Mad Hill was abandoned by her father when she was ten. Now at 32, the half brother she never knew existed shows up at her farm because he’s found their father and more abandoned families as well. Mad and Rube set out on a road trip to meet their other siblings. This book was wonderful exploration of family, grief, and the ways people shape us even in their absence as well as an interesting twist on the road trip narrative. It was funny and poignant watching as each of Charles Hill’s children grappling with his able disappearance and reappear as a completely different person.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

In this latest Kevin Wilson book an unlikely family takes a cross country road trip to find their long lost dad. While the plot is not quite as absurd as Nothing to See here, the plot is still kooky and out there. This latest book hits the same familiar quirky and emotional beats as his previous books, but Nothing to See Here and Now is Not the Time to Panic both packed more of an emotional punch. While this was not my favorite Kevin Wilson book, I still had a fun time.

Rube is traveling cross country to see his father who left him at a young age and who hasn’t been in contact with him since. On his way he is picking up his siblings, all of which have been abandoned by their father, a man who is totally reinventing himself whenever he leaves. Kevin Wilson has once again written a book full of unique characters and I absolutely loved it.

Unlikely but purely delightful. These words can describe any book by Kevin Wilson. Ever since The Family Fang, he has been creating family dynamics that won't make me laugh necessarily, but will broaden my appreciation of the concept of family. Here is a family that doesn't identify as such since the father has a habit of pulling a disappearing act and somehow launching a new set of siblings unaware of the existence of the others. Even the car has a personality.

A witty and heartwarming story of found family (but also actual family). Charming and funny in a way that is unique to Kevin Wilson with many profound observations on life to be collected along the way.

I really enjoyed Run for the Hills. A mix of road trip, family drama, and intrigue make the story compelling. Wilson’s books always ride the quirky and heartwarming line so well. I had suspend some belief and just enjoy the ride, but would definitely recommend. Thank you to Ecco for the ARC through NetGallery.

Thank you to #EccoPublishing and to #NetGalley for this ARC of Run for the Hills by #KevinWilson. I just finished this GEM which redefines the concept of family and relationships. Mad, Rube, Pep, and Tom have a lot in common, and this novel brings the reader along to learn what that means. In addition to a hero's journey (times 4!!!), there is also the fact that two of the book's funniest characters are rental cars.

The story was pure Kevin Wilson from start to finish - the humor, the heart, the zany twisty-turny plot (all filled with adventure, intelligence, and a clever reimagining of family and how, sometimes, the best is yet to come). The characters are unique and their relationship to one another is beautifully drawn by the author. This is also a story of growing up and embracing the unknown. With hints of The Wizard of Oz and the magic of every great literary adventure, journey, quest, and eventful road trip - this book is destined to be an instant classic.

I love this author and his latest book (coming May 2025) - is exactly what the world needs NOW: LOVE and HOPE!!! So grateful for the chance to read/review this brilliant ARC.🔥Recommend absolutely!!

I wasn't crazy about it and that disappointed me.

I loved [book:Nothing to See Here|42519313] and [book:Now Is Not the Time to Panic|60415700]. I loved the way they were heartfelt without being sappy. I loved the way the protagonists were down-on-their-luck losers who managed to have their day in the sun. I loved how much they made me laugh. I didn't feel a whole lot of anything with Run for the Hills.

Look, it wasn't a bad book. I still gave it three stars. Kevin Wilson has a real gift for crafting hilarious similes and internal dialogue. That's all still there. Unfortunately, this one lacked the oomph that I got from reading his previous books. If it were written by someone else I probably wouldn't have even picked it up and I would have been fine with missing it.

I read an ARC from NetGalley. It may differ from the final product that hits shelves in May.

Kevin Wilson’s Run for the Hills is a beautiful, moving book about families lost and found. In a novel, I value characterization over everything, and Wilson’s characters Mad, Rube, Pep, and Tom are expertly crafted. It is a pleasure to vicariously accompany this group of siblings on a quest to find their absent father and to witness their growing bond.

Kevin Wilson is back with a cross country road trip of siblings searching for the father that abandoned them.

Reuben "Rube" Hill (42), son to Charles Hill, a mystery writer, living in Boston, Ma.

Then,

Madeline "Mad" Hill (32), daughter to Chuck Hill, an organic farmer, living in Coalfield, Tennessee.

Then,

Pepper "Pep" Hill (21), daughter of Chip Hill, a basketball coach, living in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Then,

Theron "Tom" Goudy (11), son of Carl Hill, a cameraman living in Salt Lake City, Utah.

None of these siblings have ever met until Rueben hires a private detective to look into his missing father. When he finds out he's had children across the country he sets out to meet them and, hopefully, have them join him on his quest to California to find their father at the last know address the detective could find. What could possibly go wrong? You'll have to read this to find out.

"But she liked the safety in numbers, to imagine all of them, these tall, imposing children of their terrible father, moving toward him like they were Godzilla, bent on destruction."

I am a HUGE fan of Kevin Wilson's quirky stories so I was over the moon to be approved for his latest. The first third of this book was everything I could have hoped for and Wilson's trademark humor was on full display. Unfortunately this book lost it's way over the course of the novel. What started as fun became a slow and laborious crawl to the finish. And the ending? A complete disappointment. I am so bummed to have to say that but it was MY experience. Other reviewers seem to be loving this so please do read their reviews before deciding one way or the other. 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for my complimentary copy.

Run for the Hills is the second novel I have read by Kevin Wilson. His writing continues to be innovative, captivating, and truly unique. The premise is unlike anything I ever could have predicted, yet it seems incredibly realistic. The cross-country road trip that the newly discovered Hill siblings embark on is truly one for the ages!

I love Kevin Wilson and thought this had a fantastic start and a good balance between moving + funny bits for a while… but then it got very slow and meandering and the ending was very meh for me. I wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading this because Wilson is super talented - just not my favorite by him (which would be Nothing to See Here).

Perfect way to start 2025 ,I loved Run For the Hills the dysfunctional family the wonderful characters.I enjoyed Kevin Wilson’s previous books and this one.stole my heart.#netgalley #eccobooks

Is this my new favorite Kevin Wilson? I loved this story of a found family composed of biological family, brought together on a heartfelt, zany quest for a cross-country road trip. Five stars.

This was such an incredible book filled with quirky, compelling characters. I love the way the author layered all of the different experiences and the way they reacted to finally meeting their dad! I always love this author and this was no exception. Will recommend.

7/10

I loved the movie “Little Miss Sunshine”. It was groundbreaking - one of the first breakout indie movies. The premise was that a group of family members - each with their own uniquely quirky personalities - head out on a road trip together to a family-related event.

Run For The Hills has the same basic premise and it works. The characters are really engaging, the story uniquely intriguing and the journey was a page turner.

So why in the world did I only give it 7 out of 10 stars?
The ending.
I won’t spoil it except to say this book went from a solid 4/5 stars to 3/5 because of the ending. It wasn’t bad but I think it could’ve been at least as compelling as the rest of the book.

I tell you what, why don’t you read it and let me know your thoughts in the comments.

#netgalley #runforthehills

I'm such a Kevin Wilson fan, and Run for the Hills didn't disappoint. It's a fun take on some of my favorite tropes: road trips, odd couples, and coming of age stories. The cast of characters is Kevin Wilson-y in the best way. Really looking forward to this being out in the world in May!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!

I've been a fan of Kevin Wilson's previous books so I couldn't wait to get my hands on his latest. Run for the Hills does not disappoint! It's a funny and sweet story that begins with Reuben, who was abandoned by his father at a young age, learning that his father is alive and well and living in California, AND that his father had other children over the years who were also abandoned by him. Reuben, or "Rube" for short, goes on a road trip with the intention of meeting each of his half siblings and ultimately to confront their father. Like so many things in life, it's not so much about the destination as it is about the journey, and as we travel with these wonderful characters, we get to know them and love them. Together they find so much more than they thought they were looking for. It was a pleasure to read! I recommend highly.

I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this book, having read the author’s last two books and thoroughly enjoying them. The premise is unique, and all of the characters are interesting in their own way. I love how they come together as a dysfunctional family on a quest to find their father, but there is still a lot of heartfelt emotion in the story as well.

Kevin Wilson, author of “Now Is Not the Time to Panic” and “Nothing to See Here,” returns with another delightful and humorous family drama about siblings who have just met and unite to find their common absentee father.

Mad/Madeline Hill of Coalfield, Tennessee (site of Wilson’s “Great Coalfield Panic” in his previous book) is 32 years old and a successful organic farmer with her mom, when Rube/Reuben Hill of Boston, a successful mystery author in his early 40s, shows up at Mad’s farmstand with news that he’s her half brother. Her dad, who just disappeared 20 years ago is also his dad, who disappeared 30 years ago. And there are more half siblings: Pep/Pepper Hill, 21 years old (missing her dad for 10 years), a college basketball star in Oklahoma, and an 11 year old fifth grader, Theron/Tom (fatherless for 2 years), in Salt Lake City. It’s 2007, just before the explosion of commercial DNA tests, so Rube has traced his unlikely family tree via a private detective’s findings. His mission is to gather up his siblings as he drives west in his rented PT Cruiser and confront deadbeat dad, now apparently in California. Convincing his two half-sisters and possibly getting his youngest brother’s mom’s permission to confront dear old dad is quite a quest, and it’s portrayed with humor and poignancy.

This is a heart-warming road trip type of story with a group of quirky characters who start out as total strangers, but become a truly special family. Mad is the main protagonist and we get to know her better than the others, but each one of the siblings shares a common heartbreak. Once they finally zero in on the location of their enigmatic sire, you’ll wonder if who they find will give them answers and closure. The plot is a bit of a romp, but it also has its serious side. I was enthralled until the very end. 5 stars!


Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO No eye colors mentioned at all.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Not much beyond Mad’s observation that there are a lot of alfalfa fields in the western United States.

Thank you to Ecco/Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!