I'm Gonna Get You Back

by Eva Des Lauriers

OUT FOR REVENGE. IN IT FOR LOVE.

Small-town scandals, explosive secrets and friendship fallouts threaten to tear Clara and Reid apart - all over again . . .

Reid Rousseau was always a winner. Now, he's a former state champion runner with an injury no one can know about and a college scholarship on the line. When he's invited as the guest of honor for Legacy Weekend, a competitive tradition that welcomes high school alumni back to his small mountain town, Reid would rather run away than face his crumbling future-and the girl who broke his heart.

Clara Suarez's legacy can't be failure. A year out of high school and aimless, she has one last shot at getting into her dream film school shooting a Legacy Weekend video interviewing her former classmates-including her ex, Reid-about their explosive senior year and the scandal that capped it off. But any time people return to the mountain, drama follows... especially when an anonymous social media account starts airing everyone's dirty laundry.

Reid isn't the only one hiding something, and Clara isn't the only one with regrets. Their spark is still strong enough to set off a wildfire, but their secrets might just tear them apart for good.

A second-chance love story from Eva des Lauriers, perfect for fans of Lynn Painter, Tillie Cole, and Jenny Han.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Second Chance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult Romance

352 pages, Hardcover

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

Eva Des Lauriers is a California girl who became a diehard romantic when she married her best friend, the boy she sat next to in eleventh grade Calculus. She holds both an MSW and BA in Psychology. As a clinical social worker, she had the privilege of working with the vibrant and complicated teens for whom she now writes. When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering through the redwoods, staring at the sea, or pretending she’s in a music video. She lives with her husband, their two children, and her collection of kissing books in Northern California.
Visit her at evadeslauriers.com.

Reviews

[jae ⟡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars ꗃ ͘ .

⊹ “cover me with all the vines that haunt your mind so i can grow with you.”

this book ended up being nothing like i expected… in a good way! i’m usually pretty wary of dual timelines but i loved how intentional every flashback was in this. i went in expecting lots of angst and yearning too, and safe to say it definitely delivered. i was genuinely so giddy reading about clara and reid reuniting and pining over each other, and the little poems 🥹

clara’s dream of working in film was the biggest highlight for me. i really enjoyed following her process of putting together her documentary, and her monologues about why she loves it hit even harder since i worked on one myself last year. i could really feel and understand her passion for it.

the legacy lore account subplot was also a fun addition, but i did find it hard to stay invested especially with so many characters to keep track of. still, the emotional core of the story made this such a worthwhile read and i’m really glad i did 💌

ⓘ thank you to netgalley and macmillan for the arc!

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore a dual narrative. I love a parallel timeline. I’m a sucker for two flawed, pained characters, and Eva Des Lauriers has outdone herself.

When you’re in high school, your whole life is still in front of you. But you’re also expected to make choices. Some of us have no clue what to choose. Others have the future mapped out in their minds. Clara and Reid belong to that last category. They’re terrified of making the wrong choices, afraid that failure will keep them from the dreams they’ve held onto for so long. They don’t want to make mistakes, even though all of us inevitably do. That’s how we learn. We fall, and we stand up again: stronger, more confident, carrying our baggage with us. And sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we’re not okay. And we got to tell other people. Got to get help. But that voice in our head keeps telling us we can do it on our own.

Sure, I guessed the whodunnit pretty early on. But I didn’t mind. Because even though I’m Gonna Get You Back reads like a simple YA romance on the surface, it’s really a character-driven story about resilience. About asking for help. About fighting back. About choosing your own path. And I think we need stories like this in the world right now.

Also, Clara is such a steady force, and Reid is such a cinnamon roll.

Thank you, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley, for this beautiful ARC!

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[Belle₊˚⊹♡ (for keeps ∞♡) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(Spoiler~free)

‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯,
𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵.’]

Such a lovely book!! 🥹💗
I’m so obsessed with thissss.
The poetry, the yearning, the second chance, the setting!!

All of it I adored and it’s everything I need in a summer book 🙂‍↕️👌🏻
Eva Des Lauriers’s books are so underrated and so beautifully written she’s definitely an auto-buy author for me!!🫡

AND REID..I know I’m saying this like a million times by now but his yearning is unmatchedddd I was so obsessed with being in his perspective and the poetry??? 👀 iykyk.

Carla was definitely a relatable character I saw myself in at times 🥲 which is why I loved her story as well<33
As well as their growth and reconnecting 🥲💗💗

I got through this book so fast it’s not even funny, so if you need a quick summer read PICK THIS UP. 🫵🏼☺️

💘read if you like:
•second-chance ♾️
•dual-pov ✍️
•dual-timeline ⏰
•poetry 🙂‍↕️
•summer setting 🌞

🌟Rating: 5/5
🔥Spice: 0/5 (closed~door)
📚Age Rating: 14+

[Veronica ☽◯☾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➵ 4.75 ⭐️

If love means chasing
fading light, I'll run, chest burning
into your night

Eva's debut was fantastic and I love I Wish You Would so muchhh but her sophomore book is even better 😩🤌🏻

There's just something about the way Eva writes coming of age stories that just hits differently.

I've been impatiently awaiting another book by Eva ever since I read her debut, and boy, was this worth the wait.
It's not very often that a second book is better than a debut but this so was.

"When his eyes go a little softer, my throat threatens to close on a sob. I swallow hard, forcing down every word that wants to spill out of my mouth. Every memory that wants to come back. Every hurt that ripped open the second he said my name."

There's something so real and relatable about Eva's stories—the way she writes raw vulnerability and what it feels like to be 18 feels so true (at least to my high school experience)—it's something I've encountered only a handful of times.
I'm Gonna Get You Back was beautiful and gut wrenching and funny and real.

"It's the shittiest thing about a breakup. The only other person who actually understands it from the inside out is the one you can't ever see again."

I'm absolutely obsessed with Reid, Clara and the whole gang, I can't even 😭😭😭😭😭
Clara's my queen, I wanted to beat all those punks for her. I loved her soooooo much, she was an extremely relatable character for me.
And Reid??? I'm sorry but my tortured baby can do no wrong, I'll forgive him just about anything.
Mitchell was my fav side character, he was hilarious and I absolutely loved his dynamic with both Reid and Clara, actually I loved his dynamic with Kenji best 😏

"How could you do that? I never wanted you to hold yourself back for me. Ever."
I don't like the way she says that. Like she's someone who isn't worth bending—even breaking—for.

The romance was, unsurprisingly, my fav part and I absolutely loved the dual POV and the chapters in the past (that hot springs chapter is gonna live rent free in my head forever 🫠)

"I'm so delirious, so gone for her, nothing exists but this. No one exists but us.
She may not be engraved on my skin, but she's under it in a way that's just as permanent."

With all of the small (lake) town drama and Gossip girl-esque secrets plotline and the all consuming way you fall in love for the first time—I literally could not put this book down.

This is a story that shows you that it's okay if you don't have everything figured out by 18, many people don't. That sometimes, or oftentimes, life doesn't go the way you plan it and that can be scary but it can turn out even better. A detour doesn't mean a dead-end.

I'm so excited for Eva's next book. I'll read anything she writes.

eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
all quotes are from an advance copy and may differ in the final publication

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites.

[eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

PRZYSIĘGAM, ŻE TA KSIĄŻKA DOSTAJE NOMINACJĘ DO MOICH ULUBIONYCH ROMANSÓW WSZECHCZASÓW!!!!
ta książka jest niesamowita 🥹🥹

“Clara . . . This is something.”
[…]“I know it is,”
“But it isn’t everything.”

- jest ból i łzy,
- jest friends to lovers i second chance (ofc w cudownym wykonaniu)
- kindaa zagadka do rozwiązania!!
- małomiasteczkowy klimat (+góry!!!)

strasznie czekam na jej premierę (ponad pół roku czekania XD), ale nie jestem w stanie przestać o niej myśleć <3

„The hairs on my neck rose, and my response tumbled over a ner-
vous laugh. “That is such a cheesy line.”
He frowned. “It wasn’t a line. You look beautiful.”

[Kasee Baldwin]

Okay, as someone who spent Y E A R S as an avid watcher of "Pretty Little Liars" and a fierce theorist on who "A" was, I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK by Eva Des Lauriers gave such a delicious bit of that PLL energy.

This story follows wannabe-filmmaker Clara Suarez, her back-in-town ex, and a small town with loooots of secrets. There's an anonymous social media account sharing secrets of the elusive alumni Legacies, mega-complicated friend and family relationships, and a swoony second-chance rekindling of Clara and Reid's sparkling connection.

A fun read with a lil' mystery!

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK is out 5/19/26.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book it was so good Eva knows how to make me swoon for her characters this my second read of hers while in Ghana I fell in love with her debut I wish you would ever since then I wanted more from her we follow two students called Reid and Clara who were known as friends but when messages started going round about them it made Clara left Reid because she was hurt by the things she found out about him I love how Eva made drama and tension flow through the book without overdoing it that you feel the angst and the sexiness of the story between them I also adored the relationship Reid and Mitchell had too along with Kenji he was one of the nicest characters too

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Current rating: 3.25 stars

A cute second-chance romance story! I found the dual timeline to be done well, and their lingering feelings toward each other made sense. Pacing was pretty good, although it did start to drag a bit towards the end. The mystery element was a nice touch, even if I was able to guess the reveals. Overall, this was a nice, quick read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Abena · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.***

I was debating between giving this two or three stars, but I ultimately landed on three because even though I’m not the intended audience, I can see this story connecting with a lot of readers. It’s very much a young adult second-chance romance, and I think people in a younger demographic would probably relate to it more than I did. I felt like it dragged a bit toward the end of the book and found myself thinking, “okay, can we get to it already?”, but overall it’s an easy read.

There were several things I genuinely liked. The haikus in the beginning of each chapter from Reid’s perspective were a nice touch and gave his voice something special. I also truly believed in the connection between the two main characters. Since there wasn’t a huge time gap between when their relationship/connection ended and when they reconnected, it felt realistic that their feelings hadn’t faded.

The mystery element around who sabotaged Clara’s opportunity for a scholarship kept me interested for a good portion of the story, even if the reveal wasn’t particularly shocking.

I think the book did a great job capturing how challenging that time of your life (shortly after high school) can be and the pressures of growing up in a small town. And, I appreciated that the characters were fully developed and had personalities outside of their feelings for one another.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book — just not completely for me. But I do think a lot of readers, especially those who enjoy YA romances with a bit of mystery, will find it engaging.

[CoolReadHaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a cute romance story between the main characters Clara and Reid. This book is dual POV. They live in this small town that boast about their legacy program which is a program to help fund college for 5 lucky seniors but there are strict rules to staying in the program. There are secrets, mystery, and betrayals. I thought the story was well paced and kept me interested. The ending was not predictable. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the constant going back and forth in time (this is just a personal preference) overall the writing style was easy to read and understand. There were some things like when they used words like helluva that I just don’t personally like to read. The characters felt real and I enjoyed getting to see how they changed throughout the story. I also really liked the haikus at the start of Reid’s chapters. Overall, I would give this book a 3.5 stars, I enjoyed it but it didn’t stand out to me. If you like suspense, betrayal among friends, and small town romance then this would be a good book for you.

[Kaitlin Barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva is a true mastermind at writing angsty YA books and this is no exception. Thank you to Fierce Reads, Henry Holt and Co, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the advanced reading copy.

I read Eva’s debut in only a day or two, and I devoured this one just as fast. This story is told in a dual narrative in a parallel timeline building up the anticipation and the angst in a way that you CANNOT look away from. I was clamoring to learn more about these characters and their stories. Eva’s does some amazing work with the development of Clara and Reid’s relationship and the undeniable pull between them. Their chemistry and tension and yearning were top tier. Absolutely adding Reid to my list of “men who yearn.”

I got big Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl vibes from the “whodunnit” aspect of the story and the anonymous blog posts. This mysterious person ruined Clara’s scholarship opportunity and they come back to terrorize the past winner when they visit their hometown for the weekend. I had a pretty good idea of who it was, but there were several curveballs that caught me off guard. I loved how the plot had quite a few different storylines that converged so wonderfully at the end.

Lastly, I just loved the friendships in this book. Reid and Clara are very compelling, but they have an amazing group of friends around them who all have their own nuances. The friendships felt so genuine. Not everything is perfect all the time, but friends who stick together make all the difference. Eva portrayed the high school experience and how toxic the competition can be for scholarships and the unfair expectations to succeed and have everything figured out. I loved this book and I will always be locked in on what Eva writes!

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck. There are so many authors who can’t write angsty teens without making them insufferable assholes.

EDL is not one of them.

She not only perfectly captures every single feeling of an age where you’re supposed to be figuring it all out, she captures the extremely realistic possibilities of shit not working out at all.

The gossip girl stuff was a nice break from the intense emotions, but she has such a gift for reminding you (at least this reader in her thirties) about how awful being young was but also the great parts of it in between. The chemistry and tension was off the charts from the first page and I was rooting for them to be together no question, but to also individually grow themselves. And they do, in the most beautiful, imperfect ways.

And the tattoo?! Fuck you (respectfully, you’re a genius).

I can’t believe this is only her second book but you better believe I’m following her til the ends of the earth so she can inject her words straight into my veins.

[Mella aka Maron]

DNF at 31%.

I debated this DNF for a long time but I realized as I started a different book with a friend group that this one just kinda sucks. These friends are just too antagonistic for me and the implication that her bff slept with the guy she likes… that’s too much for me. (I haven’t gotten to the confirmation yet but it’s heavily implied so far.)

This book just feels like too much drama over substance. I am rooting for none of these characters. The FMC even fooled around with one of her friend’s on+off again bf bc she was BORED. 😑

So I’m out because I just know this will be three stars and I don’t want to continue to waste my time.

[Kaelyn Hassey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Reid and Clara, they had great chemistry and felt genuine, with a dynamic that kept me hooked from start to finish. The plot was entertaining and well-paced, and I loved the mix of humor and heart. My only small wish is that the story had them actually date back in high school and then reconnect a few years later, rather than just a few months. Still, it was a charming and enjoyable second-chance romance that I’d absolutely recommend! ty Net Galley for the ARC read!!

[Amber Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me on such an emotional journey! While it took a while to get invested in it, once I got there I was IN. This is a beautiful representation of young love and how sweet it can be. But also how heartbreaking it is. I love how many different demographics are seamlessly represented in this book. Will absolutely be reading more from this author!

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @henryholtbooks for the digital copy to review!

Y’all know how I feel about @evadeslaurbooks and I’m here to tell you this sophomore book does not disappoint!!!! Eva writes yearning teens like no one else and my man Reid is a *yearner* in every sense of the word. He’s been in love with his Clara for a long time and woooooo boy does Legacy weekend come for him.

Speaking of Clara - I loved her so much. She had so much pressure internally and externally, and is it any wonder she reacted the way she did? No… and that’s on *trauma* - my sweet girl just wanted to be happy and successful and she was thrown some pretty rude curveball.

Their romance was lovely. That first kiss? Stunning. Their reunion? Even more stunning.

I love a dual timeline and this one did not let me down. I solved the mystery pretty early BUT I was also led astray (in the best way) so I was super pleased with how it turned out. Supporting characters were fantastic, I loved all of the storylines and how they converged.

Also I cried several times but Reid talking to his dad at the end made me weep. And also I love Mitchell. What a great friend and brother.

Anyways this is out on May 19 so you know what to dooooo. I loved it I love them I love YA romance I love books.

[justclayreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bro this was like a mix of Maury x Gossip Girl x Mean Girls. I was LIVING for all the mess. Might be the most fun I’ve ever had with a YA novel.
Also I don’t typically read YA romance just because I’m old as hell, but I actually didn’t mind this one. It’s second chance, of course, and Reid was quite literally down for whatever when it came down to Clara and/or helping her.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting Nothing Like The Movies vibes and I got so much more. I loved the drama, the yearning, the haikus, the side characters' personalities, and of course, how Reid and Clara loved one another. YA Romances can be at times repetive or toxic, but this one was neither; it explored diversity, mental/physical health, creativity, and most of all, a passionate love that survived even the most vengeful of plots.

[Lauren Cooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed. So worth the wait.

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot]

Just like Natalia and Ethan from I Wish You Would, Reid and Clara absolutely stole my heart. Reid obviously studied at the Conrad Fisher School of Yearning and I was HERE FOR IT. I loved the dual POVs and timelines which weaved everything together so perfectly. I also really loved the Legacy plotline and how programs like that can open doors, but also bring so much pressure to be perfect and peak in high school. I truly wasn’t sure who would be behind the anonymous account spilling everyone’s secrets so that was a fun surprise for me! I’m so excited to read whatever Eva Des Lauriers writes next! She’s definitely becoming an auto read author for me!

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the digital reader’s copy!

[Elly Valdes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just average to me. I requested an advanced copy back in October (?) and just got around to reading it, so you can see where it was on my list of priorities. Nothing really stuck out to me, I thought the characters were typical of a YA and dealt with YA problems, and the whole “Legacy Lore” was super topical. I liked seeing the poems (haiku representation!) and the invisible string between Reid and Clara throughout the story.

What I most enjoyed about this is that it got the “transitional period between high school and college” right and how confusing it can be, especially for those whose path/idea of who they are and what they want to do might have changed. I think the author did a great job showing different avenues and how one is not better or worse than the other, it truly just leads to different destinations.

[Melissa Cantarow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely geared toward a YA audience as the plot centers around the experience of recent high school grads. I loved Clara and Reid, and while the push/pull of their relationship was frustrating, they were so sweet and tender with each other. The plot dragged a bit by the end but overall I really enjoyed it and found myself thinking about it during the day.

Thank you NetGalley for baby’s first ARC!

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK by Eva Des Lauriers is a standalone contemporary Young Adult Romance with a strong cast of characters, and a pining, yearning, second chance romance told in two POVs and two timelines. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and devoured this book in two days. I laughed, I cried, I gasped at one point. It was an emotional, creative, well-written novel that I highly recommend. Before I gush on, here's the setup.

In the small mountain town in California, Woodhurt High School offers scholarships to its four best students every year. These Legacies must meet the highest standards in their specific area of talent, in academics, and in their behavior. Every year, the town and alumni Legacies gather for the announcement of who will be the next four Legacies. To those who win, it's sometimes the difference between going to your dream school, or not going at all.

We meet Reid Rousseau in the past timeline on a ledge overlooking a panoramic mountain view with Clara. It's clear right from the first line that he's really into her. They seem to have the kind of relationship many people only dream about. Reid's a star cross-country runner and has the potential to go really far with it.

Clara Suarez has had a rough year. We meet her in the current day timeline, several days before the next Legacy announcement. Last year, a scandal rocked the assembly, and Clara lost her Legacy scholarship and couldn't afford to attend her dream film school. But that's not what's on her mind when we first meet Clara. She misses Reid.

When Reid, the guest of honor, returns to Woodhurt in the current timeline, there are two mysterious that he, Clara, and the recent Legacies must figure out before more reputations are ruined and damaging secrets are revealed by an anonymous social media account that seems to know everyone's dirty laundry. Who ruined Clara's chances at being a Legacy? Who is the anonymous poster?

What I loved most about this book:
- The main characters, Reid and Clara, were so compelling, their romance so perfectly imperfect, their character arcs so satisfying. The challenges they face resonate and help shape this twisty, mystery-adjacent romance.
- What a brilliant, well-developed set of side characters. I especially loved Mitchell and Kenji.
- Best friends can make all the difference, and I really enjoyed how authentic the relationships in this story felt.
- The mystery of who could be making those cruel anonymous posts about the previous Legacies made this already pacey read even more propulsive. It was like GOSSIP GIRL but make it small town and for revenge
- Can we talk about how awesome the twists were in this story? To avoid spoilers, I won't. Just trust me. They were so darn good!
- On top of the main romantic arc in this story are some other arcs that were so, so well-written, and reflected the contemporary high school experience. One example is the drive and push to always be improving as an athlete Reid believes in, or Clara's insecurity about her art.
- The tattoo. That's all I'll say.
- A theme that really landed with me is the pressure that so many high school seniors face to perform to the highest, most exacting standards. It can sometimes creative an extremely toxic environment that not everyone is willing to see or acknowledge.

What didn't work:
- I can't think of a single thing I'd change. This book was phenomenal. Bravo!

I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK is a romantic, pacey, mystery-adjacent, second chance romance that shows that love may not conquer all, but it's still worth it. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to pre-order this fantastic novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

[Chelsea Ekstedt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me an ARC of this book (ebook version).

Clara had big dreams: about being a Legacy, about attending film school, about becoming a documentarian. Reid moved to town senior year; he was the gorgeous, motivated, running star. They fell for each other, though Clara, scarred by her parents' disastrous relationship, absolutely refused to acknowledge it was serious and refused to let Reid tell her how he felt. Everything fell apart at the Legacy banquet when both were announced as part of that year's group of Legacies, only to have Clara's spot ripped away due to some shadiness. She spiraled, broke things off with Reid, and lost all hope for her dreams.

It's now fall and time for the annual Legacy Weekend, a time when Legacy alumni return and are celebrated. A time for the school to use these young adults to drum up more money (gross). Clara's been asked to work on a hype video to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Legacy. Reid's dealing with a serious injury and academic probation, neither of which he's told anyone about. The other Legacies are all hiding things, too. Everyone returns for the weekend. A gossipy social media account, Legacy Lore, starts posting these secrets online. As the weekend progresses, there is much drama. Clara and Reid, along with their friends Mitchell, Kenji, and Delaney, work together to find out who is behind the account and who sabotaged Clara last year. Everything comes to a head at the final event.

Mitchell and Kenji got together: yay! Clara and Reid got back together. Reid acknowledged his problems and what he needed. Clara got accepted back into film school. Clara and Delaney are friends again. While everything seemed wrapped up, I wanted more fall out from Clara's expose video. I wanted the Legacy program dismantled or at least revamped. I get this is a YA romance, but there was SO much focus on Legacy that leaving it without a resolution felt cheap.

The entire Legacy program gave me the ick. On the surface, Legacy encourages seniors in high school to strive to do their best and the reward is money for college and local prestige. In actuality, Legacy leads to mental and physical exhaustion, underhanded tactics, and the unending expectation to be perfect and not disappoint anyone in their hometown. As Reid notes, it encourages peaking in high school.

There is a whole lot of infuriating patriarchy bullsh*t in this book. The author doesn't exactly excuse it, but it does gloss over it in a way that left me wanting more: more consequences and more pushback.

Examples:
1. Clara is disqualified, but Josh is not. They were both in the video participating in the drunken make-out session.
2. Reid and Josh get into a brawl in front of everyone. They get away with it because Principal West has a "boys will be boys" mentality.
3. Legacy is 20 years old. Clara is 18. Her parents were both Legacies, but only her mom had to give up her spot to have Clara. Why wasn't her dad required to give up his? Wouldn't "unplanned pregnancy outside of marriage" fall under the antiquated stupidity of the Legacy expectations.

[Pine Reads Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The love I’ve felt for her is a burning, blazing kind that has never—not once—dimmed.”

At Woodhurst High School, only five students are chosen every year to be a Legacy, receiving a scholarship and the prestige that comes with such a title. However, at the announcement assembly, a video is mysteriously played that ends up costing Clara her spot as a Legacy. All her plans for her future come tumbling down, including her growing relationship with Reid, who also received a Legacy spot. Months later, the five Legacies return to town for the annual Legacy Weekend. But an anonymous social media account, Legacy Lore, is threatening to uncover all the Legacies’ secrets, leaving them scrambling to find out who is behind it. Meanwhile, Clara is still reeling from having lost the Legacy spot and wanting to discover who sabotaged her. Clara and Reid, both still possessing feelings for each other, work together to unravel the mysteries and rebuild connections.

This book was a delightful mystery and love story all rolled into one that I simply could not get enough of. The mystery aspect kept me reading, wanting to uncover what happened to Clara back in high school and also who is behind the Legacy Lore account. I loved how this book was dual point of view (P.O.V.); I am a big fan of dual P.O.V. romance books and this one definitely delivered all the yearning inner thoughts from both Reid and Clara. Those remaining feelings for each other from high school permeated both of their perspectives, making me root for them wholeheartedly and effectively creating a love story that felt realistic to me. The book also has alternating timelines from past to present that helped amplify the mystery of who was behind sabotaging Clara. It was nice to see how the characters have changed and are struggling as they move from high school into college. I think this book will be relatable for a lot of high school and college-aged people feeling academic pressure and struggling to manage all the different aspects of their lives while going through these big changes and moments. This book went beyond being just a romance story and delved into how the Legacy program leads high schoolers to put a lot of pressure on themselves to be perfect and have their lives all figured out—something that made this book relatable to me. There was a perfect blend of serious, emotional scenes with cute and fun ones that made the story both complex and realistic.

I’m Gonna Get You Back releases on May 19th, 2026.

Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 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.

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[Anca A · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Review: *I'm Gonna Get You Back* - Eva Des Lauriers - ARC
4.8/5✨
0/5🌶️

Reid and Clara had big dreams for their future, but only one of them was able to accomplish that through the Legacy Program. After that disastrous and life changing moment, they parted ways, leaving behind a beautiful love story, one they didn't know if it would ever have a chance.

With the occasion of the Legacy Weekend, former state championship runner, Reid and Clara, the film-making lover, had a second chance at love. But nothing was the same as before, because there was a strange online account which kept on stirring up the fire, bringing to surface many secrets of the ones who were part of that Legacy Program. Now they needed to find out the truth about this mysterious account and to decide if they were willing to give their love another chance or they should just leave everything behind.

I honestly needed to read a few chapters before I felt like I was fully captivated by this story. It started pretty shyly but I can guarantee that everything would get so much better after the whole craziness began. I liked all that mystery which was behind those secret posts and the fact that it was focused on the mental health of those young kids. It was pretty tough to be at that level of performance and to also be great in everything else regarding school. This was what they experienced in this story and the chase for perfection lead them into acting a bit crazy and into doing some bad things. On the other side, we had the love story of Reid and Clara which was filled with uncertainty and angst. I really liked that they were still having those strong feelings for one another and I also liked that tension and longing which was in their hearts. With that reunion occasion, Reid and Clara had the chance to fight against their fears and insecurities together, thing which made them see their situation a bit different than before. That was super inspiring and that ending was a bit emotional to me, because of those amazing lessons I learned from this story.

This was a closed door romance, filled with so much angst and so much suspense and mystery. I honestly didn't know who was the guilty one, being so many people on my list of suspects. The love story was also super captivating and sweet, being depicted that hard side of love, which defined how strong that bound was in the end.

Thank you so, so much Eva Des Lauriers and Netgalley for accepting me for this e-ARC.

✨Tropes
▫️Second Chance Romance
▫️Coming Of Age
▫️Angsty
▫️Dual Pov
▫️Scandal & Sabotage
▫️Athlete
▫️Closed Door Romance
▫️Reunited Lovers

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! Thank you to Henry Holt and Co and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy! You can pick up I'm Gonna Get You Back on May 19, 2026.

Eva Des Lauriers is truly the QUEEN of angsty YA romances. I was in shambles over I Wish You Would last year, and I knew I'm Gonna Get You Back would deliver a similar emotional gut punch. I was not wrong.

This story follows Clara, a recent high school graduate reeling from the loss of her Legacy scholarship and the disruption of her plans to attend film school. All of her friends have moved on with their new college lives, and Clara's left feeling unmoored and directionless. Until she's approached to film a short video about the very scholarship program that dropped her months earlier, when the recipients return to their hometown for a celebratory Legacy weekend. Including her ex, Reid.

The tension between Clara and Reid was excruciating in the best way. We oscillate back and forth between their time in the past as a couple, building an intimate relationship, and their time in the present as estranged exes and former friends. So many lingering feelings and electric chemistry, but their circumstances (and the circumstances surrounding their breakup) haven't changed.

On top of their tumultuous second-chance relationship, Clara and Reid are also struggling individually, with Reid's knee injury threatening his Legacy scholarship and Clara determined to define her future without ruminating too much on the past. What I love about this book is how clearly we see Clara and Reid pinpoint what's REALLY going on with the other person beyond these surface-level conflicts. Clara recognizes that it's not about Reid's injury but his inability to ask for help. Reid sees that Clara isn't moving on with her life but running away from the things that have hurt her. Their connection is SO VISCERAL throughout the entire book, and I just couldn't get enough of it.

Eva's character work truly drives the story, but I also appreciated how the plot centered around the truth of what being a "Legacy scholar" means for these high school kids and the immense pressure they put on themselves at all times. Even though this is a YA contemporary romance, the stakes truly feel high because we're so invested in these teens' emotional well-being and futures. I just love how Eva weaves both plot and character development together so effortlessly, keeping me glued to the page at all times (even if a few parts were a tad predictable).

All in all, if you want an angsty, emotional second-chance YA contemporary romance with fantastic characters, I cannot recommend this enough!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bonnier books for the arc!

I read Eva’s debut book last summer and absolutely loved it and so was so excited when I received the arc for this! It definitely didn’t disappoint at all and was just as enjoyable as her first, she’s amazing at short timeline plots as well as dual timeline and I love how fast paced they are whilst still having so much depth! I really liked both main characters and felt they definitely were made for each other and I liked how their relationship was both messy at times yet still beautiful. I loved the way their story was told through both dual pov and dual timeline as it added so much insight and backstory to both characters and made them so easy to root for as you could really feel their struggles and understand their actions. I really appreciated one of the themes being the pressure put on high school seniors to perform to high standards and as a former gifted and talented kid it really hit home and also the theme of asking for help and taking a break when needed. Both Reid and Clara’s character arcs were so well done throughout and I loved how they interacted with one another, it felt so authentic and their connection was so strong. I adored Reid (definitely Conrad coded in the best way!!) he was so loyal, sweet and who doesn’t want an mmc who reads fantasy and writes poetry! I loved the side characters too and I felt they brought a lot to the story, especially my faves Mitchell and Kenji! I love how friendships were also a key part of the story and would love to see more of these characters in the future if Eva ever decides to return to this town in future books! The mountain town setting was amazing and felt so cozy, it was so easy to visualise everything thanks to the authors writing style which immediately immerses you within the town and the characters within it. The plot itself was really well thought out and I absolutely loved the pace it progressed at. I actually didn’t see it coming who was behind anything and I absolutely loved the twists. This was thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish and I found myself wanting to keep reading and not put it down! I truly think Eva is one of the best authors of current YA romance, they’re so feel good and have such a nostalgic romcom feel to them and I’m excited for anything she releases in the future!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Henry Holt for the ARC and finished copy of I’m Gonna Get You Back by Eva Des Lauriers. All opinions are my own.

I’m Gonna Get You Back is such a fitting title for this book. There’s both a second chance romance and characters wanting revenge. I liked how both aspects of the book were about equal parts of the plot.

The dual timeline was very engaging. I especially enjoyed watching Reid and Clara fall in love the first time because it was so sweet. The second timeline was very engaging later in the story when lots of drama was going down.

This story was full of angst and drama with characters who backstab each other and then other characters that always have each other’s backs. I thought that the friendships were good, and I liked not knowing who was trustworthy.

The romance was very sweet and emotional. I thought that Reid and Clara were really good for each other, and I liked that they were both supportive of each other’s interests. They also had good chemistry from the very beginning.

I thought Clara’s love of documentaries was super interesting, and I could actually picture her film as the different shots were described.

The setting of college students coming back home was unique, and it made for a combination of drama and pressure to have things all figured out. A lot of the characters were still trying to figure things out, and that made them often make bad decisions.

I did enjoy the mystery surrounding both the previous year’s assembly and then the present day social media account. I wasn’t quite sure who was behind them, but I did like trying to guess.

The legacy program was honestly pretty terrible, and it didn’t help that the principal was so awful and biased. I’m glad that people learned how things really were with the program because it was honestly unhealthy how things were set up.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you like stories full of angst and drama with some character growth.