Emmett wants to make it as a country music star. Luke wants to help his family stop living paycheck to paycheck, but he really aspires to be a chef. When Emmett lands a gig in a variety show at Wanda World (think Dollywood) and Luke starts working as a dishwasher there, Emmett and Luke will have their very quirky meet cute.

In A Little Bit Country, Kennedy use the alternating POVs of Emmett and Luke to navigate knowing who you are, but feeling like you are up against the world. Emmett faces homophobia in the country industry, but is determined in his quest to be the first openly gay country star. Luke faces the ever-looming presence of past due bills, complications of his mom's MS, and the feeling that his mom would disown him if she knew about his job at Wanda World or being gay.

Emmett and Luke find common ground in their attraction to each other and their connection to Wanda. Luke just happens to be the grandson of Wanda's ex-best friend Verna Rose. Will exploring the past between Verna and Wanda, bring Emmett and Luke together or tear them apart?

As a side note, I really would like to see some YA fiction with intense Kesha fandom.

This book was a whole lot of average to me. After reading so many rave reviews I was excited, but the writing really didn't jump out to me as anything special. I was never excited to read it, I was just reading it to finish it. The characters were compelling, but the writing didn't go deep enough into making them more likable. Perhaps a younger audience would like this, but as somebody more picky with my YA this didn't jump out at all.

This was exactly the book I needed to read right now: sweet and romantic with a hint of mystery. I loved the voices of both Emmett and Luke, two teenage boys with somewhat adult problems, especially Luke who feels responsible for keeping food on his family's table. I felt the stakes of their relationship were very real and the conclusion was more-than satisfying and left a huge grin on my face. I chuckled often but also choked up more than once. I adored the side characters, especially Aunt Karen. We all need an Aunt Karen! The backdrop of Wanda World was so fun. Kudos to the author for all the original music lyrics!

For fans of country music, Dolly Parton, and plain old fun YA romcom! A delightful debut from Kennedy. I can't wait to see what he brings us next!

Absolutely devoured this sweet YA contemporary romance. A dual-POV featuring an extroverted suburban teen musician and the stressed out cowboy he meets at his summer job. Kennedy's writing is poignant and made me laugh out loud several times (while also bringing me to tears at the end). The plot is super tight: I finished it within 24 hours. The characters in this heartfelt romance, including supporting characters like Aunt Karen, will stay with you long after you finish it. A stellar debut!

A sweet read with really likable characters. Good use of multiple points of view. I don’t have any particular attachment to country music but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment.

‘Country music gave me a home.’

I like all kinds of music and 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 many things. While reading, a constant smile tugged at my lips. Warmth seeped through my body when I curled up on the couch, staring at my screen. Once in a while, my heart skipped a beat, and soft feathers whirled in my belly. Going through the last part of the book, goosebumps danced on my skin and tears sprang to my eyes.

A Little Bit Country ticked so many of my boxes. The dual narrative, the first-person/present tense writing, the fluffiness covering heavier stuff, and Emmett and Luke as two cute cinnamon rolls. It’s as sweet as Simon James Green’s books. As warm as Becky Albertalli’s. As relatable as Phil Stamper’s. But Sophie Gonzales’s Only Mostly Devastated is the book that most comes to mind when I think of A Little Bit Country.

This is a book to read in just a few sittings. I can guarantee that you don’t want to quit reading when you dive into the story. Just take a seat, let the spring sun warm your face, and let A Little Bit Country comfort you when it comes out in May. Thank you so much, Brian, for allowing me to read this cute and beautiful story! I loved to be in Emmett’s and Luke’s world and can’t wait to read what you have in store for us next!

I cannot express how happy my heart is after reading A Little Bit Country by Brian D. Kennedy. Seeing so many things that are important to me and that I love, rolled into one book was such a bittersweet experience that I will always be grateful for. Dolly/Wanda, Tennessee, being a queer teenager in Tennessee... all of these factors made this book such a knockout in my opinion,

I am born and raised in East Tennessee so I am very familiar with all of what Kennedy was portraying in his writing. I grew up going to Dollywood all the time with my Nana and have some amazing memories from those trips, so when I saw the description for this book as "for fans of Dolly Parton" and set at the fictional Wanda World, I knew I had to read it.

It was so nice, as a queer Tennessean teenager, to be able to read about Emmett and Luke falling in love against the backdrop of the Smokies and country music. Reading about them being able to be gay teenagers in Tennessee having all these hallmark experiences was truly bittersweet and brought tears to my eyes multiple times. This whole book felt like a dream and I feel so lucky to have read it.

I will say that I think my only qualm with the story is the stereotypical portrayal of southern people. When writing, especially when you're not from the area you are writing about, I feel like it is really easy to use stereotypes as your guide to characterization. It is much more groundbreaking to write characters who break stereotypes rather than ones who fall into them. For that reason, I felt that my impression of Luke and his family was that they were all a very cheesy caricature of southern people. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but there is so much more to southern people than just the stereotypes.

But also on that note, I did really like many of the side characters. I found Aunt Karen and Vanessa, especially enjoyable characters. Both offer critical support to Emmett and Luke and I don't think the story would be the same without either one of them.

I genuinely cannot wait for this book to be released so I can have it in my hands and share more of my specific thoughts!

Thank you to Netgalley and Brian D. Kennedy for providing me with an early copy of A Little Bit Country. It was an honor to read.

I feel like for those who enjoy cute romance stories this will be something that they will greatly enjoy. I was in search of something like Red, White, and Royal Blue where there is more to the plot than just the romantic aspect. I really enjoyed the deeper political elements of that story and how it fed into their relationship. The inner life of the characters in this book did not contain the same umph and as such made the story feel lacking. The two main characters felt very two dimensional and their personal stories felt like one big cliché . When they were not interacting with each other directly I had to fight to keep myself interested and ultimately this was a fight that I lost because I ended up DNFing the book.
Maybe I am just not meant to be a romance reader but there was just nothing at the start for me to really sink my teeth into.

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this lovely book.

It's hard for me to articulate why I liked this novel so much. A country music-themed romance may not be the kind of book I would usually pick up, but this debut from Brian D. Kennedy was special. The story follows and is told by two teenage boys trying to make their place in the world; Emmett wants to be the world's first openly gay country music star and Luke is closeted and has given up on his dreams of being a chef in order to provide for his family. When each ends up working at a Dollywood-esque theme park, they start a secret romance.

The dual narration provides both sides of each situation so you really empathize with both boys over the course of their relationship. There were times I wanted to be frustrated with one character or another, but I always understood their motivation. Kennedy's writing is both warm and exciting, and I fell in love with his characters. The author gives each boy a perfectly individual voice - I had no problem telling them apart - and the supporting characters are equally fun to read about.

Though I am not a particularly huge fan of country music, I was a fan of the unique flavor it gave to this novel, especially in the context of an M/M relationship. The setting provides an exciting backdrop for the romance; I loved the idea of a romance taking place in a theme park, especially one like Dollywood.

A lot of important issues with growing up gay and closeted in a rural state are covered here. The constant checking of yourself and those around you to make sure you aren't giving yourself up is a major part of Luke's story as well as a source of conflict between him and Emmett, and Kennedy writes each hurdle in stride. I appreciate that "coming out" isn't treated like the happy party the way many books treat it; it can be dangerous and Kennedy includes this important nuance.

This is a fast, fun, and exciting romance, one that I wanted to both savor and gobble up in one bite. I eagerly await more from Brian D. Kennedy.

I’m trying to come down from this book high. There is so much heart inserted into this impossibly beautiful story. I have fallen in love with Luke and Emmett. I’ve fallen in love with Wanda world. I’ve never been much of a country music guy but good god, I’m going to blast Dolly Parton at max volume in my car tomorrow after reading this .
One moment actually made me sob because it was so similar to my own personal experience with - redacted because it’s a bit of a plot point - and although I saw it coming, it was still just so similar to my own that I just bawled my eyes and had to take a breath. ( all good things though, don’t worry - all good things.)
Just - quite simply, just read this in May when it comes out. Hopefully it’s hot out by then because this is such a summer read.
I know that I’m buying my copy and re-reading the heck out of it!

I expected so much more and unfortunately U just didn’t get it.

The book started off with a really strong start. I was liking the characters, the storyline was advancing well and it was well written. As soon as we dove into Emmett moving to his aunts, things went downhill. I’m not sure what happened but it quickly became cliche, annoying and boring.

It was yet another story if instalove, which, if you don’t know me, I hate. It was terribly cliche. Sometimes, I love cliche, but this was overdone to the point where it was just overdone. Emmett and Luke both fell into cliches typical of their stereotype. (Both of these characters felt like very one dimensional, stereotyped characters that were pulled out of a Sarah Dessen novel and thrown in here with the word “gay” tossed into their resume).

Overall, not a book I’d buy or recommend.

Queer southerners and/or country music lovers rise up this is the YA romance for you. I got through this book so quickly and genuinely enjoyed it so much, even though it did make me cry a few times, for different reasons. Both of the main characters have so much love and passion, even with the various personal struggles they face. There are definitely some cliche moments but this book still manages to make them their own and shine! So, Emmett might not be country music’s biggest gay superstar just yet, but he’s country music’s biggest gay superstar in my heart (well...maybe tied but I don’t want to spoil anything).

As a queer southerner myself, there’s a special place in my heart for media that shows queer people in the South. Admittedly, Emmett isn’t actually southern, but this book doesn’t fall prey to the common “progressive” idea that the North is better than the South. Sure, he has an idealistic view, but it’s from a good place, and it’s one he’s willing to adapt to. It hurt a bit, but I saw a lot of myself in Luke, and I was overjoyed to watch his character arc as he explored himself and allowed himself to be put first where it mattered. These characters are filled with so much want, even the side characters, but they never let it become something selfish. I’m not saying I rooted for every character, and there were plenty of flaws to be had, but for the most part I was excited to see what would happen next. I would almost say that I wanted more of the side characters because I thought what little bits we learned about them were so good.

Overall, I think the plot was realistically predictable, in a good way. The little twists were unexpected and well played out, and the bigger ones that are basically necessary for any romance felt like they flowed with the overall plot. While this is a story about queer joy and discovery though, I think it’s important to note that there are moments of homophobia that play a role. That said, I don’t think it was overstated or gratuitous, and queer joy definitely wins the day on this one.

At the end of the day, I think I could talk about this book for ages. There are so many quotes I wish I could pull and shout about because they were so good, from fun, original song lyrics to moments that made me sob. This book gave me everything I wanted out of it, love and discovery and a dash of pulling on my heart strings, almost like the recipe for the perfect country. So if this even remotely sounds like something you’re interested in, I couldn’t recommend it enough. Because who doesn’t want to meet country music’s future biggest gay superstar and his dream cowboy?

"Dumplin' meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" is the perfect pitch—but the book also has a dash of Evelyn Hugo that worked as a cherry on top. One of the best YA books I've read in how it deals with a queer character feeling like they *can't* come out. And bonus points for the original song lyrics sprinkled throughout!

This was a super cute, fun read and I really enjoyed it. The story itself is unique- I picked it up because I love Dolly Parton and I wasn't disappointed in that aspect. However, you don't have to like country music to enjoy this book. We got character development, a good cast of characters, an interesting storyline, and a Dolly-Parton-like figure complete with her own theme park. A great debut.

Sweet and more than a little bit country. I found Emmett's character difficult at times, particularly when he was so out of touch with the realities of what Luke was going through, but I loved the setting and the twist at the end! Great for fans of county and sweet, queer romance.

• loved the cover. It represented the two main characters well not just in their style, but also in the way they presented themselves.
• Emmett thinking of possible song titles while his mom was crying was funny.
• I LIKE WHO I AM. AND I LIKE WHO I LIKE.
• loved the contrast between the two. Emmett was priviledged and out, while Luke was struggling and closeted.
• Drunk Luke was wild 🤣
• AND WHEN HE LOOKED AT ME, IT WAS LIKE HE COULD SEE RIGHT THROUGH ME. THROUGH THE ME I WAS PRETENDING TO BE
• Luke scrolling back and reading his and Cody's texts was relatable.
• Emmett choosing winning a Grammy over losing his virginith was funny. Honey, you spoke too soon. 🤣
• I loved Aunt Karen. She's the quirky and always supportive aunt everyone needed in their lives.
• Their first meeting was so cute. Bumping in to each other like that while Emmett was wearing a donkey's ass.
• I loved Vanessa esp her attitude. Never giving up on a friend.
• Yesssss Jessie. A year of saying NO. I loved that for her.
• SOMETIMES I FORGET WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE TOUCHED
• Omg Luke. I just wanna hug him. I really felt his loneliness in that moment.🥲
• The ampitheather scene was so cute. Emmett was so smitten, he just gave his number immediately. 🥰
• that's right Aunt Karen. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY!
• Not Emmett wishing he was Luke's soap 🤣
• Emmett lying about being early was funny.
• My boys were so cute. They're both fumbling and being awkward with each other.
• loved the creek scene. It was so cute.
• I WANT TO FEEL LIKE I DID WHEN I JUMPED INTO THE WATER: FEARLESS AND ALIVE
• Luke was right. Not everyone has the luxury of trying. I loved how their class informed their choices. It grounded the story better imo.
• "NO OFFENSE, BUT WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH" "IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE SHOULD" - aahhh i squealed
• I jumped in my bed when Luke asked Emmett if he could kiss him. That was so unexpected and so sweet.
• Not Emmett belting that last line and stealing the show 🤣
• Amelia being sassy during her prayer was funny.
• YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A CONTEST RIGHT? NO ONE WINS FOR BEING FIRST
• That dinner scene was cute. I loved how Luke was at ease and was beaming at the end.
• Keith's advice were solid esp the last one 🤣
• I'VE ONLY KNOWN HIM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT HE MAKES ME DOUBT MYSELF LESS
• loved the photobooth scene esp their convo about money and how they took photos at the end. That was cute. Want that. Need that. 🥲
• Also loved how Luke was finally stepping out of his comfort zone.
• ITS LIKE HE'S STOPPED LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER, BECAUSE HE'S TOO BUSY LOOKING AT ME
• "NO OFFENSE, BUT WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH" "IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE SHOULD" - aahhh i squealed
• I jumped in my bed when Luke asked Emmett if he could kiss him. That was so unexpected and so sweet.
• Not Emmett belting that last line and stealing the show 🤣
• Amelia being sassy during her prayer was funny.
• YOU KNOW IT'S NOT A CONTEST RIGHT? NO ONE WINS FOR BEING FIRST
• That dinner scene was cute. I loved how Luke was at ease and was beaming at the end.
• Keith's advice were solid esp the last one 🤣
• I'VE ONLY KNOWN HIM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT HE MAKES ME DOUBT MYSELF LESS
• loved the photobooth scene esp their convo about money and how they took photos at the end. That was cute. Want that. Need that. 🥲
• Also loved how Luke was finally stepping out of his comfort zone.
• ITS LIKE HE'S STOPPED LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER, BECAUSE HE'S TOO BUSY LOOKING AT ME
• Emmett's parents were funny like how they always bickering esp that comment about the pretzels 🤣
• loved how Emmett was ambitious.
• OMG finally! They're boyfriends. I loved that scene.
• IT'S LIKE WE'RE STANDING AT THE EDGE OF A CLIFF AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO FALL
• Not Emmett thinking it was temporary after they just had sex. Hooooonnneeeeyyyy
• awwww that morning when they woke up together was so cute. want that. need that
• I appreciated how realistic Emmett's journey as a musician; how tough the industry is esp when you color outside the margin
• I screamed at that Kacey Musgraves reference. I love Kacey so much. 💙💙💙
• That went south fast. Their first fight was rough. Both sides were valid tho. It's all fun and games until reality kicks in.
• Poppy seed and Tipsy 😻
• I super loved how Aunt Karen reacted to that bad news and her plan afterwards. FINISH HIM!!
• loved Vanessa's reaction to Luke's coming out. She felt hurt at first, but she stood with belief in never giving up on a friend.
• "GREAT, I CANT BELIEVE I SHOWED UP EARLY TO MY OWN BREAKUP" - im sorry but i laughed so hard 🤣
• I mean I know they would break up at some point but it was still sad to see Emmett begging and Luke pushing down his feelings. ughhhhh
• loved Emmett's growth. He still helped Luke cos he want to know the truth, and not just to get back with Luke.
• HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BE AROUND HIM AND NOT SHATTER INTO A MILLION PIECES
• Omg. Wanda's real story. That broke me.
• loved the song In My Rainbow even better after that.
• NOBODY OWES THEIR STORY TO THE WORLD
• Luke breaking down, crying, and trying to say hia truth to his mom was hard. 😭
• MAYBE I JUST STARTED SAYING YES YO THE RIGHT THINGS
• loved how it circled back to the ampitheater. I jumped when they kissed again.
• That convo between Luke and his mom was nice to see. The comfort it brought. 🥰
• Emmett giving Luke a poster of him was cute and funny.
• super loved how it ended with Luke introducing Emmett as his boyfriend to his family.
• What a joyous ending. I'm so proud of my boys. 💙

This book is the perfect combination of humor, heart, and all those big country music feelings! It’s also a story about being true to yourself and never giving up on your dreams, no matter what tries to get in your way. You will be whisked away into a world of country music, rhinestones, and big personalities with a super sweet gay romance. Plus some absolutely hilarious hijinks!

I guarantee A Little Bit Country will be one of the best young adult books of 2022. I was lucky enough to snag an advanced copy, and OMG I'm in love! I flew through this story that follows Emmett and Luke and their contrasting views on country music! Emmett aspires to be the biggest gay country music star, while Luke despises country music due to his family's soured history of it. When they meet each other while working at a country-themed amusement park, sparks fly! Throw in a mystery about the major celebrity who owns the park, and you end up with an edge-of-your-seat tale about family, love, friendship, and dreams.

I was blown away by the depth the author gave to the characters and plot, resulting in a story that was both fun and bittersweet. Brian D. Kennedy is definitely an author to watch.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy.

This is a story about dreams.  Emmett Maguire hopes to be a country singer, and its first gay superstar.  Living in suburban Chicago, his friends and his parents often do not understand his dream, or even the appeal of country music.  So Emmett jumps at the opportunity to spend the summer before his senior year of high school performing at the amusement park owned by one of his favorite country stars, Wanda Jean Stubbs, in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, while living with his aunt. 

Luke Barnes, by contrast, hates country music even though he has grown up in Jackson Hollow.  His grandmother, Verna Rose, was herself a country singer and best friends with Wanda Jean until the two had a falling out.  While Wanda Jean became a superstar, Verna faded into obscurity, and, as a result, his family has avoided country music and Wanda Jean as much as possible.  But as Luke's family's financial challenges increase, in part as a result of his mom's medical bills, he decides to take a job at the place he has long avoided -- Wanda World.

With Emmett hoping to take advantage of his summer to make connections to advance his country music career and Luke focused on his family, neither is thinking of romance.  But when the two run into each other, they can't stop thinking of the other and soon the two are together.  Their connection grows deeper as they spend more time with each other, even as it is tested by Luke's struggles with coming out, Emmett's concern that he is not making the most of the opportunities to advance his country music career while in Tennessee, and, most of all, the truth of what really happened with Wanda and Luke's grandmother all those years ago.  As the end of the summer looms, Luke and Emmett must face whether they can overcome these obstacles or whether what they have will remain a summer fling complete with a breakup worthy of a country song.

This book is delightful.  The premise of this book is so appealing -- and it delivers.  The author creates such a rich world in this novel.  Emmett and Luke are both compelling characters.  The author does a terrific job of making them multi-dimensional.  It is easy to see why they are drawn to each other and, all the more impressively, to empathize with the choices they each make -- even when those choices sometimes harm the other.   This strong character development extends to the other characters in the story, from Emmett's aunt to Luke's mom to Emmett's fellow performers to Luke's ex-girlfriend to Wanda Jean herself.  In the mark of a particularly skilled author, each of the supporting characters are fully realized.  We have a strong sense of their back story and their lives -- they do not exist solely to serve Luke and Emmett's story.  Finally, the mystery underlying the story of what happened between Wanda Jean and Verna Rose helps propel the story forward in an often surprising way, creating another strong layer to the story.

I really enjoyed the time I spent in Jackson Hollow with Emmett and Luke, and I would love to spend more time with them and see the next chapter of their story -- always the sign of a terrific book.

Very highly recommended!

This is a perfect book for the Summer! It had all things that I enjoy -- a fresh setting (Amusement park!!), acute gay romance and some food for thought in terms of the kind of themes it touched upon.

Coming to the writing, I felt that even though it was simple and crisp, it was able to capture the voices of the two leads very well.

The romance felt real and genuine. Oftentimes, the YA novels struggle with the chemistry part. This didn't. Both Luke and Emmett's felt genuine and believable.

I also enjoyed how music was a big part of this? I am not someone who's a lot into music but I still had a fun time reading the lyrics!!

The only criticism that I have is that the book's pacing was a little off at times and the ending was kind of very predictable.

Nevertheless, this is a book that I'll always out front of myself just because of how gorgeous it looks and how fun the reading experience was for me.