Slow Burn

Gr 9 Up–Set in southeast London the ­summer before sixth form, Rutter’s big-hearted rom-com centers joy, resilience, and body ­positivity. Sixteen-year-old Ruby is comfortable in her own skin, even if others—including her older brother Jake, now off at Oxford, and a dismissive PE teacher—try to convince her otherwise. Her summer plans are simple: long afternoons at the skate park with friends. But when Jake’s casual ­cruelty cuts too deep, Ruby impulsively enters the Dawson Dash 5K. She’ll prove that fat girls can run while setting an example for her 10-year-old sister, Sasha. Training for the race is demanding, and Ruby quickly discovers that determination alone won’t get her to the finish line. Support arrives in the form of Ollie, the affable boy next door, whose encouragement pushes her to confront both physical challenges and deeper insecurities. Their playful banter evolves into a tender connection that never overshadows Ruby’s own journey of self-acceptance. Rutter skillfully balances humor with realism, grounding Ruby’s story in a loving, if imperfect, family life marked by recent parental separation. Readers seeking a fresh, affirming love story will find Ruby irresistible.