In the summer of 1996, teenage Tess Murphy’s mom gave her two rules to abide: keep quiet and stay out of trouble. Her mother landed a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate and didn’t want anything to risk the opportunity, least of all her outspoken daughter. What no one saw coming was Tess falling deeply in love with the boy next door, high-society Grant Alexander.

Over a few wondrous and heat-filled months, Tess and Grant’s love blooms so ferociously it feels utterly impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes and the teenagers find themselves pained by betrayal with little hope to repair the damage that’s been done.

Now, two decades after their epic teenage romance abruptly ended in heartbreak, Tess and Grant are both running for Governor of Virginia, where secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, futures, and the love they once shared.

This book contains mentions of domestic violence and miscarriage.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if your teenage love waltzed back into your life? Maybe you’d catch up with them at a bar or a wedding or, possibly, you’d pass each other on the street without batting an eye. In The Summer We Ran, two former lovebirds run against each other in a gubernatorial race and experience a whole new form of reconnecting.

Tess and Grant have history. They spent a sweaty summer in the 1990s falling in love when they were just seventeen. Now, they’re going head-to-head in a toss-up election to become the Governor of Virginia. Tensions rise as Tess and Grant relive past pain points and endure new ones, manage their marriages and their campaigns, and experience the consequences of teenage heartbreak in their adult lives.

This book merges past and present, pairs big emotions with even larger dreams, and truly flies by. The Summer We Ran is the epitome of a comforting, quick beach read. Start it for the unforgettable premise and stay for the undeniable connection you feel with the characters. When you’ve finished reading The Summer We Ran, you’ll keep it in a prime spot on your bookshelf. Yes, it’s that good!