The Summer We Ran Away

“The Summer We Ran Away” is my first read by author Jenny Oliver. I wasn’t aware of this author before and didn’t realise she had so many books published, I’ve certainly being missing out on some entertaining reads!<br />What a wonderful little treat this story was, fun, uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable, I really lost myself in France (the setting for most of the story) and felt I was truly walking around the unique antique fairs and winding back lanes in the summer air.<br />Julia is publicly humiliated when her very private and personal texts regarding her fantasies of Lexi’s husband, Hamish, are sent to everyone in the Cedar Road WhatsApp group during Lexi’s annual street party. Lexi is glamorous and well to do and Julia envy’s everything she buys and does. After arguing with her husband she walks out with nowhere to go. Meeting single mother Amber, her cool, unabashed neighbour, whilst sitting pondering on recent events in the street, she is tempted by Amber to accompany her to France for the weekend on a antique hunt. Can she just up and leave with the clothes on her back on a whim and will it help her to discover the real Julia? <br />I’ve never mixed in circles where neighbours are constantly battling to be the best and out do everyone with possessions and their status but I’m sure they do exist. Julia and her husband Charlie are your average married couple who work hard and are trying to fit in a street where the women are cliqued and sarcastic. <br />Being in France, does Julia realise the grass is not always greener and can she and Charlie rekindle their passion and find the couple they were in their younger years?<br />Amber is a fantastic character and the story is as much about her and her son Billy, discovering who Billy’s real dad is. One of the contenders, a man ironically called ‘Lovejoy’ is superb as the antique dealer Amber runs into and from there a fabulous relationship develops between all the characters involved. <br />This story focuses on desiring what other people have and pondering on the ‘what if’s’ and ‘perhaps’ of the past. I loved this book and enjoyed every single minute. I’ve every intention of now reading more by this author, she writes a cracking story and highly recommend this book to readers of this genre.<br /><br />5 stars!

Amazing how one set of what's app messages that were meant to be private, when shared to a group what's app, can change the course of a person's life forever. <br /><br />Which is exactly what happens when Julia's messages about having erotic dreams about a married neighbour, who's life she is lusting after, are shared at the big summer party on their road. Julia's husband struggles to understand, and Julia decides to run, and ends up on an adventure with next door neighbour and friend Amber. <br /><br />I loved the story from the moment they were on the run, off to France for a few days on an antiques buying trip, which then turned into other sorts of a trip too, and one that ultimately alters the course of many people's lives. <br /><br />Amber is sort of reckless, whereas Julia worries about most things, so putting them together in a campervan, is rather amusing, and seeing how they rub off on each other is great. <br /><br />This was such an enjoyable story, I couldn't get enough of the turns it takes, the various subplots and just how it all came together. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this story. It really took me on a virtual journey which given we are in lockdown is the only sort of journey I'll be able to take for a while. <br /><br />It's another fabulous book from Jenny Oliver, who is an author I'm always eager to read. <br /><br />Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Perfect escapism for a summer's day.<br /><br />Packed with humour, this is is the sort of light hearted read you need when you're relaxing in your garden with a glass of wine in hand.<br /><br />I found myself smiling throughout and laughing constantly.<br /><br />Gave me food for thought too about my own circumstances and relationship.<br /><br />Reminds us to not take things for granted and that whilst you might think you want what others have, all isn't what it seems and actually you may be far better off with your lot.<br /> <br />Thoroughly enjoyed.

In Cedar Road, all the residents are getting ready for Lexi Warrington’s annual summer party. A night to be spent sipping Prosecco under twinkling fairy lights and gathering around the hot tub marvelling at Lexi’s incredible and glamorous life with husband Hamish.<br /><br />For Julia, it’s a chance to pry husband Charlie away from his potting shed and their horrendous house renovations. A chance to pretend her life is just as exciting and perfect as Lexi’s.<br /><br />That is until WhatsApp messages of Julia’s get leaked onto the Cedar Road group, messages that reveal the steamy dreams she’s been having about Hamish.<br /><br />Running out of the party, Julia ends up on a trip of a lifetime…one that will change her life.<br /><br />I can’t quite believe I’ve never come across Jenny Oliver before, I requested this title on NetGalley on a bit of a whim. It sounded like it was going to be a light-hearted rom-com, and it was that but also so much more. It was a sun-soaked story of self-discovery.<br /><br />I found the first couple of chapters quite slow, and I thought perhaps I had made a mistake selecting this book, but once Julia sets off on a somewhat haphazard journey with Amber I was hooked.<br /><br />Oliver’s writing style is effortless to read, full of delightful descriptions that painted the French countryside in my mind to perfection. Every sound and smell, especially at the antiques market, came alive and off the pages.<br /><br />The characters are all perfectly imperfect, but for me the stand-out character was Martin, his dry humour and quick wit had my laughing out loud. I often find characters relatable, but I very rarely see myself in them. However, I found echoes of my own personality in both Amber and Julia, making both protagonists much more real for me.<br /><br />If you’re looking for an easy going summer read, with a little more than the usual hearts and flowers, this is definitely the book for you. I will most certainly be reading more from Jenny Oliver in the future.<br /><br />For more reviews, please visit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://twiabblog.wixsite.com/theworldisabook">https://twiabblog.wixsite.com/theworl...</a> <br /><br />** Thanks to HQ, via NetGalley, for this ARC **

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&amp;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.<br /><br />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?<br /><br />Loved this, loved the characters, loved the plot, loved everything about it.<br /><br />I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a thrilling, interesting, heartwarming, funny, emotional book. I am pleased to put so many descriptives for one book! It was a rollercoaster of ups and downs and I give it top marks. It kept me hooked all the way through. The main characters were likeable. Also, I loved the ending. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_dj38UJD2U/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/p/B_dj38UJD...</a>

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.<br /><br />Who wants a roadtrip to France? I don't think it's what Julia wanted but it's what she got. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />I really loved the friendship between these two ladies and the bond they made on this adventure.<br />Amber is scatty and a one off, I really liked her and enjoyed her side of the story more then Julia's. <br />Whenever Lovejoy is mentioned I had a vision in my head of Ian Mcshane! <br />Jenny is this where the name come from?<br /><br />A lot can happen in a weekend away. <br /><br />This is a fun read which I really enjoyed and perfect for times like these.

This was a very enjoyable story about how being stuck in a bit of a rut, making a little mistake, and running away for a little while can change your way of thinking!<br /><br />Julia and her husband have fairly recently moved into Cedar Terrace and are slowly doing their house up, but struggling a lot with jobs/money/stress.  Julia is part of a WhatsApp group for the people who live in Cedar Terrace, well only the 'right' people, mainly led by the 'Queen Bee' of the group who seems to by the 'perfect' one most of the group aspire to being, money/looks/Instagrams everything in sight. This 'Queen Bee' and her husband have a summer party every year which of course is the party of the year, everything to excess, and Julia is trying her best to keep up even though she can't really afford it.<br /><br />Julia did irritate me at first, all she seemed to be interested in was keeping up with the 'in crowd', dressing to fit in etc. when really it wasn't her at all.  She was definitely a bit of doormat to start with.  Her husband wouldn't conform to all this and couldn't understand why she was acting that way, I really liked him!  He was just himself and wasn't impressed by the facade lots of the others were putting on.<br /><br />Then a few text messages Julia had sent a friend about fantasies she'd been having about the 'Queen Bee's' husband fall into the wrong hands and Julia is humiliated.  But along comes Amber, the 'Queen Bee's' next-door antique dealer/decorator neighbour who again isn't interested in the group and is just herself, who rescues Julia and through various circumstances whisks her off to France on an antiques buying trip for the weekend, which is when the book got really good.<br /><br />Amber had her own issues going on, with her son and a sort of friend/partner, and was really the opposite of Julia, and definitely a bit of a loose canon!  There were various little stories going on regarding relationships and jobs, and once they were in France it was never dull and really great fun!<br /><br />So I found the beginning slightly irritating, as I'm really not a try and fit in person either, you either like me as I am or not at all... and Julia was the opposite of that to start with, but once they got away to France the book was just wonderful and in the end all the good characters really came together to help each other out and there was a lovely ending.  Very, very enjoyable.<br />

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.<br /><br />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 is a very funny laugh out loud, feel good book with some rekindling of love that had become strained. It made me laugh out loud many times, it also made me cringe the odd time too. A light heart’ed book to read during the summer. With such funny escapades that are beyond belief, this really is going to be one of your best summer reads.<br /><br />Julia and Charlie are the newest residents to make Ceder Road their home. They were both welcomed to the street by Lexi the queen bee, the one who either lets you in to her little inner circle or shuns you if you don’t fit in with her.<br /><br />Every summer Lexi and her husband Hamish host the summer party of all parties, which only the select few get invited to. Julia and Charlie are invited and Julia ends up spending money they don’t have, on clothes for the party as she is desperate to become one of Lexi’s inner circle of friends.<br /><br />The theme of the party is white hot. With not knowing what to wear to fit in Julia starts to following Lexi on Instagram. She finds herself purchasing knock off designer clothes similar to what she sees Lexi wearing, even though the style of clothes don’t suit Julia.<br /><br />This spending isn’t doing much good to Julia and Charlie’s already depleting bank account. It turns out that they have bought the house from hell! Just as they get one problem sorted out another more expensive problem crops up. They have ploughed through their savings and now have a spreadsheet planning their life and wages for the next 5 years. This in turn has been putting some strain on Julia and Charlie’s relationship.<br /><br />On the day of the party dressed up in her knock off designer dress Julia and Charlie arrive at Lexi’s. When Julia steps in to the house she is in awe of how Lexi has decorated her house and how effortless she seems to make everything look. While Julia feels everything is a huge task.<br /><br />When the party is well underway Lexi and Hamish try to get everyone in to the huge Jacuzzi they have hired. This is where everything starts going wrong for Julia, as Hamish and everyone in the Jacuzzi start to taunt Charlie in to joining them, but Charlie just doesn’t want any part of if. When Julia joins in with the rest of them she sees that she has just made things even more strained between her and Charlie.<br /><br />When Julia and Lexi are talking in the kitchen a bit later on they both end up picking each others phones up by accident, and as Julia heads back outside within minutes everyones mobiles start beeping with notifications. To Julia’s horror Lexi has shared some of Julia’s private WhatsApp messages to her best friend. Where she has told her about some of the dreams she’s had about Lexi’s husband Hamish. Julia is so humiliated and Charlie looks so hurt she runs off.<br /><br />This is where Amber, Julia’s next door neighbour becomes her savior. She is just about to head off to France. She is going to all of the big antique fairs that are being held over the next few days. To see what she can pick up for her business. Usually Amber travels with her son, but he is off on his own adventure travelling around the continent with his girlfriend.<br /><br />This is where all the fun begins, as they find themselves racing around France trying to catch up to Amber’s son who is looking for his real father. Amber and Julia find themselves getting in to all kinds of trouble along the way. All the while Julia is trying to figure out what she want’s out of life and how she can mend her relationship with Charlie.<br /><br />As I’ve already said, with it’s funny escapades, this really is going to be one of your best summer reads. You won’t be able to put it down.