📖 Overview
Julian Winters is an American young adult fiction author known for writing contemporary LGBTQ+ stories that explore themes of identity, friendship, and coming-of-age. His debut novel Running With Lions was published in 2018 and received the Indie Diverse Award.
Winters has written several acclaimed YA novels including How to Be Remy Cameron (2019) and The Summer of Everything (2020). His work frequently features queer teen protagonists navigating relationships, self-discovery, and finding their place in their communities.
Prior to becoming a published author, Winters worked as a management trainer in retail. He draws from his experiences as a Black gay man to create authentic representation in young adult literature, and his books have been recognized on various "Best Of" lists for LGBTQ+ YA fiction.
His most recent novel Right Where I Left You was released in 2022, continuing his focus on crafting contemporary stories centered around queer joy and relationships. Winters resides in Georgia where he continues to write while advocating for diverse voices in young adult literature.
👀 Reviews
Readers highlight Winters' authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ teen experiences, with many noting his ability to balance serious themes with humor. Reviews frequently mention the relatability of his characters and their friendships.
Liked:
- Natural dialogue between teenage characters
- Representation of diverse family dynamics
- Balanced handling of coming-out stories
- Sports elements that appeal to non-sports readers
Disliked:
- Some find the pacing slow in first few chapters
- Romance plots can feel predictable
- Character internal monologues sometimes repetitive
Ratings:
Goodreads averages:
- Running With Lions: 3.9/5 (8,500+ ratings)
- The Summer of Everything: 3.8/5 (1,900+ ratings)
- Right Where I Left You: 4.1/5 (2,300+ ratings)
Amazon averages across all books: 4.5/5
Common reader comment: "Characters feel like real teenagers dealing with real issues, not adults writing what they think teens sound like."
📚 Books by Julian Winters
Running With Lions - A gay teen soccer player navigates his final summer as team captain while developing feelings for his former childhood friend who returns as the team's new training assistant.
How to Be Remy Cameron - A Black gay high school junior grapples with defining his identity and writing a college admission essay about who he truly is while developing an unexpected romance.
The Summer of Everything - A comic book-loving teenager works at a bookstore during his last summer before college, trying to save the store from closure while confronting his feelings for his best friend.
Right Where I Left You - A geeky high school graduate spends the summer before college attempting to attend a major comics convention with his best friend while dealing with an unexpected reunion with his former crush.
How to Be Remy Cameron - A Black gay high school junior grapples with defining his identity and writing a college admission essay about who he truly is while developing an unexpected romance.
The Summer of Everything - A comic book-loving teenager works at a bookstore during his last summer before college, trying to save the store from closure while confronting his feelings for his best friend.
Right Where I Left You - A geeky high school graduate spends the summer before college attempting to attend a major comics convention with his best friend while dealing with an unexpected reunion with his former crush.
👥 Similar authors
Adam Silvera writes contemporary YA fiction centered on queer Latino teens exploring identity and relationships in New York City. His books deal with similar themes of self-discovery and first love while incorporating elements of magical realism and science fiction.
Becky Albertalli creates YA contemporary stories focused on LGBTQ+ teens navigating high school, friendship dynamics, and coming out experiences. Her work shares Winters' emphasis on positive queer representation and authentic teen voices in suburban settings.
Mason Deaver writes stories about transgender and nonbinary teens discovering themselves and finding community. Their work parallels Winters' focus on identity exploration and features similar contemporary settings with strong friendship elements.
Phil Stamper produces contemporary YA novels about gay teens balancing romance, family expectations, and personal aspirations. His books share common ground with Winters through their exploration of queer joy and coming-of-age experiences.
Kacen Callender creates YA fiction featuring Black LGBTQ+ protagonists dealing with identity, mental health, and relationships. Their work connects to Winters' through authentic representation and themes of self-acceptance.
Becky Albertalli creates YA contemporary stories focused on LGBTQ+ teens navigating high school, friendship dynamics, and coming out experiences. Her work shares Winters' emphasis on positive queer representation and authentic teen voices in suburban settings.
Mason Deaver writes stories about transgender and nonbinary teens discovering themselves and finding community. Their work parallels Winters' focus on identity exploration and features similar contemporary settings with strong friendship elements.
Phil Stamper produces contemporary YA novels about gay teens balancing romance, family expectations, and personal aspirations. His books share common ground with Winters through their exploration of queer joy and coming-of-age experiences.
Kacen Callender creates YA fiction featuring Black LGBTQ+ protagonists dealing with identity, mental health, and relationships. Their work connects to Winters' through authentic representation and themes of self-acceptance.