Sandy is a runaway who lives on the streets of High Hills. Max is a PR executive who buys her a coffee every day. When Max doesn't show up for a few days, Sandy begins to worry about him, and decides to find him and make sure he is OK. When she does, she discovers that his life isn't as good as she expected it was, that in fact Max is currently in a psychiatric hospital. Their friendship begins to blossom as Sandy helps Max through the toughest time of his life, but Sandy's past continues to haunt her. This novel delved into the realities of life as a runaway, living on the streets wondering where your next meal will come from. But mostly this is a story about hope, and how just one individual can change the course of another's life. I really liked Sandy, despite her rather eccentric upbringing she had a good heart and I thought her friendship with Max had an authentic feel to it, it was plausible enough that I could really believe that he would open his house and his life to her as he did. I liked how they were beneficial to each other, despite being relative strangers in the beginning. The plot could possibly have had a few more twists, it could have been livened up a little, but overall a very enjoyable read. (LO)
In That Day in June, by Martina Reilly, sometimes running away will bring you right back where you started. The summary says: "Sandy and Max are unlikely friends. Sandy is a runaway, who has left her unhappy past behind and now roams the streets of High Hills. Max is a high-flying PR executive, a man about town, a mover and shaker. The only reason he brings Sandy a daily coffee is because he feels sorry for her, isn't it? And then Max disappears, and when Sandy tracks him down, she discovers that maybe his life isn't that amazing after all... Max has lost everything: friends, career - and all he has left is the truth about the man he really is. Two opposites, Sandy and Max might be made for each other but before they can find happiness, they need first of all to confront the truth about what happened in their lives on that day in June, all those years ago..." That Day in June is out in May 2015.