Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

 Summary

Little & Lion, written by Brandy Colbert, proves to be an intriguing read! In this novel, the reader follows Little and Lion, otherwise known as 16-year-old Suzette and 17-year-old Lionel, respectively. Suzette and Lionel are not biological siblings nor step-siblings, but still share a household and maintain a bond that some may only hope for. Suzette, who has just come back from her first year at boarding school, spends summer with her friends and family and gets a job, while making sure that Lionel, who is bipolar, is okay. Together, the two siblings have summer fun with their friends and manage their love life, all while sorting through their personal relationship and issues. Little & Lion takes a reader through both a present and past journey, where they better understand the complex lives of these two characters, as well as those around them. If one thing is for certain, the lives of Little and Lion are far from perfect.

Review by Yusef Aboukhatwa

The novel written by Brandy Colbert is a deep dive that remains grounded in its pursuit to portray the lives of Suzette and Lionel. Its plot is entertaining, and not all too predictable. In addition, the characters have depth and seem somewhat realistic; it’s not a challenge to truly imagine what happens in the story. The narrative also makes good use of the past and present, and this aspect really elevates the overall quality of the novel. However, as with every book, Little & Lion is not without its flaws. First off and perhaps most importantly, some elements seem rushed. It gets a little confusing to grasp what is happening in the moment or how one thing turned to another, at times. Furthermore, the writing isn’t the best it could have been. Overall, Little & Lion deserves a rating of 7.5/10, and I highly recommend this novel for all readers, specifically coming-of-age fans.