Synopsis: After a very public and awkward marriage proposal, college student Sara Jensen flees to college in Arizona to escape embarrassment. Unfortunately, her new neighbor turns out to be Matt Constanello—the brother of the guy she turned down. Matt, fresh from his mission, is interested in Sara, despite the complications. Much of the story follows their evolving friendship and jogging partnership, as Sara learns to “stop running” and confront her emotions in a heartfelt college‑aged romance setting. This is a classic “lack of communication” story. This is an LDS fiction book. It mentions church, institute, family home evening, etc.

Discover The Truth About Running by Rachel John—a heartwarming LDS fiction novel that perfectly captures the emotional ups and downs of college dating, miscommunication, and learning to open your heart.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Perfectly Awkward, Perfectly Real—A College Romance Done Right 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book was such a breath of fresh air! The Truth About Running perfectly captures what it’s like to be a college student trying to figure out love, life, and whether or not you’re actually over that awkward proposal everyone keeps whispering about. Let me spill the beans, you’re not and you never will be.😅

What I loved most was how real the emotions felt. The story is such a sweet—and sometimes hilariously awkward—example of how college students (especially in the dating scene!) are absolute pros at not saying what they mean. Sara and Matt both spend so much time trying to hide their feelings, tiptoe around what they really want, and assume they know what the other person is thinking… which is exactly what makes this story so relatable! I dare any of you to match this story with your failed dating attempts. I personally have a doozy BYU relationship that could match this story step-for-step. I may even outrun it for awkward, cringe-worthy moments.

Back to the real story …

Sara and Matt running together, the slow-burn friendship, the tension, the misread signals, the avoidance, and most of all, the lack of communication—it all felt so true to life. I was smiling the whole way through. If you’ve ever liked someone and overthought everything instead of just being honest, you’ll see yourself in this book. 💛

Clean, funny, and full of heart—definitely a 5-star read!

How Most People Perceive The Truth About Running

Sweet, light, and funny, offering an easy read with realistic emotions.

Well‑developed characters, especially engaging banter and authentic feelings.

Clean romance, without explicit content—ideal for readers looking for faith‑based, family‑friendly love stories

Where to Find The TruTh About Running

The book is available in paperback and Kindle formats, often under its original title What Not to Say When You’re Running Away. I picked it up on Amazon for $2.99 in Kindle format.

Book Description for The Truth About Running by Rachel John

Shocked at a public marriage proposal from a guy she wasn’t serious about, Sara Jensen is more than ready to return to the safety of her tiny community college and her quirky, but caring, roommates. Dating can wait a while. Maybe forever. Even a handsome new neighbor won’t make her change her mind. Especially when she finds out he’s the brother of the guy she just humiliated in front of thousands of people.

Matt Constanello comes home from his mission ready for college life and dipping his toes back into the dating pool. It’s just his luck that the girl who captures his attention wants nothing to do with him.

Sara’s sure everything would be okay if they just avoided each other, but Matt’s not playing along. He’s working his way into her life as a friend and jogging partner, but it’s clear he wants more. The question is, what does she want? And can she stop running long enough to find out?

This is a revised edition, previously published as What Not To Say When You’re Running Away.

About Author Rachel John

USA Today Bestselling Author Rachel John loves to read anything with romance or humor, and thinks the best books should combine the two. She’s found that writing is the best way to burn dinner. When not writing, she’s reading, drawing, driving kids to various locations, or attempting to revive her exercise habit. Come visit Rachel on her Facebook page or Instagram. She’d love to hear from you!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racheljohnauthor

Instagram: instagram.com/racheljohnwrites/