in how they're feeling, even if the direct experiences aren't the same. Jana's been through a lot in the past couple of years, by the time the book starts, and it's easy to understand where her feelings of needing to be in control and needing stability/predictability come from. It's also easy to understand the instinct to put your own needs and desires aside when you think someone you love needs you (even if they don't). But one of the things about growing up and maturing is knowing what to hold on to and what needs letting go of. Jana's journey to greater self-awareness is so well-written, especially for where she's at in life (a high school senior). And the ending is satisfying and gives you a sense that she'll be just fine moving forward.
April 5, 2024
“Because, as Maddy said, what lies ahead may be painful and not what we had planned, but still necessary. We can’t stop ourselves or each other from living in glorious color, from growing, even if it means growing apart. And even if this is the last time we do fall asleep in the back of a minivan together, empty Pringles cans digging into my side, I will always love her for this lesson.”
Ever since her mother’s car accident and her sister Jackie’s struggles at college, Jana has felt a pressure to be the “dependable one” in all of her relationships. Now, after a falling out with her best friend, Maddy, dashes Jana’s hopes for the perfect senior year, all she has to look forward to is seeing her favorite band in concert (and then returning home in time to pick her father up from work). However, the universe has other plans. Jana’s night at the music festival is upended when she learns that Maddy and her boyfriend, Tyler, will be accompanying Jana and Nathan, her friend from church, to the festival. Her night takes an even more disastrous turn when Nathan loses the keys to his car, destroying Jana’s chances of getting home in time. As Jana and her group search for the keys throughout the night, restricted cell service, a zany and troublesome group of fellow concertgoers, and interpersonal conflicts and tension stand in the way of their returning home. Despite these difficulties, this night of chaos might be just what Jana needs to confront her often pessimistic outlook on life and the way this perspective has influenced her relationships with others, especially Maddy.
Aptly titled, We’re Never Getting Home presents a series of obstacles for the teenage group that made their departure from the music festival seem, at many points, impossible. At certain times deeply frustrating or quite amusing, this book kept me engaged throughout, and I was constantly wondering if Jana and her companions would ever make it home. I thought Badua’s portrayal of teenage female friendships, and how insecurities and fears can affect said friendships, was, for the most part, very realistic. Readers of all ages can likely relate to Jana and Maddy’s fear that major life changes will strain or even destroy their friendship. However, I wish the novel had spent a bit more time examining the dynamic between Jana, her parents, and her sister Jackie. It is made clear that Jana’s relationship with others is heavily influenced by the role Jana plays in her family, but readers aren’t really given much information about influential people until very late in the book, making it hard to establish a connection between them and Jana’s behavior. Despite my appreciation of some ways Badua concluded the novel, I also felt like Jackie’s plotline lacked an appropriate resolution for it being such an important part of Jana’s character arc.
I would recommend this book to young adults undergoing periods of change in their lives who can relate to stories about growing older and the evolving relationships that come with this growth.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Books Forward and Quill Tree/HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Ever since her mother’s car accident and her sister Jackie’s struggles at college, Jana has felt a pressure to be the “dependable one” in all of her relationships. Now, after a falling out with her best friend, Maddy, dashes Jana’s hopes for the perfect senior year, all she has to look forward to is seeing her favorite band in concert (and then returning home in time to pick her father up from work). However, the universe has other plans. Jana’s night at the music festival is upended when she learns that Maddy and her boyfriend, Tyler, will be accompanying Jana and Nathan, her friend from church, to the festival. Her night takes an even more disastrous turn when Nathan loses the keys to his car, destroying Jana’s chances of getting home in time. As Jana and her group search for the keys throughout the night, restricted cell service, a zany and troublesome group of fellow concertgoers, and interpersonal conflicts and tension stand in the way of their returning home. Despite these difficulties, this night of chaos might be just what Jana needs to confront her often pessimistic outlook on life and the way this perspective has influenced her relationships with others, especially Maddy.
Aptly titled, We’re Never Getting Home presents a series of obstacles for the teenage group that made their departure from the music festival seem, at many points, impossible. At certain times deeply frustrating or quite amusing, this book kept me engaged throughout, and I was constantly wondering if Jana and her companions would ever make it home. I thought Badua’s portrayal of teenage female friendships, and how insecurities and fears can affect said friendships, was, for the most part, very realistic. Readers of all ages can likely relate to Jana and Maddy’s fear that major life changes will strain or even destroy their friendship. However, I wish the novel had spent a bit more time examining the dynamic between Jana, her parents, and her sister Jackie. It is made clear that Jana’s relationship with others is heavily influenced by the role Jana plays in her family, but readers aren’t really given much information about influential people until very late in the book, making it hard to establish a connection between them and Jana’s behavior. Despite my appreciation of some ways Badua concluded the novel, I also felt like Jackie’s plotline lacked an appropriate resolution for it being such an important part of Jana’s character arc.
I would recommend this book to young adults undergoing periods of change in their lives who can relate to stories about growing older and the evolving relationships that come with this growth.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank Books Forward and Quill Tree/HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
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April 3, 2024disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I'm really biased, so take my review with a grain of salt. I'm Filipino American, first-generation, and on my own journey of healing from familial trauma of being the eldest daughter who had to earn love. So, do I think this book was incredibly authentic in speaking to my own lived experience? Yes. Will I read it again? No. It's not a comfort read (not to me), and it triggered a lot of viscerally painful memories for me, as *I* was Jane Rubio when I was young - I had to be responsible, I was always DD, I had a non-negotiable curfew, I had my car/phone/internet access taken away from me frequently to remind me that these were the "consequences of my own actions," essentially messaging that *I did this to myself*. For those reasons, reading this book felt painful, incredibly stressful, & resulted in me not rooting for any of these characters because parts of them remind me of past versions of me, & past friends who were never understanding, compassionate, or considerate.
Jane Rubio goes to a concert with her best friend Maddy and Maddy's boyfriend Tyler, which is a bit far, but close to where Jane's dad will be for a work conference. Jane convinces her parents to let her attend the festival/concert, as long as she picks up her dad from the conference after the concert. Obviously, the title nods to the fact that shit goes awry quickly! They lose the car keys, someone takes Jana's phone and requests a ransom, and it just gets worse and worse. Both Jane and Maddy are insufferable, and I say this fully recognizing they are minors sorting their shit out. I have sympathy for them, but they are both incredibly selfish, un-empathetic towards each other, and don't really get to the crux of why they are so different. There are cultural aspects here that neither of them fully confront or name, which is frustrating.
There's a scene where they are being blackmailed for Jane's phone for $300, and Jane sees Maddy's emergency ATM card sticking out of her purse (which is actually Maddy's dad's money), and Jane is annoyed that Maddy doesn't offer and that she has to spell it out for Maddy that she needs Maddy to pull out money from her dad's account. I gasped, and was like, "HUH?" When I was 17, anything over $50 was SO MUCH MONEY to me. To just assume and expect your best friend to "pay up" is fucking *wild* and entitled. If my friend expected me to take money out to pay a blackmail scam for her phone, and if I did it, I'd likely never speak to her again. I was being paid $7/hour at 17 years old! I was flabbergasted. At that point, I would have simply admitted to my parents that I messed up (once I got home), and asked if I could get a replacement phone for my birthday, Christmas, or if I could save up enough money from my part-time job, I could pay them back for a replacement.
I recognize that Jane is resilient, and is trying to find a solution before she brings problems to her parents, who as Maddy says, have "many requirements". However, her parents suck for not fostering a space where Jane could be brave and have the space to mess up without fearing for such dire consequences. These are *kids* - they are going to mess up, but they do not deserve to be so deeply guilted or shamed for it. Jane's deep-seeded guilt issues are rooted in the environment her parents planted for her, which I genuinely believe can be read as borderline emotional abuse. I don't think Jane interrogated that dynamic enough, and it honestly makes me sad for her.
Maddy, on the other hand, held no sympathy towards Jane's cultural differences, never once recognized the privilege she had in having so much autonomy, and never once recognized that the advice she gave Jane was not helpful. There were absolutely moments where I felt bad for Maddy, because Jane was so uptight, stubborn, and was so committed to staying miserable (as Maddy mentioned), but Maddy also sucked as a friend.
Overall, I think Tracy Badua is so incredibly talented in painting such layered characters. She illustrates the first-gen experience of Filipina American daughers from strict parents so well. Maybe they will be more entertaining or fun for others to read through, who don't share my painful background. For me though, it actively hurts me to read these books, and I'm sad about that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
I'm really biased, so take my review with a grain of salt. I'm Filipino American, first-generation, and on my own journey of healing from familial trauma of being the eldest daughter who had to earn love. So, do I think this book was incredibly authentic in speaking to my own lived experience? Yes. Will I read it again? No. It's not a comfort read (not to me), and it triggered a lot of viscerally painful memories for me, as *I* was Jane Rubio when I was young - I had to be responsible, I was always DD, I had a non-negotiable curfew, I had my car/phone/internet access taken away from me frequently to remind me that these were the "consequences of my own actions," essentially messaging that *I did this to myself*. For those reasons, reading this book felt painful, incredibly stressful, & resulted in me not rooting for any of these characters because parts of them remind me of past versions of me, & past friends who were never understanding, compassionate, or considerate.
Jane Rubio goes to a concert with her best friend Maddy and Maddy's boyfriend Tyler, which is a bit far, but close to where Jane's dad will be for a work conference. Jane convinces her parents to let her attend the festival/concert, as long as she picks up her dad from the conference after the concert. Obviously, the title nods to the fact that shit goes awry quickly! They lose the car keys, someone takes Jana's phone and requests a ransom, and it just gets worse and worse. Both Jane and Maddy are insufferable, and I say this fully recognizing they are minors sorting their shit out. I have sympathy for them, but they are both incredibly selfish, un-empathetic towards each other, and don't really get to the crux of why they are so different. There are cultural aspects here that neither of them fully confront or name, which is frustrating.
There's a scene where they are being blackmailed for Jane's phone for $300, and Jane sees Maddy's emergency ATM card sticking out of her purse (which is actually Maddy's dad's money), and Jane is annoyed that Maddy doesn't offer and that she has to spell it out for Maddy that she needs Maddy to pull out money from her dad's account. I gasped, and was like, "HUH?" When I was 17, anything over $50 was SO MUCH MONEY to me. To just assume and expect your best friend to "pay up" is fucking *wild* and entitled. If my friend expected me to take money out to pay a blackmail scam for her phone, and if I did it, I'd likely never speak to her again. I was being paid $7/hour at 17 years old! I was flabbergasted. At that point, I would have simply admitted to my parents that I messed up (once I got home), and asked if I could get a replacement phone for my birthday, Christmas, or if I could save up enough money from my part-time job, I could pay them back for a replacement.
I recognize that Jane is resilient, and is trying to find a solution before she brings problems to her parents, who as Maddy says, have "many requirements". However, her parents suck for not fostering a space where Jane could be brave and have the space to mess up without fearing for such dire consequences. These are *kids* - they are going to mess up, but they do not deserve to be so deeply guilted or shamed for it. Jane's deep-seeded guilt issues are rooted in the environment her parents planted for her, which I genuinely believe can be read as borderline emotional abuse. I don't think Jane interrogated that dynamic enough, and it honestly makes me sad for her.
Maddy, on the other hand, held no sympathy towards Jane's cultural differences, never once recognized the privilege she had in having so much autonomy, and never once recognized that the advice she gave Jane was not helpful. There were absolutely moments where I felt bad for Maddy, because Jane was so uptight, stubborn, and was so committed to staying miserable (as Maddy mentioned), but Maddy also sucked as a friend.
Overall, I think Tracy Badua is so incredibly talented in painting such layered characters. She illustrates the first-gen experience of Filipina American daughers from strict parents so well. Maybe they will be more entertaining or fun for others to read through, who don't share my painful background. For me though, it actively hurts me to read these books, and I'm sad about that!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2024
This is my first book by Tracy Badua. Although I don't read a lot of YA, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. We're Never Getting Home follows a group of teenagers who go to a music festival and experience a series of very unfortunate and some fortunate events.
Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, nearing the end of their senior year in high school, decide to go to a music festival to see their favorite band. They are already growing apart, but things get worse when they argue about Maddy spending more time with her boyfriend than her best friend. Jana decides they are no longer attending the festival together and instead goes with her friend Nathan. As luck would have it, they all still end up riding together to the festival. Jana has a lot on her shoulders and just wants to enjoy the concert and return before her curfew. After some fun at the concert, Nathan loses the keys to their only means of transportation. While looking for the keys and being near each other, Jana and Maddy are forced to confront the issue of their broken friendship.
We're Never Getting Home was fun to read. The characters and plot are very relatable. The story explores the complexities of friendship, coming of age, family, personal responsibility, decision-making, trust, and forgiveness. While reading this, I felt nostalgic and could relate to how Jana felt about Maddy spending more time with her boyfriend. I can also relate to not wanting to call your parents when things don't go as planned, fearing they will be upset and no longer trust you to be responsible.
As a teenager, I can see how the twists and turns, crashing parties, meeting new people, etc., can be fun and exciting. As an adult, this book stressed me out 🤣 Missing friends, missing phones, rude men, the ransom...I was holding my breath while reading. My adult voice kept wondering why they didn't have a million backup and emergency plans in case something happened and why they would ever allow the friend group to be split up.
Overall, this was an entertaining, fast-paced read. The story is well-written, and the character development is great. I loved Jana's personal growth. Everything can't be perfectly controlled, and you can't just dodge problems, hoping they will disappear. Some things have to be dealt with head-on with bravery and honesty. Change is inevitable. Change can sometimes be scary and throw you for a loop, but it can also be exciting and lead to new meaningful life experiences.
"We can't stop ourselves or each other from living in glorious color, from growing, even if it means growing apart."
OF NOTE: I listened to this book's VoiceGalley advance audio edition for this review. The synthetic voice does not reflect the audiobook, which a human narrator will voice, so I am not including an audiobook review.
Thanks to Tracy Badua, HarperCollins, Harper Audio, NetGalley, and Books Forward for providing an e-ARC. Opinions expressed are my own.
Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, nearing the end of their senior year in high school, decide to go to a music festival to see their favorite band. They are already growing apart, but things get worse when they argue about Maddy spending more time with her boyfriend than her best friend. Jana decides they are no longer attending the festival together and instead goes with her friend Nathan. As luck would have it, they all still end up riding together to the festival. Jana has a lot on her shoulders and just wants to enjoy the concert and return before her curfew. After some fun at the concert, Nathan loses the keys to their only means of transportation. While looking for the keys and being near each other, Jana and Maddy are forced to confront the issue of their broken friendship.
We're Never Getting Home was fun to read. The characters and plot are very relatable. The story explores the complexities of friendship, coming of age, family, personal responsibility, decision-making, trust, and forgiveness. While reading this, I felt nostalgic and could relate to how Jana felt about Maddy spending more time with her boyfriend. I can also relate to not wanting to call your parents when things don't go as planned, fearing they will be upset and no longer trust you to be responsible.
As a teenager, I can see how the twists and turns, crashing parties, meeting new people, etc., can be fun and exciting. As an adult, this book stressed me out 🤣 Missing friends, missing phones, rude men, the ransom...I was holding my breath while reading. My adult voice kept wondering why they didn't have a million backup and emergency plans in case something happened and why they would ever allow the friend group to be split up.
Overall, this was an entertaining, fast-paced read. The story is well-written, and the character development is great. I loved Jana's personal growth. Everything can't be perfectly controlled, and you can't just dodge problems, hoping they will disappear. Some things have to be dealt with head-on with bravery and honesty. Change is inevitable. Change can sometimes be scary and throw you for a loop, but it can also be exciting and lead to new meaningful life experiences.
"We can't stop ourselves or each other from living in glorious color, from growing, even if it means growing apart."
OF NOTE: I listened to this book's VoiceGalley advance audio edition for this review. The synthetic voice does not reflect the audiobook, which a human narrator will voice, so I am not including an audiobook review.
Thanks to Tracy Badua, HarperCollins, Harper Audio, NetGalley, and Books Forward for providing an e-ARC. Opinions expressed are my own.
April 15, 2024
I've read most of this author's books and this is my favorite so far.
I love the premise of this novel: it's a messy, tender YA novel about a friendship breakup, set against the backdrop of a chaotic night at a Southern California music festival.
There are many books out there about romantic break-ups, but it's a little less common to truly explore the disintegration of a friendship and or figuring out whether the cracks of a friendship are worth repairing. Wonderfully written, this book explores friendship, forgiveness, and learning to find independence and forge boundaries.
Jana Rubio, the super-responsible younger daughter of Filipino immigrants has been best friends with Maddy Parsons since the beginning of time. Jana's family has created so many expectations for her that she essentially feels she has to be perfect. Maddy is seemingly more carefree, but has parents who are critical of her weight, and relies on Jana for emotional support. The two have plans to see their favorite band, the Newcomers & Goers (CoGo) at the Orchards Festival, but a huge blow-out causes their lives to implode on this important night. To add to their emotional blow-out, their friend loses the keys to their only ride home, and the two are forced to work together to figure out how to get home.
The writing was exceptional and with excellent pacing. The story takes place in one night, but the author does a great job in layering past flashbacks that underscore the depth of the girls' friendship that lead up to the present day. The author does an amazing job with character development and growth.
I enjoyed this book so much -it has all the elements I love.
Music festival, Check.
A favorite band that provided the soundtrack to the main character's lives. Check. CoGo sounds like a band I would LOVE.
Engaging story-telling. Check.
Heart and humor, Check.
I read this book in mostly one sitting but saved the last 3rd for a flight to Hawaii where I cried (who cries on a flight to Hawaii?). I can certainly empathize with both characters (and see both their faults - best friends or not, I don't think I can expect a friend to fork over $300 for me) and I think everyone can relate to growing apart from a friend.
"We can't stop ourselves or each other from living in glorious color, from growing, even if it means growing apart."
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
I love the premise of this novel: it's a messy, tender YA novel about a friendship breakup, set against the backdrop of a chaotic night at a Southern California music festival.
There are many books out there about romantic break-ups, but it's a little less common to truly explore the disintegration of a friendship and or figuring out whether the cracks of a friendship are worth repairing. Wonderfully written, this book explores friendship, forgiveness, and learning to find independence and forge boundaries.
Jana Rubio, the super-responsible younger daughter of Filipino immigrants has been best friends with Maddy Parsons since the beginning of time. Jana's family has created so many expectations for her that she essentially feels she has to be perfect. Maddy is seemingly more carefree, but has parents who are critical of her weight, and relies on Jana for emotional support. The two have plans to see their favorite band, the Newcomers & Goers (CoGo) at the Orchards Festival, but a huge blow-out causes their lives to implode on this important night. To add to their emotional blow-out, their friend loses the keys to their only ride home, and the two are forced to work together to figure out how to get home.
The writing was exceptional and with excellent pacing. The story takes place in one night, but the author does a great job in layering past flashbacks that underscore the depth of the girls' friendship that lead up to the present day. The author does an amazing job with character development and growth.
I enjoyed this book so much -it has all the elements I love.
Music festival, Check.
A favorite band that provided the soundtrack to the main character's lives. Check. CoGo sounds like a band I would LOVE.
Engaging story-telling. Check.
Heart and humor, Check.
I read this book in mostly one sitting but saved the last 3rd for a flight to Hawaii where I cried (who cries on a flight to Hawaii?). I can certainly empathize with both characters (and see both their faults - best friends or not, I don't think I can expect a friend to fork over $300 for me) and I think everyone can relate to growing apart from a friend.
"We can't stop ourselves or each other from living in glorious color, from growing, even if it means growing apart."
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC.
January 8, 2024
The youngest and most responsible child, Jana Rubio, is finally taking a break and she's going to the Orchard Music Festival where her favorite band New Comers & Goers (a.ka. CoGo) is going to perform. The good news is she found a ride, bad news is her ex best friend and her boyfriend found the same ride. But either way, she's going to have fun and forget her familial responsibilities. Until the keys are lost. and how in the world are they ever going to get home?
I honestly feel like this is the most relatable character I have ever read. The character being Filipino is one thing but the way she has this sense of familial responsibility at such a young age is another thing. I kid you not, when I was a teenager, I thought my parents would not let me go to sleepovers just because, but in the end, it was just my assumption. Because I have this role in the family that even my decisions are assumed to be responsible already. And in away, Jana is also like that.
This book really hits you in the face about the realities of friendship breakups. And I honestly just appreciated how thorough it was done. The way the book also went back to the past made the readers understand how and why Jana and Maddy became friends, and how their friendship started to fall to pieces. I thought it was quite poignant.
The setting of the book is also something so beautiful too. In the chaos of the things that Jana went through in this music festival, she also found the beauty in this chaos. Which I thought was similar to what she was going through.
This book contains a lot of feelings and that's awesome because this book is not even a romance book. It shares a lot of feelings and thoughts that make it realistically young adult but not cringe.
Overall, good book! And I love the adventurous aspects of this too.
* I recieved an ARC of this book
I honestly feel like this is the most relatable character I have ever read. The character being Filipino is one thing but the way she has this sense of familial responsibility at such a young age is another thing. I kid you not, when I was a teenager, I thought my parents would not let me go to sleepovers just because, but in the end, it was just my assumption. Because I have this role in the family that even my decisions are assumed to be responsible already. And in away, Jana is also like that.
This book really hits you in the face about the realities of friendship breakups. And I honestly just appreciated how thorough it was done. The way the book also went back to the past made the readers understand how and why Jana and Maddy became friends, and how their friendship started to fall to pieces. I thought it was quite poignant.
The setting of the book is also something so beautiful too. In the chaos of the things that Jana went through in this music festival, she also found the beauty in this chaos. Which I thought was similar to what she was going through.
This book contains a lot of feelings and that's awesome because this book is not even a romance book. It shares a lot of feelings and thoughts that make it realistically young adult but not cringe.
Overall, good book! And I love the adventurous aspects of this too.
* I recieved an ARC of this book
April 17, 2024
The youngest and most responsible child, Jana Rubio, is finally taking a break and she's going to the Orchard Music Festival where her favorite band New Comers & Goers (a.ka. CoGo) is going to perform. The good news is she found a ride, bad news is her ex best friend and her boyfriend found the same ride. But either way, she's going to have fun and forget her familial responsibilities. Until the keys are lost. and how in the world are they ever going to get home?
I honestly feel like this is the most relatable character I have ever read. The character being Filipino is one thing but the way she has this sense of familial responsibility at such a young age is another thing. I kid you not, when I was a teenager, I thought my parents would not let me go to sleepovers just because, but in the end, it was just my assumption. Because I have this role in the family that even my decisions are assumed to be responsible already. And in away, Jana is also like that.
This book really hits you in the face about the realities of friendship breakups. And I honestly just appreciated how thorough it was done. The way the book also went back to the past made the readers understand how and why Jana and Maddy became friends, and how their friendship started to fall to pieces. I thought it was quite poignant.
The setting of the book is also something so beautiful too. In the chaos of the things that Jana went through in this music festival, she also found the beauty in this chaos. Which I thought was similar to what she was going through.
This book contains a lot of feelings and that's awesome because this book is not even a romance book. It shares a lot of feelings and thoughts that make it realistically young adult but not cringe.
Overall, good book! And I love the adventurous aspects of this too.
* I received an ARC of this book
I honestly feel like this is the most relatable character I have ever read. The character being Filipino is one thing but the way she has this sense of familial responsibility at such a young age is another thing. I kid you not, when I was a teenager, I thought my parents would not let me go to sleepovers just because, but in the end, it was just my assumption. Because I have this role in the family that even my decisions are assumed to be responsible already. And in away, Jana is also like that.
This book really hits you in the face about the realities of friendship breakups. And I honestly just appreciated how thorough it was done. The way the book also went back to the past made the readers understand how and why Jana and Maddy became friends, and how their friendship started to fall to pieces. I thought it was quite poignant.
The setting of the book is also something so beautiful too. In the chaos of the things that Jana went through in this music festival, she also found the beauty in this chaos. Which I thought was similar to what she was going through.
This book contains a lot of feelings and that's awesome because this book is not even a romance book. It shares a lot of feelings and thoughts that make it realistically young adult but not cringe.
Overall, good book! And I love the adventurous aspects of this too.
* I received an ARC of this book
May 1, 2024
3.5 stars. This book stressed me the fuck out.
The entire book circles around Jana and her friends, Nathan, Everett, Maddy, and Maddy's boyfriend Tyler. Right before Jana's most exciting concert of her life, she gets in the biggest fight with her best friend Maddy. This leads to both girls deciding to do their own thing instead of traveling together to the concert they had both gotten tickets together for.
Halfway through the concert of their favorite band, Nathan, their driver, ends up getting crowd surfed and loses his keys in the crowd. This is a massive issue for Jana as she's promised her mother she would be able to go pick up her dad on time afterward from a conference. After losing the keys, the group winds up on a wild goose chase dealing with thieves, missing friends, and also gigantic mental breakdowns. There only option is to get the keys back somehow, no matter what, because no one else has a car or parent available (of course lol).
I cannot lie while this book was cute, it was just plain stressful. It's a massive story about how lack of communication causes larger rifts and issues between people. If Jana and Maddy had had a real conversation about what was really going on, a lot of their fight wouldn't have occurred. I kept having to remind myself that these girls were 17/18 years old because it contributed a lot to what was going on lol.
Miscommunication and pettiness is not my bag so that wasn't my thing, but I still thought the book was easy to get through. The book is short enough to go by super fast so overall I think it's a good YA and would definitely vibe well with a younger reader.
Thank you to netgalley and harper collins for a copy of my ebook!
The entire book circles around Jana and her friends, Nathan, Everett, Maddy, and Maddy's boyfriend Tyler. Right before Jana's most exciting concert of her life, she gets in the biggest fight with her best friend Maddy. This leads to both girls deciding to do their own thing instead of traveling together to the concert they had both gotten tickets together for.
Halfway through the concert of their favorite band, Nathan, their driver, ends up getting crowd surfed and loses his keys in the crowd. This is a massive issue for Jana as she's promised her mother she would be able to go pick up her dad on time afterward from a conference. After losing the keys, the group winds up on a wild goose chase dealing with thieves, missing friends, and also gigantic mental breakdowns. There only option is to get the keys back somehow, no matter what, because no one else has a car or parent available (of course lol).
I cannot lie while this book was cute, it was just plain stressful. It's a massive story about how lack of communication causes larger rifts and issues between people. If Jana and Maddy had had a real conversation about what was really going on, a lot of their fight wouldn't have occurred. I kept having to remind myself that these girls were 17/18 years old because it contributed a lot to what was going on lol.
Miscommunication and pettiness is not my bag so that wasn't my thing, but I still thought the book was easy to get through. The book is short enough to go by super fast so overall I think it's a good YA and would definitely vibe well with a younger reader.
Thank you to netgalley and harper collins for a copy of my ebook!
November 25, 2023
We're Never Getting Home by Tracy Badua is a heartwarming novel that tells the story of Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, as they try to navigate their way through their senior year finale. Their plan is to attend the Orchards, an outdoor music festival, to catch their favorite band. However, a disagreement over Maddy's boyfriend causes a rift between them, and Jana decides to go to the festival with her church friend, Nathan, instead.
But things don't go as planned, and Jana and Maddy end up traveling to the festival together after all. When Nathan loses his car keys while crowd-surfing, Jana and Maddy have to work together to find them. As they embark on this adventure, they are forced to confront the issues that have been driving them apart.
We're Never Getting Home is a beautifully written novel that explores the themes of friendship, forgiveness, and growing up. Tracy Badua has created a story that is both heartwarming and relatable. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions are portrayed with great depth and sensitivity.
Overall, We're Never Getting Home is a delightful read that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the importance of friendship. If you are a fan of coming-of-age stories that are both entertaining and thought-provoking, this book is a must-read for you.
But things don't go as planned, and Jana and Maddy end up traveling to the festival together after all. When Nathan loses his car keys while crowd-surfing, Jana and Maddy have to work together to find them. As they embark on this adventure, they are forced to confront the issues that have been driving them apart.
We're Never Getting Home is a beautifully written novel that explores the themes of friendship, forgiveness, and growing up. Tracy Badua has created a story that is both heartwarming and relatable. The characters are well-developed, and their emotions are portrayed with great depth and sensitivity.
Overall, We're Never Getting Home is a delightful read that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the importance of friendship. If you are a fan of coming-of-age stories that are both entertaining and thought-provoking, this book is a must-read for you.
October 15, 2023
This was an interesting read. First off I actually listened through NetGalley’s automated voice system. It was really good. I liked this book and was interested the whole time, but the main character was not likable in my opinion. I know a big part of the book is about insecurities but the more the book went on the more I had a hard time with her. Especially when the rest of the characters were all nice and sweet to her.
I really liked the plot and how the story unfolded. It was fun and unique. And I feel like all the secondary characters made up for the main character because they were all very likable. I do understand these are things you feel and go through while being a teen and growing up, such as refusing to apologize when you are also partly (if not moreso) in the wrong or constantly comparing yourself with certain people. And I like how the author showed the other side of those feelings through the other characters. Such as the parents did not compare the daughters when the MC always thought of herself as the good daughter, and the best friend apologized in the past for the sake of the friendship even though she wasn’t always in the wrong. But it also felt like these characters were treated unfairly by her.
I did feel the plot was original and I definitely appreciated that.
I really liked the plot and how the story unfolded. It was fun and unique. And I feel like all the secondary characters made up for the main character because they were all very likable. I do understand these are things you feel and go through while being a teen and growing up, such as refusing to apologize when you are also partly (if not moreso) in the wrong or constantly comparing yourself with certain people. And I like how the author showed the other side of those feelings through the other characters. Such as the parents did not compare the daughters when the MC always thought of herself as the good daughter, and the best friend apologized in the past for the sake of the friendship even though she wasn’t always in the wrong. But it also felt like these characters were treated unfairly by her.
I did feel the plot was original and I definitely appreciated that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2023
4.4 rounded down to 4/5
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"We're Never Getting Home" by Tracy Badua is a heartwarming and relatable novel. The story revolves around Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, who plan an epic senior year finale by attending their favorite band's performance at an outdoor music festival. However, complications arise due to a disagreement over Maddy's boyfriend, leading Jana to call off their joint trip. Despite this, circumstances bring them together on a journey to the festival, where they face challenges and, in the process, must confront and repair their friendship.
The writing style is beautiful, and the story explores themes of friendship, forgiveness, and growing up. The book is both fun and unique with a satisfactory resolution. The twists and turns were highly entertaining.
The characters were all very likeable. Jana, who starts out as unlikeable, ends up having significant character development.
"We're Never Getting Home" is emotional depth, relatability, and engaging storytelling. It blends fun elements with meaningful explorations of friendship and personal growth.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
"We're Never Getting Home" by Tracy Badua is a heartwarming and relatable novel. The story revolves around Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons, who plan an epic senior year finale by attending their favorite band's performance at an outdoor music festival. However, complications arise due to a disagreement over Maddy's boyfriend, leading Jana to call off their joint trip. Despite this, circumstances bring them together on a journey to the festival, where they face challenges and, in the process, must confront and repair their friendship.
The writing style is beautiful, and the story explores themes of friendship, forgiveness, and growing up. The book is both fun and unique with a satisfactory resolution. The twists and turns were highly entertaining.
The characters were all very likeable. Jana, who starts out as unlikeable, ends up having significant character development.
"We're Never Getting Home" is emotional depth, relatability, and engaging storytelling. It blends fun elements with meaningful explorations of friendship and personal growth.
January 24, 2024
WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME was a fun romp through a California music festival, featuring a group of friends looking for missing keys, mischievous younger siblings, and repaired relationships with best friends. The whole book takes place over the course of about 12 hours, but there is no shortage of problems for the characters to run into, keeping the pace moving.
My one complaint would be that I did find Jana, the main character, a little annoying as the book went on. Jana worries a lot about what other people want from her and thinks it's her job to solve all the world's problems -- which are definitely things I could've related to as a teen -- but at the same time, doesn't trust that anyone else is capable of picking up some of that slack. She also has a really hard time recognizing her part in causing the fight she's currently in with her best friend, Maddy. On the other hand, all of this read as realistic to me, so even though I found myself feeling annoyed with Jana, a lot of it also came from a place of feeling sad for her, too.
Overall, I enjoyed WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME, and found it to be fun and fast-paced with a dose of friendship truths.
Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a review copy.
My one complaint would be that I did find Jana, the main character, a little annoying as the book went on. Jana worries a lot about what other people want from her and thinks it's her job to solve all the world's problems -- which are definitely things I could've related to as a teen -- but at the same time, doesn't trust that anyone else is capable of picking up some of that slack. She also has a really hard time recognizing her part in causing the fight she's currently in with her best friend, Maddy. On the other hand, all of this read as realistic to me, so even though I found myself feeling annoyed with Jana, a lot of it also came from a place of feeling sad for her, too.
Overall, I enjoyed WE'RE NEVER GETTING HOME, and found it to be fun and fast-paced with a dose of friendship truths.
Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a review copy.
December 18, 2023
Good premise--teens go to an outdoor festival only to have a myriad of things go wrong, including losing the keys. Though the setting is primarily the festival, there are flashbacks to allow the backstory of the main character. The story really hits home about these teens on the cusp of adulthood as they weave through the changes of friendship and growing up.
Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons--and the reader learns of different instances of how their friendship has evolved over the years but also their differences in terms of family loyalty and responsibility. Jana, has been feeling as though she is being replaced by Maddy's boyfriend as well as Maddie not understanding the commitments she has to fulfill. What person has not had these feelings?
As the night wears on and Jana becomes more anxious, things get heated and a lot is said. Jana is called out for how her actions have been perceived as much as how she has been feeling lately. This will hit close to home for many teens.
Story wrapped up well leaving nothing hanging while also sending a subtle message. This will certainly be a book YA will enjoy.
Jana Rubio and her best friend, Maddy Parsons--and the reader learns of different instances of how their friendship has evolved over the years but also their differences in terms of family loyalty and responsibility. Jana, has been feeling as though she is being replaced by Maddy's boyfriend as well as Maddie not understanding the commitments she has to fulfill. What person has not had these feelings?
As the night wears on and Jana becomes more anxious, things get heated and a lot is said. Jana is called out for how her actions have been perceived as much as how she has been feeling lately. This will hit close to home for many teens.
Story wrapped up well leaving nothing hanging while also sending a subtle message. This will certainly be a book YA will enjoy.
October 19, 2023
Though I really enjoyed this book, the main character was very hard to like. She was very relatable, but stubborn as all get out. She only cared about how things made her feel, not the feelings of those around her. And even though she had a good amount of character development throughout the story, I do not feel as if that was enough.
That out of the way, the twists and turns that were encountered on what was supposed to be the perfect night out were highly entertaining. There was always something new and exciting happening making you want to immediately start the next chapter. The insertion of the flashbacks help to connect the current situation to the main character's current feelings.
All in all, I feel as if the ending wrapped up the story well. With the main character finally starting to internalize that she doesn't have to do everything alone. She also starts to realize that change isn't always a bad thing, it can be scary but also exciting.
☆》Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.《☆
That out of the way, the twists and turns that were encountered on what was supposed to be the perfect night out were highly entertaining. There was always something new and exciting happening making you want to immediately start the next chapter. The insertion of the flashbacks help to connect the current situation to the main character's current feelings.
All in all, I feel as if the ending wrapped up the story well. With the main character finally starting to internalize that she doesn't have to do everything alone. She also starts to realize that change isn't always a bad thing, it can be scary but also exciting.
☆》Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for sending this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.《☆
February 1, 2024
This was a YA that takes place overnight at a music festival. Jana and Maddy are best friends but they had a huge fight and haven't been close lately. They were meant to go to this concert together and since they weren't talking..... But when Jana's ride shows up, Maddy is there anyway.
When the driver Nathan loses the keys while crowd surfing, Jana's night goes from bad to worse.... Trying to find the keys in a huge crowd, fighting with Maddy, losing Nathan's younger brother... All while needing to get home to bring her dad back from a work thing because her mom doesn't drive at night after getting in a car accident.... She will have to learn and teach others that sometimes things happen that are out of anyone's control.
At least it gives Maddy and Jana a chance to fight..... This time to preserve their friendship. There are two timelines so we get to see a bit of what led to the huge fight. I just wish Jana was a little less uptight.
When the driver Nathan loses the keys while crowd surfing, Jana's night goes from bad to worse.... Trying to find the keys in a huge crowd, fighting with Maddy, losing Nathan's younger brother... All while needing to get home to bring her dad back from a work thing because her mom doesn't drive at night after getting in a car accident.... She will have to learn and teach others that sometimes things happen that are out of anyone's control.
At least it gives Maddy and Jana a chance to fight..... This time to preserve their friendship. There are two timelines so we get to see a bit of what led to the huge fight. I just wish Jana was a little less uptight.
April 22, 2024
Former best friends Jana Rubio and Maddy Parsons are having a horrible night. They are seniors in high school and have been BFFs since elementary school. Now things are changing. Maddy has a boyfriend who takes attention and time that she used to spend with Jana. And Jana feels her whole year has been overwhelming. Her mother was in a serious car accident and she had to step up in ways to help the family. She has a need to be in control and doesn’t always see other perspectives.
Six end up going as a group to a music festival two hours away. When the driver ends up losing his keys while crowd surfing. The book follows the group as they divide up and try to find the keys. There are also flashbacks to other moments in their friendship. Jana’s feeling of letting her parents down is relatable for most teens. This was a quick read but there were moments where I felt the plotting was slow. And while I liked the resolution between friends I kind of wished for Jana to get some counseling or skills for her to deal with the pressures she was feeling. And to find ways to communicate better with her parents.
But this is written from a teens POV for teens. It is angsty without ever going to mean girl levels. It is about friendship and perceived parental pressures. It is easy to recommend for eighth grade and up. (3.5 Stars)
Six end up going as a group to a music festival two hours away. When the driver ends up losing his keys while crowd surfing. The book follows the group as they divide up and try to find the keys. There are also flashbacks to other moments in their friendship. Jana’s feeling of letting her parents down is relatable for most teens. This was a quick read but there were moments where I felt the plotting was slow. And while I liked the resolution between friends I kind of wished for Jana to get some counseling or skills for her to deal with the pressures she was feeling. And to find ways to communicate better with her parents.
But this is written from a teens POV for teens. It is angsty without ever going to mean girl levels. It is about friendship and perceived parental pressures. It is easy to recommend for eighth grade and up. (3.5 Stars)
February 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title.
We're Never Getting Home was a pleasant surprise for me. I started this thinking I wasn't going to like it and it would end up being a DNF but ended up enjoying it.
Jana and Maddy have been best friends for ages but, as many childhood friendships do, their relationship has been growing strained. The setting of being stuck at a music festival due to lost keys is a great juxtaposition for the story. The fun, carefree setting with the tension and drama from the characters was a nice touch.
Jana was a great main character to follow. You were able to witness grow and character development as the story went on and couldn't help but sympathize with her.
We're Never Getting Home is a realistic portrayal of young friendship and all the messiness that comes along with it. A great coming of age YA story.
We're Never Getting Home was a pleasant surprise for me. I started this thinking I wasn't going to like it and it would end up being a DNF but ended up enjoying it.
Jana and Maddy have been best friends for ages but, as many childhood friendships do, their relationship has been growing strained. The setting of being stuck at a music festival due to lost keys is a great juxtaposition for the story. The fun, carefree setting with the tension and drama from the characters was a nice touch.
Jana was a great main character to follow. You were able to witness grow and character development as the story went on and couldn't help but sympathize with her.
We're Never Getting Home is a realistic portrayal of young friendship and all the messiness that comes along with it. A great coming of age YA story.
March 11, 2024
Jana and her bf Maddie had plans to see their favorite band at the Orchard. But when they get in a fight Jana finds a different ride to the concert. After a series of unfortunate events, the keys to the van are lost and the group to the concert can't get home. Jana has to get through the night and race against the clock to find her way home. This had "Take Me Home" tonight vibes, but instead of being lost in New York, they are trapped at a concert venue. There were some troubling run-ins with horrible people, I almost needed more from the interactions. Something was missing and I think it was having another perspective, Jana was very self-centered, which is fine, but I needed another person to even it out. I'm glad this was more about friendship than boys, it is a good reflection of friendship at the end of high school.
May 4, 2024
Wild story. Yay for another book where friendship is the focal relationship, and of course, a romantic relationship causes a tiff between Jana and Maddy. Yet, as the book progresses, we see that Jana bears some responsibility in that tiff as well, though I would have wished Maddy had a better understanding on why Jana couldn’t just have fun and let go. As someone who helps care for ailing parents (both of them, not just one, as in Jana’s case), it is NOT easy to just drop everything and do what you want. Honestly, Maddy walks around with a lot of privilege, but sure, Jana’s the one at fault for being so uptight and ruining the friendship.
And wow, adult women ransoming a kid’s phone for funsies? Jana wishing the bride rain on her wedding day was too nice. I would have wished her groom had puked on her dress and ditched her at the altar.
And wow, adult women ransoming a kid’s phone for funsies? Jana wishing the bride rain on her wedding day was too nice. I would have wished her groom had puked on her dress and ditched her at the altar.
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March 26, 2024Senior Jana’s strict family expectations have tightened since her mom’s accident and her sister’s college struggles, so Jana has high hopes for the Orchard’s Music Festival, even though she’s in a fight with best friend Maddy. Church friend Nathan, his little brother Everett, Maddy, her boyfriend, and Jana are crammed together in Nathan’s aged car for the trip to the festival, and Jana has plenty to be disappointed about even before Nathan loses his keys in the muddy dark while crowd surfing and Jana’s not going to make curfew. As mishaps cascade, Jana is revealed to be a bit of an unreliable narrator as she begins to see how she is seen by others. Excellently differentiated characters, tightly plotted. EARC from Edelweiss.
May 28, 2024
This would definitely be a good book for a high school senior to read! I feel like I could relate to the two main characters in this book even though my life took a different turn than theirs. I did find Jana to be a little annoying at times. I'm also curious what actually happened with Jackie because Jana seems to think that Jackie was just making bad decisions but her dad kept defending her saying she went through a lot. If it mentioned what happened to her, I must have missed it. I wish that the epilogue would've included more about the relationship between Jana and her parents because I really loved those parts of the book. I get that it's supposed to focus more on the friendship though. It was a good book but for someone younger.
November 19, 2023
This book was a bit different than I thought it would be. The title had me thinking that maybe the characters were held by a terrorist, but no. The book was something that a typical teenager could run into at any time, This book showed how the kids had to work together to solve a problem. The responsibilities that they needed to take, and how you can’t always rely on technology. This book could be used for my sessions and we would talk through the problems and come up with different scenarios. I could also use it as homework and have them write a paper to help with their writing skills, what if it happens to you….
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September 8, 2023We're Never Getting Home by Tracy Badua was a quick and engaging read. It's depiction of a friendship growing apart was incredibly realistic and is valuable for teens to read since it is a part of growing up. The main character Jana is mildly irritating as she is very negative and fails to see that she is part of the problem, but her friends aren't afraid to call her out, and that is refreshing.
September 17, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I usually gravitate towards romance or suspense/thriller when reading YA, so this was not something I would usually read, but I ended up really enjoying it. It follows a group of teens stranded at a music festival and their adventures trying to get home before Jana's curfew. The group's antics, especially Everett's, were fun and following Jana's narration felt realistic as she detailed her struggling friendship with her best friend, and her family conflicts. My biggest complaint is that Jana is mildly irritating throughout, but her friends regularly call her out, so, for the most part, this is an enjoyable read.
I usually gravitate towards romance or suspense/thriller when reading YA, so this was not something I would usually read, but I ended up really enjoying it. It follows a group of teens stranded at a music festival and their adventures trying to get home before Jana's curfew. The group's antics, especially Everett's, were fun and following Jana's narration felt realistic as she detailed her struggling friendship with her best friend, and her family conflicts. My biggest complaint is that Jana is mildly irritating throughout, but her friends regularly call her out, so, for the most part, this is an enjoyable read.
October 31, 2023
This book actually depicts parents in a YA book! That like never happens! I liked how it showed friends growing apart but discussing it and coming back together. I think that is something that a lot of teens experience, but it isn't really talked about (you only hear about the friendship success stories). Initially I thought there was going to be a love interest plot twist, but that did not happen. Overall a solid book.
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