Review: Running With Lions

 

Okay, confession time. For a moment I actually forgot I had a blog. Like no, seriously, considering it took me a lot of time to get to my next blog and to get over my reading slump, I forgot that there were folks who were actually willing to read my bullshit, edgy teen commentary of how I feel about the book. And so I hopped onto the next book and then  suddenly I'm like THE BLOG, SHIT.

Running With Lions by Julian Winters is the story of Sebastian Huges, star goalie of the Lions, trying to live out his best life with his friends Mason and Riley. Sebastian has a lot of pressure on him this year, it's his last year at soccer camp, he has no plans about life after school and he's nervous about coming out to his parents. What makes it worse is that in this camp, Emir Shah is here too. The same Emir Shah that used to be his best friend. But it seems like Emir doesn't want to be friends with him, but neither does Sebastian cuz he wants to be more.

QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 3.6/5, really nice for a quick detox read.

PROS:

1. Detox: After reading quite a few emotionally shattering reads, I had quite given up on finding something that would detoxify my soul so that I would get emotionally shattered again.  I mean, I had planned that as the process, but what can one do when you have so many books on your tbr and you're moving through them too fast and there are not enough  detox romance books? You become more and more emotionally shattered until you crumble to dust. Also I'm sick so I probably am NOT making sense right now.

2. Easy flowing narration: That's the best thing about a detox book, it doesn't drag. I mean, what good is a detox book if it drags amirite? Because if the narration flows, maybe it will flow away all the shattering pieces of my soul and give it some time to heal. I am literally not making any sense right now.

3. GAY FOOTBALL BROS.

4. It's one of those, "it all happened at a summer camp" story and I love it. I love those type of cliche things because it's beautiful and kind of makes me want to believe in romance all the freaking over again.

5. Humour: Okay, I'd almost forgotten about this point until I remembered it. Like seriously, effortlessly funny in some places. Just awesome.

"

Bastian, dude,” Mason says, as if he’s been hit with an epiphany. “You like Emir.”

 

“Shut up, Mace.”

 

“Skinny, quiet, uncoordinated Emir Shah.”

 

“Okay. Point made.”

 

“Holy shit! I didn’t see that one coming.”

 

Mason is doomed to be friendless before he graduates

 You get my drift, absolutely funny. Also it took me a while to figure out the quotes section.

CONS:

1. As much as I love the story, it falls flat. I mean, when you read a book, you understand when and where it is flat, and this book was so flat you could hang a picture on it. It's a vague feeling yaknow, like you know it is there but you can't figure out what.

MOST FAVOURITE CHARACTER:

For a moment, hear me out, for a moment. I considered getting Coach Rivera. Like he's an openly gay coach and he could easily be my favourite character in the book. But manz gets one line throughout the book.

Also not Coach Patrick, despite him having a team that's not closeted.

Neither Willie nor Mason Riley. Though personally Willster had a chance.

It's Grey. 

Seriously, I was feeling gay for her. This girl actually knows how to put assholes into place. For years she's been crushing on the asshole Mason and then she finally gets down to handing him his ass. BY BEATING HIM IN HIS VERY OWN GAME. YOOOOOOOOO, that shit's just mwah. She's done taking shit from him and I think that's hot.

OVERALL,A NICE READ, for a moment I thought this book was set in England and was angry they kept calling football, soccer and then realized, nope, it's America.