The Long Run

James Acker

Feb 2023 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

2024 Stonewall Book Award Honor Book for Young Adult Literature

"A boldly authentic new voice in queer fiction." —Abdi Nazemian, author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story and The Chandler Legacies

Two track and field athletes find an unexpected but powerful love in this unapologetically blunt and unforgettably real YA debut.

Sebastian Villeda is over it. Over his rep. Over his bros. Over being "Bash the Flash," fastest sprinter in South Jersey. His dad is gone, his mom is dead, and his stepfather is clueless. Bash has no idea what he wants out of life. Until he meets Sandro.

Sandro Miceli is too nice for his own good. The middle child in an always-growing, always-screaming Italian family, Sandro walks around on a broken foot to not bother his busy parents. All he wants is to get out and never look back.

When fate—in the form of a party that gets busted—brings these two very different boys together, neither of them could’ve predicted finding a love that they’d risk everything for…

Ratings and reviews

This book covers so many things. We have gay representation. We have bisexual representation. We even have people of color. It does have a bit of a slow start, and at times I didn't really like one of the main characters. There wasn't anything in it that made me want to put the book down though. I don't know exactly how I stumbled upon this book. I'm thinking it was in a Netgalley newsletter. (More on blog: Star's Books & Tea)

I was not expecting this book, at all. It's not a light, easy read. It's actually kind of heavy and definitely sad at times- it'll tug at all the heartstrings. But it is so very worth the read. It started out quite slow, honestly, and it took me a little to get invested, but once I was, I was in, hook, line, and sinker. I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I do. Sebastian and Sandro slowly wove their way into my heart and I don't want to let them go.

Sweet and beautifully written, I couldn't put it down, but I had to, so I had something to look forward to.

About the author

James Acker grew up in New Jersey, and he’s based his entire personality off that fact. He received his Bachelor’s in Screenwriting & Playwriting from Drexel University and won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Nicholl Fellowship for his screenplay Sadboi. When he’s not writing, James lives in Los Angeles with his wonderfully supportive partner and his two recurring stress dreams. He is the author of The Long Run.