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aoosterwyk's review against another edition
I loved Dear Martin, but couldn’t get through this one. The inner monologue plus outer dialogue did me in. Way too much teenage talking.
bsmorris's review against another edition
4.0
Complex characters with difficult problems join forces in search of a winning lottery ticket. It's a little heavy on the romance, but with clever characters and a good sense of humor. Fun page-turner with strong themes. Reminiscent of Cinderella and Pride and Prejudice.
jayanna's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I… strongly dislike this book. Which is especially disappointing because I’ve heard so much good about this author.
The beginning and the plot had so much potential that just went down the drain so fast. First off, I am not a fan of the author’s style and it made so many moments of the book just plain unlikeable. The chapters from inanimate objects were unnecessary and messed up the tone of the story in my opinion. They were a great idea that could have gone well, but just did not work here.
Most of the dialogue between Alexander and Rico felt unnatural and forced, especially in the beginning when they were just getting to know each other. The entire relationship and chemistry felt forced. This, unfortunately, makes the ending worse although the final chapters were some of the strongest (writing-wise).
I will say that the relationship between Rico and Jax as well as the one between Zan and Jax. I think Jax being an adorable and all-around well-written character helps a lot with that. His moments in the book are some of the best.
Lastly, the politics. *Deep deep sigh* It’s shallow and that’s about it. The author introduces a number of things that could be used to give meaningful and complex commentary to the storyline but just… doesn’t. Instead, she makes basic analyses of the complex situations and identities of the various characters. In some moments she just throws these characteristics out there and never returns to them. There was so much opportunity to SAY SOMETHING and Stone just didn’t.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I considered putting it down and not finishing it many times (but I had to keep my reading goal up lol). I really do hope Stone’s other books are much better and maybe I will return to this author at another time.
The beginning and the plot had so much potential that just went down the drain so fast. First off, I am not a fan of the author’s style and it made so many moments of the book just plain unlikeable. The chapters from inanimate objects were unnecessary and messed up the tone of the story in my opinion. They were a great idea that could have gone well, but just did not work here.
Most of the dialogue between Alexander and Rico felt unnatural and forced, especially in the beginning when they were just getting to know each other. The entire relationship and chemistry felt forced. This, unfortunately, makes the ending worse although the final chapters were some of the strongest (writing-wise).
I will say that the relationship between Rico and Jax as well as the one between Zan and Jax. I think Jax being an adorable and all-around well-written character helps a lot with that. His moments in the book are some of the best.
Lastly, the politics. *Deep deep sigh* It’s shallow and that’s about it. The author introduces a number of things that could be used to give meaningful and complex commentary to the storyline but just… doesn’t. Instead, she makes basic analyses of the complex situations and identities of the various characters. In some moments she just throws these characteristics out there and never returns to them. There was so much opportunity to SAY SOMETHING and Stone just didn’t.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but I considered putting it down and not finishing it many times (but I had to keep my reading goal up lol). I really do hope Stone’s other books are much better and maybe I will return to this author at another time.
whatthechukar's review against another edition
3.0
Cute story but did not enjoy the perspectives from inanimate objects.
bcat0124's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
briaraq's review against another edition
4.0
I love Nic Stone’s writing. There’s just something about it that makes me never want to stop reading. I loved the characters and the plot, even though it was pretty predictable where it was going. I really hope Rico and Xan reconnect and they both get where they want without people or responsibilities holding them back.
lizzina's review against another edition
2.0
I have to say that part of my disappointment comes from the suggestion of Goodreads to read this if I liked "The hate you give". Forget this, as the books have nothing to do with each other, except they are set in the US maybe. Once I got over this though, I found too many bits and pieces that did not make much sense. Rico is poor, she repeats it in the book so many times that it becomes redundant. She has no friends because she thinks she is too poor to have any, she is so engorged in the "poor girl" part that she doesn't even notice there are other people like her, especially one living in her block (who Rico avoids basically because she is blond). Sometimes, anyway, the "poor me" is alternated by the "ugly me", a thing she actually is not. Not at all. And I would take it as she is a teenager and we tend to see ourselves ugly at that stage, except in everything else she does, she has the attitude of a 40 years old deluded by life. Despite not having friends, she can drag the richest boy of her school out of the canteen without a blink and they basically become BFF in one hour.
Zan is the "I am rich but I'd like to be poor" type, another 18 years old acting like 40, blurting here ant there some ancient English, flirting like it was his job. The family description at the wedding and at the dinner was so stereotypical that it made me cringe (and I know a lot about stereotypes, being an Italian living abroad).
Rico's mother is a completed messed up character. Basically, she is the teenager.
The story could have been used to depict the mechanisms of the medical and school system, especially to those not living in the US. Unfortunately, the two subjects are only running in the background.
Two stars because I liked the style and at least the book was easy to read. I will definitely try something else by the author for this reason.
Zan is the "I am rich but I'd like to be poor" type, another 18 years old acting like 40, blurting here ant there some ancient English, flirting like it was his job. The family description at the wedding and at the dinner was so stereotypical that it made me cringe (and I know a lot about stereotypes, being an Italian living abroad).
Rico's mother is a completed messed up character. Basically, she is the teenager.
The story could have been used to depict the mechanisms of the medical and school system, especially to those not living in the US. Unfortunately, the two subjects are only running in the background.
Spoiler
I have read it is a story about making choices for ourselves, but in this instance, the only choice that could be a life-changer was winning the lottery.Two stars because I liked the style and at least the book was easy to read. I will definitely try something else by the author for this reason.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
Nic Stone writes so many different kinds of book–it is amazing! Jackpot is about Rico and Zan’s relationship. Other may say it is about the lottery ticket or just Rico, but in the end it is about their relatioship and how it changes them both. It was a great read!
bevpages's review against another edition
5.0
ONE WORD.
INCREDIBLE.
don’t mind me whilst I add the other nic stone books into my amazon cart
INCREDIBLE.
don’t mind me whilst I add the other nic stone books into my amazon cart