If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

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?

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I was really hopeful about this. I've read other books by Gonzales and enjoyed them, and I was a (much milder than most protrayed here) fan during the Boyzone/Westlife/Take That era. I saw great reviews of this online and I thought it would be fantastic.

But.

It just isn't.

I can't put my finger on much specifically. I thought the pacing was strange and the story was far too long; I found it very hard to tell everyone apart and remember who was who, but that often happens with me; I know I'm not in the industry, but all the angst about 'our managment says we have to Do This Or Else' felt odd to me. That would have been fine when you were struggling, but you're now the biggest band in the world. Do whatever you're trying to do, drop your managment and find a new one. (Yes, I am completely untutored in the ways of the music world, but when the only reason given was a vague 'our manager is the most powerful in the world' it just didn't make sense to me.) 

I didn't hate it - I didn't really anything it - and I hope it does well. I'm sure other readers will enjoy it.

If This Gets Out publishes on the 7th December, 2021. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.