Scan barcode
fieldfarmer's review
emotional
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
Most of the -phobias are just descriptions but play a part in the plot of the book. Fatphobia is something the main character used to face and has internalized it, but he is working on it <3 Eating was a little disordered as a resultdododenise's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.25
This was a lot of fun! The perfect lighthearted read for the summer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Mental illness
ilikebooks_okay's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Bullying, and Homophobia
wardenred's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Life is a summer storm of insecure thoughts. There’s an umbrella of precautions to prevent insecurity, but it doesn’t always keep the rain out of your face.
This was a really quick read for me—much quicker than I anticipated! In many ways, I would call this a rather typical YA contemporary book, with all the doubts, trials, and confusion you'd expect from a bunch of teenagers trying to figure themselves out the summer before their senior year. But the characters are incredibly compelling, the prose is warm and engrossing, and there's so much impact on found family. It was great to see a cast of character that was so diverse, so supportive of each other, and also, to see the adults in the kids' lives trying their best, like the coach and Bastian's Mom. Even though the book also deals with the ever-complicated issues of self-esteem, coming out, body issues, and more, it is ultimately super focused on acceptance and really, really heartwarming. A perfect read for a wintry day, all in all.
Oh, and also: childhood friends to enemies to lovers is probably my top favorite romance dynamic, and it was done so well here. Bastian and Emir's journey was believable and fulfilling and put a smile on my face more than once. It was messy at times, too, but aren't teenagers always?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Bullying
Minor: Islamophobia and Homophobia
blupies's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think this book is kind of average. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for uplifting themes about coming of age and some fun sports goofiness but I do have some criticisms.
There were so many characters (I assume to make it seem like there’s actually a full team) but the issue with having so many characters is that I couldn’t keep track of who is who. A lot of them could have been merged into one character or been cut completely. The ones that I could keep track of had one or two ‘signature’ traits and that’s it.
The way the only female character is portrayed is very ‘not like other girls’ and the way she is treat by the guys reeks of misogyny, especially considering her signature trait is chasing after Mason, who treats her like shit throughout the entire book and it’s kind of just played off as a “Oh he’s mean because he likes you” thing at the end (YIKES!). He’s mean to everyone and it’s kind of just “Oh that’s just how Mason is, he’s just an asshole to everyone” as if that’s not a huge red flag. I mean the guy sees his ex girlfriend and Sebastian talking and being happy after their breakup and almost implodes on the spot.
The way mental health is treat in this book seems very shallow to me, as if it’s thrown in as an afterthought. Some ambiguity can be good but I don’t think it’s beneficial in this book. The hints are subtle and it ultimately builds up to Emir going “Don’t worry, everyone is imperfect” and suddenly Sebastian’s body image issues are cured because they’re never mentioned again after that.
We get a pretty sweet scene between Coach Patrick and Sebastian at the end (Why were there three coaches, very easily could have all been made into one character.) Overall I like it but we get some really random backstory that, had it been sprinkled in throughout the whole book, would have been fine but because it’s all half explained in a matter of pages I was left wondering if I’d missed something and questioning what had actually happened to Xander. It was also told as if whatever happened happened a few years ago, before Sebastian was on the team or before Coach Patrick was their coach but it seems like Xander is a similar age to Sebastian, if not younger. I don’t know it just felt weird and info dumpy
There were so many characters (I assume to make it seem like there’s actually a full team) but the issue with having so many characters is that I couldn’t keep track of who is who. A lot of them could have been merged into one character or been cut completely. The ones that I could keep track of had one or two ‘signature’ traits and that’s it.
The way the only female character is portrayed is very ‘not like other girls’ and the way she is treat by the guys reeks of misogyny, especially considering her signature trait is chasing after Mason, who treats her like shit throughout the entire book and it’s kind of just played off as a “Oh he’s mean because he likes you” thing at the end (YIKES!). He’s mean to everyone and it’s kind of just “Oh that’s just how Mason is, he’s just an asshole to everyone” as if that’s not a huge red flag. I mean the guy sees his ex girlfriend and Sebastian talking and being happy after their breakup and almost implodes on the spot.
The way mental health is treat in this book seems very shallow to me, as if it’s thrown in as an afterthought. Some ambiguity can be good but I don’t think it’s beneficial in this book. The hints are subtle and it ultimately builds up to Emir going “Don’t worry, everyone is imperfect” and suddenly Sebastian’s body image issues are cured because they’re never mentioned again after that.
We get a pretty sweet scene between Coach Patrick and Sebastian at the end (Why were there three coaches, very easily could have all been made into one character.) Overall I like it but we get some really random backstory that, had it been sprinkled in throughout the whole book, would have been fine but because it’s all half explained in a matter of pages I was left wondering if I’d missed something and questioning what had actually happened to Xander. It was also told as if whatever happened happened a few years ago, before Sebastian was on the team or before Coach Patrick was their coach but it seems like Xander is a similar age to Sebastian, if not younger. I don’t know it just felt weird and info dumpy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
Moderate: Islamophobia and Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Cursing, and Racism
phoebebebbebe's review
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Homophobia
Moderate: Islamophobia and Fatphobia
tieflingreads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Islamophobia and Acephobia/Arophobia
isjamiethere's review
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Eating disorder and Racism
itshardizzy's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
[first read I rated 4.75 stars and this was my review]
this was such a heart-warming book!!!
running with lions deals with important themes such as queerness, belonging, found family, the hardships that we go thru as teenagers and the fear of the future. all of the themes really impacted me and i felt so connected with some of the struggles the characters go through.
the team is so cute and friendly. it was a refreshing take on the themes of soccer themes, when normaly there isn't that many queer individual in the team (sometimes none), and the athletes usually are repulsed by femininity in a boy (which btw this book really deals with it well, boys doing things that would be consider female). it was important to see a group of boys that support each other no matter the sexuality, they are a family and one where everyone will always be there for the other.
we also have a strong representation of Pakistani people and the struggle they go thru, talking about the prejudice people holds against them. it was heartbreaking seeing Emir talking about that.
our mc, Sebastian, was the one that i felt more connected to. he and i share a struggle: not knowing what we want for the future. in the moment I am, it felt really good and reassuring seeing this being represented in a book, and then seeing that the author wanted to talk about that because he wants teenagers to understand its normal, and everyone has its own time. and also he coming out as bi was just like "woooooah is this me?".
another point I wanna talk about is the development of the characters and how each of them accepts their flaws, and work to get better — this is visible in Mason.
but one thing that felt a bit off for me was Grey, in the beggining it felt that she doesn't really like femininity and I felt really bothered by it, but I guess later on i understood that she probably feels this way bc Mason treats her like a little girl, which made her have to be more "masculine". but in the end she really does a girlboss move (hahah) and accepts that she doesn't have to do a lot just so Mason can stop seeing her as just a little girl, and it was my fave moment of her.
this book felt like a warm hug and it was exactly what I need this new years eve. i'll most definitely reread it just to see me beautiful character again
this was such a heart-warming book!!!
running with lions deals with important themes such as queerness, belonging, found family, the hardships that we go thru as teenagers and the fear of the future. all of the themes really impacted me and i felt so connected with some of the struggles the characters go through.
the team is so cute and friendly. it was a refreshing take on the themes of soccer themes, when normaly there isn't that many queer individual in the team (sometimes none), and the athletes usually are repulsed by femininity in a boy (which btw this book really deals with it well, boys doing things that would be consider female). it was important to see a group of boys that support each other no matter the sexuality, they are a family and one where everyone will always be there for the other.
we also have a strong representation of Pakistani people and the struggle they go thru, talking about the prejudice people holds against them. it was heartbreaking seeing Emir talking about that.
our mc, Sebastian, was the one that i felt more connected to. he and i share a struggle: not knowing what we want for the future. in the moment I am, it felt really good and reassuring seeing this being represented in a book, and then seeing that the author wanted to talk about that because he wants teenagers to understand its normal, and everyone has its own time. and also he coming out as bi was just like "woooooah is this me?".
another point I wanna talk about is the development of the characters and how each of them accepts their flaws, and work to get better — this is visible in Mason.
but one thing that felt a bit off for me was Grey, in the beggining it felt that she doesn't really like femininity and I felt really bothered by it, but I guess later on i understood that she probably feels this way bc Mason treats her like a little girl, which made her have to be more "masculine". but in the end she really does a girlboss move (hahah) and accepts that she doesn't have to do a lot just so Mason can stop seeing her as just a little girl, and it was my fave moment of her.
this book felt like a warm hug and it was exactly what I need this new years eve. i'll most definitely reread it just to see me beautiful character again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Bullying, and Body shaming
e_ve_l_in's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
3.25
Sebastian was such thoughtful and reflective protagonist and I really enjoyed to go on the Journey of self acceptance. Loved the friendship dynamic of Mason, Will and Bastian too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Dysphoria
Minor: Bullying