A Little Bit Country

Name: A Little Bit Country
Brand: Harper Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Brian D. Kennedy
ISBN: 9780063085688

Author: Brian D. Kennedy

Narrator: Mark Sanderlin, Andrew Gibson

Unabridged: 9 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Storytide

Published: 06/07/2022

Categories: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Lgbtq+, Family, Performing Arts

Synopsis

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?

About Brian D. Kennedy

Brian D. Kennedy was born and raised in Minnesota and 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. His slightly unhealthy obsessions include: seeing as many Broadway shows as possible, buying weird trinkets off eBay, and all things Dolly Parton. Brian is the author of the YA novels A Little Bit Country and My Fair Brady. You can visit Brian online at briandkennedybooks.com.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Charlie on 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. T......more

Goodreads review by Marieke on June 07, 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 ma......more

Goodreads review by Noah on 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 sto......more

Goodreads review by Heather K (dentist in my spare time) on 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......more

Goodreads review by Claude's on June 30, 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......more