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The Summer We Ran
Does your past define your destiny? Told through multiple perspectives, rich with emotion and immersive dual timelines, The Summer We Ran weaves together a story of lost love, devastating secrets, shocking sabotage, and the painstaking decision two people must make in order to fulfill the futures they each desire.
In the summer of 1996, teenage Tess Murphy’s mom gave her two rules to abide keep quiet and stay out of trouble. Her mother landed a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate and didn’t want anything to risk the opportunity, least of all her outspoken daughter. What no one saw coming was Tess falling deeply in love with the boy next door, high-society Grant Alexander.
Over a few wondrous and heat-filled months, Tess and Grant’s love blooms so ferociously it feels utterly impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes and the teenagers find themselves pained by betrayal with little hope to repair the damage that’s been done.
Now, two decades after their epic teenage romance abruptly ended in heartbreak, Tess and Grant are both running for Governor of Virginia, where secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, futures, and the love they once shared.
In the summer of 1996, teenage Tess Murphy’s mom gave her two rules to abide keep quiet and stay out of trouble. Her mother landed a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate and didn’t want anything to risk the opportunity, least of all her outspoken daughter. What no one saw coming was Tess falling deeply in love with the boy next door, high-society Grant Alexander.
Over a few wondrous and heat-filled months, Tess and Grant’s love blooms so ferociously it feels utterly impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes and the teenagers find themselves pained by betrayal with little hope to repair the damage that’s been done.
Now, two decades after their epic teenage romance abruptly ended in heartbreak, Tess and Grant are both running for Governor of Virginia, where secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, futures, and the love they once shared.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2025
560 people are currently reading
33277 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Ingram
3 books354 followersAudrey Ingram is a native of Alabama and a graduate of Middlebury College and Georgetown University Law Center. She practiced law in Washington, DC for fifteen years. When not writing, she can be found digging in her garden or hiking the Blue Ridge mountains. Audrey currently lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,337 reviews
July 5, 2025
A second chance romance (my favorite) with a young teenage love that takes place one summer (another favorite) + running against each other for governor 20+ years later. It lacked the chemistry/banter/nostalgic feeling of your first love in the past timeline for me BUT you can’t deny they have a LOT of history. They’ve been through so much that’s revealed as the story unfolds which could ruin their campaigns & families if they were to come to light (also raises the stakes)
Not my favorite read & I never found myself rooting for this couple (they were in my opinion objectively very incompatible), but I was for sure INVESTED!!! Really fast paced with a few twists that got me good, and I would recommend the audiobook as well
Not my favorite read & I never found myself rooting for this couple (they were in my opinion objectively very incompatible), but I was for sure INVESTED!!! Really fast paced with a few twists that got me good, and I would recommend the audiobook as well
June 13, 2025
I’m so sorry 😭
This started out so strong with the premise, the setting, the initial setup of the plot. The first half of the book was also so quick to read and bingeable.
BUT THEN in the second half… we get into the miscommunication (or lack of communication entirely tbh), the flat characters that we are supposed to be rooting for, and all the politics just felt very in-your-face and not very nuanced.
sadly did not enjoy :(
This started out so strong with the premise, the setting, the initial setup of the plot. The first half of the book was also so quick to read and bingeable.
BUT THEN in the second half… we get into the miscommunication (or lack of communication entirely tbh), the flat characters that we are supposed to be rooting for, and all the politics just felt very in-your-face and not very nuanced.
sadly did not enjoy :(
June 14, 2025
Love what this book was trying to do but not sure it fully did it
June 14, 2025
3.4 stars
“The Summer We Ran “by Audrey Ingram is a compelling, emotionally resonant beach read with all the hallmarks of great chick-lit--romance, self-discovery, and a strong female lead. It centers on Tess Murphy, a gutsy and determined young woman, and the life-changing summer that sets the stage for both personal growth and political confrontation decades later.
Tess is the daughter of a hardworking single mother who lands a job as a cook for an affluent family one summer. The position includes housing on the family's picturesque estate, and Tess soon finds herself drawn to the kind and supportive matriarch, Madeline. Their bond grows as Tess assists with gardening and receives gentle guidance and affirmation from Madeline, who becomes a powerful role model and a grounding influence in Tess’s life.
That same summer, Madeline’s son, Grant, returns home after graduating from boarding school and preparing to attend an Ivy League university. Tess and Grant’s relationship blossoms into a summer romance, one that crosses social and economic boundaries and draws the ire of Grant’s father. The consequences of that romance, and the secrets surrounding it, are slowly revealed as the story unfolds.
Ingram masterfully weaves the narrative through two alternating timelines: the pivotal summer of 1996, and the high-stakes present of 2021. In the present, Tess is now running for governor of Virginia as the Democratic candidate--facing none other than Grant, her old summer flame, now the Republican nominee. Their shared past is a carefully guarded secret, one that threatens to resurface in the public eye.
The novel is told through dual points of view, alternating between Tess and Grant, which gives readers insight into both characters’ inner conflicts and evolving perspectives. This narrative style keeps the pacing brisk and emotionally layered, drawing readers into the complexity of both timelines.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Anna Caputo and Andrew Gibson. Their performances brought the characters to life, adding emotional depth and nuance to the story. The narration truly elevated the listening experience.
I highly recommend “The Summer We Ran” to fans of smart, romantic fiction with strong female protagonists, political intrigue, and a dash of nostalgia. It’s a story about identity, ambition, and the moments that define who we become.
“The Summer We Ran “by Audrey Ingram is a compelling, emotionally resonant beach read with all the hallmarks of great chick-lit--romance, self-discovery, and a strong female lead. It centers on Tess Murphy, a gutsy and determined young woman, and the life-changing summer that sets the stage for both personal growth and political confrontation decades later.
Tess is the daughter of a hardworking single mother who lands a job as a cook for an affluent family one summer. The position includes housing on the family's picturesque estate, and Tess soon finds herself drawn to the kind and supportive matriarch, Madeline. Their bond grows as Tess assists with gardening and receives gentle guidance and affirmation from Madeline, who becomes a powerful role model and a grounding influence in Tess’s life.
That same summer, Madeline’s son, Grant, returns home after graduating from boarding school and preparing to attend an Ivy League university. Tess and Grant’s relationship blossoms into a summer romance, one that crosses social and economic boundaries and draws the ire of Grant’s father. The consequences of that romance, and the secrets surrounding it, are slowly revealed as the story unfolds.
Ingram masterfully weaves the narrative through two alternating timelines: the pivotal summer of 1996, and the high-stakes present of 2021. In the present, Tess is now running for governor of Virginia as the Democratic candidate--facing none other than Grant, her old summer flame, now the Republican nominee. Their shared past is a carefully guarded secret, one that threatens to resurface in the public eye.
The novel is told through dual points of view, alternating between Tess and Grant, which gives readers insight into both characters’ inner conflicts and evolving perspectives. This narrative style keeps the pacing brisk and emotionally layered, drawing readers into the complexity of both timelines.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Anna Caputo and Andrew Gibson. Their performances brought the characters to life, adding emotional depth and nuance to the story. The narration truly elevated the listening experience.
I highly recommend “The Summer We Ran” to fans of smart, romantic fiction with strong female protagonists, political intrigue, and a dash of nostalgia. It’s a story about identity, ambition, and the moments that define who we become.
June 27, 2025
3💫
i think the idea was there, but wasn’t executed very well imo. i came for the drama and was extremely disappointed.
i saw a review saying this was bj and magnolia but in the political world and was immediately intrigued. i personally don’t see the connection to bj and magnolia, but to each their own i guess haha. if that was your review, no hate at all! im glad you enjoyed it more than i did.
the book is dual timeline 25 years apart and the characters knew each other for 2 months as teenagers. i think thats what bothered me the most. it wasn’t like this big year long romance they shared with so much history. i feel like the author needed to convince the reader that they are soulmates by adding so much fluff and heartache into their relationship or else their bond wouldn’t make sense. she just packed in a lot of stuff for a two month relationship and it didn’t convince me it was important enough to break apart two marriages for.
also the lack of communication was crazy. like the miscommunication trope in this one was so stupid and could have been avoided. she just didn’t want to tell him anything and tried to manipulate it into being his fault by saying he didn’t call her. boy bye
the crumbling marriages were also poorly thought out. grant and tess’ connection wasn’t that deep imo (it was 2 months 25 years ago- mind you) yet once the spouses found out they were like “i dont even know you” and “you’ve been lying to me about our whole relationship” and “you keep so many secrets from me” because God forbid they didn’t tell them they dated someone in high school…
also we barely got any political scenes which was a disappointment.
i think the idea was there but very poorly executed. it was just disappointing and the storylines could have been written better to convince me that they needed to be together and they had so much history.
im glad i read it but probably wouldn’t recommend!
june botm🍒
i think the idea was there, but wasn’t executed very well imo. i came for the drama and was extremely disappointed.
i saw a review saying this was bj and magnolia but in the political world and was immediately intrigued. i personally don’t see the connection to bj and magnolia, but to each their own i guess haha. if that was your review, no hate at all! im glad you enjoyed it more than i did.
the book is dual timeline 25 years apart and the characters knew each other for 2 months as teenagers. i think thats what bothered me the most. it wasn’t like this big year long romance they shared with so much history. i feel like the author needed to convince the reader that they are soulmates by adding so much fluff and heartache into their relationship or else their bond wouldn’t make sense. she just packed in a lot of stuff for a two month relationship and it didn’t convince me it was important enough to break apart two marriages for.
also the lack of communication was crazy. like the miscommunication trope in this one was so stupid and could have been avoided. she just didn’t want to tell him anything and tried to manipulate it into being his fault by saying he didn’t call her. boy bye
the crumbling marriages were also poorly thought out. grant and tess’ connection wasn’t that deep imo (it was 2 months 25 years ago- mind you) yet once the spouses found out they were like “i dont even know you” and “you’ve been lying to me about our whole relationship” and “you keep so many secrets from me” because God forbid they didn’t tell them they dated someone in high school…
also we barely got any political scenes which was a disappointment.
i think the idea was there but very poorly executed. it was just disappointing and the storylines could have been written better to convince me that they needed to be together and they had so much history.
im glad i read it but probably wouldn’t recommend!
june botm🍒
Read
June 2, 2025listen up it was all going well until the mmc was revealed to be pro life… the book itself wasn’t bad but that was icky? Did we really have to do that in this day and age?? truly can’t tell if this is pro life propaganda or not but if it is huh immediately no.
Also I’m sorry but I could never root for a republic man who is having a debate on being pro life? The longer I think about this the more negative things I have to say? LIKE NO! Ew!
Also I’m sorry but I could never root for a republic man who is having a debate on being pro life? The longer I think about this the more negative things I have to say? LIKE NO! Ew!
June 14, 2025
This book could’ve been 20 pages with a happy ending if everyone just went to therapy and told the truth
June 3, 2025
4.5
I loved this literary romance where we have adults acting like adults, a solid plot line with dual timelines, and an overall moral to the story.
This turned into a binge read for me when I just basically inhaled this as I just wanted to see where it was going and what the back story was. There is sadness, tragedy, sorrow, but also overcoming, joy, and satisfaction in being who one truly is.
I need more of these kind of romance books. It's not heavy on the romance, we have a solid family drama with romance interwoven. I enjoyed the sweetness of young love and then the difficulties and complications of old love.
An easy summer read recommendation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Books for the gifted e-arc of this book.
I loved this literary romance where we have adults acting like adults, a solid plot line with dual timelines, and an overall moral to the story.
This turned into a binge read for me when I just basically inhaled this as I just wanted to see where it was going and what the back story was. There is sadness, tragedy, sorrow, but also overcoming, joy, and satisfaction in being who one truly is.
I need more of these kind of romance books. It's not heavy on the romance, we have a solid family drama with romance interwoven. I enjoyed the sweetness of young love and then the difficulties and complications of old love.
An easy summer read recommendation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Books for the gifted e-arc of this book.
June 14, 2025
Trash propaganda
Everything that’s not romantic
🤮insta love
🤮no one understands me like someone I had a few months long relationship with as a teenager 25 years ago
🤮referring to abortion as “killing our baby”
🤮mustache twirling villain
🤮”she trapped him” “I believe pregnancy takes two willing participants “ NO IT DOES NOT
🤮trauma bonding
If I hate everything about a book, typically I rate two stars. I save the one star ratings for books I believe will actually hurt people.
Therefore one star from me on this one
Everything that’s not romantic
🤮insta love
🤮no one understands me like someone I had a few months long relationship with as a teenager 25 years ago
🤮referring to abortion as “killing our baby”
🤮mustache twirling villain
🤮”she trapped him” “I believe pregnancy takes two willing participants “ NO IT DOES NOT
🤮trauma bonding
If I hate everything about a book, typically I rate two stars. I save the one star ratings for books I believe will actually hurt people.
Therefore one star from me on this one
June 6, 2025
The good: fast paced, easy read. You’ll want to know what happens next.
The bad: Finding out what happened next was not worth it. I think I kept reading it in hopes of something substantial to happen.
I saw the “twists” coming a mile away and secretly hoped it wasn’t going to be that obvious… but it was. The miscommunication was devastatingly overused here. Years and years of nobody talking to anybody about basic stuff. A lot of the stuff didn’t need to be hidden. This wasn’t the 1950’s. You read an entire book just to hope that people finally start talking to each other about stuff that could’ve been cleared up ages ago and saved A LOT of trouble. It’s one thing to not talk when there’s really good reasons not to, but it’s another thing to not talk when those reasons are not compelling. And let’s not pretend that two people on opposite sides of the political spectrum can find each other irresistible. It got more ridiculous by the end.
Disappointed!
The bad: Finding out what happened next was not worth it. I think I kept reading it in hopes of something substantial to happen.
I saw the “twists” coming a mile away and secretly hoped it wasn’t going to be that obvious… but it was. The miscommunication was devastatingly overused here. Years and years of nobody talking to anybody about basic stuff. A lot of the stuff didn’t need to be hidden. This wasn’t the 1950’s. You read an entire book just to hope that people finally start talking to each other about stuff that could’ve been cleared up ages ago and saved A LOT of trouble. It’s one thing to not talk when there’s really good reasons not to, but it’s another thing to not talk when those reasons are not compelling. And let’s not pretend that two people on opposite sides of the political spectrum can find each other irresistible. It got more ridiculous by the end.
Disappointed!
June 20, 2025
The first half felt like 5-star potential!!!!! But then we hit a snag and the miscommunication trope slide into the story and I was rolling my eyes over and over again. Surprise pregnancies are the oldest plot twists in the book world and it was expected and still very annoying. I get that this was a political campaign story, but I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t for the hot button issues like abortion, but I thought the main character Tess was a bit insufferable. And Grant was blah too. And I hated the way they both treated their spouses and the way it was handled. Do I think this will work for a quick summer book to read? Sure. But don’t expect much more than that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2025
Wow, wow, wow.
This may be the book of the year for me. A wonderful read! 🥹
This may be the book of the year for me. A wonderful read! 🥹
July 1, 2025
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I’m absolutely bewildered by and furious at this book and need some time to process how to possibly write a non-spoiler review AND inform readers of the MUST KNOW CONTENT ALERT that is used as a freaking PLOT TWIST / BIG REVEAL? Ugh. Also, the entire premise of this story is so damn unbelievable in today’s political environment - puhlease.
07.01.25 - Now updated with spoilers and I downgraded this from 2 to 1 star - see below if you are sensitive to topics regarding reproduction:
Source: owned hardcover
07.01.25 - Now updated with spoilers and I downgraded this from 2 to 1 star - see below if you are sensitive to topics regarding reproduction:
Source: owned hardcover
June 14, 2025
this was….a book. a book that felt like a giant piece of propaganda to get liberal women to date conservative men. In 2025?? No thank you.
I loved the premise: two teenage exes are running against each other in Virginia’s gubernatorial race-yes! Political intrigue and drama! Except there’s none of that.
The book flits between Tess and Grants teenage romance and their campaigns against each other except there’s no character development for either of them 25 years later and that’s bad writing.
Grant sucks. What an awful character. He’s whiny, selfish, condescending, rude, controlling and he doesn’t seem to learn anything until the literal last page.
The dialogue is stiff and repetitive and felt like what you’d hear on a soap opera.
Also, I call BS that these two end up together. 🙄
Spoiler below:
The messaging surrounding abortion was confusing: Tess is a career-driven ambitious child-free woman who is happy and fulfilled to have a life in politics but only because the baby she got pregnant with at 17 died when she was 7 months pregnant and she had to have a hysterectomy?!? All this after she decided not to have an abortion?! She talks all about the importance of women having control over their bodies yet her partner and mother both heavily shame her for even considering abortion and she doesn’t call them out on that and just lets them guilt her. It was just messy and felt like some weird subliminal messaging. Idk, it gave me weird vibes and I don’t trust authors in this current political climate who write stuff like this. But that’s my bias. Blech this book
I loved the premise: two teenage exes are running against each other in Virginia’s gubernatorial race-yes! Political intrigue and drama! Except there’s none of that.
The book flits between Tess and Grants teenage romance and their campaigns against each other except there’s no character development for either of them 25 years later and that’s bad writing.
Grant sucks. What an awful character. He’s whiny, selfish, condescending, rude, controlling and he doesn’t seem to learn anything until the literal last page.
The dialogue is stiff and repetitive and felt like what you’d hear on a soap opera.
Also, I call BS that these two end up together. 🙄
Spoiler below:
The messaging surrounding abortion was confusing: Tess is a career-driven ambitious child-free woman who is happy and fulfilled to have a life in politics but only because the baby she got pregnant with at 17 died when she was 7 months pregnant and she had to have a hysterectomy?!? All this after she decided not to have an abortion?! She talks all about the importance of women having control over their bodies yet her partner and mother both heavily shame her for even considering abortion and she doesn’t call them out on that and just lets them guilt her. It was just messy and felt like some weird subliminal messaging. Idk, it gave me weird vibes and I don’t trust authors in this current political climate who write stuff like this. But that’s my bias. Blech this book
May 29, 2025
THE SUMMER WE RAN by Audrey Ingram is a book that you can get totally lost in this summer. It follows Tess and Grant, two teenagers who meet one summer and fall madly in love. In the beginning, the romance is intense and exciting as they find small moments and hidden locations to be together. Ingram showcases young love so well! By the end of the summer, it’s no longer sunshine and rainbows, and the subject matter gets heavier as time goes on. The couple part ways and then come head-to-head two decades later on the campaign trail when they’re both running for the governor of Virginia. The drama and shocking truth quickly unfolds as we learn what really happened that one summer.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Young/first love
- Family drama and dynamics
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Secrets, lies, and betrayal
- Dual POV and timeline
- Virginia setting
- 1990s nostalgia
- Political campaigns
- Emotional reads
- Twists and turns
- Complex characters
This novel is jam-packed, book friends. We get a great mix of romance, drama, and mystery throughout with SO many little twists, turns, and surprises along the way. I couldn’t put it down! Also, it’s rumored to be a Book of the Month selection for June, so I highly recommend adding it to your little blue box. It’s the perfect read for summer! 4/5 stars for THE SUMMER WE RAN! Out June 3rd!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- Young/first love
- Family drama and dynamics
- Mother/daughter relationships
- Secrets, lies, and betrayal
- Dual POV and timeline
- Virginia setting
- 1990s nostalgia
- Political campaigns
- Emotional reads
- Twists and turns
- Complex characters
This novel is jam-packed, book friends. We get a great mix of romance, drama, and mystery throughout with SO many little twists, turns, and surprises along the way. I couldn’t put it down! Also, it’s rumored to be a Book of the Month selection for June, so I highly recommend adding it to your little blue box. It’s the perfect read for summer! 4/5 stars for THE SUMMER WE RAN! Out June 3rd!
June 14, 2025
4.25 stars 🌟
Hmmmm… they’re giving Magnolia and BJ if they were political candidates and slightly more sane.
Hmmmm… they’re giving Magnolia and BJ if they were political candidates and slightly more sane.
June 9, 2025
I’m on the fence whether I should mark this review with spoilers or not. On the one hand, some of the things I discuss here are plot spoilers, but frankly, if I had known what I was in for, I doubt I would have picked it up. For other readers out there in my same position, I’m letting you proceed with caution ahead.
This one is way heavy handed on the pro-choice viewpoint. It’s interesting because the father is broken by the fact that the mother is considering an abortion and completely discounts his perspective claiming it’s her body, her choice. Yet later in the novel a point is made that there’s no mention in a press release about the responsibility of the father. So which is it? Do you think the father is responsible and if so, wouldn’t that in turn mean his perspective on the life of his child should also be respected? That’s certainly my view. I’m also unashamedly pro-life. Period.
I also found so many decisions made by both the main characters to be extremely odd given they had both been married for years. BIG secrets were kept from both spouses and honestly, I was rooting for them to recommit to their marriages rather than get together. This whole book just really wasn’t it for me. I’m giving it three stars because I was invested enough to continue reading.
This one is way heavy handed on the pro-choice viewpoint. It’s interesting because the father is broken by the fact that the mother is considering an abortion and completely discounts his perspective claiming it’s her body, her choice. Yet later in the novel a point is made that there’s no mention in a press release about the responsibility of the father. So which is it? Do you think the father is responsible and if so, wouldn’t that in turn mean his perspective on the life of his child should also be respected? That’s certainly my view. I’m also unashamedly pro-life. Period.
I also found so many decisions made by both the main characters to be extremely odd given they had both been married for years. BIG secrets were kept from both spouses and honestly, I was rooting for them to recommit to their marriages rather than get together. This whole book just really wasn’t it for me. I’m giving it three stars because I was invested enough to continue reading.
June 20, 2025
This was going so well until it turned into straight up anti choice propaganda. Very weird hated that. Also? I didn’t even realize this was a romance until I saw that’s what it’s being marketed as. Weird weird weird
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
The Summer We Ran pulled me in from the first chapter. I was completely immersed the dual timeline was beautifully done, the past/present flow felt effortless, and the dual POV was chef’s kiss. Following both sides of this story made the emotional impact so much stronger.
I’ve seen a few one-star reviews calling this book “propaganda” for liberal women loving conservative men, and… my eyes rolled so far back I saw my brain fr. I genuinely don’t know what book they were reading. This story isn’t some push on conservative politics it’s about grief, choices, misunderstandings, and the way people carry their pain.
And honestly? I can’t believe I’m defending a man here, but the criticism seems to stem from him expressing hurt that his girlfriend had an abortion without a genuine conversation. That’s not a conservative push. That’s just a human reaction. Men are allowed to have feelings….especially in the emotional wreckage of a relationship that’s already falling apart.
Overall, this was heartfelt, immersive, and full of nostalgia and tension. A solid 4-star that balances love, loss, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried.
I’ve seen a few one-star reviews calling this book “propaganda” for liberal women loving conservative men, and… my eyes rolled so far back I saw my brain fr. I genuinely don’t know what book they were reading. This story isn’t some push on conservative politics it’s about grief, choices, misunderstandings, and the way people carry their pain.
And honestly? I can’t believe I’m defending a man here, but the criticism seems to stem from him expressing hurt that his girlfriend had an abortion without a genuine conversation. That’s not a conservative push. That’s just a human reaction. Men are allowed to have feelings….especially in the emotional wreckage of a relationship that’s already falling apart.
Overall, this was heartfelt, immersive, and full of nostalgia and tension. A solid 4-star that balances love, loss, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
I absolutely loved this story that had all the vibes of a 90s summer, set in an easy to imagine spot that felt very small town but with wealth. So roll out your beach towel, grab your Walkman, mixtapes and your 1995 copy of Seventeen magazine and enjoy this emotional summer read.
Tess’s mom gets her dream job as a cook at a Virginia Estate. Tess is quickly offered a job at the neighboring estate to help the owner with her gardens. Tess’s very knowledgeable about plants and she is looking forward to her summer spent…hands in the dirt soaking up the beautiful scenery. What she was not prepared for was that she would fall in love and have it end tragically. Twenty years later Tess and the boy she fell in love with that summer are running against each other for governor of Virginia and their past quickly catches up to them.
This is a dual timeline/POV book. I loved the 90s timeline… it felt like a memory and pure sunshine. I love a good campaign theme and this was perfection! If you’re looking for a paperback to throw in your beach bag this summer and enjoy a bit of an emotional read. This is a must!
Thank you Zibby Publishing
Releases 6/3
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Tess’s mom gets her dream job as a cook at a Virginia Estate. Tess is quickly offered a job at the neighboring estate to help the owner with her gardens. Tess’s very knowledgeable about plants and she is looking forward to her summer spent…hands in the dirt soaking up the beautiful scenery. What she was not prepared for was that she would fall in love and have it end tragically. Twenty years later Tess and the boy she fell in love with that summer are running against each other for governor of Virginia and their past quickly catches up to them.
This is a dual timeline/POV book. I loved the 90s timeline… it felt like a memory and pure sunshine. I love a good campaign theme and this was perfection! If you’re looking for a paperback to throw in your beach bag this summer and enjoy a bit of an emotional read. This is a must!
Thank you Zibby Publishing
Releases 6/3
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
October 7, 2025
"Having you was the best moment of my life."
- The Summer We Ran- Audrey Ingram
Boy oh boy do I have a lot of thoughts on this book
So I decided this might be a book for me, after I saw what it was about. Politics and historical fiction? Count me in!
So before I go on in what promises to be a tremendously long review, let me say straight out I liked the book and I most definitely recommend it.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t have some issues with it. That’s why I’m giving it the perfect rating of 3.5 .
All in all I found much more good than bad, but there were still some things that I didn’t understand.
So many years ago Tess and Grant had a summer-sweet Romance. It was while they were both teenagers and suffice it to say they were each other’s first love.
Only the relationship was a lot more than first love. First loves usually don’t endure. These two were more deeply in love more love than some adults, but circumstances conspired to drive them apart
Fast forward a few decades. The governors race in Virginia has started! And guess what? The Republican nominee is Grant. The Democratic nominee is Tess.
Fate is certainly mischievous. And it has brought the two of them back together, but not as lovers – as opponents.
This race will test their characters as well as bringing up long-held secrets of what really happened that summer 20+ years before.
First things first. This is one of the most readable books I’ve ever seen. I positively devoured it. It’s not that it’s short, it’s just that the time flies. And it is an original and very creative concept for a book!
It’s also a great summer beach read. If you’re heading out on vacation, make sure to bring this book with you.
Here’s the thing though. There were some negatives and they prevented me from giving it a four rating which I originally was planning on doing.
It’s going to be really hard to do this without spoilers so I’ll talk a little bit about what I didn’t like and then put up a spoiler alert when it gets to certain aspects of the book that I feel I need to talk about.
One thing that I did not like was, there were precious little politics in the book. I thought was going to be way more politically oriented than it was and as a political junkie. That was a little disappointing.
The second thing was the soap opera aspect.
I would say this book is much more romance than either historical fiction or political fiction. That’s the problem. I felt it was a little too heavy on the dysfunctional romance thing. There were so many secrets – not one not two just secret stuff again and again , spilling out in the second half and frankly it’s caused me to lose focus and get a little bored.
It’s kind of like if I had been reading a mystery. I used to read a lot of domestic thrillers, and I probably will read more in the future. But I tend to like the ones that don’t engage in twist after twist after twist. The quickest way to lose me as a reader is to put in so many twists that I just feel hit over the head with them all.
Now one good twist – that I can get behind. But when it turns into a mishmash of twists, I just can’t.
Let me be clear that the first half was flawless. It’s only in the second half I refer to.
OK I really am going to do spoilers now, so if you have an interest in reading this book – and I think that you should – please read no further.
SPOILERS
I think I would’ve been fine with just the secret pregnancy. But then there was the Payoff. And then she didn’t really have one and then the baby died and then and then and then and then.
Too many “and thens.”
That kind of book is just not for me. This book however was for me because this only started in the second half, and it got heavier as we got closer to the end.
The other thing I really have to admit is, I wasn’t very fond of Tess.
It’s funny, because I probably would’ve voted for her. I am a Democrat. But in this particular case, I was very confused about one thing as it relates to Tess.
What was she so pissed at Grant for? She sent him away. She acted snooty as anything. She was the one who took the money which I don’t judge her for by the way.
But she said he just up and left her and that really wasn’t the case. I mean, surely she knew he was gonna find out about the cash payment. And yes, he should’ve gotten in touch with her, but I thought her rage was heavier than warranted because she did not wind up having an abortion! I don’t know , I felt the whole interaction between them was very weird and a bit off . They had chemistry, don’t get me wrong,, there are just some aspects of the relationship that I found Very Confusing.
I will also say that I think Tess‘s mother, Jeanie was the unsung hero, in everything. She was such a beautiful character, but it was like she was an unsung melody. She was such a beautiful soul and such a vibrant woman and a feisty fighter, but I wish she’d have gotten credit for all she did. Easily my favorite character.
The ending bothered me too. So we go through all that and we don’t even know the status of the couple at the end? Tess was very wishy-washy and there were times I just didn’t liked her if I’m being honest.
I thought that the character of Grant was a tragic character. His dad, however, was so diabolical that it was almost a little bit over the top. He seemed to me not like a human being, but like a Law and Order , SVU villain . Any moment I expected Olivia and Elliot to come out, and put him in handcuffs, which he deserved by the way.
And lastly, I really would’ve liked a confrontation between Grant and his dad. Or Grant and Stewart. I felt like the book ended with a lot of things that were not finished. I really would read a part two of this if one was done. But it was a little bit of a frustrating experience and the ending just didn’t sit well with me. Break them up or have them together but please give us something! I mean, I guess it’s implied they will be together but I just wanted a bit more of an ending. And oh boy, did somebody need to tell Grant’s dad and Stewart off.
So complicated feelings for a well done book. Like I said, I’d give this a 3.5. I’m really glad I read it. I read it in one sitting . And even though there are aspects that I did not like , the positives on this one do outweigh the negatives.
- The Summer We Ran- Audrey Ingram
Boy oh boy do I have a lot of thoughts on this book
So I decided this might be a book for me, after I saw what it was about. Politics and historical fiction? Count me in!
So before I go on in what promises to be a tremendously long review, let me say straight out I liked the book and I most definitely recommend it.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t have some issues with it. That’s why I’m giving it the perfect rating of 3.5 .
All in all I found much more good than bad, but there were still some things that I didn’t understand.
So many years ago Tess and Grant had a summer-sweet Romance. It was while they were both teenagers and suffice it to say they were each other’s first love.
Only the relationship was a lot more than first love. First loves usually don’t endure. These two were more deeply in love more love than some adults, but circumstances conspired to drive them apart
Fast forward a few decades. The governors race in Virginia has started! And guess what? The Republican nominee is Grant. The Democratic nominee is Tess.
Fate is certainly mischievous. And it has brought the two of them back together, but not as lovers – as opponents.
This race will test their characters as well as bringing up long-held secrets of what really happened that summer 20+ years before.
First things first. This is one of the most readable books I’ve ever seen. I positively devoured it. It’s not that it’s short, it’s just that the time flies. And it is an original and very creative concept for a book!
It’s also a great summer beach read. If you’re heading out on vacation, make sure to bring this book with you.
Here’s the thing though. There were some negatives and they prevented me from giving it a four rating which I originally was planning on doing.
It’s going to be really hard to do this without spoilers so I’ll talk a little bit about what I didn’t like and then put up a spoiler alert when it gets to certain aspects of the book that I feel I need to talk about.
One thing that I did not like was, there were precious little politics in the book. I thought was going to be way more politically oriented than it was and as a political junkie. That was a little disappointing.
The second thing was the soap opera aspect.
I would say this book is much more romance than either historical fiction or political fiction. That’s the problem. I felt it was a little too heavy on the dysfunctional romance thing. There were so many secrets – not one not two just secret stuff again and again , spilling out in the second half and frankly it’s caused me to lose focus and get a little bored.
It’s kind of like if I had been reading a mystery. I used to read a lot of domestic thrillers, and I probably will read more in the future. But I tend to like the ones that don’t engage in twist after twist after twist. The quickest way to lose me as a reader is to put in so many twists that I just feel hit over the head with them all.
Now one good twist – that I can get behind. But when it turns into a mishmash of twists, I just can’t.
Let me be clear that the first half was flawless. It’s only in the second half I refer to.
OK I really am going to do spoilers now, so if you have an interest in reading this book – and I think that you should – please read no further.
SPOILERS
I think I would’ve been fine with just the secret pregnancy. But then there was the Payoff. And then she didn’t really have one and then the baby died and then and then and then and then.
Too many “and thens.”
That kind of book is just not for me. This book however was for me because this only started in the second half, and it got heavier as we got closer to the end.
The other thing I really have to admit is, I wasn’t very fond of Tess.
It’s funny, because I probably would’ve voted for her. I am a Democrat. But in this particular case, I was very confused about one thing as it relates to Tess.
What was she so pissed at Grant for? She sent him away. She acted snooty as anything. She was the one who took the money which I don’t judge her for by the way.
But she said he just up and left her and that really wasn’t the case. I mean, surely she knew he was gonna find out about the cash payment. And yes, he should’ve gotten in touch with her, but I thought her rage was heavier than warranted because she did not wind up having an abortion! I don’t know , I felt the whole interaction between them was very weird and a bit off . They had chemistry, don’t get me wrong,, there are just some aspects of the relationship that I found Very Confusing.
I will also say that I think Tess‘s mother, Jeanie was the unsung hero, in everything. She was such a beautiful character, but it was like she was an unsung melody. She was such a beautiful soul and such a vibrant woman and a feisty fighter, but I wish she’d have gotten credit for all she did. Easily my favorite character.
The ending bothered me too. So we go through all that and we don’t even know the status of the couple at the end? Tess was very wishy-washy and there were times I just didn’t liked her if I’m being honest.
I thought that the character of Grant was a tragic character. His dad, however, was so diabolical that it was almost a little bit over the top. He seemed to me not like a human being, but like a Law and Order , SVU villain . Any moment I expected Olivia and Elliot to come out, and put him in handcuffs, which he deserved by the way.
And lastly, I really would’ve liked a confrontation between Grant and his dad. Or Grant and Stewart. I felt like the book ended with a lot of things that were not finished. I really would read a part two of this if one was done. But it was a little bit of a frustrating experience and the ending just didn’t sit well with me. Break them up or have them together but please give us something! I mean, I guess it’s implied they will be together but I just wanted a bit more of an ending. And oh boy, did somebody need to tell Grant’s dad and Stewart off.
So complicated feelings for a well done book. Like I said, I’d give this a 3.5. I’m really glad I read it. I read it in one sitting . And even though there are aspects that I did not like , the positives on this one do outweigh the negatives.
June 9, 2025
This tried to be a feminist novel but instead bought into all the tropes of the alt-right pipeline. It was painful to finish.
June 14, 2025
great premise, beautiful premise.
what the hell man. some of the most stilted writing i’ve ever read and i am also pretty sure this author has never had a real conversation with a real person in her entire life. also a republican? in this economy? really? just felt like propaganda to me.
what the hell man. some of the most stilted writing i’ve ever read and i am also pretty sure this author has never had a real conversation with a real person in her entire life. also a republican? in this economy? really? just felt like propaganda to me.
August 24, 2025
DNF
Nope. I was excited to read from autjor that is new to me. But I just have to DNF The Summer We Ran.
Lack of chemistry and convincing plot.
2 stars
Nope. I was excited to read from autjor that is new to me. But I just have to DNF The Summer We Ran.
Lack of chemistry and convincing plot.
2 stars
August 13, 2025
4.5!
what an ADDICTING READ! i would sit down to read this and BAM 100 pages had gone by. this story has a way of sucking you in from the first page. the dual pov kept you turning the pages, dying to know how tess & grant’s story would turn out.
this was messy and chaotic & real. the past timeline in virginia felt so lush and vibrant and i wanted to be in those gardens with tess & kay. the current timeline showed what damages are done when people hide the truth and don’t communicate.
this felt familiar but also new and unique. i loved the second chance romance aspect & the idea of coming home.
there were some twists in here that blew my mind and had me gasping.
the ending moved far too quickly in my opinion. everything seemed to wrap up just perfectly within a few chapters & i honestly think this could’ve had 100 more pages & it would’ve made sense for the story.
i wish we could’ve at least had an epilogue! but i did like how the ending wasn’t what i expected & it was sweet.
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 about 7 uses of the F word. non-frequent use of other swear words
🔥SPICE🔥one vague cracked door scene on page 170. spice and details are very minimal in this book!
⚠️content warnings⚠️ domestic abuse, miscarriage, abortion, addiction, death
what an ADDICTING READ! i would sit down to read this and BAM 100 pages had gone by. this story has a way of sucking you in from the first page. the dual pov kept you turning the pages, dying to know how tess & grant’s story would turn out.
this was messy and chaotic & real. the past timeline in virginia felt so lush and vibrant and i wanted to be in those gardens with tess & kay. the current timeline showed what damages are done when people hide the truth and don’t communicate.
this felt familiar but also new and unique. i loved the second chance romance aspect & the idea of coming home.
there were some twists in here that blew my mind and had me gasping.
the ending moved far too quickly in my opinion. everything seemed to wrap up just perfectly within a few chapters & i honestly think this could’ve had 100 more pages & it would’ve made sense for the story.
i wish we could’ve at least had an epilogue! but i did like how the ending wasn’t what i expected & it was sweet.
🤐LANGUAGE🤐 about 7 uses of the F word. non-frequent use of other swear words
🔥SPICE🔥one vague cracked door scene on page 170. spice and details are very minimal in this book!
⚠️content warnings⚠️ domestic abuse, miscarriage, abortion, addiction, death
July 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this second chance romance against the backdrop of a political campaign. It covers how men and women are treated differently in politics and the importance of a woman's ability to choose her own destiny. These are normally triggering, polarizing topics that Ingram beautifully presents and lets the reader decide. For those who find beach read romances enjoyable but somewhat cheesy and forgettable, this is one with substance.
August 30, 2025
2.5 ⭐️⭐️.✨ // Man this had potential for sure but just completely fell flat. The entire book and group of characters were so so frustrating {which I get imperfect and real characters can be refreshing in a story but this was not the case} SO much could have been resolved if everyone would just talk to each other. I also just didn’t feel ANY sort of connection with anyone? I love the cover but I don’t think I’ll be thinking about this book any further.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
June 18, 2025
The Summer We Ran is a story about teenage love, summer romance, and how sometimes the choices we make impact the rest of our lives.
It’s 2021 and Tess Murphy is running for Governor of Virginia. Her opponent is Grant Alexander. They spent one summer together as teenagers and almost no one knows. If their history becomes public, it could jeopardize everything, for both of them.
The Summer We Ran is full of drama and pain. It also has nostalgic summer, teenage vibes. While the story is brimming with emotion, it was engaging too. I couldn’t wait to unravel the history between Tess and Grant, seeing how they got to the present. I liked Grant and I really liked Tess. I felt for what they’d both been through and enjoyed the back and forth POVs and timeframes in this story.
It’s 2021 and Tess Murphy is running for Governor of Virginia. Her opponent is Grant Alexander. They spent one summer together as teenagers and almost no one knows. If their history becomes public, it could jeopardize everything, for both of them.
The Summer We Ran is full of drama and pain. It also has nostalgic summer, teenage vibes. While the story is brimming with emotion, it was engaging too. I couldn’t wait to unravel the history between Tess and Grant, seeing how they got to the present. I liked Grant and I really liked Tess. I felt for what they’d both been through and enjoyed the back and forth POVs and timeframes in this story.
June 8, 2025
5 stars. Excellent.
June 9, 2025
This is why you should never fall in love with a Republican
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