Book Review: If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrech
The Details
Media Type: Print Book
Title: If This Gets Out
Author(s): Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrech
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages/Length: Hardcover; 416
Release Date: December 7, 2021
Source: Publisher / Turn the Page Tours
Content Warnings: Verbal Abuse, Mentions of Sex
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Eighteen-year-olds Ruben Montez and Zach Knight are two members of the boy-band Saturday, one of the biggest acts in America. Along with their bandmates, Angel Phan and Jon Braxton, the four are teen heartbreakers in front of the cameras and best friends backstage. But privately, cracks are starting to form: their once-easy rapport is straining under the pressures of fame, and Ruben confides in Zach that he’s feeling smothered by management’s pressure to stay in the closet.
On a whirlwind tour through Europe, with both an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, Ruben and Zach come to rely on each other more and more, and their already close friendship evolves into a romance. But when they decide they’re ready to tell their fans and live freely, Zach and Ruben start to truly realize that they will never have the support of their management. How can they hold tight to each other when the whole world seems to want to come between them?
The Review
Ah, If This Gets Out was so very good! I figured that I would love this book, from the moment that I read the synopsis. A story about a boy band, their behind the scenes lives, rounded out with a romance? Yes please!
First off, let me give some love to the authors for writing such stellar characters. Ruben, Zach, Angel and Jon were all such vividly written people, each with their own personalities and flaws. It always makes me happy to see characters who are still going through growing phases. I mean, what could be harder than trying to be a teenager while simultaneously trying to be a famous singer? This story doesn’t glorify the bright lights of fame, but instead shines the light on what they can put people through. Each of the boys has their own baggage that they’re already carrying around, and fame only makes that burden a lot heavier.
That’s not to say that this book is all doom and gloom though. Like I said above, the boys are vividly written and lovely to read about. Their relationships with one another felt genuine. A strong love for one another, maybe laced occasionally with a bit of exasperation or worry. Even their witty banter and bickering felt realistic to me. I giggled a lot, especially at Angel’s sense of humor. It’s something that really elevates the rest of the story, and makes you root for the boys as they navigate their separate lives and separate issues.
As for the romance, well, I can’t say too much without spoiling so I’ll keep it simple. Ruben and Zach’s relationship truly felt natural and believable. It was a slow burn, and watching Zach navigate his true feelings made me smile and tear up in equal measures. What I especially appreciated about this particular part though was how open they were with one another. As an adult, I know for a fact that nothing is solved when people refuse to communicate to one another. That is something that is highlighted in this story. These two went through a lot to get what they wanted, and I truly adored them for it.
The absolute only reason that I gave this a four star rating was that it’s a dual POV book, and that is always rough for me to keep up with. The only difference between the two sets of chapters was the name of the boy under each chapter header. Since they essentially sounded the same while speaking, it made it hard for me to distinguish between the two. I found myself stopping to double check that I knew who was speaking, more than a few times. This is not say that others will have this same problem, so take that with a grain of salt! The book is definitely more than worth it.
