Girl On the Run by Jane Costello

I need to put my hands up and say I am a new fan or Jane Costello! I recently read and reviewed one of her books. My Single Friend and I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t wait to get started on another one so I didn’t hesitate when I saw Girl On The Run I knew it was coming home with me!

Plot

Abby Rogers has been on health kicks before – they involve eating one Blueberry muffin for breakfast instead of two.

But since starting her own business after too many episodes of The Apprentice, the 28-year-old’s waistline has taken even more of a back seat than her long-neglected love life. When she’s encouraged to join her sporty best friend’s running club – by none other than its gorgeous new captain – she finds a mysterious compulsion to exercise.

Sadly, her first session doesn’t go to plan. Between the leggings that resemble strawberry-flavoured condoms and the fact that her lungs feel as though they’ve been set on fire, she vows never to return. Then her colleague Heidi turns up at work and makes a devastating announcement, one that will change her life – and Abby’s – forever.

My Opinion

This is the first author whose work I cannot compare to any other Authors books I have read. Jane Costello really has an edge to her writing which I adore! I had always been put off reading any of Costello’s books by the front cover as they never really appealed to me but then this is definitely where the saying “Do not judge a book by its cover” comes into light! I found whilst reading Girl on the Run I received some strange looks from my partner due to me keep laughing aloud whilst reading this book. I found that things that our main character Abby was doing I could see myself doing in her position and I think because this felt so life like it did make me laugh imagining me in her shoes.

From the first chapter I was gripped. I was a little unsure if I was going to like this book as much as My single Friend as when I read this books synopsis I was a little unsure if it was going to be for me as it was clearly about keeping fit which is something I am afraid of! (I write this review with a bag of Maltesers next to me!)

Luckily it is clear from the start of the book that Abby has the same feelings about keeping fit as me so I felt I could relate to her character. I absolutely loved our main character Abby she feels so down to earth to read, and is so witty without realising it but this only makes her character even more entertaining to read. I did find the whole romance part of the book a little predictable but this didn’t ruin the book as it is such a light hearted entertaining read.  

Although I found the book comical and light hearted read there is an deeper part of the book which is the reason why Abby starts the whole keep fit regime and I think the way Costello brings this topic into her storyline is done very gently and brings enough awareness to grab the reader’s attention without going overboard. We learn a lot about a terrible illness without actually realising we are being educated on the signs and symptoms of what can be such a debilitating illness.

What I also loved was the short chapters. Each chapter was only 3-4 pages long which really helped me this week with work being chaotic this week It allowed me to pick up the odd chapter here and there as that is one thing I cannot do is leave a chapter mid way.

I would defiantly recommend this book and I would not hesitate in rating it a top 5 stars as this is a book which you just cannot find faults. I cannot wait for the next Jane Costello book, let’s hope she doesn’t keep us waiting too long!