One of the many advantages of being a bilingual reader is the wide variety of diverse books accessible to you. If This Gets Out, published in 2021, is a collaboration between authors Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich, both of whom have multiple books to their credit. Both authors write books featuring queer characters. Sophie Gonzales is no stranger to me. A few years ago, I read Only Mostly Devastated. While not a bad book, it didn’t fully convince me. Cale Dietrich is an unknown author to me. This year, I want to catch up on my older books, and this queer romance about a boy band is one of them. Since I rarely, if ever, read young adult books anymore, my expectations weren’t high. I had my doubts but decided to embark on this reading adventure with an open mind. How did this work out for me?

About the book

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrich
Published by Wednesday Books on December 7, 2021
Pages: 404
ISBN: 9781250805805
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young adult
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

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?

My review

Gonzales and Dietrich each developed one of the characters. This results in a book where perspectives shift with each chapter, allowing you to get to know Ruben and Zach well. Their feelings are elaborated well, they must constantly switch between their true selves and those they portray on camera. Their sexual orientation must remain strictly secret, as this could jeopardize the band’s reputation. The struggles of living under constant pressure and strict scrutiny weigh heavily on these young boys. Because the plot unfolds against the backdrop of touring life, you don’t get to know these characters well, making it difficult to connect to them. This also applies to the supporting characters. Angel is better developed than Jon, but none of the band members achieve the depth this novel so desperately needs.

The boy band element of this story will appeal primarily to teenage girls. Yet, these authors don’t shy away from exploring dark themes. These themes give this young adult book the necessary depth. Being away from home frequently, with little supervision, limited freedom, maximal control, and alcohol and drug use with all its attendant consequences are all things these boys constantly face. The effects this can have on a person are well-depicted. The lives of artists are certainly not always rainbows and sunshine, and this book clearly captures that realization. This is both timely and necessary, given that social media is increasingly fostering parasocial relationships with celebrities. Because the plot itself is rather thin and predictable, the story relies heavily on these themes and mediocre developed characters.

Despite the fact that the execution falls short in many important aspects, this book is an easy read. It’s just not noticeable that this is a collaboration between two authors. The writing styles blend so seamlessly that both Gonzales and Dietrich’s distinct voices are lost. This makes it less inviting and compelling to continue reading, although the ending is beautifully rounded out. Unfortunately, this story feels more like fanfiction on a platform like Watpad than an intriguing book with potential.

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich will certainly appeal to younger readers. The main characters are in a boy band and, amidst all this, embark on a journey of self-discovery and growing into adulthood. The authors explore themes that are more intense than average for a young adult book, but they do make it clear that the lives of celebrities are not always easy. The character development sometimes falls a little short for these themes. Nevertheless, the story flows smoothly, and the English is easy to follow. If you’re a big boy band fan, then this book will suit you.