Book Review and Giveaway: Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

Pages: 320

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: May 8, 2018

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Love & Gelato

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding, and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind.  So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism.  And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.  That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way."

Addie's always been just Ian's little sister that is until she starts growing up. Ian's friends from football start to notice her, especially charismatic Cubby. Ian has warned Addie about Cubby, but she doesn't listen.  Her family travels to Ireland for their aunt's lavish wedding and while there, Addie has planned a mini-trip to Florence to visit her friend who has recently relocated.  All the while she has been fighting with Ian the entire trip over Cubby and over secrets.  It's driving the family crazy as Ian and Addie were once very close.  Addie's plans for a side trip to Italy are thwarted and she finds herself exploring Ireland along with Ian, Ian's friend, and a guidebook for the brokenhearted.  Addie's whirlwind trip through Ireland will sure be a memorable one, but can she repair things with Ian and will readers find out exactly what happened between Addie and Cubby?  Jenna Evans Welch's Love & Luck is a delightful read for young adults or anyone who can appreciate an adventure in Ireland.

Addie is a charming character who I enjoyed from the beginning in Love & Luck. She is an athlete and her sport comes first, but her mom says that in order to play next year, she must get along with her brother. Her relationship with her brother, Ian, is a complicated one. As readers find out more about what happened between Addie and Cubby, things start to make more sense.

I loved how Welch shared excerpts from the guidebook within Love & Luck. It was a nice touch and can be especially appreciated by the reader if he/she knows the various landmarks mentioned, such as the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, the Burren and more.

Obviously, the setting of Ireland was my favorite aspect of Love & Luck. It was so fun to revisit one of my favorite places and take part in some armchair traveling.  Nothing beats an Irish road trip, right? It took me back to my own Irish road trip with friends.

I also appreciated how Welch portrayed dating and the issues that many teens face regarding social media.  I don't want to give too much away, but Addie has to deal with an issue that I think many teenagers can appreciate and Welch handled it very well.

Welch's books always make me have a serious case of wanderlust! I can't wait to find out what she is writing about next and go along on the trip from the comfort of my sofa.

Thanks to Simon Teen, I have an extra ARC of Love & Luck to give away to one lucky US reader.  Please refer to my giveaway rules and good luck!

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