Reviews

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

bren_09's review

5.0

A young adult book that shows a young lady trying to come to terms with her sexuality. She is home for the summer and simultaneously dealing with her brother's mental illness. While she tends towards bi in her sexuality, this story shows that the issue is not black and white, but something that evolves over time. A well written story that is so engrossing that it is read in a day.

sj_elli's review against another edition

3.0

While listening to this novel, I decided that YA books are really losing my interest if they are "romance" based. Contemporary can be a very hit or miss. Fantasy and Sci Fi are sometimes okay as long as they aren't...romance. This one follows a black, Jewish bi girl who is in a love triangle and it's not a good love triangle. It's truly awful how she treats one of the people and worse how she is being treated by the other.

dennisfischman's review

4.0

I am so happy I will never be a teenager again! This book felt painfully true to the adolescent experience of every single thing being new, confusing, and a matter of life and death—so that the experiences that really are that critical can’t be seen until later.

mandyc627's review

5.0

Reading this book was the best way to end summer vacation. It was such a fun read. The characters are so diverse but truly relatable! Terrific job by Colbert! Can't wait to read her next work!

jiitao's review

3.0

For the topics that this book covered, I would have expected it to bring out so many emotions and reactions from me but instead the writing caused it to feel incredibly flat. It was a good story, and had the most likable mc I have read in a while so 3/5 stars.

caseyjwied's review

5.0

5/5 stars!
This was an incredible book. I've read books with representation before, but nothing like this book. Colbert writes beautifully about the struggles of figuring out sexuality and to read through Little's struggles, was like reading through my own.
With writing about mental illness, the writing for bipolar was so phenomenal. Knowing what it's like to live with someone who has been diagnosed, it was like Colbert had opened a window into my life and had seen what I had been through and put it into a story.
I would definitely read this again and I recommend to everyone

kriskelly's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book is YA and intersectionality is written so perfectly in this, better than many adult books i’ve read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Biphobia

Minor: Sexual content

kklein97's review

5.0

I finished this book within a day and it was my first 5/5 star book in a long time. This book portrayed many different social issues/ mental health issues that I don't normally see being portrayed in literature. Although it does not dive in very deeply into each issue, it touches upon the affects these issues could have on others. From page one I was completely enticed by this book and did not want to put it down. The relationship between Little and Lion was a very unique and special relationship. I love the way this book portrayed the affects bipolar disorder can have not only on someone dealing with it personally, but also the loved ones surrounding them. I could not say enough good things about this book.

howifeelaboutbooks's review

4.0

I read this book so quickly because the characters drew me in. I absolutely love Little & Lion - they are so realistic and endearing! I love how mental health was handled in this book - it is a necessary read for everyone, and especially those with teens or who work with teens. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

adeis_reads's review

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A fantastic read! Interesting insights and story telling about lgbtq and bipolar topics and issues!
I personally found it hard to get into it at first but then I borrowed the audiobook from my library and finished reading it very quickly! A great book for teenagers especially ones going through mental health problems or trying to find themselves