This book was incredible.
I cried, more times than I can tell you. I FELT for each of those involved in this story, as well as each an every person involved ever in a school shooting. It's not just the tragedy that occurs, but all the moments before and after.
Read this book, definitely.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

I was drawn into the story, and I loved the characters. I love that this adresses a really important topic: school shootings. I thought it was well written and I could visualize the whole story.

So why the mixed feelings? I didn't quite see why May was having such a difficult time, yet it seemed everyone else has moved on for the most part. Did they move on too easily? I had a disconnect with this. Otherwise, it was an excellent book.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

While it was refreshing to read a book where the teenagers actually speak like teenagers, that was really the best part of this-I see why it should have been impactful but kind of meh-book.

when you talk about heavy books, this is one of them! I loved this book more than any book I have read this year! All the feels the emotion and the realism had got to me as no other book had. I think one of the things I loved about this book was that it was VERY REAL!

Stories of school shootings always pull at my heart strings. Such a sad thing that’s happening these days in our society. Was interesting to see the perspective of the boy whose mother is the shooters defense attorney and how that changes his life.

I really am so happy that I was able to read this book, in 1999 I was a high school senior, after columbine, it was the first time I looked at classmates with fear that something similar could happen, and in the 20 years since, with all of the shootings that have happened, and now watching my son who adores everything Army who wears camouflage regularly go through being taunted that he's going to grow up to be a school shooter, it's always been on the back of my mind.

I liked that the author took the time to "go there" and not so much as focus on the shooting, but the after, what happens afterwards to the people that are involved? I do wish we could have seen the trial, and some of the after of the after, an epilogue of sorts, but I loved how the subject matter was written, tastefully. It was so easy to get absorbed in the alternating points of views. Some authors have trouble separating two separate views, especially of different sexes, but she did it well, and it was easy to separate them. The only problem I had was that from the start, names were dropped, the first chapter started talking about characters that hadn't been introduced yet, and I got a little lost, but once I learned who everyone was, and they were introduced in the book as an actual character vs a name, I was okay with all of it.

great book, well written, thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this!

Initial Impressions: I had never heard of Liz Lawson until I saw all of the hype for The Lucky Ones on Twitter. After reading the summary and a few ARC reviews, I knew I was going to love it. I'm not a huge fan of feel-good stories, but I am always ready to read empowering, passionate, inclusive stories that truly teach teenagers a valuable lesson. Just a few pages in and I can see its potential: Lawson has a true passion for standing up against gun violence, making her writing valuable, concise, and touching. I already feel sympathy for the characters and all of the victims in the world we live in. I look forward to reading the rest of The Lucky Ones!

Opinions: The Lucky Ones touched my heart far more than I would've expected. As an American expat, I didn't expect to be affected by this, but it was all too real. The whole point of Young/New Adult is to express and prepare readers for the 'teenage experience' (first love, sexuality/gender identity, school pressures, family drama, etc), and unfortunately, The Lucky Ones is the teenage experience for far too many young adults. As a young reader, writer, and citizen, The Lucky Ones spoke to me about ethics, emotions, and lively morals. This book calls for a lot of thinking and consideration of said elements, but that does not take away from its significance and allusiveness. I strongly suggest you read The Lucky Ones no matter your lifestyle, nationality, or experiences.

My Favourite Thing: The Lucky Ones was a slap in the face. Liz Lawson wrote a masterpiece regarding all elements of the book: plot/conflict, characters, themes, even the writing itself. This was an enjoyable, thought-provoking, and memorable read as a whole, but since I must pick out a preferred element, I'd say the characters. Lawson created an epic scenario full of angst, guilt, fear, and pride with her characters and their dreadful situation. It was very easy to connect to the two protagonists, May and Zach, as they were young, naïve, and suffering. The character's realistic traits made the story richer and more personal.
My Least Favourite Thing: There isn't much I would change about The Lucky Ones except its pace. I understand that the flow contributes to the angst and fear, but as a reader, it was not an attractive quality. The middle of the story, where the plot is calming down and it is more about the character's inner struggles, is especially banal. Otherwise, 5/5 stars!

Recommended For and Similar Reads: The Lucky Ones is an active, emotional, inspiring read for mature teenagers. While I believe everybody should read it for its empowering themes, I understand that activism isn't everybody's cup of tea. If you read and enjoyed The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, you should read The Lucky Ones!

This YA book is intense and heart-wrenching. It starts one year after a school shooting and follows two characters: May, who lost her twin brother in the attack, and Zach, who’s life has been hell since his mom took on being the Defense Attorney of the shooter. May has just started going back to school after struggling with her intense grief and guilt. When she meets Zach, she starts to feel things for the first time again. It follows both of their healing journeys. This was an amazing book that was compulsively readable.

A beautifully written, poignant coming of age after tragedy story. The characters are believable and nuanced, the prose is lovely, and the plot is compelling. Teens are going to love this novel!