[Just Friends 01] • Just Friends

**Mitch can't keep running from his problems, and he'll have to face both Jade and Holly—and decide which one of them to put into the “just friends” category.**

High school senior, Mitch Houser, is thrilled to have multiple colleges recruiting him because of his record-breaking times on the track, but Mitch hasn’t told anyone the real reason he’s been setting records.

He’s trying to outrun his girl problems.

It’s bad when his friend starts dating his younger, freshman sister. It gets worse when his best friend from childhood, Holly Isaacson, pulls away from Mitch. They used to switch phones during AP History and type each other random notes throughout the day, but lately, Mitch has been keeping his phone safely in his own pocket.

Lance, Mitch’s only competition on the track and good friend, tells Mitch over and over that Holly isn’t ten years old anymore, that she’s worth taking a second look at. Mitch rolls his eyes and tells his friend to shut up, the way he has for years.

And worst of all is the idea of Holly becoming buddy-buddy with Jade Montgomery, who is Mitch’s latest crush. He wants to move Jade from a girl he invites to eat dinner with his family to a girl he takes out to dinner—and maybe kisses afterward. Mitch, who isn’t a great conversationalist, struggles to find the right way to ask Jade out and explain his “just friends” status with Holly.

So Mitch runs, and he runs fast. Things progress with Jade at the same rate they fall apart with Holly. Mitch is under pressure from his parents to fill out his college applications. He’s unsure what to do about Holly. He argues constantly with his sister about her boyfriend. And Lance’s voice about Holly refuses to be silenced.

Most days, Mitch can’t change into his running clothes fast enough. But running from his problems isn’t a good solution, and Mitch has to face both Jade and Holly—and decide which one of them to put into the “just friends” category.

Other YA contemporary romance by Elana Johnson:

1. Elevated

2. Something About Love

3. To Be Yours (coming Jan 2018!)