Run the Risk

From the author of On the Edge and Light of Day, Run the Risk is a romantic and gritty story, perfect for fans of Simone Elkeles.

Grace has done her best to move on since her ex-boyfriend Mateo chose gang life over her. But even though years have passed, she hasn’t forgotten him—especially since she’s seen her younger brother Alex drawn to a life on the streets. She can’t bear to think of Alex making the same mistakes as Mateo, but she feels him slipping away.

So when Mateo suddenly resurfaces, insisting he’s left gang life behind him, Grace sees an opportunity. Maybe he could be the one to reach Alex and pull him away from the edge. She tells herself she’s only talking to Mateo again because of Alex, but her feelings quickly return. Can she ever trust Mateo again? And is saving her brother worth risking a broken heart? With everyone she loves in danger, Grace must decide how much to sacrifice before it’s too late.

Run the Risk is set in the same world as Allison van Diepen’s previous novels Light of Day and On the Edge (readers will recognize some of their favorite characters in this book) and features a diverse cast. With romance, action, and realistic friendships, this is a gripping story about the dangers one girl faces to save the people she loves.

• Exes Reunited: He chose the gang over her years ago. Now Mateo is back, claiming he’s changed—and he might be the only one who can save her brother.
• High Stakes Family Drama: Grace watches her younger brother, Alex, follow her ex’s dangerous path. She’ll do anything to pull him back from the brink, even if it means teaming up with the one person who shattered her heart.
• Good Girl, Bad Boy: She’s a good girl trying to build a future; he’s the former gang member she can’t forget. The chemistry is still there, but trusting him again might be the biggest risk of all.
• Gritty Miami Setting: In a world of rival gangs and street justice, every choice has consequences. To save the people she loves, Grace will have to navigate a city where one wrong move could be fatal.

Praise for LIGHT OF DAY: “Taut with suspense, violence, and sexual tension.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Praise for LIGHT OF DAY: “Messages about having confidence in who you are, listening to your heart and your gut, establishing both intimacy and identity are excellent and far from didactic in the fast-paced narrative.” - Resource Links Magazine

“Van Diepen’s story about two teens facing the complexities of love amid gang life and family problems is fast-paced, enticing, and sexy.” - School Library Journal

Praise for LIGHT OF DAY: “The tangle of love and danger is reminiscent of Simone Elkeles’ PERFECT CHEMISTRY” - Booklist

Praise for LIGHT OF DAY: “LIGHT OF DAY is a fast moving read, with lots of action related in the sassy, snappy voice of the main character.” - CM Magazine

Praise for LIGHT OF DAY: “Readers who like their romance on the gritty side will fall for van Diepen’s steamy thriller.” - Kirkus Reviews

Praise for ON THE EDGE: “Heart-pounding, romantic and suspenseful. I loved it!” - NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Simone Elkeles

Praise for ON THE EDGE: “The well–drawn characters and setting make the novel stand out. The romance is equal parts sweet and hot and leads to a satisfying conclusion. Ideal for readers who prefer a high romance–to–thrills ratio.” - Kirkus Reviews

“It’s fast-paced, telenovela-style drama with dance parties, poetry slams, fights, blackmail, and life-threatening peril.” - Kirkus Reviews