This book was a wonderful tale of how someone’s life can change within a very short time.

Given her name, you would think that Lucky would have a charmed life, but who really has a charmed life? During Lucky’s first foster home, I wanted to skip through the chapters. I saw the events coming a mile away. After all, those are the horror stories you hear about when it comes to foster homes. But with the others, you saw hope. You saw her defending herself, standing up for herself, and not letting herself feel sorry for herself. You see her standing strong and doing what she needed to do. And at the end, you smile, because you know that Lucky is going to be just fine.

I wish the story had been a bit more complicated and not quite as predictable. Over all, it was an engaging and quick read.

My 30th read for the year is something fresh off the NetGalley approved shelf so let me say thank you to Melanie Florence herself and the publishers for letting me have this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Just Lucky by Melanie Florence is a coming-of-age novel that deals with the reality of losing someone you loved, and worst, losing your everything in your life. In this heart-wrenching story, our main character, Lucky Robinson, witnessed how her normal life unravelled in front of her after her grandfather died and was left to take care of her and her grandmother's life. The thing is, her grandmother is suffering from a then undiagnosed Alzheimer's disease hence the struggle to juggle her own life and taking care of her only family alive consume most of Lucky's time. But with the events continuously taking a bad turn in her life, will Lucky be able to find the control to maneuver the wheels and steer it into the right path?

Let's talk about what I loved about this book. First is how it never lacked in emotional content. Lucky's journey from being the beloved granddaughter to being a foster children who has been transferred from house to house due to unexpected circumstances will make you feel how unfortunate our main character is and how strong she is also for braving the storms and continuing truding the path amid all the hindrances.

Though this book has a some trigger warnings for rape and drug abuse, it was perfectly balanced with an overflowing dose of positivity that is evident in most characters introduced like Charlie, Jake, Ryan, and Lucy.

Lastly, I loved how it made me feel things, especially, with the importance of having a family to rely on to and friends to comfort you when you feel down. It just goes to show how true the infamous saying "No man is an island" is. Ciao.

Rating: 3.5stars

This book was pretty good. I wasn't sure what I would think about it beforehand, but it was interesting, entertaining, and heartfelt. I am intrigued by this author and curious to what they will be writing next. I will try to be on the look out.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

I received an electronic ARC through NetGalley.

so far I haven't seen any trigger warnings for this book but let me fill you in. there are mentions of racism, sexual assault(?) which may or may not lead to rape. the book also touched on sensitive topics like finding your identity and a sense of belonging, so if any of those trigger you, please read at your discretion.

<i><b>what i enjoyed</b></i>
1. lucky's relationship with her grandmother

2. lucy!!
<i> I tucked the blanket around her so she became a little baby burrito with only her head visible.

'i love you,' lucky called out sleepily. I rolled over.
'i love you too, lucy.'</i>

3. jake, charlie, ryan, janine, and the boy from the first house (i forgot his name)

4. the ending!
<i>what did you wish for when life didn't turn out the way you planned? when the place you ended up finally felt like home and the people around you made up one incredibly weird but amazing family?</i>

<i><b>what i didn't like/ made me chuck my phone across my bed</b></i>
1. the overuse of the word 'shit' because based on the reading level it is pretty inappropriate for the target group

2. robert is the epitome of a human trash/ spider.
<i>who's going to believe in you?</i>
gross.

3. the apparent normalcy for lucky to use violence to fight anyone.
I do feel like using violence in self-defence is reasonable, but using violence just because you are angry is unacceptable. this is not exactly dealt with and it's painting a wrong picture for impressionable young minds who are going to read this that it is fine to use violence over someone using words to agitate oneself.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/90812257-delilah

*I've been provided a ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.*
Such a cute book, but also shines light on things that even though they are ugly and hard to deal with, they do happen. I love also that they, even though unfortunate for Lucky, they put foster care in the story. I personally haven't came across many books that mention it. I love also that the author truly went into detail about foster care, and that yeah, all your belongings are in a backpack or two and you can change houses every 2 weeks/be at a place for short periods of time.

🍀 |Thank you to Second Story Press, NetGalley & Melanie Florence for the free digital copy! This book is available September, 2019!| #partner
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🌟BOOK REVIEW🌟
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▪️MY THOUGHTS
✔️This book broke my heart over and over again. Although a YA book I feel like it could be read by anyone. Lucky was a strong young lady that knew her importance and defended herself against those people that tried to hurt her. Her friendship with her best friend Ryan was so sweet. He was her go to person for everything. Seeing my own grandfather suffering from Alzheimer’s made me really relate to all the emotions Lucky was feeling.
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▪️OVERALL RUNDOWN
✔️This book touched upon so many important topics, such as love, loss, abandonment, foster care, hatred, racism & true friendship. I really enjoyed this book and read it within a day! If you’re looking for a well written book that will have you cheering for the protagonist - this book is for you! ❤️
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▪️TITLE RUNDOWN
Justice
Uplifting
Sad
Teens
Love
Understanding
Canadian
Kind
Young
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▪️RATING
✔️🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I liked this book. It seemed to accurately portray the hit-or-miss luck of the foster care system. Some homes are great. Some are terrible and some are just meh. Lucky finally ended up in a home that suited her, but she had to go through a lot of different placements.

The one thing that I didn't understand is where her rage came from. I understand why she was angry, but the extreme rage seemed to pop up from nowhere. I would have expected that there would have been traces of it in her earlier life.

just lucky by Melanie Florence broke my heart then made me feel all warm and fuzzy and happy again, i truly enjoyed it. lucky goes through so much in this book, her life gets turned upside down when her grandfather dies and with her grandmothers failing memory, lucky ends up having to go into foster care when her grandmother ends up in hospital and later in a care home, her mother only cares about gambling and drugs and what she can get out of it my heart truly went out to lucky.
through the story just lucky you feel luckys pain, love, happiness and her fears, just lucky struck so many of my emotions in such a sort time.

In this book we meet Lucky who lives with her grandparents. Ryan is her best friend who's gay and plans to prompose to Thomas his crush.



However, after her grandpa suddenly dies she finally see's how bad her grandma is at remembering things after she finds the house on fire when late home from meeting Ryan.



As a result, her grandma has to go into hospital and then a care home as her daughter Lucky's mum isn't bothered about helping after all she just cares about gambling and drugs and what she can get.



So Lucky ends up falling into foster care being moved around away from her home area and her grandma and Ryan. She has to fight off sexual abuse, racist girls, bullies but she does eventually find a home she warms to slowly despite the start there and keeps in touch with the nicest foster siblings she had at times.



The book is fast paced and emotional as Lucky loves to deny how bad her grandma truly is as she hope's to be allowed back to her home despite the damage from smoke, fire and water. Obviously her name is ironic as she falls down on her luck many times throughout the story but I'm glad she kept in touch with Ryan and their friendship didn't just fade out as they became a more sort of family to each other as Ryan being gay as is an issue in real life is supposed to have been cut off from his dad after disapproval this book was great for showing how life can throw rubbish at you from bad health, being gay and facing the disapproval Ryan did to giving in care.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

I want to thank Netgalley for providing me an Arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was amazing.
I had so many emotions reading this book it was a total rollercoaster.
I love the plot I was constantly on the edge of my seat.
The characters and their stories were so raw and emotional.
I gave it 4 stars.

I've been accused by some of being overly generous with my five-star ratings. What can I say? If a book grabs me enough to keep me reading, not wanting to put the book down, picking it up as soon as I wake up in the morning, then I deem it worthy of five stars.

Lucky has a somewhat untraditional family. Her mom skipped out on her when she was very young, but she has the love of her grandparents as they raise her. All that changes, however, when her grandpa dies and grandma is no longer able to live alone. Lucky finds herself in the foster care system. She just tries to survive, knowing that each home she lands in is only temporary.

This was a great little book. I say little because I finished it in less than one day. It's a quick, easy read that's well-suited for younger and older adults alike.

This is one of those books that breaks your heart, and then makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and happy again.

It looks so innocent, and you get to know Lucky, and love her, and hope for the best, even as you know it won't be all that she wants it to be.

Lucky's mother abandoned her, because, as she puts it, "you can't bring a newborn into a casino for hours at a time, or forget about her entirely and leave her beside a slot machine."

Lucky has been living with her grandparents, and has a best friend who is into the same comic books as she is, and it all seems fine, until Grandpa dies, and Gramma starts forgetting things, like turning off the stove. After she nearly burns down the house, Gramma is taken away, and Lucky goes into foster care.

I love how she deals with this. How she makes friends with the other foster care children via comics. She knows which ones suit the kids at each of the different houses she ends up going ot. It helps her survive.

And the little things such as the doorbell at foster house number 4, which played the them from Doctor Who.

And the heart rendering things, as well.

<blockquote> She didn't tell me everything was going to be okay. She didn't try to do that thing adults do where they try to fix all your problems. Janine just let me cry and held me until I was ready to go home.</blockquote>

The book grabbed me by the throat and took me along for the ride. I wouldn't say it is fun, but it is heartwarming, sweet, and clever.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

This book gave me all these kind of emotions. I was laughing but the next I was sad, then I was furious and somewhat empty. I felt for her granma, I felt for her grandpa… I felt so much for Ryan..and Lucky.. I wanted to just bring them in for a big hug…and tell them everything were going to be okay. Wich, to be fair it wasn’t even though I hoped. And oh my, Lucky’s mother made me wanna slap her…but also gag and roll my eyes at, damn a more horrible woman you’ll search long for. Ugh. I just can’t.

Lucky ended up in foster care, wich we already know and let me tell you some of these people are a little odd, like too perfect and too…nice you know? Like thei’re hiding something.. and dipping into the book more… they are creeping me out. Seriously. I’m sitting there like “eww.” This book is kind of a rollercoaster ride of the good kind, I just want Lucky to be happy.. because I like Lucky a lot. I’m like yay Lucky is finally happy, and then no… and then something else is happening and I’m just tapping away on my kindle… crossing my fingers for a happy ending! I could’nt put the book down, and that is saying something! It was lots of things happening by every turn and I loved the book so much from start to finish. It touched so many subjects like racaism, being gay and what comes with it, love, care, demetia.. and more…I just loved it so much… I didn’t want it to be over so fast. But I am so happy I got to read this particular book.