"Funny, wise, and ridiculously romantic. It hit me right in the heart."—BECKY ALBERTALLI, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

"A heartwarming freshman novel from an author poised to be a modern Matt Christopher for an older audience."—Kirkus Reviews

"A warm, funny, smart and poignant debut, full of heart and full of hope. I loved the adorably cute relationship that emerges between Sebastian and Emir, I loved the humour, and I loved being reminded what it's like to be a teenager during a long, hot, messy summer, when everything is new and exciting, anything seems possible, and the world is opening out in front of you. I throughly enjoyed it and hope it gets all the accolades and praise it deserves."—SIMON JAMES GREEN, author of Noah Can't Even

"Inspiring and uplifting, RUNNING WITH LIONS is an absolute gem of a novel. It's an utterly charming crowd-pleaser with nimble writing, exceptionally well-drawn characters and a swoonworthy romance. I freaking love this book."—CALE DIETRICH, author of The Love Interest

Summary

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.

About the Author

Julian Winters is a former management trainer who lives in the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia and has been crafting fiction since he was a child, creating communities around his hand-drawn “paper people.” He began writing LGBTQ character-driven stories as a teen and has developed a devoted fan fiction following. When he isn’t writing or using his sense of humor to entertain his young nephews, Julian enjoys reading, experimental cooking in the kitchen, and watching the only sports he can keep up with: volleyball and soccer. Running with Lions is his first novel.

Editor's Notes:

Suggested readership 16+

Some readers may find some of the scenes in this book difficult to read. We have compiled a list of content warnings, which you can access at interludepress.com/content-warnings