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bethany6788's review against another edition
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
We are almost done with Julian Winters’ backlist! I think I have one more left… and then I’ve read them all…at least until his adult debut!! 👀👀
Remy was a very sweet story of a 17 year old boy just trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs.
*spoilers*
Things I enjoyed about this book:
Remy himself. I loved his journey of self-discovery, including the mistakes made along the way. I thought he was relatable and I loved being inside his head.
I thought the friend group was really strong. Good vibes from those kids.
This line: “Honesty moment: Dimples are irresistible to anyone who doesn’t have them. It’s not a thing; it’s a fact.”
I loved the Zombie coffee shop, reminds me of my favorite local coffee place that is based about similar haunting vibes.
I KNEW Free was related to him somehow.
That first kiss was sooooo cute.
“I bury every nerve not attached to my heart into the kiss. Ian kisses back as if he’s falling from orbit and I’ll be the one to catch him.”
Ian’s journey in this book was really good.
That scene with Remy and his dad in the kitchen?? 😭😭
Loved the grand gesture!!!
The essay at the end was really great.
Remy was a very sweet story of a 17 year old boy just trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs.
*spoilers*
Things I enjoyed about this book:
Remy himself. I loved his journey of self-discovery, including the mistakes made along the way. I thought he was relatable and I loved being inside his head.
I thought the friend group was really strong. Good vibes from those kids.
This line: “Honesty moment: Dimples are irresistible to anyone who doesn’t have them. It’s not a thing; it’s a fact.”
I loved the Zombie coffee shop, reminds me of my favorite local coffee place that is based about similar haunting vibes.
I KNEW Free was related to him somehow.
That first kiss was sooooo cute.
“I bury every nerve not attached to my heart into the kiss. Ian kisses back as if he’s falling from orbit and I’ll be the one to catch him.”
Ian’s journey in this book was really good.
That scene with Remy and his dad in the kitchen?? 😭😭
Loved the grand gesture!!!
The essay at the end was really great.
leafblade's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the romance, but the other subplots lacked emotion somehow and they ended up falling flat for me. And I don't absolutely agree with that last speech about how we're not our labels.
It also was a shame that I couldn't tell the side characters apart. Too many friends who we get to see fully described only once, too close to the beginning when we're still trying to grasp where the story is going and who Remy is. I really wish I could've read more from them!!! (And also Ian, but just because I could never have enough Ian)
It also was a shame that I couldn't tell the side characters apart. Too many friends who we get to see fully described only once, too close to the beginning when we're still trying to grasp where the story is going and who Remy is. I really wish I could've read more from them!!! (And also Ian, but just because I could never have enough Ian)
joanna1905's review against another edition
4.0
Another fantastic book from Julian - with a truly stunning cover!
This book wasn't quite what I expected but that definitely wasn't a bad thing! Something I loved about this book is that it's not a coming-out story nor is it a romance story (though there is a very cute romantic side plot, which I totally would have loved a little bit more of) - this is a book about labels. About how finding your labels can be liberating but it can also be restrictive and how to find a balance between the two.
This is also a love story - the love between a young black queer boy and his adopted family, and later this biological half-sister. The familial relationships in this book were one of my absolute favourite things in this book it was so well executed and really created a feeling of warmth within the story.
A tiny element I loved was that the flip on the quarterback and cheerleader couple but with a female quarterback and male cheerleader - it was a small detail but I loved this.
I think my main critique with this book is that it could have been longer - there were so many really cool side characters but we only just graze the surface with all of them and not really get to know them. Same with the romance, I would have loved just a little bit more!
I have to say out of his two books I think RWL is my favourite but this was a great second novel and I definitely look forward to continuing to support Julian throughout the rest of his career.
This book wasn't quite what I expected but that definitely wasn't a bad thing! Something I loved about this book is that it's not a coming-out story nor is it a romance story (though there is a very cute romantic side plot, which I totally would have loved a little bit more of) - this is a book about labels. About how finding your labels can be liberating but it can also be restrictive and how to find a balance between the two.
This is also a love story - the love between a young black queer boy and his adopted family, and later this biological half-sister. The familial relationships in this book were one of my absolute favourite things in this book it was so well executed and really created a feeling of warmth within the story.
A tiny element I loved was that the flip on the quarterback and cheerleader couple but with a female quarterback and male cheerleader - it was a small detail but I loved this.
I think my main critique with this book is that it could have been longer - there were so many really cool side characters but we only just graze the surface with all of them and not really get to know them. Same with the romance, I would have loved just a little bit more!
I have to say out of his two books I think RWL is my favourite but this was a great second novel and I definitely look forward to continuing to support Julian throughout the rest of his career.
elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Julian Winters should be required reading. His stories - both beautifully written and integral to the modern literary canon - find relevance and significance in readers of all ages. Winters writes books for people before they know they need them (like me!) and for people looking for a piece of themselves in fiction separate from tragedy and tokenism (also like me). Extraordinary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
unepassiondesmots's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
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
It was really sweet and I loved the reflexions about finding who you are, with lots of goofy things and fun that makes it lighter even if the main themes are quite deep
michaelbereading's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Remy Cameron is gay, Black, super-likeable, and seemingly confident to everyone around him, but Remy doesn't really know himself. When he needs to write a college entrance essay about himself, he struggles to put into words exactly who he is as he reflects on his intersectionality and sorts through all the labels that have defined him in.
I enjoyed every second of this story. Julian Winters somehow magically wrote a queer story that is light and engaging and not weighed down in trauma experiences, while also weaving in introspection and depth. It is a delicate balance to make these things happen simultaneously but it was done perfectly here. The characters were beautiful and layered the conflict was minimal but not boring. This was my first book by this author, but I am running to read another one soon!
I enjoyed every second of this story. Julian Winters somehow magically wrote a queer story that is light and engaging and not weighed down in trauma experiences, while also weaving in introspection and depth. It is a delicate balance to make these things happen simultaneously but it was done perfectly here. The characters were beautiful and layered the conflict was minimal but not boring. This was my first book by this author, but I am running to read another one soon!
achilleanshelves's review against another edition
4.0
This entire book felt like a First Act and that's both to its benefit and hindrance. The characters are all amazing, as I expected after reading Running with Lions, especially Remy himself, Ian, Willow, Jayden and Silver (Who deserves his own book).
It felt at some points like the central story was forgotten and little advancement was made for long periods of time, however, it was fluffy and cute and exactly what my heart required.
(Very minor spoiler)
- Jayden being a cheer-leader who is bisexual and comfortable in both his sexuality and his gender and Chloe being a quarterback really hits different.
It felt at some points like the central story was forgotten and little advancement was made for long periods of time, however, it was fluffy and cute and exactly what my heart required.
(Very minor spoiler)
- Jayden being a cheer-leader who is bisexual and comfortable in both his sexuality and his gender and Chloe being a quarterback really hits different.
jacehan's review
3.0
The beginning was fairly dull, but after the author stops introducing new characters and places and starts letting the story develop, it picks up. (About 40% of the way through.) Perhaps, at a metatextual level, this makes sense - the narrator Remy is focusing so much on surface descriptions because that's what he's struggling with in terms of his own identity and labels, and when he starts to push past that it gets more interesting. So it makes sense, but doesn't make it interesting to read.
shewwimonster's review against another edition
5.0
I hear second novels can be beasts to write, but Remy is perfect and Winters is perfect and I need MORE. For a simple look at the story, it's about coping with the labels people give you, the labels you give yourself, and who you actually *are.* It's also incredibly queer. I'm drastically outside of the target audience here, but there was still so much to connect with. And I feel like Winters writes real, relatable characters with their own layers and personality and shine. Remy is also extremely likable. Even when he's over-the-top or sticking his foot in his mouth.
An unexpected and welcome addition? The way some talk about consent is worked in.
I love everything that's happening here. I think I might have written this at the end of my Lions review, but I still can't wait to see what Winters does next.
An unexpected and welcome addition? The way some talk about consent is worked in.
I love everything that's happening here. I think I might have written this at the end of my Lions review, but I still can't wait to see what Winters does next.
briannareadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This book was cute and fun and didn't take me long to read! It took me three days to get like 15% into it because I was not that interested in first. But then I really dived in and finished the last 85% in an afternoon. It was nice, but not one of my favourite books.
I'll start off with some things I wasn't a fan of. First, there were so many characters that I couldn't keep up with. I still didn't remember the differences between some of Remy's best friends and I just let it go. Another thing was so much of the conversation and Remy's thoughts were cringe-y. I kind of got over that too and thought that maybe it was just Remy's personality and not the writing? It was also a tad predictable at times. There were two major plot points I saw coming that didn't really surprise me. The Mad Tagger plot was useless to me, it seemed to mainly be there for the sole purpose of giving the characters something to talk about other than Remy's boy drama. Lastly, while I think the discussion of labels in this story is important to people who don't really like to fit under a label, as someone who loves labels and labelling myself as things because they bring comfort and security, I couldn't connect with Remy's struggle of trying to deflect all the labels people were throwing at him.
But there were lots of things I really liked! For one, it was the diversity of the cast of characters. I will admit that when the ~diverse~ characters were introduced, it seemed that Julian Winters tried not to make it a big deal. But then it ended up seeming like a big deal and a little forced. Besides that cringe-y introduction of all the characters in Remy's friend group, the rest of the characters and their lives/races/sexualities were pretty subtle. This was pretty realistic to me as someone who went to a majorly racially and sexually diverse high school. It was very common for people of different races and sexualities to be out and open. Also, I LOVED REMY. He was so cool, I would love to be friends with him. His life and intersections were very interesting to me and I think he's just a great person. His relationship with Ian was very wholesome to me and the way they explored coming out, sex, talking, and their relationship in general with such patience and care was so beautiful!
Overall, this book was just okay but I know it will touch many people. I'm interested in reading Running with Lions now, though!
This book was cute and fun and didn't take me long to read! It took me three days to get like 15% into it because I was not that interested in first. But then I really dived in and finished the last 85% in an afternoon. It was nice, but not one of my favourite books.
I'll start off with some things I wasn't a fan of. First, there were so many characters that I couldn't keep up with. I still didn't remember the differences between some of Remy's best friends and I just let it go. Another thing was so much of the conversation and Remy's thoughts were cringe-y. I kind of got over that too and thought that maybe it was just Remy's personality and not the writing? It was also a tad predictable at times. There were two major plot points I saw coming that didn't really surprise me. The Mad Tagger plot was useless to me, it seemed to mainly be there for the sole purpose of giving the characters something to talk about other than Remy's boy drama. Lastly, while I think the discussion of labels in this story is important to people who don't really like to fit under a label, as someone who loves labels and labelling myself as things because they bring comfort and security, I couldn't connect with Remy's struggle of trying to deflect all the labels people were throwing at him.
But there were lots of things I really liked! For one, it was the diversity of the cast of characters. I will admit that when the ~diverse~ characters were introduced, it seemed that Julian Winters tried not to make it a big deal. But then it ended up seeming like a big deal and a little forced. Besides that cringe-y introduction of all the characters in Remy's friend group, the rest of the characters and their lives/races/sexualities were pretty subtle. This was pretty realistic to me as someone who went to a majorly racially and sexually diverse high school. It was very common for people of different races and sexualities to be out and open. Also, I LOVED REMY. He was so cool, I would love to be friends with him. His life and intersections were very interesting to me and I think he's just a great person. His relationship with Ian was very wholesome to me and the way they explored coming out, sex, talking, and their relationship in general with such patience and care was so beautiful!
Overall, this book was just okay but I know it will touch many people. I'm interested in reading Running with Lions now, though!