Editorial note: I received a copy of The Summer We Ran in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram is a rich summer story about lost love and secrets. I really enjoyed this one.
There are some stories that you just know will be good. I had a feeling The Summer We Ran would be that kind of novel. From the cover to the title to the synopsis, I had high expectations for this one (which is one reason I selected it as a summer 2025 book club pick). And it more than met them!
The writing is fantastic, the characters feel real—they’re human, flawed and so interesting. There are multiple narratives and perspectives so you get the full picture. Mistakes are made, and I felt it really showed the human experience.
Highly recommend it for your summer reading. Let’s take a closer look.
What’s the Story About
Imagine there are two candidates running for governor. They seem as opposite as can be. But what if they not only knew each other before—they were romantically involved as teenagers? And not only that, it wasn’t just a superficial teenage romance, but a big, epic and life-changing experience.
That is the heart of The Summer We Ran. Tess and Grant fell in love as teenagers. It seems impossible that anything can keep them apart, until tragedy strikes.
Now, more than two decades after their epic teenage romance, Tess and Grant are both running for governor of Virginia, and secrets from that summer threaten to shatter their families, their political futures, and the memory of the first love that shaped their lives.
Tess and Grant
It’s been a while since I’ve read a love story that is as impactful as the one between Tess and Grant. The reader feels the connection, and despite their differences, we see why they are so connected. I liked reading their love grow, but also seeing them again as adults. And despite everything, they still have that connection.
We read the perspectives of both Tess and Grant in the past and present, which I thought helped bring the story full circle. This was a case where we truly needed both their viewpoints, as it brought clarification to many of the choices they made. I found both timelines to be incredibly dynamic and engaging.
We’ve seen the story of the high-society boy and middle class girl time and time again. But what makes this version in The Summer We Ran stand out is that it really leans into the awareness of the differences between the two. But despite that, they still are deeply in love, and understand each other.
Choices
This one takes a deep dive into the concept of fate and choices. If a difference choice would have been made, how would have life looked? This love between Tess and Grant is all consuming, but there are outside forces at a play that have a huge impact. And both of them make choices that will forever impact their lives.
I liked reading the past in relation to their present in politics. It’s pretty interesting that both decided to pursue careers in politics and run for governor. While they have changed a ton, there are still some aspects of who they are that remained the same.
While politics are on display here, it’s still very much a quiet story between Tess and Grant, and the heartbreak that defined them for life. For more about the story, check out my interview with author Audrey Ingram here.
Verdict
This is a very well done, and beautifully-written story. My heart ached for the two of them at times, but it never strayed too far from showing how much love they do have for each other. I also found the political angle gave this trope a fresh and engaging angle.
I highly recommend this one for your summer reading! It’s a great fit for book clubs as there is so much to discuss and analyze. One of my favorites of the year so far.
Check out my book club questions here.
