I enjoyed this book! It was sweet and fun and wholesome. There were some moments where I cringed at the language the kids used, but overall, it was cute. 3.5

This was an amazing audiobook! I love the narrator and the addition of the soundscapes during Jude's comic sections were my favorite part! I much preferred this story to Prudence's story in Instant Karma, but it was nice to be able to catch up with some familiar faces and meet new people! I think this book really benefitted from including a larger friend group and more family time. If Marissa wants to write more books about the other kids in the family I would be down to read them!

This was a good one. I've enjoyed all of her books that I've tried so far, so definitely going to continue the back log

I did not enjoy this as much as I liked Instant Karma. It was cute at times, but I couldn't help thinking that the MC had no sense of reality, and he was so "woe is me" all the time - even when he had all the luck in the world.

Cute concept.

Marissa Meyer has been one my favorite authors for many years, unfortunately, I wasn't the biggest fan of this one. I did really like the characters and I loved how big of a part music played in this story, I didn't understand the dungeons and dragons element which is why I didn't enjoy this one as much. However it was still a fun and sweet story perfect for younger teens as it is a clean read.

I loved this story. I hadn't read Instant Karma yet and didn't know they were connected, but I didn't have any trouble with this book as a result. I loved the story with the little bits of magic, and the characters were well written and likable. I felt like the story was fairly realistic (minus, of course, the magic), and I really enjoyed all the different scenarios and emotions the characters experienced.

I plan to include a copy of this book in my classroom library.

This is a great YA novel. I loved the pacing and timing of the book. The characters are well-developed and the twists are surprising.

Jude enjoys his quite life- working in his parent's record store, playing D'n'D with his friends, indulging in some unrequited love for one of the more popular girls at school.... but when he finds a very fancy, shiny D20 die at work one night his luck starts to take an astonishing turn for the better.
This was a very sweet ya love story that, while filled with some common trope... unrequited love, friends to lovers, etc... was so very sharming and delightful it's easy to understand WHY these tropes can be so very popular (when done well!)

Audio book was narrated well.. I only wish that since I had the audio version I could have also heard some of Ari's songs fully played out. I realize it would have been a huge additional pain... but I was so delighted by her character that I would have loved to hear her music fully!

I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I love Jude! Poor, misguided but very lucky (for awhile) Jude. I love that Marissa Meyer's made Maya into a loveable, strong but not quite right for Jude character. and of course the girl we all know Jude needs and loves is his best friend Aria (please excuse spelling I listened to the book) is amazing and wonderful and amazing too.

I loved seeing Prue and Quinn again. And all of Jude's quirky family. If you need a pick me up this is the book for you!

This was one of my most anticipated books this year. But unfortunately it was just ok for me. Being perfect got boring quicker than I thought it would. And it also bugged me that even though they knew they weren’t good together, it still took the actual couple forever to get together.

Starting with the pacing of this, it was just off. The perfect act with that one person went on too long. I was a bit bored to be honest. And to be honest, I don’t know how he didn’t realize that love isn’t supposed to be that hard when he was doing all of this. I mean I know it was for the plot, but I would think that it would have dawned on him earlier. But that’s just me. And when the actual couple got together, it was at the very end of the book. I don’t understand that at all. What’s the point of getting through this whole entire book just to have a couple pages and an epilogue showing them as a couple? Was I just there for the angst the whole time? I hate when author’s do this. Stop teasing us and leaving us with nothing.

The characters were ok. They didn’t really jump out at me or anything. It was good to see Pru again, but I do think she had a lot to do with this story even though it was her twin’s. But then again, the way he was acting I think I would have been even more bored if there was more from his POV lol I think I would have enjoyed it better if we got the love interest’s POV too. The actual love interest was the most interesting person in this book and we don’t even get to read her POV. It was just a bit disappointing.

The audio was really good tho. I loved that there was actual music involved as well. This always makes the audio experience even better in my opinion. They make the audiobook more interactive. The narrator was also good. No complaints there. I think it acutally made me enjoy the book more.

I guess this does end with a lesson on how perfection is different for everyone and to everyone. But it doesn’t actually teach it. The main character just finally realizes that this isn’t what it’s supposed to be and then he still even denies that he doesn’t like the love interest. It was all just really weird. Definitely not my favorite by Meyer, but it was still good enough nonetheless.

This was not my favourite by this author, but it was a fun read. I thought it was interesting how the audiobook handled the comic that Jude was writing (There was special music so you knew what was going on, and then everything was described along with the dialogue) you do miss out a bit on the illustrations if you don't have a copy of the book/ebook.

Took a little bit to get used to it being fully Jude (a guy) pov it was a sweet read. I love that everything happens for a reason, even with luck on your side! Wasn’t my favorite by Marissa Meyer but I did enjoy it and would read anything else she writes. I did have a hard time listening to the narrator though. I think it I were to buy it it would be the kindle/physical copy vs audiobook

I am so pleasantly happy with this book. I didn't realize going into this book that it was connected to Instant Karma. I loved picking up with the same characters and learning more about Jude. Jude has found a magical/lucky dice that brings him unnaturally good luck- until he loses it! There's romance, D&D, music, and friendship. The narrations were great and I really enjoyed the breakaway into the D&D Campaign. The music and sound effects were really fun and engaging. I liked when Jude broke the fourth wall and talked to the audience, but there were a few moments in the audio where it wasn't obvious right away that it was happening, so that was a little confusing. Overall this was a fun and cute romance mixed with several other themes. I'd love to see more characters in this universe get a feature!

This was pretty cute for a YA. I liked that the main character had to ultimately make a choice and even though it took him quite awhile to get there he did make the right ones. The magic dice were a fun concept that I think we all wish we could have.

🌀Synopsis
Jude’s luck is about to change. One day, he’s just a kid trying to fly under the radar. He likes his games and his friends but just wants to get by. Then one day, he came across some dice that seem to change his luck. A record that will help his family, his art being published, and winning concert tickets. What could go wrong? Nothing. He even gets the girl who he’s been crushing on to go with him to the concert. He’s flying high, until he loses the dice.
Without his luck, things start going wrong again. Or at least what looks like wrong. In the end he realizes it turns out to be right- the right things happen so he can actually be with the right girl.

Jude has always been the kid who mostly goes unnoticed. He loves his friends and his family but things just never seem to go his way. That all starts to change when he finds a rare 20-sided die in his family's record store. Strange things start to happen, such as Jude winning every coin toss between him and his sisters. He doesn't think much of it until other people also start to notice.

I love Marissa Meyer and this book was different than some of her other stories but I still loved it. It's such a sweet story and not filled with annoying teenagers who whine about everything nonstop. I absolutely love Marissa Meyer's writing style and will continue to read everything she writes.

The description gives too much away about With a Little Luck. But that also means that I don't have to keep all of that out of my review which makes things easier for me. I got the audiobook for With a Little Luck for review. And I have to say that I was stoked. I've reintroduced audiobooks into my life over the last couple of years, and I'm so thankful because I can probably increase the number of books "read" in a year by a third. At first, I was bummed to be denied the egalley of With a Little Luck, but this type of story is one that I enjoyed on audio probably more than I would have liked reading a physical copy of it. Stacy Carolan was the narrator, and he did an outstanding job.

I don't remember ever reading a contemporary book written solely from the male point of view. Usually, if a male voice is included, it is at least written as a dual or multiple narrative. Marissa Meyer's choice of writing only Jude's voice is probably best as it would have given too much away to have written from either Ari or Maya's perspectives.

As the description states, Jude finds a 20-sided dice, and his luck becomes undeniably good. He wins every coin toss. He is the 100th caller in a radio contest and wins tickets to a concert for the favorite artist of the girl he's been crushing on since elementary school. She agrees to go to the concert with him. And beyond that, they seem to have a great time. And even more, she's interested in joining his D&D group. I'm sure I'm missing a few other things that Jude's good luck provides him with, but you get the gist.

Things seem to be going well for Jude. While Jude is getting to spend time with Maya, his long-time crush, it's obvious to the reader that Maya just isn't interested in Jude the way that Jude wants her to be, even with the extra luck. On the other hand, Jude is helping his best friend Ari with a songwriting competition. She earns a spot to go to a live festival, and Jude, Maya, Ari, and Ezra (Jude's complete opposite, kind of friend, but also kind of nemesis) decide to go as a foursome. At the competition, Jude loses his dice. And his luck goes with it.

Of course, things were going too smoothly for Jude. And no story would be complete without conflict to overcome. I sure was beginning to feel sorry for Jude. His bad luck was almost worse than any of the good luck he ever had. In the end, Jude discovers that his crush on Maya was masking deeper feelings that he has for Ari. And I loved the idea that even bad luck can be good if it leads us to good results. Removing luck from the equation, this is how I believe God works in our lives. He works all things out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

With a Little Luck was a fun read/listen. Jude's family is endearing, and I loved his relationships with each of his sisters. I am a sucker for tropes, and a good best friends to lovers trope is such a good one. I couldn't help but root for Jude and Ari...especially Ari. Bless her. With a Little Luck gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) With a Little Luck? What did you think? Let me know!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Feiwel & Friends, Marissa Meyer, and Stacy Carolan (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of With a Little Luck in exchange for an honest review.

With a Little Luck is the second book in the Fortuna Beach series, following Instant Karma, though you do not need to read the first novel to enjoy the second. The first novel follows Prudence and Quint, while this novel follows Jude, Prudence's brother, and does refer back to some of the events that happened in the previous novel.

Jude loves drawing, is the game master for his D&D group, and has a massive crush on a girl named Maya. When Jude happens upon a red D20, he finds that since then, his luck is exponetially high. He can't miss a coin flip, he wins concert tickets, and he even passes all his school work with A+++ grades without having read any of the information or put any effort into the work whatsoever. With luck on his side, he is determined to ask Maya out.

The concert tickets make for the perfect reason to ask Maya on a date. When things don't go quite how he hopes, expecially as his luck turns awful to the extreme, he seeks the comfort of his red D20, only to find out...it's lost! Let's not fail to mention his best friend Ari, who he might find he has had feelings for longer than anticipated. With the current bad luck, there's no way he can ask her to prom.

Is it really luck or fate or some kind of magical intervention? That's up to the reader to decide, but the events in Jude's life during this book certainly offer a number of scenarios related to the idea of luck.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even more than the first one. This is a novel for all who see themselves as a beloved nerd. I loved the characters, the situations, and the overall feel of the novel as something fateful, but not quite crossing the borders of magic. It is a whimsical contemporary novel that any young adult would enjoy reading.

I have been a Marissa Meyer girly since I read the Lunar Chronicles back in middle and high school and they altered my brain chemistry! I love her writing so, so much, and it’s been so fun to see it in a new genre as she’s ventured into the world of YA contemporary romance. I really enjoyed Instant Karma and was super excited about this spin-off story.

This is a story of coming of age and self-discovery and a young man learning to accept himself just the way he is and not try and be someone who he’s not, and it was so good! Jude was such an endearing protagonist and his interests in art and D&D that influenced his thinking were super cool to read about. I thought the way he interacted with his friends and classmates and crush felt pretty realistic and I could empathize as he navigated the different aspects of that part of life.

I think the inclusion of the tiniest bit of magic was such a great way to explore the themes of luck and fate and the control you have over your own circumstances. It was fascinating and intriguing and I always wanted to know what would happen next, and the way it served as a physical, tangible symbol of character development was very well done. I do feel like the romance took more of a back seat than I personally would have liked, but I thought the friendships that took the forefront were so great, and the dynamic between Jude and his family was one of my very favorite parts! I would love to see more from this family in the future. The record store and music elements were also fantastic.

The audiobook for this was excellent, and if you like a true YA contemporary coming of age story with a hint of magic and copious references to Dungeons and Dragons and The Beatles, then definitely give this one a try!

I love Meyer’s writing and as usual, I found it creative and a bit unexpected. I really liked how D and D was used to tell the story, What did break down for me, I think, is Jude. I didn’t love his storyline of pining for the girl he liked and even though he was respectful, I just wished he’d figured it out sooner who he really liked. It lacked something for me. Also, while the narrator was fine, I wished he had the same sparkle that Meyer’s usual narrator has.

A big thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian for providing both an eARC and advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Screaming. Crying. Throwing up because I got a Marissa Meyer arc!

With a Little Luck by Marissa Meyer is a YA contemporary novel about Jude, who is determined to fly under the radar. He just wants to draw comics, host D&D night with his friends, work at his parents’ vinyl record store, and escape high school as unscathed as possible. That is, until the night he finds himself inexplicably gifted with a bout of supernatural good luck. Suddenly, everything Jude has ever wanted is within reach. His art is being published. He helps his friend’s song become a finalist in a songwriting competition. And he wins a pair of coveted concert tickets, which he can use to ask out the popular girl he’s been crushing on since elementary school. But how long can Jude’s good fortune last? And why does he find himself thinking about Ari, his best friend since forever? If Jude has been dreaming of the wrong girl this whole time, does that mean he's doomed to be unlucky in love forever?

I'm not the biggest fan of Meyer's contemporary novels, as I am a fantasy reader. But I really liked how we got an expansion on Instant Karma's story. I did also enjoy the splash of the nerdiness when it comes to contemporaries, as it's always love drawn. Overall, I liked this book and can't wait to have it as a physical copy to add it my ever-growing collection.