eARC Review – Chasing Lucky

Title: Chasing Lucky

Author: Jenn Bennett

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication date: November 10th, 2020

416 pages

5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Budding photographer Josie Saint-Martin has spent half her life with her single mother, moving from city to city. When they return to her historical New England hometown years later to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there.

What she doesn’t plan for is a run-in with the town bad boy, Lucky Karras. Outsider, rebel…and her former childhood best friend. Lucky makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the newly returned Josie. But everything changes after a disastrous pool party, and a poorly executed act of revenge lands Josie in some big-time trouble—with Lucky unexpectedly taking the blame.

Determined to understand why Lucky was so quick to cover for her, Josie discovers that both of them have changed, and that the good boy she once knew now has a dark sense of humor and a smile that makes her heart race. And maybe, just maybe, he’s not quite the brooding bad boy everyone thinks he is… 

Review

**Thank you to Simon Pulse, Netgalley, and Jenn Bennett for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review**

I will always adore Jenn Bennett’s books. Her YA Contemporary storytelling is unmatched, and Chasing Lucky is no different. Josie Saint-Martin has been moving around the East Coast since she turned 12. Her mom doesn’t have much luck with men or jobs or family in life, so they are continuously looking to go somewhere new. The latest move is back to where Josie grew up, a small town named Beauty in Rhode Island where the Saint-Martin’s are known for their terrible luck with men. In fact, it’s widely considered to be a curse placed on all the women in the family, several generations back. When Josie moves back, she’s immediately confronted with the sight of her long lost best friend, Lucky, who she hasn’t spoken to since she moved away. Now he’s 17 and… hot?! But Josie has no plans on sticking around Beauty longer than necessary.

I love a bad boy. And I will swoon forever over a bad boy persona covering a tormented and soft cinnamon roll of a boy. This is basically Lucky. In terms of characters, I prefer him over Josie our MC, as I feel Josie just makes terrible decisions half the time? That trope just gets irritating the more you read it. Lucky and Josie are basically polar opposites, and you know what they say… opposites attract.

I enjoy the small town life setting, it really reminded me of Nicholas Sparks books (just the setting, none of the heart-wrenching) with the idea of everyone knowing everyone’s business. Also, I love that Josie’s family runs a bookstore and has for a very long time. Small town life makes for some great contemporary novels.

The writing is just beautiful, I mean Jenn Bennett almost isn’t capable of doing anything but write beautifully. Her ability to weave stories and backgrounds for characters is amazing. If you’re a Jenn Bennett fan, I would say Chasing Lucky relates most closely to Starry Eyes.

Happy reading, folks!