Run Away With Me is the type of novel that you shouldn’t start reading in the evening or you’ll be stuck turning the pages until the first signs of dawn start peeking through your window! J.L. Simmonds’ beautifully written debut novel expertly combines suspense and romance to create a compelling coming-of-age story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
In this tale full of shady characters and even shadier motels, we are told the story from the perspective of Jessie “Mouse” Swift as she embarks on the roadtrip of a lifetime with her classmate (and long- time crush) Brooke Summer. They are both on a mission to outrun their respective pasts – pasts they slowly uncover along their journey.
Throughout the novel, Jessie and Brooke’s identities as teenage girls are not sacrificed. They are allowed to react in realistic ways that expose Brooke’s privileged upbringing and Jessie’s complicated past. Moreover, Jessie’s sexuality is not a source of stress or conflict in the story; it is a non-negotiable aspect of her identity.
As they drive across America in Brooke’s vintage red Mustang, Jessie and Brooke’s friendship begins and slowly blossoms into something more. Their slow-burn connection feels almost inevitable and adds tenderness and warmth to an otherwise action-packed journey as they face all kinds of adversaries together, from creeps in pubs to well-meaning deputies.
Although aspects of the harsh realities of runaway life are addressed in this novel, certain events feel outlandish in both their occurrence and their resolution. However, the many twists and turns that keep you turning the pages make it well worth the occasional suspension of belief.
Aoife McCarron
Run Away With Me
J. L. Simmonds
Penguin Random House, 2025
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN: 9780241708149
