Review: Running with Lions by Julian Winters

Title: Running with Lions

Author: Julian Winters

Length: 266 Pages

Category: Teen Fiction

At a Glance: Don’t walk…Run! to pick up a copy of this book. You definitely don’t want to miss this wonderful story!

Reviewed By: Jules

Blurb: Bloomington High School Lions’ star goalie Sebastian Hughes should be excited about his senior year: His teammates are amazing, and he’s got a coach who doesn’t ask anyone to hide their sexuality. But when his estranged childhood-best-friend Emir Shah shows up at summer training camp, Sebastian realizes the team’s success may end up in the hands of the one guy who hates him. Determined to reconnect with Emir for the sake of the Lions, he sets out to regain Emir’s trust. But to Sebastian’s surprise, sweaty days on the pitch, wandering the town’s streets, and bonding on the weekends spark more than just friendship between them.

Review: Julian Winters’ debut novel, Running with Lions, is an absolute delight. There are so many words one could use to describe this book—charming, feel-good, funny, poignant, diverse, smart, honest, to name just a handful—and all of them, individually and together, would be true. I have been pumped for this book for months, and it lived up to every expectation I’ve had since first seeing the adorable cover; there are a million and one good things to say about it.

I’ll start with the characters. Every single one of Winters’ characters was unique and real. The authenticity and diversity in Running with Lions is a massive part of what makes the book so special. There are kids from all walks of life, all kinds of backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions, and they all come together for the love of soccer. The team that Coach Patrick has put together is also special in that there is no discrimination based on sexual orientation. The Lions is meant to be a safe space for everyone, queer or straight. Sebastian is bisexual, and his best friends, Willie and Mason, are gay and questioning, respectively, and it’s a complete non-issue as far as their teammates or coaches are concerned. The only thing that matters at the end of the day is their performance on the pitch.

Sebastian is in sort of a weird place in this final summer, and final soccer camp, before his last year of high school. He’s filled with uncertainty about what to do after he graduates—though he knows he wants to get out of Bloomington—and with lots of insecurities and doubt about whether he’s good enough to play after high school, and regarding his body. His body image issues stem from being bullied about his weight as a kid, and even though he’s an athlete and in good shape, he still sees “Bastian the Trashcan” when he looks in the mirror. The one thing he’s not uncertain about, at least most of the time, is his ability on the field and his place with his team. Sebastian is known as “The Responsible One” and is rumored to be the next team captain, a title he fully deserves. He’s such a good teammate and friend, in fact, that when it becomes obvious that Emir needs some mentoring and help with his game, Bastian offers to help him despite his old friend’s extremely prickly exterior.

Emir and Sebastian were thick as thieves when they were younger, but since Emir’s return from an extended family trip to London when they were in middle school, they haven’t spoken. Emir is resentful that Sebastian moved on and made new friends when he was gone, and Sebastian doesn’t fully understand Emir’s icy attitude or why he’s treating everyone like shit. Eventually he learns why Emir is at camp—to please his father—and starts to chip away at that wall Emir has built up around himself. These guys were great together. I loved their story and the romance.

I loved our main characters a ton, of course, but this was also very much an ensemble piece. Mason, Willie (I love Willie SO MUCH), Hunter, Grey, Coach Patrick—they all had very important roles to play and added so much to the story. The writing is very laid back and relatable yet is also beautifully poetic and mesmerizing in places. The author uses some gorgeous imagery to describe everything from sunsets and areas around the camp, to the game of soccer itself. Winters does an amazing job of placing the reader firmly in the setting. Whether it was camp life, a practice, or the big game, I found myself entrenched in every scene. And, he also has such a great handle on portraying teenage boys. The voice felt really authentic.

You know what? I’m gonna leave it there. Don’t walk…Run! to pick up a copy of this book. You definitely don’t want to miss this wonderful story!

You can buy Running with Lions here:
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