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Come Back to Me #3
Run Away with Me
Two friends fall into a passionate romance, but first they must confront a painful past, or else lose out on the one thing they’ve been searching for in this heartrending novel from the author of Come Back to Me and Stay with Me.
Emerson Lowe and popular ice-hockey player Jake McCallister have been best friends since third grade but as their friendship starts to morph into something more, a terrible event occurs that heralds the end of innocence for both of them.
Within a week, Jake’s living on the other side of the country and Emerson is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life in a small town determined to paint her as a liar.
Seven years later, Emerson is still living on the beautiful Pacific West island of Bainbridge, helping run her family’s business. The last thing she needs is Jake turning up, bringing with him old memories and opening up old wounds. But Jake—even better looking than Emerson remembers—seems determined to revive their friendship no matter how much Emerson tries to push him away.
Forced to work alongside him for the summer Emerson can’t help but fall for Jake, and soon they’re in the midst of a passionate romance that neither of them wants to end.
But both Emerson and Jake know that if they’re to have any kind of future they must first confront the past—a past that most people want to stay buried.
Emerson Lowe and popular ice-hockey player Jake McCallister have been best friends since third grade but as their friendship starts to morph into something more, a terrible event occurs that heralds the end of innocence for both of them.
Within a week, Jake’s living on the other side of the country and Emerson is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life in a small town determined to paint her as a liar.
Seven years later, Emerson is still living on the beautiful Pacific West island of Bainbridge, helping run her family’s business. The last thing she needs is Jake turning up, bringing with him old memories and opening up old wounds. But Jake—even better looking than Emerson remembers—seems determined to revive their friendship no matter how much Emerson tries to push him away.
Forced to work alongside him for the summer Emerson can’t help but fall for Jake, and soon they’re in the midst of a passionate romance that neither of them wants to end.
But both Emerson and Jake know that if they’re to have any kind of future they must first confront the past—a past that most people want to stay buried.
368 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2017
220 people are currently reading
9525 people want to read
About the author
Mila Gray
12 books1,371 followersMila Gray is the pen name for Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila, Losing Lila, The Sound, Fated and Out of Control.
Originally from London she has lived in Bali for the last four years with her husband and daughter.
As well as writing young adult fiction under the name Sarah Alderson and adult fiction under the name Mila Gray, she also writes screenplays.
You can find out more at www.milagray.com and on facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahjalderson
Originally from London she has lived in Bali for the last four years with her husband and daughter.
As well as writing young adult fiction under the name Sarah Alderson and adult fiction under the name Mila Gray, she also writes screenplays.
You can find out more at www.milagray.com and on facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahjalderson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 429 reviews
December 1, 2018
Trigger Warning: sexual assault, bullying
Long Rant Incoming: (Don't say I didn't warn you.)
I picked up this book a few months ago after reading through the first two in the 'series' and almost immediately set it down. I didn't have a real reason for doing so. I just wasn't really in the mood for the book at the time.
I wish I had just left well enough alone and left this book DNF'd.
My biggest problem with this book was that there were so many technical inaccuracies. I'm not referring to the grammar and punctuation, but rather the complete lack of research the author did before writing this book.
First of all, her characters use words and phrases that no 20-something American's use. At one point, Emerson talks about putting an 'advert' in the newspaper to hire an employee. Then she talks about an employee's 'pay packet', which I'm assuming is a paycheck? In a flashback, her father screams at a reporter to 'bugger the hell off', which again, is not a phrase we use in the U.S.
I went and googled the author and, sure enough, she was born and raised in London. So why did she set her story in Seattle, Washington (technically Bainbridge, but close enough)? Not that she isn't allowed to set her story wherever she wants, but she should use words and terminology that those characters would actually use...just saying.
And to be honest, whoever edited this book should feel ashamed. Those kind of things never should've made it past edits.
That may seem nitpicky to some, but it was totally taking me out of the story. But that wasn't the biggest offender for me.
The male protagonist in this story is a college hockey player with his eye on the NHL. It was obvious in reading this book that the author had absolutely no clue when it came to anything related to the NHL, NCAA, or the rule of law in the U.S.
The male protagonist has endorsement deals, which aren't allowed in the NCAA. Most of the time athletes aren't even allowed to have jobs unless it's approved by the NCAA, and definitely not during the season.
There were points in the book where he said he had a contract with a team, then later said he was a first draft pick, then talked about the draft as if it hadn't happened yet. None of this makes any sense.
Later in the book, This happened in Massachusetts. So in the book, they have the local chief of police haul him in for questioning about it. This is not how this would work. Not even a little bit. First of all, a local cop wouldn't care about that in the state of Washington. It wouldn't be treated as a criminal offense. Second of all, there is a little thing called jurisdiction, and a cop in Washington would have no jurisdiction on something that happened across the country.
Then there is Jake's second run in with the police, after His lawyer tells him it's a crime that could come with a life in prison sentence. This is simply untrue, which the author would have known if she'd bothered to do two minutes of research into the matter. At the most, it's a ten year sentence, with up to $50,000 in fines.
Also, the characters keep talking about how they go to Washington State University so they can stay close to home...WASHINGTON STATE IS NOT NEAR SEATTLE. It's an almost 250-mile drive. I'm assuming the author meant the University of Washington, but that wasn't ever what she said. And trust me, there's a huge difference.
Other wtf moments:
1. She refers to the NHL as 'the hockey leagues' or just 'the leagues'
2. Jake is playing his first game of the season, but while Emerson is watching the game on television it is referred to as a playoff game...typically those happen at the END of a season, not the beginning...just saying.
3. Jake says that another hockey player swore under his breath in the middle of a game. How on Earth would he know? Hockey games are freaking loud.
4.
I understand that this may seem like petty nitpicking to some. And perhaps if a reader isn't familiar with this area of the country or the way professional sports or the criminal justice system work it wouldn't bother them at all. But it took me out of the story every time. I honestly don't know how an editor allowed this to be published in its current form.
Aside from all of the gross inaccuracies, I didn't really think the story was engaging. I'm a sucker for the first-loves-reunite trope, but this just felt rushed. Also, pretty much every plot device and trope you can think of is thrown into this mess: contrived misunderstandings as a result of a lack of communication; experienced boy and virginal girl (technically she isn't a virgin, but she's only been with one guy before who had never given her an orgasm, so it's pretty much portrayed as if it didn't count or something. It was obnoxious); every guy in the book is infatuated with the main female protagonist, with the exception of the gay best friend; traumatic past is alluded to but not explained for far longer than it needs to be; true loves cures all wounds, physical and emotional.
The last one is probably the most disturbing. At the center of this book is a story about a girl who suffered a traumatic experience when she was younger that has caused her no end of grief from that point forward. There are moments that indicate that Emerson suffers from PTSD, but it isn't fully explored. Something will trigger her, but it is almost immediately pushed under the rug in order to feed the romantic narrative. She's spent her entire life creating barriers. She talks about sex with her ex-boyfriend as something she would go through the motions with and she would completely shut down during the act. But then she gets with Jake and is immediately able to relax and have a fulfilling sex life and everything between them is fantastic. True love doesn't heal psychological and emotional trauma. That's not how it works.
The author had an opportunity to really explore the story of a young girl being assaulted and having no one believe her. It's powerful, and it's never been more relevant than it is right now. But for me she definitely dropped the ball.
One last gripe. This book is marketed as being the third book in a series. This has absolutely nothing to do with the first two books. It takes place in a completely different part of the country, and there are no characters who crossover from the first two books into this one. There is no connection whatsoever. It felt like this book was linked to the first two simply to ensure people who liked those books would purchase this as well, and that is shady.
I don't see myself reading anything by this author in the future. I thought the first two books were moderately interesting, but the utter lack of research done for this book has really turned me off of picking up anything by her again.
Long Rant Incoming: (Don't say I didn't warn you.)
I picked up this book a few months ago after reading through the first two in the 'series' and almost immediately set it down. I didn't have a real reason for doing so. I just wasn't really in the mood for the book at the time.
I wish I had just left well enough alone and left this book DNF'd.
My biggest problem with this book was that there were so many technical inaccuracies. I'm not referring to the grammar and punctuation, but rather the complete lack of research the author did before writing this book.
First of all, her characters use words and phrases that no 20-something American's use. At one point, Emerson talks about putting an 'advert' in the newspaper to hire an employee. Then she talks about an employee's 'pay packet', which I'm assuming is a paycheck? In a flashback, her father screams at a reporter to 'bugger the hell off', which again, is not a phrase we use in the U.S.
I went and googled the author and, sure enough, she was born and raised in London. So why did she set her story in Seattle, Washington (technically Bainbridge, but close enough)? Not that she isn't allowed to set her story wherever she wants, but she should use words and terminology that those characters would actually use...just saying.
And to be honest, whoever edited this book should feel ashamed. Those kind of things never should've made it past edits.
That may seem nitpicky to some, but it was totally taking me out of the story. But that wasn't the biggest offender for me.
The male protagonist in this story is a college hockey player with his eye on the NHL. It was obvious in reading this book that the author had absolutely no clue when it came to anything related to the NHL, NCAA, or the rule of law in the U.S.
The male protagonist has endorsement deals, which aren't allowed in the NCAA. Most of the time athletes aren't even allowed to have jobs unless it's approved by the NCAA, and definitely not during the season.
There were points in the book where he said he had a contract with a team, then later said he was a first draft pick, then talked about the draft as if it hadn't happened yet. None of this makes any sense.
Later in the book, This happened in Massachusetts. So in the book, they have the local chief of police haul him in for questioning about it. This is not how this would work. Not even a little bit. First of all, a local cop wouldn't care about that in the state of Washington. It wouldn't be treated as a criminal offense. Second of all, there is a little thing called jurisdiction, and a cop in Washington would have no jurisdiction on something that happened across the country.
Then there is Jake's second run in with the police, after His lawyer tells him it's a crime that could come with a life in prison sentence. This is simply untrue, which the author would have known if she'd bothered to do two minutes of research into the matter. At the most, it's a ten year sentence, with up to $50,000 in fines.
Also, the characters keep talking about how they go to Washington State University so they can stay close to home...WASHINGTON STATE IS NOT NEAR SEATTLE. It's an almost 250-mile drive. I'm assuming the author meant the University of Washington, but that wasn't ever what she said. And trust me, there's a huge difference.
Other wtf moments:
1. She refers to the NHL as 'the hockey leagues' or just 'the leagues'
2. Jake is playing his first game of the season, but while Emerson is watching the game on television it is referred to as a playoff game...typically those happen at the END of a season, not the beginning...just saying.
3. Jake says that another hockey player swore under his breath in the middle of a game. How on Earth would he know? Hockey games are freaking loud.
4.
I understand that this may seem like petty nitpicking to some. And perhaps if a reader isn't familiar with this area of the country or the way professional sports or the criminal justice system work it wouldn't bother them at all. But it took me out of the story every time. I honestly don't know how an editor allowed this to be published in its current form.
Aside from all of the gross inaccuracies, I didn't really think the story was engaging. I'm a sucker for the first-loves-reunite trope, but this just felt rushed. Also, pretty much every plot device and trope you can think of is thrown into this mess: contrived misunderstandings as a result of a lack of communication; experienced boy and virginal girl (technically she isn't a virgin, but she's only been with one guy before who had never given her an orgasm, so it's pretty much portrayed as if it didn't count or something. It was obnoxious); every guy in the book is infatuated with the main female protagonist, with the exception of the gay best friend; traumatic past is alluded to but not explained for far longer than it needs to be; true loves cures all wounds, physical and emotional.
The last one is probably the most disturbing. At the center of this book is a story about a girl who suffered a traumatic experience when she was younger that has caused her no end of grief from that point forward. There are moments that indicate that Emerson suffers from PTSD, but it isn't fully explored. Something will trigger her, but it is almost immediately pushed under the rug in order to feed the romantic narrative. She's spent her entire life creating barriers. She talks about sex with her ex-boyfriend as something she would go through the motions with and she would completely shut down during the act. But then she gets with Jake and is immediately able to relax and have a fulfilling sex life and everything between them is fantastic. True love doesn't heal psychological and emotional trauma. That's not how it works.
The author had an opportunity to really explore the story of a young girl being assaulted and having no one believe her. It's powerful, and it's never been more relevant than it is right now. But for me she definitely dropped the ball.
One last gripe. This book is marketed as being the third book in a series. This has absolutely nothing to do with the first two books. It takes place in a completely different part of the country, and there are no characters who crossover from the first two books into this one. There is no connection whatsoever. It felt like this book was linked to the first two simply to ensure people who liked those books would purchase this as well, and that is shady.
I don't see myself reading anything by this author in the future. I thought the first two books were moderately interesting, but the utter lack of research done for this book has really turned me off of picking up anything by her again.
November 14, 2017
3.5 stars
I had enjoyed the other two books in this series, so I downloaded it without even reading the synopsis, but I wish I had.
I really liked Emerson and Jake. They're both really good people and they're both struggling over a traumatic event. . I loved seeing them reconnect and find the balance between what happened in the past and starting a future.
Plot wise, it's a lot of drama. Besides The Event, there are a lot of moving pieces in the form of jealous exes and wannabe boyfriends who do everything and anything to instigate. Throw in a few fights, a court case, and miscommunications and it all makes for a lot of push and pull. As things were revealed, some of it felt like drama just for the sake of drama. There were some sweet moments and I think that's a lot of what kept me reading. That, and I was hoping Em would find some sort of justice.
Overall, it was a good story and I loved the characters, but the plot left me wanting.
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**
I had enjoyed the other two books in this series, so I downloaded it without even reading the synopsis, but I wish I had.
I really liked Emerson and Jake. They're both really good people and they're both struggling over a traumatic event. . I loved seeing them reconnect and find the balance between what happened in the past and starting a future.
Plot wise, it's a lot of drama. Besides The Event, there are a lot of moving pieces in the form of jealous exes and wannabe boyfriends who do everything and anything to instigate. Throw in a few fights, a court case, and miscommunications and it all makes for a lot of push and pull. As things were revealed, some of it felt like drama just for the sake of drama. There were some sweet moments and I think that's a lot of what kept me reading. That, and I was hoping Em would find some sort of justice.
Overall, it was a good story and I loved the characters, but the plot left me wanting.
**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**
November 21, 2017
***4.5/5 Stars****
Mila Gray has become one of my favorite authors because her books contain emotional stories and the characters always find a way into my heart. I know without a shadow of a doubt that each time I pick up one of her books that I'll laugh, cry, sigh and fall in love. And that's exactly what happened when I read this friends to lovers romance. Run Away With Me was a beautiful story that was filled with hope, friendship, family and love.
Emerson Lowe and Jake McCallister had been best of friends since third grade. But just when their friendship started to turn into more, something horrific happened - trigger warning for . It left Em's life in shambles and Jake moved away with his family. He left right when she needed him the most. Yet seven years later, he came back. And that's where the story begins. I loved that all of Em's hurt, betrayal and pain was laid out on the table for us to see. And I understood why she was cold and distant to Jake. But Jake was beyond persistent and he wasn't going to leave her ever again.
As the story unfolded, we slowly got glimpses into their past. We got to see how they were the bestest of friends. And we watched as their friendship started to turn into something more. Those moments were so sweet and adorable. But then we also got to witness the horror unfold, along with the aftermath. And that gutted me to the core. But having those moments from their past, interlaced throughout the story, added so much depth to who Em and Jake were. It was beautifully and seamlessly done, and it helped me feel as though I knew the both of them inside out.
Run Away With Me was told in alternating views between Em and Jake. And while it felt a little jarring it first, I ended up loving how it was told. It was if I was right there with them, feeling everything that they were feeling. And while Em felt like a bff, I loved listening and watching everything Jake did. I fell incredibly hard for him. He was such a kind hearted, good man who was also at times fierce and protective. So of course I found myself rooting for everything I had for Em to accept the friendship Jake was offering to her.
While there were so many moments that had me laughing and sighing out loud, this book does have a strong emotional side to it too. I found my heart shattered again and again. There were quite a few times that I found myself sobbing, and I just couldn't stop. And once I got to that point, it felt as though my emotions were always on the edge, waiting to tumble-down into an abyss. But then something would happen that would pull me back into the light and my heart would beat with joy again. This is definitely an emotional book, that was also filled with drama and angst, and I loved every minute of it!
Run Away With Me was a touching story that I absolutely loved. It was rounded out with fabulous friends and a home life and parents that also pulled at my heart. So if you love a sexy friends to lovers romance, or a story that will pull at your heartstrings, then definitely give Run Away With Me or Mila Gray's other books a try. I hope you love them just as much as I do!
PS Each of these books can be read as a standalone.
*ARC kindly provided by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Mila Gray has become one of my favorite authors because her books contain emotional stories and the characters always find a way into my heart. I know without a shadow of a doubt that each time I pick up one of her books that I'll laugh, cry, sigh and fall in love. And that's exactly what happened when I read this friends to lovers romance. Run Away With Me was a beautiful story that was filled with hope, friendship, family and love.
I look up and meet Jake’s eyes. A hot sun rises in my chest. I quickly smother it to ash. - Em
Emerson Lowe and Jake McCallister had been best of friends since third grade. But just when their friendship started to turn into more, something horrific happened - trigger warning for . It left Em's life in shambles and Jake moved away with his family. He left right when she needed him the most. Yet seven years later, he came back. And that's where the story begins. I loved that all of Em's hurt, betrayal and pain was laid out on the table for us to see. And I understood why she was cold and distant to Jake. But Jake was beyond persistent and he wasn't going to leave her ever again.
I’ve prayed for other things too. Lots of things. The universe never listened. My prayers were never answered.
Until now.
Jake came back. - Em
As the story unfolded, we slowly got glimpses into their past. We got to see how they were the bestest of friends. And we watched as their friendship started to turn into something more. Those moments were so sweet and adorable. But then we also got to witness the horror unfold, along with the aftermath. And that gutted me to the core. But having those moments from their past, interlaced throughout the story, added so much depth to who Em and Jake were. It was beautifully and seamlessly done, and it helped me feel as though I knew the both of them inside out.
As stupid as it sounds, even when she was six years old and I was seven and we were playing Star Wars in my backyard I never wanted to play Luke. I always wanted to be Han to her Leia. - Jake
Run Away With Me was told in alternating views between Em and Jake. And while it felt a little jarring it first, I ended up loving how it was told. It was if I was right there with them, feeling everything that they were feeling. And while Em felt like a bff, I loved listening and watching everything Jake did. I fell incredibly hard for him. He was such a kind hearted, good man who was also at times fierce and protective. So of course I found myself rooting for everything I had for Em to accept the friendship Jake was offering to her.
“I wanted to, you know,”he says quietly.
“Wanted to what?”I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Come back.”
While there were so many moments that had me laughing and sighing out loud, this book does have a strong emotional side to it too. I found my heart shattered again and again. There were quite a few times that I found myself sobbing, and I just couldn't stop. And once I got to that point, it felt as though my emotions were always on the edge, waiting to tumble-down into an abyss. But then something would happen that would pull me back into the light and my heart would beat with joy again. This is definitely an emotional book, that was also filled with drama and angst, and I loved every minute of it!
“You remember you said you didn’t want to be friends?” he says.
I nod, unable to find my voice.
He licks his lips and swallows. “Well, I don’t want to be friends with you either . I want more.” He’s looking directly in my eyes as he speaks.
Slowly, I let out the breath I’m holding. Everything inside me is vibrating as if my body is a note on a piano that’s just been struck.
“And I think you do too,” he says next.
My breath becomes jagged and uneven.
“Tell me if I’m wrong.”
Run Away With Me was a touching story that I absolutely loved. It was rounded out with fabulous friends and a home life and parents that also pulled at my heart. So if you love a sexy friends to lovers romance, or a story that will pull at your heartstrings, then definitely give Run Away With Me or Mila Gray's other books a try. I hope you love them just as much as I do!
PS Each of these books can be read as a standalone.
*ARC kindly provided by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
March 27, 2025
I’d just like to say that Emerson and Jake are my favourite childhood best friends to enemies to lovers trope ever. Not to mention it’s dual POV and alternating timelines…. Literal gold
February 25, 2019
2 stars.
Though I love many of her books written as Sarah Alderson, for some reason I can never connect with her Mila Gray ones. *sigh*
Though I love many of her books written as Sarah Alderson, for some reason I can never connect with her Mila Gray ones. *sigh*
March 7, 2019
In der Vorschau des Ravensburger Verlags hatte mich das neue Buch von Sarah Alderson sofort angelacht. Von ihr hatte ich bereits ein Buch gelesen, welches mir richtig gut gefallen hat. Da mich bei „Lass mich nicht los“ sowohl das Cover als auch Klappentext auf Anhieb ansprachen, stand mich sehr schnell fest, dass ich das Buch unbedingt lesen möchte.
Ihren ersten Kuss hatte Em mit Jake, dem Jungen, den sie schon von Klein auf kennt. Mit ihm hat sie zusammen als Kind gespielt, sie sind zum Eishockey-Training gegangen und haben sich oft im Baumhaus getroffen, welches sie gemeinsam gebaut haben. Aus Freundschaft ist schließlich irgendwann mehr geworden, aber ehe es zu einer Beziehung kommen konnte, war Jake plötzlich weg. Ohne Abschied ist er gegangen und das zu einer Zeit, in der Em Schreckliches durchmachen musste. Ihre schwere Vergangenheit verfolgt sie die ganzen Jahren über, Jahre, in denen sie Jake an ihrer Seite sehr gut hätte gebrauchen können. Dieser taucht schließlich nach sechs Jahren wieder auf Bainbridge Island auf. Em versucht Jake aus dem Weg zu gehen, allerdings merkt sie recht schnell, dass sie seiner Nähe nur schwer widerstehen kann. Ihre Gefühle für Jake sind immer noch da und auch er ist unsterblich in sie verliebt. Ob die beiden wohl, trotz ihrer Vergangenheit, noch zueinander finden werden?
Kennt ihr das, wenn ihr mit einem Buch beginnt und bereits nach den ersten Seiten wisst: Yes, dieses Buch werdet ihr lieben? Mir ging es so mit „Lass mich nicht los“. Die Story mag nichts wirklich Neues sein und als groß spannend würde ich sie auch nicht bezeichnen – dennoch konnte mich die Handlung sofort in ihren Bann ziehen und mich das Buch richtig wegsuchten lassen. Wie ich das Gelesene fand? Richtig klasse! Und so schön! Ich bin echt begeistert von dem neuen Werk von Sarah Alderson.
Mir hat das Buch wundervolle Lesestunden beschert, es hat mich sehr berührt, es hat mich schmunzeln lassen und es hat mich etwas um meinem Schlaf gebracht. Ich hatte den Fehler begangen, noch spätabends ein bisschen zu lesen und ähm, ja, irgendwie wurde aus ein bisschen plötzlich sehr viel und ehe ich es mich versah, war ich durch mit dem Buch und es war mitten in der Nacht. Da das Buch sehr zufriedenstellend endet, konnte ich dann zum Glück mit einem glücklichen Gefühl schlafen gehen. :D
Ich habe tatsächlich keinen Kritikpunkt an das Buch. Man darf hier einfach keine große Action erwarten oder lauter überraschende Wendungen. Ich empfand die Story als recht ruhig, aber dennoch als absolut fesselnd. Zudem ist sie sehr tiefgründig, sie ist romantisch, humorvoll - zugleich aber auch ernsthaft, sie ist bewegend und wunderschön. Total begeistert bin ich ja von dem Setting: Das Buch spielt direkt am Meer, sodass hier ein herrliches Sommerfeeling aufkommt.
„Lass mich nicht los“ war einfach ein Buch ganz nach meinem Geschmack. Ich liebe solche Bücher, die einen berühren, zum Nachdenken anregen, die einen mitreißen, aufwühlen und schmunzeln lassen. Mögt ihr so etwas auch? Liebt ihr auch solche Bücher, die einen auf eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt der Gefühle mitnehmen? Nun, wenn eure Antwort Ja lautet, kann ich euch diesen schönen Jugendroman wirklich sehr ans Herz legen.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, dass wir die Handlung im Wechsel aus der Sicht von Emerson, kurz Em, und Jake erfahren. Wir lernen dadurch beide sehr gut kennen und bekommen einen wunderbaren Einblick in ihre Gefühls- und Gedankenwelt. Ich habe die beiden sofort in mein Herz geschlossen. Jake war mein persönlicher Liebling, ihn fand ich einfach nur toll und süß. Em mochte ich aber natürlich auch richtig gerne. Die Autorin hat mit den beiden zwei ganz wundervolle Charaktere erschaffen, die absolut authentisch wirken und sich sofort ins Leserherz schleichen. Zumindest in meinem haben sie sofort einen Platz gefunden. :)
Neben diesen Perspektivwechseln gibt es auch immer wieder kleine Rückblenden, in denen wir Leser erfahren, was sich damals vor sechs Jahren zugetragen hat und wie es dazu kam, dass die Beziehung zwischen Em und Jake diesen Knacks bekommen hat. Mir haben diese Rückblenden unheimlich gut gefallen, da sie das Buch nur noch fesselnder machen. Dank der mitreißenden Geschichte, den schön kurzen Kapiteln und dem sehr angenehmen, locker-leichten Schreibstil bin ich hier wirklich nur so durch die Seiten geflogen.
Von der Handlung möchte ich eigentlich gar nicht allzu viel verraten. Das Buch spricht ein sehr ernstes und wichtiges Thema an, welches ich, da es im Klappentext nicht genannt wird, auch in meiner Rezension nicht nennen werde. Die Story gewinnt dadurch sehr an Tiefe und ist stellenweise auch recht ernst. Durch humorvolle und romantische Szenen wird diese Ernsthaftigkeit aber sehr schön aufgelockert. Ich habe das Buch nicht als bedrückend empfunden. Als schockierend und dramatisch, das schon, aber nicht als düster oder beklemmend. Durch ein Nachwort der Autorin, welches mich sehr bewegt hat, empfinde ich dieses Buch im Nachhinein sogar als noch emotionaler und berührender, als es bereits während des Lesens bei mir der Fall war.
Neben dieser wichtigen Thematik enthält das Buch auch noch andere Themen und Werte wie Freundschaft, Familie, Zusammenhalt, Schicksalsschläge, Missverständnisse, Zukunftspläne, Geldsorgen und noch so einiges mehr. Ja, ich weiß, hört sich nach recht viel an. Ist es auch irgendwie, aber keine Sorge, die Story wirkt in keinster Weise überladen an zu vielen Themen. Ich zumindest habe es nicht so empfunden. Sarah Alderson ist mit „Lass mich nicht los“ ein wundervoller Jugendroman gelungen, der für mich zu einem richtigen Highlight wurde und den ich jedem, der gerne Bücher aus diesem Genre liest, wärmstens empfehlen kann.
Fazit: Was für ein wundervolles Buch, ich bin hellauf begeistert von „Lass mich nicht los“! Mir hat der neue Jugendroman von Sarah Alderson herrliche Lesestunden beschert. Ich habe das Buch richtig weggesuchtet und hatte so viel Spaß dabei! Ich wurde hier auf eine emotionale Achterbahnfahrt der Gefühle mitgenommen. Ich war am Schmunzeln und am Seufzen, ich war schockiert, traurig und glücklich. Die Story mag nicht groß was Neues sein, sie ist aber wunderschön und spricht ein sehr wichtiges Thema an, welches dem Buch sehr viel Tiefe und Emotionalität verleiht. Verstärkt wird dies noch durch das bewegende und sehr ehrliche Nachwort der Autorin. Ich kann „Lass mich nicht los“ wirklich nur empfehlen. Meinen Geschmack hat das Buch absolut getroffen und ich vergebe gerne volle 5 von 5 Sternen!
October 12, 2017
I honestly think Mila Gray can do no wrong. RUN AWAY WITH ME hooked me from the first chapter until the very end. The characters were easy to love and relate to, and oh my goodness- their tension? Sa-wooooon! I just kept waiting for Emerson to either beat Jake up or get together with him already.
There are loads of YA-NA novels out there, I'll give you that. The thing about Mila Gray's book, especially this one, is it has the perfect amount of angst, swoon, and tension without having too much sexuality or too little. It's basically the perfect chocolate cake- delicious without being extremely heavy and light but delectable enough to make you wanting to go back for more.
Though I've only read COME BACK TO ME, I felt RUN AWAY WITH ME still read well as a standalone rather than a companion. I'm not sure if I missed anything since I didn't read THIS ONE MOMENT, but it didn't feel that way. With Emerson, she's always wondered why Jake left. With Jake, he wants to rekindle or at least be friends with his first love. You question what happened, all the why's and whatnots until you finally, FINALLY figure out why. Honestly, I stopped trying to predict what happened, because I kept being wrong.
In the end, I would recommend this to all contemporary fans and anyone who just wants to sit down with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.
There are loads of YA-NA novels out there, I'll give you that. The thing about Mila Gray's book, especially this one, is it has the perfect amount of angst, swoon, and tension without having too much sexuality or too little. It's basically the perfect chocolate cake- delicious without being extremely heavy and light but delectable enough to make you wanting to go back for more.
Though I've only read COME BACK TO ME, I felt RUN AWAY WITH ME still read well as a standalone rather than a companion. I'm not sure if I missed anything since I didn't read THIS ONE MOMENT, but it didn't feel that way. With Emerson, she's always wondered why Jake left. With Jake, he wants to rekindle or at least be friends with his first love. You question what happened, all the why's and whatnots until you finally, FINALLY figure out why. Honestly, I stopped trying to predict what happened, because I kept being wrong.
In the end, I would recommend this to all contemporary fans and anyone who just wants to sit down with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.
August 11, 2022
So this was just ok. There were parts like a liked/loved but there were a lot of immaturity and clichés throughout this. I was also aggravated that the first two books were connected and this had absolutely no connections to the prior books. Why is this included in a series if it has no connection? IDK. It just aggravated me.
July 13, 2025
2⭑
Let me start by saying I LOVED the first two books in this series and so I had high hopes for this book, especially when I realised it was childhood friends to lovers.
But, I just could not connect to the characters or the story whatsoever. I wasn’t that invested in the hero or heroine and honestly I can’t even tell you anything that happened in this book (except one specific part which is discussed below). That’s how bored and disinterested I was in this book. It’s honestly a surprise that I finished it.
What I did not like in this book was that there was no warning that there was going to be on page sexual abuse of a child. A CHILD!!! It was uncomfortable to read and unnecessary. This needed to come with a warning in my opinion and truthfully, it was after reading this chapter that I started to get disinterested.
It’s such an important topic and I get the impression the author did not do enough research. The heroine was 12 or 13 when the SA happened but no one believed her and as a result was heavily bullied for this.
She was incredibly traumatised as a result of the SA/bullying but as soon as the hero showed up, she was magically okay.
Similarly, she mentions having sex with her ex-boyfriend and that she pretended she was okay but really she would shut down and not engage. But then she mentions having sex with the hero and again, magically she is all better. That kind of healing doesn’t just happen over night.
I bought the entire series for my kindle so I will continue with it but I really hope the next book is much, much better than this one.
Let me start by saying I LOVED the first two books in this series and so I had high hopes for this book, especially when I realised it was childhood friends to lovers.
But, I just could not connect to the characters or the story whatsoever. I wasn’t that invested in the hero or heroine and honestly I can’t even tell you anything that happened in this book (except one specific part which is discussed below). That’s how bored and disinterested I was in this book. It’s honestly a surprise that I finished it.
What I did not like in this book was that there was no warning that there was going to be on page sexual abuse of a child. A CHILD!!! It was uncomfortable to read and unnecessary. This needed to come with a warning in my opinion and truthfully, it was after reading this chapter that I started to get disinterested.
It’s such an important topic and I get the impression the author did not do enough research. The heroine was 12 or 13 when the SA happened but no one believed her and as a result was heavily bullied for this.
She was incredibly traumatised as a result of the SA/bullying but as soon as the hero showed up, she was magically okay.
Similarly, she mentions having sex with her ex-boyfriend and that she pretended she was okay but really she would shut down and not engage. But then she mentions having sex with the hero and again, magically she is all better. That kind of healing doesn’t just happen over night.
I bought the entire series for my kindle so I will continue with it but I really hope the next book is much, much better than this one.
January 7, 2019
At first I thought this was a self-published book, but no. Apparently it had an editor? Simon & Schuster really need some new editors. There were SO MANY BLARING INCONSISTENCIES. SO MANY! In addition to that, there were way too many tangential plot points. However, it was the inconsistencies that were too much. For half the book it has been 7 years and for the second half it’s only been 5. Is Rob the one forcing Em’s hand or is Reid? (It’s Rob, but they say Reid when they mean Rob for multiple chapters.) Either actually read the book and fix the inconsistencies before printing, or eliminate the second character altogether. Emerson mentions confronting Reid about a letter before we’re even told about the letter. Then a few chapters later she has no idea what letter Jake is talking about. It could have been a really enjoyable book, but it needed to be polished. And like, read. By anyone. This reads like fan fiction, I’m sure there’s a beta out there somewhere that would have been happy to work on it. I enjoyed the spirit of this book and overall, I think it’s really unfortunate that the publishing team didn’t take more care with it. If it is ever reprinted (fingers crossed it has been and I just got a bad copy), I hope all the many, many issues are addressed. I’ve never read a book with so many errors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 8, 2024DNF Page 142
I was just gonna push through and read it but honestly I know it's going to be a 1-2 star read so I don't want to waste my time anymore. This book deals with such a heavy topic and the fact that I don't really care about the characters or romance is kinda sad.
I was just gonna push through and read it but honestly I know it's going to be a 1-2 star read so I don't want to waste my time anymore. This book deals with such a heavy topic and the fact that I don't really care about the characters or romance is kinda sad.
September 24, 2017
3.5 stars
I'm a huge fan of Sarah Alderson's Hunting Lila series, but this is the first time I have read any of her Mila Gray books. She brings to this story the same level of detail and complicated human relationships. There is no shortage of tension, both romantic and dramatic, as the characters fight for each other and themselves.
Emerson's whole life shattered when she was a teenager. In one day she lost her sense of trust and safety, the support of her community, and her best friend, Jake. Now, seven years later, she is still living in her small island hometown, running her parent's adventure store and trying to outpace her memories. Until Jake, now a hulking ice hockey star, walks back into her life. He wants to be friends, wants to erase the past, but Em knows having Jake in her life again just might shatter her world all over again.
I do love a good best-friends-to-more romance. And this one was particularly tortured. Through the chapters, which alternate between Em and Jake's perspective, and the flashback sections, I started to piece together the details of their history and relationship, and what happened to Em seven years ago. It is a heartbreaking story, but sadly all too common a situation. Em is understandably antagonistic towards Jake when he suddenly reappears in her life. It takes perseverance for him to slowly break down her walls, as well as understand everything she went through. However, I like that this book also portrays the impact everything had on Jake. It doesn't excuse some of his more volatile actions, but it does provide a realistic explanation. I liked that this book was equally about the survivor of an assault as well as the impact it has on their loved ones. That being said, I was hugely angry at some of Jake's choices and saddened by how easily the consequences were swept away. It's probably bad when you want one of the main characters to end up in jail, right? But one punch can kill, people, and the sooner we get behind that and stop supporting violence, for any reason, the better. Sorry, rant over now.
The romance is equal parts sweet and steamy. This is clearly a new adult romance and suitable for mature readers. Em and Jake have a strong relationship that, while it takes some time to mend, has an easy camaraderie, as well as a potent chemistry. There was also no shortage of drama. I did find some of the events in the second half of the novel slightly over the top and it did seem like a certain court scene was highly unrealistic, but overall I enjoyed reading this new adult contemporary novel.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
I'm a huge fan of Sarah Alderson's Hunting Lila series, but this is the first time I have read any of her Mila Gray books. She brings to this story the same level of detail and complicated human relationships. There is no shortage of tension, both romantic and dramatic, as the characters fight for each other and themselves.
Emerson's whole life shattered when she was a teenager. In one day she lost her sense of trust and safety, the support of her community, and her best friend, Jake. Now, seven years later, she is still living in her small island hometown, running her parent's adventure store and trying to outpace her memories. Until Jake, now a hulking ice hockey star, walks back into her life. He wants to be friends, wants to erase the past, but Em knows having Jake in her life again just might shatter her world all over again.
I do love a good best-friends-to-more romance. And this one was particularly tortured. Through the chapters, which alternate between Em and Jake's perspective, and the flashback sections, I started to piece together the details of their history and relationship, and what happened to Em seven years ago. It is a heartbreaking story, but sadly all too common a situation. Em is understandably antagonistic towards Jake when he suddenly reappears in her life. It takes perseverance for him to slowly break down her walls, as well as understand everything she went through. However, I like that this book also portrays the impact everything had on Jake. It doesn't excuse some of his more volatile actions, but it does provide a realistic explanation. I liked that this book was equally about the survivor of an assault as well as the impact it has on their loved ones. That being said, I was hugely angry at some of Jake's choices and saddened by how easily the consequences were swept away. It's probably bad when you want one of the main characters to end up in jail, right? But one punch can kill, people, and the sooner we get behind that and stop supporting violence, for any reason, the better. Sorry, rant over now.
The romance is equal parts sweet and steamy. This is clearly a new adult romance and suitable for mature readers. Em and Jake have a strong relationship that, while it takes some time to mend, has an easy camaraderie, as well as a potent chemistry. There was also no shortage of drama. I did find some of the events in the second half of the novel slightly over the top and it did seem like a certain court scene was highly unrealistic, but overall I enjoyed reading this new adult contemporary novel.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library.
September 19, 2021
4.5— Jake and Emerson serving childhood friends to lovers and second chance ???? my favs!!!! I loved these two characters and how their pasts connected and brought them back together.
I wish the end wasn’t so rushed ugh I wanted more of them. But, I love these tropes and how much they expressed their love for eachother.
4.5/5
I wish the end wasn’t so rushed ugh I wanted more of them. But, I love these tropes and how much they expressed their love for eachother.
4.5/5
December 10, 2019
I've really enjoyed the previous books I have read by Mila Gray. This one, unfortunately was a miss for me.
October 2, 2017
I was all set to give this book a scathingly disappointing review until I read the author's note at the end. Now I feel all lukewarm about it. But I think that's okay. I think (hope) a lot of my issues will be taken care of in editing before the book is officially released in November.
I really loved Jake and Emerson. Their chemistry and history were real and believable, and their relationship was so sweet. They are both the main plot of the story and also not, and that is where the root of my problems lie. I like when stories - especially romances - are complicated, but this was overly so. There were so many side-plots and characters to keep track of, and we had to constantly be thinking about both past Em and Jake and current Em and Jake along with past and present versions of other characters. That in itself is a book. And then! There's all of Jake's hockey stuff, and Lauren, and the really stupid reason he went back to Bainbridge Island in the first place, and all of it fell flat for me, when put together. I read both of Mila Gray's other Come Back to Me books, and they left me all achy on the inside. This one didn't.
On top of that, there were some kind of important editing errors that need to be corrected - most importantly, Rob and Reid, the Walsh brothers, are constantly confused and seemingly used interchangeably in scenes. It didn't work for me, and I hope a copyeditor catches all of that. There were other similar mistakes that come with getting an early copy of the book, which is fine, usually. But these were so severe that I was taken out of the story.
And! It also didn't seem like the author knows the ins and outs of hockey to the point of being able to write a character who plays. Again, it took me out of the story.
But, in the end, I did enjoy the book, and the author was writing from the heart. I could tell. I liked the story. And I really REALLY liked Jake. So, three stars it is.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
I really loved Jake and Emerson. Their chemistry and history were real and believable, and their relationship was so sweet. They are both the main plot of the story and also not, and that is where the root of my problems lie. I like when stories - especially romances - are complicated, but this was overly so. There were so many side-plots and characters to keep track of, and we had to constantly be thinking about both past Em and Jake and current Em and Jake along with past and present versions of other characters. That in itself is a book. And then! There's all of Jake's hockey stuff, and Lauren, and the really stupid reason he went back to Bainbridge Island in the first place, and all of it fell flat for me, when put together. I read both of Mila Gray's other Come Back to Me books, and they left me all achy on the inside. This one didn't.
On top of that, there were some kind of important editing errors that need to be corrected - most importantly, Rob and Reid, the Walsh brothers, are constantly confused and seemingly used interchangeably in scenes. It didn't work for me, and I hope a copyeditor catches all of that. There were other similar mistakes that come with getting an early copy of the book, which is fine, usually. But these were so severe that I was taken out of the story.
And! It also didn't seem like the author knows the ins and outs of hockey to the point of being able to write a character who plays. Again, it took me out of the story.
But, in the end, I did enjoy the book, and the author was writing from the heart. I could tell. I liked the story. And I really REALLY liked Jake. So, three stars it is.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
May 15, 2019
Bisher kannte ich nur spannende Geschichten von Sarah Alderson - dieses Buch war also perfekt, sie mal von einer ganz anderen Seite kennenzulernen.
Und die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Emerson und Jake ist auch wirklich süß. Die Charaktere sind gut und glaubhaft gezeichnet, selbst die Nebencharaktere sind sehr gelungen.
Das Buch hat ein unglaublich tolles Setting, denn Emerson arbeitet für ihre Eltern in einem Geschäft für Sportartikel, das auch Kajaktouren anbietet. Ich habe mich beim Lesen gefühlt, als könnte ich die Mücken auf meiner Haut spüren und die Vögel zwitschern hören.
Ein wenig Spannung gab es mit einem fiesen Bösewicht auch, sodass ich eigentlich nichts zu meckern haben dürfte. Jedoch wurde es mir im letzten Drittel viel zu überdramatisch, zu hektisch und zu kitschig. Das ist für solche Bücher nicht ungewöhnlich, ich hätte es mir bei dieser Autorin jedoch nicht vorstellen können, da ich sie einfallsreciher in Erinnerung hatte.
Wer es aber extrem kitschig und Happy End lastig mag, wird mit Lass mich nicht los auf jeden Fall seine Freude haben. Denn Sarah Aldersons Schreibstil, kurze, knackige Kapitel und tolle Charaktere machen das Buch zu einem unterhaltsamen Erlebnis.
Und die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Emerson und Jake ist auch wirklich süß. Die Charaktere sind gut und glaubhaft gezeichnet, selbst die Nebencharaktere sind sehr gelungen.
Das Buch hat ein unglaublich tolles Setting, denn Emerson arbeitet für ihre Eltern in einem Geschäft für Sportartikel, das auch Kajaktouren anbietet. Ich habe mich beim Lesen gefühlt, als könnte ich die Mücken auf meiner Haut spüren und die Vögel zwitschern hören.
Ein wenig Spannung gab es mit einem fiesen Bösewicht auch, sodass ich eigentlich nichts zu meckern haben dürfte. Jedoch wurde es mir im letzten Drittel viel zu überdramatisch, zu hektisch und zu kitschig. Das ist für solche Bücher nicht ungewöhnlich, ich hätte es mir bei dieser Autorin jedoch nicht vorstellen können, da ich sie einfallsreciher in Erinnerung hatte.
Wer es aber extrem kitschig und Happy End lastig mag, wird mit Lass mich nicht los auf jeden Fall seine Freude haben. Denn Sarah Aldersons Schreibstil, kurze, knackige Kapitel und tolle Charaktere machen das Buch zu einem unterhaltsamen Erlebnis.
May 2, 2019
Es war eine tole Geschichte, doch ein bisschen anders hätte ich sie mir vorgestellt. Die Autorin hat es geschafft die Spannung das ganze Buch über aufrechtzuerhalten.
4 Sterne
4 Sterne
July 19, 2021
Clearing up overdue reviews!
Run Away With Me is another fantastic New Adult Romance read from Mila Gray. The third in her Come Back to Me standalone series about finding and accepting love after facing hardships. In Run Away With Me, Emerson Lowe was assaulted and then turned into the town pariah when no one believed her, including, she assumed, her best friend who disappeared that same day. Now, years later as adults, Jake is back and he's coming for her heart.
I love a good angsty, friends turned lovers romance, there's just nothing more feel good than two friends finally figuring out what they've probably already known. Maybe that seems silly, but if I had to pick a favorite romance trope, this would be it. And we all know I love me some angst, which Mila Gray does a fantastic job of writing. I want heart, heat, and tears. Run Away With Me features some sports, our heroine finally standing up for herself, and a guy finally figuring out that he has to go after what he wants. I really enjoyed this third installment to the Come Back to Me series and can't wait to read the rest.
ARC provided.
Run Away With Me is another fantastic New Adult Romance read from Mila Gray. The third in her Come Back to Me standalone series about finding and accepting love after facing hardships. In Run Away With Me, Emerson Lowe was assaulted and then turned into the town pariah when no one believed her, including, she assumed, her best friend who disappeared that same day. Now, years later as adults, Jake is back and he's coming for her heart.
I love a good angsty, friends turned lovers romance, there's just nothing more feel good than two friends finally figuring out what they've probably already known. Maybe that seems silly, but if I had to pick a favorite romance trope, this would be it. And we all know I love me some angst, which Mila Gray does a fantastic job of writing. I want heart, heat, and tears. Run Away With Me features some sports, our heroine finally standing up for herself, and a guy finally figuring out that he has to go after what he wants. I really enjoyed this third installment to the Come Back to Me series and can't wait to read the rest.
ARC provided.
September 13, 2020
A great story about second chances and dealing with sexual assault. Although there were some errors they were mostly easy to overlook
October 11, 2020
*4.5 stars
May 30, 2023
This was such a slow burn I didn’t even feel it burning
April 13, 2024
page 319…
December 1, 2017
When I saw this book, I immediately knew I had to read it. I had enjoyed the previous books in this series, and couldn't wait to see what sort of "Come Back to Me" story Gray had in store for me.
Pro: This is a friends-to-more and sort of second chance romance, which are among my favorite kinds of romances. Although the sparks were just starting to fly, when their worlds were shattered, Em and Jake still held a piece of each other in their hearts for the years they were apart. I couldn't help but ship them.
•Pro: Jake, Jake, Jake. Jake had so many great qualities. I loved how he wanted to make things better for people, and he understood what they needed in order to feel good about themselves. He was very giving and so persistent. He was tender, caring, and a rather wonderful hero. However.....
•Con: Jake made some bad choices. Notice the use of the plural there. For someone, who was very dedicated to his sport, his academics, and doing kind things for others, he just kept getting into one thing or another, which could have cost him his future. I just kept shaking my head.
•Pro: I liked that flashbacks were used to help us understand what happened. I found it more meaningful to get the story from 13 year old Em and 14 year old Jake. It wasn't colored by life experience or time that way, and since that was their last impression of each other, I think it was a great choice. I always love when they are interspersed throughout the story as well, because it keeps us wondering. I wanted to know why Jake left and what happened to Em, but as I got those answers, more questions arose, which were eventually answered in strategic parts of the story.
•Pro: I totally loved Toby, and the role he filled in the story. I thought Shay, Em's best friend, and Em's parents were great too. Em had not had it easy, but she had some great people on her side.
•Con: Jake's "troubles" crossed into OTT (over the top) territory at one point. I think, at one point, I stated, quite loudly, "You have got to be kidding me. " However, when I saw the big picture and figured out what Gray was trying to accomplish, I dismissed my initial feelings, because it did serve a purpose.
•Pro: I appreciated that Gray didn't make it easy for Jake to re-enter Em's life. Given the way he left, the lack of communication, and the betrayals she had suffered, it made sense that she was wary. She made him earned it, and gosh darn it, Jake rose to the occasion.
•Pro: The camping trip!! I am a hopeless romantic, so that stretch of the books like oxygen for me. Absolutely fabulous!
•Pro: I feel like my luck is going to run out soon, because I have been on a roll with endings. Add this to my list of fabulous endings, because I had closure, Gray gave the characters a promising future, and I found tears of joy in my eyes.
Overall: A touching and heartfelt story about friendship, love, and healing. I experienced my romance trifecta: I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and best of all, I was left with happy tears in my eyes.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
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Pro: This is a friends-to-more and sort of second chance romance, which are among my favorite kinds of romances. Although the sparks were just starting to fly, when their worlds were shattered, Em and Jake still held a piece of each other in their hearts for the years they were apart. I couldn't help but ship them.
•Pro: Jake, Jake, Jake. Jake had so many great qualities. I loved how he wanted to make things better for people, and he understood what they needed in order to feel good about themselves. He was very giving and so persistent. He was tender, caring, and a rather wonderful hero. However.....
•Con: Jake made some bad choices. Notice the use of the plural there. For someone, who was very dedicated to his sport, his academics, and doing kind things for others, he just kept getting into one thing or another, which could have cost him his future. I just kept shaking my head.
•Pro: I liked that flashbacks were used to help us understand what happened. I found it more meaningful to get the story from 13 year old Em and 14 year old Jake. It wasn't colored by life experience or time that way, and since that was their last impression of each other, I think it was a great choice. I always love when they are interspersed throughout the story as well, because it keeps us wondering. I wanted to know why Jake left and what happened to Em, but as I got those answers, more questions arose, which were eventually answered in strategic parts of the story.
•Pro: I totally loved Toby, and the role he filled in the story. I thought Shay, Em's best friend, and Em's parents were great too. Em had not had it easy, but she had some great people on her side.
•Con: Jake's "troubles" crossed into OTT (over the top) territory at one point. I think, at one point, I stated, quite loudly, "You have got to be kidding me. " However, when I saw the big picture and figured out what Gray was trying to accomplish, I dismissed my initial feelings, because it did serve a purpose.
•Pro: I appreciated that Gray didn't make it easy for Jake to re-enter Em's life. Given the way he left, the lack of communication, and the betrayals she had suffered, it made sense that she was wary. She made him earned it, and gosh darn it, Jake rose to the occasion.
•Pro: The camping trip!! I am a hopeless romantic, so that stretch of the books like oxygen for me. Absolutely fabulous!
•Pro: I feel like my luck is going to run out soon, because I have been on a roll with endings. Add this to my list of fabulous endings, because I had closure, Gray gave the characters a promising future, and I found tears of joy in my eyes.
Overall: A touching and heartfelt story about friendship, love, and healing. I experienced my romance trifecta: I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and best of all, I was left with happy tears in my eyes.
*I would like to thank the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
December 16, 2017
Before reading
I need this book in my life right.now. also ICE HOCKEY PLAYER GIMME
After reading
I don't know what it is about this series but I love these books like I love very much else. I have read each of them in a day so when this showed up at my doorstep this morning for which btw I had been waiting for for a week I knew all of the things on my way-too-long to-do list were to be doomed for the day, but oh well, if a book series is worth procrastinating everything else for it is this one. It's just that every.single.book makes you feel like you're actually the one who is falling in love and not the characters in the book. They suck me in like nothing else and when, after finishing, I finally emerge I am so lost for quiet a while because I feel like I belong to another world. Another thing that made me fall in love with the book even more was the HOCKEY. The season has already been going on for so long but I have been so deprived of hockey that I think I might be going crazy. It also is the complete opposite to last season when I was in Canada and watched more hockey than I had ever done before. So really, I am thankful for everything that tries to still my obsession.
One teeny tiny issue I had with this book was that I wish Em and Jake would have talked more about what actually happened all these years ago. We got to see it through the flashbacks but every time a flashback finished I was like "Ok, and WHEN IS THE OTHER PERSON GOING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS?!" because it may have showed the reader what happened but it didn't actually clear all these confusing feelings between the characters in the book.
I sure do hope that there is going to be more books in series because I will read them all. In the mean time I will just be sitting here re-reading all of the other ones.
pls excuse me for any weird sentence structures in this review. i am running on way too less sleep.
I need this book in my life right.now. also ICE HOCKEY PLAYER GIMME
After reading
I don't know what it is about this series but I love these books like I love very much else. I have read each of them in a day so when this showed up at my doorstep this morning
One teeny tiny issue I had with this book was that I wish Em and Jake would have talked more about what actually happened all these years ago. We got to see it through the flashbacks but every time a flashback finished I was like "Ok, and WHEN IS THE OTHER PERSON GOING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS?!" because it may have showed the reader what happened but it didn't actually clear all these confusing feelings between the characters in the book.
I sure do hope that there is going to be more books in series because I will read them all. In the mean time I will just be sitting here re-reading all of the other ones.
January 11, 2018
5 Stars
Love this series and I am sad to see the series end. This book was a different love story. In this book Emerson Lowe and popular ice-hockey player Jake McCallister have been friends for a really long time, like the 3rd grade.This are different since then Jake’s living on the other side of the country and Emerson is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life. After seven years on and Emerson is still living on the Pacific West island of Bainbridge, helping her family run their outdoor adventure company. Jake soon comes back and some things start to happen between them. Emerson is focused on her family and she is not worried about love. She soon falls in love with Jake. This book was really good. I loved the whole series. I would maybe read the series again. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good romance series.
Love this series and I am sad to see the series end. This book was a different love story. In this book Emerson Lowe and popular ice-hockey player Jake McCallister have been friends for a really long time, like the 3rd grade.This are different since then Jake’s living on the other side of the country and Emerson is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life. After seven years on and Emerson is still living on the Pacific West island of Bainbridge, helping her family run their outdoor adventure company. Jake soon comes back and some things start to happen between them. Emerson is focused on her family and she is not worried about love. She soon falls in love with Jake. This book was really good. I loved the whole series. I would maybe read the series again. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good romance series.
May 14, 2019
Eine schöne, berührende YA-Geschichte mit wichtigen Themen wie Missbrauch und Mobbing, Tiefe, authentischen Entwicklungen, zwei wunderbaren Charakteren und ganz vielen Emotionen!
Bis zum einem gewissen Zeitpunkt passiert zwar nicht super viel, was aber auch der einzige kleine Kritikpunkt ist. Ansonsten wirklich süß, herzzerreißend, dramatisch und emotional!
Mir hat’s wirklich gut gefallen...♥️
Bis zum einem gewissen Zeitpunkt passiert zwar nicht super viel, was aber auch der einzige kleine Kritikpunkt ist. Ansonsten wirklich süß, herzzerreißend, dramatisch und emotional!
Mir hat’s wirklich gut gefallen...♥️
April 29, 2019
4,5 Sterne
May 5, 2020
Overall it was good but at times i found it pretty predictable. Although predictable, there were still moments when i was kind of surprised which is why i give this a 4 out 5 stars.
June 17, 2021
TW: Sexual assault
In terms of the reading experience, Run Away with Me is fairly similar to the other books in this series, but I have some specific complaints for how this book dealt with sexual assault towards the resolution of the plot, so I'd like to go into depth about those in this review. Run Away With Me, like all the books in this series, is cliche, but incredibly cute (the romance that is). In Come Back to Me and Stay With Me, I found Mila Gray's writing to be a tad elementary, but I felt like it improved in this book. Additionally, like the other books in this series, this book balances a cute romance with some very series discussions. This book, specifically, talks in depth about sexual assault and the backlash victims face when they go public with their stories. For the most part, I thought this book did a great job discussing sexual assault with the nuance that it deserves. One point that I loved seeing this book make was when Emery rejected a guy, she had to say she was in a relationship for him to back off. It was then discussed how messed up it is that a man will respect another man they don't know but will not listen to a woman saying no for their own reasons. Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, the writing got a bit messy. I am rating this book 3.5 stars, although towards the end I wanted to bump it down to 3 stars. The reason I decided not to do that was because I don't want to undermine all the good this book does. For the most part, this book does a great job discussing sexual assault. I know I keep repeating that, but I want it to be made clear that although the problems I'm about to mention are serious, they do not counteract all the good feminist points made leading up to this part of the book. For a bit of context, So there you go, those were my main 3 complaints about this book. Again, there were tons of great conversations surrounding sexual assault in this book, but being that the majority of these conversations were productive to feminist discourse, many people have already talked about them. I haven't, however, seen anyone talk about the 3 things I mentioned here. That is why I wanted to bring them up. Not to bring this book, or any or the important messages it delivers, down, but to highlight that even in media written with care, some stereotypes about sexual assault still slip through. Overall, this book was a really cute friends-to-lovers romance that simultaneously told the story of a sexual assault survivor that was painfully realistic. Although I have some problems with the end, the majority of Run Away With Me discussed sexual assault with the nuance it deserves, and absolutely made more progress in the discussion of believing victims than it did harm. You can tell from the writing how much research and care Mila Gray put into this novel, I just feel that the ending was a bit rushed, which affects the theme/messages.
In terms of the reading experience, Run Away with Me is fairly similar to the other books in this series, but I have some specific complaints for how this book dealt with sexual assault towards the resolution of the plot, so I'd like to go into depth about those in this review. Run Away With Me, like all the books in this series, is cliche, but incredibly cute (the romance that is). In Come Back to Me and Stay With Me, I found Mila Gray's writing to be a tad elementary, but I felt like it improved in this book. Additionally, like the other books in this series, this book balances a cute romance with some very series discussions. This book, specifically, talks in depth about sexual assault and the backlash victims face when they go public with their stories. For the most part, I thought this book did a great job discussing sexual assault with the nuance that it deserves. One point that I loved seeing this book make was when Emery rejected a guy, she had to say she was in a relationship for him to back off. It was then discussed how messed up it is that a man will respect another man they don't know but will not listen to a woman saying no for their own reasons. Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, the writing got a bit messy. I am rating this book 3.5 stars, although towards the end I wanted to bump it down to 3 stars. The reason I decided not to do that was because I don't want to undermine all the good this book does. For the most part, this book does a great job discussing sexual assault. I know I keep repeating that, but I want it to be made clear that although the problems I'm about to mention are serious, they do not counteract all the good feminist points made leading up to this part of the book. For a bit of context, So there you go, those were my main 3 complaints about this book. Again, there were tons of great conversations surrounding sexual assault in this book, but being that the majority of these conversations were productive to feminist discourse, many people have already talked about them. I haven't, however, seen anyone talk about the 3 things I mentioned here. That is why I wanted to bring them up. Not to bring this book, or any or the important messages it delivers, down, but to highlight that even in media written with care, some stereotypes about sexual assault still slip through. Overall, this book was a really cute friends-to-lovers romance that simultaneously told the story of a sexual assault survivor that was painfully realistic. Although I have some problems with the end, the majority of Run Away With Me discussed sexual assault with the nuance it deserves, and absolutely made more progress in the discussion of believing victims than it did harm. You can tell from the writing how much research and care Mila Gray put into this novel, I just feel that the ending was a bit rushed, which affects the theme/messages.
March 3, 2018
Emerson Lowe and Jake McCallister have been best friends since they were born, their mother's having put them in the same playpen together. But over the years, as their friendship starts to morph into something else, a terrible event occurs that ends innocence for both of them. Within a week, Jake is living on the other side of the country and Emerson is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life in a small town determined to paint her as a liar. Seven years later, Emerson is now twenty and still living on the beautiful Pacific West island of Bainbridge, helping run her family’s failing business. The last thing she needs is Jake turning up, bringing with him old memories and opening up old wounds. But Jake—even better looking than Emerson remembers—seems determined to revive their friendship no matter how much Emerson tries to push him away.Forced to work alongside him for the summer, Emerson can’t help but fall for Jake, and soon they’re in the midst of a passionate romance that neither of them wants to end. But both Emerson and Jake know that if they’re to have any kind of future they must first confront the past—a past that most people want to stay buried.
Run Away With Me, the third book in the Come Back To Me series by Mila Grey is a story of two lifelong best friends separated by the past. After reading the first two books in the Come Back to Me series, I was reluctant to read Run Away with Me because the first two were so beautifully written, and showed the true meaning of love. I was wrong. Run Away With Me lived up to those high expectations I had and has now become one of my favorite romantic novels. Using various figurative language techniques to portray a beautiful picture of Emerson's and Jake's story, Mila Grey portrays Emerson as this headstrong, fierce girl while she portrays Jake as this Prince Charming that everyone has dreamed of riding off into the sunset with. With chapters from each character's point of view of the past and the present, your heart will be sure to melt when done with this book- I know mine definitely did.
Run Away With Me, the third book in the Come Back To Me series by Mila Grey is a story of two lifelong best friends separated by the past. After reading the first two books in the Come Back to Me series, I was reluctant to read Run Away with Me because the first two were so beautifully written, and showed the true meaning of love. I was wrong. Run Away With Me lived up to those high expectations I had and has now become one of my favorite romantic novels. Using various figurative language techniques to portray a beautiful picture of Emerson's and Jake's story, Mila Grey portrays Emerson as this headstrong, fierce girl while she portrays Jake as this Prince Charming that everyone has dreamed of riding off into the sunset with. With chapters from each character's point of view of the past and the present, your heart will be sure to melt when done with this book- I know mine definitely did.
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