A Little Bit Country is a character grounded story about honesty, love, and following our dreams. Dual POV, A Little Bit Country is the perfect queer summer read. It will bring you back to country fairgrounds, fried snacks, and fireworks. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
TW: racism, homophobia, SC with MS
On paper Emmett and Luke may seem different – one an aspiring country music singer and another with family conflicts with one of country music’s greatest singers. But A Little Bit Country brings them together in not only a shower of chemistry, but also forces them to sit with their own selves. With the ways in which we have to fight for our dreams and make new friends. To discover who we are apart from the expectations we have.
My heart went out instantly to Luke and how hard he’s working to keep his family together. The responsibility he feels that is crushing him. At the same time, the layers of secrets and concealment he lives under. For Luke, I loved the ways A Little Bit Country examines ethics and the sacrifices we make for success. How the world can expect us to hide who we are to succeed, to make things easier for us, but how it would mean losing a piece of ourselves. Furthermore, a common theme that A Little Bit Country explores is the weight of dreams.
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The terror and pressure of our dreams. Of seeing how high they reach and how far we will fall. While also being possessed with our fear of them disappearing. It takes courage to dream, but even more to pursue them. Additionally, A Little Bit Country asks us how we can balance the joys of our lives? Tender feelings of new love, our family commitments, and the sacrifices for our dreams. If you’re searching for a precious queer contemporary with some romance to round out your summer, check out A Little Bit Country. Find A Little Bit Country on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.