What to Read Next After Devouring Brandy Colbert’s Little & Lion
Brandy Colbert’s sophomore novel, Little & Lion, introduces Suzette, returning to her L.A. hometown after a year of uncertainty, self-discovery, and more. Suzette left just after her brother, Lionel’s, diagnosis with bipolar disorder, at a time when her entire family was in upheaval. Now that she’s back, life seems to have settled, but that doesn’t mean everything is smooth between Suzette, or “Little,” and Lion. While they attempt to readjust, another obstacle presents itself: Suzette finds herself swooning over the girl her brother is in love with.
Filled with emotion, nuanced family relationships, explorations of sexuality, and brilliant writing, Little & Lion may leave you at a loss as to what to read next. Here are six great books to have at the ready when dealing with your Little & Lion hangover.
Pointe, by Brandy Colbert
If you liked Little & Lion, look next to Colbert’s debut, Pointe. Theo has come a long way: she’s eating food now, dating guys who aren’t quite as sketchy, and working hard on her ballet dreams. But when Donovan, her childhood friend who was kidnapped years ago, finally returns, Theo’s world is tilted once again. She relives the time before and after Donovan’s abduction—and, even worse, she remembers his abductor. The truth is a scary beast, but if she doesn’t tell it, something scarier might be around the corner.
A World Without You, by Beth Revis
One of the central themes in Little & Lion is the relationship between Suzette and Lionel. Mental illness changes the dynamics of most close relationships, and some adjustment is usually required. Suzette wants to provide all the support she can, but supporting isn’t always easy when the ones you love make choices that could endanger them. A World Without You highlights a similar sibling bond between Bo, who believes he can travel through time, and his sister, Phoebe, who is no longer sure of her role in their family. As Bo struggles to handle his grief after the girl he loved dies, he travels deeper and deeper into his mind, and will need his support system more than ever if he is to find his way back.
These Things I’ve Done, by Rebecca Phillips
Dara and her best friend, Audrey, used to be inseparable. As in all friendships, conflicts arise, but the issues forming between them during sophomore year seem deeper than usual. When a horrific accident leaves Audrey dead and Dara consumed by guilt, Dara leaves town in an effort to recover. She returns a year later and finds that confronting the past is difficult, especially with Ethan, Audrey’s brother, around. In Little & Lion, Suzette is glad to get some distance from her boarding school (and the incident that happened there) for the summer, but the weight of unresolved problems still weighs on her. Dara understands that feeling, and both characters must battle their inner demons to find peace.
This is How It Happened, by Paula Stokes
As does Little & Lion, Paula Stokes’ latest takes place in a rich summer setting. For Colbert, that setting is L.A., while Stokes’ novel is focused primarily on a town next to Zion National Park. Genevieve Grace can’t remember what happened the night her boyfriend YouTube star, Dallas, died in a car wreck with Genevieve at the wheel. With Dallas’s fans and the general online public in an uproar, Genevieve seeks escape at her father’s house, miles from home. But soon she realizes that physically running away does nothing to escape the voice inside telling her that something isn’t right about what everyone believes happened that night. In both novels, we see how a change in scenery can bring healing, but is no replacement for facing what we left behind.
American Girls, by Alison Umminger
If you’re in love with Little & Lion‘s L.A. setting, don’t miss Umminger’s debut. Anna grabs her stepmother’s credit card and heads to L.A., eager to leave her stale life, manipulative mother, and a shameful incident in her rearview. Her half-sister, a struggling actress, lets her stay with her, but Anna quickly realizes L.A. isn’t the sun-drenched escape she was hoping for. She spends time on movie sets with B-list actors and gets caught up in researching the Manson girls for her sister’s director ex-boyfriend. What follows is a touching novel of understanding your place in life and within a society that is quick to determine worthiness or lack thereof.
You’re Welcome Universe, by Whitney Gardner
You’re Welcome Universe is a kick-butt contemporary following Julia, a graffiti artist who gets expelled from the Kingston School for the Deaf after covering up a slur with her art. When Julia’s sent to a new, public school, her art becomes even more important as a way of claiming her space in a different environment. But soon she learns she’s not the only graffiti artist in town, and before she knows it has been drawn into an art battle that will challenge her in ways she never imagined. Like Little & Lion, Gardner’s beautiful novel is about owning your identities, whether you label them or not.