Run For Your Life, Callie Kingman

by Alli Frank, Asha Youmans

A blindsided soon-to-be divorcée rediscovers herself in this witty, celebratory novel about a hard-fought comeback by the authors of The Better Half.

Two decades have passed since Callie Kingman begrudgingly followed her husband, Thomas, across the country in pursuit of his career at the expense of her own. Today, Callie is an empty nester with no job prospects, a declining mother, and a spouse who announces his intention to leave her—in Sacramento, the dullest city in America. His parting “It’s not me, it’s you.”

Taking to bed, Callie relies on delivery for food, her neighbor for booze, and her college best friend for commiseration. When an overdue annual exam leads to a health scare, Callie is forced to contend with her fractured and unfulfilled life by revisiting the vibrant, indomitable woman she used to be.

From her idyllic years at Princeton and an extraordinary first love to the pressures all women face to strive, serve, and be sexy as hell, once again she’s face-to-face with it all. Callie is running for her life, determined to forge a path ahead that is better than the one she’s leaving behind.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication December 30, 2025

About the author

The robustness of a farm girl, the honed sophistication of a city woman, a dash of Jewish chutzpah, and a heaping cup of endurance athlete and voila, you have Alli Frank. Alli was raised in Yakima, WA, the only child of two parents who instilled in her that hard work coupled with a resilient spirit will take you where you want to go. So up some of the highest mountains Alli climbed, down insanely steep terrain she skied and across long swathes of land she ran. To pay for all this adventure, Alli has worked in education for over 20 years in San Francisco and Seattle - from an overcrowded, cacophonous public high school to a pristine private girl's school. She has been a teacher, curriculum leader, coach, college counselor, assistant head, private school co-founder, sometimes pastor, often mayor, and de facto parent therapist. A graduate of Cornell and Stanford Universities, Alli can still be found with her nose deep in a book or hunkered down at the movies, never one to miss a great story. Alli lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband, two daughters and terribly cute mini-Bernedoodle. When she needs good food (cause she can't really cook) she turns to her co-author Asha Youmans.

(source: Amazon)

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog

3.5 Stars

I have never read a book by this duo before, and this was getting some great reviews, so I thought I'd take a chance. This is about the titular character Callie Kingman. Her twenty-year marriage falls apart, and she has a health scare. Callie decides she can be like the woman she once was, before moving to Sacramento and giving up her job for her husband.

I liked the idea of this book so much. I have been in Callie's shoes. This story was heartbreaking, real, and oh so funny at times as well. That is the story's main strength: Callie herself and how relatable she is. She had a hard time believing in herself or that she was deserving of the good things in life. She is trying to live up to the expectations of others in both her family life and at her job. I felt what Callie was feeling and was cheering her on. The authors do a great job balancing the funny moments with the seriousness of being a mom, working full-time and going through a divorce. Callie was very brave trying to start over. And even though the plot was predictable, I enjoyed being on Callie's journey until I didn't.

The biggest problem I had with this book is a bit of a spoiler. I am just going to say that meeting up with her old boyfriend, Porter, and forgiving him for what he did all those years ago made me angry. I hated the ending with a passion, so I am taking half a star off and rounding down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.
Being in my mid 40s a lot of what Callie goes through is both empowering and positively horrifying.
I could not imagine dealing with what she did, let alone in such a class act way.
Well done Callie!
I highly enjoyed that the story is unveiled in 2 timelines (past & present) coming to an intersection in the end.
Callie is a fabulous character and you will be rooting for her to come out on top.
I loved this book and am so excited to have gotten an early copy!
Much love to Booked with the Emilys, Brilliance Publishing, NetGalley and of course the authors, Alli Frank & Asha Youmans. I am excited they have a backlist I can dig into next.

[Arabella Téa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:
Book out December 30, 2025
—
This one... this one was so much more than I expected...
—
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—
I was expecting it to be a cheesy, happy ending kind of book, as it's not what I usually read... but let me tell you - i think everyone, every woman needs to read this.
Especially as it's not your typical 20 year old FMC. This one is dedicated to my Gen X friends.

We follow Callie Kingman, a soon to be divorced 50 year old mum of two. She moved her life from New York to California for her (soon to be ex) husband for what she thought would be a short time. 20+ years later, still in California and her life shatters. Or so she thought. 🫢

This book is written in present, but has a few chapters going back 30 years, to Callie's college life at Princeton.

We get to know her college love life, her family life, the struggles, caring for sick family member, and the friendship! Oh the friendship!
She has a best friend named Quinn, and I think we all need a friend like her. The overall support is just *chefs kiss.*

—
I really really really recommend this book.
It might even be one of the best i've read this year.

Thanks to Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC.

[herbookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a huge comfort to the heart. It was realistic, sincere, funny, and touching…

Watching Callie take back control of her life was very inspiring! Her reality, although difficult at first (Thomas, we all hate you), was soothing to follow. Even though I’m not at her stage of life, it made me think that no matter what happens, if I ever hit a low point, I can find the strength to overcome it too.

One of my favorite characters was Quinn. She’s that friend everyone dreams of having in their life. Despite the distance, the way she was always there for Callie was both moving and heartwarming.

Callie’s mom was also such a precious gem in this book. Dementia or early cognitive decline is a hard subject to talk about, even though it’s something many people around Callie’s age often experience with loved ones. I really appreciated how there was a bit of humor woven into the topic. It brought a small but meaningful touch of light.

I also loved the ending! I loved the authors’ decision not to have Callie stay in California just to be with Porter. I appreciated that she chose herself first, after all those years of living only for her family.

This book was a true gem and I’d definitely reread it a second time! I highly recommend it to everyone!

[Cass Chloupek · Rating 4 out of 5]

No. I don’t like when characters, especially male characters are forgiven for being selfish jackasses. Porter’s tired I’m black and your white excuse for abandoning Callie holds no water whatsoever. If you care so much about living your life no upsetting the limited world view of your simpleton parents, don’t date a white woman. But to string her a long on half promised and deceit for 3 years is a terrible thing to do and makes you a horrible person. And no amount of him saying he was a man stuck between two world with change my mind about that. Men love to posit their selfishness as a hero’s journey if choosing themselves above all else. But you hurting everyone i. your life is not without consequences. You don’t get to come back into someone’s life after three decades and act like the choices you made were noble. The end between them where they are basically back together is not at all deserved.

[Annie Long Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre-order this now if you want a book that’s a “a soul-affirming love song to Gen X women.” This witty, celebratory novel tells the story of a blindsided soon-to-be divorcée who rediscovers herself. I'm always here for a hard-fought comeback, and Callie Kingman delivers. The dual-timeline story includes some fun flashbacks to college in the 90's, and you'll love them even more if you went to Princeton. It's fun and smart, and would be the perfect post-holiday read.

[Clara Lança · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am evolving beyond a wife and a mother. I am becoming a woman who stands on her own

Run For Your Life, Callie Kingman follows the main character after her husband of 25 years leaves her for a younger woman. Although Callie had uprooted her life years prior for her Thomas, giving up on her dreams and herself entirely, her husband thought she had let herself go, cheated on her with a younger woman, and then divorced her and moved to London. After going through the shock, Callie decides she is going to turn her life around and focus on herself - she takes up hobbies, tries to control her eating habits and makes new friends.
After weeks of new friends and self-love, an old, long-gone love comes back into Callie's life and turns everything around.


The book is enjoyable and so easy to read; some parts are even funny. You get to know Callie as she rediscovers herself, but you also get to know her 20-year-old college version, and you get to see and understand why she slowly became less interested in herself. I loved Callie's journey of self-discovery, understanding that life does not end at 50, and that she could be more than a mother and a wife. Her new and old friendships are very wholesome and seem to be one of the main focuses of the book.

With all of that said, I had some issues with the book. While reading the flashbacks, you get to know Porter Beaumont, Callie's college boyfriend, an intellectual bookworm whom her parents and friends could not love any more.
Throughout the book, you're left wondering what came to be of Porter, and why they are no longer together if they had their whole life planned out. Early on in her post-divorce life, Callie meets a 20-something-year-old Carter Beaumont, who you rightly assume has to be related to Porter, and come to find out is his nephew. Callie is unaware of this and goes on to develop a close friendship with Carter, even thinking at times that he is flirting with her.
To make a long story short, Carter invited Callie for dinner on his birthday and Callie, thinking that she was going on a day with someone young enough to be her son, reluctantly accepted, only to get trapped at dinner with Porter Beaumont. That's right, Carter knew Callie was his uncle's college girlfriend, and had only invited her so he could shock her with the presence of her ex-boyfriend, whom she had not seen or talked to for 25 years. You're wondering why they broke up? So is Callie! On graduation day, Callie and Porter had made plans to graduate and celebrate together with their families and friends, but Callie's special day is turned upside down when Porter just vanishes. He just disappears without a trace, leaving her with no explanation or chance of closure. For 25 years, Callie has not known what happened to the person she thought she was spending her life with. So you can imagine her confusion when she's expecting to go on a date with a 23-year-old fitness influencer, only to find out his uncle is Porter Beaumont. Callie agrees to have dinner with Porter and let him explain himself, but his explanation only annoyed me more.
While I understand the circumstances of their relationship and agree how hard it would have been for Porter, especially in the 80s, I just could not understand why this was never anything Porter had brought up in their 4 years of dating. Porter believed his mother would have never accepted Callie or his lifestyle with her, and because of that, he... disappears? Ghosts her? Destroys her plans for the future? It just seems to me that he could not have loved her if this is how he broke up with her, and it also seems like a very cowardly thing to do.
Furthermore, this man does not even seem that sorry. Sure, he apologises, but he cannot help but excuse himself and speak in metaphors when Callie rightfully asks for explanations. He actually says that he hoped that ‘somehow, some way, at the right time, I would make my way back to you’ . So he left Callie heartbroken on her graduation day, and hoped that one day he would see her again and she would just... take him back?
Even worse, come to find out that, initially, Daphne and Maureen - Callie's new friends - only became closer to her to determine if she was 'worthy' of Porter. That is actually insane. You want to find out if this woman is good enough for her lame ex? It kind of shattered the wholesomeness around these new friendships for me.
When Callie tells Quinn - her college best friend - that Porter is trying to get back into her life, Quinn is initially very wary and irritated at Porter, but because apparently Callie does not have one good friend, she quickly changes her mind and plots to set Callie and Porter together.
I really enjoyed seeing Callie gain confidence, moving back into New York, getting a job, falling in love with running and herself, and I was really hoping that she would have some backbone and not take back this excuse of a man, but unfortunately, the book had to end with the two getting back together.
I don't mind a second-chance romance when the breakup situation is less ridiculous than this one. All it takes for Callie to take Porter back is for him to accept a job near her and tell her he's writing a book based on their story. All forgiven then!!
I wish Porter hadn't annoyed me so much, and maybe then I could have enjoyed it more.


In all, this is a fun read if you’re looking for something humorous and easy to read, as long as you’re not like me and can get past Porter’s red flags.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alli Frank and Asha Youmans’ Run For Your Life, Callie Kingman is the kind of book that makes you laugh, wince, nod aggressively, and then pause mid-page to stare into the middle distance and rethink a few life choices.
Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, Booked with the Emilys, and Brilliance Audio for my gifted ARC and ALC.

I went in expecting a cozy, witty midlife reset story and what I got was something far richer and more honest. Callie Kingman is an empty nester, a woman who followed the plan, supported the career, raised the kids, moved to the city she never loved, and told herself she’d circle back to her own dreams someday. As someone who actually lives in the Sacramento area, I loved seeing my own city woven into the story—it made everything feel even more grounded and personal. Then her husband announces he’s leaving her and caps it off with the audacity of “It’s not me, it’s you.” Reader, I nearly threw my book. And yet, somehow, I was laughing two pages later.

What makes this story work so well is Callie herself. She’s self-deprecating without being pitiful, sharp without being cruel, and deeply human in ways that feel uncomfortably familiar. She spirals. She hides. She wallows. She orders delivery and avoids mirrors. And then, slowly, reluctantly, she starts showing up again. Not because she suddenly believes in herself, but because life gives her no other choice. That felt real.

The dual timeline structure adds depth rather than distraction. The Princeton years are soaked in nostalgia, first love intensity, and the kind of certainty you only have when you’re young and wrong. Watching past Callie alongside present Callie made the emotional beats land harder, especially as we see exactly what she gave up, piece by piece, without ever formally deciding to do so. The past isn’t romanticized, but it is tender, and it adds important context to the woman Callie became.

The running storyline surprised me the most. I expected it to be symbolic and a little cheesy. Instead, it’s awkward, humbling, sometimes funny, and often uncomfortable in the best way. This isn’t a glow-up montage. It’s five-minute runs, sore muscles, self-consciousness, and showing up even when you don’t want to. The metaphor works because the effort is messy and unglamorous, just like rebuilding a life.

The friendships absolutely shine. Both the long-standing and newly formed relationships feel earned and essential. These women are opinionated, loyal, occasionally annoying, and exactly what Callie needs even when she doesn’t want to hear it. There’s a lot of warmth here, and it never drifts into saccharine territory.

The romance element will definitely divide readers, and I understand why. It’s complicated, unresolved, and emotionally loaded. But I appreciated that the book never lets romance overshadow the real core of the story. This isn’t about being rescued or redeemed by love. It’s about accountability, choice, and whether growth actually sticks when tested.

The audiobook experience deserves special mention. Bahni Turpin delivers a performance that feels intimate and emotionally precise. Her pacing, tone, and subtle humor elevate the text and make Callie’s internal monologue feel like a conversation rather than a performance. I switched between audio and ebook, and both formats worked beautifully, but the audio especially brought the humor and vulnerability to life.

One quote I highlighted immediately because it perfectly captures the heart of this book:
“I am evolving beyond a wife and a mother. I am becoming a woman who stands on her own.”

That line lingers. This is a story about midlife not as an ending, but as a reckoning. About realizing that time has passed and deciding what to do with what’s left. It’s funny, uncomfortable, affirming, and quietly empowering without ever slipping into preachy territory.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 stars)

#RunForYourLifeCallieKingman #AlliFrank #AshaYoumans #WomensFiction #GeneralFiction #GenXReads #MidlifeReinvention #BookReview #Audiobooks #AudiobookReview #NetGalley #ARCReview #ALC #BookedWithTheEmilys

[Lisi Bee (Beth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. On the plus side: midlife representation, a snarky GenX heroine who remembers over the course of the book the best parts of who she really is, an HFN ending that puts focus on being happy with yourself and putting yourself and your needs first, an FMC who is finally prioritizing her wants, and the affirming message that the life you lead after 50 can be fresh and new and wonderful. And as great as all of those things were (and there were a lot of good things in this book), a few things threw me off. Starting with the description that she changes her life after a "health scare." I expected something more drastic than what was presented; at best, it was a "health precaution." I kept waiting for the actual health scare to happen until I finally realized it had already happened lol. (And let me just say how much her doctor's initial lecture ticked me off. Tough love? Maybe, but it still smacked of a lot of assumptions about her based on her appearance in the office. Not that this kind of treatment is unusual for women of a certain age, and I did actually find that part relatable.) I applaud that Callie took steps to feel better about herself, and to physically feel stronger. But I was not a fan of her over-emphasis on body image in the first half of the book (although that definitely tracks for a GenX woman who was raised by 80s/90s diet culture). I thought for the most part the pacing was good, and it was good enough for most of the book to keep me engaged. But I felt like it took a little too long for some of the key story events to happen. (And by the time they did, it was a bit anticlimactic.) I liked the flashback chapters, since they helped us to better understand the younger Callie and Porter's relationship. I don't feel like we got to know Porter well enough, and I think ultimately that made it harder for me to root for him. Overall, this felt more like women's fiction than a romance. And there's nothing wrong with that, just make sure you go into it this book with realistic expectations. (And also check the content warnings, there was some content that was especially triggering for me as an adult child who cared for aging parents who both had issues similar to Callie's mother.) 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Publishes December 30, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run for Your Life Callie Kingman by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

Short Synopsis: What’s your comeback story?
When her marriage ends and a health scare forces her to slow down, Callie Kingman must face the life she built and the woman she’s become. What follows is a journey of reflection, reinvention, and finally choosing herself.

Book Thoughts:

I did a mix of audio and Kindle read for this one but mostly audio. The audio was really well done and the narrators did a fabulous job.

As a divorced woman, Callie was very easy to relate to even though she was going through different life struggles than I have experienced. The connection was still felt.

This was a first read of this author combo and I thought it was done well.

There were several parts that had me laughing out loud, especially her mother’s new found addiction.

This book has two timelines and for someone that doesn’t always love two drastically different timelines, I felt like this was easy to follow and well-done.

It was refreshing to read a book where the MFC isn’t in her twenties. The issues she was facing feel a bit more relatable for my age group.

If you want a book where the side characters have so much depth, this is the one for you. Callie’s friend group was incredible. They are close-knit, supportive, and not afraid to tell it how it is.

One of my favorite aspects was the connection to the sports world and the importance of health and moving your body.

Some of the topics were pretty heavy and a few times, my anxiety felt a little triggered because some of the things Callie was dealing with were things I worry I might one day face as well.

I really feel like Callie understood the assignment of finding herself and came out stronger and better in the end.

If I am being honest, I do not know how I feel about Porter. Callie’s college boyfriend. It annoyed me that he had so many excuses for his wrongdoing towards Callie.

Overall, I think this is a great book for a woman in her 30s to 40s. It discusses a range of life struggles that are relatable and real. The characters are well-done and the storyline is easy to follow, even with the change in timelines.

Read if you like:
Dual timelines
Strong FMC
Relatable life struggles
Close-knit friend groups
Dual authors
Discovering yourself
Books about divorce
Books with sport aspects
Engaging audiobooks

Thank you, Partner, @bookedwiththeemilys @alliandasha @amazonpublishing

[QuirkyTofurkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could, I’d make this required reading for every man, woman, and child over the age of thirteen. Callie has almost convinced me to join a running club of my own. A RUNNING CLUB. Who even am I? This book has been more transformative for me in 24 hours than most self-help seminars promise to be in a lifetime.

This book takes place across dual timelines: the present, where Callie (now in her fifties, newly single, and rediscovering herself) navigates what it means to begin again, and the past, where a college aged Callie is falling in love for the first time.

I completely agree with the authors when they say this is a love story, but it’s not a romance. It’s about the most important relationship we’ll ever have: the one with ourselves. It’s about learning to extend the same grace, patience, and compassion to our own hearts that we so freely give to others.

The women in these pages are extraordinary, resilient, and flawed. May we all find our tribe someday, surrounded by strong, brilliant, and supportive people. And if we don’t, may we find inspiration in stories like this one.

I’ve highlighted so many passages I know I’ll come back to again and again, with words I’ll need to hear when life gets heavy. I was fortunate enough to have access to the audiobook along with the advanced reader copy and hearing these words spoken directly into my brain felt like they were meant for me as much as for Callie. Bahni Turpin’s narration is phenomenal. I’m usually a dual-narrator advocate, but I didn’t even notice or care this time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake, Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio, Alli Frank, and Asha Youmans for the advanced reader and audio copies. This review is voluntary, and all thoughts are entirely my own. I am so incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to read this book.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It’s not me, it’s you.”
And with those words, Callie Kingman’s husband leaves her for his young, pregnant mistress.
After 20+ years of marriage and two grown boys.
After taking her from her beloved New York City to a city she hates on the opposite coast.
After forcing her to leave her promising journalism career and relegating her to support roles – unpaid and unseen.

After all that, Callie’s new doctor gives her the cold truth: She can make hard changes, or she can face dire consequences. And that’s how Callie finds herself the extremely reluctant newest member of a running club.

I enjoyed this book for many reasons, but mainly because middle-aged Callie is so relatable. She’s funny, smart, and brave (even if she doesn’t recognize her own courage early on). I adored the female friendships, both those that have lasted decades and the new ones. Like Callie, I discovered running in my 50s – something that would not have happened without the friendships found in a running group. Also like Callie, the self-confidence and well-being that came with that achievement trickled down in many ways.

There were parts of this story I struggled to get my head around. (What the heck, Porter?!?) I found myself thinking, “Oh, no, don’t you dare!” But then the story ended, and initially I was hesitant about the way it wrapped up. After sitting with it for a while, though, I appreciate how the pieces fell in place.

During the first chapter, the narration felt a bit much. But as I got to know the characters, I appreciated Bahni Turpin’s interpretations of their personalities, adding emphasis in all the right places, and her reading became a crucial part of my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing, NetGalley, and authors Alli Frank and Asha Youmans for the complimentary advance copy. It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance audio for early copy for review*



I struggled with Callie's perspective as a poor millennial that deals with chronic pain. To me she has so much positives in her life that she relinquished so easily. This is not referring to the cheating husband, but more at the beginning of her marriage sacrificing her happiness to move to California with her husband's lie of a year. The fact that at the end of the relationship it became part time with him flying between two locations why couldn't they started it like that. So to me Callie is very much someone who gives up everything for a man.

Then we have her journey to getting healthy. Yet again she is not working and has little going against her in this department so while I applaud her joining and staying with a running club. Also it would have been nice to stress that a lot of her thinking promote eating disorders. It was nice when she was eventually not getting upset over eating fries, but there wasn't much talk of getting rid of that mindset.

The writing in this book is not bad and the audiobook narrator was fantastic. I think I wanted to connect more to Callie because I mistakenly though she might be biracial like myself since the narrator was black and there was mentions of a white mother. For some reason I thought her father was black which was not the case. With mentions of winter paleness I immediately related to that as someone who is considered "white passing".

I think this book relates most to women Callie's age, who are not struggling day to day to afford a place to live.

[Amy Kubal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What starts as rejection ends in total redemption and renewal for Callie Kingman. Callie has been waiting for her husband to get a promotion so she can move back to New York. When he comes home with some news, she's expecting it to be that it's finally happened, but instead he tells her that he's leaving her and moving to London with his, younger, pregnant girlfriend. And he doesn't stop there, he also tells her that she's stopped taking care of herself and let herself go.

Callie is angry and crushed and after a not so great doctor's appointment, she decides to make a change and start running. On her first five minute jog she runs into a handsome, young running club coach and after some coaxing from him and a few of the members, she decides to see what it's all about. What she doesn't know is that both the coach and the group have some ulterior motives that involve a past college boyfriend, Porter, who was the love of her life. As this story unfolds, Callie slowly finds peace and herself.

This was a great book! As a middle-aged woman this really resonated with me. We often get lost in the day-to-day and we forget who we were, give up dreams, and lose hope. Callie shows us that even though life redirects our plans, it's never too late to rediscover we are - regardless of where we've been and what we've been through.

The characters in this book were so well developed that many of them felt like friends. The audio narration and pacing was excellent and it was an all around enjoyable listen. I highly recommend adding it to your pre-order and TBR lists!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC audio of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Erin Ballinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the chance to read this early! 4.5 /5 stars
I really enjoyed this a ton. Callie, our female lead, is fresh off the heels of a surprising affair and divorce from her husband, Thomas, and navigating finding herself as a 50 year old woman with two grown children and no sense of worth. We watch her in the primary timeline as she takes up running to gets healthy, meets a 22 year old man who gets her heart beating again (although this storyline is NOT what it seems), deals with her incredibly funny mother with dementia, and find a career that suits her. We also watch, in a dual timeline backstory, her time at Princeton university with her best friend Quinn and love of her life Porter.
This book has EVERYTHING and for some, that might be overwhelming. But as a woman approaching 40, I really LOVED it. Callie is a mother, a wife, a once-upon-a-time writer who is trying to find herself again. She's smart and poignant and aware of everything mid-life women go through. She has this northeast style to her that is entirely her own despite moving for her husband, terrific women to support her, and a whipsmart sense of humor. Her love with Porter is brilliant and complex (there are huge racial divide issues here that are incredibly nuanced), and this journey of self discovery is really compelling.
This is less plot driven, more character driven, then I typically read but I absolutely adored it.

[Laura Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out December 30th, 2025
Reading Run For Your Life, Callie Kingman felt like getting hit with a wave of adrenaline and heartache all at once. Callie is the kind of character who grabs you from page one—smart, funny, and deeply human. Her life takes a sharp turn, and suddenly she’s not just running from danger, she’s running toward the truth about who she is and what she’s willing to fight for. The emotional stakes are high, and the authors don’t hold back. You feel every beat of her fear, her strength, and her stubborn hope.

What makes this book so powerful isn’t just the suspense—it’s the way it balances intensity with vulnerability. Callie’s relationships, especially the ones she’s trying to protect or repair, are raw and real. There are moments that made me laugh out loud, and others that had me blinking back tears. Frank and Youmans know how to write dialogue that cuts deep and scenes that stay with you. It’s not just a thriller—it’s a story about survival, identity, and the messy beauty of starting over.

By the end, I was emotionally wrecked in the best way. Callie’s journey is one of grit and grace, and it reminded me how brave it is to keep going when everything feels broken. This book doesn’t just entertain—it moves you. If you’re looking for a story that’s fast-paced but full of heart, this one’s a must-read.

[Cynthia Bookish_onthecape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Run For Your Life, Callie Kingman Honest ARC Review:

This was not the romantic comedy I anticipated. It was SO much better! A few words that come to mind to describe it would be: relatable, inspiring and community. Callie’s character calls out to every woman who has given herself selflessly and care for others.

Callie Kingman was completely caught off guard as her husband returned home from what she thought was a business trip to NYC only to discover that her marriage was ending.

A character that was completely relatable, Callie was at a crossroads. She spent her life caring for everyone else. She has neglected herself in the process.

The reader was taken on a journey as Callie decided if and how she would reclaim all aspects of her identity that once brought her joy. From her years at Princeton that were filled with hope to the pressures women experience as they sacrifice their careers, passions and bodies to raise a family, Callie faced each obstacle with determination.

Reclaiming herself, Callie became an inspiration for women everywhere. I really enjoyed the depth and complexity of this novel. It motivated me to consider my own place in life and my journey.

Thank you Net Galley and Montlake for sharing this ARC with me.

[Read With Me Maybe · Rating 4 out of 5]

'It's not you, it's me' is probably one of the most cliche phrases ever to be spoken. However, in this occasion 'it's not me, it's YOU'
This book takes us on a journey of how women can completely neglect themselves, their careers, their lives, all in the name of being the perfect wife, the perfect mother and the perfect friend.
When Callies husband, Thomas, returns from his business trip, Callie is expecting him to welcome her with open arms and a big smooch however, she's shocked when he announces his plans for a separation/divorce. Just like that, life as Callie knew it would never be the same again.
Determined to move forward, it's Callie time to concentrate on herself and her own wellbeing. This book is the perfect tale of rediscovery, vulnerability and desire to become a woman everyone wants to know.... Finally. If you're a woman, a mum, a divorcee/married , or even discovering yourself, this book is definitely for you.
I feel like Callie is like a favourite aunt that you really wish achieved everything she's ever wanted in life and more. Sometimes it's best to start looking forward and leave the past behind!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review

[Mal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the advanced reader copy

2.75 stars

When Callie Kingman's husband, Thomas, comes home after a business trip, she thinks he's finally going to tell her that they're moving back to New York, the city she loves and where she gave up her journalist career to follow Thomas to Sacramento for his career. Instead, he tells her that he's leaving her for someone else and is having a baby with that person. After a health scare, Callie is thrown from her depression over the life she'd built and must confront who she wants to be in her future.

I feel sad giving this such a low rating because I've really enjoyed many of the other books by this writing duo. The main characters are usually spirit-filled women who attack their issues with intelligence and some sass. Callie Kingman came across as kind of pitiful from page one, even before her husband leaves her. It was hard to root for her, especially when she reconnects with an old love, who was an unlikeable/unsympathetic character. Obviously, not every book a writer creates can be a banger. I'll be curious to see what this duo does next.

Run for Your Life, Callie Kingman comes out December 30, 2025

[Emily | booksandbedtime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Synopsis:
Callie Kingman moved to Sacramento, a city she’s never loved, twenty years ago with her husband. Now, with her kids grown, her mother battling dementia, and her marriage falling apart, she’s suddenly facing life on her own. When her doctor urges her to take her health seriously, and she nearly runs over a young man one morning, an unexpected friendship (and his running club) help Callie rediscover herself and redefine what happiness looks like in this next chapter of her life.

My Thoughts:
What a lovely novel. I adored how the “love story” here isn’t just about romance (though yes, there’s some of that too), but about self-love and friendship too.

The flashback chapters? Perfection. There’s something so tender about young love, and I couldn’t stop reading to see how it all unraveled….plus, there’s a certain twist that had me 😭.

I especially appreciated the focus on health, aging, and how relatable Callie felt. This story beautifully captures the messiness and magic of second acts.

What You’ll Find:
📚 Dual timelines
🌅 Second acts & second chances
💌 First love, last love
👟 FMC in her 50s
🎸 A love letter to Gen X women

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run for Your Life was an absolutely excellent read. The story follows a woman in her 50s who is recently divorced after sacrificing her own dreams for decades to support her husband—only for him to leave her for a younger woman. Adding to her heartbreak, the love of her life vanished without a word back in college, leaving her with deep-seated self-doubt that lingered for years.

This novel beautifully captures her journey of rediscovery. Through a local running group, she begins to rebuild her confidence, reclaim her identity, and finally live for herself. One of the most powerful parts of the story is when her first love reappears and she’s faced with a familiar choice: put her dreams aside for someone else, or choose herself. This time, she chooses herself—and it’s a moment that feels both hard-won and deeply empowering.

The writing was thoughtful and emotionally grounded, and I loved how the character’s growth felt realistic for her age and life stage. A heartfelt, inspiring story of second chances, self-worth, and the strength it takes to finally run toward your own dreams.

[Rashmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ★★★★

This book is all about reinvention and finding yourself again after years of compromise. Callie has spent her life following her husband’s career, raising kids, and putting her own dreams on the backburner. Then suddenly, with a divorce and a health scare thrown at her, she has no choice but to figure out who she is and what she wants.

What I really liked:

➽ Callie’s journey felt real and relatable. The authors did a great job showing the messiness of starting over later in life.

➽ The mix of humor and heart was spot on. Even in heavier moments, there were witty lines that made me smile.

➽The friendships and relationships added so much warmth.

Why not 5 stars?

Some parts were a little predictable, and a few side plots didn’t feel fully developed. The pacing also slowed down in places.

Still, this was an uplifting, thoughtful read about self-discovery and resilience. Perfect if you enjoy stories of second chances and strong female leads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really enjoyable. I'll be honest, when I read the premise, I expected more of a typical romance book, an older woman who would find herself single and start over, find new love etc but that was not what this book was at all and I liked that. The story WAS about starting again, but it was a love story about falling back in love with yourself rather than somebody else, something I think is a really important message. Setting out to do something she really doesn't want to do, ends up bringing back who Callie used to be, she finds new friendships, new confidence and new belief in, and love for, herself. The romance part is more told in flashbacks, and i'm not usually a fan of that style but it really worked here, and you were invested in the young love, and wonder what had gone wrong. The second chance comes very late in the book but it's the right time, but it's not simple. I think the authors did this book just the right way. A really lovely read.

Thank you netgalley and Montlake for the ARC

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for me.

Callie Kingman did everything for her husband,moving to town she didn't want to,it's just one of them.When her husband Thomas asks for divorce,and his words to Callie “It’s not me, it’s you,” it's only normal that she's a little angry.At the check up,when her doctor quite honestly point out some truths,Callie need to ask herself who she really is?It seems years passed,and Callie put her wants and needs on hold,while taking care of her family.

Will Callie find a will to change and maybe be happy?

I really enjoyed Callie story, it was quite raw and truthfull fiction.From Callie past at Princeton and her first love,to present and getting divorce with different love,I got a clear picture of what happened in her life.I liked the true portrait of a woman who is really hurt by betrayal of her husband,and was rooting for her to find happiness.I loved when she choose herself for once,and didn't let love and hurt rule her anymore.My first book by this author and hope to read more.

Thank you netgalley and publisher for arc,my review is honest and my own.

[Marguerite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about all forms of love starting with self-love and exploring lifelong friendship, and romantic love. I appreciated how honestly it explored each one - Callie’s journey feels messy, raw, and relatable as she’s forced to look at the life she’s built (or let others build for her) and ask what she truly wants moving forward.

The book dives deep and speaks to the challenges women face across different eras and life stages, even as society progresses. The push-and-pull between motherhood, identity, ambition, and the pressure to be everything for everyone is portrayed with both tenderness and humor. Run for Your Life is a heartfelt, reflective comeback story with plenty of humor and emotional honesty. I cried and laughed along Callie’s story and think it was a solid 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the sharing the ARC of Run for Your Life, Callie Kingman!

[Janet Fiorentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Run For Your Life, Callie Kingman” is the latest installment by co-authors Ali Frank and Asha Youmans.

Callie has spent the majority of your life supporting her husband, but when he leaves her, she is not sure how to move forward. She wants to pull down the shades and isolate but circumstances force her to reconcile who she is now versus who she used to be and whether she can connect with that young woman who had the future at her feet.

Callie’s circumstances will resonate with a lot of women. Who hasn’t questioned where they’re at while approaching middle age. The authors have created a lovable, engaging character who you cannot help but root for.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to the authors, publisher, and Net Galley for a chance to read and review such a relatable novel.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Run for Your Life, Callie Kingman by Alli Frank & Asha Youmans surprised me in a good way. While the cover looks like your average chick lit it was full of a hilarious cast of characters, real life issues, and long hidden secrets. It felt relatable to this Gen X'er who is also in midlife. Callie Kingman followed her husbands lead in making a life together, then finds herself blindsided by his decision to divorce. After much hibernation, binge tv and wallowing in snacks with wine she finds a new lease on life surrounded by people who want the best for her. There is so much truth to the fact that who you you put in your inner circle is a reflection of you, and Callie's lifts her up in more ways than one. Really enjoyed this one, look for it in your independent bookstores in December 2025.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy, in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashton Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly thought I was going to DNF this in the first few chapters. The sass was a bit heavy handed to start, but it fell off for the most part as the book found its groove. I thought there was a bit too much hand holding throughout the book, but I could look past it for the story. I really liked how Callie’s friends kept her in check throughout the book (“you need to be doing things for yourself, not others”) because there were a few points where Callie would do or say something that had me scratching my head.

Spoilers:
1: I was a bit bummed that she ended up going back to her first boyfriend after being heartbroken about him for like 30 years.
2: loved that she told off her scummy almost-ex husband. I feel like so many MCs take the higher ground and never really hand it to the people who need it.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked "Sandwich" then you will LOVE this book! This book resonated with me on so many levels. While I have not experienced what Callie in this book has experienced, I know so many people in this age-range have (40s-50s) and the way Alli Frank wrote the story was pure magic. Told with interwoven timelines (which I usually struggle with, but she did flawlessly), we find Callie redefining her life and falling in love with herself. It's a story of empowerment after heartbreak; it's a story of loss and love and healing. It was absolutely wonderful! I had the pleasure of receiving both the audio and e-ARC; I loved the narration. 4.5 stars, rounded up (because 4 just doesn't do this novel justice). *I received a complimentary audio and e-ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

[Abby Schaitkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second chance at life story follows Callie Kingman on her journey after her husband decides to pack up and head across the pond to the UK to explore life with a new family. While not mourning his leaving, she mourns the way life should have turned out and the love that got away. Throughout the story, Callie reflects on lost opportunities and invests in new friendships and healthy habits, making her story one of rebuilding and personal growth. In the end, it’s not all about getting the love interest, but also learning to love yourself.

Things I loved: the relatable characters, developed relationships, humorous interactions and tone, the motivational storyline, the solid ending that is fitting and unforced. This was a fun ride, especially with the audiobook. Loved it from start to finish!