Reviews

Quarter Miles by Devney Perry

nyquillll's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This was the first book in the Runaway series that I read (reading them out of order because of which ones were available on Libby! lol) but I think I enjoyed the fourth book more than this one. To be honest, this book had some tropes that I usually never read - see: best friends to lovers specifically mixed with unrequited love. I know that they're meant to end up together, but it's almost like I spend the whole book cringing because I'm trying to see if I am convinced that he likes/loves her back and isn't just feeling this way because of her. 

Also I kind of hated how much he kept pushing her to share about her past when she had that boundary that she didn't want to relive it. I can get wanting to be there for someone when they're going through or have gone through something difficult (and traumatic in its own way), but forcing that out of them isn't the best way to build solidarity or trust. There was also a healthy amount of miscommunication, or more than I typically enjoy to be honest, which made the story more difficult for me to get through. Not to say it wasn't a good book or love story, it just had multiple components in it that I usually avoid. 

Learning about Kat's backstory and her life prior to running away was tough - but I did like that representation. I learned a lot about how it might be to live in such dire circumstances that running away and living off the land would be better than staying. Though, again, I kind of hated how the

third act break up centered on Cash sending Kat's mom away and Kat being super upset about it, even though Kat's mom had been rather abusive toward her. I understand the mix of emotions or can sympathize, but I guess the book does portray how the flurry of emotions can have us acting rashly and lash out at other people...

. 

I will say, I almost wish the book had included a couple of flashbacks to when Cash and Kat first met to help establish them as friends. Because where we meet them, Kat is irrevocably in love with Cash who is none the wiser and starting to date other women, and then Kat leaves and Cash is very protective and possessive (to an extent) of Kat...I don't think that in itself should translate to love. It was a bit harder for me to get invested in this story, but I did like the whole reunion and confession scene at the end of the book. And I also liked how at the end, Kat's insecurities about needing to feel wanted and needed were assuaged, validated, and soothed by

Cash's mom calling

. I almost wish the story weren't all about the road trip so we could see more of the dynamics with the family. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent

Quotes I highlighted:

"We played a game. Heads left. Tails right. That's how we decided where to go."

"'Go.' She kissed my cheek. 'Think it over. I would hate to lose you, but I would hate for you to stay here and be unhappy even more.'"

"My feelings for Cash had grown like the evergreens, ring by ring until the trunk was so massive I couldn't wrap my arms around it."

"She must have sprinted from her childhood like a horse bolted from a rattlesnake."

"That moment had been another ring around the tree, another moment my love for Cash had grown. I adored the man, piercing whistle and table crumbs included."

"Eventually we'd have to engage the GPS, but for this first day, I wanted to simply find my way. To embrace the adventure."

"You can't pity that girl, because she's me. And without her, I wouldn't be sitting across from you right now."

"My pain was his pain. Part of the reason I didn't want him to know my story was because then it would hurt us both."

"Didn't anyone need my help? How was it that I ran myself ragged for days but no one had reached out? No one. Not even Carol."

"'Thank you,' I said. Not only because that would save us a long drive home, but because of the smile she'd put on Kat's face."

"'Are you going to get sick of me tagging along with you all day?' Aria surprised me by pulling me into a tight, short hug. Then she released me and nodded to the sidewalk that wrapped around the building. 'Let's go.'"

"That's Clara's fault. We always hugged goodbye and hello. Now that we don't live together, I find myself hugging everybody else to compensate."

"'Am I losing you?' he asked, his gaze straight ahead. 'I'll always be your friend.' I leaned over, resting my head on his shoulder."

"There she was. My beautiful, infuriating best friend and lover was seated at a small table across from the motherfucker who'd offered her a job yesterday."

"I really did love her. She was standing here, furious on my behalf, when there wasn't anything to be furious about. I stepped closer."

"'We were sixteen,' she said. 'So young and so foolish. But that was what life had dealt us and we made the best of it. Yes, there were some happy times. Yes, we were relatively safe. But the fear. You don't know what it's like to live in that kind of fear, so forgive me if I don't want to remember just so you and your family can talk about it over coffee.'"

"The reason I painted back then was because I needed something pretty. I needed to wake up to a world where I was in control."

"Which one of our guests had sent me a scathing email about his bad experience with allergies at the resort - as if I had some control over the pollen in the air - Cash had let me cry on his shoulder and mourn the loss of my impeccable five-star Google rating."

"I'd been wrestling with feelings for my mother for years. I was sorry that she'd died. I was sorry that she'd lived a life without much joy. But I didn't forgive her and I doubted I ever would."

"But this was Liddy, the woman I loved more than my own mother, so I answered. 'Hi.' 'We love you,' she said. I blinked. 'Huh?' 'We love you,' she repeated."

"No matter what happens with you and Cash, we all love you. He wants me to find out where you are. He's desperate, Kat. But I'm going to hang up before you can even tell me. Do what you need to do for you. And we'll be here whenever you're ready to come home."

"He was the definition of steady. Gentle. Patient."

"I claimed to love him but hadn't truly let him in."

"He's been behind us for the past few minutes."

"'Don't go,' he pleaded. 'Stay with me. Lean on me. I swear, I won't let you fall.'"

"'Oh, I figured he'd catch up with us after about an hour or two.' She winked at Cash as he slammed the trunk."

"'Please.' She rolled her eyes. 'That man loves you too much to let you go.' I cast a glance at Cash, where he was hauling my purse from the backseat. And I loved him too much to actually run away."

"When you made me camp out and search for a mountain lion, there wasn't really a lion, was there?" "Nope."

"'Hey, who are you talking to?' Carol's voice carried through the phone. 'Oh, shit,' Gemma hissed, then called out, 'No one!'"

bookswithvicky's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kyraamackenzie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

symantha_dattilo's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

lilyya's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars.

Friends to lovers isn’t my favorite

ellenmae's review against another edition

4.0

cash greer

_sylviareads_'s review against another edition

4.0

I feel like this series is getting better and better.
Quarter Miles was a quick read for me just like the previous books in the series. Maybe a little too quick. But the story was smooth and very enjoyable. Kat and Cash’s story brought to this series a little bit of drama. So for me, it was more exciting. For a minute there I was afraid that there won't be a happy ending for this couple!

haley_jay's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

erin_renee's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

manda_reads_'s review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

5.0

I'm a sucker for a friends-to-lovers romance, and this one did not disappoint. The more I read this series the more I fall in love with it. I loved the friendship between Katherine and Cash. This is also a cute and fun but emotional story. I also love how Devney sets up the next book in the series with future characters. When Cash finally realizes his romantic feelings for Kat I was so happy. I'm very excited to see how Aria's book plays out next!