Run Away With Me (Come Back to Me #3)by Mila Gray
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Synopsis:
Emerson Lowe and popular ice-hockey player Jake McCallister have been best friends since third grade but as their friendship starts to morph into something more a terrible event occurs that heralds the end of innocence for both of them.
Within a week, Jake’s living on the other side of the country and Emerson is left alone to pick up the pieces of her life in a small town determined to paint her as a liar.
Seven years later, Emerson is still living on the beautiful Pacific West island of Bainbridge, helping run her family’s business. The last thing she needs is Jake turning up, bringing with him old memories and opening up old wounds. But Jake—even better looking than Emerson remembers—seems determined to revive their friendship no matter how much Emerson tries to push him away.
Forced to work alongside him for the summer Emerson can’t help but fall for Jake, and soon they’re in the midst of a passionate romance that neither of them wants to end.
But both Emerson and Jake know that if they’re to have any kind of future they must first confront the past—a past that most people want to stay buried.
Review:
Mila Gray has become one of my favorite authors because her books contain emotional stories and the characters always find a way into my heart. I know without a shadow of a doubt that each time I pick up one of her books that I’ll laugh, cry, sigh and fall in love. And that’s exactly what happened when I read this friends to lovers romance. Run Away With Me was a beautiful story that was filled with hope, friendship, family and love.
I look up and meet Jake’s eyes. A hot sun rises in my chest. I quickly smother it to ash. – Em
Emerson Lowe and Jake McCallister had been best of friends since third grade. But just when their friendship started to turn into more, something horrific happened – trigger warning for View Spoiler ». It left Em’s life in shambles and Jake moved away with his family. He left right when she needed him the most. Yet seven years later, he came back. And that’s where the story begins. I loved that all of Em’s hurt, betrayal and pain was laid out on the table for us to see. And I understood why she was cold and distant to Jake. But Jake was beyond persistent and he wasn’t going to leave her ever again.
I’ve prayed for other things too. Lots of things. The universe never listened. My prayers were never answered.
Until now.
Jake came back. – Em
As the story unfolded, we slowly got glimpses into their past. We got to see how they were the bestest of friends. And we watched as their friendship started to turn into something more. Those moments were so sweet and adorable. But then we also got to witness the horror unfold, along with the aftermath. And that gutted me to the core. But having those moments from their past, interlaced throughout the story, added so much depth to who Em and Jake were. It was beautifully and seamlessly done, and it helped me feel as though I knew the both of them inside out.
As stupid as it sounds, even when she was six years old and I was seven and we were playing Star Wars in my backyard I never wanted to play Luke. I always wanted to be Han to her Leia. – Jake
Run Away With Me was told in alternating views between Em and Jake. And while it felt a little jarring it first, I ended up loving how it was told. It was if I was right there with them, feeling everything that they were feeling. And while Em felt like a bff, I loved listening and watching everything Jake did. I fell incredibly hard for him. He was such a kind hearted, good man who was also at times fierce and protective. So of course I found myself rooting for everything I had for Em to accept the friendship Jake was offering to her.
“I wanted to, you know,”he says quietly.
“Wanted to what?”I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Come back.”
While there were so many moments that had me laughing and sighing out loud, this book does have a strong emotional side to it too. I found my heart shattered again and again. There were quite a few times that I found myself sobbing, and I just couldn’t stop. And once I got to that point, it felt as though my emotions were always on the edge, waiting to tumble-down into an abyss. But then something would happen that would pull me back into the light and my heart would beat with joy again. This is definitely an emotional book, that was also filled with drama and angst, and I loved every minute of it!
“You remember you said you didn’t want to be friends?” he says.
I nod, unable to find my voice.
He licks his lips and swallows. “Well, I don’t want to be friends with you either . I want more.” He’s looking directly in my eyes as he speaks.
Slowly, I let out the breath I’m holding. Everything inside me is vibrating as if my body is a note on a piano that’s just been struck.
“And I think you do too,” he says next.
My breath becomes jagged and uneven.
“Tell me if I’m wrong.”
Run Away With Me was a touching story that I absolutely loved. It was rounded out with fabulous friends and a home life and parents that also pulled at my heart. So if you love a sexy friends to lovers romance, or a story that will pull at your heartstrings, then definitely give Run Away With Me or Mila Gray’s other books a try. I hope you love them just as much as I do!
PS Each of these books can be read as a standalone.
*ARC kindly provided by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
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Excerpt:
[scroll-box]I hear a voice behind me.
‘Need some help with that?’
I spin around.
It takes a couple of seconds for my brain to confirm that it’s actually him. That it’s actually Jake McCallister standing in front of me and not a hallucination. My heart does this fierce smash and rebound against my ribs as though it’s been violently woken from hibernation. I draw in a breath so big it feels like my lungs might explode, as if all that air is filling a vacuum and I’ll never be able to let it out again.
I hate this feeling. Hate the way the adrenaline floods my blood stream and tears sting my eyes. Hate the way my body reacts in a thousand contradictory ways at the sight of him, as though someone has plugged me into a wrong socket and fried all my synapses.
I have an impulse to throw myself at him but I’m not sure if it’s because I want to hug him or beat the living crap out of him. I drop the kayak, my hands fisting automatically at my sides.
I watch the smile on his lips fade when he notices the set of my jaw. His expression had started off wary but now I see him swallow and press his lips together, something he always does when he’s nervous.
I take note of that and at the same time notice a dozen other tiny, insignificant, monumental details about this new old Jake. I see the faded white scar on his chin—the one I gave him and the new scar cutting across his eyebrow. Then there’s his height – we were always the same height but now he’s tall. . . much taller than me. His dark brown hair is the same, though – unruly, untamed, falling in his eyes. He’s looking at me with the same mix of uncertainty that he looked at me the very last time I saw him.
I glance away, down at the sand. My whole body is shaking and I can’t seem to get it under control.
‘Em?’ I hear him say.
My head flies up before I can stop it. No one calls me that any more. His voice is deeper, mellower. The inflection though when he says my name is still just the same… and instantly something inside me starts coming undone. Jake always used to say my name like it belonged to him, and only him.[/scroll-box]
About Mila Gray:
Mila Gray is the pen name for Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila, Losing Lila, The Sound, Fated and Out of Control.
Originally from London she has lived in Bali for the last four years with her husband and daughter.
As well as writing young adult fiction under the name Sarah Alderson and adult fiction under the name Mila Gray, she also writes screenplays.
Great review! I haven’t read any of Mila Gray’s novel but I did read her YA Novels. This sounds like an incredible read and I’m so glad you loved it! 🙂
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Ohhhh see I still need to read her YA books! I already have the first one on my Kindle. I’m hoping to dive into that over Christmas break. Fingers crossed!
Friends to lovers is my life story, so I love to read books like this. I also enjoy when authors add parents who care about their kids and are involved in their lives. Great review. I already had this one on my TBR.
Awww I love that that’s the story of your life! ♥ Isn’t it so rare to find authors who add caring parents?! I always feel like I find a gold mine when I read a book with that feature. I wish it were more common. But I’m so happy this is on your tbr! Hope you have fun meeting Jake & Em when you pick this book up!
I’ve been eyeing this title. Thanks for such a great review. Now I know I need to read it.
Yes please! Ohhh try Come Back to Me too. That’s the first book in this “series”, but each of them an be read as a standalone. I don’t think I’ve ever sobbed so hysterically as I did with that book. It was so emotional and beautiful!
Great review! I also thought that blending both the past and present together allowed me to completely understand the characters. I also thought that Grey handled the event really well, and gave a well-rounded and realistic view of the aftermath and what people believe. I think it’s important that she wrote that not everyone believed Emerson. I haven’t read the second book in the series, but I’ve now read the first and third! I loved both, so it’s about time to read the second! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. 🙂
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I’m over here nodding my head yes to everything you are saying. I loved the blending of the past and present. And I thought it was so powerful and important to show the aftermath and what people believed. The moment she overheard her mom and dad talking and her dad sounded on the fence but then gave his beliefs…ugh I cried so hard. This was such an emotional book.
OH have tons of fun meeting Walker. He is EVERYTHING! I loved the second book sooooooo much!! Enjoy!!