Running Barefoot
- by: Amy Harmon
- Apr 20, 2015
- 3 min read
4.5 Stars! Another Wonder by Amy Harmon!
When I saw that this was Amy Harmon’s first published novel, I was shocked. This does not read like a debut. The writing is fantastic. This is a beautiful story of love, loss, music and most importantly, friendship. It’s the journey of two young people and the strong impact that their unlikely friendship had on their lives.
Josie Jensen is a young girl who has a lot of responsibility for her age. She’s thirteen now, but ever since she was a child, she’s pretty much ran her house. Ever since her mother passed, she took on the cooking, some of the cleaning, and taking care of her dad and brothers. Josie is such a special girl. She is wise beyond her years. She is a musician, a reader and a dreamer.
Then there is Samuel. Samuel is eighteen and goes to the same school as Josie. His senior year of high school, they get assigned to the same seat on the school bus. From there, the most unlikely of friendships evolve. Josie opens Samuels eyes to literature such as Shakespeare, and music. He realizes he loves classical like Josie. Samuel is a quiet and stand-offish man. He’s different than everyone around him. He is half Navajo and doesn’t feel like he fits in anywhere. Except when he’s with Josie. After spending the year becoming close friends, Samuel graduates and enters the Marines. For the near 10 years he’s gone, lots happens in his and Josie’s lives. Even though they were apart, they’ve never forgotten about one another. Their friendship was invaluable to Samuel. It shaped the man he became. Even though Samuel lost touch with Josie, he explains why.
“You were so young, and the feelings between us were too intense. I found myself thinking about you like you were my girl. Then I would remember how young you were...”
But Josie is not a child any more. She is a grown woman. A grown woman who has been through a lot this past decade. She has changed in some ways, but deep down, she’s still the girl Samuel knew all those years ago.
“You’re not thirteen anymore, and I’m not eighteen. It’s a damn good thing.”
Samuel is back for a short time, but their feelings for each other were always so intense, their connection so strong and real, it’s easy to pick up where they left off.I love a good second chance romance and a friends to lovers tale. Although there were several moments of tragedy that were heart breaking, for the most part, this book left my heart happy and left me with a big smile on my face. I was fascinated by all the information on music, as well as the Navajo culture. This was a story that really touched me and I won’t soon forget. The friendship, the romance, the characters, the story, the writing, I loved it all. If you’re looking for a beautiful and engaging story with a lot of love and a lot of heart, this is one I would recommend.
“You’re... home. That’s what you’ve been for me ever since I met you. The note I could hear even when it wasn’t being played. The one I gravitated towards all these years.”
“Am I the girl you love best?” “You’re not the girl I love best, Josie. You’re the only girl I’ve ever loved.”
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