Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

When I heard about this book I was super excited. I love sports books (despite not caring about sports in real life). I love LGBTQ love stories. It seems like a slam dunk for me. But here's the thing...

The story is really cute. I loved the slow burn between Sebastian and Emir coming together again after their friendship breakup earlier in their childhood. The diversity in awesome. I'm glad there is bi representation, along with a lot of examples of diversity through race and religion. I really liked getting to know Sebastian, being inside his head. The discussion of boys and body issues is something that is so rare in YA lit. Sebastian, as an athlete, scrutinizes his body and his consistently unhappy with his appearance.

My huge issue with this book is the writing. It's...not good. I feel really bad saying that, but it's so clunky. There are SO many pop culture references thrown in, it gets annoying. "And then we listened to this song and this song and this song" because we're cool teenagers and love every kind of music. It feels super try-hard.
-I wish the origin of "Sebastian the trash can". It's obviously something that had a major impact on Sebastian and his body image, yet it's only referred to in passing, that kids sometimes said it and it made him sad. There has to be more to that story.
-Sebastian finds Willie and Hunter napping together, tangled up in each other, yet is SHOCKED two chapters later to realize they are interested in each other. Uhhhhh, what?
-Mason is a dick. And is he bi? He makes a comment about making out with a dude, but then forgets about it. He's an asshole to Gray, who seems like a nice girl. Are we supposed to like him? Because I really don't.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, but I hope Winters' writing style develops as he writes more.

Definitely a useful story in the GLBTQ realm that focuses not on the sexuality of the characters but on their teenagery-ness of being at a summer soccer camp and all that comes with a bunch of boys goofing off and playing ball.

Very cute lighthearted fluff. I love the diversity of the main characters. Representation is so important for teens and this book has it.

It’s nice to read a LGBTQ book that isn’t a super serious, this reads like a nice contemporary fluff book where the characters just happen to be gay. There is a bit mixed in of the reality of the situation for a lot of LGBTQ teens in sports, but overall is a nice lighthearted story. Not every book about a boy being gay has to be dramatic and end in tears and this story really embraces that and goes with the fluff you need sometimes. It’s nice that any drama in the book is just interpersonal and not due to someone’s sexuality.

Overall recommend for someone looking for a fluff feel good quick read.

My initial review for Running With Lions basically just said: “this book proves that 1) sports are inherently gay & 2) goalies are the best kind of (train wrecks) people” and frankly, I stand by this. It’s a contemporary novel about a bunch of teens at a soccer camp, it’s beautifully diverse, and a perfect read for summer.

Our protagonist, Sebastian, is a goalie & if you have ever been into any kind of sport, you know that goalies are always the most wild & weird but also pure people on the team. I think it’s a prerequisite for the position... Sebastian is also bisexual (and yes! they use the b-word!) and honestly, he’s the perfect example of a Disaster Bi. It’s incredible. The amount of secondhand embarrassment you have to deal with in basically every single one of his scenes is overwhelming & every second of it is relatable, because every second of it is rooted in not being straight. It’s such a joy and it’s so refreshing to read about a character like that.

Now the part of the book I loved most, the part that’s the sweetest - is the romance between Sebastian and Emir. Emir is his childhood best friend but they haven’t spoken in years, before he randomly showed up at the camp. Emir is also a gay Muslim - like I said, this book realises the world we live in is a diverse one. I adored Sebastian’s clumsy attempts at making friends with Emir again, how he was desperately trying to hide his very obvious crush but really, it was there for everyone to see.

The romance happens in the heat of summer, somewhere on a soccer pitch or at a running trail in the woods or a bench on front of an ice cream parlor or… This carefree, summery atmosphere is always there, always making things more vivid & more bright. And honestly, it’s the boys’ journey from not-really-enemies-but-definitely-not-friends-anymore to lovers that made me love Running With Lions so much.

This is very much a characters driven novel. I mean, not much really happens - they train, they go on dates, there are some unexpected hospital visits & grand romantic gestures, but overall? It’s not the plot that matters here, it’s the characters. And they’re all so lovely & real! It definitely helps that pretty much none of them are straight? Well, we all know that gay people flock together, but the book also has an explanation for that. Basically, the soccer team is run by a coach who made it very clear he does. not. care. about players’ sexualities, as long as they can play well. And it’s such a concept! Especially when in real life, this almost never happens. This team truly is a family & the boys look out for each other at every turn (Sebastian always being the first in line for that). It shows brilliantly in the example of Emir. We meet him as a rather shy recluse but over time he grows into this bunch of sweet fools. Friendships are formed and he truly becomes one of them, part of the family.

But while I loved the book as a whole, there are some little things that bothered me. You could probably chalk all of them up to this being a debut, as well - and a really good, solid one! - but we strive for perfectness in this gay household. The writing can sometimes feel a bit choppy, like there’s too much to say in too few words, and the cuts between scenes are so sudden here & there, that you can get slightly lost. But I think the weirdest part for me was that there really is a lot of showing here, it’s great in that aspect! But then? We would also get the dreaded telling? And it would happen in scenes we already lived and saw clearly enough to make our own conclusions, which makes the inclusion of wordy descriptions even more unnecessary? Telling isn’t even the right term for this phenomena, more like explaining of the showing.

And two other tiny bumps, kind of connected with each other, if you squint. One is the use of an internal monologue of the MC, written in cursive. It might not be a bad thing, per se, more like a personal preference, but yeah, personally I really, really don’t like it. The other is the fact that Sebastian talks out loud to himself. A lot. Which is cool, I mean I literally do the same… But he does it so much, there comes a point where it feels more like it’s used as a device to describe things rather than just his habit? Like a shortcut in a narrative.

Overall, though, Running With Lions is a wonderful, heartwarming book. It’s packed to the brim with lgbt characters and only a few of them are white and that’s exactly the kind of books we deserve more of. Especially when they’re wholesome and uplifting like this one. Because this is truly a novel about the power of friendship & how having soft, loving people in your life can change it for the better without you even noticing.

This was really good. I loved reading about everyone at camp and I love this really inclusive soccer team. I'd love to read more about them. My one complaint is there are a lot of characters and names and I couldn't always remember who was who but other than that it was a great and highly entertaining and diverse book.

I’ve just finished this book and I am grinning from ear to ear! I loved the inclusivity of the setting, and the easy and comfortable way in which the characters talked about their sexuality, as well as the other issues raised, like being from another country, not being certain what to do with your life, and the treatment of Muslims in Western society. All in all I thought this book was super sweet, and I really liked the love story, although I think the friendships took centre stage! I will definitely be recommending this book!

I'm on a constant search for books with diverse characters, with LGBTQIA characters that I not only like, but that I think my students would like, and I'm totally bookmarking Running with Lions and bugging my school's librarian as soon as the weekend is over.

Sebastian, our leading man, is heading off to his yearly summer soccer training with two of his best friends and teammates, Willie and Mason. They're all part of the Lions, a diverse high school soccer team with students from different races, ethnicity, and sexual orientations. I liked that Winters was featuring characters who were all so different from each other; I think that it not only is more realistic for many readers, but it also opens the door for so many more young readers to find a home in this book.

Anyway, it seems like the summer is going to fall into the usual pattern until Sebastian discovers that his once-best-friend and now enemy (or at least awkward estranged acquaintance), Emir Shah, is also training to be part of the team. I wouldn't say that I gravitate towards the best friends-(fren)enemies-lovers trope, but I think Winters does it well.

Even though he's there by his own choice, it seems like being a part of the team (and around Sebastian) is the last thing he wants to do. He's surly, doesn't want to take advice, and isolates himself whenever possible. But Sebastian can't get his mind, eyes...or other parts...of him to stop thinking about Emir Shah, so he makes it his mission to help him become a better player.

The plot was well-paced, and follows the characters. It's not an "action-packed" book, per say, because so much of it is about the characters' emotional journeys and their relationships.

Now, these characters.

First of all, I just wanted to give the characters a hug. All of the main characters (even Mason) grew on me very quickly. The friendship between Sebastian (leading man), Mason, and Willie just felt very real to me. The way they tease each other, bicker, and support one another mirrored what I see in my own friends and what I see in my students. I loved their bromance and unwavering acceptance of each other.

Not to mention, I think that every school in the world needs a Coach like theirs. The spirit of camaraderie and friendly love for each other was just too sweet. I want all young readers to see this example, so they can start to learn that it's not just OK to be open and accepting of others, but that we SHOULD live our lives that way. Also, his daughter, Grey. is wonderful. Give me a kicka** sassy girl any day, especially one who can make an entire men's soccer team shake in their cleats.

As prickly as he was, I have to say that Emir was my favorite. He's a complex character with a lot of well-done layers: socially anxious, gay, British Pakistani, family-oriented, practicing Muslim. It almost seems ridiculous to have so much packed into one character, but he was very well-written. The different pieces of his identity are revealed very naturally, and it never feels like he's been put into the story to be a token anything. Winters created this beautiful, complex human being who is just real. For me, that seals the deal.

If you couldn't tell, I was really excited about this book. There are a few bumps along the road in terms of writing. Sometimes the narration is a little awkward, a little shaky, but it's a DEBUT novel, and I honestly believe that Winters is just going to get better from here. I would most definitely read whatever he puts out next.

Overall, Running With Lions was heartwarming, entertaining, and a beautiful compilation of diverse boys who show us that acceptance and love can just be our way of life.

4.5 Stars

Well, well, well - this was quite a delightful surprise. When I started reading I was convinced I was going to have issues. It’s told in a third person narrative, which is fine, but in this instance I was worried I wouldn’t be able to connect with the main character, that I wouldn’t understand where he was coming from and blah blah blah...

Well I was wrong. Epically wrong. Sebastian is wonderful and this book is wonderful and everything a teen needs in their life. I mean I don’t even know where to begin! I guess let’s start with the amazing representation of LGBTQ+ teens in high school athletics. Not only that, let’s talk about how utterly amazing the coach is and every single person on the team. They are truly a family, they go out on a limb for each other, and, of course, bust each other’s chops a bit, but what family doesn’t!! There are so few books out there that create a safe space in sports right off the bat and this was so refreshing to see and something, I hope, becomes true to life.

In addition to this, the author does an amazing job of tackling some super real issues for teens. Topics like male body issues and self-criticism, the terrifying reality of life after high school and having no clue what comes next, the personas we take on when dealing with troubles at home, and, honestly, there’s so much more.

Now you might think this could make the narrative feel cluttered or overwhelming or that some topics don’t get their due, but the author does such an exceptional job of weaving these things into the storytelling that all of it feels so natural. Plus - another of my favorite things about this book - while, yes, this a romance, it’s also so much more than that. The author never completely follows those typical YA romantic plot devices and conventions. I would reach the end of a chapter and think “Yep, it’s coming. That terrible “it,” we see in all YA romances!” And then I’d turn the page and BOOM! That “it” never came and instead the author was able to focus on those bigger topics I mentioned earlier.

Did I have some issues with the book? Sure! But they are so minor compared to the truly fantastic characters and character development and the fact that the author was able to take some tough issues and not only weave them into a sweet love story but also make them accessible and relatable to a teen (and adult!) audience.

At the end of the day, I love a nice surprise and this one surprised me in the sweetest way. A must read, most definitely!

Golly, this book is cute. A fun sports romance. I liked that the book wasn't TOTALLY focused on the romance aspect, and we got to see a bit of the friendships between the boys on the team. I like my romance novels fluffy and sweet like cotton candy and this delivers.

I received and ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was adorable! Sebastian is such a great main character! I loved him so much. Willie was so lovable and I want to be his best friend. Mason was a jerk, but was a good guy who just needed a small push. Amir was so precious. I loved them all.

Sebastian is trying to figure out and deal with a lot of stuff in his life. He is bisexual, but is only out to a few people. He was bullied as a kid and has some self esteem and body image issues. He doubts his leadership skills and soccer skills. He has no idea what he wants to do after his senior year is over. Soccer and his friends are all he has, and after the year is over he will be losing both in different ways. To top everything off, his former best friend who now hates him shows up at soccer camp.

Amir struggles to fit in. He is painfully shy and comes off as an asshole as a result. He is a Muslim and get shit for it. He gets nasty comments about his race. And he’s gay. He joins the soccer team to make his dad happy, but isn’t any good.

Sebastian takes on training Amir after practices to help him improve despite Amir’s protests. They grow closer during this time and their past comes to surface. They find themselves growing closer and closer, their friendship turning into something more.

I really like that this book addresses a lot of issues that teens deal with on a regular basis. One of my favorite scenes is where Sebastian is struggling with his body image and Amir tells him that everyone is imperfect and it’s okay. I was glad when Sebastian got professional help at the end of the book to address some of his insecurities and it was a good thing. Sometimes books make therapy out to be bad when it is extremely helpful.

I love how open this book was about racism and homophobia and anxiety and self insecurity. It’s important for people to read about things they are dealing with and see them in characters. And to see them handled in such a great way.

Plus, it was just such a cute book! I had a big, cheesy smile plastered across my face for most of it. And who doesn’t love the best friends to enemies to lovers angle?

Winters, Julian. Running with Lions. Duet Books, 2018.

Sebastian is excited for his senior year until his old frenemy, Emir, shows up. Determined not to let Emir ruin his last year on the soccer team, Sebastian sets out to befriend him, and their friendship turns into something more.

What I Liked: The teens in this story are out and proud, so there's no kids hiding their sexuality or being bullied by the rest of the team, etc. etc. The sports theme would make this a popular read with teens who might not pick it up otherwise. It's a good slice of life story that would make a perfect afterschool special.

What I Didn't Like: The third person narrative really got to me, because this is supposed to be a romantic story, but it's hard to follow what's going on when I can't see inside the main character's head. That doesn't mean this isn't a good book, but rather that it isn't a book for me.

Recommended for: teens
Red Flags: none
Overall Rating; 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for the purpose of review.

This book was just so special. I don't think I've read a YA romance quite like this especially considering that it was both a sports romance and a book that had a Muslim teen as the love interest. I love the representation in the novel as well as the portrayal of male friendships. There's not many books that focus on the friendships of teenage boys, especially when they look this supportive and sweet. My only issue was with the writing, which was a bit clunky at times (particularly in the beginning) but I felt that the writer got more confident as the story went on (or maybe I was too caught up in the plot to notice...). Overall, a great debut and a wonderful entry into the YA LGBTQIA+ cannon.

You ever read a book that’s so sweet you just want to hug it to your chest and never let go?

“Running with Lions” is a heartwarming journey for senior soccer player Sebastian as he tackles his final year at camp before facing off against the arch rival Spartans where he faces everything from wavering self confidence, team responsibilities, the unknown after graduation and the boy from his childhood who seems less than thrilled at their sudden reunion.

It’s so refreshing to have a book explore sexuality in a way that isn’t a joke or fetishizing giving us a group of people with various backgrounds, religions and sexual identities who are so open and welcoming to those differences. There’s still some conflict especially when it comes to people outside of the group but to see them really just accept these relationships and become a family was one of the greatest things I could ever ask for.

This is also one of those books where there’s plenty of characters but no one becomes a trope or an extra in the background who’s only needed for a specific plot point, they all have unique personalities and layered backgrounds that really helps flesh them out and make you care about them just as much as Sebastian and Emir. I also have to say Grey was a total badass and if there was ever a continuation series set in this world I’d love to see more of her.

I really have no complaints, everything I hoped his would be when I read the synopsis turned out to be exactly what I got and more. If you’re looking for a bit of pain and angst you won’t find it here, but if you’re in the mood for a soccer team filled with pride “Running with Lions” has you covered.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**