Tess and Grant thought they had seen the last of each other. This was such a sweet and emotionally driven story of how the past doesn't have to define the future, and that the choices that are made have consequences no one can predict.

This is a great summer read. I loved it and the main characters. I would highly recommend this book for a summer read!

Okay, so I’ll be honest—I’m always a little hesitant going into any novel that touches on politics. It’s such a heavy, emotionally-charged topic that can sometimes overwhelm the rest of the story. But I was pleasantly surprised by this one. Politics were definitely a key part of the story, but they weren’t the WHOLE story—and that balance really worked for me.

What I absolutely loved was the dual timeline and dual POV. It added so much depth and made me even more invested in Grant and Tess. Their sweet summer romance was so well done. It was tender, hopeful, and full of that nostalgic feeling that something big is just around the corner. And then slowly finding out what happened at the end of the summer and in the months after? So satisfying watching the puzzle come together piece by piece.

Also, I’m oddly okay with the fact that it didn’t end with the typical happily ever after. There was something really peaceful about knowing Tess had found contentment in her new life, and seeing Grant step up as a man and a father? Perfection. He didn’t need to be flawless—he just needed to grow, and he did.

Loved this book by Audrey Ingram. This is her third book and the third book of hers that I've read. I've enjoyed them all and they were each quite different. I was pleasantly surprised to find a portion of this book set in Charlottesville, Virginia which I loved. I went to college there and have a soft spot for any books set there. This book is told in dual timelines. Our main characters Tess & Grant met as teenagers when Tess worked for Grant's mother. They had a brief but intense love affair and then have not been in contact for many years. Now, they are running against each other for Governor of Virginia. I enjoyed the storyline, the political opposition, the nostalgia for their younger years, etc. I appreciated that this book showed the difference in the main character's backgrounds and how the secrets they tried to bury will come back to haunt them.

This is not my normal genre, but I was not disappointed. The Author has you tagging along with the characters down memory lane and feeling the same emotions. Most definitely a book worth reading, especially for a group discussion or book club.

Well written. This will be a terrific Summer Read no matter the weather. Love, suspense, regret, ambition. This book has it all.

Tess and Grant are in the midst of the 2021 Virginia governor’s race. Neither of them expected to be running against their first loves, but after 25 years, fate has brought them back together. We know from the beginning that their relationship did not end happily. With dual timelines in 1996 and 2021, we are taken through their short but complicated teenage love affair and the toll years of secrets have had on their present lives.

Audrey Ingram has woven an engrossing story with complex characters. My only criticism is that the characters were so well written that some of the choices they made didn’t quite seem to fit the narrative. Nonetheless, I enjoyed following Tess and Grant’s journey with plenty of twists and turns to keep me immersed until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zibby Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a story told in dual timelines. The book has love, heartbreak, grief, and is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys an emotional ride!

A beautiful story on what guides the heart and the experiences and people that help shape us. The Summer We Ran is a can't-put-down story of love, loss, and all the complications that come with both. It's the perfect summer read for anyone looking for a touching story that makes you think, makes you wonder, and ultimately, leaves you looking at life a little bit differently. Perfect for book clubs!

The Summer We Ran is a beautifully written, emotional story about love, grief, and secrets. I love the dual timeline and how the characters develop not only over the course of the story but from their past teenage selves into their current adult selves. The 1996 timeline slowly unravels how the MCs met, fell in love, and the events who made them who they are in the present timeline. While we know things have ended poorly and they haven't been in contact for 25 years, we don't have the details until the end and they are shocking and heartbreaking. Audrey doesn't shy away from the pain and creating a past for Tess and Grant that really shows the unfairness life can be, but the ending offers hope, healing, and forgiveness. It's a powerful read and I felt drawn in from the start.

Thank you Zibby Publishing for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story evoked a myriad of emotions within me in a mere span of time. It’s a tale of love and heartbreak narrated across different timelines, intertwined with secrets concealed deep within. However, the public spotlight resurrects the past, altering the trajectories of countless lives kept in the shadows.

It’s an exceptional read that I highly recommend. It would also make for an engaging book club discussion. If you relish a captivating dramatic romance, this book is undoubtedly a must-read for you.

I really loved this book! It made me feel so many feelings. The setting was beautiful and the way it was described made it easy to immerse oneself in the story. The drama kept me engaged during the whole story, I wasn't too sure how it was going to go. I will be recommending it to patrons and friends alike. Thank you Zibby Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is my first time reading one of Audrey Ingram's books. I'm a fan of the way she used the dual timeline to fill in the backstory of the characters. The storyline is intriguing, and I found myself wondering how much each of them was thinking, "What if?" What if they had been able to stay together instead of moving on and marrying someone else? Had too much water gone under the bridge? Politics didn't take over the storyline, but it did provide an interesting vehicle to look at how each of them had changed over the years. Every time I thought I knew what was coming next, I was wrong. What a great book!

This author is new to me but when I read the description of this book I knew I wanted to read it. The storyline intrigued me and I loved the way the two storylines were woven together, 1996 and 2021. Tess and Grant met as teenagers and fell in love even though they have completely different backgrounds. There are many twists and turns as the story moves forward. Secrets are kept for 25 years as we find the two running for governor of Virginia and both married to other people. We get to experience the growth of the two main characters and the mistakes with the resulting consequences of those errors. The author did not write the typical ending that you were expecting but instead showcased how they were moving forward in their lives. I was throughly engaged throughout the book especially with their inner reflections on their past.
Thank you to Zippy Books and NetGalley for an advanced e galley of the book for an honest review.All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheSummerWeRan #AudreyIngram #NetGalley

The Summer We Ran is told in dual 1996 and 2021 timelines and is the story of Tess and Grant, who have a complicated teenage love affair in the summer of 1996, and then face each other again in the 2021 Virginia Governors race.

I thought the author did a great job developing these characters and taking them from their teenage years to mature adults. All the characters, including the supporting cast, are layered and complex and most are not all good or all bad which made for an interesting and thought provoking story. There is also plenty here for a good buddy read or book club discussion. Thanks to net galley and zibby publishing for the e galley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the way this book's title fits perfectly into its plot, told in dual timelines - 1996 and 2021.

Our main characters, Tess and Grant, meet one summer when they are 17 and 18. Tess' mom has taken a job as the main cook for a Virginian aristocrat. It will finally be the chance for Tess and her mom to break free of the life they were living and have something better than staying in Tess' grandma's run down trailer.

The first day on the job, Tess meets her mother's boss's best friend, Kay, and is offered a job helping her with her beautiful gardens. Grant, home from boarding school, happens to be staying with his mother, Kay, for the summer. The two teenagers meet and a first love romance ensues.

Flashforward to 25 years. It is now 2021 and Tess, married to college sweetheart, Dean, and Grant, married to his college sweetheart, Cecelia, now each find themselves running for governor of Virginia.

Secrets emerge as the campaign gets in full swing.

The format of the novel really keeps the reader engaged as it goes back and forth between summer of 1996 and present day, now 2021. The book begins with an introductory chapter happening in January of 1997 that really piques the reader's interest.

Using both the voices of Tess and Grant also helped to solidify the novel's main conflict - man vs society (or rather social classes).

The book drops June 3, 2025. Thank you Netgalley and Zibby Publishing, for the opportunity to preview this captivating romance/mystery.

This novel is told in two different time periods from two different perspectives, which helps to move the plot forward. It's a contemporary story that touches on a lot of current events. The themes cover love, loss, how the choices we make affect our lives, class differences, and family bonds. The setting in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains is an important part of the plot.

The title of this novel is perfect and is revealed throughout the novel.

Some readalikes might include:
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

Every time I thought I was predicting what would happen in the plot, I was proven wrong with a twist. I loved the weaving together of past and present from both perspectives. Towards the end I had some tears rolling down my cheeks! Especially from the supportive relationship between Tess and her mother. This is a book I needed to read because it shows the dynamic between love and opposing viewpoints.

Firstly - this cover is simply stunning. The colors mixed with the boldness of the title which also holds a fairly incredible double meaning? So well done!

Now, let me just say - going into this book and knowing it's going to center around a political campaign? That threw me for a bit of a loop - I found myself questioning if I even wanted to give it a try because well - politics and I are currently not friends. So, I had doubts. However, the setting being what it was - I mean, Virginia? There aren't many books set there, and this cover, and just really wanting to read this work by this author - I gave it a chance and boy am I glad that I did.

This book was not political on either side - it was a story about the candidates themselves, their pasts, and just a really beautiful look at both the state (all the landmarks mentioned are really enjoyable!) and into the behind the scenes of a governors race. The dual POV with the alternating timelines kept me engaged and eager to continue reading as it was just so beautifully written. I found myself wondering about the backstory that led to their choices and decisions, and then to receive that backstory made for a truly immersive type of read.

I can picture this book being an excellent one for book clubs - so many topics to discuss, and what a way to have a really enthralling conversation. I know that for sure I look forward to discussing this one closer to pub day!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Zibby Books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

While I’m not sure I see the connection to West Wing (other than politics) this was a sweet political read. The main characters are deeply flawed and I never knew quite who to root for. More of a dark family drama than anything.