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We Loved to Run
A fearless debut novel about a women's cross country team and how far girls will push themselves to control their bodies, friendships, and futures.
We loved running because it was who we were, who we’d been in high school, who we hoped to be in futures we couldn’t yet imagine. Strong and fast. Fast and strong.
At Frost, a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, the runners on the women's cross country team have their sights set on the 1992 New England Division Three Championships and will push themselves through every punishing workout and skipped meal to achieve their goal. But Kristin, the team's star, is hiding a secret about what happened over the summer, and her unpredictable behavior jeopardizes the girls' chance to win. Team Captain Danielle is convinced she can restore Kristin's confidence, even if it means burying her own past. As the final meet approaches, Kristin, Danielle, and the rest of the girls must transcend their individual circumstances and run the race as a team.
Told from the perspective of the six fastest team members, We Loved to Run deftly illuminates the impossible standards young women set for themselves in spite of their own powerlessness. With startling honesty and boundless empathy, Stephanie Reents reveals how girls—even those pitted against each other—find ways to love and defend one another.
We loved running because it was who we were, who we’d been in high school, who we hoped to be in futures we couldn’t yet imagine. Strong and fast. Fast and strong.
At Frost, a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, the runners on the women's cross country team have their sights set on the 1992 New England Division Three Championships and will push themselves through every punishing workout and skipped meal to achieve their goal. But Kristin, the team's star, is hiding a secret about what happened over the summer, and her unpredictable behavior jeopardizes the girls' chance to win. Team Captain Danielle is convinced she can restore Kristin's confidence, even if it means burying her own past. As the final meet approaches, Kristin, Danielle, and the rest of the girls must transcend their individual circumstances and run the race as a team.
Told from the perspective of the six fastest team members, We Loved to Run deftly illuminates the impossible standards young women set for themselves in spite of their own powerlessness. With startling honesty and boundless empathy, Stephanie Reents reveals how girls—even those pitted against each other—find ways to love and defend one another.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2025
71 people are currently reading
10865 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Reents
6 books74 followersStephanie Reents is the author of The Kissing List, a collection of stories that was an Editors’ Choice in The New York Times Book Review, and I Meant to Kill Ye, a bibliomemoir chronicling her journey into the strange void at the heart of Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. She has twice received an O. Henry Prize for her short fiction. Reents received a BA from Amherst College, where she ran on the cross country team all four years; a BA from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar; and an MFA from the University of Arizona. She was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
August 21, 2025
On a day like this when the whole world unspooled slowly and leisurely, we loved to run. (loc. 1316*)
It's the early 90s, and at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, the women's cross country team is on fire. They are smart, and they are fast, and they swing between being the closest of close friends and being ready to tear each other's throats out. They are all fast, but some of them are faster; some of them are faster, but the slower runners' times count, too, in their meet placements. They are all thin, but some of them are thinner; some of them are thinner, but some of them know how dangerous that slippery slide can be. They tell each other secrets and break each other's confidences; they push each other to be their best and knock each other down; they run.
Reents plots a course here that is partly in third person singular and partly in first person plural: Emotions did not behave predictably under physical duress. We loved each other, too, the love as dark and sticky and intense as blackstrap molasses. (loc. 116) There are too many characters to follow each one closely, but a few are highlighted and a few more run through the chapters again and again. Some of them are more palatable than others, but that's kind of the point. In some ways I found Harriet and Chloe to be the most interesting characters, Harriet because she subverts a lot of literary expectations of how a character with an eating disorder is written, and Chloe because she can't quite get a grip on her teammates finding her tedious.
What you make of the book will probably depend largely on how you feel about the first person plural. It worked for me, but I think partly because we also had those sections in a single character's head. (Having numerous POV characters also allows for multiple dramas, small and large, which never hurts...) I'm guessing that the choice of timing (the 90s rather than a contemporary setting) has something to do with Reents's own experience as a college runner, but regardless, it was a nice choice; I think I wouldn't mind reading a bit more fiction set in, say, the 80s through early 2000s—contemporary enough, but minus everyone being constantly glued to their cell phones and social media.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
It's the early 90s, and at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, the women's cross country team is on fire. They are smart, and they are fast, and they swing between being the closest of close friends and being ready to tear each other's throats out. They are all fast, but some of them are faster; some of them are faster, but the slower runners' times count, too, in their meet placements. They are all thin, but some of them are thinner; some of them are thinner, but some of them know how dangerous that slippery slide can be. They tell each other secrets and break each other's confidences; they push each other to be their best and knock each other down; they run.
Reents plots a course here that is partly in third person singular and partly in first person plural: Emotions did not behave predictably under physical duress. We loved each other, too, the love as dark and sticky and intense as blackstrap molasses. (loc. 116) There are too many characters to follow each one closely, but a few are highlighted and a few more run through the chapters again and again. Some of them are more palatable than others, but that's kind of the point. In some ways I found Harriet and Chloe to be the most interesting characters, Harriet because she subverts a lot of literary expectations of how a character with an eating disorder is written, and Chloe because she can't quite get a grip on her teammates finding her tedious.
What you make of the book will probably depend largely on how you feel about the first person plural. It worked for me, but I think partly because we also had those sections in a single character's head. (Having numerous POV characters also allows for multiple dramas, small and large, which never hurts...) I'm guessing that the choice of timing (the 90s rather than a contemporary setting) has something to do with Reents's own experience as a college runner, but regardless, it was a nice choice; I think I wouldn't mind reading a bit more fiction set in, say, the 80s through early 2000s—contemporary enough, but minus everyone being constantly glued to their cell phones and social media.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for inviting me to read a review copy through NetGalley.
September 12, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
3.5 stars — this is the third women’s coming to age sports novel i read this year, and while i did enjoy it, especially the difference complex characteristics and backgrounds from each of the girls on the team, it was certainly the most depressing of the three i’ve read
3.5 stars — this is the third women’s coming to age sports novel i read this year, and while i did enjoy it, especially the difference complex characteristics and backgrounds from each of the girls on the team, it was certainly the most depressing of the three i’ve read
May 16, 2025
A powerful, quietly devastating look at girlhood, ambition, and the weight we carry when we’re supposed to be strong. This one stays with you. We Loved to Run isn’t just about running—it’s about girlhood, perfectionism, and the way young women push themselves to the edge to be enough. Told through six perspectives, this novel captures the complexity of being a teenage girl when everything feels like it matters too much—body image, pressure, secrets, and the impossible idea of being both soft and strong.
Kristin and Danielle’s dynamic felt so real—one girl trying to hold everything together, the other slowly unraveling. I loved how the book didn’t shy away from showing how even close friendships can carry competition, silence, and loyalty all at once.
Stephanie Reents writes with so much empathy and honesty. This one had me reflecting on the girl I was, the friendships that shaped me, and the expectations we’re still trying to outrun.
Kristin and Danielle’s dynamic felt so real—one girl trying to hold everything together, the other slowly unraveling. I loved how the book didn’t shy away from showing how even close friendships can carry competition, silence, and loyalty all at once.
Stephanie Reents writes with so much empathy and honesty. This one had me reflecting on the girl I was, the friendships that shaped me, and the expectations we’re still trying to outrun.
May 28, 2025
From its first chapter, We Loved to Run draws the reader into the all-consuming drama and sacrifice of being a top runner on a collegiate cross-country team. “We hated running, and we loved it. We spent so much time trying not to think about our bodies that we were always thinking about them. Thinking about how they were not hungry or not injured or not fatter or weaker than the body of some other girl. Running was the glue that kept us together, but it was also a truth serum, drawing out feelings we’d rather not have.”
This story hooked me, largely because I am a longtime runner but never had the experience of running on a XC team. The lyrical novel, capturing the friendship and competition between six young women, makes me appreciate the intensity and dedication of top-level running but also grateful I discovered running as a hobby in young adulthood, rather than in the pressure-cooker of collegiate athletics, which produces injury-prone and self-destructive runners (at least, that was more the norm in the 1990s compared to now).
Author Stephanie Reents must’ve been a dedicated XC runner herself because she vividly captures the movement, energy, strategy, discomfort, and emotions of the meets as well as of the training runs. But, this is not a book about running as much as about relationships, set in the early 1990s—a time when eating disorders were tacitly accepted and almost inevitable, before Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) had a name and coaches were sensitive to it; before the Internet, cell phones, and social media became ubiquitous; and when young women were starting to become aware and empowered about sexual harassment (the Anita Hill hearing plays in the background in one scene).
The author makes a few unusual choices, such as using the first-person plural “we” in many chapters without revealing who the narrator is, suggesting the team’s bond and their role as teammates is more powerful than each of them as individuals. The other chapters are told in the third person and focus either on Danielle, the team captain, or on Kristin, the fastest runner who feels like an outsider. Surprisingly, the nameless Coach and Assistant Coach are secondary rather than main characters, on the periphery of these runners’ lives even though they exert great control. Each runner’s power and talent seems to come more from their teammates and their own inner drive than from the two men who shout orders at them.
Ultimately, the conversations among the top runners and their inner dialogue drive the story more than running itself, and we feel what it’s like to live in the stratified environment of this fictional small New England college and navigate friendships while coping with myriad insecurities, disappointments, and personal victories. The plot detours midway to Kristin’s life, and then Danielle’s, as both cope with confusing, regrettable, anxiety-producing sexual encounters that raise questions about what constitutes assault or date rape. The book’s heart is rooted in these lonely girls’ need for friendship, and the true care they feel for one another, which ultimately overrides their competition.
I’m grateful to have received an ARC from Hogarth Books and recommend this book to any runner, coach, and especially to parents of college-age athletes. But even if you don’t fit into one of those categories, you’ll likely enjoy and appreciate this turbulent story of how one pivotal season shaped these young women’s lives.
This story hooked me, largely because I am a longtime runner but never had the experience of running on a XC team. The lyrical novel, capturing the friendship and competition between six young women, makes me appreciate the intensity and dedication of top-level running but also grateful I discovered running as a hobby in young adulthood, rather than in the pressure-cooker of collegiate athletics, which produces injury-prone and self-destructive runners (at least, that was more the norm in the 1990s compared to now).
Author Stephanie Reents must’ve been a dedicated XC runner herself because she vividly captures the movement, energy, strategy, discomfort, and emotions of the meets as well as of the training runs. But, this is not a book about running as much as about relationships, set in the early 1990s—a time when eating disorders were tacitly accepted and almost inevitable, before Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) had a name and coaches were sensitive to it; before the Internet, cell phones, and social media became ubiquitous; and when young women were starting to become aware and empowered about sexual harassment (the Anita Hill hearing plays in the background in one scene).
The author makes a few unusual choices, such as using the first-person plural “we” in many chapters without revealing who the narrator is, suggesting the team’s bond and their role as teammates is more powerful than each of them as individuals. The other chapters are told in the third person and focus either on Danielle, the team captain, or on Kristin, the fastest runner who feels like an outsider. Surprisingly, the nameless Coach and Assistant Coach are secondary rather than main characters, on the periphery of these runners’ lives even though they exert great control. Each runner’s power and talent seems to come more from their teammates and their own inner drive than from the two men who shout orders at them.
Ultimately, the conversations among the top runners and their inner dialogue drive the story more than running itself, and we feel what it’s like to live in the stratified environment of this fictional small New England college and navigate friendships while coping with myriad insecurities, disappointments, and personal victories. The plot detours midway to Kristin’s life, and then Danielle’s, as both cope with confusing, regrettable, anxiety-producing sexual encounters that raise questions about what constitutes assault or date rape. The book’s heart is rooted in these lonely girls’ need for friendship, and the true care they feel for one another, which ultimately overrides their competition.
I’m grateful to have received an ARC from Hogarth Books and recommend this book to any runner, coach, and especially to parents of college-age athletes. But even if you don’t fit into one of those categories, you’ll likely enjoy and appreciate this turbulent story of how one pivotal season shaped these young women’s lives.
June 4, 2025
I have never been a cross country runner myself, but I was immersed in the world of these college girls and each of their stories. The characters are compelling and distinct (and Jed, one character's erstwhile crush, in particular is deliciously surprising and weird). The details of college in the 1990s (the fashion, food, music) are spot-on, as is the depiction of young adult life at the cusp of the internet era. But readers of any age will find universal themes in the insightful depictions of intense female friendships checkered by competitiveness, pride, ambition, and insecurity--about achievement, about body image. I thought the chapters told from the perspective of the team, in the first-person plural ("we"), were a particularly clever device for conveying a group mentality. And though I've never experienced it myself, through her descriptions I felt I could understand the unique exhilaration and focus of being in a race, at the peak of one's body and mind. We Love to Run was funny, heartbreaking, and compassionate.
dnf
September 24, 2025DNF'd at 26%. I was excited to read a historical fiction book following a women's collegiate cross-country team, but unfortunately this book had way too many POVs and way too little plot for me. I do think that readers who enjoy very in-depth character studies might enjoy this more than me, but I was hoping there would be more happening to and with these characters than just their training routines and interpersonal relationships (aka drama).
August 26, 2025
“WE LOVED TO RUN”
By @stephanie.reents
Out with @hogarthbooks today-thank you for this copy
A novel for anyone who has managed to pull through. The complicated college crashout, the childish drama that’s so hard to let go as you grow as a runner and as an adult… A general rule: “You’re only as strong as your weakest runner” expands to more than just the race when you’re functioning as a team.
The brilliant thing about sports (and sports novels) is that nuance becomes less crucial in the running (or the reading.) While running, symbols vanish and metaphors become useless. Meaning is straightforward, everything is clear—running speed determines everything. Winning is winning. Losing is losing. Strength is strength. Pain is pain.
“We Loved to Run” is a knockout feminist women’s cross country novel. With uncomplicated multi character narration, this novel conjures a terrifically complex study of womanhood. Enjoyable to read, it shines in its realness and relatability for anyone who loves to read but especially for someone who has been a part of a team or spent time running competitively.
Of course, it’s never just about running—lives are lived, hearts are broken, words are spoken aloud we’re never able to get back—and yet somehow, it is exactly about running. Perhaps it’s not all so clear-cut as I thought.
I’ve read a handful of sports novels. It’s really hard to pull one off; it’s really, really hard to pull one off about running. Cross country is a sport run mostly out of spectators’ sight, with just a few glimpses of what’s happening before the finish. John L Parker, author of cult classic “Once a Runner” may be the only person ever before to really pull this sort of thing off. That is, until now—Stephanie Reents has brought us all an excellent, never-before-done work that I suspect serves the future as its own niche classic, and for that she deserves all the applause. She wrote a great sports novel, and then some. For me, that’s a win.
By @stephanie.reents
Out with @hogarthbooks today-thank you for this copy
A novel for anyone who has managed to pull through. The complicated college crashout, the childish drama that’s so hard to let go as you grow as a runner and as an adult… A general rule: “You’re only as strong as your weakest runner” expands to more than just the race when you’re functioning as a team.
The brilliant thing about sports (and sports novels) is that nuance becomes less crucial in the running (or the reading.) While running, symbols vanish and metaphors become useless. Meaning is straightforward, everything is clear—running speed determines everything. Winning is winning. Losing is losing. Strength is strength. Pain is pain.
“We Loved to Run” is a knockout feminist women’s cross country novel. With uncomplicated multi character narration, this novel conjures a terrifically complex study of womanhood. Enjoyable to read, it shines in its realness and relatability for anyone who loves to read but especially for someone who has been a part of a team or spent time running competitively.
Of course, it’s never just about running—lives are lived, hearts are broken, words are spoken aloud we’re never able to get back—and yet somehow, it is exactly about running. Perhaps it’s not all so clear-cut as I thought.
I’ve read a handful of sports novels. It’s really hard to pull one off; it’s really, really hard to pull one off about running. Cross country is a sport run mostly out of spectators’ sight, with just a few glimpses of what’s happening before the finish. John L Parker, author of cult classic “Once a Runner” may be the only person ever before to really pull this sort of thing off. That is, until now—Stephanie Reents has brought us all an excellent, never-before-done work that I suspect serves the future as its own niche classic, and for that she deserves all the applause. She wrote a great sports novel, and then some. For me, that’s a win.
October 12, 2025
Thanks so much to Goodreads for the free book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this book. Huge trigger for rape and sexual assault if you are thinking about reading this book, though. Very disappointed this publisher didn't include trigger warnings in the beginning of the book. Those should be available online before you purchase the book and in the front of the book before you start reading.
Really enjoyed this book. Huge trigger for rape and sexual assault if you are thinking about reading this book, though. Very disappointed this publisher didn't include trigger warnings in the beginning of the book. Those should be available online before you purchase the book and in the front of the book before you start reading.
August 13, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Hogarth for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
I had to DNF this one at 40%. I was just so bored, it was too much of a character study for me. There was nothing keeping my attention and none of characters stood out in anyway.
I had to DNF this one at 40%. I was just so bored, it was too much of a character study for me. There was nothing keeping my attention and none of characters stood out in anyway.
October 25, 2025
I'm not a runner. If you see me running, you better start running as something very, very bad is chasing me. I don't get it. I've never experienced an endorphin from running or really any exercise of any sort. But clearly it is many people's outlet or, may I even go as far to say, addiction. After reading this book, I have no desire to pick it up nor do I ever wish to be a part of running culture. I can't ever imagine wanting to run so hard that I happily puke... or to want to keep running so much that I would just pee as I go. That clearly requires membership into a special club I have no desire to join. But, I really enjoyed the story of this book. The teamwork and banter and micro dramas and the sisterhood that these college students had as part of an elite running team made them form a bond that was uniquely special. I remember the "take back the night" marches on my college campus in the 90s and didn't really get them at the time. Well, I did, but I didn't appreciate the extent that my female peers probably related to them or were possibly traumatized by them. Not having close female friends like these characters, I was admittedly clueless. I am less so after reading this book.
I read and also listened to the audiobook version. The narrator captured the youthfulness of the characters and was easy to follow.
Thank you to Random House | Hogarth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
I read and also listened to the audiobook version. The narrator captured the youthfulness of the characters and was easy to follow.
Thank you to Random House | Hogarth and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
September 18, 2025
A moving debut coming of age story set in the early 1990s that follows a group of college runners as they bond, share secrets and try to help one another heal from trauma. This was great on audio narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and perfect for fans of books like Pretty furious by EK Johnston that feature strong female main characters who rage against the injustices of the world against women. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC by a new to me author in exchange for my honest review.
CW: rape
CW: rape
June 9, 2025
I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. It was very interesting to learn about each girls individual life struggles and see how they all would have to come together at the end. The character development was really great and helped make the book easy to follow. I love that it takes place in the 90s because it made me feel a bit nostalgic and as a runner myself I was really excited to read this novel. Definitely a good weekend read!
July 17, 2025
What a book! WOW! I requested this book off netgalley when I saw it had to do with running. Running is something I’ve always loved and always will. This book took a deep dive into a women’s cross country college team. It really went into the physical and mental mind of a runner and everything a woman endures in the sport. This book was heavy at times and did touch on some subjects that were tough to read but were real life things when I went to college too. It shed some light on how women in general are put through so much from sports to real life. I liked this book a lot and really just loved how well it was written.
This brought me back to my last two years of high school and when I truly fell in love with running. Going from finishing last some races and all the way in the back my freshmen and sophomore year of hs and hating running. To my junior and senior year of hs - finishing with the A group, finishing fifth in a race, and going to sectionals really changed my entire outlook on running. Running has always taught me one of the biggest lessons I take with me everyday in this life - you get what you put into it. The harder you work, the more you’ll keep improving and bettering yourself. I can attest to that going from a 31 minute 5k to a 22:30 5k & with so many aspects of my life. I just love running so this was a must read of course for me!
I highly recommend checking this one out! Thank you random house and netgalley for my ebook copy that comes out August 26, 2025.
This brought me back to my last two years of high school and when I truly fell in love with running. Going from finishing last some races and all the way in the back my freshmen and sophomore year of hs and hating running. To my junior and senior year of hs - finishing with the A group, finishing fifth in a race, and going to sectionals really changed my entire outlook on running. Running has always taught me one of the biggest lessons I take with me everyday in this life - you get what you put into it. The harder you work, the more you’ll keep improving and bettering yourself. I can attest to that going from a 31 minute 5k to a 22:30 5k & with so many aspects of my life. I just love running so this was a must read of course for me!
I highly recommend checking this one out! Thank you random house and netgalley for my ebook copy that comes out August 26, 2025.
January 3, 2026
It started out so good.
But the story and its pacing bogs down into momentum killing episode fragments. But that’s not what frustrated me the most. Harriet is an insufferable distraction
throughout the book and especially towards the end.
The other characters deserved more.
Competitive running at the college level deserved more.
The writing deserved more.
Meanwhile, there is an APB out for 1992.
That was an incredible year to be young.
It should have been a featured player in this story. Instead, it was relegated to a bit player-
handcuffed to 2025 at all times.
Yet, there is enough good writing and story telling to earn a 3.5. I will greatly miss Frost and the other girls.
What could have been….
But the story and its pacing bogs down into momentum killing episode fragments. But that’s not what frustrated me the most. Harriet is an insufferable distraction
throughout the book and especially towards the end.
The other characters deserved more.
Competitive running at the college level deserved more.
The writing deserved more.
Meanwhile, there is an APB out for 1992.
That was an incredible year to be young.
It should have been a featured player in this story. Instead, it was relegated to a bit player-
handcuffed to 2025 at all times.
Yet, there is enough good writing and story telling to earn a 3.5. I will greatly miss Frost and the other girls.
What could have been….
Read
December 20, 2025liked this!! follows a womens cross country team at a small liberal arts college- the writing was fab, it really captured the complexities of female friendship especially at this point of their lives. there was certainly a lot to be said about running... i don't know if i loved how all the characters were treated (more time for liv and patricia please) but glad i read this- recommend if it interests you
January 20, 2026
Took me a while to actually sit down and read this, but I’m so glad I did. While my college running experience was better (gender equality-wise) than these characters, I found myself able to relate so intensely to them. Reents was able to capture the desire to push your body to the limit and the camaraderie of a team so well.
December 28, 2025
This was less so a book about running and more a book about processing traumatic experiences and the complicated relationships women have with their bodies (and each other). I enjoyed the allusions to D3 cross country in New England because you could tell they were grounded in the author’s experience, but I (thankfully!) did not relate to her description of being on a team whatsoever because all of the characters seemed to have an underlying disdain for one another… overall a compelling read.
June 20, 2025
This is a story of friendship and competition and resilience, set in the glorious 1990s at a quiet New England college, long before the world got connected and complicated. A small group of cross country runners trains and strains, pushing and pulling each other across finish lines.
But dark moments from the recent past linger and fester like a shadowy hallucination. They - and we - are left to process the events, often without any satisfying conclusion. This is a snapshot of a time without a #metoo movement, or the modern perspective of a collective social consciousness. This is an uncomplicated world, but there are still complications.
The reader is brought into this tight-knit group, and gets to experience the joys and pains of college athletics: classes, training, wins, parties, insecurities, injuries, and fears.
Not to be overlooked, Reents' writing exhibits exquisite detail to the extent that you can easily imagine yourself snaking down a dirt trail on a cold October morning in Western Massachusetts, your shoes damp with dew, your lungs expelling steamy puffs of exhaustion.
This is a engaging and energizing read, a 5K for the soul.
But dark moments from the recent past linger and fester like a shadowy hallucination. They - and we - are left to process the events, often without any satisfying conclusion. This is a snapshot of a time without a #metoo movement, or the modern perspective of a collective social consciousness. This is an uncomplicated world, but there are still complications.
The reader is brought into this tight-knit group, and gets to experience the joys and pains of college athletics: classes, training, wins, parties, insecurities, injuries, and fears.
Not to be overlooked, Reents' writing exhibits exquisite detail to the extent that you can easily imagine yourself snaking down a dirt trail on a cold October morning in Western Massachusetts, your shoes damp with dew, your lungs expelling steamy puffs of exhaustion.
This is a engaging and energizing read, a 5K for the soul.
June 14, 2025
We looove a book about female friendships, but I was a little overwhelmed by the number of characters it kept flipping between.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for sending me this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for sending me this book!
August 19, 2025
We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents is a literary fiction coming of age novel featuring a team of female cross country runners at a New England liberal arts university. The novel is told from the points of view of the top six runners, but primarily Kristin and Danielle’s, as they compete with and against one another across one season. I had some difficulty keeping track of the various characters and storylines, where some are fully fleshed out and others left more open ended.
The novel is a slowly paced and emotionally wrenching look at the complex female experience. The young women, particularly Kristin and Danielle, face various battles as much off the race courses as on. The writing style is raw with an unflinching tone on harsh topics all too common for college aged women: excessive drinking, sexual assault, eating disorders and a pregnancy scare. It was frustrating at times to watch the characters ignore each others’ obvious struggles. It wasn’t until the end that the women came together to truly listen to each other’s stories and support one another. This is not a light read, and not entirely hopeful, but a thought provoking, deep character based story that focuses on the realistic experience of young women in college. 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Hogarth for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The novel is a slowly paced and emotionally wrenching look at the complex female experience. The young women, particularly Kristin and Danielle, face various battles as much off the race courses as on. The writing style is raw with an unflinching tone on harsh topics all too common for college aged women: excessive drinking, sexual assault, eating disorders and a pregnancy scare. It was frustrating at times to watch the characters ignore each others’ obvious struggles. It wasn’t until the end that the women came together to truly listen to each other’s stories and support one another. This is not a light read, and not entirely hopeful, but a thought provoking, deep character based story that focuses on the realistic experience of young women in college. 3.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Hogarth for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 10, 2025
If you’re looking for a heavier coming of age book, this is probably a good pick. But if you’re looking for a book about the experience of female competitive runners…meh.
I wish the publishers summary had been honest about what this book really is. It’s highly centered around a heavy sexual assault plot line that takes over most of the story. And then later it introduces ANOTHER sexual assault plot line.
Though I think the author did essentially get the politics and pettiness of women’s cross country right, it would have been a better book had she actually stayed with that as the central theme. It’s what the book’s summary *says* its focus is, and it’s also where the author shows some skill.
Though the weight issues are overblown here (cross country is really not like ballet or gymnastics in this way), the rivalries and politics among team members are very real, and though a lot of the girls’ perspectives are indistinguishable, those that do stand out feel accurate. Every team has a Danelle, for example.
In all, I enjoyed the parts of this that were actually about running and being part of a small and close knit team, but the book had other fatal flaws that are tough to get past.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I wish the publishers summary had been honest about what this book really is. It’s highly centered around a heavy sexual assault plot line that takes over most of the story. And then later it introduces ANOTHER sexual assault plot line.
Though I think the author did essentially get the politics and pettiness of women’s cross country right, it would have been a better book had she actually stayed with that as the central theme. It’s what the book’s summary *says* its focus is, and it’s also where the author shows some skill.
Though the weight issues are overblown here (cross country is really not like ballet or gymnastics in this way), the rivalries and politics among team members are very real, and though a lot of the girls’ perspectives are indistinguishable, those that do stand out feel accurate. Every team has a Danelle, for example.
In all, I enjoyed the parts of this that were actually about running and being part of a small and close knit team, but the book had other fatal flaws that are tough to get past.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 22, 2026
3.5/5 stars. we loved to run follows a group of women whose lives intersect through competitive running, friendship, ambition, and the personal baggage they carry with them. it’s a character-driven novel that tries to explore identity, pressure, and what it means to push yourself—physically and emotionally.
overall, i didn’t think it was bad, but i did find it confusing at times. some elements never fully came together for me, especially some of the imagery, which felt symbolic without being clearly grounded. many of the other girls in the group also felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to stay invested in the dynamics between them. harriet, in particular, grated on me a bit—her brand of extreme feminism often felt heavy-handed rather than thoughtful. patricia’s role never quite clicked for me either, and i was left unsure what her underlying issue or motivation was supposed to be. that said, i appreciated danielle and kristin; both felt more nuanced and grounded. for a title that was primarily character-driven, i would have hoped for all of the girls to have their stories told.
finally, for a book centered on running, i was surprised by how little actual running there was. interesting in parts and uneven in others, it didn’t fully land for me, but my fondness of character studies still made it a worthwhile, if imperfect, read.
overall, i didn’t think it was bad, but i did find it confusing at times. some elements never fully came together for me, especially some of the imagery, which felt symbolic without being clearly grounded. many of the other girls in the group also felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to stay invested in the dynamics between them. harriet, in particular, grated on me a bit—her brand of extreme feminism often felt heavy-handed rather than thoughtful. patricia’s role never quite clicked for me either, and i was left unsure what her underlying issue or motivation was supposed to be. that said, i appreciated danielle and kristin; both felt more nuanced and grounded. for a title that was primarily character-driven, i would have hoped for all of the girls to have their stories told.
finally, for a book centered on running, i was surprised by how little actual running there was. interesting in parts and uneven in others, it didn’t fully land for me, but my fondness of character studies still made it a worthwhile, if imperfect, read.
June 29, 2025
We Loved to Run is an ideal novel for female runners of any age but I think it’ll especially hit home with millennials and Gen X who grew up in the 90s and early 2000’s and were in sports, especially running. But this novel is about more than just a liberal arts cross country team and runners highs and competing and the unhealthy eating that was genuinely promoted as correct in that timeframe. It’s also about the power of friendships to get you through tough times. On and off the field, so to speak.
I latched on to Kristin’s journey the most because it took up the most space, but it was actually Chloe and Danielle who I wanted to know more about and wish their stories had been a little more fleshed out too.
In any case, this book captures the essence of that time, of the body image struggles, of the way life was before the internet fully took over; and of the way a team is only as strong as each of its members. I did like how sometimes the narration would switch to “we” and away from one person in particular to really emphasize the team aspect.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC and provide an honest review.
I latched on to Kristin’s journey the most because it took up the most space, but it was actually Chloe and Danielle who I wanted to know more about and wish their stories had been a little more fleshed out too.
In any case, this book captures the essence of that time, of the body image struggles, of the way life was before the internet fully took over; and of the way a team is only as strong as each of its members. I did like how sometimes the narration would switch to “we” and away from one person in particular to really emphasize the team aspect.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC and provide an honest review.
August 3, 2025
Ladies, if you read just one book this year, make it this one! This novel is masterfully crafted, blending actuality with metaphor, rich symbolism and wisdom. In dismantling the psyche of the female runner, Reents weaves it together with all that it means to be a woman in this society. She captures the insecurities and internal dialogue we know so well; the constant questioning of whether we're good enough, pretty enough, lean enough, strong enough, tough enough, or, too fat, too thin, too tall, too short. That relentless self-doubt that plagues us all at one time or another, becomes a central thread throughout, but that’s only part of it.
Reents creates this story through the intricacies of close female relationships, as they're tied to competition. The small team dynamics and intense friendships she portrays feel authentically real; caring yet competitive, affectionate yet sometimes ‘mean-spirited and snarky’. These contradictions come together to form bonds that are both beautiful and complicated; the inextricable bond between teammates and friends.
You could easily read this as simply a book about a college cross-country team and their lives, and it would still be a compelling story. But if you dig just a bit deeper into the symbolism and examine the complicated realities of the female experience, the highs, lows, pitfalls, insecurities, vulnerabilities, and the search for strength through fear and guilt, you'll discover the true genius of Reents' writing. This is a book that understands women's inner lives with remarkable insight and compassion, and I will be thinking about its brilliance for a long time to come.
*I was invited to read by the publisher, through NetGalley, for an honest review (Random House)
Reents creates this story through the intricacies of close female relationships, as they're tied to competition. The small team dynamics and intense friendships she portrays feel authentically real; caring yet competitive, affectionate yet sometimes ‘mean-spirited and snarky’. These contradictions come together to form bonds that are both beautiful and complicated; the inextricable bond between teammates and friends.
You could easily read this as simply a book about a college cross-country team and their lives, and it would still be a compelling story. But if you dig just a bit deeper into the symbolism and examine the complicated realities of the female experience, the highs, lows, pitfalls, insecurities, vulnerabilities, and the search for strength through fear and guilt, you'll discover the true genius of Reents' writing. This is a book that understands women's inner lives with remarkable insight and compassion, and I will be thinking about its brilliance for a long time to come.
*I was invited to read by the publisher, through NetGalley, for an honest review (Random House)
June 28, 2025
You will come to this novel interested to learn about the world of competitive women’s cross-country running, and you will find the characters compelling, and what happens to them, and how they deal with their challenges, will keep you engaged. But what will remain with you is a sense of how women’s identities are forged in the crucibles of the communities they create. It would be reductive and misleading to compare the women of the Frost cross-country team to the Bingley sisters, but it’s worth recognizing that they are not unrelated, and that the power that stories such as this one have to enrich our understanding of women’s lives is the kind of thing that those of us want who come to reading for more than a few hours’ entertainment.
July 1, 2025
The book explores the challenges young women face, both in sports and in life, and how powerful it is when they come together for a shared goal. The focus is on six different team members in the women’s cross country team, which means there are six POVs. Some characters had more focus than others, which meant there were a lot of storylines that were either tied up quickly or left open-ended. Overall, a good and emotional read to get that adrenaline rush to start running again.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC and provide an honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC and provide an honest review.
October 31, 2025
I enjoyed We Loved to Run more than i thought I would! I was hesitant to start it but honestly it was a very powerful read!!
Trigger warning: rape/SA
Short chapters - easy to read!
Weaved the sport of running in with college life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House | Hogarth for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Trigger warning: rape/SA
Short chapters - easy to read!
Weaved the sport of running in with college life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House | Hogarth for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 23, 2025
We Loved to Run started off strong about 6 college women on the cross country team vying for a National Championship. This debut novel told in multiple POV had some slow parts and not much plot. Overall, this novel was not just about running, but about female friendships, secrets, body issues, competition dedication, and identity.
I received an advanced electronic copy from publisher Hogarth and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.
I received an advanced electronic copy from publisher Hogarth and NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book. All opinions are my own.
December 13, 2025
Of course I had to read this book about the Little Three… the first few chapters really turned me off, as did the first person plural narration, but it became more and more interesting (ironically) as the story moved away from running. Distractingly full of references to the girls’ bodies, and also of lines that felt so far away from words that would actually come out of people’s mouths… but moments of resonance and warmth between the characters kept me reading.
December 27, 2025
While this coming-of-age novel is centered around a women's college cross country team, it is not a book about running. Instead, it is a story of 6 diverse women brought together to form a team. It's about perfectionism, competition, and ambition, but also the struggles of being a woman. The book takes place in the 1990s, but the issues have not changed for women. The women collectively find power to not only push themselves to the finish line, but also through some very difficult situations involving men. The narrative shifts throughout the book from a focus on one of the runners to the perspective of the team as a 'we'. The writing is beautiful, and the author did a great job of describing the feeling and the why of running. I loved it.
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