Girl on the Run by Jane Costello

This book was a birthday present from a friend, and it has taken me a while to get round to reading it but it was certainly worthwhile once I had!

Although the back of the book’s description didn’t especially draw me in, and the first few chapters (they are only about three pages each) were a bit slow going, the story was actually not as predictable as I expected.

Abby Rogers, the main, character is a young business woman who has recently set up a web design company in Liverpool. The story revolves around the challenges she faces as an entrepreneur, however, although most of the issues stem from work, it certainly isn’t where they stay. After one of her employees drops an unexpected bombshell, Abby is driven to do something she fears more than anything – get fit and get running. To help her along the way she joins her best friend Jess’ running club where the running becomes the least of her worries (well almost).

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, although it still has all the elements of chick-lit that you would expect the main character and the situations are generally believable whilst still being entertaining. Unlike in a lot of similar books where the main character tends to be a bit ditzy and obsessed with shopping etc., Abby is a believable 28 year-old; she’s intelligent, hard-working and trying to do the right thing and have a good time. It was also nice to read a book set in England that wasn’t based in London for a change.

The story has a few surprises, and once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and struggled to put it down on more than one occasion. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, as well as anyone on a health kick as think it could be pretty motivational.

8/10