Run Away with Me

Gr 10 Up—Emerson Lowe's summer starts off as usual: working at her family's business and helping take care of her sick father. She is thrown off her game when Jake McCallister, her ex-best friend who just happens to be a super hunky ice hockey player, pops back up in town. Emerson can't seem to shake her resentment at Jake for up and leaving her seven years ago, right when she needed him most. Misunderstandings and lost words leave Emerson and Jake dancing around their undeniable chemistry. Their romance, along with the past, demands to be set free. Palpable romantic tension will leave teens gasping, anxiously turning the pages, and begging for these two to get together. Gray manages to balance a passionate romance with a more serious backstory of sexual assault. Emerson shows what a meaningful and loving sexual relationship can look like while struggling with the mental scars of abuse. Sex is on page, detailed, and suited to older audiences, making this selection most appropriate for readers looking to graduate from YA to adult shelves. Fans of Nicholas Sparks will fall in love with this heart-pounding tale.