Thanks Net Galley for allowing me to read this pre-publish day for my review. Alison has split from her girlfriend, left her job, moved back home to Sheffield and to top all that stolen her ex’s Cat Malcolm. She is back in touch with her childhood friend Jeremy who is also recovering from a break up. They decide that they could get their ex’s back by doing a Marathon! Not that Ally can run but grudgingly agrees! I’m afraid this just wasn’t my cup of tea and didn’t end up finishing the book. I couldn’t connect with Ally at all. The fact that this is also a decent sized book I decided to not complete it.

Ally and Jeremy were childhood friends, bonded more closely after they both came out as teens. Now both adults and both drifting and heartbroken, they have returned to their childhood homes. They spend their days eating, smoking and plotting ways to impress and win back their exes. They alight on a plan to train for and run a half marathon, and join a running group run by the enthusiastic Jo. Ally emails her ex Emily, recounting the highs and lows of their relationship. And as her and Jo become closer, she revels in Emily's jealousy. But this is a plan set to backfire and to hurt someone who doesn't deserve it. As the race day arrives, Jeremy and Ally are sick with nerves, but to their surprise they both complete the race and come to the realisation that in having a goal they have ditched the need to impress anyone but themselves. As we catch up with them both four months later, they are in a better place, and for the first time in a long time, the future looks bright. A story about friendship, about self-worth and daring to dream, this was a light-hearted and heartwarming story.

Malcolm the cat, an excess of comfort eating and unplanned hangovers figure heavily as Ally tries to come to terms with separation from her girlfriend, Emma. Having returned to her dads in Sheffield, Ally is soon re-acquainted with an old friend, the also jilted Jeremy, who persuades her that running the Sheffield half-marathon is a sure way to woo-back their respective ex-partners! This story clips along at a good pace, has plenty of positive characters, and so long as you don’t mind the constant stream of cliches and stereotypes, provides a fun, upbeat read that has a distinctly YA vibe. As books go, it didn’t quite hit the spot for me, but it made me smile and the final half-marathon scene was hilarious.

I wouldn’t go so far to say I didn’t like it, because if that was the case I wouldn’t have finished it. The main character was super annoying at times and made it difficult to read. I kind of wish it had focused more on the romance and less on running. Not something I’d re read but it’s decent for a holiday book.

I found this book an easy chilled read. The story line was easy to follow which was just what I needed at the moment! I loved Ally in this book, the way that her relationships changed and developed throughout the book. I did grow to hate Emily as I read the book which to me shows great writing skill, embroiling you with the characters! I enjoyed the rekindling of Ally’s friendship with Jeremy and how they helped each other along their heartbreak. I also enjoyed the running aspe Cx of this book although I was gutted at the end I would have loved to have read they had continued this! Part of the book had typos with certain parts of se t’ancra missing which was a little annoying and left me wondering what I’d missed!! On all a 3 star book. Anyone who likes a romance read will enjoy! With thanks to Net Galley and Quercus Books for allowing me to read an eARC of The Split for an honest review. ************************************************************ Brutally dumped by her girlfriend, Ally is homeless, friendless and jobless... but at least she has Malcolm. Wounded and betrayed, Ally has made off with the one thing she thinks might soothe the pain: Emily's cat. After a long train journey she arrives home to her dad in Sheffield, ready to fold herself up in her duvet and remain on the sofa for the foreseeable. Her dad has other ideas. A phone call later, and Ally is reunited with her first ever beard and friend of old, Jeremy. He too is broken-hearted and living at home again. In an inspired effort to hold each other up, the pair decide to sign up for the local half marathon in a bid to impress their exes with their commitment and athleticism. Given neither of them can run, they enlist the support of athletic, not to mention beautiful, Jo. But will she have them running for the hills... or will their ridiculous plan pay off...?