I can always depend on Jenny Oliver for an excellent book - she's the queen of the perfectly structured, paced and funny novel. The Summer We Ran Away is the story of Julia, who is desperately trying to keep up with the Jones' and has lost sight of what really makes her happy. After an embarrassing WhatsApp message gone awry, her whole street thinks the worst of her, and her husband's feelings are hurt.

So she runs off to have an adventure with Amber, her older neighbour who is a buyer for a members club, and is off to France to find some excellent antiques.

This is primarily a story of friendship but there's some great tension here, with Julia and Charlie's marriage trying to find it's fun again, to Amber and Lovejoy, the charming womaniser that she'd loved as a teenager. With a cast of fun, lovely characters, it was exactly the book I needed to read at the moment! Uplifting, fun and completely satisfying.

The Summer We Ran Away by Jenny Oliver is a wonderful tale about Julia, a woman completely lost in her own life and trying to find a way out of her boredom. She and her husband Charlie have purchased a house that they can't afford to finish renovating, both work jobs they aren't fully satisfied with, and live on a street full of instagramming, brand shaming, yummy mummies with perfect lives, perfect houses and perfect cars. Julia longs to be in their gang, and be just like them no matter what the cost.

When a mishap at a street party almost costs Julia her marriage she escapes with Amber, a neighbour who refuses to be part of the trend. A feel-good, life affirming story - brilliant.

This book is mainly based around two characters. Julia is trying to fit in and "keep up with the Joneses" in the street where she and her husband have moved to. When she is highly embarrassed during a garden party at her neighbours she runs away. She is picked up by a neighbour, Amber, who is on her way to France on a buying trip.
This story grew on me as I read, I sympathised with Julia at the start with her flight but found Amber a bit more difficult to understand, although this changed as the story progressed.
Initially unlikely the storyline developed into a mixture of farce, humour and emotion that finally kept me engrossed until I finished it, so if you start reading it persevere, it is worth it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, although this didn't influence my review.

I loved this novel. It was sophisticated, well written and I really struggled to put it down! The cover is simple but I love the design, the swimsuit with all mini pictures around it that give you an idea what the novel is about. It's colourful and summery and I love it.

The story itself mainly focuses on Julia and then nearer the middle of the book looks into Amber's life too. I liked both characters, although both of them had characteristics that were a little annoying. Like for example Julia was basically walked all over but Amber was the complete opposite. I loved their road trip, it was exciting and I loved reading about all the antiques at the market. It was just a really enjoyable novel and I really liked reading about the two women who were basically polar opposites.

It was a great, unique plot and I'm glad with how it finished. I love a book with a happy ending! This novel is a fun, summer novel and I urge you to give it a read. The location sounded idyllic and I loved the plot. There's a fun aspect to this novel but it also has a more serious note to it too which I quite enjoyed.

Overall, a nice, easy read. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Julia has descended into a life of envy and copying her neighbours. She and her husband Charlie have over-extended themselves buying a house which they can't afford to redecorate to their own tastes. Their neighbours are yummy mummys who shop at Whistles, granite worktops, hot water taps and hot-tubs. In comparison Julia buys her clothes at H&M and TK Maxx, arguably she buys things that look just like their more expensive rivals but really she's just copying whatever the cool kids are wearing/doing. Julia thinks she's one of the gang, until a mix-up at a party with mobile phones shows that she is very much an outsider and some of her very personal texts get shared.

This was such a sweet, fun, summer read. I think we've all felt a little like Julia, trying to fit in with the glamorous people and not realising that we have started ape-ing them a little too closely and have lost our individuality. When Julia flees the party she has no idea where she's going but her journey is emotional as well geographical. Can running away really help you discover what's real?

Loved this, loved the characters, loved the plot, loved everything about it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The story of Julia. When she attends her neighbours party and her neighbour sees texts that have been exchanged between Julia and her friend regarding the neighbours husband, she sends them to everyone in the group who are also at the party, not to mention Julia’s husband. Amber who, I her way to France sees Julia sitting outside en-route by some shops on her street and sees Lexi and her friends going over to her to have a go at her, shouts to Julia through an open window to come and jump into her van. From here starts an adventure between the two.
Along the way, they come across trouble with the police, bump into Amber’s ex(Lovejoy) her son rings to know who his real dad is, as well as hear some truths from each other about the other. Julia also, starts to see what her issues may be and starts to see things clearly. Her husband turns up to surprise her .
Upon returning home, things change, and Amber and Lovejoy start their own business back in France. Thoroughly enjoyed it.