Run for Your Life

by Lucy Hawking

Tired of her unfulfilled, unfocused life and going-nowhere career selling fake antiques, thirty-something Fleur Bonner joins the other misfits, lonely, and lost individuals of the Battersea Park New Runner's Club to train for the London marathon, but her plans go awry when she becomes a prime suspect in her boss's art forgery scheme.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2006

About the author

Lucy Hawking is a novelist who has also written several children's books in collaboration with her father, physicist Stephen W. Hawking.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out being somewhat ‘nice’. There wasn’t much excitement but it was still keeping me intrigued but by the end I couldn’t put it down. There’s so much drama and by the end it’s almost a bit of a detective book trying to figure out who did what which I loved.
I love the characters and each of their little quirks. You can learn a lot from each of them. The writer has been very clever with her chapters, there’s 26.2 the same amount of miles in a marathon. Chapter 26.2 is a great addition to the book. Since it is a stand alone book I’m glad this last chapter gave us a little paragraph about each of the main characters and what they had been up to.
I totally recommend!

[Adelyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book which I chose from my TBR pile as I was in the mood for something funny, but turned out to be a bit meh. Story picks up a bit in the final third when things actually happen, but I thought the build-up and character introductions took way too long. There was potential for much more – the budding friendship between members of the marathon club which was the central theme of this book – essentially revolved around 2 major incidents happening to Alice and Fleur, and until the story reached the main event it just seemed like random things happening to random people. The story as a whole felt a bit like Spook from Fleur’s workplace: Likeable, funny but a bit all-over-the-place at times and can be rather absurd (even for this level of crazy). My favourite part was probably the character of Peter, going from a haphazard trainee for a marathon to a reliable lawyer whose abilities and resourcefulness none of the other marathoners gave a second thought before. 3 stars.

[Lies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very long sentences, describing details that are not really setting the mood, almost put me off reading this book. The back of the book telling me that Fleur was going to jail was what kept me going. Only the last 50 pages were exciting for me…

[Alice Jardine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of side plots didn't feel necessary but generally enjoyable

[Silja Paulus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe too lightweight for my liking. Was expecting more running and less casual life. Sometimes the novel was trying too hard to be interesting and add twists and turns into the plot. Wanted to see more of a spiritual journey when it came to the marathon, but running was just a side story actually and the reason to put certain people together.

[Nicola · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having ran a marathon previously, the title captured my attention however the book was not worth the weight from my holiday luggage allowance! Absolute rubbish from the first page, I just couldn't force myself to read on it was so bad!

[Ruth Crowell]

running sucks.

[Vila1996 · Rating 4 out of 5]

the characters will try their best to work for the marathon.As the marathon date comes closer something happens. find out what happens.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read despite the preposterous plot. The main character is astoundingly naive but likable, and Hawking peppers the story with moments of sharp wit.

[Kelly Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced and amusing novel.