How Not to Run Away

by Lia London

It's hard to run away from all your problems. It's even harder to run away from yourself.

Bridget Burgess is a blossoming YouTube celebrity who designs tiny houses and minimalist merch. On paper, everything about her life looks successful until the worst day ever unravels it all. Frustrated and desperate, she runs away on a tour through Europe. Maybe she can snag enough new followers to finance a solitary life away from all the users. But how can she be a social influencer if she hates people?

Full of romance, travel, and architecture, Bridget's unexpected journey to escape leads her to find her true self.

152 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2020

About the author

Lia London was born in Oregon and raised in multiple states and countries (including 3 years in Europe). She earned two degrees from Western Oregon University. Upon graduation, she served for 18 months as a missionary in Guatemala, teaching cholera prevention, literacy, and gospel messages. She worked as a high school teacher and ESL instructor for college students for a few years before becoming a home schooling mom and launching her writing career. She later took up martial arts, earned her 3rd degree black belt and taught classes for 7 years.

London has returned to her college town where she currently leads the music for the children's worship class at her church. She also is the founder and chief administrator of a network called Clean Indie Reads, an organization of over 1500 authors, illustrators, and marketing specialists who work in the independent publishing industry. She loves milk chocolate, extra-cheesy pizza and cuddling with her husband, toddler, and two cats to watch everything from Marvel movies to Masterpiece Theater to Muppets.

Reviews

[Annie Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, overall. The characters are unique and well developed, the story is engaging, and I really liked the setting (mostly different locations in Europe). Romance isn't normally my favorite genre, but it worked well here, and I appreciated that this one was clean. I also appreciated the author's message that physical intimacy isn't something a couple should jump into just to meet spur-of-the-moment desires or enhance their sense of self-worth. However, I would rather have heard a message about saving that for marriage rather than saving it for when two people eventually want each other in the "best" (as opposed to "worst") way. Still, it was a fun read with several good life lessons built in.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story with heart

I really enjoyed this story-good writing, cute story, fun characters. Not just your everyday romance, but more of a growing-up tale with some hard places but warmth and laughter, too. And the romance.