Celia on the Run by Sarah Mandell Book Review

Nick Novaczek is a cautious soul, a 17-year old with a boring life, a predictable future, and a quiet thirst for danger. On the eve of his beloved grandmother's funeral, danger finds him by the motel swimming pool. Her name is Celia and she's everything he's not. This foul-mouthed beauty is hitchhiking across the country to make amends with her estranged father and doesn't carry an ounce of fear or hesitation in her tattered suitcase. She's bad news all around, but for a rule-follower like Nick, she's intoxicating.

Twenty-four hours after speaking to Celia for the very first time, following one extremely lucky night, Nick is hopelessly hooked and "borrows" his parents' car to join her cross-country mission, even though her story is full of holes. It's the mistake he's been waiting his whole life to make. Together, they dodge a train, jump off a bridge, and scam everyone in their path. Nick is blossoming into a teenage fugitive, just like Celia, and he's never been happier. She may not be who she says she is, but she's got his vulnerable heart.

After weeks of detours, with hundreds of miles left to go, their wild adventure starts to unravel. The money dries up, Celia's dark secrets begin to surface, and it's clear they both want vastly different things out of this partnership. Celia is all about no strings attached and severing whatever they may have between them once they reach their destination, while Nick is head over heels in love and wanting a future with the girl in his passenger seat. They seem to reach a new low on a daily basis, but she won't turn back, no matter how desperate things get. After all, this is her trip and Nick is just the driver. Celia's got a charming smile to pay her way, a willing accomplice, a hidden agenda, and an endless supply of lies. Not to mention a gun.

MY REVIEW

5 OF 5 CELIA ON THE RUN

Celia on the Run is an amazing book to read. I have to say that the cover is so eye catching that when you finally turn the pages to start reading you are so caught in the story that the characters become something more. To me I was hoping that the two main characters would see that everything they do has consequences. 

Nick is such a great character. He is as straight laced as they come. Lord the boy does not do any wrong in his life. He does not drink, smoke or give his parents any headaches like most teen boys do. Lord I loved this boy he was so perfect in every way but he had that quiet wild streak and I knew once he had a chance to explore it which is usually in college he was going to become a man and leave his boyish things behind. And boy oh boy was I right. I loved how the author took us on this ride because when Nick started the wild ride he was a little boy but at the end of the trip he became a man and I loved his character even more than ever.

Celia is a hot mess! She is hurt and determined to find her father or so she says. She has a plan but the plan did not include hooking up with Nick but when she does her life changes in ways she never knew was possible. She has lots of secrets and when some of them come out Nick will get to see a side of her that he did not see when he first met her. Through this whole experience Celia will have no choice but to decide right from wrong. She will experience her highs and lows and she will have to chose whether or not to leave the bad behind and start something real and true with Nick.

This story had me on pins and needles because I couldn't figure out whether or not Nick and Celia should be together or they should just move on. Read this story because the ending will surprise you! I know it did for me and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Mandell.

To learn more about Sarah Mandell please visit www.celiaontherun.com where you'll also find maps, road trip photo albums and soundtracks, all inspired by the debut novel.

Sarah Mandell is a professionally trained artist with a background in interior design. She's also the brains and busy hands behind a thriving indie craft business called Once Again Sam, where she sells handmade leather jewelry and quirky fiber creations online and in local shops (www.onceagainsam.com). Even with a creative career and ever-expanding collection of hobbies, she's truly the happiest when she's writing. Sarah is represented by Nine Speakers. Her publisher is Untreed Reads.