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A review by cindytranwrites
Just Our Luck by Julia Walton
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.