Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

Little & Lion

by Brandy Colbert

When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. LA is where her friends and family are (along with her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new; the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself, or worse.

Reviewed by layawaydragon on

4 of 5 stars

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Little & Lion is interesting. The time jumps in the first part of the book aren't noted in the audiobook, which caused some confusion.

I absolutely loved it at first (besides said time jump mix up) and most of the way through, but the way things went down at the end? Eh....




Suzette got really annoying towards the end, and IMHO she needed help with her anxiety and therapy. The Bi rep was great, but the mental health aspect made me want to SCREAM at Suzette occasionally. It really drove home how most people do not get suicidal ideation and thinking through your death.


https://after-crisis.tumblr.com/post/136817125147/lumos-vs-nox-the-problem-with-suicidal-thoughts


And I'm not happy that the Iris and school thread is left hanging.

Everything else though was really great. Interesting, emotional, down to earth and realistic, handles so many different things superbly.

Notes Made While Listening:
Emil doesn't seem like her crush...
OH! Flashbacks, that explains the timeline problems. Wish they were marked better in the audiobook.
Okay, crush is active.
Damn, that friends part sucks! Poor Lionel.
That's fucked up sending her away.
Black Jewish MC, bi or pan? Blended family.
Emil has hearing aides.
She has dreadlocks
Katie called her ungrateful? The jerk.
Alicia & Deedee dating. DD=BFF
Katie again with the BS. "he's schizo"
Cuz you like tattoo girl, duh!
Obvs what happened with Iris
Again, those freaking unclear time jumps!!
OMFG Lion & the necklace!
Love the bi rant! YAASSSS
Fuck Lionel about the bi thing.
Okay you're forgiven
Nooooooooooooooooooo!
Fuck Grace for that shit & all the silent bistandards
Good convo with DD about Grace.
Orange kitty!
Oh Lionel...
Omg Emil...awkward. Blushing.
"back then" FINALLY! an indication of time jumping
Oh Iris! Poor baby.
Polyam?
Ugh that biphobic shit from DD.
He's gone manic, duh!
She doesn't get it.
Manic isn't all brilliance and fun pixie shit.
Now you're pissing me off Little. Suze.
Should've educated everyone in the fam, man. Ignorant shits.
Chpt 12 and starting to piss off and frustrate me.
Good abortion talk.
Bi people are still bi in a m/w relationship.
Pan rep!
So Dodgers incident was in the past...
Man, other people don't get suicidal ideation at all....I getchu Lion.
Eww creep flower guy.
He means the GF...
People aren't meds!! People aren't their meds!!
Ableist tells, "like he's the same as everyone else"
Doesn't seem honest? Ooooh, girl. you jealous and being stupid
Peeing the same room? Gross...
God, Suzette is so pissy some times.
He could fight for a real good reason. Like The Creep!
TOLD YOU.
Guys suck.
Put Suzette on anxiety meds and in therapy too!
Cyclothymia? Interesting. Never heard of it before.
Stop being an ass to Emil & playing dumb!
Still like an hour left.
Don't use being Bi as a shield you LIAR!
Gods, stop whinying you baby.
Call them & tell them!!
What happened last year, just the one outburst? That's it? FFS. Flipping out people. So typical.
Uhhh, yeah they have parents too...
Finally girl!!! Well, except the anxiety and guilt BS.
But what about IRIS!?!? And the school...?

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • Finished reading
  • 9 June, 2018: Reviewed