We Loved to Run

Reents (The Kissing List, a story collection) serves up an energetic novel about collegiate runners. It’s 1992, and the women’s cross-country team at Frost College in New England is determined not to let their shot at qualifying for the Division III national championships slip away for the second year running. The six runners’ first-person plural narration—“We could never stop because if we did, then we would know we could”—belies their individual concerns and rivalries. Team captain Danielle feels pressure to remain positive while hiding a drinking problem; Liv has a pregnancy scare; Harriet quotes Andrea Dworkin and explores her sexuality; Chloe, once the fastest on the team, is usurped by Kristin. As the season unfolds, the novel’s central narrative arc traces how Kristin’s newfound competitive streak is her attempt to outrun a trauma back home, the details of which are revealed later in a flashback. The ending feels a bit abrupt, and there are a few too many pat sentiments about campus rape culture and empowering women. Still, Reents offers a fresh perspective on the tension between an athlete’s personal sacrifice and a team’s group identity, especially as the runners seek to harness each other’s strengths. This is worth a look. (Aug.)