Love & Luck

By: Jenna Evans Welsh

4/5 🍀

Addie is in Ireland for her aunt's wedding. It's kind of perfect because she needs to be an ocean away from her problems at home. Namely, Cubby... that's a pretty big problem. Unfortunately, her other problem - her failing relationship with brother Ian - followed her to Ireland.

The two once-close siblings can't seem to stop bickering, and it trails back to one problem: Cubby. Addie isn't prepared to tell her mom what happened, but Ian is insistent. The rising tension makes the trip almost unbearable, but Addie knows there's light at the end. She'll be flying to Italy to see her best friend Lina (from Love and Gelato, yay!). What unfolds is a trip no one expected, but one that will help the characters find what they didn't even know was lost.

This was such a cute read that was a wonderful way to start off my spring break! Jenna Evans Welch is a master of comfort reads, and her fast facts of Ireland made me daydream about the country any time I wasn't able to read this book. There's a few things that I absolutely loved about this book, and would influence my decision to put it on high school shelves.

One, Addie is vulnerable and insecure, but she is strong. She is perhaps one of the strongest characters I have read, and I can't even put my finger on why. It's the fact that she admits her faults and why she did what she did with Cubby. She admits her insecurities, but doesn't let them stop her. She is Queen Maeve. Two, the romantic love took a backseat. This was truly a story of sibling love, and that was so refreshing! It goes to show the reader that the only needed love is familial and self love. Of course, there is still some romance involved, and it was worth the read!

I'm also a sucker for books about finding yourself. Not only were Addie's needs and wishes a focus, but so were Ian's. And it was refreshing to read about someone following his dreams without a huge outfall. I hope that younger readers read this book and realize their own dreams.

Finally, I loved the Ireland scenery! I'll be honest, I wish that heartbreak guidebook existed. I'm not even heartbroken, but those tasks and homework seemed so... freeing. I've always wanted to go to Ireland, and Welsh's fast facts only intensified my need. This is such a well-done series and the perfect display of what a cheesy, romance YA book should be!

My only complaint is that the Cubby situation was dragged out a little too long and ended up being anti-climactic in a way. I think it was a super important plot point to add, and one that is unfortunately all too common, but by the time I got to the reveal, my mind had been running wild. I also wish Lina had made a bit of an appearance and that the epilogue was a little longer. I guess I'll just have to read Love and Olives to get my fix.