Well, the author was truly able to capture just how annoying teenagers can be. I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. While I did appreciate the music references and some of the emotional turmoil that she went through, I feel like some of the actions of the main character were just too over the top sometimes. Not for me, but others seem to like it, so I'd still recommend.

This was a very charming story about finding yourself and dealing with overwhelming grief. The book begins with the death of Nico's sister, Kristen, who had a brain aneurysm. Grief and anger consume Nico and she acts out in typical teenage ways: staying out late, drinking, being rebellious, but none of it is working or helping her. A friend makes an off hand comment that she should run away in order to get away from her parent's neglect and the shadow of her sister's death, and Nico decides to do it.

Nico's journey is heartbreaking and painful, but all those challenges eventually help her understand herself better and find her place in the world. Her story shows that there is no one way to deal with grief, everyone reacts differently and gets through it differently.

I really enjoyed all the 90s references in this book, especially the music. 90s grunge has always been one of my favorite genres and I loved how it was such a vital part of the story. It was also a delight seeing how the table of contents was structured like a record, with a Side A and Side B and songs as the titles of chapters.

There were a few things I wasn't a big fan of... Nico's voice throughout the book didn't really seem all that consistent and it was hard to believe she was a teenage girls sometimes. The "teen speak" was a bit hard to handle sometimes, I really don't think teens use the word "like" THAT much. Also, the heavy presence of sex was a little uncomfortable for me since I am an adult reading about a teenager, and I feel like it wasn't really necessary to include.

All in all, Nico's journey through loss and self-discovery was well done, even though she was presented as a very stereotypical 16 year old girl.

A very warming book about grief in Runaway Train by Lee Matthew Goldberg. While not for me, it was a good read.

I think I am not the target audience for this book (I am a middle-aged woman with a son older than the main character, Nico). However, I really enjoyed the book! Nico reminded me of a 1990''s version of Dorothy searching for Oz,, but in this case, the wizard may be Kurt Cobain. Similar to Dorothy, she meets a variety of characters with their own unique stories and motivations and along the way help put her on a path to heal and find out all can be right in the world even when there is tremendous pain and loss. In the end, there is no place as home - home can be wherever we find ourselves, surrounded by love and forgiveness of self.

The book is structured like a 1990's playlist and it brought back my own feelings and memories of these songs. These feelings helped me empathize with Nico. I at first wanted the book to end the chapter before the "bonus track" because it felt like a beautiful place to pause, but after I reluctantly read on, I did end up liking the ending.

I highly recommend this book and realized it will be a part of a series - I can't wait to read the next one!

Runaway train by Lee mathew Goldberg


TW: suicide, death, abortion, sex , drugs , alcohol and smoking .
We follow our main character Nico who has lost her sister and is afraid that she may die too . She makes a bucket list and goes on this road trip to rediscover herself .
On this trip dhe meets various people, each play a huge role in shaping her new character.

Liked - The 90s teen rebellion and angst personality was perfectly represented .
Happy ending wasn't cliche and seemed realistic .
Thr grunge music theme and how much knowledge I obtained fron this book about the 90s grunge music. As a fan of Nirvana , this book was really entertaining to me .

Disliked - 1)suicide is the easy way out and this was said about Nirvana's lead singer and really respect Kurt Cobain and this was a personal attack to me .
2) Cortney reading Kurt's suicide note to the public was just such a mess , I didn't grasp anything abd although it had the potential it just didn't evoke any emotions.
3) Winter and Jeremy didn't seem like real friends of Nico , they were so egoistic and jealous and they never truly cared about each other except for when they were high.
4)CHEATING parents troup , I'm tired of this boring troup , I've seen it enough and I'm just bored of it
5)Nico never says the word lesbian like it's a forbidden word and she's always like " do your. ....?". This is just straight up homophobic. ( Yes she has a gay bestfriend but that doesn't change it )
6) Thr BIGGEST PROBLEM in this book was CONSENT , nothing Nico does sexually was consented in this book. She goes to making out with Jeremy whose gay ,even though he kept pulling away. She kisses Sam , who doesn't want to kiss anyone before he is married . This wrong idea of consent is a huge problem according to me. This idea is what contributes largely to the huge number of sexual assault cases . I know that in most YA books they're not like "can I kiss you ?" But they give signs and that makes it alright according to me.
I can't believe just five hours ago I would have given this book 4 stars .

Oh this book. It made me feel so many things! It took me right back to my adolescence. The anger, self-loathing, the resentment for my parents, the pressure from my friends, feeling lost - it all came flooding back.

Nico's older sister died suddenly from a brain aneurism in 1993. She believes this to be a hereditary trait and fears the same may happen to her in a year's time. So she runs away from home with her Bucket List in hand, in pursuit of as many life experiences as she can have.

In the afterward, the author explains this novel is "a love letter to grunge music" and that came through loud and clear. I was two years younger than Nico at this same time in the 90's. The music she loves, that's on every page of this book, shaped my life too and still resonates with me. I loved having that shared experience with her. I could understand her in a way that doesn't happen much for me with characters. Even though my adolescence was much different from hers, so many themes are Universal - wanting to belong, fear of the future, not feeling understood by your family. This is all heavy stuff and Goldberg captures it well while chronicling an important time in music history.

The beginning and end were strongest, the middle meandered a bit too much and the writing got repetitive at times. While I related to Nico, she was also incredibly annoying, which makes her such a realistic character. I alternated between rooting for her and wanting her to give up on the whole thing and go home!

This is a young adult novel, so I'm obviously not the intended audience. I wonder what a teenager would think of this story today and whether Nico would be relatable. I suspect she would. I highly recommend this for readers of coming of age stories and music history.

In the beginning, I found it hard to really immerse myself in the book. I could not relate to Nico much, which made it difficult to connect. However, as the book progressed, I found myself becoming more invested in the story. I love a good life-changing road-trip!

Nico's mental illness was very well-written, and the way she slowly progresses to understanding and overcoming it is very realistic. I also loved the conclusion; and that Nico is still in the process of healing.

The 90's vibe wasn't a very imminent factor for me. (I am not American, so the references weren't something I related to.) Overall the book was pretty good!

“This book is a love letter to grunge music,” the author Lee Matthew Goldberg said himself in the acknowledgement, and it’s so true. For us who are old enough to have experienced the 1990s ourselves this book was an amazing walk down memory lane. It was also such a poignant, heartbreaking and emotional book about a troubled teen dealing with her demons, about hitting rock bottom and finding herself along an epic road trip. Ultimately, it’s a book about healing, seeing the good in people and believing in yourself.

Nico’s older sister died of a brain aneurysm one morning just before her 17th birthday, and left Nico and her parents devastated with grief. Nico also believed that she would face the same destiny and while being neglected by her parents, she spiraled down the wrong path; drinking, smoking, skipping school and acting out. Eventually, she even took her friend’s advice and ran away, going on a road trip to check off the items on her bucket list and see the house of her idol, Kurt Curtain, before she’d face death like her sister.

I struggled a bit at first to root for Nico. I felt for her and could see the strain she was under and the demons she had to deal with, but I nevertheless couldn’t really stomach the rude way she treated people who were trying to help her, or the way she threw herself at any guy that came in her way. But after a while she found her way in to my heart somehow. And she did show some amazing character growth along the way. I’m also a sucker for all the music references and the places she visited along her road trip.

This was a truly heartbreaking book at times. Nico went through so much, and there were so many ups and downs, so much pain and grief, and the real and honest way it explored mental illness, drug abuse, self-harm, parental neglect and recklessness made it very tough and sometimes upsetting to read. I had the heart in my mouth almost all the way through, so scared for what crazy thing Nico would do next or what someone might do to her. But it was also a book that had so much joy and magical experiences, like learning to surf and ticking off some of Nico’s bucket list items (trying not to spoil anything here, so keeping it very vague…) and so many people that reached out to her out of goodness. In the end, I wouldn’t call it a sad story, but rather a raw and honest coming-of-age-story that was also full of hope.

All in all, Runaway Train was a wild and wonderful ride. I had to take breaks reading it when things got too intense, but I already know that it will become one of those stories that stays with me for a long time. The writing style had such a wonderful flow and authenticity, and the concept with the chapter titles being the songs on Nico’s mixtape was brilliant in the way each song matched the mood of the chapter. I’m so happy for this lover letter to Kurt Cobain and grunge music, and believe that this book will make a new generation discover the wonderful music I grew up listening to.

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the ARC and blog tour invitation for this wonderful book! All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

TW: Suicide references, depression, drug taking

This book was like a love letter to 90's grunge culture and Nirvana.

And I was here for it.

Runaway Train follows Nico on her quest to find herself and her identity after her sister's abrupt death and her parent's neglect and fighting. She runs away on a road trip that would take her from her hometown all the way to Seattle, the capital of the grunge music scene with only a Walkman and a bucket list full of the things Nico has always wanted to do. What she doesn't expect in her wild journey are the people that she meets and the crazy events that happen along the way.

From start to finish I really liked this book. It kept me sucked in until the end and never once was I bored. I liked the pacing of the story and the writing style where Nico's voice and character really shone through. She was angry, upset and still reeling after her sister's death. She was still figuring out how to deal with the emotional weight of those events and it was almost like you could see the character development unfold before your very eyes. At the start she barely had any idea where she was heading, she hated school and was planning on dropping out and she didn't have any hobbies or talents she was passionate about pursuing yet. By the end of the book all of that changed in a way that was thoughtful and showed her healing process, paying tribute to past events that have shaped her identity and sense of self.

Whilst identity and healing were the main themes of the book, Runaway Train wouldn't have been what it was without grunge and 90's influences. Whilst reading my digital copy, I couldn't help but put Nirvana, Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam on repeat, letting Kurt Cobain's voice immerse me even more into the story. I once went through a grunge phase during my early teenage years which I think helped me appreciate this book even more.

I also liked how Lee Matthew Goldberg navigated the story and the interesting cast of characters we meet along the way. We have a member of a Christian Youth Group, a band member from a grunge band called Grenade Bouquets and we also have a Mother Love Bone loving character that may have been a little too eccentric when showing Nico how much he cared for her. I was interested in all the characters Goldberg presented which really helped this book shine.

ACTUAL RATING: 4.3 STARS

This book speaks about overcoming a loss of a sister, finding the own way and daring to change the own life.
Nico is 16 years old and her sister has dead. Her parents have decided to suffer her loss separately, so Nico is alone. His life has been spinning around self-destruction: drugs, sex and alcohol. Her friends are in the same situation, on the wrong side to solve the problems. To try to find her way, Nico decides to go on a trip to fulfill the wishes of her list. That's where her change will begin.
To be honest, I don't like the kind of people like Nico: too problematic, too selfish, too dumb. But I understand that each person expresses his/her suffering in different ways.
I have to say that the book is very well written and very interesting. Some parts were very hard to believe in. The pacing of the storytelling is perfect. The story isn't boring and has a lot of musical references. Personally, I love it when in the book there are so many songs and different artists. (Kurt Cobain is the star)
This was a nice read, and I was really happy for Nico at the end.
I, definitely, will love to read the sequel of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC and to Lee Matthew Goldberg for writing this lovely story.

I really liked this book but found it hard to relate. I think it had something to do with it being set in the early 90s as well as all of the characters being so far outside of my own personality. Are Winter and Jeremy terrible friends or great friends I couldn't tell?
I loved Nicos coming of age story and the way it was told. The setting was so unique for me and something not written about and as someone who never lived it so it was really cool to read about it.

Nico's life changes the moment she finds out that her older sister, Kristen has died suddenly from an aneurysm on Halloween 1993.  Nico is still reeling from finding out about the death of River Phoenix and spirals out of control.  With her parents dealing with their own issues, Nico turns to her best friends, Winter and Jeremy who encourage Nico to fulfill her own bucket list which includes an epic road trip to visit Kurt Cobain's home before an aneurysm takes her too. 

Runaway Train is a young adult coming of age story set within the Grunge scene of the 1990's.  Nico's character is a wonderful embodiment of a teenager in 1993, deeply emotional, but not knowing how to express themselves and finding their outlets in the lyrics of the Grunge greats that helped define the movement and generation.  I could easily picture Nico and her friends' style, demeanor and rooms through the writing.  I absolutely loved that each of the chapters was titled after a specific song, it helped to set the mood and tone of the scene and provided insight into Nico's emotional state. It would have been perfect if the ebook could have had links right in the chapter to play the songs along with it. Nico's journey could only take place in the 1990's and the writing totally nailed the 90's vibe.  I was intrigued with each of Nico's stops on her trip and what she accomplished in coming to terms with her sister's death and moving forward. Nico's road trip was a wonderful tool to explore her grief, reasons for self-destruction and eventually finding herself.  
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

This novel y'all! The adventure, the pain, the discovery, the love. It was everything I wanted. I had so many emotions coming out of this and Goldberg did a wonderful job at channeling this loss and really making something out of it. The characters blended with each other beautifully and Nico was such a flawed character. She owned the flaws and really did test who was on her side. It was such a rollercoaster and when this book is released on April 29th, 2021, I would pick up a copy and immerse yourself in the world of grunge and road trips!

**Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review!

The 90s and grunge are alive again right here! The topic is heavy (death of a 17 year old) the plot evolves over time. the character development is on point.

A coming of age book set in the 90's when grunge music ruled.
Runaway Train is a mix of things including our main character 16 year old Nico coming of age and finding herself after the death of a sibling.
Her parents are neglectful and her life is spinning dangerously out of control. Substance abuse amongst her and her friends is frequent.
It's time for her to split the scene and leave LA behind while grabbing her bucket list and listening to the 9o's hits.

Expected publication: April 29th 2021 by Wise Wolf
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I would like to start off by thanking NetGalley for giving me an early copy of this book. Definitely more of a three point five rating as opposed to just a three star book.

After reading Burnt Sugar and having a really negative experience and truthfully just a hard time getting through those two hundred pages, I was looking for something I little lighter and quicker to get through, and this book was exactly that.

Runaway Train mixes music with a teenage girl, Nico's, journey to cross items off her bucket list, cope with the loss of her sister, and maybe find herself along the way. While at times, some of the things sixteen-year-old Nico said actually caused me to outwardly cringe, I really enjoyed this story. I found the integration of music and a mixtape in particular, to really add to the story. I found that I could relate to her sadness and I understand how music could help when nothing else seems to work.

I also really enjoyed Nico's development. We didn't just see her as a surly, angry teen one minute and then all grown up the next. We got to really explore her feelings every single chapter, both the highs and the lows, as she struggled with her own inner demons. So by the time we reach the end of her road trip, as readers we are really able to appreciate where she is because of where we knew she had been. It truly is a beautiful journey.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick fun read that makes you appreciate life despite all of its ups and downs.

I couldn't stand the protagonist, Nico, but I really dug the story. I vaguely remember the grunge era and I am into some of the same bands, so it did connect to me on that level. Overall, I am not sure I will remember the story a year from now, but it was an enjoyable read.

It's the early 90's when the grunge scene was at its strongest. Nico, a 16 year old girl dedicated to the scene suffers the tragic loss of her sister leaving Nico alone and acting out from the heartbreak. Out of time and out of patience she turns to the only thing she thinks can help: a road trip to her idols house, bucket list in hand to cross off experiences she feels she needs the most.

I was very drawn to this book based on the description, being a child of the 90's myself I could relate fairly well to Nico and her thoughts/feelings and love of grunge. overall I'm very happy I got the chance to read this. I devoured it in just over a day, it's an easy story to get swept up in! It's heartbreaking, raw and exhilarating all at the same time. I wish I could have read this book when I was a teen, but even now it carries a nostalgia and some excellent reminders about life, love, and heartbreak.

There is only one negative thing I can say about this book, and that is simply that I wish Nico's voice was more consistent throughout. Her way of speaking and acting change often, sometimes for the worse and it gets a bit rough pushing through the "teen speak"

Overall a 3.5 from me, though if I had read it when I was younger (or if her narrative lost the "teen speak" (overusing the word "like", odd phrases that don't make sense etc) it'd be a 4.5

This was my first introduction to the author and I will certainly be waiting for more. Thank you to booksirens and netgalley for providing me with an advance copy giving me the opportunity to voice my honest review

I was drawn to Runaway Train because of the beautiful cover and the 90s grunge setting, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. A lot of times music and pop culture references can feel really forced, but the songs highlighted at the beginning of each chapter enhanced the story for me, especially because I love most of these songs myself and was obsessed with Courtney Love as a teen.

The main character, Nico is dealing with the sudden death of her sister, Kristen, and disaffected parents, and has been spending her days getting high and crying about River Phoenix's death with her grungy friends. She feels that the only person who can understand her level of pain is Kurt Cobain. Scared that she doesn't have a future, Nico runs away to complete a bucket list and learns a lot about herself and her own power and agency in the process. As Stairway to Heaven states, "there's still time to change the road you're on."

I want to give this book to my teen self because it imparts many lessons that would have benefited me while still being cool AF.

When I picked up this book, I expected a common YA coming-of-age story, the kind with superficial problems that would be quickly resolved. But it was anything but that. Nico's entire life gets upside down and she doesn't know how to deal with that, so we're thrown in her reality of parent neglect, deep grieving and extreme choices, as she tries to figure herself out.

Even though she was a little hard to embrace at the beggining, I really liked how nico was portrayed, with her rawness and honesty, swimming in a world of pain at only sixteen years old, with her own immature opinions side by side with her already difficult to deal with life experiences. Her parents were really well written, I think, with all their mistakes and the neglect, not going with the whole 'family above everything' cliche. The overall sadness in the story is not the kind that makes you cry at every page turned, but the kind that grabs your heart and makes you ache for the characters. In many ocasions I just hoped someone could give Nico a hug.

As a 00's kid, the references were a little too much for me at the beggining, as I didn't know most of the bands and people she was talking about, but as the story went on, it depended less ans less of these memories, and I could keep up with it.

The ending made a lot of sense on its own, and, while I will definitely look for the second book, if you're the kind of reader that doesn't like continuations you can start this one safely as it closes the story very well. Just make sure you're comfortable with the general theme and aware of the triggers it may have.