A Little Bit Country

By: Brian D. Kennedy

Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin, Andrew Gibson

Dumplin' meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this heartfelt and funny contemporary romance inspired by Dollywood, about two boys who fall in love against the backdrop of a country music-themed amusement park, from debut author Brian D. Kennedy. Perfect for fans of Erin Hahn, Phil Stamper, and David Levithan.

Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar—a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.

Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.

Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet—and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.

Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?

©2022 Brian D. Kennedy (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Wonderful young love story!

Let me just start by saying I’m going to need more Luke & Emmett. They have my heart! This is exactly the kind of book I wish I could have read when I was younger. Representation matters & we need more YA stories like this one~ full of love, truths, growth, and the beauty of discovery. I just ordered the book to have on my shelf for my nieces/nephews in the years to come!

Understanding the normal boy

This book was the most amazing thing I have heard. It captured so much of childhood and I especially like the twist closer to the end of the book. Bless your heart Verna Rose

Good story

The reviews were positive so I trusted that it was gonna work out but there were a few twists and turns in there that kept it interesting. I liked the character development from both characters throughout. There was a happy ending without being Polly Anna and the whole story struck the right tone for a YA novel without being insulting. Delightful listen.

A book for boys, thank you very much

This book could have saved lives in the days of my youth. I tried to resist the charm of it, the simple, teenaged angst played out with only a few improbable happenstances. I don't have a great love for country music as Emmett does. I'm old, so I no longer relate to the fear of disclosure with which Luke lives. Nonetheless, I pushed the button when I finished their story and started again. There are incidents at the beginning of the story that fund events at the end of the story without giving them away too soon. I liked that. There is a bit of silliness that seems to be requisite in "Young Adult" books, but it didn't spoil the story for this old guy. The lyrics of country songs included in the text are ordinary enough that they made me wonder if they were supposed to amuse me. Ultimately, I just thought Emmett had a long way to go to write great country music and Wanda June must have sung her flat lyrics with a lot of style to make the kind of success she got from them. It's possible. All that aside, we need more well-crafted stories for LGBTQ kids and this is a good one. The intimacy between the boys was honest and sincere and never pornographic, neither "soft" nor x-rated. The story has a decidedly masculine voice, the reader gives Emmett a higher, lighter pitch, but he's still a boy and one to whom other boys that age could relate. I wonder if straight boys could read it and learn not to be homophobes. I think they could.

Plain fun

I was hesitant about this book; however, I am really glad I picked this one. The characters felt real and grounded, plus the plot had good pacing. There is a lot of heart in this book and I highly recommend it if you want a feel good story.

A truly beautiful LGBT Story

A truly beautiful LGBT story that made me want so much more, and I can only hope that the author gives us a sequel. It's a great LGBT book that brought to life what I can only hope would happen in real life for me. All in all, this book is truly a beautiful book detailing the budding relationship between an aspiring country artist and a good little country boy, as both try to find their place in a world that, it seems, doesn't want them to find happiness in themselves or in success.

A Touching Story

The storyline in A Little Bit Country is a touching one involving two kindhearted characters who go through the angst of young love as teenagers.

Could not listen fast enough!

Love love love. As someone who works for a country music record label in Nashville and someone who is gay, this book pulled all my hearts strings.

Amazing

Absolutely amazing. This has the be the best book I’ve read/listened to in years. I’m so happy I took the chance and bought it.

Perfectly cheesy with a great world

It’s really easy to see where the inspiration for most every moment in this book comes from, but that helps invest you in it. While “Wanda” is clearly an amalgamation of dolly,Reba, Loretta Lynn etc, it’s not hard to imagine exactly the layout of Wanda world and Jackson hollow. The characters are sweet and completely 17, so the problems feel perhaps juvenile sometimes but you still want to know what happens. It’s not a big flashy ending and there’s no great suspense, but there is a lot of sweetness and honesty in both emmet and Luke’s journeys. I would be interested in a follow up to see what these characters find later.