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Moorestown High
The Long Run
Two track and field athletes find an unexpected but powerful love in this unapologetically blunt and unforgettably real YA debut.
Sebastian Villeda is over it. Over his rep. Over his bros. Over being "Bash the Flash," fastest sprinter in South Jersey. His dad is gone, his mom is dead, and his stepfather is clueless. Bash has no idea what he wants out of life. Until he meets Sandro.
Sandro Miceli is too nice for his own good. The middle child in an always-growing, always-screaming Italian family, Sandro walks around on a broken foot to not bother his busy parents. All he wants is to get out and never look back.
When fate—in the form of a party that gets busted—brings these two very different boys together, neither of them could’ve predicted finding a love that they’d risk everything for…
Sebastian Villeda is over it. Over his rep. Over his bros. Over being "Bash the Flash," fastest sprinter in South Jersey. His dad is gone, his mom is dead, and his stepfather is clueless. Bash has no idea what he wants out of life. Until he meets Sandro.
Sandro Miceli is too nice for his own good. The middle child in an always-growing, always-screaming Italian family, Sandro walks around on a broken foot to not bother his busy parents. All he wants is to get out and never look back.
When fate—in the form of a party that gets busted—brings these two very different boys together, neither of them could’ve predicted finding a love that they’d risk everything for…
400 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2023
214 people are currently reading
12898 people want to read
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November 29, 2023
This is one of the best YA stories I’ve read.
Full of a hilarious banter, realistic high school experiences, toxic friendships, teenage experiences, concerning parents, and first loves, this is a story of two boys who are more similar than different but clash in the most unexpected ways, only to find hope in each other for a stronger future.
James’s writing is moody, just like the book. It’s raw and vulnerable, just like his characters. It’s unsure and insecure, just like his two boys. It’s moody because it shifts tones from bright to mellow. It featured incomplete sentences but not in a grammatical error sense. Its sentences are also flimsy sometimes, showing itself differently. It’s not lyrical or poetic, nothing full of purple prose, but it’s full of different emotions, showcasing a flawless style, just like its characters. It grew on me after a bit, and I quickly became captivated by Acker’s writing. Easy to follow and consume, with no errors on what it’s trying to show versus tell, full of attention, and detailed enough. It’s YA in every sense, but it isn’t juvenile. It’s consumable, mature, and engaging.
The characters are moody, just like the book. It’s no surprise to me that Sandro is my favorite of the two—with his inability to communicate his feelings due to growing up in a loud, boisterous Italian family who doesn’t express themselves, with his insecurities, believing he needs to hide not to worry his parents; with his hidden identity, worried about disappointment; with his people pleading persona, one full of fake smiles and lies. His need to prove people wrong, pretend he’s doing okay, adapt to the demands of others for their sake, and put others before himself. Bash is not so much different. He’s multilayered, showing different personalities for different people. I could relate a little to his fake personas, those he pulls out for the public, depending on what Sebastian they’re looking for—Sebastian Villeda, Seb, Bash, or Bash the Flash. He’s full of mysteries, afraid to open up and getting rejected. He’s guilty and mourning his mother’s death. He’s worried his stepfather doesn’t love him. He’s scared of admitting the truth to himself. He’s afraid of opening up to people and being left alone. He blames himself for the destruction.
I love how James wrote both boys. Flawed in every way but still filled to the brim with joy and hyperactivity. They’re growing boys trying to get through their final year of high school, putting one foot in front of the other. Their lives are intertwined in unexpected ways, whether through family pressure, social obligations, or their identities of being multiple people in one person. They learn to read each other well, a perfect depiction of strangers to friends to more. The author’s writing shows us his character’s emotions, which works significantly in our favor since it gives us a bigger idea of what to assume and see. In my opinion, there’s enough showing and telling, and it helps us readers get a picture of what Bash and Sandro are dealing with and how they’re coping.
The friendship that grew into more personal feelings is written beautifully. I couldn’t see the shift of when and now they get together, but the relationship felt natural enough to understand how it developed. Considering it’s YA, it’s not graphic, but because it features two big boys ready to finish their miserable high school times, we are made aware of the time they spend together, including having sex. I found their first sex scene very intimate. It’s full of laughter as well, used to combat the tension that fills them up. I know it’s realistic for teenagers to have sex. Still, I don’t want to read teenagers in a young adult marketed story graphically having sex, the way smut and adult romances depict this. If it was YA with graphic content as such, that’s different, but I come into this genre running away from smut (at least for a bit). With that being said, the sex scene in this has got to be one of the most beautiful, intimate, and realistic sex scenes I’ve come to read in the genre of romance. It’s detailed enough to know what the characters are telling and showing us, but it’s not detailed to the point where we see the act itself. It’s intimate because of the teenage vulnerabilities that make this story shine.
One thing about me is that I love flawed characters. There’s nothing better than reading about characters who don’t fit “beauty standards” or who don’t fit the norm, as they say. Bash and Sandro aren’t that—Sandro with his ‘Italian Yeti’ features, being big and hairy, and ‘Bash the Flash’ with his half-Mexican, half-Black brown skin. Sandro’s insecurities hit a little too close to home, but I loved how real they felt. The author wrote this from his own experience, too, with how inspiring the physical features of Sandro are, and I love it. Usually, characters are depicted as the traditional norm: white, skinny or fit, muscled. With Bash being an exception for his biracial identity, Sandro’s physical appearance is created with sincerity and love but also hesitation. It was amazing to witness Bash appreciate him as he is, never thinking he needs to change a part of him. Sandro would have a praise kink or need some reassurance if this were an adult romance. #Sorrynotsorry.
“What are you looking at?”
“You.” I smiled.
“Can I just...look at you a little, Dro?”
“What?”
I motioned at his body. All of it. Hairy head to hairy toes. “I wanna look at you. All of you.”
Bash’s character development was outstanding. I loved that Sandro made him aware of things he hadn’t considered. It felt good to finally see a character having their sexual awakening and realize how fucked up and toxic some of his friends and people around him are. I was glad that Bash stopped hanging out with his former friends, realizing they weren’t doing anything good for him, including being homophobic pricks. I was also glad to see how Bash never felt he owed Matty a reason for leaving him. While I wish he had stood up against him more, considering their positions and former friendships, it still felt realistic. There wasn’t much point in doing more, but it was still lovely to become aware and see Bash feeling guilty.
The ending is as realistic as YA novels can get. The author doesn’t beat around the bush and gives his readers false hope. It’s a HFN more than a HEA. The setting is understandable, considering their high school senior year is ending, their college applications are coming in, and their time is running out. It’s a perfect example of “right person, wrong time,” although it’s nice to know this author may or may not write a sequel for these two. I can imagine the angst for that, mainly if it follows them in a long-distance relationship, as this novel implies. While the story also has some sort of third-act conflict, I appreciated how the author didn’t wait until the end to cause and solve it. Instead, it created this force between Bash and Sandro to realize they now have limited time to be together. Unfortunately, they are separated for a few months, with their conflict taking up their time, but I couldn’t be too annoyed since the author fixed it before the 95% mark, giving the two boys time to make up.
I rubbed his shaved cheek. “And we’ll always talk.”
“Yeah?”
“’Course.”
“Good. We talk well.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“But what if we run out of things to talk about?”
I shrugged. “We’ll start over. From the beginning.”
“From the top?”
“And we’ll see where it goes.”
He nodded. “We’ll see.”
I laughed. “We’ll see.”
One of my only issues with this was how I struggled to know whose POV I was in at first. I tried reading this as an audiobook to get some reading done as I was last-minute grocery shopping. I remember walking into the store and stopping to rewind the audio because I couldn’t understand what was happening and who was who. I do not believe it was an issue of the narrator (I just borrowed it from my library on the Libby account), but I did struggle to understand what was happening. I had to reread the scene when I got home (because I borrowed the physical book from my library). Adding on to that, despite how I liked Bash’s development regarding his friends, I wasn’t a fan of how it felt like Sandro was to blame for their minor conflicts. I mean, even the cause of the disagreement that caused their separation felt like Sandro was the one to blame entirely. I also didn’t like how Sandro blamed himself for their issues, yet Bash was never aware of his faults.
Despite these minor niggles, this story is still one worth reading. I’m glad I could trust my friends with this one and finally give in after seeing many of them gushing about it. It’s not my favorite, but it does take a spot on the top list. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us.
Full of a hilarious banter, realistic high school experiences, toxic friendships, teenage experiences, concerning parents, and first loves, this is a story of two boys who are more similar than different but clash in the most unexpected ways, only to find hope in each other for a stronger future.
James’s writing is moody, just like the book. It’s raw and vulnerable, just like his characters. It’s unsure and insecure, just like his two boys. It’s moody because it shifts tones from bright to mellow. It featured incomplete sentences but not in a grammatical error sense. Its sentences are also flimsy sometimes, showing itself differently. It’s not lyrical or poetic, nothing full of purple prose, but it’s full of different emotions, showcasing a flawless style, just like its characters. It grew on me after a bit, and I quickly became captivated by Acker’s writing. Easy to follow and consume, with no errors on what it’s trying to show versus tell, full of attention, and detailed enough. It’s YA in every sense, but it isn’t juvenile. It’s consumable, mature, and engaging.
The characters are moody, just like the book. It’s no surprise to me that Sandro is my favorite of the two—with his inability to communicate his feelings due to growing up in a loud, boisterous Italian family who doesn’t express themselves, with his insecurities, believing he needs to hide not to worry his parents; with his hidden identity, worried about disappointment; with his people pleading persona, one full of fake smiles and lies. His need to prove people wrong, pretend he’s doing okay, adapt to the demands of others for their sake, and put others before himself. Bash is not so much different. He’s multilayered, showing different personalities for different people. I could relate a little to his fake personas, those he pulls out for the public, depending on what Sebastian they’re looking for—Sebastian Villeda, Seb, Bash, or Bash the Flash. He’s full of mysteries, afraid to open up and getting rejected. He’s guilty and mourning his mother’s death. He’s worried his stepfather doesn’t love him. He’s scared of admitting the truth to himself. He’s afraid of opening up to people and being left alone. He blames himself for the destruction.
I love how James wrote both boys. Flawed in every way but still filled to the brim with joy and hyperactivity. They’re growing boys trying to get through their final year of high school, putting one foot in front of the other. Their lives are intertwined in unexpected ways, whether through family pressure, social obligations, or their identities of being multiple people in one person. They learn to read each other well, a perfect depiction of strangers to friends to more. The author’s writing shows us his character’s emotions, which works significantly in our favor since it gives us a bigger idea of what to assume and see. In my opinion, there’s enough showing and telling, and it helps us readers get a picture of what Bash and Sandro are dealing with and how they’re coping.
The friendship that grew into more personal feelings is written beautifully. I couldn’t see the shift of when and now they get together, but the relationship felt natural enough to understand how it developed. Considering it’s YA, it’s not graphic, but because it features two big boys ready to finish their miserable high school times, we are made aware of the time they spend together, including having sex. I found their first sex scene very intimate. It’s full of laughter as well, used to combat the tension that fills them up. I know it’s realistic for teenagers to have sex. Still, I don’t want to read teenagers in a young adult marketed story graphically having sex, the way smut and adult romances depict this. If it was YA with graphic content as such, that’s different, but I come into this genre running away from smut (at least for a bit). With that being said, the sex scene in this has got to be one of the most beautiful, intimate, and realistic sex scenes I’ve come to read in the genre of romance. It’s detailed enough to know what the characters are telling and showing us, but it’s not detailed to the point where we see the act itself. It’s intimate because of the teenage vulnerabilities that make this story shine.
One thing about me is that I love flawed characters. There’s nothing better than reading about characters who don’t fit “beauty standards” or who don’t fit the norm, as they say. Bash and Sandro aren’t that—Sandro with his ‘Italian Yeti’ features, being big and hairy, and ‘Bash the Flash’ with his half-Mexican, half-Black brown skin. Sandro’s insecurities hit a little too close to home, but I loved how real they felt. The author wrote this from his own experience, too, with how inspiring the physical features of Sandro are, and I love it. Usually, characters are depicted as the traditional norm: white, skinny or fit, muscled. With Bash being an exception for his biracial identity, Sandro’s physical appearance is created with sincerity and love but also hesitation. It was amazing to witness Bash appreciate him as he is, never thinking he needs to change a part of him. Sandro would have a praise kink or need some reassurance if this were an adult romance. #Sorrynotsorry.
“What are you looking at?”
“You.” I smiled.
“Can I just...look at you a little, Dro?”
“What?”
I motioned at his body. All of it. Hairy head to hairy toes. “I wanna look at you. All of you.”
Bash’s character development was outstanding. I loved that Sandro made him aware of things he hadn’t considered. It felt good to finally see a character having their sexual awakening and realize how fucked up and toxic some of his friends and people around him are. I was glad that Bash stopped hanging out with his former friends, realizing they weren’t doing anything good for him, including being homophobic pricks. I was also glad to see how Bash never felt he owed Matty a reason for leaving him. While I wish he had stood up against him more, considering their positions and former friendships, it still felt realistic. There wasn’t much point in doing more, but it was still lovely to become aware and see Bash feeling guilty.
The ending is as realistic as YA novels can get. The author doesn’t beat around the bush and gives his readers false hope. It’s a HFN more than a HEA. The setting is understandable, considering their high school senior year is ending, their college applications are coming in, and their time is running out. It’s a perfect example of “right person, wrong time,” although it’s nice to know this author may or may not write a sequel for these two. I can imagine the angst for that, mainly if it follows them in a long-distance relationship, as this novel implies. While the story also has some sort of third-act conflict, I appreciated how the author didn’t wait until the end to cause and solve it. Instead, it created this force between Bash and Sandro to realize they now have limited time to be together. Unfortunately, they are separated for a few months, with their conflict taking up their time, but I couldn’t be too annoyed since the author fixed it before the 95% mark, giving the two boys time to make up.
I rubbed his shaved cheek. “And we’ll always talk.”
“Yeah?”
“’Course.”
“Good. We talk well.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“But what if we run out of things to talk about?”
I shrugged. “We’ll start over. From the beginning.”
“From the top?”
“And we’ll see where it goes.”
He nodded. “We’ll see.”
I laughed. “We’ll see.”
One of my only issues with this was how I struggled to know whose POV I was in at first. I tried reading this as an audiobook to get some reading done as I was last-minute grocery shopping. I remember walking into the store and stopping to rewind the audio because I couldn’t understand what was happening and who was who. I do not believe it was an issue of the narrator (I just borrowed it from my library on the Libby account), but I did struggle to understand what was happening. I had to reread the scene when I got home (because I borrowed the physical book from my library). Adding on to that, despite how I liked Bash’s development regarding his friends, I wasn’t a fan of how it felt like Sandro was to blame for their minor conflicts. I mean, even the cause of the disagreement that caused their separation felt like Sandro was the one to blame entirely. I also didn’t like how Sandro blamed himself for their issues, yet Bash was never aware of his faults.
Despite these minor niggles, this story is still one worth reading. I’m glad I could trust my friends with this one and finally give in after seeing many of them gushing about it. It’s not my favorite, but it does take a spot on the top list. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for us.
August 6, 2022
I wouldn't really characterize this as an overly-exciting read, but what it lacked in thrills and drama, it more than made up for with an extremely touching story about how finding one person, the right person, can also help you discover your true self as well.
[My take on "Bash, the Flash"...]
[My take on (a less hairy) Sandro...]
At around 350 pages, since the pace was often pretty slow, this felt like a really long read to me, especially toward the beginning, where the moods of both MC's were what Bash referred to as "cansado."
In other words, not sad exactly, but tired, weary, exhausted, drained, just over the way things were currently going in both of their unsatisfying lives.
And although neither MC was actively looking for a change, their plans of skirting by until the end of high school were put on a fairly indefinitely hold as soon as the unlikely pair met and began hanging out, finding the other person who truly got them, allowing them to open up and unburden themselves of some of their woes for the first time in a very long time.
The story had an (over?) abundance of internal monologuing, since both of the MC's tended to live in their own heads, so don't go into this one expecting normal levels of actual dialogue or you're likely to be sorely disappointed.
Don't get me wrong, when Bash and Sandro did actually talk, it was typically because they had something substantive to say. But the book still felt like there may have been slightly more telling going on than actual showing.
Although both of the MC's were initially 17, then 18, with the deep levels of emotion found on the page, I often forgot that this was a Young Adult (YA) story, because they generally felt like much more mature characters. Then they'd let their emotions get the better of them and do something juvenile, which was an easy reminder, but still...
I'm not going to be That Spoilery Bitch who just recites a plot outline, however, I will say that the second half of the story was my favorite, where the guys not only found much-needed support from each other, but also with a small number of people in their life that they found they could both trust and lean on.
And that I absolutely hated the months that came after the ill-fated family dinner and the that followed. I hate that shit with the heat of 10,000 suns, so I wasn't happy to see it here. At least those chapters blessedly weren't dragged out longer than absolutely necessary, so small reliefs on that front.
I guess I'd say that the story did end with hopes of an HEA. I mean, they were only 18 and , so fingers crossed and I would kill for the author to release a shorter follow-up story or novella to show us where the guys are post-college and out in the real world -- still happily together. I'm greedy that way. 😉
While not entirely perfect, the story had me completely invested and I never experienced any problems with wanting to pick it up again, so I'd rate it at around 4.5 stars, rounding up thanks to all of the intense feels.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for a fair, unbiased review.
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April 3, 2024
You know what I’m gonna do after writing this review? I’m gonna go and buy the book on paper too because this was perfection!
2 YA books in 3 days , who am I ????? And they were both amazing books.
I’m all cried out and teary eyed -snot and everything-and I’ve never wished so hard that a book had an epilogue like I have with this one. Because if I had to explain why I don’t usually read YA I would tell you that it’s exactly because of these kind of (though logical) HFN endings. Because HEA at 18 it’s less likely to happen or to be believable. But I think the author could have given us an epilogue further into the future, the book deserved a HEA epilogue after their college years . Sandro and Bash deserved that! I deserved that, damn it!!!
Beautiful gentle giant Sandro- my heart was his from his first sentence- deserved his sandwich restaurant and his apartment and his 2 dogs, and he deserved it next to Bash, beautiful brave and sad Bash who grew up so much by the end of the book and who found his place in the world and next to Sandro. These 2 precious guys have become 2 of my favorite MM characters ever . I loved everything about this book , I loved the writing, the subtle humor, I loved the emotion and the feelings , I loved that , though not explicit the author didn’t shy away from the sex scenes and the subject of sex.
“Growing up the way I did, I was inundated with the idea that all gay guys do is gasp over brunch and sit on some cock. Which sounded like a nice Sunday. The concept of butt stuff was never unattractive to me, given the right guy, and I’ll admit my fingers have gone spelunking during the occasional long shower. But I know me. I know my body. I have lived with my ass for nearly eighteen years and he is not a friendly neighbor. My ass is the old man from Up. Selfish, loud, and comfortable living a solitary life. But much like the old man from Up, my ass would need to open up and learn to let that special someone inside.”
🤣 🤣I loved Sandro’s internal musings (they were hilarious sometimes) , I loved the beautiful dialogues, loved the grittier parts and the tender parts, I loved Del and Lucy with all my heart and I loved the realism of it all. I could wax poetical about it all night so I will only say that everybody should read this book because it’s really really worth it.
2 YA books in 3 days , who am I ????? And they were both amazing books.
I’m all cried out and teary eyed -snot and everything-and I’ve never wished so hard that a book had an epilogue like I have with this one. Because if I had to explain why I don’t usually read YA I would tell you that it’s exactly because of these kind of (though logical) HFN endings. Because HEA at 18 it’s less likely to happen or to be believable. But I think the author could have given us an epilogue further into the future, the book deserved a HEA epilogue after their college years . Sandro and Bash deserved that! I deserved that, damn it!!!
Beautiful gentle giant Sandro- my heart was his from his first sentence- deserved his sandwich restaurant and his apartment and his 2 dogs, and he deserved it next to Bash, beautiful brave and sad Bash who grew up so much by the end of the book and who found his place in the world and next to Sandro. These 2 precious guys have become 2 of my favorite MM characters ever . I loved everything about this book , I loved the writing, the subtle humor, I loved the emotion and the feelings , I loved that , though not explicit the author didn’t shy away from the sex scenes and the subject of sex.
“Growing up the way I did, I was inundated with the idea that all gay guys do is gasp over brunch and sit on some cock. Which sounded like a nice Sunday. The concept of butt stuff was never unattractive to me, given the right guy, and I’ll admit my fingers have gone spelunking during the occasional long shower. But I know me. I know my body. I have lived with my ass for nearly eighteen years and he is not a friendly neighbor. My ass is the old man from Up. Selfish, loud, and comfortable living a solitary life. But much like the old man from Up, my ass would need to open up and learn to let that special someone inside.”
🤣 🤣I loved Sandro’s internal musings (they were hilarious sometimes) , I loved the beautiful dialogues, loved the grittier parts and the tender parts, I loved Del and Lucy with all my heart and I loved the realism of it all. I could wax poetical about it all night so I will only say that everybody should read this book because it’s really really worth it.
September 20, 2023
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
Raw. Harsh. Moody. Intense. Dark at times. The Long Run is about two masculine-looking boys on the cusp of adulthood who constantly push away their real me’s. Bash ‘the Flash’ around his ‘so-called’ friends, Dro ‘Italian Yeti’ around his huge family.
This story reminded me a lot of Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard. Both books have the same gritty vibes and are not cute. It’s actually the opposite. The rawness of The Long Run is everywhere. In the writing. In the inner thoughts of Bash and Dro. In the dialogues. And everything comes back to toxic masculinity: the toughness, the loudness, the slurs, the misogyny, and homophobia. Bro’s being bro’s.
From the moment I started reading, I felt a knot in my belly, and sometimes I wanted to slam on the table out of anger. But at the softer moments when Bash and Dro helped each other to find their real me’s, a smile danced on my face. I got invested in their story and wanted them to find their true selves so much.
I have to be honest. This story is not for everyone. I’m a sucker for darker and gritty stories, I love flawed characters, and I don’t need cuteness, softness, or a guaranteed HEA. If you need all these things, skip this one. For those who love intense, honest, and written from the heart stories about people who find themselves and each other, I highly recommend The Long Run.
Thanks so much, Inkyard Press, for trusting me to read and review this ARC!
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Raw. Harsh. Moody. Intense. Dark at times. The Long Run is about two masculine-looking boys on the cusp of adulthood who constantly push away their real me’s. Bash ‘the Flash’ around his ‘so-called’ friends, Dro ‘Italian Yeti’ around his huge family.
This story reminded me a lot of Invisible Boys by Holden Sheppard. Both books have the same gritty vibes and are not cute. It’s actually the opposite. The rawness of The Long Run is everywhere. In the writing. In the inner thoughts of Bash and Dro. In the dialogues. And everything comes back to toxic masculinity: the toughness, the loudness, the slurs, the misogyny, and homophobia. Bro’s being bro’s.
From the moment I started reading, I felt a knot in my belly, and sometimes I wanted to slam on the table out of anger. But at the softer moments when Bash and Dro helped each other to find their real me’s, a smile danced on my face. I got invested in their story and wanted them to find their true selves so much.
I have to be honest. This story is not for everyone. I’m a sucker for darker and gritty stories, I love flawed characters, and I don’t need cuteness, softness, or a guaranteed HEA. If you need all these things, skip this one. For those who love intense, honest, and written from the heart stories about people who find themselves and each other, I highly recommend The Long Run.
Thanks so much, Inkyard Press, for trusting me to read and review this ARC!
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May 6, 2024
And the way Sandro smiled. I think that's how I knew it was true. That I wanted it. That I wasn't sorry. That I'd drive that kid anywhere he asked me to.
Because what a fucking smile.
i loved the connection and lil moments between Sandro and Bash so much. they felt so intimate, raw and real. the way they understood one another!! 🥺 i'm weak for scenes when both mcs go towards a deep conversation route where they just talk about life, about anything and everything or nothing at all. to me, Bash was a complicated character, but i loved how he had layers bc the mask he puts on to the public vs who he is when he's alone with Sandro is like night and day. while he made me angry during certain scenes, i couldn't help but feel for him at the same time (i do love, however, that 😭). omg the development between Bash and Del?? i loved seeing the growth in their relationship by the end of the book. oh my sweet, Sandro. i loved him with my whole heart and wanted to protect him from his family and those who kept hurting him. he deserved the fucking world. his friendship with Phil and Ronny, and even Lucy later in the book, felt so precious bc you knew he was TRYING (since he wasn't the best at keeping friendships) and how they're there for him?? I'M FINE.
the way i can't help but laugh at how in denial at times Bash was for being whipped at Sandro, bc, sir, you would literally keep a list of the times you and Sandro touched or keep a picture of his senior portrait IN YOUR WALLET. 😭😭
oh, and is it just me who kinda wants a book about Matty?? bc how he was at the end ... had me intrigued a lil. 🫣
Because what a fucking smile.
i loved the connection and lil moments between Sandro and Bash so much. they felt so intimate, raw and real. the way they understood one another!! 🥺 i'm weak for scenes when both mcs go towards a deep conversation route where they just talk about life, about anything and everything or nothing at all. to me, Bash was a complicated character, but i loved how he had layers bc the mask he puts on to the public vs who he is when he's alone with Sandro is like night and day. while he made me angry during certain scenes, i couldn't help but feel for him at the same time (i do love, however, that 😭). omg the development between Bash and Del?? i loved seeing the growth in their relationship by the end of the book. oh my sweet, Sandro. i loved him with my whole heart and wanted to protect him from his family and those who kept hurting him. he deserved the fucking world. his friendship with Phil and Ronny, and even Lucy later in the book, felt so precious bc you knew he was TRYING (since he wasn't the best at keeping friendships) and how they're there for him?? I'M FINE.
the way i can't help but laugh at how in denial at times Bash was for being whipped at Sandro, bc, sir, you would literally keep a list of the times you and Sandro touched or keep a picture of his senior portrait IN YOUR WALLET. 😭😭
oh, and is it just me who kinda wants a book about Matty?? bc how he was at the end ... had me intrigued a lil. 🫣
August 20, 2025
*update August 14, 2025 🎧 Reading this for the umpteeth time. Love this book so, so much!! As I said before, pure perfection. I could listen to this book on repeat. Kudos to Max Meyers and Lee Osorio for turning this already amazing book into an even more amazing audio!*
*update October 13, 2024: this book is pure perfection and so is the audio.*
This book is my new happy place.
So I've been owing a review for this beautiful book for a while now, but I decided to wait until I listened to the audio and boy...if it would be possible, I'd say that one is even better. Lee Osorio and Max Meyers were wonderfully cast in this story of two teenage guys finding their way to each other and the path in life they are meant to take.
Why is it so hard to write a review about a book that has made me so happy while reading? A book I certainly can't stop thinking about, featuring two of the most adorable, real and lovable characters I can't forget about? What is it that made me love this book so much? That made me resonate?
Certainly one of the things is the out of this world writing. This is a debut book, guys! How is that even possible?! It's on my top list of books I loved the most this past year, and listening to the audio confirmed I'm still in awe over this.
The second thing are the characters. So fleshed out, so real. So acting like teenagers their age do. Their troubles, their wishes, their insecurities about how their future would unfold. The choices they had to make. Wanting to belong, needing to be accepted for who they were. But who were they, really? Bash has all these masks, all this tricks depending on the people he is with. He is different every time, so who is he? Sandro comes from a loud Italian family who never notices if he's around or not. He's great when things need to be taken care of, but for the rest? When he needs them, they are not there for him. Not even his mom. I felt so much for this guy, he was the sweetest and nobody really saw him for the guy he really was. No one except Bash.
The friendship these two develop seems very unlikely, but when they get to know each other, they realize they are not that different. I loved how they could talk about everything, how they understood, how they opened up and how Sandro managed to peel off all these layers Bash was hiding underneath.
These guys might be the sweetest, best pair of guys I have come across in books this past year. I was rooting so hard for them!
It doesn't end with a hea, but isn't that a bit realistic, seeing they were only 17/18 years old and going off to different colleges? But it did end on a very hopeful note, and I'd like to think that they will find a way to do the long distance thing, because these guys BELONG!
The character growth this author manages to put them through in this story is amazing. They both are different people from when the story started and it all happens so naturally, so organically, it absolutely felt very real.
I've got nothing but love for this book and I know I will be re-reading because like I said: this book is my happy place, and it's the best place to be.
*update October 13, 2024: this book is pure perfection and so is the audio.*
This book is my new happy place.
So I've been owing a review for this beautiful book for a while now, but I decided to wait until I listened to the audio and boy...if it would be possible, I'd say that one is even better. Lee Osorio and Max Meyers were wonderfully cast in this story of two teenage guys finding their way to each other and the path in life they are meant to take.
Why is it so hard to write a review about a book that has made me so happy while reading? A book I certainly can't stop thinking about, featuring two of the most adorable, real and lovable characters I can't forget about? What is it that made me love this book so much? That made me resonate?
Certainly one of the things is the out of this world writing. This is a debut book, guys! How is that even possible?! It's on my top list of books I loved the most this past year, and listening to the audio confirmed I'm still in awe over this.
The second thing are the characters. So fleshed out, so real. So acting like teenagers their age do. Their troubles, their wishes, their insecurities about how their future would unfold. The choices they had to make. Wanting to belong, needing to be accepted for who they were. But who were they, really? Bash has all these masks, all this tricks depending on the people he is with. He is different every time, so who is he? Sandro comes from a loud Italian family who never notices if he's around or not. He's great when things need to be taken care of, but for the rest? When he needs them, they are not there for him. Not even his mom. I felt so much for this guy, he was the sweetest and nobody really saw him for the guy he really was. No one except Bash.
The friendship these two develop seems very unlikely, but when they get to know each other, they realize they are not that different. I loved how they could talk about everything, how they understood, how they opened up and how Sandro managed to peel off all these layers Bash was hiding underneath.
These guys might be the sweetest, best pair of guys I have come across in books this past year. I was rooting so hard for them!
It doesn't end with a hea, but isn't that a bit realistic, seeing they were only 17/18 years old and going off to different colleges? But it did end on a very hopeful note, and I'd like to think that they will find a way to do the long distance thing, because these guys BELONG!
The character growth this author manages to put them through in this story is amazing. They both are different people from when the story started and it all happens so naturally, so organically, it absolutely felt very real.
I've got nothing but love for this book and I know I will be re-reading because like I said: this book is my happy place, and it's the best place to be.
September 18, 2023
🚨ALYSSA ALLEGEDLY CRYING OVER AN ALLEGED SANDRO/BASH COLLEGE SEQUEL KLAXON (allegedly)🚨 (https://x.com/JamesUmAcker/status/170...)
-
i felt. i sobbed. i picked up my fallen pieces to reattach with Scotch tape.
this is what i call a coming-of-age story: a grand character study underpinned by grounding pathos, steering clear of over-sentimentality and caricatures, to deliver the most unflinchingly raw take on two young souls becoming - becoming unbound, becoming themselves, becoming each other's safe harbor.
entering their senior year, Bash and Sandro are without a compass as everything they've managed to side step creeps to a head. the only option is to confront the bone-deep weariness head on, or be crushed under its weight. it's everything all at once: playing to outside expectations; losing sight of one's authentic self, with whom they've had no more than a brief acquaintance after a lifetime of donning masks to bluff and conceal; navigating the topsy turvy world of familial relationships, toxic masculinity, open communication and purposeful introspection. it's fear of the unknown. it's dread of being alone. they work so, so hard for their happiness, and with each passage, unerringly prove that they deserve every single bit of it.
hereby making this book my personality for an indeterminate amount of time while i continue my failed attempts to ignore the storm cloud of bereavement hovering above me ✌️
dear author,
i would do anything for a sequel, an epilogue - heck, even a two line update on their future. ANYTHING.
sincerely,
your new biggest fan
**i have never picked up a book for a reread so fast. updating my review to say the narration hits the emotional beats like a champ. i'm talking poignant, tearful voices going the full nine yards - highly recommend to any audio listeners out there!
-
i felt. i sobbed. i picked up my fallen pieces to reattach with Scotch tape.
this is what i call a coming-of-age story: a grand character study underpinned by grounding pathos, steering clear of over-sentimentality and caricatures, to deliver the most unflinchingly raw take on two young souls becoming - becoming unbound, becoming themselves, becoming each other's safe harbor.
entering their senior year, Bash and Sandro are without a compass as everything they've managed to side step creeps to a head. the only option is to confront the bone-deep weariness head on, or be crushed under its weight. it's everything all at once: playing to outside expectations; losing sight of one's authentic self, with whom they've had no more than a brief acquaintance after a lifetime of donning masks to bluff and conceal; navigating the topsy turvy world of familial relationships, toxic masculinity, open communication and purposeful introspection. it's fear of the unknown. it's dread of being alone. they work so, so hard for their happiness, and with each passage, unerringly prove that they deserve every single bit of it.
hereby making this book my personality for an indeterminate amount of time while i continue my failed attempts to ignore the storm cloud of bereavement hovering above me ✌️
dear author,
i would do anything for a sequel, an epilogue - heck, even a two line update on their future. ANYTHING.
sincerely,
your new biggest fan
**i have never picked up a book for a reread so fast. updating my review to say the narration hits the emotional beats like a champ. i'm talking poignant, tearful voices going the full nine yards - highly recommend to any audio listeners out there!
January 29, 2024
Reread 01/2024
One of the most beautiful YA books out there (and still so, so few have read it?! What's wrong with people?).
This is a very special story.
Raw and heartbreaking, but still full of hope. Some might need a bit to get used to the rough writing style, but for me it was perfect for this coming of age story.
Bash and Sandro are two 17 year old boys, both disappointed with where they are in life, frustrated and lonely. They connect and form a steady and precious friendship. Both didn't plan neither for this unlikely friendship nor for more to happen.
I loved everything about this book (besides how Sandro's mum nearly lost her chance).
Most of all I loved Sandro. He's this big, silent boy, full of anger and in need of a break from his awful family that makes him feel so small and stupid.
It's rare I tear up while reading, but my heart hurt for Sandro. I loved how both Bash and Sandro could just be themselves when they were together. I loved how much they talked, how at ease they felt with one another.
And I loved the way the author decided to write the intimate scenes.. AWESOME. So fitting for a YA story!
And the ending was perfect, too.
Tldr: a MUST READ for everyone, not just YA-lovers!!
------
reread 05/2023
Well this is awful. I erased my review and reading dates for this book, trying to clear the "currently reading" - tag, I'm clearly a GR-genius.
Read it twice, once when it came out in february 2023 and again in may 2023 if I remember correctly.
It's one of the most beautiful, gripping YA books for me.
I loved Bash and Sandro, but Sando was my absolute favorite.
I loved the raw writing style.
I think I loved everything about this book (but obviously forgot some details) and I'll have to reread it sooner or later (today I got sidetracked by another book).
5 stars.
One of the most beautiful YA books out there (and still so, so few have read it?! What's wrong with people?).
This is a very special story.
Raw and heartbreaking, but still full of hope. Some might need a bit to get used to the rough writing style, but for me it was perfect for this coming of age story.
Bash and Sandro are two 17 year old boys, both disappointed with where they are in life, frustrated and lonely. They connect and form a steady and precious friendship. Both didn't plan neither for this unlikely friendship nor for more to happen.
I loved everything about this book (besides how Sandro's mum nearly lost her chance).
Most of all I loved Sandro. He's this big, silent boy, full of anger and in need of a break from his awful family that makes him feel so small and stupid.
It's rare I tear up while reading, but my heart hurt for Sandro. I loved how both Bash and Sandro could just be themselves when they were together. I loved how much they talked, how at ease they felt with one another.
And I loved the way the author decided to write the intimate scenes.. AWESOME. So fitting for a YA story!
And the ending was perfect, too.
Tldr: a MUST READ for everyone, not just YA-lovers!!
------
reread 05/2023
Well this is awful. I erased my review and reading dates for this book, trying to clear the "currently reading" - tag, I'm clearly a GR-genius.
Read it twice, once when it came out in february 2023 and again in may 2023 if I remember correctly.
It's one of the most beautiful, gripping YA books for me.
I loved Bash and Sandro, but Sando was my absolute favorite.
I loved the raw writing style.
I think I loved everything about this book (but obviously forgot some details) and I'll have to reread it sooner or later (today I got sidetracked by another book).
5 stars.
October 7, 2024
Uff, that was an absolutely gorgeous, raw, honest, deeply moving YA novel.
This is the story of popular star athlete Bash the Flash who is… cansado: tired, weary, miserable.
He doesn’t know who he is or who he wants to be and therefore hides behind his many artificially constructed facets of his popular image and personality, not letting anyone close. Not letting anyone see him.
And it’s the story of Sandro; always overlooked by his big busy family and by his classmates who see him as nothing more than the “Italian Yeti”. Sandro, who feels angry all the time and deep down wants nothing more than to finally be seen for who he really is.
And then they meet and talk and listen and look at each other, truly see the other, body and soul. And they slowly become friends and confidences and when they start getting physical, it’s the most honest, beautiful and erotic sex scenes, while being non-explicit, I’ve ever come across. Really, truly, moving.
Another thing I want to mention, is how Bash’s grief was portrayed. It honestly slapped me in the face, it felt so authentic. Because it wasn’t the raw, heartshattering grief shortly after someone close to you dies, but the display of what’s left after this first, sharp pain. The healed scars that are still deep nonetheless; the trauma that sticks, the long-lasting effects. Oooh boy, did that pack a punch to my heart.
All in all, this whole story and its themes felt incredibly honest and real: The painful confusion of growing up and the big questions of what you want from life, who you are underneath all the expectations projected onto you; who you want to be. Their inner monologues, which made up most of the book, felt age appropriate and utterly relatable (because honestly, who can answer these questions? Not me, that’s for damn sure).
The only thing I missed was an epilogue that assures us they made it long term and through the long distance part of their relationship. Because... I need to know those two are okay, that they are happy and in love 😭 That we didn't get it makes me wonder (hope) if we might be lucky enough and get a sequel?
Why the hell is this book not talked about more? 5⭐️
”You’re so good, Bash. You’re so… God. Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“Thanks for finding me.”
“You were saying a lot, Sandro. That was a lot”
“That’s the point isn’t it?”
“The point?”
“The point. The point of you and me. Saying a lot."
This is the story of popular star athlete Bash the Flash who is… cansado: tired, weary, miserable.
He doesn’t know who he is or who he wants to be and therefore hides behind his many artificially constructed facets of his popular image and personality, not letting anyone close. Not letting anyone see him.
And it’s the story of Sandro; always overlooked by his big busy family and by his classmates who see him as nothing more than the “Italian Yeti”. Sandro, who feels angry all the time and deep down wants nothing more than to finally be seen for who he really is.
And then they meet and talk and listen and look at each other, truly see the other, body and soul. And they slowly become friends and confidences and when they start getting physical, it’s the most honest, beautiful and erotic sex scenes, while being non-explicit, I’ve ever come across. Really, truly, moving.
Another thing I want to mention, is how Bash’s grief was portrayed. It honestly slapped me in the face, it felt so authentic. Because it wasn’t the raw, heartshattering grief shortly after someone close to you dies, but the display of what’s left after this first, sharp pain. The healed scars that are still deep nonetheless; the trauma that sticks, the long-lasting effects. Oooh boy, did that pack a punch to my heart.
All in all, this whole story and its themes felt incredibly honest and real: The painful confusion of growing up and the big questions of what you want from life, who you are underneath all the expectations projected onto you; who you want to be. Their inner monologues, which made up most of the book, felt age appropriate and utterly relatable (because honestly, who can answer these questions? Not me, that’s for damn sure).
The only thing I missed was an epilogue that assures us they made it long term and through the long distance part of their relationship. Because... I need to know those two are okay, that they are happy and in love 😭 That we didn't get it makes me wonder (hope) if we might be lucky enough and get a sequel?
Why the hell is this book not talked about more? 5⭐️
”You’re so good, Bash. You’re so… God. Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“Thanks for finding me.”
“You were saying a lot, Sandro. That was a lot”
“That’s the point isn’t it?”
“The point?”
“The point. The point of you and me. Saying a lot."
October 11, 2023
reread (audiobook) 11. Oct 2023
The narrators are doing a great job!
One of the best books I’ve read this year. ❤️
I felt the edges of his smile. The best thing in my life. Those dimples and lines. I could spend all night touching that smile. He took my hand and kissed it. We got close and stared at the stars. He ran his hands through my hair and I closed my eyes. Safe. Quiet.
*******************
I loved every bit of this book. What a touching, raw and tender coming of age story!
Watching Bash and Sandro find each other and find out who they truly want to be was so wonderful.
Straight to my favorites shelf.
Question: Are the rumors about a sequel true? YES, please, James Acker! 🙏
“You’re so good, Bash. You’re so... God. Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“Thanks for finding me.”
The narrators are doing a great job!
One of the best books I’ve read this year. ❤️
I felt the edges of his smile. The best thing in my life. Those dimples and lines. I could spend all night touching that smile. He took my hand and kissed it. We got close and stared at the stars. He ran his hands through my hair and I closed my eyes. Safe. Quiet.
*******************
I loved every bit of this book. What a touching, raw and tender coming of age story!
Watching Bash and Sandro find each other and find out who they truly want to be was so wonderful.
Straight to my favorites shelf.
Question: Are the rumors about a sequel true? YES, please, James Acker! 🙏
“You’re so good, Bash. You’re so... God. Thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“Thanks for finding me.”
February 12, 2025
My smile has grown ten times bigger since reading this book. I can’t help it! Sandro and Bash are all about the big smiles.
The Long Run by James Acker introduces readers to two South Jersey high school track stars, Sebastian Villeda (Bash or Bash the Flash) and Sandro Miceli (Dro or the Italian Yeti). I’m not even sure where to start with these two. They appear to be opposites, but both are a little lost going into their senior year of high school. Bash is a runner, who lives inside his head. Words don’t come easily for him. Well, unless he’s Bash the Flash. But he is so tired of being this loud, rude guy nicknamed “Bash the Flash” for his friends. The problem is Bash doesn’t know what he wants. Sandro, on the other hand, is known for being a good guy. He’s big, funny, and hairy—I mean he is known as the Italian Yeti. People notice Sandro. Unless he’s at home. No one sees or hears Sandro at the Miceli house because he has A LOT of family going on. So much so that he’s just counting down the days until he can get away.
Once these two seemingly opposite characters start talking to each other though…it’s instant chemistry. Sandro and Bash talk so well together. They fit. And you have to be there for it! Yes, that’s it. You have to be there.
I've been trying to come up with a way to describe Mr. Acker’s writing. It feels so genuine, but somehow so difficult to explain. I can’t seem to pull lines or words out of the text to share without losing the power. Some of the conversations—hell, all of the conversations between Bash and Sandro have a flow to them. If I point to a word or quote, I just end up rambling on about the rest of the scene or the backstory. Let me try little bites. Like this beautiful little line…“the warm night breeze ran across my face”. Or this one! This one is just…well, listen for yourself…”It felt like she’d reached into my rib cage and finger-fucked my heart." Fuck! I love that line. What I'm trying to say is...
Acker’s writing will affect you. It’s like when you’re trying to tell a story and realize you can’t re-enact the magic of the moment for someone that wasn’t there. You end up summing up the tale with a, “Man, you just had to be there.” And that’s what Mr. Aker’s writing is for me. You have to read it! You have to be there when Bash and Sandro talk that first night in the ditch. Or touch for the first time. Or read a book together. Yes, they read to each other! I may have shouted that last line. Haha… You have to see and feel that. All of it! You just have to be here for everything this book has to offer.
Okay, Okay….let me try to reel in my rambling here and make a point. Because I do want to talk about a big point here. For me, this book is all about finding and being your true self. It’s sounds like an easy thing to do—right? It’s not! We all have different versions of ourselves. We’re one way at home, another way at work, or maybe talk this way with a certain friend and not another. What if you lost your way in all those different versions? The courage to stand up and be yourself is a big part of this book and one that shines the brightest for me. Along with the humor and frankness.
“I was trying to be real with you. That’s the point, isn’t it?”
“The point?”
“The point. The point of you and me. Saying a lot. Opening up. Talking.”
This book goes all in with the talking! I love the way these guys talk about the easy stuff and the heavy stuff. They’re not always the best words or my words, but they’re all real. The conversations felt so real to me. Locker room talk, drunk talk, sex talk, and more. These guys stand tall and true through it all. They find each other. Bash and Sandro find someone they can be themselves with. They see each other and listen to each other. And so did I!
Sandro and Bash’s time together is filled with lots of zoning out, driving, drinking, cackles, changes, and love. And Wawa! Don’t forget about the sandwiches. :) They do it up right. I love this book. I hope you do too.
Highly recommended.
p.s. One of my favorite parts…
Re-read February 2025 (audio)
I’ve been having trouble reading for a couple of weeks now. The winter blues trying to take hold maybe. *shrugs* Audio books have been working though. Thank goodness! I stumbled across this (one of my favorite reads) in audio form and couldn’t resist a re-visit with Bash and Sandro. I loved it! ALL of it all over again. I can’t even tell you how hard I laughed at…
I was happy to see 2 narrators for this journey. Two voices were definitely needed. Both made me smile, laugh, and tear up. A powerful read in print and audio. I can’t wait for more from Acker. In fact, I’m going to see when more is coming!
February 16, 2023
Update Feb 2023: The Harper Collins Union has voted to ratify their contract, and as such I'm putting up a brief review, if I can remember what happened...
Jan 2023: Happy release day! Thanks for the ARC; but as Inkyard Press is a HC imprint, I am withholding this review until Harper Collins Union gets a contract. This book drops Feb 7, 2023.
The "voice" of the novel chafed at me, though, sounding a little too Gen Z lingo for me, or something. And I found the characters' backstory and situations pretty gritty and a little too relatable at times, so I got bogged down in some of the home-life job-life parts and things. Conversely, the sporty parts were not very relatable, so I was left kind of spinning my wheels reading this at times.
But over this is a cute YA, sporty M‐M romance with diverse and real to life characters, perfect for fans of this genre subset.
Jan 2023: Happy release day! Thanks for the ARC; but as Inkyard Press is a HC imprint, I am withholding this review until Harper Collins Union gets a contract. This book drops Feb 7, 2023.
The "voice" of the novel chafed at me, though, sounding a little too Gen Z lingo for me, or something. And I found the characters' backstory and situations pretty gritty and a little too relatable at times, so I got bogged down in some of the home-life job-life parts and things. Conversely, the sporty parts were not very relatable, so I was left kind of spinning my wheels reading this at times.
But over this is a cute YA, sporty M‐M romance with diverse and real to life characters, perfect for fans of this genre subset.
September 6, 2024
5 Fucking stars for two raw and emotional boys making it through a summer and their senior year. 5 fucking stars for this being a ya book with what feels like actual teenage boys, doing and saying teenage boy shit, and not feeling too much like sweet fluff, without having to go the entire new adult (smut) way, which there is nothing wrong with that but it wasn't needed for this. This showed what real kids do, I fucked at 17, so why not talk about it without having to be detailed about it. 5 stars for two boys who have my heart and made me cry because they deserve every fucking thing in the world. 5 stars even if I wish I knew what happens after, what happens to these two boys who deserve to be happy and get a HEA. I need a sequel, I need to see them in college and to see them as adults. Please god! Either way, instant favorite.
February 23, 2024
In the beginning, I was unsure.
I mean.
My healthy foot was proper tan. A summer of sun on the Atlantic City boardwalk got it nice and toasted and my leg hair looked dark and lush. The other foot, however, looked like a newborn bird. Darth Vader under his helmet. A testicle. All pink and shriveled.
Did I really want to read a book about two dumb teenagers, and their dumb friends, and their dumb parties, and their dumb thoughts, and their dumb rules? I guess I did.
And then magic happened.
Bash and Sandro are real, hilarious and lovable goofballs. With too many emotions for their dumb little brains, like all teenagers. I loved them so hard. I laughed, I smiled, I cried and I laughed again. We’ve got parents doing their best and failing (don’t we all), bad influence friends, good friends, sibling fights, family. And two boys falling in love.
It was just magical.
I mean.
My healthy foot was proper tan. A summer of sun on the Atlantic City boardwalk got it nice and toasted and my leg hair looked dark and lush. The other foot, however, looked like a newborn bird. Darth Vader under his helmet. A testicle. All pink and shriveled.
Did I really want to read a book about two dumb teenagers, and their dumb friends, and their dumb parties, and their dumb thoughts, and their dumb rules? I guess I did.
And then magic happened.
Bash and Sandro are real, hilarious and lovable goofballs. With too many emotions for their dumb little brains, like all teenagers. I loved them so hard. I laughed, I smiled, I cried and I laughed again. We’ve got parents doing their best and failing (don’t we all), bad influence friends, good friends, sibling fights, family. And two boys falling in love.
It was just magical.
February 9, 2024
This was criminally good. If ever any couple deserves a soft epilogue, it's them.
🥂 to Bash and Sandro. I really hope you made it.
I really really REALLY hope we get to read about their future one day. This is one thing that breaks me about YA/NA romances. It's such a long shot and there's no guarantees.
Also, Lucy calling Sandro a big bitch was unbelievably funny.
🥂 to Bash and Sandro. I really hope you made it.
I really really REALLY hope we get to read about their future one day. This is one thing that breaks me about YA/NA romances. It's such a long shot and there's no guarantees.
Also, Lucy calling Sandro a big bitch was unbelievably funny.
April 13, 2024
Need to read this for @Drache.... (Angelika)
------------------------------------
Ok, so the start was really slow, and not slow-burn slow, just slow. There was so much filler? and it felt unnecessary to have that many non-main plot related details. It took about 45% of the book and I nearly gave up because it's also a long-ish book. But then that chapter at about 55-60% happened and from there it really got me invested. But it's asking for a lot of patience. Also, the amount of times hair/hairy/hairs/shaving was mentioned was a lot.
"My Lighthouse" ❤️🩹
------------------------------------
Ok, so the start was really slow, and not slow-burn slow, just slow. There was so much filler? and it felt unnecessary to have that many non-main plot related details. It took about 45% of the book and I nearly gave up because it's also a long-ish book. But then that chapter at about 55-60% happened and from there it really got me invested. But it's asking for a lot of patience. Also, the amount of times hair/hairy/hairs/shaving was mentioned was a lot.
"My Lighthouse" ❤️🩹
December 1, 2023
everything about them was so raw. It made it hard to not cry for them. Cry with them. 😭
February 20, 2024
2nd read - February 2024: After reading, AND LOVING, James Acker's second book Teenage Dirtbags I knew I'd have to reread The Long Run. Because there's so much crossover with the side characters I was eager to revisit this book and re-experience the story. It was just as wonderful the second time around. I just can't stop talking about how much I appreciate the messiness Acker affords his characters, it makes them feel like real teenagers as opposed to squeaky clean characters who end up seeming inauthentic.
1st read - January 2023: This was an excellent read! I absolutely flew through the book. The Long Run is a YA book about Bash and Sandro, two lonely, sad, angry boys in their last year of high school as they find each other, become friends, and explore their feelings for one another. They have complicated family lives and don’t really have close friends, but they’re able to build a safe space together where they can truly open up.
I LOVED THIS. Bash and Sandro are both unique and fully formed characters who have great chemistry together. A lot of times I complain about dual POV books where the voices of the characters are the exact same and you get confused about which POV the chapter is from. That never happened here because they each have their own very distinct voice. There’s some really beautiful writing here and a few of the emotional moments had me tearing up.
Outside of the more serious moments, which there are a good deal of, there are also a lot of fun, sweet, and silly moments. I connected deeply with both Bash and Sandro and just wanted the best for both of them. They both have things in their lives they have to work through, and they don’t always say or do the right things with each other, but they do try to make things better. The book is split up into different sections for the seasons. It starts in summer and goes through the end of spring. I love where the book left off, but I also could’ve been happy reading hundreds of more pages about what they get up to next.
Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of queer YA contemporary, it’s an amazing one.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
1st read - January 2023: This was an excellent read! I absolutely flew through the book. The Long Run is a YA book about Bash and Sandro, two lonely, sad, angry boys in their last year of high school as they find each other, become friends, and explore their feelings for one another. They have complicated family lives and don’t really have close friends, but they’re able to build a safe space together where they can truly open up.
I LOVED THIS. Bash and Sandro are both unique and fully formed characters who have great chemistry together. A lot of times I complain about dual POV books where the voices of the characters are the exact same and you get confused about which POV the chapter is from. That never happened here because they each have their own very distinct voice. There’s some really beautiful writing here and a few of the emotional moments had me tearing up.
Outside of the more serious moments, which there are a good deal of, there are also a lot of fun, sweet, and silly moments. I connected deeply with both Bash and Sandro and just wanted the best for both of them. They both have things in their lives they have to work through, and they don’t always say or do the right things with each other, but they do try to make things better. The book is split up into different sections for the seasons. It starts in summer and goes through the end of spring. I love where the book left off, but I also could’ve been happy reading hundreds of more pages about what they get up to next.
Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of queer YA contemporary, it’s an amazing one.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2023
If I had one word to describe this book it would be: Honest.
This book takes all those messy feelings of being a senior and being queer and making mistakes and showcases them in such an honest and pure way.
I cried I laughed and I couldn’t stop smiling all through this book.
THIS is the book I wish I had as a teenager. This one. Right here. Ugh 😩
I promise you if you read this you won’t regret it.
I listened to the audiobook and rather enjoyed it that way, if you’re an audiobook person.
10/10 no notes. I also SUPER appreciate that there was no outing in this. I was waiting for that shoe to drop all the way through and it never did and it was super refreshing.
This book takes all those messy feelings of being a senior and being queer and making mistakes and showcases them in such an honest and pure way.
I cried I laughed and I couldn’t stop smiling all through this book.
THIS is the book I wish I had as a teenager. This one. Right here. Ugh 😩
I promise you if you read this you won’t regret it.
I listened to the audiobook and rather enjoyed it that way, if you’re an audiobook person.
10/10 no notes. I also SUPER appreciate that there was no outing in this. I was waiting for that shoe to drop all the way through and it never did and it was super refreshing.
March 3, 2023
I loved this book until the god awful, weak happy for now ending.
July 16, 2022
thanks to netgalley for the arc -
This was a quick read, and I really enjoyed my time with it. It's actually a lot heavier than the description of the book would make you think, which might be a pro or a con depending on the king of book you're looking for. Sandro in particular really goes through the wringer in this, and his relationship with his mother can be tough to read if that's something that you're sensitive about.
Then relationship between Bash and Sandro is wonderful though, even if it does fall into the usual sort of YA genera trappings. It's not stereotypical enough for me to really point out other than that. By the end of the book you could tell these two really did love each other, and then way their relationship grows and flourishes after they get over the requisite mid-book emotional struggle is amazing.
My small complaint is that there is a lot of tell and not show in this. It's not egregious to the level of some other books, and for the most part all of the things you want to see happen in the moment on the page do happen, but there's places where there are months in between chapters and a few things that happen in that time are described in passing and I'm selfish and wanted to read them as they happen.
Other than that, I give this book a big thumbs up as long as you're aware you're getting into a much more emotionally heavy story than the description of the book sells you.
This was a quick read, and I really enjoyed my time with it. It's actually a lot heavier than the description of the book would make you think, which might be a pro or a con depending on the king of book you're looking for. Sandro in particular really goes through the wringer in this, and his relationship with his mother can be tough to read if that's something that you're sensitive about.
Then relationship between Bash and Sandro is wonderful though, even if it does fall into the usual sort of YA genera trappings. It's not stereotypical enough for me to really point out other than that. By the end of the book you could tell these two really did love each other, and then way their relationship grows and flourishes after they get over the requisite mid-book emotional struggle is amazing.
My small complaint is that there is a lot of tell and not show in this. It's not egregious to the level of some other books, and for the most part all of the things you want to see happen in the moment on the page do happen, but there's places where there are months in between chapters and a few things that happen in that time are described in passing and I'm selfish and wanted to read them as they happen.
Other than that, I give this book a big thumbs up as long as you're aware you're getting into a much more emotionally heavy story than the description of the book sells you.
January 15, 2023
i am so grateful to inkyard for sending me a copy to read bc wow. this book is pitched as “ari and dante meets friday night lights” but i’ve never been a fan of ari and dante so i didn’t know how this was going to go. let me just tell you, this is what i wish ari and dante could’ve been for me. this book ripped my heart out and made me cry. i love it.
full rtc :)
full rtc :)
May 10, 2024
4.5 ✨
January 18, 2023
Advance Review for “The Long Run” by James Acker out February 7th!
This deeply authentic coming-of-age story really blew me away. Its tender, raw, heartbreaking, relatable, and a little gross. (17yo boys ya’ll - but that’s ok cause it’s honest)
Sebastian “Bash” and Sandro “Dro” aren’t friends, not enemies, just strangers.
Bash runs Track and Dro does Field. They’re both ‘lost’ at the cuspid of their senior year. The books calls it Cansado: tired, weary, miserable.
At a chance party they meet and start hanging out, their friendship develops first, helping each other discover their real-selves (not the front they put on for other people), and develop into a loving relationship.
While I’m not typically eager for coming-of-age stories, this one hit me different and had me invested in both MC’s individually and then rooting for them to be together.
I thought the writing was very well done and perfectly reflected life as a teenager - the machoism, drinking, sex, foul-mouth’ness of it all. While this enhanced my experience, it could be an issue for others as a YA novel.
Damnit - the Wawa eating, Jersey boys got to me!!!
Well done!
Rating: ★★★★.5 (round up to 5)
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for letting me review this great story.
This deeply authentic coming-of-age story really blew me away. Its tender, raw, heartbreaking, relatable, and a little gross. (17yo boys ya’ll - but that’s ok cause it’s honest)
Sebastian “Bash” and Sandro “Dro” aren’t friends, not enemies, just strangers.
Bash runs Track and Dro does Field. They’re both ‘lost’ at the cuspid of their senior year. The books calls it Cansado: tired, weary, miserable.
At a chance party they meet and start hanging out, their friendship develops first, helping each other discover their real-selves (not the front they put on for other people), and develop into a loving relationship.
While I’m not typically eager for coming-of-age stories, this one hit me different and had me invested in both MC’s individually and then rooting for them to be together.
I thought the writing was very well done and perfectly reflected life as a teenager - the machoism, drinking, sex, foul-mouth’ness of it all. While this enhanced my experience, it could be an issue for others as a YA novel.
Damnit - the Wawa eating, Jersey boys got to me!!!
Well done!
Rating: ★★★★.5 (round up to 5)
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for letting me review this great story.
July 9, 2022
I was luck to receive an e-ARC of The Long Run, and it didn’t let me down. The Long Run was a great book, and I feel that it accurately represented the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to bisexuality. The way Bash processed his feelings for Sandro showed the struggle it is when you’re finding out who you are. I loved how James Acker dealt with the boys’ senior year stress. He showed what it was like to not know what you’re going to do or be when you grow up, but he also showed how people have plans for their future. Sandro’s relationship with his family wasn’t very practical, but it showed how he got through it. It also showed how Bash bonded with his own family, which is an important aspect of a teenager’s life. Overall, The Long Run is a great book, and I definitely recommend it!
May 16, 2023
SECOND READ REVIEW: So not since Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe have I wanted to reread a novel immediately after reaching the last page. So I did with The Long Run, a coming-of-age novel that might just be the East Coast version of the Benjamin Alire Saenz classic.
Bash and Sandro end up in the bed of a blue pickup at the edge of a New Jersey cornfield; Aristotle and Dante end up in the bed of a red one on the edge of a Texan desert. Both couples have taught each other how to be, against many odds, a same-sex pair in these once-united states of America.
If you're gay, particularly a gay athlete, read this book.
Read both books.
They each contain a map for negotiating, surviving, embracing a world that so often dismisses us.
FIRST READ REVIEW: If you're looking for a well-written, completely absorbing, YA novel that jives with reality but doesn't get hung up there, The Long Run is my choice for the Best this year.
Bash and Sandro are two high school athletes who, despite being on the same team, don't run in the same social circles. That changes one day when one knocks on the window of the other's pickup as it's stopped at a stop sign. And two boys, on the brink of changes they couldn't navigate alone, chart a course for growing up together, with help from an undertow of Love.
Told in dueling narrative voices, The Long Run pulls the reader in with every credible character that makes up the cast, none more vibrant than the dumb, bright, lovable, closeted strangers (to themselves), Bash and Dro!
I was a little more than halfway through when I knew I wanted to reread this "romcom about two tough guys with soft hearts," as Adam Sass sums it up.
Bash and Sandro end up in the bed of a blue pickup at the edge of a New Jersey cornfield; Aristotle and Dante end up in the bed of a red one on the edge of a Texan desert. Both couples have taught each other how to be, against many odds, a same-sex pair in these once-united states of America.
If you're gay, particularly a gay athlete, read this book.
Read both books.
They each contain a map for negotiating, surviving, embracing a world that so often dismisses us.
FIRST READ REVIEW: If you're looking for a well-written, completely absorbing, YA novel that jives with reality but doesn't get hung up there, The Long Run is my choice for the Best this year.
Bash and Sandro are two high school athletes who, despite being on the same team, don't run in the same social circles. That changes one day when one knocks on the window of the other's pickup as it's stopped at a stop sign. And two boys, on the brink of changes they couldn't navigate alone, chart a course for growing up together, with help from an undertow of Love.
Told in dueling narrative voices, The Long Run pulls the reader in with every credible character that makes up the cast, none more vibrant than the dumb, bright, lovable, closeted strangers (to themselves), Bash and Dro!
I was a little more than halfway through when I knew I wanted to reread this "romcom about two tough guys with soft hearts," as Adam Sass sums it up.
September 29, 2022
I picked this book up as an emotional cleanser and I got hit with MORE FEELINGS
This book is so good. So FUCKING GOOD. It’s funny, and heartbreaking, and so real. Painfully real. Add it to your tbr. Pick it up. Read it. Love it.
This book is so good. So FUCKING GOOD. It’s funny, and heartbreaking, and so real. Painfully real. Add it to your tbr. Pick it up. Read it. Love it.
September 17, 2023
I swear, the best books can be the hardest to review sometimes. I'm not sure that anything I write will do this story any justice because it was just so good. Like tears, laughter and face splitting smiles good. I've seen this book described as raw and gritty and emotional and I agree with all of those sentiments, but the best thing about it to me was that it felt real. I didn't get the impression that the author held anything back to make it more palatable or to guarantee a space for it in a school library (because let's be real, this book would get stopped at the door). Bash and Sandro had flaws and made mistakes and hurt people. That's the beauty of a coming of age story - those moments of impact that change your perception, of learning things the hard way, of figuring out how and when to say you're sorry, of knowing when and when not to quit. Bash and Sandro found each other during one of those moments, watching their classmates have the kind of fun that wasn't fun to them anymore, if it ever was. In that moment, drinking warm beer in the woods and wearing shorts that were an inch away from making the nightly news, Sandro said some words out loud for the first time and Bash began to find his voice again.
One of my favorite things about this book was the dialogue. I've seen complaints about the profanity and the "dude", "bro", "man" of it all, but if you've ever tried to work in a room next to a teenager while they're gaming, you know this representation was scarily accurate. What I liked most about it was how it changed in different company, particularly with Bash. Even without the visual cues that Bash the Flash was emerging, it would have been obvious in his change in diction. I hated it when it happened, but loved seeing the dichotomy. It made Bash's conversations with Sandro feel even more important because you knew he didn't show that side of himself to anyone else. And I loved Sandro's adorable non sequitur, which served as both a stop sign and a red flag. It was those subtle nuances that made each character unique and distinguishable in voice, even when they weren't being wholly themselves.
Another thing I loved about this book was the way pressure to be perfect, insecurity and residual hurt were shown rather than told. It could be seen in a haircut or a hand covering a certain body part or a fallen smile. It was in a nickname that was impossible to shake, an expectation that was a struggle to live up to, a secret kept to stay safe, a mask worn to belong and a silence adopted because no one was listening anyway. It was so relatable and brought to mind some of my favorite lyrics from the song "Here In My Room" by Incubus - "If only the lights would dim a little / I'm weary of eyes upon my scars." Bash and Sandro both had their share of scars and watching them grow comfortable enough to show them to each other in the light was so beautiful and incredibly brave.
One of the hardest parts of being a romance reader who occasionally reads YA is the expectation of the HEA vs the reality of the HFN. Bash and Sandro were 18 at the end of this book and at a transitional stage in their lives. The romantic part of me wants to believe they were end game, but the realistic part of me accepts that it might not be the case. No matter what, there's no denying the importance of what they found in each other. Whether or not they eventually ride into the sunset together, I strongly believe that their friendship will remain intact. That's the hopeful feeling this book left me with and it's why, even days after finishing it, I still get teary eyed thinking about the way it ended. This book is truly special and I can't wait to read everything this author writes next.
One of my favorite things about this book was the dialogue. I've seen complaints about the profanity and the "dude", "bro", "man" of it all, but if you've ever tried to work in a room next to a teenager while they're gaming, you know this representation was scarily accurate. What I liked most about it was how it changed in different company, particularly with Bash. Even without the visual cues that Bash the Flash was emerging, it would have been obvious in his change in diction. I hated it when it happened, but loved seeing the dichotomy. It made Bash's conversations with Sandro feel even more important because you knew he didn't show that side of himself to anyone else. And I loved Sandro's adorable non sequitur, which served as both a stop sign and a red flag. It was those subtle nuances that made each character unique and distinguishable in voice, even when they weren't being wholly themselves.
Another thing I loved about this book was the way pressure to be perfect, insecurity and residual hurt were shown rather than told. It could be seen in a haircut or a hand covering a certain body part or a fallen smile. It was in a nickname that was impossible to shake, an expectation that was a struggle to live up to, a secret kept to stay safe, a mask worn to belong and a silence adopted because no one was listening anyway. It was so relatable and brought to mind some of my favorite lyrics from the song "Here In My Room" by Incubus - "If only the lights would dim a little / I'm weary of eyes upon my scars." Bash and Sandro both had their share of scars and watching them grow comfortable enough to show them to each other in the light was so beautiful and incredibly brave.
One of the hardest parts of being a romance reader who occasionally reads YA is the expectation of the HEA vs the reality of the HFN. Bash and Sandro were 18 at the end of this book and at a transitional stage in their lives. The romantic part of me wants to believe they were end game, but the realistic part of me accepts that it might not be the case. No matter what, there's no denying the importance of what they found in each other. Whether or not they eventually ride into the sunset together, I strongly believe that their friendship will remain intact. That's the hopeful feeling this book left me with and it's why, even days after finishing it, I still get teary eyed thinking about the way it ended. This book is truly special and I can't wait to read everything this author writes next.
August 27, 2022
Oh I liked this so much! Sandro and Bash are lovely, richly drawn characters with compelling personalities and complicated inner lives and stories that feel lived-in and relatable. The writing is solid, often moving, and frequently funny with all the brash grossness Acker seemed to promise in the front matter. A fun read with a lot of heart and lovely emotional growth, and I know that a lot of young people are going to feel seen and understood by this story.
Thanks to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
February 7, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
This is an absolutely spectacular YA queer romance. I honestly cannot recommend it enough.
This is a coming of age, coming out story that takes place over senior year. Bash and Sandro have simple lives, and simple dreams. They have complicated interactions with their friends and families that felt both genuine and relatable. They grow to love one another and trust each other, as Bash takes the time to support Sandro, and Sandro helps Bash find his purpose. There are difficulties–reasonable ones–that expose each others’ vulnerabilities in honest and understandable ways. I ached for both Bash and Sandro. They are well-written and fully fleshed on the page, and I fell into their quandaries just the same as they had. Their teen-boy Jersey speech was an incredible dialect to get lost in. I loved how hard they rode one another, how fearlessly they trashed themselves, how hard they worked to get things right. I could have read ten books on Bash and Sandro and pined for an eleventh.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
This is an absolutely spectacular YA queer romance. I honestly cannot recommend it enough.
This is a coming of age, coming out story that takes place over senior year. Bash and Sandro have simple lives, and simple dreams. They have complicated interactions with their friends and families that felt both genuine and relatable. They grow to love one another and trust each other, as Bash takes the time to support Sandro, and Sandro helps Bash find his purpose. There are difficulties–reasonable ones–that expose each others’ vulnerabilities in honest and understandable ways. I ached for both Bash and Sandro. They are well-written and fully fleshed on the page, and I fell into their quandaries just the same as they had. Their teen-boy Jersey speech was an incredible dialect to get lost in. I loved how hard they rode one another, how fearlessly they trashed themselves, how hard they worked to get things right. I could have read ten books on Bash and Sandro and pined for an eleventh.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
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