PARENTS MAGAZINE’S “2024 ULTIMATE SUMMER READING LIST FOR TEENS AND TWEENS” (1 OF 7 RECOMMENDED BOOKS)
FIRST FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE’S “10 YA NOVELS THAT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A TEENAGER AGAIN”
WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE’S WD READ SERIES PICK
REGIS HIGH SCHOOL (NEW YORK, NY) SUMMER 2024 READING RECOMMENDATION
PRAISE FOR EMILY LOCKER’S
RUNNING MATES
"A sheer delight."
—JANE STARTZ, EMMY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER
“Charming, fast-paced, and heartwarming story of young love facing political discord and parental expectations. Locker captures the complexities of ideology meeting real life.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“RUNNING MATES is a fun, exhilarating sprint from start to finish. With a pitch-perfect blend of drama, humor, and romance, author Emily Locker takes readers on an exciting romp with a couple whose star-crossed love story crackles with chemistry and will-they-won’t-they tension. Annabelle’s struggle to chart a path through a politically polarized world to get to her happily-ever-after is timely and sure to be relatable to teen readers weary of simplistic stories about good vs. evil. Simmering with passion, and woven with rich detail, RUNNING MATES is a brisk and gripping read sure to sweep readers into a sweet love story as beautiful as any fairy tale.”
—SOMAN CHAINANI, AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL SERIES
“Charming, fast-paced, and heartwarming story of young love facing political discord and parental expectations. Locker captures the complexities of ideology meeting real life.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Running Mates is a novel perfect for modern times, reflecting the opportunities, anguish, and attitudes which stem from a small town facing a major clash between liberal and conservative elements… Locker's ability to evolve not just a political perspective, but a personal one which is still able to embrace love and relationships makes for a remarkably non-judgmental, compelling coming-of-age saga that all ages will appreciate.”
—MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW (D. DONOVAN, SENIOR REVIEWER)
"Tender, big-hearted, and totally funny."
– JESSICA GOODMAN, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THEY WISH THEY WERE US, THEY'LL NEVER CATCH US, THE COUNSELORS, AND THE LEGACIES
“A romantic comedy that’s funny, provocative, and heart-opening. Locker shows that love is the best unifier.”
– TAMARA CHESTNA, WRITER OF SUCH FILMS AS SOMETHING FROM TIFFANY'S, SNEAKERELLA, AND MOXIE
“A poignant journey of young love in polarized America with a fun modern twist on Romeo & Juliet.”
– DEBORAH SWISHER AND MARTY SCOTT, WRITERS OF THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY TV SERIES
“Evokes all the real feelings of thrilling, spinning young love. A feisty, romantic must-read.”
– ELIZABETH ALLEN, EMMY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR OF PURPLE HEARTS, SNEAKERELLA, AND RAMONA AND BEEZUS
“This is a really funny and heartwarming read that YA and romance readers alike will enjoy. Anna, our protagonist, provided some real laugh-out-loud moments. Even though she’s a little annoying at the start, kind of bullish in her beliefs, we get to watch her evolve over the course of the book to become a more open and thoughtful person. Gabe is a hottie (though I feel bad saying it considering this is a high school novel). He has an equanimity that Anna sorely needs, and meanwhile, her confidence helps him develop a strong backbone in his own life. The side characters here are great as well. I really hope the author continues this as a series so we can see what happens to them! The world-building is also great, in that I developed a clear image of this North Carolina town, and came to love the little shops and small-town feel. Overall, if you want a light, heartfelt, and funny read, I recommend picking up Running Mates. Five stars!”
—JULIE NUSBAUM, “JULIE READS ROMANCE”
“This book was great! I loved both the cast of characters and the message throughout—that opposite viewpoints can be beneficial. This is particularly important in today's political climate. Anna's growth throughout the book is relatable to students, especially those worrying about college and where they fit in. I can't wait to add this book to my classroom library!”
—ASHLEY SARVIS, TEACHER, HURON, SD
“This whole novel reminded me a little of The Outsiders mixed with the movie The Duff. Also a little Romeo and Juliet, but with political parties instead of families. Once it got going, I really liked the dialogue and the lighthearted tone of the novel. Really well done!”
— KRISTEN SOCKBESON, NURSING STUDENT, HUSSON UNIVERSITY
“Running Mates is perfect for fans of Red, White, and Royal Blue. Annabelle and Gabe are children of opposing political parties in a town split between Northside (conservative) and Eastside (liberal) who form a friendship while engaging in extra training to increase their viability for college recruitment. They start to form a friendship and begin to challenge one another in their ideologies while becoming close to one another's family and friends. But will their differences prove to be too strong? And what happens when there are more to some of the events in the town than originally were apparent? Running Mates does a great job of showing what it is to come to terms with your own identity and beliefs, especially in the shadows of political parentage.”
—KAYLA RENAUD, FL. MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR
“Running Mates, by Emily Locker, is a fun opposites-attract YA novel with classic The Outsiders and Romeo and Juliet vibes. A current-day novel, it pits one group against another, with some of the high school students willing to bridge the gap. With families opposing, will they be successful? There is also a bit of mystery thrown into the mix (what is really going on at the local bookstore?).”
— LAURA MATHIS, HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATOR
“Running Mates is a YA debut novel that deals with plenty of different topics such as workers’ rights, youth activism, and homophobia. I loved the friendships between the characters, particularly those between Anna and Sam and Anna and Del, and how the author portrayed the relationship between Anna and Gabe. I loved how they both helped each other find their true selves.”
—SARAH FABBRO, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, OTTAWA, ONT
“While this is a YA book for sure, and I have a horrible time connecting with young main characters, this was a very cute read. I just imagined it as a Hallmark-y type book and boom! I loved it.”
—MARLEE DANCY, PUBLIC LIBRARIAN, MURFREESBORO, TN
“Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re thrilled to introduce our next WD Read series pick, RUNNING MATES by Emily Locker. This debut rom-com is a Romeo & Juliet story for modern times. It's a heartwarming story about love, friendship, and finding common ground in a divided world, as two teenagers from opposing families fall for each other — hard.”
—WOMAN’S DAY MAGAZINE
“Emily Locker and I allegedly met at Westmoreland nursery school — and now I have the honor of interviewing her 2/14/24 about her debut, and very good (!), YA book.”
—ASHLEY PARKER, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING SENIOR NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR THE WASHINGTON POST
“Running Mates by Emily Locker is a contemporary romance that promises to delight readers this Valentine’s Day 2024. In a plot reminiscent of the Romeo and Juliet classic, Locker explores themes of love, friendship, and reconciliation in a divided world. When Annabelle Morningstar and Gabe Delgado, two young people from opposing political backgrounds, fall in love in the midst of a polarized city, they face the challenge of reconciling their differences while discovering common ground. With an engaging and timely narrative, Running Mates promises to be a captivating read that goes beyond the conventional boundaries of romance.”
—POPSIZEUK
“If you enjoyed Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue or even watched the movie adaptation, then look no further for your next book. Debut author Emily Locker’s Running Mates is a Romeo & Juliet-style story involving politics, cute rom-com moments, and a heartwarming coming-of-age tale… With humor and verve, this engaging novel provides insight into the complexities of political divides, relationships, and the difficulties of compromise.”
—HER CAMPUS, THE LEADING MEDIA PLATFORM DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING COLLEGE WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE
“Running Mates is definitely a 5 out 5! Not only because it is thought-provoking, but it challenges the way one thinks about political views. It certainly did for me. And it takes it up a notch. Running Mates challenges us the reader to view the world we live in and decide if it’s really black or white, blue or red, conservative or liberal; or can we learn to see past our differences and get along? Running Mates is a real look into today's political environment and a definite must read.”
—Reedsy Discovery
“Sweet, cute, and fun, RUNNING MATES makes for a great spring-break or summer-beach read.”
—Lindsey Turnbull, Host, What Am I Doing Here Anyway Podcast
“She’s the daughter of a liberal pundit. He’s the son of a big-shot Republican senator. Now they’re stuck training together, hoping to help their college chances. What could go wrong? The world needs civil discourse, and author Emily Locker, a psychotherapist by trade working with college and high school students, shows us the way through this lovely little YA romance.”
— REGIS HIGH SCHOOL (NEW YORK, NY) SUMMER READING RECOMMENDATION, SUMMER 2024
“One of ten YA books adults will love to read… and one of our favorites.”
—FIRST FOR WOMEN MAGAZINE
2023-12-16
Two love-struck teens cross the political divide in this debut.
Edgartown, North Carolina, is split between its liberal Eastside and conservative Northside. Instilled with progressive values by her moms, Annabelle Morningstar, who’s cued white, embodies her neighborhood: She’s an executive committee member of the Liberal Liaisons, eats vegan, and is aiming for the Ivy League. But when her grades make these ambitions appear out of reach, she focuses on cross-country, joining a weekly conditioning club for student athletes who hope to be recruited by colleges. The program is organized by “quintessential Northside boy” Gabe Delgado, son of a Cuban American Republican senator. The closer Anna gets to the “tall, dark, and handsome” Gabe, the more her seemingly unshakable beliefs shift, even as she tries to merge their worlds—with sometimes disastrous results. Meanwhile, a student-led boycott strikes Anna’s favorite indie bookstore after the owner prevents the store’s employees from unionizing amid unsavory rumors. Can Anna find the courage to seek the truth and fall in love, just like in the romance novels she devours? Though Locker’s tackling of pervasive ideological differences is commendable, her commentary on U.S. politics falls flat due to an overreliance on farcical depictions; this element feels like a satirical novel without the satire. Furthermore, the bookstore conflict inexplicably fades away toward the latter half. Thankfully, the cutesy budding romance that makes up the bulk of the narrative hits all the right notes.
Stay for the likable romance; skip the politics. (Fiction. 12-18)
