The Summer We Ran: Two Boys. One Secret. Thousands of Miles to Freedom

A heartfelt, unforgettable YA romance that completely swept me away. The Summer We Ran is one of those rare books that grabs you emotionally from the very first chapter and never lets go. Devon and Robert feel incredibly real—awkward, funny, vulnerable, and deeply human. Their relationship develops with such tenderness and authenticity that I found myself rooting for them on every single page. What really makes this novel stand out is the emotional atmosphere. The Southern coastal setting, the late-night escape, the blue pickup truck heading into the unknown—it all feels cinematic in the best possible way. The story perfectly captures that intense moment between adolescence and adulthood when everything feels terrifying, beautiful, and possible at the same time. The road-trip element adds constant momentum, but at its core this is a story about identity, courage, and what it means to choose your own future when the world expects something different from you. Fans of emotional YA romances like Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and They Both Die at the End will absolutely fall in love with this book. Beautifully written, emotionally honest, and impossible to put down. I already know this is going to be one of the standout YA LGBTQ novels of the summer.