Runaway is the 5th book in the Empire High series. I have enjoyed this series so far and was excited to be able to read this book. This book is about Brooklyn. Brooklyn is left brokenhearted when Matthew breaks her heart.

We learn what happened, and about other characters in this series. This one wasn't my favorite, but I would like to continue on in the series and see what happens next.

I have just finished this book (book 5 in this series) and to say that I am frustrated would be an understatement. WHEN IS IT OVER?!
We leave off AGAIN with a cliffhanger. Upon checking the series now, there are 7 books currently. Are you freaking kidding me? You think after investing hours of my life I will continue in what feels like a black hole? Books 4&5 feel like pointless books. BuT wE lEaRn MoRe AbOuT oUr MaIn ChArAcTeRs oh give me a break; with the amount of inner dialog the author shoves into each book we already knew them completely by book 1.
We are forced to read about Miller and Brooklyn who are married, have a child, are together for 16+ years!! All the while knowing that they will not end up together. How do we know this? Because Matt is the endgame, and everyone knows that. So what is the point?
I am going to rate it 3 stars simply because I liked the setting of the book and there was some sweet moments with our main characters. However, I am not happy, and I believe our characters deserved better. I am now going to skim the next 2 books to see what the ending is, if there is one at all. Probably another cliffhanger.

Ivy Smoak has pretty much disappointed me with this book. Usually the books are well crafted and poignant, but this one feels like we are chasing a rabbit down a hole. And since we are now at book five, it should be less about the chase. We have already been reeled in, we don't need the silly games to keep us enthralled! We are here! You have us! Now you have to keep us! And when we, the readers, are hoping for and expecting one thing, and are given a complete other thing, you know full well it is going to cause a ruckus. I'm sorry to say, I am one of those people that was not truly satisfied with the direction of this book, and then it ended on a cliffhanger which made it all the worse. Hopefully the next book will bring us back on course.

Empire High Runaway is the perfect high school romance book. I will be recommending this to my followers who are obsessed with romance. Suck a fun summer read!

Sigh. I was super sad with book 3 and book 4 I was like ok time jump but it was a lot. Then the end cam and I called it. I just knew.

Now we're here book 5 and I was over it. I've never liked Brooklyn she is winy and makes the dumbest decisions now we get a recap of the end of book 3-4 and I feel like the author messed up the timeline and of course here she goes making the dumbest decisions and the love story was Stockholm Syndrome romance. She settles and Miller deserved better.

Once she escapes she doesn't do anything just cries and compares everything she does to Matt every happy memory she's like what about Matt he thinks I'm dead he should be looking for me.

HE THINKS UR DEAD WHY WOULD HE BE LOOKING FOR YOU. I honestly don't know if I'll finish the series.

It ends 10mins after book 4 nothing no new development.

The end is the only reason I gave it two stars because something might happen. But really At this point they all deserve better and Brooklyn forget her.

Update I listened to the audiobook provided by NetGalley. Sometimes I can connect more with a audiobook.
In this case I felt the same and Brooklyn is the worse. The end before the return homes still makes me mad and honestly was a cop out for the author. Do I read the next book I dont know.

Thank you NetGalley for this Audio Arc in exchange for my honest review,

I have been dying to know what really happened to Brooklyn - so many emotions as we get the story from when she "died" and for the next 16 years. And in typical Ivy Smoak fashion, another cliffhanger that leaves me anxious for book 6.

Due to the machinations of a person she should have been able to trust Brooklyn was taken from the only life she has ever known for their selfish reasons. She had to leave her friends and Matt, the man she loved, who were her biggest support system, and they won’t be looking for her as they believe she has passed away.

Her world became very small however she made the most of her situation and moved forward with her life only to have it all come crashing down and now she needs vengeance which means facing her past.

This story was not what I expected, and it leaves me torn between what I am hoping for Brooklyn’s future and if it is possible after the events of her time away are revealed. I enjoyed the performance of the narrator as she had you feeling the same angst that Brooklyn was feeling.

After taking Brooklyn’s kidney without her consent, her dad moves her to a remote location with Miller as a bodyguard to protect her from her sister. Everyone Brooklyn knows now believes she is dead, including her fiancé, Matt. Brooklyn wants nothing more than to get back in touch with Matt, even as she grows closer to Miller. Can she get her old life back?

I did not realize when I requested this book that it was the fifth book in a series. They provide you with enough background details that this could be read as a standalone, but maybe you would like the characters better if you start at the beginning of the series. Yes, Brooklyn was in an awful situation, but I found her to be whiny and hard to feel sorry for or relate to. I probably shouldn’t say much more about the book since I haven’t read the rest of the series, but if you think you might be interested in this book, I would definitely recommend starting at the beginning of the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

I loved reading the physical version of this and now the audio version! Perfect voice for Brooklyn! This wasn’t the book I was expecting, but this still took me on an emotional rollercoaster of emotions. I cannot wait for the next one!

Ivy certainly sucked me into this series! Always entertaining, and of course she is the queen of ripping my heart out after making me care so completely for her characters. The worst part...waiting for the next book to come out. I do wish that there was a bit more suspense in this one; it felt like a missed opportunity to do what this author does best. But, another great book.

Audiobook:
The narrator, Laurie West does an excellent job of capturing each character's voice. I have enjoyed all of the audiobooks for this series. Both her male and female voices are believable and enjoyable.

No… A whole Lotta no🫤 there’s just a lot in this book that made me feel super uncomfortable. I normally love stories like this. This one for whatever reason no

***This was a continuation of the previous book in the series and in order to understand the story, they must be read in order!

This audiobook was pretty great to listen to. The storyline is super twisted and the characters are mind bending...but it was well done by the narrator.

I would recommend this if you have read them all up to this!

Few things give me “the ick” faster than an underage MC in a romance novel. Fortunately their age difference isn’t that substantial and she does turn 18…eventually…and before they do it, but not before she’s slept in his bed many nights. And he continues to call her “kid,” even as they’re buying condoms. Ick. I can’t support it.

I found it difficult to like these characters. The entire first 25% of this book is a constant stream of negativity and complaining. I get it; she has reasons but it was so repetitive. Props to the narrator for keeping a constant whine to really drive the point home. The timeline also threw me for a loop. 1 week later, 3 years later, 2 months later. This story takes place over YEARS and it’s not even like things are happening in the middle 70%

This will be for fans of romance of the aforementioned age dynamic, a damsel in DISTRESS storyline, and those who enjoyed the first four installments of this series. If you can get through the first 25%, you’ll be just fine.

This NA suspense romance has so many twists and turns that you keeps wondering what's next. This isn't a trope I normally choose, but it was interesting and engaging read. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

I knew this would happen. I never thought she was dead. That made me happy but also so sad for her. I hope this isn't the end of the series but I think it is, which is also sad. I will be listening to her Hunter series.

I just can't get on board with this authors writing style. I read another series with her and was on the edge with how I felt and thought maybe with this one on audio I would enjoy it more. where I did enjoy there narrators I couldn't make it more than 20% in

IVY WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

I'm really struggling because I have loved this series so much - but after the last book, I had to force myself to read this one and I AM UPSET.

First, let me address the narration is fantastic. I'm not knocking the narrator, she's awesome.

Second, I shouldn't have been so naïve to think that Brooklyn and Matt could have a HEA after 16 years AND him falling in love with her best friend. But I don't know how any of them could get out of the terrible triangle they are in without completely devastating one of the MCs or killing one off. I hate the thought of any.

Third, POOR MILLER. Why? I would have been happy with a Matt/Kennedy and a Miller/Brooklyn ending even but WTF happened...no.

I absolutely hate to say this because I was so into the previous books (minus Matchmaker) but I really think I'm done with the series. Ugh. I literally hate doing this too, but I can't continue.

I read one of the other books in this series just last year so I knew I needed to read this one too. I love this story line of rich high school kids. Highly recommend if you love drama and thrillers

When I that his audiobook made me cry I mean I balled listening to it, the voice of Brooklyn was so well used I just kept on crying throughout it was like you could feel her pain through the book and all the different emotions she was feeling during this time that we thought we would never see. I honestly thought Ivy Smoak would just pick where she left off in Matchmaker and not give us the backstory of what happened to Brooklyn in that 15-year span of her being dead. So I was happy to experience that part of Brooklyn's story and it wasn't glossed over. What surprised me most was the death of Miller when I say that killed me I'm not kidding, I loved his character as soon as he was introduced to us and I can't get over the fact that Brooklyn finally saw everything that Miller did for her and the reason he was willing to do it was because he loved her even if she couldn't love him back with Matt in the way. So she got her happy time with Miller and Miller died loving her and he wouldn't want to go out any other way in my opinion. I hope that Brooklyn and Matt that they work out what could have been them and realize that they just weren't meant to be and Kennedy and Matt can be together because I loved Kennedy and Matt together and I understand the only reason they are together is that Brooklyn was "dead" but I thought they were a better fit for each other since the beginning but that is just my opinion. Overall I give this book a 3 star because I hated the fact Miller had to die for Brooklyn and Matt's story to continue.

Brooklyn Sanders is trapped in a hell she can’t easily get out of, and once she does, she’s put through the wringer, but life goes on and so must she.

Even when the narrator’s performance was good, I found this story to be a bit difficult to enjoy given that it is the continuation of a bigger plot in a series and ends with matters between the heroine and her current love interest unresolved. I also found the time jumps a bit confusing.

With all its reviews, both wonderful and some with mix feelings, I feel like I should read this series from the start.

Runaway is book 5 of the Empire High series by author Ivy Smoke. Genre: New Adult, contemporary romance.