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Get Real, Chloe Torres
When Chloe Torres plans the perfect summer to reunite her estranged BFFs—a cross-country road trip to see their favorite boy band!—there’s only one difficulty… getting them to actually go along for the ride.
Chloe Torres’ birthday has always marked the end of summer—but as she turns eighteen and prepares to leave for her freshman year of art school, it feels like the end of more than that. It’s the end of her adolescence, which means it’s time to leave the past behind… but can she really let go of the two estranged best friends she left there?
NOPE. Chloe decides to take one more shot at healing the friend breakup she’s always regretted: planning the bucket-list trip neither girl can say no to. She’s taken care of everything: the car, the hotels, and concert tickets to see their favorite boy band’s reunion show in Las Vegas—stage seats, so close they can fangirl right in front of the boys’ faces. But first, her ex-BFFs have to say yes.
And to say yes, they’d all have to be talking… which they haven’t done since Ramona kissed Chloe, and everything imploded.
But with some clever finagling (and some undignified begging) Chloe gets them all on board. Of course, being in a car together for two weeks brings back old feelings… a lot of old feelings… and soon enough, Chloe wants Sienna, Ramona wants Chloe, and everything is on fireeeee.
This sizzling summer adventure from YA star Crystal Maldonado is a hilarious and heartfelt romcom with a little something for everyone: fat positivity, sapphic romance, a blazing love triangle, ADHD representation, a diversity of Latine identities, a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip—and the perfect it’s-finally-happening kiss.
Chloe Torres’ birthday has always marked the end of summer—but as she turns eighteen and prepares to leave for her freshman year of art school, it feels like the end of more than that. It’s the end of her adolescence, which means it’s time to leave the past behind… but can she really let go of the two estranged best friends she left there?
NOPE. Chloe decides to take one more shot at healing the friend breakup she’s always regretted: planning the bucket-list trip neither girl can say no to. She’s taken care of everything: the car, the hotels, and concert tickets to see their favorite boy band’s reunion show in Las Vegas—stage seats, so close they can fangirl right in front of the boys’ faces. But first, her ex-BFFs have to say yes.
And to say yes, they’d all have to be talking… which they haven’t done since Ramona kissed Chloe, and everything imploded.
But with some clever finagling (and some undignified begging) Chloe gets them all on board. Of course, being in a car together for two weeks brings back old feelings… a lot of old feelings… and soon enough, Chloe wants Sienna, Ramona wants Chloe, and everything is on fireeeee.
This sizzling summer adventure from YA star Crystal Maldonado is a hilarious and heartfelt romcom with a little something for everyone: fat positivity, sapphic romance, a blazing love triangle, ADHD representation, a diversity of Latine identities, a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip—and the perfect it’s-finally-happening kiss.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2025
30 people are currently reading
6426 people want to read
About the author
Crystal Maldonado
8 books730 followersCrystal Maldonado is a young adult author who writes inclusive stories about fat, brown girls. She is the author of The Fall of Whit Rivera, which People Magazine called a “pumpkin-spice-latte-flavored treat”; Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, which was a New England Book Award winner, a Cosmopolitan Best New Book, and a Kirkus Best YA Fiction of 2021; and No Filter and Other Lies, which was named a POPSUGAR and Seventeen Best New YA.
By day, Crystal works in higher ed marketing, and by night, she’s a writer whose work has been published in Latina, BuzzFeed, and the Hartford Courant. She has a degree in English and journalism from the University of Connecticut and lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog. Follow her everywhere @crystalwrote.
By day, Crystal works in higher ed marketing, and by night, she’s a writer whose work has been published in Latina, BuzzFeed, and the Hartford Courant. She has a degree in English and journalism from the University of Connecticut and lives in western Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog. Follow her everywhere @crystalwrote.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
April 27, 2025
Sometimes the characters in YA books seem younger than their actual ages. In this book, Chloe Torres and her two best friends from middle school, Sienna Aguilar, and Ramona Cruz read like mature 18 year old high school graduates and maybe even older. Chloe split from her childhood friends when they all entered high school. It happens. Teenagers start to explore individual interests and spread their social circle. But when Chloe’s dad gifts her three VIP tickets to the trio’s favorite boy band’s reunion concert, she decides to reach out to her estranged friends.
Road trip books are some of my favorites. There’s something about the sense of movement along highways and the close proximity of people crammed into a car that creates good stories. Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna drive from Boston to Las Vegas, finding adventures and heartbreak along the way.
What I like best about the book is the young energy, the spirit of looking out at the world and knowing a life of possibilities is in front of you. As the three friends make their way from Niagara Falls to the Indy Zoo and on, past grudges fall away between them the way that only the young can let things go. The ride is chock full of funny, sweet, tender moments, sing very loud playlists, and truths. But it all comes down to three friends reconnecting as young women now and sealing their friendship before stepping out into adulthood. Strong supporting characters but my favorite is Chloe’s cousin, Diego, or as his stage persona, Coqui Monster. I enjoyed this book very much and could see it as a cute NF or Prime movie. 4.25 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
Road trip books are some of my favorites. There’s something about the sense of movement along highways and the close proximity of people crammed into a car that creates good stories. Chloe, Ramona, and Sienna drive from Boston to Las Vegas, finding adventures and heartbreak along the way.
What I like best about the book is the young energy, the spirit of looking out at the world and knowing a life of possibilities is in front of you. As the three friends make their way from Niagara Falls to the Indy Zoo and on, past grudges fall away between them the way that only the young can let things go. The ride is chock full of funny, sweet, tender moments, sing very loud playlists, and truths. But it all comes down to three friends reconnecting as young women now and sealing their friendship before stepping out into adulthood. Strong supporting characters but my favorite is Chloe’s cousin, Diego, or as his stage persona, Coqui Monster. I enjoyed this book very much and could see it as a cute NF or Prime movie. 4.25 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc. I am leaving a review voluntarily.
March 10, 2025
I enjoyed this novel a lot. Huge YA vibes. There was coming-of-age and life lessons and relationships in flux. There were fun scenes and great dialogue. Good communication, and (thankfully not too much!) bad communication. I think this is a great little novel and for the right audience it would be a very good read.
A lot of the plotline went a little too convenient and easy for me, but at the same time I can absolutely not say that it was unrealistic. If you’re looking for low-conflict conflicts, this novel can deliver for you. I am not upset with how it chose to take the storyline, I was initially concerned it would be overly-dramatic and filled with unrealistic angst, so I am happy that it didn’t go that route.
This was an incredibly easy and fast read and I enjoyed it. I recommend that you give it a go if it sounds like something you think you might enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
A lot of the plotline went a little too convenient and easy for me, but at the same time I can absolutely not say that it was unrealistic. If you’re looking for low-conflict conflicts, this novel can deliver for you. I am not upset with how it chose to take the storyline, I was initially concerned it would be overly-dramatic and filled with unrealistic angst, so I am happy that it didn’t go that route.
This was an incredibly easy and fast read and I enjoyed it. I recommend that you give it a go if it sounds like something you think you might enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This honest review was left voluntarily.
August 18, 2025
I'm so glad I saved this for summer, because it has the perfect summer vibes. This is such a fun read, and seeing Chloe rekindle the friendship with her former best friends was really touching to read. Everyone was fleshed out so well, and I loved seeing so much detail about their lives, but also about the roadtrip, it felt very immersive.
May 1, 2025
2.5 ✨️
loved the concept and really enjoyed the variety of queer rep but the characters felt veeeeerrryyyy young based on the conversations (maybe 14?) which felt jarring especially considering Chloe herself turned 18 once the story kicks off.
Still, if you enjoy roadtrips and love triangles this might be for you!
loved the concept and really enjoyed the variety of queer rep but the characters felt veeeeerrryyyy young based on the conversations (maybe 14?) which felt jarring especially considering Chloe herself turned 18 once the story kicks off.
Still, if you enjoy roadtrips and love triangles this might be for you!
August 21, 2025
This really feels like summer in a book to me!
Have you ever read something that makes you feel 17 again? I have. and this is that.
I love a road trip theme!
There is always so much adventure and self discovery wrapped up in it, and I just think it is so fun.
Whats even more fun, is the friendship vibes here!?
They were slightly toxic at times, but actually I think that brings some realism to it.
I am not sure if I really felt the romance in this one though?
Like it was certainly cute, but it kind of came out of nowhere. Not a whole lot of buildup.
But really I think this is so much more friend-focused, and I did not mind that at all.
Added to the favorites list, and I will have this on my mind forever.
Have you ever read something that makes you feel 17 again? I have. and this is that.
I love a road trip theme!
There is always so much adventure and self discovery wrapped up in it, and I just think it is so fun.
Whats even more fun, is the friendship vibes here!?
They were slightly toxic at times, but actually I think that brings some realism to it.
I am not sure if I really felt the romance in this one though?
Like it was certainly cute, but it kind of came out of nowhere. Not a whole lot of buildup.
But really I think this is so much more friend-focused, and I did not mind that at all.
Added to the favorites list, and I will have this on my mind forever.
February 10, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up. I struggled rating this because several things were issues for me but I also recognize that I'm not the right audience, this is definitely geared for teens, I found the characters so utterly delightful, and I loved the concept of female friendship bonded over fandom. Plus I was so pleased to see loud and proud bisexual and pansexual representation explicitly spelled out on the page.
Chloe doesn't want to grow up. She plays a princess for a party company and is stuck in little-kid nostalgia. But the one thing from her childhood that didn't survive was her friend group, who became close over a mutual love of the boy band Intonation (and the girls are all queer). Sienna's pansexual, Chloe's a sunshine chaos bisexual Latina artist with ADHD and Ramona's an ice queen (with a heart of gold) lesbian vegetarian tattoo artist apprentice.
Chloe's turning 18 and her loving, overprotective father surprises her with tickets to go see her favorite boy band. But she doesn't have anyone to go with. So she gets the "band" back together and proposes a summer road trip to reconnect. Along the way they find common ground again based on their shared past and fandom geekiness.
When Sienna left for private school, that's when their friend group crumbled. Chloe had a crush on Sienna and Ramona had a crush on Chloe, and things got all twisted up between them.
I loved how close Chloe was with her Papi and her cousin Diego who was a gay drag queen, but these three often felt more like tweens than 18-year-olds. There's a lot of arrested development in 18-year-olds though. My generation of Millennials was the first of the helicopter parents and it's only gotten worse in terms of both social independence and housing costs. But again I'm not the right audience so I can let that slide. And Chloe frequently struggles with not wanting to let go of her childhood.
I didn't see much of a love triangle here because there was no spark or even burn between Sienna and Chloe. I did see the spark between her and Ramona and was glad she picked her. The romance was almost such a side plot that I felt it almost didn't need it. I just really liked their friendship group and how their personalities fit together. But Ramona and Chloe worked as a couple too.
But part of that is my other main issue with the writing style. There was a ton of info dumping at the beginning that I really had to push through, and so. much. telling. that bogged down an otherwise breezy, lighthearted story.
But I loved this ode to queer joy and female friendship and it was a fun, lighthearted summer road trip read that will appeal to teens. Anyone who's been through that boy band fandom life like me will find lots to appreciate here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Chloe doesn't want to grow up. She plays a princess for a party company and is stuck in little-kid nostalgia. But the one thing from her childhood that didn't survive was her friend group, who became close over a mutual love of the boy band Intonation (and the girls are all queer). Sienna's pansexual, Chloe's a sunshine chaos bisexual Latina artist with ADHD and Ramona's an ice queen (with a heart of gold) lesbian vegetarian tattoo artist apprentice.
Chloe's turning 18 and her loving, overprotective father surprises her with tickets to go see her favorite boy band. But she doesn't have anyone to go with. So she gets the "band" back together and proposes a summer road trip to reconnect. Along the way they find common ground again based on their shared past and fandom geekiness.
When Sienna left for private school, that's when their friend group crumbled. Chloe had a crush on Sienna and Ramona had a crush on Chloe, and things got all twisted up between them.
I loved how close Chloe was with her Papi and her cousin Diego who was a gay drag queen, but these three often felt more like tweens than 18-year-olds. There's a lot of arrested development in 18-year-olds though. My generation of Millennials was the first of the helicopter parents and it's only gotten worse in terms of both social independence and housing costs. But again I'm not the right audience so I can let that slide. And Chloe frequently struggles with not wanting to let go of her childhood.
I didn't see much of a love triangle here because there was no spark or even burn between Sienna and Chloe. I did see the spark between her and Ramona and was glad she picked her. The romance was almost such a side plot that I felt it almost didn't need it. I just really liked their friendship group and how their personalities fit together. But Ramona and Chloe worked as a couple too.
But part of that is my other main issue with the writing style. There was a ton of info dumping at the beginning that I really had to push through, and so. much. telling. that bogged down an otherwise breezy, lighthearted story.
But I loved this ode to queer joy and female friendship and it was a fun, lighthearted summer road trip read that will appeal to teens. Anyone who's been through that boy band fandom life like me will find lots to appreciate here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 12, 2025
thank you to holiday house for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this story follows our main girl, chloe, the summer before she is supposed to leave for college. a lot of things are changing in her life: she’s moving a state away for her dream school, her dad and step mom are expecting a new child, and her childhood friendship group has been on the outs since the beginning of high school. but chloe gets the chance for a summer trip of a life time when her favorite boyband from her tween days is hosting a reunion show in las vegas.
i’m going to start by saying how much i LOVED this story, especially the aspect of it focusing (mostly) on chloe rekindling her friendships with her childhood best friends sienna and ramona. together we see the three of them go through this week long road trip, through the hurtles of rehashing why their group broke up all those years ago and working through other life concerns together. while i can see how many people would say chloe (and maybe sienna/ramona) tends to read young i would say that the three of them tend to handle their issues maturely… for the most part! i think those feelings stem more from the fact that these three girls are reliving their tween fantasies. i think its pretty damn reasonable for them to regress a little bit in their company. but where it matters (chloe and ramona’s history for example) they’re pretty much able to maturely discuss out their concerns with each other. and forgive each other for past mistakes younger them made.
i just love to see this story, where it’s silly and camp story (i guess literally too actually???) about these young adults having an adventure, a road trip together, as sort of a last hurrah before a new chapter starts. and i think that moldonado did an incredible job blending the aspects of their past relationships and current status together. she truly made me believe in the deadly flora trio from the beginning. they truly spoke like how teens today do and acted like the fangirls they are underneath at all times! it brought me back to my younger self honestly. and for that, i deeply appreciate the core of this story. a love letter to childhood friendships and music and art as a whole.
i really intended that last line to be my last but i couldn’t finish a review if i didn’t at least mentioned the representation. our three main girls all fall under the queer umbrella (bi, pan, and lesbian) which just speaks to how queer teens will always gravitate towards each other. whether we know it or not at the time! that they’re also all latine!! the fat positivity! the fact that chloe has diagnosed ADHD and which was displayed so so well on page in regards to how she functions. all together, this wraps together into the ultimate trifecta (well… quadfecta??) to make my perfect type of story.
this story follows our main girl, chloe, the summer before she is supposed to leave for college. a lot of things are changing in her life: she’s moving a state away for her dream school, her dad and step mom are expecting a new child, and her childhood friendship group has been on the outs since the beginning of high school. but chloe gets the chance for a summer trip of a life time when her favorite boyband from her tween days is hosting a reunion show in las vegas.
i’m going to start by saying how much i LOVED this story, especially the aspect of it focusing (mostly) on chloe rekindling her friendships with her childhood best friends sienna and ramona. together we see the three of them go through this week long road trip, through the hurtles of rehashing why their group broke up all those years ago and working through other life concerns together. while i can see how many people would say chloe (and maybe sienna/ramona) tends to read young i would say that the three of them tend to handle their issues maturely… for the most part! i think those feelings stem more from the fact that these three girls are reliving their tween fantasies. i think its pretty damn reasonable for them to regress a little bit in their company. but where it matters (chloe and ramona’s history for example) they’re pretty much able to maturely discuss out their concerns with each other. and forgive each other for past mistakes younger them made.
i just love to see this story, where it’s silly and camp story (i guess literally too actually???) about these young adults having an adventure, a road trip together, as sort of a last hurrah before a new chapter starts. and i think that moldonado did an incredible job blending the aspects of their past relationships and current status together. she truly made me believe in the deadly flora trio from the beginning. they truly spoke like how teens today do and acted like the fangirls they are underneath at all times! it brought me back to my younger self honestly. and for that, i deeply appreciate the core of this story. a love letter to childhood friendships and music and art as a whole.
i really intended that last line to be my last but i couldn’t finish a review if i didn’t at least mentioned the representation. our three main girls all fall under the queer umbrella (bi, pan, and lesbian) which just speaks to how queer teens will always gravitate towards each other. whether we know it or not at the time! that they’re also all latine!! the fat positivity! the fact that chloe has diagnosed ADHD and which was displayed so so well on page in regards to how she functions. all together, this wraps together into the ultimate trifecta (well… quadfecta??) to make my perfect type of story.
June 24, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I always love a roadtrip in books, and this one was a lot of fun! Heading cross-country with the goal of seeing your favourite band live is something I can get behind, and I feel like the roadtrip setting worked really well for this trio of characters, who've drifted apart over the years. There is a romance, but it's definitely a subplot compared to the main story of rekindling these friendships. It was an easy read, lighthearted and breezy - I just didn't feel connected to the characters, and there's a few side plots that felt a bit unnecessary and out of place with the story.
I always love a roadtrip in books, and this one was a lot of fun! Heading cross-country with the goal of seeing your favourite band live is something I can get behind, and I feel like the roadtrip setting worked really well for this trio of characters, who've drifted apart over the years. There is a romance, but it's definitely a subplot compared to the main story of rekindling these friendships. It was an easy read, lighthearted and breezy - I just didn't feel connected to the characters, and there's a few side plots that felt a bit unnecessary and out of place with the story.
May 15, 2025
3.75
as a forever boy band lover, this was so so fun.
blog review
as a forever boy band lover, this was so so fun.
blog review
November 3, 2025
I enjoyed this story about Chloe Torres, a bisexual girl who grows up in Western Massachusetts. At the beginning of the story, she will move off to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) soon. It is the summer after she graduates high school, and summer is almost over.
It is a time full of lots of feelings and Chloe’s are also mixed up with regrets about two former friends, Sienna and Ramona. They were besties years ago, until they were about fourteen, I think, but it came apart all at once and incompletely, no resolution.
I bought the book this summer when I was visiting my mother in Western Massachusetts. The author lives there somewhere and works at one of the area colleges, I presume. I planned to buy poetry by a local writer and am glad I picked this up instead, though it wasn’t perfect.
Chloe sees Sienna and Ramona in separate locations on the same day and it inspires her to invite them on a road trip to Las Vegas to see a boy band they had loved together years ago. Reading about her inviting them and waiting for their responses was cringe-y and stressful and a little hilarious. Chloe is impulsive and lovable and has a diagnosis, I think for ADHD. She felt very real to me and reminded me of the crazy emotions of that time of life. Ugh. But also, wow, I used to have big feelings too, believe it or not.
Ramona, who I believe identified as a lesbian, felt the most like someone I would know and like around this age, but it was still great to hear the story from Chloe’s somewhat cheerful and often cheesy point of view.
It is a road trip story! It is awkward at first because they haven’t been around each other in a few years and have changed. It is awkward because their friendship ended without resolution. I wouldn’t say the story drags at places, but I worried for a time that something more wasn’t going to happen. Luckily, it did. But also bear in mind that as a nearly 60 year old white man, I’m probably not the target audience, though I do work at a school, have my share of diverse friends and acquaintances, and was cooler than any of you when I was younger, by far…
Anyway, it could have ended a little quicker after the concert in Las Vegas, but maybe the target audience really enjoys the glimpse it gives of Chloe, Sienna and Ramona later. One of my high school friends attended RISD, one of my high school friends lived in Boston and worked as a bike messenger, and I lived in Western Massachusetts and attended UMASS. Those places really aren’t that far apart. I won’t tell you why I’m writing that, but it relates to one of two big things that Chloe did that sorta pissed me off, though I’m sorta joking. The other thing involves the concert tickets. I won’t write a spoiler, but she’s lucky her friends / ex-friends are understanding! Because I would have "died".
It is a time full of lots of feelings and Chloe’s are also mixed up with regrets about two former friends, Sienna and Ramona. They were besties years ago, until they were about fourteen, I think, but it came apart all at once and incompletely, no resolution.
I bought the book this summer when I was visiting my mother in Western Massachusetts. The author lives there somewhere and works at one of the area colleges, I presume. I planned to buy poetry by a local writer and am glad I picked this up instead, though it wasn’t perfect.
Chloe sees Sienna and Ramona in separate locations on the same day and it inspires her to invite them on a road trip to Las Vegas to see a boy band they had loved together years ago. Reading about her inviting them and waiting for their responses was cringe-y and stressful and a little hilarious. Chloe is impulsive and lovable and has a diagnosis, I think for ADHD. She felt very real to me and reminded me of the crazy emotions of that time of life. Ugh. But also, wow, I used to have big feelings too, believe it or not.
Ramona, who I believe identified as a lesbian, felt the most like someone I would know and like around this age, but it was still great to hear the story from Chloe’s somewhat cheerful and often cheesy point of view.
It is a road trip story! It is awkward at first because they haven’t been around each other in a few years and have changed. It is awkward because their friendship ended without resolution. I wouldn’t say the story drags at places, but I worried for a time that something more wasn’t going to happen. Luckily, it did. But also bear in mind that as a nearly 60 year old white man, I’m probably not the target audience, though I do work at a school, have my share of diverse friends and acquaintances, and was cooler than any of you when I was younger, by far…
Anyway, it could have ended a little quicker after the concert in Las Vegas, but maybe the target audience really enjoys the glimpse it gives of Chloe, Sienna and Ramona later. One of my high school friends attended RISD, one of my high school friends lived in Boston and worked as a bike messenger, and I lived in Western Massachusetts and attended UMASS. Those places really aren’t that far apart. I won’t tell you why I’m writing that, but it relates to one of two big things that Chloe did that sorta pissed me off, though I’m sorta joking. The other thing involves the concert tickets. I won’t write a spoiler, but she’s lucky her friends / ex-friends are understanding! Because I would have "died".
February 6, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review closer to publication date.
Review closer to publication date.
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October 30, 2025Thank you, Crystal Maldonado, Holiday House, and Netgalley for giving me a digital advanced copy of Get Real, Chloe Torres in exchange of an honest review.
Get Real, Chloe Torres ★★★☆ (DNF 37%)
Trigger warnings: alcohol consumption (minor).
The overall idea of this work is really appealing to me. It tells a coming-of-age story about early adulthood rather than a full-fledged romance; the romance feels more like a spice than a main topic. The characters are similarly endearing, depicting the difficulties of clinging on to the past while attempting to move on to a better future. As a result, it is an excellent narrative for readers who are brokenhearted or who want to ponder how to rebuild a broken friendship.
Despite the fact that I was unable to finish the book, I will not give it a bad review based solely on its premise. I'm not sure where things go wrong for me; is it the vibe? Is it the writing style? That limits its ability to offer a terrific slice-of-life story at an incredible speed. Maybe someday I'll give this book another opportunity, but for now, I'll have to pass it forward.
I am still recommending it to those who want to read cozy books or have read Maldonado's novels before.
Get Real, Chloe Torres ★★★☆ (DNF 37%)
Trigger warnings: alcohol consumption (minor).
The overall idea of this work is really appealing to me. It tells a coming-of-age story about early adulthood rather than a full-fledged romance; the romance feels more like a spice than a main topic. The characters are similarly endearing, depicting the difficulties of clinging on to the past while attempting to move on to a better future. As a result, it is an excellent narrative for readers who are brokenhearted or who want to ponder how to rebuild a broken friendship.
Despite the fact that I was unable to finish the book, I will not give it a bad review based solely on its premise. I'm not sure where things go wrong for me; is it the vibe? Is it the writing style? That limits its ability to offer a terrific slice-of-life story at an incredible speed. Maybe someday I'll give this book another opportunity, but for now, I'll have to pass it forward.
I am still recommending it to those who want to read cozy books or have read Maldonado's novels before.
September 6, 2025
THIS WAS SO CUTE AND A LOVE LETTER TO FRIENDS AND FANDOM AND FANDOM FRIENDS
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March 11, 2025Loved this!!
June 7, 2025
I received an ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss, this in no way influences my review.
This should've been right up my alley - former best friends reunite on a road trip to see their middle school selves favorite band + a sapphic love triangle. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the characters. Chloe's interest in Ramona felt more like it was based on her sudden lack of interest in Sienna rather than anything concrete. Ramona was pretty, within close proximity and harboring old feelings for Chloe, that was all it seemed to take. I'm well aware that that can be enough to spark the beginnings of a relationship but I wanted something more from two people who were once so close as well as more of them as individuals.
Also despite the road trip being very important to Chloe for the purposes of reconciliation, and important to the other girls for various reasons, without a connection to the characters it all felt quite low stakes. I had trouble becoming invested in the girls' budding relationship, and as meaningful as the character's other struggles were to them they just didn't hit like that for me.
Despite all that, there's a lot here that I think will make this a new YA favorite of other readers. I especially appreciate the main character having ADHD and the main cast of characters being quite diverse overall. Check it out if you're looking for something queer, cozy and full of friendship.
This should've been right up my alley - former best friends reunite on a road trip to see their middle school selves favorite band + a sapphic love triangle. Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the characters. Chloe's interest in Ramona felt more like it was based on her sudden lack of interest in Sienna rather than anything concrete. Ramona was pretty, within close proximity and harboring old feelings for Chloe, that was all it seemed to take. I'm well aware that that can be enough to spark the beginnings of a relationship but I wanted something more from two people who were once so close as well as more of them as individuals.
Also despite the road trip being very important to Chloe for the purposes of reconciliation, and important to the other girls for various reasons, without a connection to the characters it all felt quite low stakes. I had trouble becoming invested in the girls' budding relationship, and as meaningful as the character's other struggles were to them they just didn't hit like that for me.
Despite all that, there's a lot here that I think will make this a new YA favorite of other readers. I especially appreciate the main character having ADHD and the main cast of characters being quite diverse overall. Check it out if you're looking for something queer, cozy and full of friendship.
March 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ 3.75 stars for cuteness
Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House, and Crystal Maldonado for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chloe Torres has just graduated high school and she's struggling with the idea of leaving the comfort of her family home and moving away to go to RISD for college. She can't quite let go of the past, and the two best friends that got away: Ramona and Sienna.
When Chloe's father buys her three VIP tickets to the reunion concert of the girls' favourite band, Intonation, Chloe decides to reunite with Ramona and Sienna for a cross-country road trip to get to the concert and complete the bucket-list the girls made together before their group grew apart. If she can just get Ramona and Sienna to agree to join her eight days of fun she knows she can reignite the friendship she isn't ready to let go of.
One of my favourite things about Get Real, Chloe Torres is the representation. Chloe herself if bisexual, Latinx, fat, and on the ADHD spectrum. Four elements we don't often see much of in young adult fiction, but especially not together. I was particularly impressed with the ADHD representation throughout the book. As a woman who was diagnosed in her late twenties it was really refreshing to see a female character who was diagnosed during her school years and who found a way to thrive. The support from Chloe's family and friends was also lovely to read about. There are a lot of characters I've read about who certainly present as being on the ADHD spectrum, but they're not diagnosed and they're often villainised. That certainly wasn't the case in this book. Chloe's supported by everyone around her. And finally someone else gets what it's like to have a brain that "feels like it's full of bees."
Another of my favourite things about this book was that it shows the importance of boy bands to young women, and especially queer women. The Simpsons was on the money with Non-Threatening Boys magazine—boy bands give queer women and girls male figures to idolise while dealing with (or, for some of us, completely ignoring) often confusing feelings for other girls. They also give us countless songs about loving women to sing along to. Win win.
As a fellow lesbian I really related to Ramona who has no interest in men whatsoever, except for Intonation. I've felt the same about One Direction and BTS over the years. I have no time for men in general, but so help me I will scream when I see specific men in concert. I'm sure a lot of lesbians can relate.
While this book isn't perfect—I could've done without the Whit plot, and the whole thing with Sienna's bio-Dad felt a bit out of place at times—I think that it showcases a really realistic friendship breakdown, and a joyful reunion between women at such a pivotal point in their lives. I think this book could be really meaningful to readers who are at the age where they're leaving high school and starting higher education, or moving away from the homes they grew up in. I know it really could've helped me to process my feelings back then.
If you're looking for a sweet sapphic romance, lots of good representation, plenty of laughs, and a nostalgia hit then Get Real, Chloe Torres could be just the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House, and Crystal Maldonado for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
“Is there anything gayer than three queer former besties showing up to a boy band concert?”
Chloe Torres has just graduated high school and she's struggling with the idea of leaving the comfort of her family home and moving away to go to RISD for college. She can't quite let go of the past, and the two best friends that got away: Ramona and Sienna.
When Chloe's father buys her three VIP tickets to the reunion concert of the girls' favourite band, Intonation, Chloe decides to reunite with Ramona and Sienna for a cross-country road trip to get to the concert and complete the bucket-list the girls made together before their group grew apart. If she can just get Ramona and Sienna to agree to join her eight days of fun she knows she can reignite the friendship she isn't ready to let go of.
Nights like these can feel life‑altering—the way the music, the dancing, the singing, and the memories old and new all come together to make you feel so alive. It’s thrilling and vulnerable, to be in public singing your heart out with people who understand; to tear up together when the band lets the crowd finish the lyrics; to fully embody the version of yourself from when you first heard these songs you love so much; to appreciate how that one flicker of sadness when the show is halfway through pulls you into the present so you can really be here, now.
One of my favourite things about Get Real, Chloe Torres is the representation. Chloe herself if bisexual, Latinx, fat, and on the ADHD spectrum. Four elements we don't often see much of in young adult fiction, but especially not together. I was particularly impressed with the ADHD representation throughout the book. As a woman who was diagnosed in her late twenties it was really refreshing to see a female character who was diagnosed during her school years and who found a way to thrive. The support from Chloe's family and friends was also lovely to read about. There are a lot of characters I've read about who certainly present as being on the ADHD spectrum, but they're not diagnosed and they're often villainised. That certainly wasn't the case in this book. Chloe's supported by everyone around her. And finally someone else gets what it's like to have a brain that "feels like it's full of bees."
That this crowd is almost exclusively made up of women isn’t lost on me. Girls have quietly been carrying the weight of the music industry on their backs for lifetimes, and there is something about the collective fangirl experience that’s transformative. It’s where we find belonging, where we forge new friendships, and where we discover who we are.
Another of my favourite things about this book was that it shows the importance of boy bands to young women, and especially queer women. The Simpsons was on the money with Non-Threatening Boys magazine—boy bands give queer women and girls male figures to idolise while dealing with (or, for some of us, completely ignoring) often confusing feelings for other girls. They also give us countless songs about loving women to sing along to. Win win.
As a fellow lesbian I really related to Ramona who has no interest in men whatsoever, except for Intonation. I've felt the same about One Direction and BTS over the years. I have no time for men in general, but so help me I will scream when I see specific men in concert. I'm sure a lot of lesbians can relate.
I see now that I can create a life on my own terms, and that there isn’t one right way to be or do or exist.
While this book isn't perfect—I could've done without the Whit plot, and the whole thing with Sienna's bio-Dad felt a bit out of place at times—I think that it showcases a really realistic friendship breakdown, and a joyful reunion between women at such a pivotal point in their lives. I think this book could be really meaningful to readers who are at the age where they're leaving high school and starting higher education, or moving away from the homes they grew up in. I know it really could've helped me to process my feelings back then.
“If I can share even a fraction of the sunshine I feel inside my chest when I’m with my two friends, the world may never have a cloudy day again.”
If you're looking for a sweet sapphic romance, lots of good representation, plenty of laughs, and a nostalgia hit then Get Real, Chloe Torres could be just the book for you!
May 26, 2025
Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so fun!! I loved Chloe getting her old best friends together to go on a road trip of a lifetime together to fulfill an old bucket list and to see their favorite band. I really loved getting Chloe’s perspective throughout the book. Her personality, family, vibes, etc made the story so fun.
I loved how they slowly made their way through their bucket list throughout the trip. They were able to go and see/do some pretty cool things.
Since they haven’t spoken in a few years, they all have to have some difficult conversations with one another… what more of a perfect way to do that than being confined in a car and hotel rooms together for a week? They were able to display their hurts and frustrations to one another and work through them together. They were all able to be there for each other in different ways, and I loved watching their friendships blossom once again.
The slow reconciliation between Chloe and Ramona after their kiss 4 years ago felt authentic and easy to route for them. 🫶🏻
We don’t get to see him throughout the road trip much, but I truly loved getting glimpses of Chloe’s relationship with her cousin Diego. They’re so supportive of one another, and I thought it was so special that Chloe knew she always had Diego to come back to if everything went terribly wrong.
There’s queer rep (bisexual, gay, pan, lesbian), ADHD rep, fat rep, Latine rep… I meaaaaan, what more could you want in a YA novel?!
CW: abandonment, cursing, alcohol, fatphobia
This book was so fun!! I loved Chloe getting her old best friends together to go on a road trip of a lifetime together to fulfill an old bucket list and to see their favorite band. I really loved getting Chloe’s perspective throughout the book. Her personality, family, vibes, etc made the story so fun.
I loved how they slowly made their way through their bucket list throughout the trip. They were able to go and see/do some pretty cool things.
Since they haven’t spoken in a few years, they all have to have some difficult conversations with one another… what more of a perfect way to do that than being confined in a car and hotel rooms together for a week? They were able to display their hurts and frustrations to one another and work through them together. They were all able to be there for each other in different ways, and I loved watching their friendships blossom once again.
The slow reconciliation between Chloe and Ramona after their kiss 4 years ago felt authentic and easy to route for them. 🫶🏻
We don’t get to see him throughout the road trip much, but I truly loved getting glimpses of Chloe’s relationship with her cousin Diego. They’re so supportive of one another, and I thought it was so special that Chloe knew she always had Diego to come back to if everything went terribly wrong.
There’s queer rep (bisexual, gay, pan, lesbian), ADHD rep, fat rep, Latine rep… I meaaaaan, what more could you want in a YA novel?!
CW: abandonment, cursing, alcohol, fatphobia
September 18, 2025
A YA book about three old friends reconnecting on a road trip.
🚗
Chloe is turning eighteen and her father gifted her three tickets to see her favorite boy band from childhood and she knows just who she’s going to ask: Ramona and Sienna. These were Chloe’s best friends in middle school and they made a bucket list of things they wanted to do together, but their friendships drifted and they no longer spend time together. When Chloe proposes they go on a road trip to the concert in Vegas, both girls are surprised and a bit reluctant, but agree. On the road they learn more about who they are now and what they want from the future.
🎟️
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month 🎉 I’ll read and love everything @crystalwrote writes. She is one of the best at including plus size characters and almost always having strong #lgbtq rep & a diverse cast. This novel was reflective, adventurous and fun! if you’re looking for neurodivergent rep, fat positivity & sapphic joy, grab this title!
CW: abandonment, alcohol, pregnancy, ableism, emesis, mental illness, grief, toxic relationship, chronic illness
🚗
Chloe is turning eighteen and her father gifted her three tickets to see her favorite boy band from childhood and she knows just who she’s going to ask: Ramona and Sienna. These were Chloe’s best friends in middle school and they made a bucket list of things they wanted to do together, but their friendships drifted and they no longer spend time together. When Chloe proposes they go on a road trip to the concert in Vegas, both girls are surprised and a bit reluctant, but agree. On the road they learn more about who they are now and what they want from the future.
🎟️
Happy Hispanic Heritage Month 🎉 I’ll read and love everything @crystalwrote writes. She is one of the best at including plus size characters and almost always having strong #lgbtq rep & a diverse cast. This novel was reflective, adventurous and fun! if you’re looking for neurodivergent rep, fat positivity & sapphic joy, grab this title!
CW: abandonment, alcohol, pregnancy, ableism, emesis, mental illness, grief, toxic relationship, chronic illness
June 11, 2025
this is such a fun read about these three ex best friends who come together for a road trip their senior year to see their favorite boy band at a reunion concert and as they do this road trip they check off this bucket list they made when they were younger.
I have a petition that I think that any books that involve any sort of second chance or prior relationship must be required to include a prologue or chapters from the earlier time period period . this book does not do that and I think that it would have pushed it to a five-star if it had.
fat sapphics
I have a petition that I think that any books that involve any sort of second chance or prior relationship must be required to include a prologue or chapters from the earlier time period period . this book does not do that and I think that it would have pushed it to a five-star if it had.
fat sapphics
July 19, 2025
this was just vibes! boy bands, road trips, reuniting friend groups, art and new adulthood. i was less interested in the romance than the overall story but i still enjoyed everything!
October 8, 2025
Cute!!! Dang, I want to go on a roadtrip so bad now!
October 17, 2025
solid 4⭐ read!!
Loved the ADHD representation! I felt SO SEEN reading this. Honestly, just a cute, feelgood YA story about growing up, friendships, and coming of age.
Loved the ADHD representation! I felt SO SEEN reading this. Honestly, just a cute, feelgood YA story about growing up, friendships, and coming of age.
October 15, 2025
This was the most adorable novel about a group of friends going on a nice road trip. It was exactly what I needed to get out of my mini reading slump and jump back into reading.
Every single character was awesome, and I really enjoyed Chloe. She was a well thought out person, and I could envision her so well, it was almost like she was my friend.
It's cheesy, cute, and feel good. It felt so relatable to feel lost, but also know what your path is too.
Every single character was awesome, and I really enjoyed Chloe. She was a well thought out person, and I could envision her so well, it was almost like she was my friend.
It's cheesy, cute, and feel good. It felt so relatable to feel lost, but also know what your path is too.
March 11, 2025
I was gifted this eARC on NetGalley. This book was fully adorable. The unique writing style takes a moment to latch onto, but I truly felt connected to and enjoyed these characters and their story. It was very low stakes, heartfelt, and just an overall lovely journey. I felt I was in the passenger seat the entire time on this road trip, and seeing three best friends find their way back to each other was truly lovely. A few confusing moments with the writing style, but mostly I enjoyed the unique voice this was written in. Quite an uplifting, delightful queer story.
September 25, 2025
Right off the bat, I was not expecting to enjoy this nearly as much as I did end up enjoying it. It probably didn't help that I had literally just finished another road trip with sapphics and there's a famous person at some point book (Amelia, If Only).
But I think that in all honesty, while yes this book is perfectly well written for the young adult audience, it's genuinely enjoyable by adults as well, because this feels like that in between age when you're a teen but also a legal adult.
Of course there's drama throughout, but there is so much maturity in these characters that I don't think I'm used to in YA books - especially how there was no last 20 pages insanity. It felt real, Chloe felt real, Ramona felt real, Sienna felt real. Consider expectations, exceeded.
But I think that in all honesty, while yes this book is perfectly well written for the young adult audience, it's genuinely enjoyable by adults as well, because this feels like that in between age when you're a teen but also a legal adult.
Of course there's drama throughout, but there is so much maturity in these characters that I don't think I'm used to in YA books - especially how there was no last 20 pages insanity. It felt real, Chloe felt real, Ramona felt real, Sienna felt real. Consider expectations, exceeded.
Want to read
December 31, 2024"A sizzling summer romcom with a little something for everyone: fat positivity, sapphic romance, a blazing love triangle, ADHD representation, a diversity of Latine identities, a once-in-a-lifetime roadtrip—and the perfect it’s-finally-happening kiss."
May 10, 2025
4.5 - Thank you so much to @coloredpagesbt @holidayhousebks @crystalwrote for the advance copy of the book!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary ALC!
This book is out on May 13th, 2025.
I am such a fan of Crystal Maldonado that when I saw she was writing about a plus size character who is going on a road trip to see her favorite BOY BAND - say less, I'm there! If you do not already know, I am a fan girl through and through and love my share of boy bands. But this book is SO much more than our FMC Chloe love for them.
Chloe is a newly graduate and embarking on her 18th birthday. Things in her life are changing and she is just not sure she is ready to grow up yet. She loves nostalgia and with her favorite band Intonation doing a charity gig in Vegas, she has been doing a lot of reflecting on the past. Her father and stepmom gift her on stage (you read that right) tickets to see the band in Vegas there are only 2 people she would want by her side. The relationship with Sienna and Ramona is estranged. We see Chloe's point of view of why she felt the relationships went astray and I was happy that she was able to have the conversations with both Sienna and especially Ramona on what went wrong all those years ago. Especially for a teenager, though reflecting back it may have seem like such a small thing but at the time felt like a huge deal.
I love Chloe's relationship with her cousin Diego who is more like her brother than anything. They are super close and share everything with one another. And guess what - he's a drag queen! Chloe's dad was very protective of her and for good reason. I didn't think he was super overbearing but just an average father looking out for his young daughter. He wanted to be cautious but at the same time knew that she needed to experience things on her own without him breathing down her neck. Overall the family was supportive of not only Diego but just in Chloe in general.
"Growing up seems to mean losing the parts of myself that have made me who I am. I don't want to get a job that keeps me so busy I only have four hours to myself at night - most of which I'll probably spend dreading the next day at work. It's inhumane and capitalistic and horrible and I hate it. But I know I won't have a choice."
I thought the characters felt very much their age a la I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet a Woman. There were times where they felt grown but also times when I felt like they were normal 18 year olds experimenting and embracing their "freedom" being away from their parents. I love the representation that Maldonado wrote in the book! I love the openness of the girls' sexualities and how it was never questioned or was some big revelation, it just was.
I paired my ebook with the audio and narrator Diana Bustelo was wonderful to listen to! She is a new to me narrator and I definitely would listen to her again. I felt like she was able to bring across the girls youthfulness and was able to alter her voice to make each character distinguished. And if you are interested in audio only, it is under 8 hrs which would make it a pretty quick listen!
This is not a long book and easily digestible in a setting or two. If you are looking for a book about friendship, reconnection, road trip, bucket list and of course boy bands - give this one a read!!
PS - As an adult reading this book, the quote that I highlighted above hits hard - oof!
PSS - HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS COVER!
Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary ALC!
This book is out on May 13th, 2025.
I am such a fan of Crystal Maldonado that when I saw she was writing about a plus size character who is going on a road trip to see her favorite BOY BAND - say less, I'm there! If you do not already know, I am a fan girl through and through and love my share of boy bands. But this book is SO much more than our FMC Chloe love for them.
Chloe is a newly graduate and embarking on her 18th birthday. Things in her life are changing and she is just not sure she is ready to grow up yet. She loves nostalgia and with her favorite band Intonation doing a charity gig in Vegas, she has been doing a lot of reflecting on the past. Her father and stepmom gift her on stage (you read that right) tickets to see the band in Vegas there are only 2 people she would want by her side. The relationship with Sienna and Ramona is estranged. We see Chloe's point of view of why she felt the relationships went astray and I was happy that she was able to have the conversations with both Sienna and especially Ramona on what went wrong all those years ago. Especially for a teenager, though reflecting back it may have seem like such a small thing but at the time felt like a huge deal.
I love Chloe's relationship with her cousin Diego who is more like her brother than anything. They are super close and share everything with one another. And guess what - he's a drag queen! Chloe's dad was very protective of her and for good reason. I didn't think he was super overbearing but just an average father looking out for his young daughter. He wanted to be cautious but at the same time knew that she needed to experience things on her own without him breathing down her neck. Overall the family was supportive of not only Diego but just in Chloe in general.
"Growing up seems to mean losing the parts of myself that have made me who I am. I don't want to get a job that keeps me so busy I only have four hours to myself at night - most of which I'll probably spend dreading the next day at work. It's inhumane and capitalistic and horrible and I hate it. But I know I won't have a choice."
I thought the characters felt very much their age a la I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet a Woman. There were times where they felt grown but also times when I felt like they were normal 18 year olds experimenting and embracing their "freedom" being away from their parents. I love the representation that Maldonado wrote in the book! I love the openness of the girls' sexualities and how it was never questioned or was some big revelation, it just was.
I paired my ebook with the audio and narrator Diana Bustelo was wonderful to listen to! She is a new to me narrator and I definitely would listen to her again. I felt like she was able to bring across the girls youthfulness and was able to alter her voice to make each character distinguished. And if you are interested in audio only, it is under 8 hrs which would make it a pretty quick listen!
This is not a long book and easily digestible in a setting or two. If you are looking for a book about friendship, reconnection, road trip, bucket list and of course boy bands - give this one a read!!
PS - As an adult reading this book, the quote that I highlighted above hits hard - oof!
PSS - HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS COVER!
June 7, 2025
Crystal Maldonaldo does it again! Get Real, Chloe Torres is another wonderful coming of age YA story focusing on a young plus size Latina. In this story, we are following Chloe, a recent high school graduate who is determined to go on a road trip with her old best friends. Her goal is to rekindle their friendship, finish a bucket list they made when they were kids, and see their favorite boy band, Intonation, for the last time in concert. Simple as it may seem, the three friends go through harsh truths as Chloe also focuses on gaining her independence.
One thing I love about Crystal's work is the representation! Majority of our cast are Latinos and other diverse identities. This book is proudly LGBT+, not only are our main characters Lesbian and Queer, we also have fabulous supportive family and friends. Chloe's cousin, Diego, also does drag, and they frequent drag shows. Get Real, Chloe Torres is also very fat-positive, several of our main characters are plus size, it's never talked about negatively. Our main character Chloe also has ADHD. She takes medication while using several exercises to help manage her symptoms.
Friendship is a HUGE part of Get Real, Chloe Torres. I love how it's about trying to reconnect and revive something so meaningful. We get tough conversations and truth bombs between our girls. Another big theme in this book is dealing with having an absent parent. I appreciate how Crystal likes to bring in these tough topics and writes about it with such care. Another thing I enjoyed was including Whit, the main character from Crystal's last book, The Fall of Whit Rivera! I adored Whit, I'm so glad she got to see Intonation too!
As much as I enjoyed this book, there were some issues I had. For one, there are some sections where there is way too much over-explaining. It's something Crystal does in all of her books, sometimes it doesn't bug me, but I noticed it a bit more in this book. I also could not stand Chloe's dad. I first thought my issue was her, but soon realized it's her dad I had issues with. He's a very loving but controlling dad. He tries to protect Chloe from everything and stresses about every little thing as well. I wish we had an actual conversation where Chloe tells her dad to chill out and trust her. I think I would have given the book an even higher rating if that was included.
Overall, I love Get Real, Chloe Torres! I think it's a great young adult book for young people and for those who enjoy coming of age stories. I totally recommend!
One thing I love about Crystal's work is the representation! Majority of our cast are Latinos and other diverse identities. This book is proudly LGBT+, not only are our main characters Lesbian and Queer, we also have fabulous supportive family and friends. Chloe's cousin, Diego, also does drag, and they frequent drag shows. Get Real, Chloe Torres is also very fat-positive, several of our main characters are plus size, it's never talked about negatively. Our main character Chloe also has ADHD. She takes medication while using several exercises to help manage her symptoms.
Friendship is a HUGE part of Get Real, Chloe Torres. I love how it's about trying to reconnect and revive something so meaningful. We get tough conversations and truth bombs between our girls. Another big theme in this book is dealing with having an absent parent. I appreciate how Crystal likes to bring in these tough topics and writes about it with such care. Another thing I enjoyed was including Whit, the main character from Crystal's last book, The Fall of Whit Rivera! I adored Whit, I'm so glad she got to see Intonation too!
As much as I enjoyed this book, there were some issues I had. For one, there are some sections where there is way too much over-explaining. It's something Crystal does in all of her books, sometimes it doesn't bug me, but I noticed it a bit more in this book. I also could not stand Chloe's dad. I first thought my issue was her, but soon realized it's her dad I had issues with. He's a very loving but controlling dad. He tries to protect Chloe from everything and stresses about every little thing as well. I wish we had an actual conversation where Chloe tells her dad to chill out and trust her. I think I would have given the book an even higher rating if that was included.
Overall, I love Get Real, Chloe Torres! I think it's a great young adult book for young people and for those who enjoy coming of age stories. I totally recommend!
July 10, 2025
This book was SO FUN!!
I love young adult books and reading them always heals a small part of my inner teenage self and the girl who didn't get to do as much as her friends.
Chloe gets to go on the road trip of a lifetime (Boston to Las Vegas!!) to see her favorite boybands REUNION show for one night in Las Vegas. (Her dad is honestly the real MVP for getting her those VIP tickets) Chloe doesn't know who to take with her because she has three tickets for this show --and while it takes her a minute she decides to take her estranged best friends. Of course she has to beg them because they haven't talked in a while, but they do eventually agree. A bucket list road trip these girls get to go on FOR REAL, and Chloe's taken care of all the finances so obviously how could the girls (Ramona and Sienna) say no. I know I wouldn't say no. The representation in this story was also chefs kiss because all three of the girls fall under the umbrella of bisexual, pansexual, and lesbian and I love it. Queers recognize other queers and we normally gravitate towards each other.
DID I MENTION THEY HAVE STAGE TICKETS SO THEY'RE LITERALLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEY CAN FANGIRL THEIR LITTLE HEARTS OUT!!
I was so giddy listening to this and it made me reflect on the past road trip I've been lucky to take with one of my besties and my boyfriend back in 2022 (we went to see Billie Eilish in Chicago and in 2024 we seen Taylor Swift in New Orleans). It also made me just a little sad because of the boyband aspect it made me think of One Direction and how they'll never get to perform again with all five of them since Liam passed. *scream cries*
"It's hard to put into words how much just a few hours at a concert can mean to a fan. Not everyone gets it, but those who do know that nights like these can feel life altering. The way the music, the dancing, the singing, and the memories old and new all come together to make you feel so alive. It's thrilling and vulnerable to be in public singing your heart out with people who understand. To tear up together when the band lets the crowd finish the lyrics, to reembody the version of yourself from when you first heard these songs you love so much, to appreciate how that one flicker of sadness when the show is halfway through-- pulls you into the present so you can really be here.. now."
I love young adult books and reading them always heals a small part of my inner teenage self and the girl who didn't get to do as much as her friends.
Chloe gets to go on the road trip of a lifetime (Boston to Las Vegas!!) to see her favorite boybands REUNION show for one night in Las Vegas. (Her dad is honestly the real MVP for getting her those VIP tickets) Chloe doesn't know who to take with her because she has three tickets for this show --and while it takes her a minute she decides to take her estranged best friends. Of course she has to beg them because they haven't talked in a while, but they do eventually agree. A bucket list road trip these girls get to go on FOR REAL, and Chloe's taken care of all the finances so obviously how could the girls (Ramona and Sienna) say no. I know I wouldn't say no. The representation in this story was also chefs kiss because all three of the girls fall under the umbrella of bisexual, pansexual, and lesbian and I love it. Queers recognize other queers and we normally gravitate towards each other.
DID I MENTION THEY HAVE STAGE TICKETS SO THEY'RE LITERALLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEY CAN FANGIRL THEIR LITTLE HEARTS OUT!!
I was so giddy listening to this and it made me reflect on the past road trip I've been lucky to take with one of my besties and my boyfriend back in 2022 (we went to see Billie Eilish in Chicago and in 2024 we seen Taylor Swift in New Orleans). It also made me just a little sad because of the boyband aspect it made me think of One Direction and how they'll never get to perform again with all five of them since Liam passed. *scream cries*
"It's hard to put into words how much just a few hours at a concert can mean to a fan. Not everyone gets it, but those who do know that nights like these can feel life altering. The way the music, the dancing, the singing, and the memories old and new all come together to make you feel so alive. It's thrilling and vulnerable to be in public singing your heart out with people who understand. To tear up together when the band lets the crowd finish the lyrics, to reembody the version of yourself from when you first heard these songs you love so much, to appreciate how that one flicker of sadness when the show is halfway through-- pulls you into the present so you can really be here.. now."
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