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 was gifted a e-arc for the blog tour but you can get your copy here




Jenny Oliver is a bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Twice nominated for the RNA Best Contemporary Novel award, Jenny's books explore the ups and downs of relationships and an unwavering belief in happy ever after. In the past she has had jobs ranging from an elf in the Disney store, a personal trainer, journalist, editor and now, by far the best, a writer. In her spare time she can be found cajoling her family out to car boot sales, trying to reign in her competitiveness on the netball court and subtly eavesdropping on strangers' conversations as inspiration for her next book.

Follow her on Twitter @JenOliverBooks Instagram JenOliverBooks Facebook JennyOliverBooks or go to the website jennyoliverbooks.com to find out more about Jenny, 





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