Slowcoach: A feel-good teen summer romance

By Author / Illustrator

Bethany Rutter

Genre

Romance & Relationships

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Hot Key Books

ISBN

9781471414060

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-06-2024

Synopsis

For 16-year-old Ruby, GCSEs are over and summer has just begun, so that means hanging out with her BFFs in the park on their roller skates and having fun. She didn't expect it to mean signing up to run in the Dawson Dash - a 5k race for sporty sixth-formers. Because Ruby is NOT sporty. But she really needs to prove wrong her mean brother and even meaner PE teacher about what a fat girl can do.

When Ruby starts to train, she doesn't expect that she would need help - nor that she would find it in the cute boy who has just moved in next door. As the two jog through the long summer evenings in south London's parks together, with Ollie only seeing her at her sweatiest and most vulnerable, the last thing she expected was that he might . . . like her. Or that she could allow herself to like him.

But nothing this summer is working out like she expected . . . 'Fun and fresh and quietly radical, Ruby is the heroine of dreams!' Elle McNicoll

Download Extract

Reviews

For 16 year old Ruby, the summer has finally come and GCSEs are over. It's time for her to hang out with her best friends in the park, doing a bit of roller skating and having loads of fun. As a body-confident teen, she's loving the summer.

However, after an argument with her brother, fighting about whether or not a fat girl can run, she wants to prove she can. Before she even realises, she has signed up to a 5k run called the Dawson Dash, something that exceeds her comfort zone by miles.

As she starts to train, getting herself ready for this milestone as she is not sporty at all, she doesn't think that she will need any help. But when a very cute boy, Ollie, moved in next door, he offers to train with her. The two jog together throughout the long summer evenings through the parks in the south of London, and begin to grow a bond. Since Ollie sees her at her most vulnerable, the last thing to cross her mind is that he might actually like her. Or that she could be allowed to like such a handsome boy as him back. As the novel continues, we see the pair grow together and a wonderful romance blooms.

Slowcoach not only combats stereotypes about today's society but tackles very real issues regarding mindset and body positivity / confidence, in a world where young girls can struggle with their body image.

This novel truly captures the meaning of loving your body in a joyful and warm-hearted manner that is commendable. This novel discusses themes about love, relationships, body confidence and tackling negative stereotypes. I would highly recommend this book for teenagers who may feel they struggle with body confidence due to what the world shows them via social media, for example. This novel shows them that it is okay to be who you are and no matter your body type or size. Note: This novel does contain some strong language.

224 pages / Reviewed by Morgan Harkin