I had a lot of personal expectations going in to this book - I just moved to Tennessee, Of course I love country music, I'm a musician myself. I found the story to be very enjoyable and thought it was full of country charm. Emmett and Luke were both decent as main characters but most of all I loved the idea of Doll--I mean--Wanda World for the setting.

My Rating: 4/5 stars

My Review:

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

I must say, even as someone who does not always enjoy country music, this book was an absolute treat. Emmett and Luke were such full and dynamic characters, and their story was so easy to fall into. This debut novel is certainly not to be missed, and I think that everyone who picks it up is going to enjoy it!

I do have to start off by acknowledging that there are a lot of instances of homophobia in this book, mainly from Luke’s POV. Luke struggles with a lot of internalized homophobia, stemming from his family and surroundings in a very conservative Jackson Hollow. I think these conversations were important, certainly in the context of two boys pursuing careers who are not always the kindest to queer people (cooking and singing), but they are hard to read. I think they were handled very well throughout the book.

I think one of the things I liked the most about this book was the characterization. Luke and Emmett were such full characters, and even though we only get a glimpse of them through one summer, by the end I felt like I really connected with them both. The side characters were also so whole and played such a large part in the story. Characters are what make contemporary books great and Kennedy did such an amazing job in this one.

It’s hard to get into my favourite part of the book without some spoilers, so we will skip over it and just leave you with my reaction to the plot twist, which was primarily happy screeching. I thought it was really sweet, and I would die for a story about the two of them.

A Little Bit Country may make me a fan of country music yet. It was such a wonderful story that I am sure you won’t be able to put down. I know that I couldn’t.

This book releases May 31st, 2022

This book is so sweet and has a writing style similar to Jeff Zentner. Since this book does mention closed door sex, I would recommend this for a YA+ audience. I think anyone who loves country music or worked a summer job at a resort or enjoys contemporary romance, will appreciate this one!

Emmett wants to be the biggest gay country music star in the world, so when he gets a chance to work at an amusement park in Tennessee, Wanda World, he jumps at the chance. Luke is from the same town as the park, and his family has a rocky relationship with the country star Wanda Jean. Aspiring to be a chef one day and open a restaurant, Luke accepts at position at Wanda World as a dishwasher after a recommendation by his ex-girlfriend.

This contemporary YA romance is absolutely lovely. This book has so much inspiration for young people following their dreams. While music and cooking feature prominently, this book is for anyone who wants to be an artist in any form. Each chapter is narrated in the first person from the point of view of Luke and Emmett. Though Emmett seemed like the “star” of the book, I thought Luke was the more interesting character. Emmett is out, well-adjusted, and working towards the career he always wanted with a great amount of talent. Luke is a little lost, not out, and only seventeen years old but forced to grow up so quickly. Luke lives with his step-dad and two half sibling. His mother has MS and flare-ups cause her to be hospitalized. At the same time, the family is struggling with money while living in the shadow of Wanda Jean who because the world’s most famous country star, while Luke’s grandmother, Verna Rose, passed away practically in obscurity.

This book has themes of secrets and telling the truth centered around a traditional coming out story. The setting makes this book a fun new YA story for people in the south who may be struggling. It’s not common to see young characters deal with money issues and chronic illness, along with coming out, but I feel this is so relatable. One reason I didn’t come out sooner was because of my father’s chronic illness. I didn’t want to burden my family any more.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who grew up in a rural area, the South, or had a family member who lived with a chronic illness. Even if you’re not a fan of country music, you’ll enjoy this.

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

Cute little lgbt story. I liked the differing personalities and interests. Found some of the characteristics a little unbelievable but that’s just me. I would LOVE to read a Wanda-Jean and Nana Rose story.

This is a really cute, LGBTQ coming out YA romance. I really loved the idea of our two MCs having to "walk the line," in order to work out how to be true to themselves and find their inner happiness. Both of our heroes are struggling for different reasons, and have for work out these issues, while also trying to experience the joy in their youth. There is absolutely some queer joy sprinkled in here, which I appreciated, but I do love that the story works out harder conversations like why it might be harder for some folks to come out than others, etc. Overall a really cute YA romance with depth!

A Little Bit Country
Emmett is a teenage boy from Illinois who wants to be the first out, gay, country superstar. Problem is, he’s a teenager from Illinois. Luckily his aunt lives in Tennessee in the same city as the amusement park, Wanda World, that’s owned by his all time favorite country idol, Wanda Jean Stubbs (think Dollywood). His aunt also happens to be dating an executive who works at Wanda World who got him a job singing and performing there for the summer. Emmett is sure this is his first step toward his country music superstar dreams.

Luke is an angsty teen and hating country music is in his blood. His grandmother, Verna Rose, was a successful country singer who had a nasty falling out with Wanda Jean and ever since, his family has hated country music, and anything to do with Wanda Jean. But Luke’s mom has a chronic illness and the bills are piling up, so he takes a job at a Wanda World restaurant for the summer to help make ends meet. But he keeps it a secret from his family.

Emmett and Luke run into each other, literally, at Wanda World and they have an instant connection, but every first love has its problems. Teenage summer love, family drama, coming out…this book is chock full of plot and it was a very sweet story. Two thumbs up!

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC copy of #ALittleBitCountry by @bdkennedybooks. #lgtbq #lgbtq2ia #pride #gay #youngadult #gayromance #queer #queerbookclub #queerbookstagram #lgbt #mlm #gaylove #queerrepresentationmatters

Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar—a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.

Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.

Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet—and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.

Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?

The book's synopsis intrigued me as I'm quite the fan of the Nashville scene and country music. I can imagine some conflict when one is an aspiring country music artist and the other hates country music! The book was a fun, lighthearted YA read. And the dual POV was a nice surprise.

4.5 stars, rounded up!

Gosh this was so adorable. I find the secret relationship trope to be a tad... tired but it was written so well in this case! I think both of the boys were lovable and the storyline was a balm for my aching soul.

I received an advanced copy of A Little Bit Country through NetGalley so I could share my review with you! Be sure to head over to my blog (link in bio) for a full synopsis and more information about the book!

You can get your copy of A Little Bit Country now from EpicReads!

I personally don’t listen to a lot of country music (besides Dolly Parton, of course), but if Emmett was writing today’s country music I would definitely be listening! I loved reading about Emmett’s journey taking on the music industry, which can more often than not be cruel to queer folks. I’ve only seen a few books dealing with queer characters in the music industry, and A Little Bit Country is among the best!

My absolute favorite part of A Little Bit Country was Luke’s relationship with his family, specifically with the legacy of his grandmother. While Luke’s relationship with his family was far from perfect, it felt authentic because real families are complicated, messy, and sometimes difficult. Getting to read about Luke wrestling with his identity and the ways it fits with his understanding of the people he loves the most was powerful, and what made me really love this book.

My Recommendation-
If you love Dolly Parton and think you would enjoy a story about an aspiring queer country icon, you need to grab a copy of A Little Bit Country right away!

I can’t wait to talk about this latest YA read from Brian Kennedy. It’s called “A Little Bit Country.” Oh my God. I loved it so much.

In this one. Emmett is spending his summer living with his Aunt Karen and performing at Wanda World, the Tennessee theme park of country music legend Wanda Jean Stubbs. On his very first day, he is tossed into the showbiz deepened, as rehearsals are already in progress.

On the day that Luke begins work at Wanda World in the kitchen of Granny’s Cupboard, he literally runs into Emmett. And after his shift as dishwasher is over, he catches Emmett practicing for an upcoming open mic night, unaware that the song Emmett has written, “Dream Cowboy” is all about him.

When Luke takes him down to the creek to show him the real Jackson Hollow, Emmett confesses his dream of becoming an out and proud country music superstar. They splash around in the swimming hole, and Luke shares his dream of going to culinary school and one day opening a restaurant named after his nana, Verna Rose It’s then that Emmett puts two and two together and realizes that Luke’s grandmother was the Verna Rose, once Wanda Jean’s bestie, before she ran off with her manager, husband.

At the end of their day together, Luke and Emmett end up kissing on the steps of an abandoned diner that Luke hopes to one day make his own.

On opening night of the Jamboree, the performance doesn’t go perfectly, but they are graced by the very rare presence of Wanda Jean herself. After she sings a song for the crowd, Emmett receives some kind words of encouragement from his rhinestone-studded idol.

And as the summer continues, and between make out sessions and work shifts, the boys talk about being out. Emmett is. Luke is not, which Emmett assures him he only has to do when he is absolutely ready.

Luke’s family is struggling to pay his mom’s medical bills. So, he asks Emmett who knows absolutely everything there is to know about country music, if any of his grandmother’s old stuff might be worth something. Some of her unrecorded songs just might.

The night of the open mic arrives, and when Emmett takes to the stage he freezes up before he makes an on-the-fly decision to play a Verna Rose song that he’s been tinkering with. Sitting in the audience, Luke is overwhelmed. Emmett’s music combined with his nana’s heartfelt lyrics about heartbreak, it’s just too damn much. In a good way. He finds Emmett backstage and kisses him. They are now boyfriend official and conclude their big night with their very first time together.

When Luke brings over a journal with more of his nana’s songs, Emmett finds that some of them seem awfully familiar. Did Wanda Jean steal those songs or did Verna Rose give them to her as penance for running off with her husband? Luke wants to confront Wanda Jean. If Verna Rose really did write some of Wanda Jean’s biggest hits, maybe she’ll help out his struggling family.

Low key blackmail? It’s the last thing he wants to do, but Emmett agrees to help, but he ends up getting in an argument about Luke’s insistence that the relationship remain a secret. And it’s in that moment that Luke gets a text. His mother is in the hospital.

Luke realizes that his mom must have seen his Wanda World uniform in his close hamper before she fell and had her accident. But Wanda World isn’t the only secret Luke is terrified his family might discover. Maybe it’s best if he and Emmett take a break.

But Emmett knows when the reclusive Wanda Jean is making her next appearance at the park. She’ll be at a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new exhibit at the Wanda Jean museum. On the day, the crowd and security are too much, but just as the country legend is about to slip away, Luke is finally able to capture her attention leading to a private sit down with Wanda Jean herself.

After she’s seen Verna’s song journal and an old locket, Wanda Jean reveals the complicated, true story of her Verna and Wyatt, Luke’s grandfather. Now that he knows everything, Luke has some thinking to do. Learning from the pain of his grandparent’s past, maybe he can find an honest way to live his own truth.

Later after a performance in the Jamboree, Emmett sits in the empty amphitheater and practices a new song for the last open mic of the summer. And just as before, Luke is there to tell Emmett how much he loves the song and the guy who wrote it. It’s then that the book sweetly wraps up with a big family dinner that Luke has made himself, a special occasion where he can finally introduce Emmett as his boyfriend.

I really loved “A Little Bit Country.” This is Brian Kennedy’s debut, and it’s got heartache and family secrets and swoony first love. I mean, absolutely everything you could ever want in a YA summer romance. The book is great. The audiobook with Mark Sanderlin and Andrew Gibson is also great.

Summer is about half over now, so if you need a suggested read for your next summer getaway, or honestly, if you just wanna read it in the comfort of your own home, I think “A Little Bit Country” is a great story with a lot of heart.

An incredibly sweet love story between two characters you just can't help but root for. I will definitely be buying it upon its release. Four stars!

Adorable. I loved the summer, country music setting and the dual POV. Both characters are on their own journeys of self discovery and self love. The romance was so cute and good character chemistry.

This book had a brilliant premise and setting. Unfortunately, the execution made little of the setting. This story could largely have been set anywhere and considering the Dollywood like place was the main drawing, it was disappointing. The characters were wonderfully written. Unfortunately, the pacing made it hard to get through

Emmett Maguire wants to be country music’s biggest gay superstar – a far reach when you’re seventeen and living in Illinois. But for now, he’s happy to do the next best thing: Stay with his aunt in Jackson Hollow, Tennessee, for the summer and perform at the amusement park owned by his idol, country legend Wanda Jean Stubbs.

Luke Barnes hates country music. As the grandson of Verna Rose, the disgraced singer who had a famous falling out with Wanda Jean, Luke knows how much pain country music has brought his family. But when his mom’s medical bills start piling up, he takes a job at the last place he wants: a restaurant at Wanda World.

Neither boy is looking for romance, but sparks fly when they meet – and soon they’re inseparable. Until a long-lost secret about Verna and Wanda comes to light, threatening to unravel everything.

Will Emmett and Luke be able get past the truths they discover…or will their relationship go down in history as just another Sad Country Love Song?

A typical YA romance, but set at a country music theme park in Tennessee featuring a MM romance. The premise of this book is its most unique feature. The characters and plot follow very common YA romance themes. If you need something light and fluffy for the summer, but with a county twist, give this book a shot.

I had the pleasure of just getting to an early copy that I was sent by Brian D. Kennedy. Let me tell you. I SWOONED! A Little Bit of Country was so much fun to read!

I live in a rural town with a surprising number of teens who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a teacher, I always try to read books that I think my students might like so I can give them recommendations, and this book will become a go-to because I think so many of my students will enjoy this one. This book is so cute and will likely make some of my students squeal with delight, so I’m incredibly thankful for that!

Gay country music romance?! SAY NO MORE!
Just kidding, say a lot more. Like a whole books worth please.
Emmett just got the chance of a lifetime, to work at Wanda World (A Dollyworld-esque themed park). This is the first step in his journey to become country music's biggest gay superstar.
Luke hates country music. With a long family feud against Wanda Jean, the last place he expects to spend his summer is washing dishes in a restaurant within the park, with his ex-girlfriend no less.
I definitely found Luke the more compelling of our two main characters, if I had to hear the phrase 'country music's biggest gay superstar' one more time I was going to whack Emmett upside the head.
With that said I really really enjoyed this story! I'm not even a country music fan (Except our Queen Dolly of course) but still really enjoyed the narrative and the way music is used within the story.

A Little Bit Country is a lot of fun! It follows Emmett, an out and proud wannabe country star who just got a job at country music theme park, and Luke, a closeted teen who has a bit of a past with country music. Both of these boys are likable and their romance is very sweet. I loved the country amusement park backdrop, and loved the family dynamics presented in this as well.

This book is mainly a romance, and I think it’s a good one, but don’t go in expecting a slow burn. The boys get together pretty early on and we follow their journey from there. I was really impressed with this author’s ability to show these boys learning from their mistakes and becoming better together. I definitely liked Luke more, and felt that Emmett’s head was in the clouds for a lot of the book. He isn’t unlikable, just in constant need of a wake up call. There’s a also an Evelyn Hugo-esque twist that is heartbreaking and I wish it got more page time!

Overall, this was a delight but I wish it had a little more depth. Both boys go through tough things that are resolved a little too easily, but I am all for happy endings. And, like I said, who wouldn’t want to read a book that takes place in Dollywood?

A cute, fun, easy read. Anyone interested in country music (specifically Dolly Parton) or that loves a sweet m/m romance about finding yourself and being brave enough to be different will enjoy this one.

TW: homophobia (both internal and external)