If This Gets Out: A Novel

Sophie Gonzales · Cale Dietrich

Dec 2021 · Sold by Wednesday Books

About this ebook

A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich's “If This Gets Out is an absolute showstopper! Equal parts edgy and adorable, this bright, joyful book has everything I look for in a queer YA romance.” —Phil Stamper, bestselling author of The Gravity of Us

You’re in the most popular boy band in America...and all you want is the boy singing next to you.

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 heartthrobs in front of the cameras and best friends backstage.

But privately, the pressure to stay in the closet has Ruben confiding in Zach.

On a whirlwind tour through Europe with an unrelenting schedule and minimal supervision, the two 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 realize they will never truly have the support they need.

How can they hold tight to each other when their whole world is coming apart?

Ratings and reviews

4.5 stars — Wow, there was a lot in this one. Like, it was kind of angstier than I usually read, and yet I really enjoyed it. I was sucked in almost from the very start. There was just a connection between Ruben and Zach that made me smile. And I was so intrigued by this group of 4 boys, each struggling with their own issues. All the characters felt very real to me. It was so hard to watch the slowly forming train wreck that is approaching these boys. I became invested in them as friends, and I worried about them. Especially Angel. It was weird to be so invested in a side character. I think I both loved and hated how much both of our boys were going through. It was very real, but I wanted better for them…and while they got better, I wanted *even* better, you know? I feel like I kept peeling layers off of Zach as the story went on. It was fascinating to see how his parents split had affected him in a way I hadn’t anticipated. He really had such a hard time putting himself first, like, EVER. And while the ups and downs were hard, it made it that much more rewarding when he started to understand and grow. And then there’s Ruben. Also very oniony. He could be so confident at times, and so in tune with himself. And then he would let it all just drop like Pavlov’s dog at the ding of a message from his Mom. I ached for what she was doing to him. Gaslighting 101. Part of me understood why he struggled to cut the cord, but I wanted that for him so badly. His growth there was subtle, but I will admit I wanted a wee bit more. I always feel like I have somewhat of a sense of what celebrities go through, but I don’t know if any of us can really know. While this is a fictional account, it felt believable. Which is kind of heartbreaking. I enjoyed the note by the authors at the end. It wasn’t all angsty, obviously. The two of them together were so adorable!! It was so satisfying to see them get to that point and fight for their romance. And I adored the support they had from #Anjon. 😉 So yeah…it totally lived up to my expectations, and was a great celebrity LGBT romance.

I liked this book a lot and felt it was a very solid read. I found the whole concept behind this book very intriguing, current and appealing. I am not and have never been a boy band follower but I was easily and quickly caught up in these characters, their story and their world. I enjoyed the complexity of this book. On one hand it delivers a wonderful romance that gave me plenty of feels and warmed my heart, and with the other it touches on important topics like sexuality, fame, drug abuse, family, emotional abuse and friendship. This was a potent and powerful read but also a very fun one. This is my frank, freely review.

When I read the blurb for If This Gets Out, I was very excited to read it! I'm a boy band lover, love a good friends to lovers romance and I also was interested in the ins and outs of the behind the scenes of this boy band. I was not disappointed. We are introduced to the band, Saturday, and it's members Ruben, Jon, Angel and Zach. The four are not only bandmates, but they are friends. They rely on one another, they are there for one another and support one another. They truly are a family that they chose and it was so intriguing to see their interactions, quarrels and discussions just like any other family. Plus, given the "bubble" they are in, they are the only people who can really understand what they are each going through and experiencing when it comes to fame and the music business. We see how the fame they so badly wanted can also cause other issues with drug abuse, the controlling nature of their management/label and even the pressure from their own families, among other issues. Watching Zach and Ruben navigate their relationship and the new feelings that emerge was so well done. They were both battling different questions, issues and worries over what their attraction meant not only for them, but for the band. They were really wise beyond their years given how they talked through things and worked together to figure out what was going to be best for them. Sure, they had their moments of misunderstandings, but overall, I thought it was handled well. This is one of the best books I've read for a while. I would highly recommend picking it up. It's well written and it keeps you engaged from the start to the end.

About the author

SOPHIE GONZALES lives in Adelaide, Australia. When she isn’t writing, she can be found ice skating, performing in musical theatre, and practicing the piano. She is the author of The Law of Inertia, Only Mostly Devastated, and Perfect on Paper.

CALE DIETRICH is a YA devotee, lifelong gamer, and tragic pop punk enthusiast. He lives in Brisbane, Australia. His debut novel, The Love Interest, was named a 2018 Rainbow List Selection. He is also the author of The Friend Scheme.