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A Little Bit Country
Emmett Maguire has big dreams. He wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar—a far reach when you're 17 and living in suburban Illinois. Thankfully, his parents are letting him do the next best thing for the summer: stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, and perform at Wanda World—the amusement park owned by his idol, country music legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.
Luke Barnes, a 17-year-old Jackson Hollow resident, has no interest in country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced country singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, the world of country music has only brought his family pain. But as medical bills pile up at home, he’s forced to accept a job in the last place he’d ever want to work: a restaurant at Wanda World.
With Emmett focused on his career, and Luke blossoming in the kitchen, neither boy is expecting to find romance. But sparks fly when they meet and soon the two are inseparable. However, when a long-lost secret about Luke’s grandma and superstar Wanda Jean comes to light, it threatens to unravel everything. Unless the boys can uncover the truth of what really happened, their dreams could be over before they start, leaving their new relationship to go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song.
Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Julie Murphy, and of course, the one and only Dolly Parton.
Luke Barnes, a 17-year-old Jackson Hollow resident, has no interest in country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced country singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, the world of country music has only brought his family pain. But as medical bills pile up at home, he’s forced to accept a job in the last place he’d ever want to work: a restaurant at Wanda World.
With Emmett focused on his career, and Luke blossoming in the kitchen, neither boy is expecting to find romance. But sparks fly when they meet and soon the two are inseparable. However, when a long-lost secret about Luke’s grandma and superstar Wanda Jean comes to light, it threatens to unravel everything. Unless the boys can uncover the truth of what really happened, their dreams could be over before they start, leaving their new relationship to go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song.
Perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli, Julie Murphy, and of course, the one and only Dolly Parton.
368 pages, Audio CD
First published June 7, 2022
266 people are currently reading
19030 people want to read
About the author
Brian D. Kennedy
2 books432 followersBrian D. Kennedy (he/him) is the award-winning author of A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY and MY FAIR BRADY. Born and raised in Minnesota, he now lives in New York City with his husband and their miniature Schnauzer. When not writing, he can be found working at an LGBTQ nonprofit and obsessing over all things Dolly Parton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,319 reviews
February 13, 2023
A Little Bit Country was one of the sweetest, most heart-warming books I have ever read. The novel follows two young queer boys, who live very different lives. Through their differences, they both grow tremendously, and learn to hold onto happiness and all the things that bring joy to their lives.
There is a depth to the story that I really appreciated. Both Emmett and Luke are struggling for different reasons. Emmett, though out and proud, grapples with self-confidence, while Luke struggles to accept his sexuality. This book conveys the fear of being outed so effortlessly. The way Luke alters his personality in certain environments for his own safety, even in his own home, is heart-breaking, but unfortunately so fitting. There is a moment, right before you find the courage to speak your truth, that feels frighteningly invigorating. Luke learns lessons, primarily from Emmett and the secrets of the past, that push him towards this moment. A Little Bit Country explores how much courage it takes to be out, to expose yourself to the world. Sometimes, our biggest barriers are ourselves. Luke and Emmett learn that, if they are going to live the lives they want, happiness must be their priority. I loved the message that, while your identity is personal, there is power in sharing yourself with the world.
Amidst the hardships, queer joy is hidden like little nuggets of gold throughout the book. The ending was so beautiful and symbolised the famous phrase that everyone loves to throw at queer youth – it gets better. Yet, that is not always the case. This book does a wonderful job of exploring why it may be more difficult for some people to come out than others, and why there should never be a timeline. Hope is a very powerful thing, and it’s lovely to read a story where queer teenage dreams become reality.
I don’t really listen to country music, so I relate to Luke in that sense, but am definitely more of an Emmett. There is something so special in both boys, and I love that together, they are so much better than they are alone. Seeing queer boys let themselves be loved, and embracing the love they feel for others, will never get old.
Wanda, you were so cute. Did I just picture Dolly? Yes. Do I care? No. The backstory was the best part of the novel, and I adored everything that Wanda brought to the story.
Thank you to the author and Harper360ya for sending me an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
There is a depth to the story that I really appreciated. Both Emmett and Luke are struggling for different reasons. Emmett, though out and proud, grapples with self-confidence, while Luke struggles to accept his sexuality. This book conveys the fear of being outed so effortlessly. The way Luke alters his personality in certain environments for his own safety, even in his own home, is heart-breaking, but unfortunately so fitting. There is a moment, right before you find the courage to speak your truth, that feels frighteningly invigorating. Luke learns lessons, primarily from Emmett and the secrets of the past, that push him towards this moment. A Little Bit Country explores how much courage it takes to be out, to expose yourself to the world. Sometimes, our biggest barriers are ourselves. Luke and Emmett learn that, if they are going to live the lives they want, happiness must be their priority. I loved the message that, while your identity is personal, there is power in sharing yourself with the world.
Amidst the hardships, queer joy is hidden like little nuggets of gold throughout the book. The ending was so beautiful and symbolised the famous phrase that everyone loves to throw at queer youth – it gets better. Yet, that is not always the case. This book does a wonderful job of exploring why it may be more difficult for some people to come out than others, and why there should never be a timeline. Hope is a very powerful thing, and it’s lovely to read a story where queer teenage dreams become reality.
I don’t really listen to country music, so I relate to Luke in that sense, but am definitely more of an Emmett. There is something so special in both boys, and I love that together, they are so much better than they are alone. Seeing queer boys let themselves be loved, and embracing the love they feel for others, will never get old.
Wanda, you were so cute. Did I just picture Dolly? Yes. Do I care? No. The backstory was the best part of the novel, and I adored everything that Wanda brought to the story.
Thank you to the author and Harper360ya for sending me an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
May 10, 2023
3.5 estrellas.
Estuvo ligero y cute :).
Estuvo ligero y cute :).
June 7, 2022
Country music gave me a home.
I like all kinds of music and I loved the way Emmett talked about his music in A Little Bit Country. Don’t we all have songs that make us feel like we belong?
This book about two boys falling in love and country music, including a Dolly Parton lookalike made me feel so many things. While reading, a constant smile tugged at my lips. Warmth seeped through my body when I curled up on the couch, staring at my screen. Once in a while, my heart skipped a beat, and soft feathers whirled in my belly. Going through the last part of the book, goosebumps danced on my skin and tears sprang to my eyes.
A Little Bit Country ticked so many of my boxes. The dual narrative, the first-person/present tense writing, the fluffiness covering heavier stuff, and Emmett and Luke as two cute cinnamon rolls. It’s as sweet as Simon James Green’s books. As warm as Becky Albertalli’s. As relatable as Phil Stamper’s. But Sophie Gonzales’s Only Mostly Devastated is the book that most comes to mind when I think of A Little Bit Country.
This is a book to read in just a few sittings. I can guarantee that you don’t want to quit reading when you dive into the story. Just take a seat, let the spring sun warm your face, and let A Little Bit Country comfort you when it comes out in May. Thank you so much, Brian, for allowing me to read this cute and beautiful story! I loved to be in Emmett’s and Luke’s world and can’t wait to read what you have in store for us next!
I received an ARC from Brian D. Kennedy and HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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I like all kinds of music and I loved the way Emmett talked about his music in A Little Bit Country. Don’t we all have songs that make us feel like we belong?
This book about two boys falling in love and country music, including a Dolly Parton lookalike made me feel so many things. While reading, a constant smile tugged at my lips. Warmth seeped through my body when I curled up on the couch, staring at my screen. Once in a while, my heart skipped a beat, and soft feathers whirled in my belly. Going through the last part of the book, goosebumps danced on my skin and tears sprang to my eyes.
A Little Bit Country ticked so many of my boxes. The dual narrative, the first-person/present tense writing, the fluffiness covering heavier stuff, and Emmett and Luke as two cute cinnamon rolls. It’s as sweet as Simon James Green’s books. As warm as Becky Albertalli’s. As relatable as Phil Stamper’s. But Sophie Gonzales’s Only Mostly Devastated is the book that most comes to mind when I think of A Little Bit Country.
This is a book to read in just a few sittings. I can guarantee that you don’t want to quit reading when you dive into the story. Just take a seat, let the spring sun warm your face, and let A Little Bit Country comfort you when it comes out in May. Thank you so much, Brian, for allowing me to read this cute and beautiful story! I loved to be in Emmett’s and Luke’s world and can’t wait to read what you have in store for us next!
I received an ARC from Brian D. Kennedy and HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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July 25, 2022I wrote this book as a love letter to Dolly Parton and country music. Not that anyone asked, but here are my Top Ten Dolly Parton Songs.
1. I Will Always Love You
2. Jolene
3. False Eyelashes
4. Hard Candy Christmas
5. Islands in the Stream
6. My Tennessee Mountain Home
7. Little Sparrow
8. Light of a Clear Blue Morning
9. Wildflowers
10. Mule Skinner Blues
**And for anyone who says "Here You Come Again," "Two Doors Down," or "The Bargain Store" are missing from here--you're right! I'm sorry. Humans are flawed by nature.
1. I Will Always Love You
2. Jolene
3. False Eyelashes
4. Hard Candy Christmas
5. Islands in the Stream
6. My Tennessee Mountain Home
7. Little Sparrow
8. Light of a Clear Blue Morning
9. Wildflowers
10. Mule Skinner Blues
**And for anyone who says "Here You Come Again," "Two Doors Down," or "The Bargain Store" are missing from here--you're right! I'm sorry. Humans are flawed by nature.
July 27, 2024
Completely acceptable words on a page that exist. ✨
February 12, 2025
You know how people are always like, “oh, I like all music… except for country!” I’ve always felt left out because I've never been able to say that because I actually like country music. Well technically I like folk music, and my favorite folk band is Hurray for the Riff Raff. Anyway, A gay love story that’s both character-driven and has an interesting plot? I’m all in.
There are a lot of big moments in this book, but it’s the small ones that really stuck with me. There’s a part (small spoiler?) where Luke, who is still in the closet, is having his friend give him a fashion make-over, and the inner monologue is intensely relatable. When he finally finds an outfit that he likes, he has to imagine the way other people will see him, judge him, worrying about whether or not he’ll be seen as too gay or too whatever. What I’m getting at is that I wasn’t expecting to be hit like a freight train in chapter 5 or 6.
Music discussion can always be tricky in books because it’s so easy to enter pretentious territory. Which can be fine, if that’s the point, and I like to get real pretentious with it every now and then, but it’s always hard for me not to roll my eyes at music snobbery that I personally disagree with. I'm a hypocrite, I know. But whenever an Anthony Fantano type starts yapping, I get out the ear plugs. It’s pretty funny because I was waiting for a scene like the one in La La Land. You know, the one where Ryan Gosling explains jazz music to Emma Stone. Only with this book I was worried that it would be Emmett explaining what “real” country music is to Luke. So if anyone else shares my incredibly specific fear of Ryan Gosling mansplaining what jazz music is to Emma Stone, then you can rest easy and dive into this book without fear of Ryan Gosling explaining jazz to Emma Stone. Hmm… since this review is already off-rails, I’m going to list a few of my favorite songs in or around the country genre:
• Big Yellow Taxi- Joni Mitchell
• Watercolor Canvas- Bobby Darin
• (Ain’t That) Good News- Sam Cooke
• Baby Blue- Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Truly Do- The Fleetwoods
That last one isn’t even close to the genre; I just think it's pretty.
There are a lot of big moments in this book, but it’s the small ones that really stuck with me. There’s a part (small spoiler?) where Luke, who is still in the closet, is having his friend give him a fashion make-over, and the inner monologue is intensely relatable. When he finally finds an outfit that he likes, he has to imagine the way other people will see him, judge him, worrying about whether or not he’ll be seen as too gay or too whatever. What I’m getting at is that I wasn’t expecting to be hit like a freight train in chapter 5 or 6.
Music discussion can always be tricky in books because it’s so easy to enter pretentious territory. Which can be fine, if that’s the point, and I like to get real pretentious with it every now and then, but it’s always hard for me not to roll my eyes at music snobbery that I personally disagree with. I'm a hypocrite, I know. But whenever an Anthony Fantano type starts yapping, I get out the ear plugs. It’s pretty funny because I was waiting for a scene like the one in La La Land. You know, the one where Ryan Gosling explains jazz music to Emma Stone. Only with this book I was worried that it would be Emmett explaining what “real” country music is to Luke. So if anyone else shares my incredibly specific fear of Ryan Gosling mansplaining what jazz music is to Emma Stone, then you can rest easy and dive into this book without fear of Ryan Gosling explaining jazz to Emma Stone. Hmm… since this review is already off-rails, I’m going to list a few of my favorite songs in or around the country genre:
• Big Yellow Taxi- Joni Mitchell
• Watercolor Canvas- Bobby Darin
• (Ain’t That) Good News- Sam Cooke
• Baby Blue- Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Truly Do- The Fleetwoods
That last one isn’t even close to the genre; I just think it's pretty.
July 26, 2023
This book will probably always be memorable to me because I bought it while in upstate NY in a tiny country town. Indie bookstores, FTW! They had a Pride Month display, and I happily paid full price for this book because I was so excited to find gay romance IRL in this little store.
I'm going to be honest, my expectations weren't super high.
A Little Bit Country is Brian D. Kennedy's debut, and debut books can be a bit... rough. I've been burned many times trying new authors, and even though this is trad pubbed, which does say something, I was still hesitant. But, I'm telling you, this book was adorable. I couldn't put it down.
I'm actually not exactly sure why this book was just so damn addictive for me. The romance parts of the book are pretty underdeveloped, especially for a dedicated romance reader like myself, and I usually don't love books with main characters who are so young. And, to be expected, the steam level is nearly nonexistent. However, this book was really carried by an intriguing, snappily paced plot and characters that really shone.
I could tell that this book MEANT something to the author. It felt really passionate, which is a nice change from the rote feeling of some books from authors who just churn out one after another. I really enjoyed the whole story, and this is coming from someone who has zero interest in country music.
I really think you can't go wrong with A Little Bit Country, and I'm very excited to see what else Brian D. Kennedy has in store for readers.
goodreads|instagram|twitter
I'm going to be honest, my expectations weren't super high.
A Little Bit Country is Brian D. Kennedy's debut, and debut books can be a bit... rough. I've been burned many times trying new authors, and even though this is trad pubbed, which does say something, I was still hesitant. But, I'm telling you, this book was adorable. I couldn't put it down.
I'm actually not exactly sure why this book was just so damn addictive for me. The romance parts of the book are pretty underdeveloped, especially for a dedicated romance reader like myself, and I usually don't love books with main characters who are so young. And, to be expected, the steam level is nearly nonexistent. However, this book was really carried by an intriguing, snappily paced plot and characters that really shone.
I could tell that this book MEANT something to the author. It felt really passionate, which is a nice change from the rote feeling of some books from authors who just churn out one after another. I really enjoyed the whole story, and this is coming from someone who has zero interest in country music.
I really think you can't go wrong with A Little Bit Country, and I'm very excited to see what else Brian D. Kennedy has in store for readers.
goodreads|instagram|twitter
July 1, 2022
3.5 Stars
Country cute y'all!
A pretty sweet YA LGBTQIA+ coming out romance. There was a nice level of predictability in there which made it a comfortable love story with a Dolly Parton energy about it. Emmett and Luke are both working hard to be true to themselves but sometimes that isn't what those around them want or need. They each have to 'walk the line' in order to figure out what will make them happy. I enjoyed the romance despite it being pretty 'insta'. This would make a nice addition to a high school library with some minor content warnings. It was such an easy listen and before I knew it I'd almost finished it in one sitting!
CW:
Country cute y'all!
A pretty sweet YA LGBTQIA+ coming out romance. There was a nice level of predictability in there which made it a comfortable love story with a Dolly Parton energy about it. Emmett and Luke are both working hard to be true to themselves but sometimes that isn't what those around them want or need. They each have to 'walk the line' in order to figure out what will make them happy. I enjoyed the romance despite it being pretty 'insta'. This would make a nice addition to a high school library with some minor content warnings. It was such an easy listen and before I knew it I'd almost finished it in one sitting!
CW:
February 1, 2025
I thought this book was really good. I'm a huge fan of country music so that's what really caught my interest. Another thing that caught my eye was that it was LGBTQ+. I highly recommend reading this book.
July 16, 2022
this was EVERYTHING 😭
June 25, 2022
This is a book that instantly pulled me in and didn't let me go. I just couldn't stop reading and forgot making any notes about it.
It's a story about Emmett a city child from Chicago who dreams about becoming a famous country star, and Luke a small town boy who's dreaming about becoming the chef of his own restaurant. While Emmett actively pursues his plans, Luke is even afraid of dreaming his dreams. I love how consistently the characters are written. While Emmett has to become more realistic about his career prospects, he still sticks to his dreams. Whereas Luke, who slowly learns how to open up more and more, is still struggling hard to do so. I love when there is character development and the characters still stay true to themselves all the time.
I also love the writing. It's so good to read a book that's actually showing instead of just telling the bony plot. It makes you fall in love with the characters and the story. It's kind of hard to believe that this is actually a debut, because of how good it is. You can tell the author had a story to tell and put all his love into it.
I love this book. 💞
It's a story about Emmett a city child from Chicago who dreams about becoming a famous country star, and Luke a small town boy who's dreaming about becoming the chef of his own restaurant. While Emmett actively pursues his plans, Luke is even afraid of dreaming his dreams. I love how consistently the characters are written. While Emmett has to become more realistic about his career prospects, he still sticks to his dreams. Whereas Luke, who slowly learns how to open up more and more, is still struggling hard to do so. I love when there is character development and the characters still stay true to themselves all the time.
I also love the writing. It's so good to read a book that's actually showing instead of just telling the bony plot. It makes you fall in love with the characters and the story. It's kind of hard to believe that this is actually a debut, because of how good it is. You can tell the author had a story to tell and put all his love into it.
I love this book. 💞
May 6, 2022
This is one of those books I knew I would love before I even read a single page but then I loved it EVEN MORE.
August 23, 2024
This YA contemporary about these gay teens and country music made me very happy 🥹
It is a romance. And I really liked how it handled one of them being out while the other isn't. There was no pressure for Luke to come out because of their relationship, even though Emmett acknowledged the moments that was hard for him too in his POV. Having both POVs was a very smart move for this story.
As a country music lover, I loved all the music moments. It really did feel like a love letter to country music and culture, while also mentioning the racism and homophobia within country music circles as well. And Emmett talks about his experience being an aspiring queer country singer too.
Luke is such an angsty emotional boy 😫👌🏾 I could relate. And Emmett was a bubbly ray of sunshine. I was all for their love story.
All in all, it's a fun read with great characterisation and pacing. It's well written and touches on some important themes. It's so catered to my interests that it would need to do something seriously wrong for me to not like it.
It is a romance. And I really liked how it handled one of them being out while the other isn't. There was no pressure for Luke to come out because of their relationship, even though Emmett acknowledged the moments that was hard for him too in his POV. Having both POVs was a very smart move for this story.
As a country music lover, I loved all the music moments. It really did feel like a love letter to country music and culture, while also mentioning the racism and homophobia within country music circles as well. And Emmett talks about his experience being an aspiring queer country singer too.
Luke is such an angsty emotional boy 😫👌🏾 I could relate. And Emmett was a bubbly ray of sunshine. I was all for their love story.
All in all, it's a fun read with great characterisation and pacing. It's well written and touches on some important themes. It's so catered to my interests that it would need to do something seriously wrong for me to not like it.
June 18, 2022
I went into this book hoping for a Dollywood, country music filled gay rom-com and I got that and so much more. Yes, this was utterly adorable and the romance was sweet as pie but it also had a wonderful narrative exploring coming out and the homophobia within the Country music scene. It was a heartfelt and warm love letter to country music, whilst also acknowledging it still has a long way to go to be fully inclusive and accepting. The dual perspective worked beautifully and both Emmett and Luke has wonderful individual voices and stories to follow. This was such a lovely read and I can't wait to read more from Brian D. Kennedy in the future.
Also, Wanda is a darling and absolutely, 100% Dolly Parton in my mind and I'm not even mad about it.
TW: homophobia
Also, Wanda is a darling and absolutely, 100% Dolly Parton in my mind and I'm not even mad about it.
TW: homophobia
November 18, 2021
I love this book so very much.
As a Dolly Parton fan I was not disappointed by this book at all, however I think even readers who don't know any of Dolly's music (or enjoy country music at all) will find plenty to love. The romance between Emmett and Luke is done so well and so beautifully. It feels realistic and sweet and hopeful. I may have been in tears for the last 40 pages or so. But the good kind of tears, not Song of Achilles kind of tears!
Brian D. Kennedy has also created such a lush, fun atmosphere with his location of Jackson Hollow and Wanda World it made me want to go there! (And when I finally do get to Dollywood... I WILL BE PRETENDING IT'S ALSO WANDA WORLD)
Pre-Order this book NOW! You will not be disappointed you do.
As a Dolly Parton fan I was not disappointed by this book at all, however I think even readers who don't know any of Dolly's music (or enjoy country music at all) will find plenty to love. The romance between Emmett and Luke is done so well and so beautifully. It feels realistic and sweet and hopeful. I may have been in tears for the last 40 pages or so. But the good kind of tears, not Song of Achilles kind of tears!
Brian D. Kennedy has also created such a lush, fun atmosphere with his location of Jackson Hollow and Wanda World it made me want to go there! (And when I finally do get to Dollywood... I WILL BE PRETENDING IT'S ALSO WANDA WORLD)
Pre-Order this book NOW! You will not be disappointed you do.
October 16, 2023
Have I ever read a queer novel about country music? No. And I love that this one exists! It's giving Taylor Swift Debut and Fearless vibes! And I live for that!
This was such a sweet story that managed to have emotional depth, social commentary, and levity / humor. What an incredible debut novel!
We had 2 wonderful main characters. I am very picky with dual POV books. It seems that there are too many out there sometimes that would be more effective if narrated by just one character. A Little Bit Country was a case of dual POV working -- and working well.
Emmett was my favorite of the two narrators. I love characters who have clear dreams, and I truly loved how passionate Emmett was about his. Watching his personal journey was such a joy, especially as he learned about the importance of living true to oneself and one's identity.
I also loved Luke and valued how much he cared for his family. And while Luke did hurtful things that made my heart break for Emmett and made me upset with Luke, I then remembered why Luke acted the way he did -- which would then break my heart. I really enjoyed seeing his emotional development throughout the book.
One of its most interesting topics was exploring the ways that country music culture can often exclude the LGBTQ community. The conflict Emmett was faced with was a hard one -- live out his dream? Or live out his dream -- but do so without the integrity and authenticity he values? Watching the parallel of Luke and his coming out story (living in the closet, or living authentically) play out alongside each other made the conclusion of the book all the more satisfying.
Also -- the twists? SO well done. They gave the story more depth and I really appreciated that.
I will absolutely be reading Brian D. Kennedy's next book (which he just unveiled the incredible cover art for!), and am so happy I finally picked this book up after having it sit on my TBR for ages. A perfect summer read that will leave you feeling so warm.
This was such a sweet story that managed to have emotional depth, social commentary, and levity / humor. What an incredible debut novel!
We had 2 wonderful main characters. I am very picky with dual POV books. It seems that there are too many out there sometimes that would be more effective if narrated by just one character. A Little Bit Country was a case of dual POV working -- and working well.
Emmett was my favorite of the two narrators. I love characters who have clear dreams, and I truly loved how passionate Emmett was about his. Watching his personal journey was such a joy, especially as he learned about the importance of living true to oneself and one's identity.
I also loved Luke and valued how much he cared for his family. And while Luke did hurtful things that made my heart break for Emmett and made me upset with Luke, I then remembered why Luke acted the way he did -- which would then break my heart. I really enjoyed seeing his emotional development throughout the book.
One of its most interesting topics was exploring the ways that country music culture can often exclude the LGBTQ community. The conflict Emmett was faced with was a hard one -- live out his dream? Or live out his dream -- but do so without the integrity and authenticity he values? Watching the parallel of Luke and his coming out story (living in the closet, or living authentically) play out alongside each other made the conclusion of the book all the more satisfying.
Also -- the twists? SO well done. They gave the story more depth and I really appreciated that.
I will absolutely be reading Brian D. Kennedy's next book (which he just unveiled the incredible cover art for!), and am so happy I finally picked this book up after having it sit on my TBR for ages. A perfect summer read that will leave you feeling so warm.
May 30, 2022
When I came across A Little Bit Country, I was very excited for it. The premise looked so cool, and even though I’m not a fan of country music, it sounded like something I would immensely enjoy. And while I did have some issues with this story, ultimately, I did like it.
Right out of the bat, one of the main characters, Emmett, is quick to regale us with his big dreams and determination to see them through. I thought it was nice to see a young person so sure of their goals and ambitions, even if they seemed totally unattainable at times. You won’t know till you try, right? Emmett loved country music with a passion, and this was very apparent through the book. It dictated a lot of his actions and decisions…until he met Luke, that is. (I’ll get to this in a minute).
Then there’s Luke, who was dealing with financial issues at home because his mom was chronically ill and just had a flare up. But to make matters worse, he was also dealing with internal turmoil over being gay, since his family is religious, and he’s convinced they would never be able to accept him if he came out. Luke’s plot line was the most engaging part of the story, in my opinion. He had dreams of being a chef but was too afraid to pursue them because of his family’s situation. Even so, when he saw an opportunity to juggle both of these, he took it.
The connection between Luke’s family and a certain country star was also particularly interesting, and it led to one of my favorite parts of the book: the mystery. There was a lot of intrigue and several questions surrounding this, so the entire time, I was trying to piece the different clues together to figure out what had actually happened, which kept me engaged even during the parts I wasn’t a huge fan of. I won’t say too much about the mystery, because it was so fun during the big reveal, but I will say that this part was so well done. Even though it wasn’t always the main focus of the story, there were still small hints and different references throughout that made me realize it was pointing me closer and closer to uncovering the various questions.
Between Luke’s individual storyline, Emmett’s individual storyline, and the entire plot surrounding Wanda World and Luke’s relative, this was a really solid book. My favorite part was the last 30% when it was more focused on the individual journeys and resolving the mystery, because I was so hooked at this point.
This leads me to my least favorite part of the story, though, which was the romance. I don’t say this often, especially in reference to queer stories, but I kind of wish there hadn’t been a romance. I know a large part of the story was Luke dealing with his sexuality, which Emmett certainly helped him with, but I think this could have been done just as well as a platonic bond. Part of my issue was that I never really felt the chemistry between the two, and their relationship progressed so fast. It felt very insta-lovey, which I’m not always a fan of. My least favorite part of the romance, though, was Emmett’s feelings toward Luke. I understand that teen love can feel all-consuming, but for someone who was so determined to become the world’s biggest gay country star (for most of his life, even), he was awfully quick in considering giving up his dreams for Luke, a guy he’d just met and may never see again after the summer.
I became frustrated during these moments, because up until this point, Emmett had always been so sure in his ambitions, and this just felt so out of character for him. Which is why I feel if A Little Bit Country had focused more on a platonic bond between the two, it could have made the story stronger.
However, I don’t want to say the romance won’t work for everyone because I’m sure it’ll be perfect for others. It just didn’t work for me, unfortunately.
Even so, I don’t regret reading A Little Bit Country at all. The parts I enjoyed, I did really enjoy. As I said before, the mystery part was done excellently, and both Emmett’s and Luke’s individual storylines were so well developed and explored. These parts of the story really made it shine, and as the book ended, I found myself smiling. I also loved the addition of song lyrics throughout. They were beautifully written, and even though I don’t like country music, had me wondering if I should change my mind!
While parts of this book may not have been for me, I just know other people will love it, which is one thing I find so fascinating about reading. So, even if you were really excited about this book and feel a little put off by my review, I’d still definitely recommend checking it out! You may feel entirely different from me.
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Right out of the bat, one of the main characters, Emmett, is quick to regale us with his big dreams and determination to see them through. I thought it was nice to see a young person so sure of their goals and ambitions, even if they seemed totally unattainable at times. You won’t know till you try, right? Emmett loved country music with a passion, and this was very apparent through the book. It dictated a lot of his actions and decisions…until he met Luke, that is. (I’ll get to this in a minute).
Then there’s Luke, who was dealing with financial issues at home because his mom was chronically ill and just had a flare up. But to make matters worse, he was also dealing with internal turmoil over being gay, since his family is religious, and he’s convinced they would never be able to accept him if he came out. Luke’s plot line was the most engaging part of the story, in my opinion. He had dreams of being a chef but was too afraid to pursue them because of his family’s situation. Even so, when he saw an opportunity to juggle both of these, he took it.
The connection between Luke’s family and a certain country star was also particularly interesting, and it led to one of my favorite parts of the book: the mystery. There was a lot of intrigue and several questions surrounding this, so the entire time, I was trying to piece the different clues together to figure out what had actually happened, which kept me engaged even during the parts I wasn’t a huge fan of. I won’t say too much about the mystery, because it was so fun during the big reveal, but I will say that this part was so well done. Even though it wasn’t always the main focus of the story, there were still small hints and different references throughout that made me realize it was pointing me closer and closer to uncovering the various questions.
Between Luke’s individual storyline, Emmett’s individual storyline, and the entire plot surrounding Wanda World and Luke’s relative, this was a really solid book. My favorite part was the last 30% when it was more focused on the individual journeys and resolving the mystery, because I was so hooked at this point.
This leads me to my least favorite part of the story, though, which was the romance. I don’t say this often, especially in reference to queer stories, but I kind of wish there hadn’t been a romance. I know a large part of the story was Luke dealing with his sexuality, which Emmett certainly helped him with, but I think this could have been done just as well as a platonic bond. Part of my issue was that I never really felt the chemistry between the two, and their relationship progressed so fast. It felt very insta-lovey, which I’m not always a fan of. My least favorite part of the romance, though, was Emmett’s feelings toward Luke. I understand that teen love can feel all-consuming, but for someone who was so determined to become the world’s biggest gay country star (for most of his life, even), he was awfully quick in considering giving up his dreams for Luke, a guy he’d just met and may never see again after the summer.
I became frustrated during these moments, because up until this point, Emmett had always been so sure in his ambitions, and this just felt so out of character for him. Which is why I feel if A Little Bit Country had focused more on a platonic bond between the two, it could have made the story stronger.
However, I don’t want to say the romance won’t work for everyone because I’m sure it’ll be perfect for others. It just didn’t work for me, unfortunately.
Even so, I don’t regret reading A Little Bit Country at all. The parts I enjoyed, I did really enjoy. As I said before, the mystery part was done excellently, and both Emmett’s and Luke’s individual storylines were so well developed and explored. These parts of the story really made it shine, and as the book ended, I found myself smiling. I also loved the addition of song lyrics throughout. They were beautifully written, and even though I don’t like country music, had me wondering if I should change my mind!
While parts of this book may not have been for me, I just know other people will love it, which is one thing I find so fascinating about reading. So, even if you were really excited about this book and feel a little put off by my review, I’d still definitely recommend checking it out! You may feel entirely different from me.
Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 21, 2022
I enjoyed this in general.
November 11, 2023
I'm very upset, because this story had potential and it got wasted away.
A Little Bit Country tells the story of two teenage boys who meet each other in an amusement park called Wanda World and fall in love.
Emmett:
Meet Emmett Maguire, a seventeen year old from Illinois who loves country music, is openly gay and aspires to become a country singer. A gay country singer, to be exact. His big inspiration is a country (of course) superstar, Wanda Jean, who's songs gave him the confidence to always be himself and to make his dream come true.
There aren't a lot of gay country singers for me to follow in the footsteps of. And there certainly aren't many famous ones. But I don't take that as a strike against me. I take it as a challenge.
I like who I am.
And I like who I like.
This quote alone made me like him and root for him. Yeah, let's go, show them all how happy and proud you are, show them all how much you love music and inspire other people to make their dreams come true! I thought that this was the start of his big (and very, very tough) adventure in the music world. I knew that he will fall in love, of course, and that there will be some challenges in the love part as well. I was ready for it.
Have I kissed a few boys? Sure. But I already made peace with the fact that winning my first Grammy is more important than losing my virginity.
Emmett (in the beginning, at least) was written as a character who seemed very ambitious, brave and very willing to fight for his dreams and the bright future he had imagined for himself. And that's great, that's amazing - or so it would be if he was not willing to throw his music aside for a guy.
And for a guy he barely knew, but had fallen for (because of course he did).
And this is only one of the problems that I had with Emmett.
You see, as an aspiring musician, Emmett knew how important it is to write his own songs. He wanted to share his story with other people through his music. Wonderful! It's how it should be!
He had been presented with an opportunity to perform in front of a music talent seeker, Orrin. You would think that he will be very nervous (understandable). And you would think that he will do his best to write a great song for the performance. His own song.
But what Emmett had done was focusing more on someone else's song than on his own song. To his credit, he did have an intention to perform his song. But then he choke and decided to perform someone else's song instead.
Oh, and he also made a video of himself performing the song and uploaded it in his YouTube channel (without any shout out to the songwriter).
The use of someone else's lyrics per se was not the worst thing. The worst thing was that by doing it Emmett had thrown away his own believes. He had sound very proud, when he had told Luke (his boyfriend, I will come to him soon) how much of an influence had Wanda Jean on him. She had teached him to always believe in himself. And he wanted to follow in her footsteps and tell his story to the others. He knew that his musical journey will not be easy, but he had accepted it. And in the first opportunity he had, he had ditched all of it and choose a easy way out.
This is not the character that I had been introduced to in the beginning. He seemed like some kind of impostor and I didn't like it.
The other problem that I had with Emmett was the way his musican journey had been written. There were supposed to be obstacles. And there were some small obstacles, but overall Emmett got everything he wanted in a silver plate.
I wish it was a joke, but I am not joking. There you have two reasons why Emmett got an opportunity to go to Wanda World: 1) an immediate replacement was needed for the performance and 2) his aunt's boyfriend works as a senior VP entertainment manager at Wanda World. Very convenient, but I was willing to let go of it, because everyone need to start somewhere. But then his performance was seen by a talent seeker and that talent seeker wanted his demo. And then that talent seeker invited him to the recording studio.
And everything would have gone smoothly if it wasn't for the fact that Emmett's songs had been concentrating heavily on the M/M romance. That was a thing Orrin, the talent seeker, wanted to change. And while Emmett had been shocked at first (why was he shocked if he KNEW that there weren't many gay country singers and that the music business wanted straight love and pretty faces is beyond me), he was WILLING to do what Orrin asked of him.
That would make sense if Emmett had already been through incredible amount of rejections. If he had been so many times beaten up by the music industry, that he wouldn't feel any need to put another fight. But this is not what had happened in A Little Bit Country.
I also have to mention that Emmett had incredible parents. They knew that he was gay and supported their son's dream - it's because of them Emmett got an opportunity to go to music lessons in the first place. But the parents had only shown up twice in the book: in the beginning and through a Skype call. And that Skype call had only happened, because Emmett's aunt reminded him that he should keep in touch with his parents.
Luke
Meet Luke Barnes, a seventeen year old boy living with his family in an old farmhouse. He has two younger siblings, a stepfather and a mother who's fighting with an illness. Luke's big dream is to become a cook, he wants to get a proper education and have his own restaurant someday.
"I liked it when people enjoy my food," I say. "It makes me happy."
The only one other thing you need to know about him is that he is gay, but didn't come out of the closet yet. No one knows who he truly is, especially not his mother, who Luke is certain that she's homophobic.
Anyways, Luke worked in a factory, but got scared that his true self will be known so he quit. His ex-girlfriend and friend, Vanessa, got him a job at Wanda World. It was only a dishwasher position, but it was a start.
Luke is definitely a better written character than Emmett is. Most of his actions make sense to me - he was still in the closet and was terrified that someone will find the truth about him. The only problem I had with Luke was his family's situation. His mother had been fighting with her illness for a very long time and the family always struggled with money. I thought that Luke will fight for an opportunity to get a better job and support his family and if not, that he will try to be at home as often as possible to take care of his mother. It's not that I wanted him to forget about his own life. No, that was not what I mean. I just thought that with a sick mother, Luke will spend as much time as he could with her and try to help her in any way he could, especially because of the younger siblings not understanding their situation yet and because of the stepfather being focused on work to get as much money as possible for the family.
But this is not what had happened. Not only Luke stayed in the restaurant where he had not been payed much (but got an opportunity to learn how to cook), he was spending most of his free time with Emmett.
The romance
Emmett was an aspiring country singer. Luke was someone struggling with his identity and with his family situation. These two should not become lovers, at least not as fast as they did. It would've had more sense for them to become friends instead. Or friends to lovers. It should've had a slow burn style. What we've got was a close to insta-love romance where the boys had only two meaningful conversations (about their dreams and about Luke's grandma situation) and decided to become boyfriends without really knowing each other (and not trying to know).
I mean, Emmett had no idea that Luke's mom was sick until they got into a fight. None of them should spend as much time with each other as they did. Luke had no business to agree to become Emmett's boyfriend, if he had been still in the closet and Emmett had no business asking Luke to become his boyfriend if he knew that he wanted an open relationship. Their romance was mostly based on their physical attraction and nothing else. The only part that I liked from their romance was their conversation about their dreams - they supported one another in their plans for the future and it was very sweet.
I also have to say that Emmett had a very little respect for Luke in their relationship. He was specifically told not to visit Luke in his work place, but had gone there anyway. Twice. The things he had said to Luke (and not only to Luke) could be easily interpreted in wrong way, but he was forgiven every single time (like in the scene when he said that Luke has no taste in music, because he doesn't like country).
Wanda Jean and Verna Rose situation
If that was supposed to be a plot twist, it didn't work. I immediately knew what the real situation looked like. What I did not understand was why Verna had choosen Wanda's husband to run away with. I get that she wanted to be 'normal', but why your best friend's husband? Was he the only man she could've choosen?
Overall this book is a disappointment. It started really well, but got downhill pretty quickly. But hey, maybe I'm the problem, not the book.
P.S. The only problem Emmett had been facing was the fact that he was gay. He was very good looking, white American with a great voice and great connections (*cough* Grady *cough*). His friends however while being straight, good looking and having talent, had no connections and what was the biggest problem - were not white.
A Little Bit Country tells the story of two teenage boys who meet each other in an amusement park called Wanda World and fall in love.
Emmett:
Meet Emmett Maguire, a seventeen year old from Illinois who loves country music, is openly gay and aspires to become a country singer. A gay country singer, to be exact. His big inspiration is a country (of course) superstar, Wanda Jean, who's songs gave him the confidence to always be himself and to make his dream come true.
There aren't a lot of gay country singers for me to follow in the footsteps of. And there certainly aren't many famous ones. But I don't take that as a strike against me. I take it as a challenge.
I like who I am.
And I like who I like.
This quote alone made me like him and root for him. Yeah, let's go, show them all how happy and proud you are, show them all how much you love music and inspire other people to make their dreams come true! I thought that this was the start of his big (and very, very tough) adventure in the music world. I knew that he will fall in love, of course, and that there will be some challenges in the love part as well. I was ready for it.
Have I kissed a few boys? Sure. But I already made peace with the fact that winning my first Grammy is more important than losing my virginity.
Emmett (in the beginning, at least) was written as a character who seemed very ambitious, brave and very willing to fight for his dreams and the bright future he had imagined for himself. And that's great, that's amazing - or so it would be if he was not willing to throw his music aside for a guy.
And for a guy he barely knew, but had fallen for (because of course he did).
And this is only one of the problems that I had with Emmett.
You see, as an aspiring musician, Emmett knew how important it is to write his own songs. He wanted to share his story with other people through his music. Wonderful! It's how it should be!
He had been presented with an opportunity to perform in front of a music talent seeker, Orrin. You would think that he will be very nervous (understandable). And you would think that he will do his best to write a great song for the performance. His own song.
But what Emmett had done was focusing more on someone else's song than on his own song. To his credit, he did have an intention to perform his song. But then he choke and decided to perform someone else's song instead.
Oh, and he also made a video of himself performing the song and uploaded it in his YouTube channel (without any shout out to the songwriter).
The use of someone else's lyrics per se was not the worst thing. The worst thing was that by doing it Emmett had thrown away his own believes. He had sound very proud, when he had told Luke (his boyfriend, I will come to him soon) how much of an influence had Wanda Jean on him. She had teached him to always believe in himself. And he wanted to follow in her footsteps and tell his story to the others. He knew that his musical journey will not be easy, but he had accepted it. And in the first opportunity he had, he had ditched all of it and choose a easy way out.
This is not the character that I had been introduced to in the beginning. He seemed like some kind of impostor and I didn't like it.
The other problem that I had with Emmett was the way his musican journey had been written. There were supposed to be obstacles. And there were some small obstacles, but overall Emmett got everything he wanted in a silver plate.
I wish it was a joke, but I am not joking. There you have two reasons why Emmett got an opportunity to go to Wanda World: 1) an immediate replacement was needed for the performance and 2) his aunt's boyfriend works as a senior VP entertainment manager at Wanda World. Very convenient, but I was willing to let go of it, because everyone need to start somewhere. But then his performance was seen by a talent seeker and that talent seeker wanted his demo. And then that talent seeker invited him to the recording studio.
And everything would have gone smoothly if it wasn't for the fact that Emmett's songs had been concentrating heavily on the M/M romance. That was a thing Orrin, the talent seeker, wanted to change. And while Emmett had been shocked at first (why was he shocked if he KNEW that there weren't many gay country singers and that the music business wanted straight love and pretty faces is beyond me), he was WILLING to do what Orrin asked of him.
That would make sense if Emmett had already been through incredible amount of rejections. If he had been so many times beaten up by the music industry, that he wouldn't feel any need to put another fight. But this is not what had happened in A Little Bit Country.
I also have to mention that Emmett had incredible parents. They knew that he was gay and supported their son's dream - it's because of them Emmett got an opportunity to go to music lessons in the first place. But the parents had only shown up twice in the book: in the beginning and through a Skype call. And that Skype call had only happened, because Emmett's aunt reminded him that he should keep in touch with his parents.
Luke
Meet Luke Barnes, a seventeen year old boy living with his family in an old farmhouse. He has two younger siblings, a stepfather and a mother who's fighting with an illness. Luke's big dream is to become a cook, he wants to get a proper education and have his own restaurant someday.
"I liked it when people enjoy my food," I say. "It makes me happy."
The only one other thing you need to know about him is that he is gay, but didn't come out of the closet yet. No one knows who he truly is, especially not his mother, who Luke is certain that she's homophobic.
Anyways, Luke worked in a factory, but got scared that his true self will be known so he quit. His ex-girlfriend and friend, Vanessa, got him a job at Wanda World. It was only a dishwasher position, but it was a start.
Luke is definitely a better written character than Emmett is. Most of his actions make sense to me - he was still in the closet and was terrified that someone will find the truth about him. The only problem I had with Luke was his family's situation. His mother had been fighting with her illness for a very long time and the family always struggled with money. I thought that Luke will fight for an opportunity to get a better job and support his family and if not, that he will try to be at home as often as possible to take care of his mother. It's not that I wanted him to forget about his own life. No, that was not what I mean. I just thought that with a sick mother, Luke will spend as much time as he could with her and try to help her in any way he could, especially because of the younger siblings not understanding their situation yet and because of the stepfather being focused on work to get as much money as possible for the family.
But this is not what had happened. Not only Luke stayed in the restaurant where he had not been payed much (but got an opportunity to learn how to cook), he was spending most of his free time with Emmett.
The romance
Emmett was an aspiring country singer. Luke was someone struggling with his identity and with his family situation. These two should not become lovers, at least not as fast as they did. It would've had more sense for them to become friends instead. Or friends to lovers. It should've had a slow burn style. What we've got was a close to insta-love romance where the boys had only two meaningful conversations (about their dreams and about Luke's grandma situation) and decided to become boyfriends without really knowing each other (and not trying to know).
I mean, Emmett had no idea that Luke's mom was sick until they got into a fight. None of them should spend as much time with each other as they did. Luke had no business to agree to become Emmett's boyfriend, if he had been still in the closet and Emmett had no business asking Luke to become his boyfriend if he knew that he wanted an open relationship. Their romance was mostly based on their physical attraction and nothing else. The only part that I liked from their romance was their conversation about their dreams - they supported one another in their plans for the future and it was very sweet.
I also have to say that Emmett had a very little respect for Luke in their relationship. He was specifically told not to visit Luke in his work place, but had gone there anyway. Twice. The things he had said to Luke (and not only to Luke) could be easily interpreted in wrong way, but he was forgiven every single time (like in the scene when he said that Luke has no taste in music, because he doesn't like country).
Wanda Jean and Verna Rose situation
If that was supposed to be a plot twist, it didn't work. I immediately knew what the real situation looked like. What I did not understand was why Verna had choosen Wanda's husband to run away with. I get that she wanted to be 'normal', but why your best friend's husband? Was he the only man she could've choosen?
Overall this book is a disappointment. It started really well, but got downhill pretty quickly. But hey, maybe I'm the problem, not the book.
P.S. The only problem Emmett had been facing was the fact that he was gay. He was very good looking, white American with a great voice and great connections (*cough* Grady *cough*). His friends however while being straight, good looking and having talent, had no connections and what was the biggest problem - were not white.
June 27, 2024
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH, it was everything I wanted and more. I read My Fair Brady recently, loved it, and it just made me even more excited to get to this which sounded like it would be right up my alley and it was.
It reminded me a bit of Every Time You Hear That Song, one of the twists is exactly the same in both books. I'm not sure which of them came first or if they were inspired by each other, but they're both great reads.
If you love country music, theme parks named after a big star, a sweet YA romance and amazing characters, pick this book up now!!
It reminded me a bit of Every Time You Hear That Song, one of the twists is exactly the same in both books. I'm not sure which of them came first or if they were inspired by each other, but they're both great reads.
If you love country music, theme parks named after a big star, a sweet YA romance and amazing characters, pick this book up now!!
May 14, 2024
Well that didnt take me long to finish. This was a really cute book that scratched my brain. Its like it Coco met a lesbian Dolly Parton in a way 💀. Would recommend
June 10, 2022
Ta okładka jest absolutnie przepiękna😩♥️
Ale odnośnie książki…
Zrobiłem sobie sam duże wymagania co do niej (nie będę oszukiwać, wina okładki, ale również opis mnie zainteresował) i…
Książka mi się podobała, była fajna, ale było pare rzeczy w niej które mi się gryzły i nie przypadły do gustu.
Relacja pomiędzy bohaterami (mlm) była za szybka? Dlatego nie do końca wyczułem pomiędzy nimi chemii. Również niektóre zachowania bohaterów nie podobały mi się w pewnych sytuacjach, i jednocześnie rozumiem po części zachowanie Luke’a to i tak byłem lekko zirytowany.
Natomiast książka ma fajną fabułę, czuć klimat country i ogólnie historia jest naprawdę przyjemna. Czyta się ją niesamowicie szybko, ale jednak czegoś mi w niej zabrakło.
3.5⭐️
Ale odnośnie książki…
Zrobiłem sobie sam duże wymagania co do niej (nie będę oszukiwać, wina okładki, ale również opis mnie zainteresował) i…
Książka mi się podobała, była fajna, ale było pare rzeczy w niej które mi się gryzły i nie przypadły do gustu.
Relacja pomiędzy bohaterami (mlm) była za szybka? Dlatego nie do końca wyczułem pomiędzy nimi chemii. Również niektóre zachowania bohaterów nie podobały mi się w pewnych sytuacjach, i jednocześnie rozumiem po części zachowanie Luke’a to i tak byłem lekko zirytowany.
Natomiast książka ma fajną fabułę, czuć klimat country i ogólnie historia jest naprawdę przyjemna. Czyta się ją niesamowicie szybko, ale jednak czegoś mi w niej zabrakło.
3.5⭐️
February 1, 2022
I expected so much more and unfortunately I just didn’t get it.
The book started off with a really strong start. I was liking the characters, the storyline was advancing well and it was well written. As soon as we dove into Emmett moving to his aunts, things went downhill. I’m not sure what happened but it quickly became cliche, annoying and boring.
It was yet another story if instalove, which, if you don’t know me, I hate. It was terribly cliche. Sometimes, I love cliche, but this was overdone to the point where it was just overdone. Emmett and Luke both fell into cliches typical of their stereotype. (Both of these characters felt like very one dimensional, stereotyped characters that were pulled out of a Sarah Dessen novel and thrown in here with the word “gay” tossed into their resume).
Overall, not a book I’d buy or recommend.
The book started off with a really strong start. I was liking the characters, the storyline was advancing well and it was well written. As soon as we dove into Emmett moving to his aunts, things went downhill. I’m not sure what happened but it quickly became cliche, annoying and boring.
It was yet another story if instalove, which, if you don’t know me, I hate. It was terribly cliche. Sometimes, I love cliche, but this was overdone to the point where it was just overdone. Emmett and Luke both fell into cliches typical of their stereotype. (Both of these characters felt like very one dimensional, stereotyped characters that were pulled out of a Sarah Dessen novel and thrown in here with the word “gay” tossed into their resume).
Overall, not a book I’d buy or recommend.
November 28, 2021
Now THIS is queer story telling at its finest. Like honestly? Other authors need to take notes. There was so much queer joy along with the fear we all have an experience with none of the trauma. Proof that you CAN write queer joy and people will appreciate it.
10/10 PREORDER THIS FUCKING BOOK NOW!!!
😭😭😂😂
10/10 PREORDER THIS FUCKING BOOK NOW!!!
😭😭😂😂
August 16, 2022
rtc
maybe I should try more country music, other than just listening to kacey musgraves and orville peck 🤠🤠
Yeehaw counter: 0️⃣
maybe I should try more country music, other than just listening to kacey musgraves and orville peck 🤠🤠
Yeehaw counter: 0️⃣
June 8, 2022
(3.5)
Rep: gay mcs, Black side character, Chinese American side character, lesbian side character, side character with multiple sclerosis
CWs: internalised homophobia, casual homophobia
Rep: gay mcs, Black side character, Chinese American side character, lesbian side character, side character with multiple sclerosis
CWs: internalised homophobia, casual homophobia
July 26, 2022
w tym momencie przeczytałam najlepszy queer romans od czasów red, white & royal blue 🤠
January 25, 2024
average rating: •••.5
“i appreciate everything you've done for me. but you shouldn't ask people to change who they are.”
actually, this is a palate cleanser cuz (again), i have a post-captive prince syndrome (and yes, these are fantasy series and i need a fluffy ya mlm book; which is this one).
this talks about emmett, whose going to be a country music's biggest gay star. as a result, he lives in tennessee with her aunt for 3 months, and performs at a amusement park called wanda world owned by a famous country singer wanda jean stubbs. while luke, hates the country music genre because he remembers her grandmother; verna rose, whose a singer before she passed away. and broke up with her girlfriend; vanessa months ago. quitting his old job, he's working at a restaurant as a dishwasher and has a dream to be a chef and build his own restaurant.
as a casual listener of country music, i enjoy this book. emmett and luke's (pretend) relationship is so cute. but the reason i didn't reach four stars is because luke is sooo stupid. liek, you treat emmett like a ghost in front of vanessa even though you knew him a few weeks ago??? (and yeah, i understand that he's nervous about being out and he wants to be with emmett in public even tho there's a lot of people visiting wanda world).
but what shocked to me is the last 4 chapters of the book (and i tear a bit).
and yeah, great debut from kennedy and i'm excited to read his other book (and of course, more in the future) 🤩
“i appreciate everything you've done for me. but you shouldn't ask people to change who they are.”
actually, this is a palate cleanser cuz (again), i have a post-captive prince syndrome (and yes, these are fantasy series and i need a fluffy ya mlm book; which is this one).
this talks about emmett, whose going to be a country music's biggest gay star. as a result, he lives in tennessee with her aunt for 3 months, and performs at a amusement park called wanda world owned by a famous country singer wanda jean stubbs. while luke, hates the country music genre because he remembers her grandmother; verna rose, whose a singer before she passed away. and broke up with her girlfriend; vanessa months ago. quitting his old job, he's working at a restaurant as a dishwasher and has a dream to be a chef and build his own restaurant.
as a casual listener of country music, i enjoy this book. emmett and luke's (pretend) relationship is so cute. but the reason i didn't reach four stars is because luke is sooo stupid. liek, you treat emmett like a ghost in front of vanessa even though you knew him a few weeks ago??? (and yeah, i understand that he's nervous about being out and he wants to be with emmett in public even tho there's a lot of people visiting wanda world).
but what shocked to me is the last 4 chapters of the book (and i tear a bit).
and yeah, great debut from kennedy and i'm excited to read his other book (and of course, more in the future) 🤩
June 15, 2022
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
This was one my most anticipated releases of 2022 and it didn’t let me down!
This was so cute! Luke and Emmett were great characters and it was amazing getting to see their journey, both as individuals and a couple. The story was fast paced and while I was able to predict a few things before they happened, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all.
Also I want to go to Wanda World just for the rides. The Bone Rattler? Sounds intense and I’m so in. 😂
This was one my most anticipated releases of 2022 and it didn’t let me down!
This was so cute! Luke and Emmett were great characters and it was amazing getting to see their journey, both as individuals and a couple. The story was fast paced and while I was able to predict a few things before they happened, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all.
Also I want to go to Wanda World just for the rides. The Bone Rattler? Sounds intense and I’m so in. 😂
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April 18, 2022
It was good, but holy hell there is a lot of casual homophobia. I get why it was there, and I understand why Luke acted the way he did, but it was still hard.
Full RTC.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
Full RTC.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
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