I enjoyed this book a lot. The story is told from both perspectives and it was really powerful to read two different journeys of coming out. The country music mystery made the story a little extra fun too. Cute romance.

This cover is so cute and is just perfect for this story. I loved the dual POV and the different journey's both characters were on in all of life, love, dreams, family etc. Really cute book and perfect for summer!

Fans of Dumplin' absolutely have to read this book. A Little Bit Country will make you want to listen to old-school country songs while you watch the main characters fall in love. Emmett has dreams of being a big country music star and he's determined to do it while being himself - a gay musician who writes love songs about other boys. Luke wants nothing to do with country music after a decades-long feud between two rival artists ruined his family. The two meet up at a Dollywood-esque amusement park, Wanda World, and sparks fly from there.

A Little Bit Country tackles so much - coming out, staying true to yourself, and allowing yourself to dream even when it seems like everything is against you. This book also acknowledges how far country music still needs to go to be inclusive and welcome to all. It's an exploration of how you can love something when it doesn't always love you back. It's an invitation to change and it breathes new life into the genre. A Little Bit Country is a perfect summer read that country music fans deserve (and you'll love it even if you usually switch the radio off when country starts playing!)

First of all, this is the cutest cover and does such a good job at starting to tell the story. The book has a dual POV and I really liked reading both character's perspective, as they both come from very different backgrounds and communities and how it influcences their choices to come out to their friends and family. This was a cute summer romance, revolving around an ammusement park and country music. There was a little mystery/twist with a family member and I was surprised where that turn took! This would be a great book to have in high school libraries.

This was a great summer read!! Wanda World has all the Dollywood vibes, while Emmet and Luke are two very relatable teenage boys navigating their own hardships in life. I loved these two characters, their own development throughout the story as well as the development of their relationship with each other. And that heartwarming ending was pretty great too!

I LOVE this YA romance and can hardly believe it's Kennedy's first book, it's so good. As someone who grew up going to Dollywood, this was the fun country music theme park love story of my dreams. Emmett and Luke were a delight to read about, and while the book didn't shy away from tougher parts of being a queer youth, it felt like a safe space for readers to see themselves and feel like it's all going to be okay in the end. Loved it!

A fun and heartfelt romance between Emmett, who wants to be the biggest gay country music star, and Luke, a guy who worries about coming out to his family and friends in a conservative, small town. The two must navigate misunderstandings and family and town secrets to achieve their happily ever after. Highly recommended!

Country is not my thing…much like Luke in that regard. However, I adore Dolly Parton and gay romance. That’s what got me into reading this book. I was hesitant but I am so glad that I did. This was an absolute delight! This is more than a gay romance, which is what I appreciate in LGBTQ+ books. That is simply because I’m not typically a romance person. I like the extra punch. This is exactly that type of book. I can’t wait for more from this author!

Really good book and one to recommend definitely. Hoping to see more books by this author. And also good MCs too.

This book is actually a lot country and I really liked it, even though my country music listening experience is very limited. Point is, you don't have to be a big time country fan or live in the country to fall for this fun and summery book! I liked that the main characters, Emmett and Luke, are such opposites. Luke is a somewhat naive optimist who thinks his summer at Wanda World will spell his big break into the music scene. Emmett is struggling with being closeted, his family's financial situation, his mother's health crisis, and feeling like his dreams are too unrealistic to pursue. As different as they are, the boys find ways to give each other support and balance, turning their 'only for the summer' romance into something more serious. Another thing I liked is that while the book does handle some serious issues and the characters make mistakes, it never gets too dire. There's a lot of good communication and learning! Tune in for kissing at the creek, theme park jobs, line dancing, open mics, and timeless summer feels. Makes me want to cook up some cornbread, pour a glass of sweet tea, and blast "Jolene!"

This is one of the best YA novels I've read in a long time. The writing is great, and the romcom concept is super cute (Emmett is an aspiring country music singer from the big city and moves to small town Tennessee where he falls for a boy named Luke whose family was disgraced by the country music star Emmett idolizes). I laughed several times while reading it and I had to shut the book and say "aww" a few times too. I'm only slightly biased about the book since I'm also from Tennessee, where the book takes place. But I really love seeing queer stories coming out of the South or taking place in the South. I am so picky about YA but I was really hyped for this one, so I'm glad it lived up to expectations. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

So much great diverse representation in this book! Luke and Emmett are a great pairing and deal with things that I think all readers can relate to. I have to say, this plot and setting were unlike anything I've ever read before.

Kennedy provides a funny and winding story. It has romance, country music, and amusement park workers, what's not to love? The main characters each have their own story and personality, which is so important in this genre. Fans of LGBT romance and YA will be pleased to uncover this quirky gem.

Sometimes you read a book and you just instantly know that it will be with you for a very long time. This was one of those books.

It’s funny, charming, and whimsical but at the same time really emotional and meaningful to me as someone who grew up queer in the south. In the same vein as I Kissed Shara Wheeler, this book doesn’t lean on queer folks needing to escape the south to be happy. This book welcomed multiple queer identities to a place I know and love, and affirmed that queer people belong in the south. (i’ll say it again for the horses in the back: QUEER! PEOPLE! BELONG! IN! THE! SOUTH!)

Luke and Emmett were both so easy to root for, and I loved how much of a contrast there was between them. They both had just such drastically different journeys before the book took place and as it was happening. There seemed to be an underlying theme that there’s no one right way to come out, that everyone’s coming out journey is a little different, and that you can never really fully 100% understand someones circumstances and factors that may go into their decision of when/if/how they come out. Something I honestly wish there was more representation for.

Set against the backdrop of East Tennessee and the beautiful Smoky Mountains, a place I grew up visiting and that holds a lot of fondness in my heart - I felt nostalgic. The book overall was really well written, but I felt surprised that someone not from here could make me feel so warmed by the fire of my memories of the mountains. I could picture so much of this book with such clarity, that it was like coming home in so many ways. Kennedy’s ability to do this is remarkable, and reminded me of why I love books so much.

I wanted to say thank you to both BooksForward & Brian D. Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book before it’s release. I ended up ordering a finished copy before I even finished the ARC.

If you want a lesson on how to do dual narratives with distinct, truly Voice-y voices, this is it. A total joy to read. I can't tell you how many times I caught myself giggling and then entirely wrapped up in my emotions. As a librarian (and fellow author!), I can't wait to recommend this one!

*4.5 stars
An absolutely adorable love story between an aspiring gay country music star and a closeted aspiring chef set in and around a Dollywood-esque amusement park. I think the only thing that could've made this book perfect (for me) is a fun and light date at the amusement park; like we're already there, give me a cute ride on a roller coaster and a pensive trip on the ferris wheel! There was just a <i>bit</i> more emphasis on the closet and coming out than I expected, but I still highly recommend this book.

Country music is more than just a passion for some people it represents a whole worldview and way of life, this is true for the main character Emmett, and he is finally getting to step into the life that he has only sung about, when he gets a job singing at a country music theme park. Emmett is out and proud but as he begins the job of his dreams he begins to see that some of the realities of country living and the music that he loves so much are not all he imagined. He meets a native country boy, Luke and the two of them introduce one another to new perspectives... and music genres. This was a four star read for me, I enjoyed the book but there were some aspects that moved too quickly for me and seemed like they might benefit from more of a lead up;

It's Southern, and it's gay, and I don't need ANYTHING else! Absolutely adored this, and will highly recommend, especially for those who want more amazing stories for Pride Month!

Emmett is determined to become the first gay country superstar, and he's thrilled to get some exposure while performing at his idol Wanda Jean's country music theme park. Luke, the grandson of Wanda Jean's old rival, was raised to hate country music, avoid all things Wanda Jean, and repress his queer desires. When Luke ends up working at a restaurant at Wanda Jean's theme park, he runs into Emmett, and everything he was taught to hate starts to seem more appealing.

What a gosh darn hoot-and-hollerin' good time! My little Southern heart was so warmed by this adorable love story. Emmett and Luke are perfectly endearing, and I love how much character the Wanda World setting adds to the story. I really appreciate that Brain D. Kennedy didn't sugarcoat the difficulties of coming out in a place like Tennessee. It made the ending even more sweet!

*4.5 Stars*

Emmett wants to be the first openly gay country music star and the biggest one there is too. So when the opportunity arises for him to be part of a show in the biggest country music amusement park in the world, he jumps on it. It's not exactly all he wanted it to be but who cares, he just knows he will get his shot.
Luke is a pragmatic, he doesn't have time for dreams. Does he have one? Yes. But no one can know. No one can know he actually got a job in this dumb amusement park since the country singer it's centered around ruined his grandma's life. So maybe he wants to be a chef and he's working in a kitchen but no one can know!!

I enjoyed this book overall. It wasn't perfect and the two main characters could be pretty infuriating at times but I still had a good time. I really loved the whole country music aspect and the amusement park setting. I was also way into the family drama of it all and how we found out about the history.
I also loved Emmett's aunt and I loved getting to know her throughout this book. I don't know why she made such a mark on me but I really found her so interesting throughout.
I really really liked every side storyline actually, while the romance between the two main characters was also pretty good, those stories really kept me hanging on and were kind of the highlight for me.
I also really enjoyed the music business aspect of the book and how it showed the high and lows of it.
This was a pretty short read, I think I read it in two days, but that might have been because I could not stop reading!
So, basically, this was a VERY strong debut and I'm really looking forward to more by this author.