Oh my goodness, what a lovely, fun read The Summer We Ran Away by Jenny Oliver is! The perfect book to escape with this summer, it tells the story of Julia who would like nothing more than to be accepted as one of the ‘in crowd’ of Cedar Road.  So when her less than favourable WhatsApp messages fall into the wrong hands, Julia does the only thing she can think of to do. She runs away.

Turning her back on everything, from her marriage to her interfering parents, Julia escapes with her feisty, carefree neighbour Amber to the hot and sunny climate of France, where she soon finds herself reevaluating everything she thought she knew about herself.

I thought I knew exactly where this book would lead when I started it, but it took me on a surprising journey of love, friendship and the importance of being true to yourself. With a wonderful and varied cast of supporting characters, The Summer We Ran Away is a heartwarming read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Beautifully written by Jenny Oliver, this is a book that instantly transported me to the idyllic heat of France right alongside Julia, as she slowly began to rediscover the things that meant the most to her. Will she be able to put the pieces of her life back together again? Or is it already way too late?

I loved this book. It’s pure escapism at its very best, something I think we’re all in desperate need of right now. A lighthearted and entertaining summer read that I would highly recommend.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jenny Oliver, but it most definitely won’t be my last. Simply delightful!

Loved this book!  The story starts off with Julia doing what I think an awful lot of women do, which is trying to fit in with the ‘A Crowd’!  She aspires to be like Lexi and seems to try to follow her every move - be that in her sense of fashion, behaviour or her home styling.  Julia’s current life is not as she planned, especially her relationship with her husband, Charlie whilst she thinks that Lexi has it all. An unfortunate turn of events lead her to run though - and thanks to Amber, that is when her adventure begins!  A weekend in France without her husband is so not what she would normally do but it turns out to be just the thing they both need. There are quite a few scrapes along the way, with plenty of plain speaking thrown in for good measure. I love how Julia & Amber’s friendship develops and how they really help each other to see things more clearly. 
The pace of the book was great - I frequently read for longer than I intended as I couldn’t wait to see what escapade was found the corner!  All in all, a great read which I would thoroughly recommend. 
Thank you to Net Galley & the publishers for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review., which is what this is.

WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2020
The Summer We Ran Away - Jenny Oliver || Blog Tour

It was meant to be the party of the summer…

In Cedar Road, everyone is preparing for Lexi’s ‘White Hot’ summer party. For one night, parking squabbles and petitions are put aside as neighbours sip Prosecco under the fairy lights and gather by the hot tub to marvel at Lexi’s effortlessly glamorous life with Hot Hamish.

For Julia, it’s a chance to coax husband Charlie out of his potting shed and into a shirt so they can have a welcome break from the hellish house renovation they’ve been wrestling with. And it’s a chance for Julia to pretend – just for a night – that her life is as perfect as Lexi’s.

But when, during the party, one of Julia’s WhatsApp messages falls into the wrong hands and reveals her most intimate thoughts, things reach boiling point…

And when all the neighbours know exactly what you’re thinking, there’s only one thing to do.

Run away.

It’s going to be a summer Julia will never forget…






Its the most talked about Party, well on Cedar Lane it is. Julia is so excited, to be part of Lexis inner circle is the dream, and for one night she can have that. She can push aside the stress of home, the falling apart house and mundane relationship she is in. At least that is how Julia feels.

Armed with the cakes Lexi asked her to bake (and desperate to fit in) Julia and Charlie head over to the party. What starts out nice, ends up with tension between Julia and Charlie when he wont get in the hottub and esculated when a text she sent her friend is sent to the whole Cedar Lane whatsapp group.

Julia flees the house, mortified - it was only a dream but Lexi has made her laughing stock, so as Julia flees she some how ends up running further away than she had planned and ends up in France with another neighbour, one who Lexi really wants to be friend.

Julia ends up finally getting an adeventure and it turns into a summer that she will remember. Firstly, i loved this read. Julia is a people pleaser, she is kind and just wants to fit in, worried her life isnt enough she is constantly striving to be more Lexi. Amber who she ends up travelling with is the polar opposite, laid back, doesnt worry and gets on with things. The pair were friends as Julia has been helping Ambers son with cooking so they knew each other enough to travel off together.

The trip was what Julia needed and i loved watching her grow and come out of her shell and start to discover more about herself. Amber made the perfect travel companion, she was bold and brave and i really enjoyed that about her, she was the loud to Julias quiet. Where Julia was debating, Amber was doing and the friendship just seemed to grow. Even when the pair were shouting home truths at each other.

As we travel through France with the pair we also discover the sights and sounds as well as the hustle and bustle of the markets. I had myself imaginging i was sipping expresso with a crossaint as i set out for the day. It was clearly description and emmersive as well as been heartfelt and warm.

This was a funny and fantastic read. It was light enough to get lost in for a few hours without the tension thrillers bring but gripping enough that those hours soon span on. It really does delve into beilving in yourself and what you have, not all is at it seems with those with perfect lives. Take Lexi for example, not all is as it seems and she is hardly a loyal friend.

I really enjoyed this one - quite fancy running away for a weekend now!

Julia and Charlie bought and moved into a 'do-er upper' in a road when the other side has much more upmarket houses - and the posh neighbours to go with them. So when they're invited to the summer party in the neighbourhood at Lexi's home, Julia dreams of a night of fun and glamour as a change from stripping wallpaper. But when one of her WhatsApp messages falls into the wrong hands, she can't get far enough away . . .

I thought I would know how this one would play out, but I got that wrong. Not the romantic escapade I expected, this was much more fun! Once more I found myself lying in bed, desperately trying to giggle quietly and without disturbing my sleeping husband - I'm very lucky he's a heavy sleeper! There is a good, solid story in this novel and it's packed with laughs. A well-thought out tale with cracking characterisation and smoothly flowing writing, it kept my focus until the very end, and I closed my kindle with a smile and a lightness of heart.  A terrific summer read, perfect for the back garden or, if things change, poolside or on the beach. Either way, it's definitely worth adding to your reading list - trust me, you'll feel better for it! Absolutely a 4.5* read.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I loved this book! Being currently stuck in lockdown it was great to escape to France and get lost in the characters, especially when we physically can’t. Each character has a different story to tell-not your normal romance story either. 
I would totally recommend it- makes me want to travel round France, rummaging around antique markets

A funny enjoyable read which kept me entertained the whole way through. Loved the characters and the setting. Jenny Oliver’s books are always a pleasure to read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I loved this book. 
It starts of with some super cringe moments that we can all relate to, but by the end it is just so joyful.
Julia has always been an overachiever. So buying and renovating the house of Cedar Terrace is the dream project. She can't wait to start with the Farrow and Ball paint swatches and instagramable interior pics.
Her neighbour, glamourous Instagram influencer Lexi Warrington is Julia's inspiration. Stylish and influential, Lexi is teh queen of the Cedar Terrace Whatsapp group and Julia spends a lot of time dreaming about Lexi's picture perfect life.
I think everyone can relate to Julia's fear of missing out and sense that her life needs to be some how better/different/more like other people. Julia fully invests in the filtered portrayal of Lexi's perfect life and her attempts to fit in with Lexi and her friends are met with meanness.
When Julia teams up with free spirit Amber her life changes. Amber is heading off to France to buy antiques for a hotel room design job and Julia jumps in the camper van to escape the mean mums and go on an adventure.
But Amber is also running away. 
The contrast between Julia and Amber the growing friendship between adds a great dynamic to this book. Julia is organised and thoughtful, Amber is spontaneous. They both have a lot to teach each other.
This was such a fun book. It makes me want to head off antiquing in France and eat Croque Monsieur. It's the perfect summer read!
Thank you HQ for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

What do you do when the fantasies you shared with a friend are broadcast to most of your neighbours (and husband) over social media?  Obviously you run away to France with another neighbour in her old campervan for a weekend at a "brocante".  This is a story about new friendships, unexpected adventures and bravery as Julia starts to sort out her life.  Great summer read.

I liked this book. I found the characters all very likeable and all had good sense of humour. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the French countryside and the sights that the pair saw on their journey. The blossoming friendships were lovely to read about too.

Want to start off this review by saying what a beautiful cover, giving me all the summer vibes!
This book was absolutely lovely, so enjoyable and allowed me to escape to France for a few hours from the comfort of my own sofa. The Summer We Ran Away is everything I was hoping it would be - refreshing, entertaining and uplifting. I loved the characters and felt like I was along on the adventure, I wouldn't have minded sharing an espresso and pain au chocolat with them. 
While this book is light reading it made me think twice about my perception on social media and left me thinking maybe the grass isn't always greener on the other side! Without giving anything away, I loved the ending, it did not disappoint! A great twist on your typical summer romance with plenty of laughs along the way, I would go as far as saying it is the perfect "lockdown' read. 
If this isn't already on your TBR, get adding!
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for my advanced copy.

Julia Fletcher  just wants to fit in with the other women on Cedar Lane. She may not have as much money as they do but she feels they have accepted her as “one of them”. That is until Lexi and Hamish Warrington’s summer party. When her private WhatsApp messages to her best friend are shown to all the Cedar Lane residents Julia is mortified and her husband, Charlie is furious. 
Devastated at the turn of events Julia accepts a lift from neighbour Amber and ends up going with her to France to visit an Antiques fair.
In France both Julia and Amber discover a lot about each other and themselves but what will their lives be like when they return to Cedar Lane, will Julia pick her life back up where she left it or has France changed her for good.
Great characters, lovely setting, love it!

This was a lovely enjoyable read about friendship and learning to love yourself and your life.
Jenny Oliver interweaves great subplots into the main story and her characterisation is brilliant. The contrast between Amber and Julia highlights you never know who your friends really are until something happens.

The Summer We Ran Away - Jenny Oliver ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Today is my stop on the blog tour and it's another fabulous contemporary tale from @hqstories. Thank you for the gifted copy. The Summer We Ran Away is published on 11th June.

This book was just what I needed. Feel-good, warm and absolutely hilarious in places. My first read by Jenny Oliver and I can't wait to read more. 

A moment of madness. A summer of a lifetime. Filled with rivals, love and yes madness. 

Cedar Road is the place to be. It's Lexi's annual summer party. The neighbours attend to sip prosecco, enjoy the hot tub and get a glimpse into Lexi & her husband's life. 

Julia can't wait to attend and drags her reluctant husband Charlie along with her. Julia has been desperate to escape into Lexi's life. Desperate to fit in. 

But a WhatsApp message when a phone falls into the wrong hands sends lives spiraling. So what else is there to do? Runaway. 

This book is a real treat. Love conquers all 💕

I did wonder where this story was going to begin with but then it hit the road and it was off and it didn't disappoint, in fact it was a great read, funny  but very enjoyable, I had a job to put it down. I stayed in bed and read the first 46% of this instead of getting up, I could have easily read far more. Jenny is good with her writing and  jer words flow so well. This is a 5 star novel, well done Jenny

This was a good book, a great beach read/summer read. It was witty, it was sweet, it was rivalry, it was France it was a feel - good book that kept me eager to carry on reading.

The Summer We Ran Away by Jenny Oliver is the most delightfully refreshing contemporary novel about friendship, life and love.
Friendships may be complicated affairs – new friendships are often about trying to fit in. Real friendships are like a pair of comfy slippers. Jenny Oliver examines false and real friendships. She shows how clicky, cruel and hurtful some can be. A real friendship is one where someone loves you enough to tell you the truth in love.
Keeping up with the Joneses is exhausting. Far better to live in the freedom to be ‘you.’
The novel explores various marriages and relationships. We see just how important it is to cherish your spouse and to be thankful for the life we have built together.
In learning how to be the ‘you’ you were created to be, we see that honesty and loving the face in the mirror is vital.
The reader is in for a real treat as we ‘escape’ to France while still sitting in the safety of our sofa. Jenny Oliver has perfectly painted the scene and captured the atmosphere.
I absolutely adored The Summer We Ran Away. It was a perfectly charming read showing the importance of kindness and true friendship. Treat yourself to a ray of sunshine this summer.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

I’ve always enjoyed Jenny Oliver’s novels and The Summer We Ran Away is a fabulous light-hearted entertaining book. It’s well written with some great characters and you find you become totally immersed within the first chapter. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

Found this not to be of the authors usual style. Struggled to adhere to the main character, did however, stick with it. But found it lacking in some way.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for providing this ARC to review it is great to stumble across new authors that quickly becomes a favourite.

Who wants a roadtrip to France? I don't think it's what Julia wanted but it's what she got. 

After her personal messages going out to all of Cedar Road group chat about her neighbour the only thing she can do is run, and runs into Amber who is on her way to France for the weekend on a buying trip for antiques.

I really loved the friendship between these two ladies and the bond they made on this adventure.
Amber is scatty and a one off, I really liked her and enjoyed her side of the story more then Julia's. 
Whenever Lovejoy is mentioned I had a vision in my head of Ian Mcshane! 
Jenny is this where the name come from?

A lot can happen in a weekend away. 

This is a fun read which I really enjoyed and perfect for times like these.

I loved this book. It was the perfect escapism for those of us stuck at home this year. The main characters were likeable and worked well together. I imagine many of us know a Lexi and I so wanted to see Julia break free of her unhealthy obsession. I think at some point we’ve all felt like running away from life. This was a great way to do just that. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.