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cindytranwrites's review against another edition
5.0
I seriously had my doubts about this book.
When I first started reading it, I just really didn't understand what was going on. If you look back at my reading progress, you can clearly see my confusion...But then I read it and ended up giving it 5 stars, so I guess you don't really have to read my review to know how I felt about this book.
Please do keep reading anyway.
WHAT CHANGED MY MIND:
1. I started to fall for the characters very, very quickly. Leo is a SWEETHEART. He gives off a very detached vibe at the beginning, but his development really turns him into someone you can understand. The exposition made him seem very cold and tsundere-like, but I think as the writer warmed up to the story, readers can really feel like they're in Leo's mind rather than standing outside of it, watching as the events of his life unfold without really understanding. Walton does an excellent job of giving her characters heavy stakes that cause readers to form an emotional attachment!
2. Callbacks! I personally find this very difficult to do in my own writing, but MAN is it one of the most satisfying things to see in writing! When I say callbacks, I mean when something is referenced at the beginning of the book offhandedly, but then is brought up again in a changed manner by the end. *chef's kiss* It's a gift for readers who are paying enough attention to catch these easter eggs, and suCH A GRATIFYING THING. I found the callbacks in Leo's story to be very purposeful. They served well as a tie to character development and to emphasize the parallels in the plot. It's definitely points to an eye for detail on Walton's end. :D
3. Simple, yet powerful writing. Not gonna lie, I wasn't really in love with the writing at the beginning. I felt that the writing gradually flowed more easily as you got deeper into the book, which makes sense (since an author will warm up to their characters the more they write about them). I don't know if it was purposeful, but the almost...elementary style at the beginning nearly made me stop reading it right away. I'm glad I stayed until the end though. It wasn't hard to keep reading after...I don't know the 30-40% mark? The writing loosened up and was very easy to understand from that point on. It was definitely worth marching through the muddy beginning in my opinion.
Would I recommend this book?
- Do you like reading about underrepresented characters?
- Do you like reading about characters who might struggle with mental disorders/anxiety?
- Do you like reading about stAKES?
- Do you like reading about heartbreak and suffering with the angst that comes along with it?
- Do you like having a good time?
If your answer to any of these questions is a resounding YES, then I'd say go for it. On December 29, 2020. Which is when this book is going to be released.
Until then, you can stare out your window longingly as you wait for the day to come. ;)
**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Thank you to Random House for gifting me this beauty.
When I first started reading it, I just really didn't understand what was going on. If you look back at my reading progress, you can clearly see my confusion...But then I read it and ended up giving it 5 stars, so I guess you don't really have to read my review to know how I felt about this book.
Please do keep reading anyway.
WHAT CHANGED MY MIND:
1. I started to fall for the characters very, very quickly. Leo is a SWEETHEART. He gives off a very detached vibe at the beginning, but his development really turns him into someone you can understand. The exposition made him seem very cold and tsundere-like, but I think as the writer warmed up to the story, readers can really feel like they're in Leo's mind rather than standing outside of it, watching as the events of his life unfold without really understanding. Walton does an excellent job of giving her characters heavy stakes that cause readers to form an emotional attachment!
2. Callbacks! I personally find this very difficult to do in my own writing, but MAN is it one of the most satisfying things to see in writing! When I say callbacks, I mean when something is referenced at the beginning of the book offhandedly, but then is brought up again in a changed manner by the end. *chef's kiss* It's a gift for readers who are paying enough attention to catch these easter eggs, and suCH A GRATIFYING THING. I found the callbacks in Leo's story to be very purposeful. They served well as a tie to character development and to emphasize the parallels in the plot. It's definitely points to an eye for detail on Walton's end. :D
3. Simple, yet powerful writing. Not gonna lie, I wasn't really in love with the writing at the beginning. I felt that the writing gradually flowed more easily as you got deeper into the book, which makes sense (since an author will warm up to their characters the more they write about them). I don't know if it was purposeful, but the almost...elementary style at the beginning nearly made me stop reading it right away. I'm glad I stayed until the end though. It wasn't hard to keep reading after...I don't know the 30-40% mark? The writing loosened up and was very easy to understand from that point on. It was definitely worth marching through the muddy beginning in my opinion.
Would I recommend this book?
- Do you like reading about underrepresented characters?
- Do you like reading about characters who might struggle with mental disorders/anxiety?
- Do you like reading about stAKES?
- Do you like reading about heartbreak and suffering with the angst that comes along with it?
- Do you like having a good time?
If your answer to any of these questions is a resounding YES, then I'd say go for it. On December 29, 2020. Which is when this book is going to be released.
Until then, you can stare out your window longingly as you wait for the day to come. ;)
**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! Thank you to Random House for gifting me this beauty.
lexigrss's review against another edition
4.0
[ARC REVIEW] This lucky little YA is my first review of the new year!
•
Just Our Luck begins the way any classic YA novel does, in high school. Leo is our knitting high school hero, who starts the novel by getting into a fight caused by his anxiety. As a consequence, he must enroll in self-defense classes at the local gym. Enter Evey Paros, local gym receptionist and descendant of a man who cursed Leo’s family with bad luck. Evey makes a deal with Leo that ends with him secretly taking hot yoga classes and learning a bit more about this mysterious girl.
•
First and foremost, this is a story about high school. But perhaps more importantly, this is a story about living with anxiety. Leo’s story isn’t one of “overcoming” or “conquering,” as so many stories about mental health can be. Instead, he is learning to live and manage his anxiety so that it doesn’t define him. I loved this healthy attitude toward mental health. The story also explores masculinity, and takes a really healthy attitude towards what modern masculinity can be.
•
This YA novel is so much more than just a fun high school story. I would have loved to read this book while I was actually in high school, but I’m so glad it exists now. This is a definite four star read for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
Just Our Luck is available now! Thank you to @penguin for sharing an e-arc with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of Just Our Luck on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!
•
CW: anxiety
•
Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!
•
Just Our Luck begins the way any classic YA novel does, in high school. Leo is our knitting high school hero, who starts the novel by getting into a fight caused by his anxiety. As a consequence, he must enroll in self-defense classes at the local gym. Enter Evey Paros, local gym receptionist and descendant of a man who cursed Leo’s family with bad luck. Evey makes a deal with Leo that ends with him secretly taking hot yoga classes and learning a bit more about this mysterious girl.
•
First and foremost, this is a story about high school. But perhaps more importantly, this is a story about living with anxiety. Leo’s story isn’t one of “overcoming” or “conquering,” as so many stories about mental health can be. Instead, he is learning to live and manage his anxiety so that it doesn’t define him. I loved this healthy attitude toward mental health. The story also explores masculinity, and takes a really healthy attitude towards what modern masculinity can be.
•
This YA novel is so much more than just a fun high school story. I would have loved to read this book while I was actually in high school, but I’m so glad it exists now. This is a definite four star read for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•
Just Our Luck is available now! Thank you to @penguin for sharing an e-arc with me in exchange for my honest review. You can purchase your own copy of Just Our Luck on Bookshop.org through the link in my bio!
•
CW: anxiety
•
Follow me on Instagram & Twitter @whatalexreads for book reviews, recommendations, and more!
thelizzielibrary's review against another edition
5.0
Why haven't more people read this? This is awesome! It's a quick read, and deals with a lot of issues, including: anxiety disorder, ADHD, grief, bullying, sexual harassment, revenge and a bunch of other topics that aren't included in most YA books. I particularly liked how Walton described anxiety, and spoke about medication, that it's a good option to have alongside healthy activities. So important to normalize!
Also! KNITTING! Some amazing quotes in there. My personal favorite:
"Motherfucker, keep walking, I am going to lose count on this pattern."
I'll be using this quote forever.
Also! KNITTING! Some amazing quotes in there. My personal favorite:
"Motherfucker, keep walking, I am going to lose count on this pattern."
I'll be using this quote forever.
emmybird86's review against another edition
5.0
I just loved this one. Leo was such a loveable and relatable character. I just wanted to hug him. Evey and Drake are also great characters and had so much growth in this book. The story immediately pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down. It handled the issues of mental health and anxiety really well. This was such a great book. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
nobookendinsight's review against another edition
4.0
Very well written with an unusual storyline, this book will grab your attention and hold on to it. The main characters are very well-developed and easy to empathize with. I absolutely adored the main character, with his unusual interests and non-traditional high school difficulties and angst. However...
TW - death, loss, grief, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, cursing, verbal and physical bullying, revenge porn, blackmail.
With that being said, the literary elements in this YA novel are fully and beautifully developed. You will cheer for these characters, cry with them, and laugh at their antics. Check out the publishers description and industry accolades to make sure this book is for you. If so - you will love it as I did!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.
TW - death, loss, grief, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, cursing, verbal and physical bullying, revenge porn, blackmail.
With that being said, the literary elements in this YA novel are fully and beautifully developed. You will cheer for these characters, cry with them, and laugh at their antics. Check out the publishers description and industry accolades to make sure this book is for you. If so - you will love it as I did!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.
amiefiremoon's review against another edition
4.0
Just Our Luck by Julia Walton is a coming of age story told through Leo's journal entries. Leo has an anxiety disorder, is bullied, and finds solace in the solitary hobbies of photography, knitting, and crochet - all things that make him less than popular with his high school peers. When he finds himself developing unlikely friendships and support with his yoga class, his bully, and a girl whose family cursed his family generations ago, he evolves into a healthier and braver young man.
I enjoyed this book. I identified immediately with Leo's issues with anxiety and his sensory issues and found the developing friendships a pleasant, unexpected touch. I think that it is a novel that everyone can learn from as messages of resiliency, friendship, healing a family after grief, and maintaining healthy coping strategies are front and center throughout the narrative.
Advanced readers copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. I identified immediately with Leo's issues with anxiety and his sensory issues and found the developing friendships a pleasant, unexpected touch. I think that it is a novel that everyone can learn from as messages of resiliency, friendship, healing a family after grief, and maintaining healthy coping strategies are front and center throughout the narrative.
Advanced readers copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
trkula1174's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
friendlydisaster101's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'Just Our Luck' is interestingly compelling, detailing the story of Leo and how he struggles with his anxiety and the passing of his grandmother, Yia Yia. While I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would, I can definitely see it appealing to other people.
After a fight with a classmate convinces Leo's dad to sign him up for a self-defense class, Leo finds himself agreeing to anything Evey Paros will have him do, as long as she gets him out of it. Evey Paros, as in the daughter of the family his grandmother told him to stay away from. But as it turns out, Evey is on a mission - one that just might change things for Leo for the better.
I think that one of the best parts of this book is actually what drew me to it: the anxiety rep. It was incredibly realistic and moving, to the extent that even if you have never experienced anything close to what Leo goes through, you can't help but sympathize with and understand what he's going through.
Additionally, the friendships that Leo makes over the course of the story as he connects with different people and learns to put himself out there were excellent. I loved reading about the dynamic between Leo and all of the other characters, as well as how Leo began to trust others more, and gradually opened up.
That being said, however, as wholesome as this book was, there were some issues with it that I simply couldn't stand.
The first being the romance between Leo and Evey. It just felt very unnecessary to me? And I say this as someone who enjoys almost all romance. I think that the two of them could have shared a platonic relationship and it wouldn't have taken away from the story at all, but rather have shown that Leo had a solid support system he could count on.
I also felt that the end of the book was extremely rushed. A few things that had been hidden from the reader for the sake of the plot were revealed, and lots of things happen as a result, to the effect that it feels vague and murky. I wasn't completely aware of everything that was happening and things were happening fast.
The whole book and everything that it had been building up to felt robbed of the ending it deserved, as everything resolved itself as well, with no real involvement on Leo's part, in an extremely convenient way. I definitely think that if the ending were in the same style as the rest of the book, or if it just wasn't as rushed, then I would have certainly enjoyed the book as a whole way more.
Overall, while I do feel that this book will certainly appeal to some, it simply didn't live up to everything I was expecting of it. I would, however, recommend it if you want to read good anxiety rep or something with teenage shenanigans.
'Just Our Luck' is interestingly compelling, detailing the story of Leo and how he struggles with his anxiety and the passing of his grandmother, Yia Yia. While I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would, I can definitely see it appealing to other people.
After a fight with a classmate convinces Leo's dad to sign him up for a self-defense class, Leo finds himself agreeing to anything Evey Paros will have him do, as long as she gets him out of it. Evey Paros, as in the daughter of the family his grandmother told him to stay away from. But as it turns out, Evey is on a mission - one that just might change things for Leo for the better.
I think that one of the best parts of this book is actually what drew me to it: the anxiety rep. It was incredibly realistic and moving, to the extent that even if you have never experienced anything close to what Leo goes through, you can't help but sympathize with and understand what he's going through.
Additionally, the friendships that Leo makes over the course of the story as he connects with different people and learns to put himself out there were excellent. I loved reading about the dynamic between Leo and all of the other characters, as well as how Leo began to trust others more, and gradually opened up.
That being said, however, as wholesome as this book was, there were some issues with it that I simply couldn't stand.
The first being the romance between Leo and Evey. It just felt very unnecessary to me? And I say this as someone who enjoys almost all romance. I think that the two of them could have shared a platonic relationship and it wouldn't have taken away from the story at all, but rather have shown that Leo had a solid support system he could count on.
I also felt that the end of the book was extremely rushed. A few things that had been hidden from the reader for the sake of the plot were revealed, and lots of things happen as a result, to the effect that it feels vague and murky. I wasn't completely aware of everything that was happening and things were happening fast.
The whole book and everything that it had been building up to felt robbed of the ending it deserved, as everything resolved itself as well, with no real involvement on Leo's part, in an extremely convenient way. I definitely think that if the ending were in the same style as the rest of the book, or if it just wasn't as rushed, then I would have certainly enjoyed the book as a whole way more.
Overall, while I do feel that this book will certainly appeal to some, it simply didn't live up to everything I was expecting of it. I would, however, recommend it if you want to read good anxiety rep or something with teenage shenanigans.
trankgrm's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0