#running with lions

[queer-books-bracket]

#running with lions #six of crows #leigh bardugo #julian winters #books #lgbt books #polls

[julianwinters]

Sebastian is taller than Emir right?

Yes! He definitely is! Art by the very talented softerstorms on Instagram.

#running with lions

[desdasiwrites]

– Julian Winters, Running With Lions

#book quote of the day #julian winters #running with lions #book recommendations #lgbtqia+ #happy pride 🌈

[queer-and-dear-books]

Title: Running With Lions

Author: Julian Winters

Genre: YA Fiction | Romance | Friendship | Sports | LGBTQ+

Content Warnings: (Brief) Homophobia

Overall Rating: 6.3/10

Personal Opinion: Everyone expects Sebastian to be the next team captain. They expect him to lead the team to victory. When his childhood friend joins the team, that status is suddenly put into jeopardy because Sebastian just doesn’t know what to do with him. As they bond over drills and practice, old feelings and new ones form between Sebastian and Emir. A captivating tale of a dysfunctional found family playing sports and the love that can blossom on the field.

Couple Classification: Sebastian X Emir = Jock X Goth

Do I Own This Book? Nope.

Spoilers Below For My Likes & Dislikes:

Likes:

- Honestly, Sebastian and Emir are a much better couple than Wes and Nico. Their falling out made sense to me. They had a lot more chemistry. Sebastian’s desire to help came from this place of responsibility and also nostalgia and goodwill. Emir’s shyness reminded me of when I was taken to France and then brought back. I wasn’t gone as long (I think) but that can really impact a person emotionally. I think their banter was nice and the tension when Emir was grumpy was cute. Their movie date was adorable, their rain practice was romantic, their skinny dipping was captivating, I was honestly so into it. I do think they have their issues, in particular I hate that they really spent weeks after that dumb fight not really talking. It’s just bullshit honestly. Carl was in the wrong and yeah Emir can take care of himself but that is not an excuse to get so mad at Sebastian for wanting to help. Ugh, teenagers in love are so annoying with their decisions sometimes. But what else is new?

- Willie is a ray of sunshine. He had a crush on Sebastian but he never let his feelings get in the way of cheering them on. He supported Sebastian’s love for Emir and reminded me so much of Suga from Haikyuu!! He’s a senior, he got benched (because of an injury), but he was the loudest cheerleader and strictest coach working on the sidelines. I have so much respect for him because he’s not only totally in-touch with his feelings but he tries so hard to include everyone around him. A ray of sunshine.

- The scene where Grey took down Mason in a scrimmage is iconic. She showed him up in front of everyone. I had rolled my eyes at the idea of Mason agreeing to a date due to a bet but the fact that she declined, queen shit. She just trashed his reputation, united the team, and rejected him in front of all the boys. I think it was a humbling experience for Mason too and actually made him realize that the way he’s been treating women has been wrong. It gives real Sokka/Suki vibes and I do hope Mason will take this experience and truly grow from it. Be better, bitch.

- The dialogue cracks me up. Especially when Mason said he was thinking of asking out Patrick (Grey’s last name) and Sebastian said “Patrick from the track team?” and Will said “Coach Patrick?” Like I actually wheezed.

- The drive-in movie date was probably my favorite chapter. To begin with, it was adorable. Also, when Val’s friend was flirting with Emir, it was just so funny. Especially when she stomped over after Emir told her he was gay. And then he went and wrapped his arms around Sebastian and put his fingers through the belt loops like SIR! He was really rubbing it in. And Sebastian was eating it up too, it was so cute. 

Dislikes:

- Distance is so hard to measure in several scenes. Like when the team was going into town and Sebastian was somehow talking to Emir who was sitting outside on the front steps of his cabin but Bastian was by the car and I just did not know where anyone was standing in proximity to others at any point. Or when Sebastian’s in the locker room. Where was he hiding when the St. Catherine bigots were talking shit to Emir and Hunter? They just straight up didn’t notice him. Or when they were eating ice cream. I pictured an actual shop, not just a window where they get ice cream. I don’t even know where the windows were positioned when Sebastian would sneak into Emir’s room. It was confusing and messed with my vision of events.

- Emir’s attitude makes sense to me but I think it was taken to the extremes at times. Like when he scowled at Hunter for sitting at his table. He also has such a supportive family and his dad’s not mad at him for his sexuality so why was he working so hard to impress him with soccer? To me, it doesn’t make sense. Raj is clearly a supportive, loving dad so what brought this on? Emir’s so shy and easily explosive that I can’t imagine him wanting to do soccer, a team sport, unless his dad was disappointed in him at some point. The entire team did not help in making Emir fit in, but Emir should’ve met them halfway. What’s worse is that after the big fight, Emir was suddenly getting along well with Zach and Hunter. I don’t get it. Like if it was that easy then the fight shouldn’t have been such a big deal. Someone should’ve apologized sooner.

- Sebastian not coming out also doesn’t make sense to me. His entire family is clearly supportive and loving, they don’t give a shit. I get it, the stigma exists. He’s in the machismo world of sports but he surrounded by queer folks and his coach would never reject any kid for their sexuality so what is up?

- Mason Riley can eat shit. I hate him. Look, if even his own friends root against him, I don’t think he is a good person. Mason is out here being so rude to a girl that had a crush on him. He clearly didn’t make an effort for Val either and he literally talked shit about Emir at every turn for no reason. For no reason! Carl too! Fuck Carl! What happened? What did Emir do to make them hate him like that? Just because he’s a bit standoffish? It made me so mad because they’re “not like other jocks” but they certainly fucking acted like it.

- The coaches are great in that they don’t care about sexuality or gender identity in sports but man do they put too much pressure on Sebastian. It’s no wonder he’s a wreck. Plus, if all of these kids are puking during their drills, I don’t think they’re doing it right. To me, it just sounds like child endangerment. They don’t even care for them if they fail, it’s just a lot of yelling. They also just break up fights instead of actually reprimanding the ones at fault? I mean, it’s bullshit. It just almost screams performative. 

#Booklr #Booksbooksbooks #Book Blog #Book Review #Running With Lions #Julian Winters #LGBTQ #Queer Books #Queer Lit #Queer Representation

[abigail-abridged-summaries]

"You know it's not easy to figure out, right? It's not overnight. And it doesn't happen just because you've been with someone for years. It's just this feeling. I don't think love knows how it works." Hunter's thumb rubs the crook of Sebastian's elbow.

"What is it, then?"

Hunter's eyes brighten. "If you're watching Scooby Doo and think of someone because it's their favorite cartoon. If you're allergic to flour but still eat someone's burnt pancakes. Or if you hate the color green but you wear it because it reminds you of a person's eyes just before you kiss them—well, it might be love."

#oh #its in words #running with lions #julian winters #bookworm #books #books and libraries #ya books #ya lgbt books #lgbt books #sports #sports book #fiction #ya fiction #realistic fiction #book quotes

[mirrorofsilver]

[...] life is sometimes just another day, and sometimes it’s moment after moment after moment that only paralyzes you if you let it.

Julian Winters, Running With Lions

#julian winters #running with lions #books #books & libraries #literature #classic #classics #quote #quotes #life #life quotes

[exysexualmoron]

just finished running with lions!

what a book!

#running with lions

[loniereads]

Trying to read a book to get over my 4th round of hyperfixation on aftg only for the book I’m reading to use the phrase “pipe dream”

Feeling kinda betrayed-

#aftg #all for the game #can I ever escape #the book is running with lions just so you know #running with lions

[justapayneaway]

Running With Lions: A moodboard 🌈

Full review of this book by Julian Winters here and IG account here.

#running with lions #julian winters #rita's book club #books #ziam #liam payne #zayn malik #hope you like this

[julianwinters]

Reading Running with Lions for the 3rd time in 3 months. It is just so well written and fantastic. It makes my heart ache every time I think of how heartbroken Emir must have been all of those years away from Sebastian. I'm so glad it didn't take them decades to find their way back to each other. Just brilliant.

😭😭😭 three times in three months?! Wow! I'm overwhelmed. Thank you so much!

#running with lions

[starsandsunsets]

i finished running with lions by julian winters in one day. it's a quick read that i really enjoyed. it just had lots of tropes i like (dw i won't spoil anything). the characters were diverse and loveable. definitely recommend reading it!

i gave it 4.25 stars

#julian winters #running with lions #book review #books

[sahyuri]

Some reasons to read Running With Lions

- The main character is bi (and such a sweetheart) 

- His love interest is a gay Pakistani boy (who’s also a sweetheart but with salt) 

- Lots of queer and poc characters 

- Some of the themes are: islamophobia, homophobia, racism, bullying, fatphobia (all of them handled with respect and sensitivity) 

- Strong friendship and camaraderie

- Very healthy masculinity 

- Adults who actually take care of their kids and are supportive during hard times

- The author seems super nice, seriously check his social medias

- Sometimes it’s good to remember how it was like to be a teenager full of dreams, anxieties, hopes, confused and terrified of the future 

- Because you can still feel all of those things as an adult and that’s totally ok, “life is a summer of insecure thoughts. There’s an umbrella of precautions to prevent insecurity, but it doesn’t always keep the rain out of your face”. Just remember to keep running. At your pace. It will be worth it.

(This list was made for my Italian friends so I had to translate it to English, I’m sorry if there are mistakes!)

#running with lions #julian winters #lgbtq+ books #bisexual

[franticvampirereads]

I love this book! It’s so freaking good, and I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about this book! I loved that this book was just so unapologetically queer. And! This book let these boys be vulnerable, it let them cry and scream and experience their emotions without being judged for it. Running With Lions felt like one of those perfect summer days that you just don’t want to end.

The thing that I loved the most about this book was Sebastian dealing with his insecurities about his body, his fears about the future and life after high school, his fears of coming out to his parents about being bisexual and the fact that he’s falling in love with a boy for the first time. I loved Emir and all his stand-offish, painfully shy ways. I feel like he and Sebastian will make a great couple in the end.

Honestly? This book made my heart so happy. Especially with all the discussions about being lgbtqia+ in sports and just how much intolerance there is. I loved that Coach Patrick stood up for his players and gave them the chance to be themselves.

This whole book is like a hug! I just wanted to live in this little slice of summery goodness. This is getting a solid five stars. It’s just so freaking good!

#Running With Lions #book review #lgbtq+ books #booklr #bookblr #books #reading #reading review #book #read #goodreads #bookish #goodbook #bookworm #booknerd #reading adventures #reading addict #bookish adventures #read black authors #sports books #sports romance #ya contemporary books #contemporary books