Why was I awake at 2:30 a.m. reading and crying? This book, that's why.

May's life is turned upside down when she survives a school shooting and her twin brother does not. She is lost and confused and feels guilty and angry. Her parents aren't there for her, wrapped up in their own grief. May pushes away her friends. Why did she survive?

Zach's life is also turned upside down due to the shooting, when his mom decides to defend the shooter. He loses his girlfriend, his friends, people are vandalizing his home, his mom is never home and his dad doesn't leave his room. Why did his mom have to take this case?

This book is not a light, fluffy, easy read by any means. It will break your heart, it will make you cry. It's emotional. It looks at the aftermath of school shootings, how they effect the survivors; the emotional and mental struggles they deal with in the aftermath. The way they struggle with the guilt and with their relationships and the everyday things they did before.

Wow. This book left me an emotional wreck. I was wary of picking it up because it deals with school shooters, but I am so so glad I did. I think this is one of the most important stories of the year. It is a story about grief and going through something traumatic. It is, at times, both heartbreaking and hopeful. The Lucky Ones is a remarkable story that everyone should read.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this one.

Eleven months ago Mays life changed forever. She is now a survivor. Eleven months ago there was a school shooting and May is the only person who came out of the band room alive. She has no idea why she survived and why her twin brother didn’t. May is a survivor, no one understands what she went through. If she is truly a survivor then why is she so angry and alone? Her family is so focused on the loss of her prodigy brother that she fades into the background.

Eleven months ago Zachs life changed. Eleven months ago his mother decided to defend the shooter. The shooter who killed several kids, including Mays brother. His friends, except one needy best friend, have abandoned him. His girlfriend has dumped him. His house is constantly getting vandalized. He has become the care taker of his freshman sister because his mom is working on the case and his Dad is in his own world. Zach just needs to survive getting through high school.

Zach and May meet at a band try out that their best friends are doing. Neither knows their connection to the other. Can they realize that together they can more than survive??

This book really touched me. I read it in one sitting and I cried. The characters and storyline are well developed.

The Lucky Ones is a book that is so heartbreaking, yet so hopeful. And look, if you're going to pick this one up, you should know by the synopsis that it isn't going to be a lighthearted sort. Sure, there are moments! But it's definitely a book that is going to pull at your heartstrings, in many ways, and it succeeds at doing so. Which is great, because that is what I signed up for.

May is a disaster of a person. A shell of her former self, and that's saying a lot because she had lost her way even before the shooting that took her brother. She's rightfully angry, she's achingly sad, and so very alone. Because not only did May lose her brother, but her parents have also become hollowed out versions of themselves since their son's death. Which makes sense. That's the great thing about how the author handles May and her family: they're portrayed as people who have gone through this unthinkable tragedy, and who are struggling to come out the other side. Another great thing is that May has some really quality friends who are willing to stand by her no matter how much she tries to push them away. I'll let those stories unravel for you, but trust that they're worth it.

Zach, on the other hand, has been downright vilified by many of his classmates. Why? Because his mother is defending the shooter. Hell, May herself vandalized their home (not knowing- or frankly, caring- that his mother had a family). And wow did I feel for Zach. Because look- he is not his mother's choices, first of all. Second, and I know that this is a real moral gray area that you'll probably have to answer for yourself as the book goes on, but... doesn't everyone deserve a fair trial? And by being a criminal attorney, it's par for the course? Anyway, that's another element of the book that I loved- how thought provoking it was.

May and Zach find each other, but first they need to find themselves. Figure out who they are, what they want, how to heal. And I like that they do so, not within the confines of a relationship, but with all of their supports- including each other- and ultimately, for themselves. It's rocky and messy and not always forward progress. But it's also incredibly honest, and makes for a lovely, lovely story.

Bottom Line: If you like a grittier sort of contemporary, one that will break your heart and then help it heal again, this is undoubtedly the book for you.

The writing in this book was great. I was in awe reading that this was the author's debut novel. Everything about this book was great--including the intro from an editor for the publishing company. The topic was relevant and the mix of a hard topic, with romance made for a great combination. I'll be recommending this book to many friends and family. This book will be great for people across many genres and ages. Great, great book!

**4.5 Stars**

A fantastically penned and emotional read that is as poignant as it is timely. With wildly vivid characters that inhabited two different sides of the same traumatic coin, Lawson's storytelling and interpretations of loss, healing, and blame pulled the reader along with her every word—feeling their heart cry out for both characters as the story twisted around them.

I adored the way that Lawson explored how May and Zach handled their respective traumas; the differences, yet the similar reactions and feelings. They were each a tool to help the other heal, and it was spun beautifully how they managed to overcome the mess in-between to be that for one another. Their journeys were bumpy and painful, but their connection—despite all the reasons why they shouldn't have one—was clear as day. The anger was palpable, but so, too, was the grief of left behind things, of what could have been, of those who had changed or passed. I loved being encased in each of their stories and the melding together of what they became once all the walls came down. And that strength could come from being open with another person.

The Lucky Ones was gritty and gripping, but mostly it was a moving tale of two teenagers overcoming something all too many face.

So, so emotional. Wow. What a great read. Angsty with heart breaking moments and glimpses of hope. Deserves a spot on your TBR pile. The top spot. Happy reading!

First of all-wow.
In Liz Lawson’s heart-wrenching debut novel, the themes of grief and coping are explored in an organic and realistic way. May’s anger at others, combined with her short fuse, leads to a lot of swearing-more than I initially expected. It definitely rang true to my own high school experience when it came to the words I used in anger.
When May encounters something that triggers her into remembering the day of the shooting, or almost anything to do with the twin brother she lost, her trauma manifests as either anger, or intense anxiety. To cope, she directs this anger at others she holds accountable for this tragedy, from the lawyer who took the shooter, David’s, case, to her ex-boyfriend who saw him just before entering the band room that day. She has pushed away everyone in her life except for her best friend, Lucy, who is there through thick and thin, long nights and committing crimes, doing anything she can to try to help her stay afloat.
Enter Zach, the son of David’s defense lawyer, who has been coping with his own form of agony in the shape of social castration. After May begins going to his school, and a chance encounter at a band tryout, they are inexplicably drawn to each other, not knowing that some of the magnetization may be due to the hidden connection they share.
Each of the characters in the novel felt genuine and true to the high school age group in a way I have not experienced in many years. The raw emotions and tough circumstances that push and pull May and Zach, as well as the other characters, drives the novel at a consistent pace, and leaves me wanting to know more about how May begins to, finally, start truly healing. The Lucky Ones deals with tough questions about grief, guilt, and how survivors struggle to move on without forgetting who has been lost. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes angry girls and caring boys, and to feel connected to your inner teenager once more. And if you are in your teenage years, this novel gives a deep insight about what happens next, when it is time to move on and heal, and can help bring comfort to anyone feeling angry about people they have lost.

I loved the format of this book with its short chapters and how it switched back and forth between the POVs of the two main characters. It had distinction and didn't feel like you were reading from the same person the whole time.

I enjoyed the story for the most part. I felt like this scenario was definitely a niche that hasn't been touched on much yet.

One thing I'd probably mentioned to those interested in this book is that there is a LOT of teen angst. Of course, a lot of hurt, anger, fear, and 100 other emotions are completely warranted because of the subject matter and the situation. However, there was a fair amount of the typical teenage mantra of, "uggghhhh this is stoopid" that had nothing to do with the heavy subject matter.

I waffled between a 3 and a 4 rating, but I ultimately decided to go with a 3 because nothing made the book really stand out as "fabulous," but it was a solid read. I would definitely consider reading more work from this author.

I *really* enjoyed this book even though it is on the sad side and its topic is controversial. The story gives us a new look at school shootings and the people involved in them while still being a fictional, entertaining piece. I laughed and I cried.

"I'm a SURVIVOR. I'm the leftover. The lucky one. The only one in that room who lived."

This book is powerfully raw and emotional. Told in alternating points of view from two teens who are affected by the aftermath of a school shooting--each voice is brutally authentic. Themes of PTSD, depression, loyalty, teen drinking and drugs, anxiety, family, friendship, bullying, manipulation, divorce, love and family will evoke discussion and thought long after the book is closed.

Warning: Strong language

I am so happy to have received an eARC copy of The Lucky Ones. This novel is a moving, emotional, and thought-provoking story that I absolutely loved reading. I think the subject matter was dealt with in a graceful, honest way. This book is filled with flawed, imperfect characters, and by and large most of their choices and behaviors aren't portrayed as wholly good or wholly bad. Instead, this novel pushes the reader to think and come to their own conclusions. I think May is a good protagonist to follow because there are moments that I want to shake her by the shoulders and ask her what she's doing, while at the same time I feel real sympathy for her, because she carries so much and is very clearly experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. I think overall the book handles this in a real, honest way that is important for readers to see.

Of course, this book also has cute romance elements that I loved. I loved Zach's character, both following his own interesting story and perspective, and watching him stumble into his feelings for May. I love him because he is the true embodiment of an adorkable nerd who is sweetly awkward. There are sweet moments, funny moments, heart-wrenching moments, and thought-provoking moment, and they all blend together to make a great read. I would definitely recommend this book.

Title: The Lucky Ones
Author: Liz Lawson
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

Almost a year ago, May lost her twin brother in a school shooting. People call her a survivor, but no one understand what May heard and saw that day. No one knows why she was the only one to walk out of the room that day. Even May doesn’t know. Her best friend is the only one who doesn’t try to push her, who tries to understand, and who drags her out of the house every now and then.

Zach lost everything when his mom decided to represent the shooter. His girlfriend dumped him, his friends dropped him, and his parents had already basically left him and his little sister to their own devices. But Zach’s best friend insists he go with him to band practice one night.

That’s where Zach meets May. And where May finally gets a hint that maybe, just maybe, she can start to live again.

The Lucky Ones deals with the emotional aftermath of a school shooting, with what those who survived must face. It doesn’t focus much on the violence and horror of the shooting, but on the gaping wounds the survivors bear.

May’s not sure she’ll ever get past the emotional scars and the guilt she has for being the one who lived. For the most part, both May’s parents and Zach’s parents are so wrapped up in their own issues they don’t even notice their children are suffering, except towards the end of the novel. This is a different view of a school shooting, of the damage done in the aftermath of violence, and I found it a compelling read.
Liz Lawson lives in California. The Lucky Ones is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.)

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
School shootings are about the worst thing that can happen to teenagers today. How can we better prepare for this?
This is about to very awkward teenagers who are broken from the shooting and they should be enemies. The story is a hot mess and very YA!
I had a hard time with May, she wasn’t very likable. And Zach was so weak, insecure that it made me cringe. But as the story progressed they grew on me, a little. The shooter was another disturbing character, which added mystery because he was still alive and insisted on seeing May in jail.
This is tough topic to read about so I was thankful that I had the romance to distract me. It wasn’t a light read but I’m glad I read it.

This was a NETGALLEY gift from the publisher and all opinions are my own. Thank you for reading my review.

Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Lucky Ones

Author: Liz Lawson

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: April 7, 2020

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 15+ (discusses and depicts gun violence/school shooting TW, some delinquent behavior, romance)

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 352

Amazon Link

Synopsis: How do you put yourself back together when it seems like you've lost it all?

May is a survivor. But she doesn't feel like one. She feels angry. And lost. And alone. Eleven months after the school shooting that killed her twin brother, May still doesn't know why she was the only one to walk out of the band room that day. No one gets what she went through--no one saw and heard what she did. No one can possibly understand how it feels to be her.

Zach lost his old life when his mother decided to defend the shooter. His girlfriend dumped him, his friends bailed, and now he spends his time hanging out with his little sister...and the one faithful friend who stuck around. His best friend is needy and demanding, but he won't let Zach disappear into himself. Which is how Zach ends up at band practice that night. The same night May goes with her best friend to audition for a new band.

Which is how May meets Zach. And how Zach meets May. And how both might figure out that surviving could be an option after all.

Review: I really liked this book! I think the author did well to approach the subject with grace and sensitivity. I think that the writing was well done, the characters were likeable and well developed. The pacing was also well done. I also liked how the author showed how different grief is. Grief isn’t just tears and there’s no one way to deal with it. Sometimes grief manifest itself in different ways and each person has to come up with ways to deal with it in their own way.

However, I did feel like the romance was a bit forced, but it felt more natural as the book went on. The book also did well with the subject of school shootings, but otherwise there wasn’t much of a story outside of how characters deal with grief, which normally doesn’t keep my attention (but in this one it did for the most part). Ultimately, it’s just saddening to think that while these characters get to heal, the process will begin all over again with new children, some of them as young as 5, until we come together as a nation to figure out a way to stop these from happening to the next group of children.

Verdict: A well done book that, while doesn’t present ways to prevent gun violence, helps show how we can better help those who are “the lucky ones”.

May is a survivor. She is the leftover, the lucky one. The only one in the room that lived. After losing her twin brother in a school shooting, May has to figure out how pick up the pieces and move on.

Zach is having a rough time in life. Most of his friends disowned him after his mother took on the case to defend the shooter.

May and Zach both end up accompanying their best friends to band tryouts in which the meet. Both with their own set of issues, they end up bonding and help each other in different ways.

While this book deals with heavy topics I found it to be such a quick and engaging read. It was intense, emotional and really pulls at your heart strings. Kudos to Liz Lawson for writing such an engaging debut novel.

Big thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel!

The Lucky Ones is a moving look at the aftermath of a high school shooting. May survived a shooting at her school. She hid in a closet, and everyone else in the room was killed, including her twin brother. She's grieving and she's angry, and she doesn't know why she survived.

Zach went to another school and only knew of the shooting as something terrible that happened to people he didn't know. Then his lawyer mother made the choice to defend the shooter, and now he's an outcast at his school. When May enrolls at his school, the two meet and sparks fly despite the weird connection between them.

May is a fantastic character, and I loved her narrative. She's overwhelmed by grief and survivor's guilt, and it comes out in anger. She's a mess, but it's completely understandable. Zach is slightly less compelling as a character, but he's a good foil for May, and their growing connection was really well done. May's journey to healing makes for a compelling story.

This is obviously a sensitive topic, and the book doesn't pull any punches. School shootings are incredibly devastating and seeing the ripple effects of a shooting is really important and effective.

4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

This book is very powerful. School shootings have become an all too common occurrence in our country. The survivors are left with deep scars that take a very long time to heal. We expect children- CHILDREN- to deal with things that adults don't even understand. This book takes you inside the aftermath of a school shooting. It's raw and gut wrenching. You see things from the perspective of May, whose twin brother was killed in the shooting and also through Zach, whose mother is the defense attorney for the shooter. Zach and May form an unlikely friendship, both victims of their circumstances. I highly recommend this book.

In the after.

Reminds me of 13 reasons why and a few other books about the "after". So many emotions reading this book.

Overall a very good read. Just guard your heart.

May lost her twin brother during a school shooting and is now suffering from survivor's guilt. She acts out and does things that she would not normally. May is angry, very angry. Zach is the son of the attorney defending the school shooter. He catches a lot of flack from his friends and classmates. He is not the one defending the shooter but you would think he was based on people were acting. When a chance meeting puts the May and Zach together, they both have someone they can talk to and not be judged. As the one-year anniversary of the shooting draws near, it is not just the memorial service that is on their minds. With the help of their friends, Zach and May have to figure out a way to survive this part because May was one of the lucky ones. Very emotional book that deals with survivor's guilt, PTSD, alcohol, depression, some language and stalking. Have a tissue at the ready when you get close to the end (I needed two). I will be recommending to students and teachers to read. Thanks to Ms. Lawson Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.