Get Real, Chloe Torres

By: Jamie Steinberg

Chloe Torres’ world is changing. She has just graduated high school and is off to the Rhode Island School of Design in the Fall. Also, her father is having a baby with his new wife. Life seems to be starting over, but Chloe’s head and heart are still stuck in the past. Growing up she had two best friends, Sienna and Ramona, but their friendship was torn apart when Sienna changed schools and Ramona developed romantic feelings for Chloe. Unable to move on without setting the past right, Crystal Maldonado’s latest book Get Real, Chloe Torres forces our heroine to grow in more ways than one. 

Chloe Torres has officially turned eighteen years old, but her dad still thinks of her as his little girl. Hoping to have an adventure and gain some trust, Chloe begs to get tickets to the final concert ever for the boy band Intonation. Chloe and her friends Sienna and Ramona LOVED them deeply, even crushing on the members despite all three ladies being a card caring LGBTQ+ members. When Chloe’s father surprises her with three tickets to the show, there are no other people she would rather have by her side to see it. However, the concert is in Las Vegas so that would mean a big road trip. Can Chloe convince her pals to take the trip of a lifetime with her? Will this adventure be able to bring back the close friendship they once had? You’ll have to turn the pages to find out.

Maldonado brings her signature angsty teen insight to another standout young adult read. Her characters are fun, flirty, heart-on-their-sleeve individuals that are easy to invest in. You want Chloe to spread her wings and find her way in the world. You wish for her friends to make their way back to each other. But you also invest in each person’s personal journeys. Is Sienna brave enough to meet her bio dad? Will Ramona defrost her heart? It’s all there and it’s quite the read. I only have one [small] qualm when it comes to the storyline – I wanted more on the road insights. Yes, you feel like you’re along for the ride for most of their car time and certainly they aren’t going to chat every moment of the day. However, there had to be the obligatory round of singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,” playing the license plate game and/or a bit of I Spy and for sure someone got a Punch Buggy! What I really loved though was hearing about all their stops along the way. It all felt like you were a fly on the wall to each adventure. Plus, we love a crossover so keep an eye out for a cameo by Whit Rivera from Maldonado’s book The Fall of Whit Rivera. Add in some body psoivitity, ADHD representation, three Latine leads, some angsty will they-won’t they moments and a LGBTQ+ positive family and you’ve got yourself something special! 

With Summer just around the corner, Get Real, Chloe Torres will be the perfect teen beach read, especially for those getting ready to head off to college and worried about leaving some of your friends behind. So, snag a spot on a chaise lounge chair, catch some sun and remind yourself that it’s okay to grow.