The Run

by E.J. Summers

Unable to deal with her brother's illness and unrequited love for her best friend Kristina Shultz disappears in the middle of the night. Now Kris has returned home only to discover everything she had been running from is exactly where she left it five years before.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2013

Reviews

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one of a kind young-adult novel was easily the best one I have read in a long time. Written in a charming and unique voice, Summers has created interesting and relatable characters that were incredibly easy to fall in love with. I genuinely appreciated reading a clean, romantic novel which such heartfelt themes and established motifs. It's writing like this that reminded me how much I love to read. Overall, if you are looking for a book that will entertain you from the first page to the last this is it!

[Liz Vinc · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Run" is a YA-y, romancey novel. Yes, I invented those words. The novel follows the story of twenty-something Kristina Schultz as she returns home and five years of secrets and emotions are brought to the surface. Kristina revisits her old diary, and road trips with her cousin, Leila, back to Mystic Lake where they spent their summers at camp as teens. It was here that Kristina fell in love with "Him" amidst the trees and against the backdrop of the calm lake, but after five years away, she's not sure if she can face him and tell him why she left. In addition to this central dilemma, Kristina faces issues with her critical mom, her brother, Andy, and his illness, with the sudden passing of her close Aunt Cecelia, with the parenting and relationship choices of Audrey, and with the wife and brother-in-law of the man she loved but waited too long to tell. Summers will have you engrossed in this story just as I was, from the interesting characters and plot twists, to the messages that are portrayed through Kristina's journey toward happiness. Key messages include: non-judgement, not to overanalyze things, paying attention to what others needs are, finding happiness, and overcoming things that are outside our control by realizing the power in our choices.

[Lila Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Charming Romantic Drama

"The Run" by E.J. Summers is the kind of well-written YA romance that draws you in, weaving a story about a young woman who finds herself leaving home when things get back... only to return years later and find that everything was simply put on hold. From room with her best friend to the emotions and struggles that come with her brother's illness, Kris' life in returning to her hometown is explored in a heartfelt, evocative and engaging way. The writing in this charming romance novel is lush, descriptive, emotionally charged, fast-paced yet smooth, dramatic and yet romantic in tone as well. Ms. Summers has a talent for creating characters that are well-developed and relatable, sucking readers into Kris' life and her character in a way that makes you want to know more and read more long after the story is over. All together, this is a promising debut novel whether you're looking for a drama-rich clean romance story or a moving YA drama... it made for a refreshingly captivating read.