Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: New Adult Romance
Length: 443 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Amazon
Release Date: January 4th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When Josie Jensen, an awkward 13-year-old musical prodigy crashes headlong into new-comer Samuel Yazzie, an 18-year-old Navajo boy full of anger and confusion, an unlikely friendship blooms. Josie teaches Samuel about words, music and friendship, and along the way finds a kindred spirit.

Upon graduation, Samuel abandons the sleepy, small town in search of a future and a life, leaving his young friend behind. Many years go by and Samuel returns, finding Josie in need of the very things she offered him years before. Their roles reversed, Samuel teaches Josie about life, love, and letting go.

Deeply romantic and poignant, Running Barefoot is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind them to their homes and families, and the love that gives them wings.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

Good heavens. Amy Harmon is already one of my top 5 favorite authors EVER. And there’s very few backlist books I haven’t gotten to yet. This was one of them and let me tell y’all, it was just as amazing as I could have hoped for (and I loved the audiobook).

This story is full of young love, a lot of heart break, and the power of reconnection and that deep soul bond that can form with someone. I loved Samuel and Josie’s story. It has the aura of innocence (without crossing any lines) that breaks away (years later) into this match that was always meant to be. Easily found myself tearing up, as one does when reading Harmon books, and the beauty of her words.

A super romantic story. An amazing character in Josie, who’s had to do so much for so many others that she forgets to do something for herself. And Samuel who rises from his own turmoil to become the person he wanted to be for Josie. THIS IS LOVE. It is incredible.

Overall audience notes:

• New Adult Romance
• Language: a little
• Romance: kisses
• Violence: medium
• Trigger/Content Warnings: domestic abuse (off page), animal birth, loss of multiple loved ones, a loved one with dementia, brief war mentions

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