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A review by tonyaf
You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian was one of my favorite books of 2023. It was the first novel by Cat Sebastian that I read and I've since read several more of her novels and novella. You Should Be So Lucky is her newest work and my new favorite by her.
You Should Be So Lucky is set in the same world as We Could Be So Good. It takes place a few years after the events of that book and features the same newspaper and its lead characters, Nick and Andy, in supporting roles. You don't need to read We Could Be So Good before you read You Should Be So Lucky, but if you do some scenes are especially enjoyable.
The story follows Mark, who was a supporting character in the previous book, as he is assigned by Andy to do a series of articles on a newly transferred baseball player named Eddie. Eddie has gotten some bad press recently and is having a terrible season with his new team. Mark, who has suffered his own major loss, sees potential in Eddie's story and decides to take the job.
What I love most about You Should Be So Lucky are the characters. I did not expect to instantly love Mark and Eddie, but both characters are relatable in different ways and very likable. I love romance novels where the characters are enjoyable separately and together; these two characters and their relationship are examples of that done perfectly. Both of their POVs were a delight to read, and their scenes together crackled with chemistry and were so incredibly sweet. I was completely invested in their story within a few chapters!
I also love the themes of the novel. The story is largely about overcoming personal obstacles and coping with grief and big life changes. The themes are echoed in both Mark and Eddie's stories but also in the stories of some of the wonderful side characters. Still, even with the heavier theme, the novel's tone stays hopeful and light. The characters and their resilience feel inspiring and celebratory instead of ever being maudlin or cynical.
You Should Be So Lucky is my favorite kind of romance novel. The characters are great, the romance often had me wanting to squeal like a teenager, and there's depth beyond even the romance. It's a romance with layers that uses baseball as a lovely metaphor for life.
You Should Be So Lucky is set in the same world as We Could Be So Good. It takes place a few years after the events of that book and features the same newspaper and its lead characters, Nick and Andy, in supporting roles. You don't need to read We Could Be So Good before you read You Should Be So Lucky, but if you do some scenes are especially enjoyable.
The story follows Mark, who was a supporting character in the previous book, as he is assigned by Andy to do a series of articles on a newly transferred baseball player named Eddie. Eddie has gotten some bad press recently and is having a terrible season with his new team. Mark, who has suffered his own major loss, sees potential in Eddie's story and decides to take the job.
What I love most about You Should Be So Lucky are the characters. I did not expect to instantly love Mark and Eddie, but both characters are relatable in different ways and very likable. I love romance novels where the characters are enjoyable separately and together; these two characters and their relationship are examples of that done perfectly. Both of their POVs were a delight to read, and their scenes together crackled with chemistry and were so incredibly sweet. I was completely invested in their story within a few chapters!
I also love the themes of the novel. The story is largely about overcoming personal obstacles and coping with grief and big life changes. The themes are echoed in both Mark and Eddie's stories but also in the stories of some of the wonderful side characters. Still, even with the heavier theme, the novel's tone stays hopeful and light. The characters and their resilience feel inspiring and celebratory instead of ever being maudlin or cynical.
You Should Be So Lucky is my favorite kind of romance novel. The characters are great, the romance often had me wanting to squeal like a teenager, and there's depth beyond even the romance. It's a romance with layers that uses baseball as a lovely metaphor for life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief