Run Away With Me is another fantastic New Adult Romance read from Mila Gray. The third in her Come Back to Me standalone series about finding and accepting love after facing hardships. In Run Away With Me, Emerson Lowe was assaulted and then turned into the town pariah when no one believed her, including, she assumed, her best friend who disappeared that same day. Now, years later as adults, Jake is back and he's coming for her heart.

I love a good angsty, friends turned lovers romance, there's just nothing more feel good than two friends finally figuring out what they've probably already known. Maybe that seems silly, but if I had to pick a favorite romance trope, this would be it. And we all know I love me some angst, which Mila Gray does a fantastic job of writing. I want heart, heat, and tears. Run Away With Me features some sports, our heroine finally standing up for herself, and a guy finally figuring out that he has to go after what he wants. I really enjoyed this third installment to the Come Back to Me series and can't wait to read the rest.

You know a book is good when you’re able to finish it in one day. I loved all of Mila Gray’s other books and I highly recommend this one if you’re in the mood for a good romance book.

Tropical, steamy, childhood romance fun, “Run Away With Me” is a summery adventure that warmed my heart. It was a very back and forth romance that was both hurt and aided by outside forces that weren’t a part of Jake or Emerson’s control. To see the two finally come together after such a long time was a happy moment even as their would be bumps to endure along the way.

I loved that the novel took place on an island. I also love the touring and working aspects that really set the stage for forces to pull these two long lost loves back together. I enjoyed how real the characters felt and how and why the characters changed. I loved that the author wrote this book for victims of sexual assault and gave Emerson a way of growing from her experience that went beyond just falling in love. I enjoyed how sincere the relationships were and how much love there was between the characters. I also loved the trait that Jake has where he fixes little irritating things without saying a word (honestly was the reason I fell in love with him). There were so many conflicts and individual motivations that the story rang true and it made it all the more fun to read.

Something I also enjoyed were the flashbacks (something that can easily be unenjoyable depending on how they are done). They gave a lot of insight and made me enjoy both Jake’s and Emerson’s characters all the more. Especially with Emerson, I found myself feeling hopelessly sad and filled with the need to protect her from the cruelty she endured. However, her attitude toward what had happened made me awed with her strength and resilience (even when others made it hard for her to believe in her own bravery for so long).

“Run Away With Me” is a novel I won’t soon forget. I admire this novels courage in sharing a story of a girl who is healing from her experience with sexual abuse. As I also adore most of the other characters it contains inside. I’m happy for this books true honesty and i recommend it to those who yearn for a book that rings true.

Right after I was auto-approved for Simon & Schuster on Netgalley, I went over and downloaded this book, and I am so happy I did. A year or two ago I read the first book in this series, Come Back to Me, and loved it. I thought the characters were so fleshed out, and that the romance was really authentic. Little did I know that all my expectations would be blown out of the water with Run Away with Me.

Every character in this novel, especially Emerson and Jake, have such a rich backstory. There histories are complex and messy, and Gray did a fantastic job of weaving their past and present together. Jake and Emerson haven't seen each other in seven years, and Emerson isn't quick to forgive Jake for leaving her in a time of need. I loved how each character was developed; the reader sees how fundamental each other's friendship was too each other, a well as the event mentioned in the synopsis. The two main characters didn't immediately fall back in each other's arms, and for very good reason.

What really struck me was how well this book dealt with a certain traumatic event. I won't say what it is, but I will leave a trigger warning at the end of the review. I think Gray handled this spectacularly, and really showed how even when speaking up, some people won't listen to you or won't want to. Gray handled all of this very maturely, and I would say it's the first book in a very long time that presented this event well and (almost) comprehensively. I don't want to say outright what it is, but the book heavily hints at it throughout, and it's not used as a plot twist device, as one might see in Hopeless by Colleen Hoover.

I would say that the pacing of this book is steady the whole entire time. I wouldn't consider it to be fast by any means, but neither is it slow. There are no filler chapters in this book; every page has a reason for being there. I couldn't stop reading Run Away with Me because the romance and plot were compelling. The chapter breaks were also very well done, so even if I said I would stop at a certain chapter, I couldn't. I could tell how well-edited Run Away with Me is; everything has a purpose, and the book is set up to keep the reader reading.

Families also play a big part in this story, it's not solely a book about romance. I really appreciated how we got to see into Emerson's life, and have disability representation. Emerson's father was disabled, and this just struck me because my mom is disabled. This was the first time I could really relate to a family dynamic, and it's because Gray doesn't have any characters that are picture-perfect.

And just a quick note: the romance was hot. Emerson and Jake were so well paired, and their chemistry was off the charts. Their relationship was also very healthy, and Gray did a good job of juxtaposing an unhealthy relationship with a healthy one. Even if Gray doesn't mean to teach young girls about what a healthy relationship is, she does with Emerson and Jake. They have in-depth conversations, they respect each other's boundaries, and their relationship doesn't define them.

At the end of the day, I love this book. It was so compelling, and the traumatic event was handled very well. I haven't read the second book in this series, Stay with Me (also known as This One Moment), but I really want to know. Run Away with Me is an expertly crafted book, and I can tell that Gray really did her research. My only complaint is that there was a lot of drama, and while they all served a purpose, it felt like too much. I just wanted more time where we see Emerson and Jake happy, and not dealing with one thing after another.

With that, I give this book
4.5 out of 5 Stars!

The day that fourteen-year-old Jake finally gets up the nerve to kiss his best friend Emerson, something horrible happens, and seven years pass before he sees her again.

During that time, Jake has gone across the country to Boston College, where he is a hockey star who signed to play in the NHL. Emerson, meanwhile, has hardened, her dreams withering up like dried leaves. Seeing Jake again when they're both twenty-one shocks her. For one thing, she can't believe that he's back on Bainbridge Island again. And for another, that electric recognition of him remains a powerful force.

Mila Gray treads familiar territory in this friends-to-lovers romance: the damaged girl, a friendship nearly ruined over misunderstandings and miscommunication, and penances paid. There are occasional moments of humor, mostly provided by a rowdy group of bachelor party-goers and a coworker of Emerson's. One of the subplots is dispensed with rather tidily, whereas another one will tug at your heart. Gray also addresses something somewhat atypical for a YA romance, weaving it well, making you think about some real-life issues.

There are a few spots where the story hits some slow-pacing bumps, but otherwise, this is a pretty decent YA book. Gray includes a couple of scenes with sexual intimacy, but they are quite PG, so most teens shouldn't feel uncomfortable.

**Review is scheduled on blog for 11/28 at 6am PST**

Mila Gray has become one of my favorite authors because her books contain emotional stories and the characters always find a way into my heart. I know without a shadow of a doubt that each time I pick up one of her books that I'll laugh, cry, sigh and fall in love. And that's exactly what happened when I read this friends to lovers romance. Run Away With Me was a beautiful story that was filled with hope, friendship, family and love.

I look up and meet Jake’s eyes. A hot sun rises in my chest. I quickly smother it to ash. - Em


Emerson Lowe and Jake McCallister had been best of friends since third grade. But just when their friendship started to turn into more, something horrific happened - trigger warning for (view spoiler). It left Em's life in shambles and Jake moved away with his family. He left right when she needed him the most. Yet seven years later, he came back. And that's where the story begins. I loved that all of Em's hurt, betrayal and pain was laid out on the table for us to see. And I understood why she was cold and distant to Jake. But Jake was beyond persistent and he wasn't going to leave her ever again.

I’ve prayed for other things too. Lots of things. The universe never listened. My prayers were never answered.
Until now.
Jake came back. - Em


As the story unfolded, we slowly got glimpses into their past. We got to see how they were the bestest of friends. And we watched as their friendship started to turn into something more. Those moments were so sweet and adorable. But then we also got to witness the horror unfold, along with the aftermath. And that gutted me to the core. But having those moments from their past, interlaced throughout the story, added so much depth to who Em and Jake were. It was beautifully and seamlessly done, and it helped me feel as though I knew the both of them inside out.

As stupid as it sounds, even when she was six years old and I was seven and we were playing Star Wars in my backyard I never wanted to play Luke. I always wanted to be Han to her Leia. - Jake


Run Away With Me was told in alternating views between Em and Jake. And while it felt a little jarring it first, I ended up loving how it was told. It was if I was right there with them, feeling everything that they were feeling. And while Em felt like a bff, I loved listening and watching everything Jake did. I fell incredibly hard for him. He was such a kind hearted, good man who was also at times fierce and protective. So of course I found myself rooting for everything I had for Em to accept the friendship Jake was offering to her.

“I wanted to, you know,”he says quietly.
“Wanted to what?”I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Come back.”


While there were so many moments that had me laughing and sighing out loud, this book does have a strong emotional side to it too. I found my heart shattered again and again. There were quite a few times that I found myself sobbing, and I just couldn't stop. And once I got to that point, it felt as though my emotions were always on the edge, waiting to tumble-down into an abyss. But then something would happen that would pull me back into the light and my heart would beat with joy again. This is definitely an emotional book, that was also filled with drama and angst, and I loved every minute of it!

“You remember you said you didn’t want to be friends?” he says.
I nod, unable to find my voice.
He licks his lips and swallows. “Well, I don’t want to be friends with you either . I want more.” He’s looking directly in my eyes as he speaks.
Slowly, I let out the breath I’m holding. Everything inside me is vibrating as if my body is a note on a piano that’s just been struck.
“And I think you do too,” he says next.
My breath becomes jagged and uneven.
“Tell me if I’m wrong.”


Run Away With Me was a touching story that I absolutely loved. It was rounded out with fabulous friends and a home life and parents that also pulled at my heart. So if you love a sexy friends to lovers romance, or a story that will pull at your heartstrings, then definitely give Run Away With Me or Mila Gray's other books a try. I hope you love them just as much as I do!

PS Each of these books can be read as a standalone.

*ARC kindly provided by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

When I saw this book, I immediately knew I had to read it. I had enjoyed the previous books in this series, and couldn't wait to see what sort of "Come Back to Me" story Gray had in store for me.

•Pro: This is a friends-to-more and sort of second chance romance, which are among my favorite kinds of romances. Although the sparks were just starting to fly, when their worlds were shattered, Em and Jake still held a piece of each other in their hearts for the years they were apart. I couldn't help but ship them.

•Pro: Jake, Jake, Jake. Jake had so many great qualities. I loved how he wanted to make things better for people, and he understood what they needed in order to feel good about themselves. He was very giving and so persistent. He was tender, caring, and a rather wonderful hero. However.....

•Con: Jake made some bad choices. Notice the use of the plural there. For someone, who was very dedicated to his sport, his academics, and doing kind things for others, he just kept getting into one thing or another, which could have cost him his future. I just kept shaking my head.

•Pro: I liked that flashbacks were used to help us understand what happened. I found it more meaningful to get the story from 13 year old Em and 14 year old Jake. It wasn't colored by life experience or time that way, and since that was their last impression of each other, I think it was a great choice. I always love when they are interspersed throughout the story as well, because it keeps us wondering. I wanted to know why Jake left and what happened to Em, but as I got those answers, more questions arose, which were eventually answered in strategic parts of the story.

•Pro: I totally loved Toby, and the role he filled in the story. I thought Shay, Em's best friend, and Em's parents were great too. Em had not had it easy, but she had some great people on her side.

•Con: Jake's "troubles" crossed into OTT (over the top) territory at one point. I think, at one point, I stated, quite loudly, "You have got to be kidding me. " However, when I saw the big picture and figured out what Gray was trying to accomplish, I dismissed my initial feelings, because it did serve a purpose.

•Pro: I appreciated that Gray didn't make it easy for Jake to re-enter Em's life. Given the way he left, the lack of communication, and the betrayals she had suffered, it made sense that she was wary. She made him earned it, and gosh darn it, Jake rose to the occasion.

•Pro: The camping trip!! I am a hopeless romantic, so that stretch of the books like oxygen for me. Absolutely fabulous!

•Pro: I feel like my luck is going to run out soon, because I have been on a roll with endings. Add this to my list of fabulous endings, because I had closure, Gray gave the characters a promising future, and I found tears of joy in my eyes.

Overall: A touching and heartfelt story about friendship, love, and healing. I experienced my romance trifecta: I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and best of all, I was left with happy tears in my eyes.

3.5 stars

I had enjoyed the other two books in this series, so I downloaded it without even reading the synopsis, but I wish I had.

I really liked Emerson and Jake. They're both really good people and they're both struggling over a traumatic event.. I loved seeing them reconnect and find the balance between what happened in the past and starting a future.

Plot wise, it's a lot of drama. Besides The Event, there are a lot of moving pieces in the form of jealous exes and wannabe boyfriends who do everything and anything to instigate. Throw in a few fights, a court case, and miscommunications and it all makes for a lot of push and pull. As things were revealed, some of it felt like drama just for the sake of drama. There were some sweet moments and I think that's a lot of what kept me reading. That, and I was hoping Em would find some sort of justice.

Overall, it was a good story and I loved the characters, but the plot left me wanting.

**Huge thanks to Simon Pulse for providing the arc free of charge**

I was all set to give this book a scathingly disappointing review until I read the author's note at the end. Now I feel all lukewarm about it. But I think that's okay. I think (hope) a lot of my issues will be taken care of in editing before the book is officially released in November.

I really loved Jake and Emerson. Their chemistry and history were real and believable, and their relationship was so sweet. They are both the main plot of the story and also not, and that is where the root of my problems lie. I like when stories - especially romances - are complicated, but this was overly so. There were so many side-plots and characters to keep track of, and we had to constantly be thinking about both past Em and Jake and current Em and Jake along with past and present versions of other characters. That in itself is a book. And then! There's all of Jake's hockey stuff, and Lauren, and the really stupid reason he went back to Bainbridge Island in the first place, and all of it fell flat for me, when put together. I read both of Mila Gray's other Come Back to Me books, and they left me all achy on the inside. This one didn't.

On top of that, there were some kind of important editing errors that need to be corrected - most importantly, Rob and Reid, the Walsh brothers, are constantly confused and seemingly used interchangeably in scenes. It didn't work for me, and I hope a copyeditor catches all of that. There were other similar mistakes that come with getting an early copy of the book, which is fine, usually. But these were so severe that I was taken out of the story.

And! It also didn't seem like the author knows the ins and outs of hockey to the point of being able to write a character who plays. Again, it took me out of the story.

But, in the end, I did enjoy the book, and the author was writing from the heart. I could tell. I liked the story. And I really REALLY liked Jake. So, three stars it is.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

Run Away with Me really is a complicated romance between Emerson and Jake.

Jake left years ago, without even a goodbye. But suddenly shows up. Emerson isn’t happy and tries to deny Jake’s pull as long as she can. But based on the description of his hotness, that would only be so long.

I really enjoyed this story. It was very heartfelt. But as much as I enjoyed it. I didn’t connect with the characters on an emotional level. Which is a big thing for me, I crave that connection.

It is written well. But there is just so much going on. It’s like everything was crammed into the story. I think if it was just focused on the two of them, really getting to know each other again. It would have made a different feel.

This is #3 three in the series, which I didn’t realize initially. So maybe that’s why I felt a bit out of the loop?

Overall, this is a solid Three Boundless Stars.

I have been a fan of Mila Gray's Come Back to Me series since it was released. I love the physical and emotional healing that takes place in her books. The first and second books in the series were military based, so I was surprised to find that Run Away With Me was a sports romance. The writing had the same new adult angst feel, but otherwise the story felt different. The wounds of war were gone, and in their place were those of a different kind of tragedy.

In Run Away With Me, Jake has just returned to Bainbridge Island to make things right with Emerson. He couldn't move past his childhood friendship and crush. He felt like something was missing from his life, and he needed to find out if it was Emerson. Their reunion wasn't exactly a happy one. Emerson wasn't exactly on board with it. She had a lot of anger deep inside that needed to be dealt with. There was a lot of healing to be done between the two of them.

Emerson and Jake had a shared history. I enjoyed the way it was unraveled. What happened to separate them in the past was a little bit of a mystery. There were some major revelations given throughout the story, and I liked that it was done through separate flashbacks. Getting to know what happened to both of them that way was really profound. Their experiences were so different and they both felt the fallout from what happened when they were fourteen. I was happy they could eventually get past the heart ache and find happiness with each other again. They both deserved to get their friendship and the possibility of more back.

One of my favorite things about Run Away With Me was the setting. The way Mila Gray described Bainbridge and the surrounding islands was beautiful. I felt like I was right there with the characters. I've been to Vashon, but never Bainbridge. This book made me curious to explore it since it's not too far from backyard.

Overall, I really enjoyed this romance. It was full of deep emotions and strong bond between the characters, but also had a light summer feel to it.

The plot is classic: Two close childhood friends grow up to develop feelings for each other. With a spark of attraction comes a tragic event that tears the two apart, sending them spiraling in two different directions, on separate paths in life until one day, one of them returns to patch it all up but first, they have to recover from the past. This is the story of Jake and Emmerson.

I enjoyed the tension, the slow, deliberate way the story brought the two together, tore them apart, and then together again. Their relationship isn't damaged by some typical drama. A real life event forever changed them and how they love each other. I loved that the dept of their feelings, for each other and themselves, felt realistic. This isn't a love story that just throws two people together who somehow find a way to love each other instantly and viola! Problem solved. No....it shows how difficult it is and how much work it takes to love, trust, and let go.

Closure is a decision, not a concept easily grasped. The author did a great job showing this.

Run Away with Me is a beautiful second chance AND friends to lovers romance. As a reader, I felt invested in both of these characters lives and rooted for them all the way through. The author does a wonderful job at bringing her characters to life in this novel, and I was unexpectedly surprised at the emotions it stirred in me. What a wonderful read through and through!

Actual Rating is 4.5 Stars

Words can not even express how excited I was to get my hands on this book. I fell in love with the cover the moment I saw it and I got a hold of the synopsis and said "Yep, this is the read for me".

Run Away With Me follows the story of Jake and Emerson. Jake and Emerson have been best friends for as long as they can remember, so it should be no surprise when their feelings begin to grow and change into something more. Only fate had other plans and ripped these two young lovers apart; forever changing their worlds. It will be seven long years before Jake and Emerson are reunited. Their past is painful, but the memories are unforgettable. Will Jake and Emerson be able to move on from their heartbreaking past? Will Jake and Emerson finally act on the feelings fate cheated them out of? There is only one way to find out.

Run Away With Me is my first book by this author and I can promise you it won't be my last. I found Run Away With Me to be incredibly well written and it is the kind of story that captivates you from the very first page. The characters are real and raw and had depth. I thought they were easy to connect with and found myself desperately wanting to know more about them.

Run Away With Me was such an unexpected read for me. This story was written with so much heart and soul, I didn't expect it grab my heart the way that it did. Jake and Emerson's story gave me all the feels and took me on one amazing ride. I am so glad I decided to pick up this book and am looking forward to reading the previous books in this series. This author is definitely one to keep an eye out for.

A great read that I truly enjoyed. I really like this author and love her work

please see notes above in regards to the review if a mobi file comes available I would still be very interested on reviewing this title and it made be do a star rating please understand that is the only reason why i put 1 star

I read this book in one sitting and absolutely loved it!!!