Angry teens with terrible parents deal with the aftermath of a school shooting. It was difficult at times, however, to feel sympathetic for the narrators, who are pretty eager to engage in physical violence. There are some grammar errors of the “mom drove Jordan and I to school” type, and I don’t know what a violinist would be doing in band. Although the author includes a long note at the end of the book stating that people shouldn’t blame or stigmatize mental illness because of school shootings, she still uses pejorative language in the book.

This was a beautifully written debut book. May and Zach have a whole lot in common. They have neglectful parents, weird relationships with peers and they are connected in different ways to a huge tragedy. The book was heart wrenching. I really felt all of May’s anguish. I really connected to her level of anger. I know we are supposed to feel like it’s too much but I really felt that the people in her life didn’t give her enough leeway or grace considering what she has been through. The author’s note at the end of the book made me weep. Will anything ever change or will these names just keep piling on top of each other?

The Lucky Ones is a gut wrenching and moving story about moving through trauma and loss and dealing with grief. It’s not an easy read and broke my heart. It had moments though. Moments that had me hopeful. I’m so impressed this is a debut novel.

May is the main character in this story and she’s been through so much. She’s having trouble getting through day by day and she’s guilt ridden, but she’s also a survivor. Her life is totally different than it used to be, and so is Zach’s. Even though it’s for a completely different reason, it actually makes them able to open up to one another and somehow gets them to bond in a way.

This story was really powerful. I couldn’t put it down and it’s compelling, emotional, and poignant. It’s a must read and an important read that deals with a tough subject.

I was pre-approved of an eARC on NetGalley by the publisher, so thank you Delacorte Press!

My Rating: 3.75 / 5 🌟

When it comes to YA Contemporary, hard-hitting stories aren't usually my cup of tea, but when I was given the opportunity to read this book, I decided to give it a shot.

Reviewing hard-hitting contemporaries is a new territory for me, especially for this one where it deals with a real and current issue that is happening in the world, but I'll try my best to convey all my thoughts into words.

The Lucky Ones is a story that focuses on the aftermath of a school shooting, specifically the aftereffects on those who survived the shooting. The book was told in the perspectives of the two main characters. May, a survivor from the shooting, and Zach, the son of the lawyer hired to defend the shooter in trial.

When it comes to the main characters, the book does not shy away from their imperfections. Both May and Zach weren't likable, and they shouldn't have to be likable. I think it was important to have that portrayal of characters in this book, especially with the amount of baggage they carry, which one way or another, was an aftereffect from the shooting. Reading about their characters wasn't easy, and understanding them was more difficult, but I think that was exactly how Liz wanted the characters to be, and she did a good job writing them.

It was interesting to see how the main characters, May and Zach – two people who are affected by the shooting in different ways – meet, as well as seeing how their path ended up entwining with one another. Although these two characters had to meet for the sake of the plot, it did not feel as if it was forced, instead if felt natural and I liked seeing how their friendship develop throughout the book.

The side characters, specifically May's best friend, Lucy, and Zach’s best friend, Conor, are also one of the best side characters I've read lately when it comes to the YA Contemporary genre. Throughout the book, Lucy and Conor each became an anchor for May and Zach to hold on to, and it was nice to see May and Zach have a best friend who are there for them while they're navigating through a very difficult period of their lives.

Although the focus of the story was on the phycological effects of a school shooting on those who survived, it also talked about the outcome of the shooting in general. For example, what happened to the school where the shooting occurred and what happened to the shooter. I think it was nice how these few bits of information were included in the story, which I think can be serve as additional knowledge for the readers on the issue.

The minor problems I did have with the book were all quite permissible except for one. The book told a heavy story with a very important message, and it did a good job of doing so, but I feel like the message that the story wants to put out was not as impactful as I hoped it would be. As May is a hard character to understand, it makes it more difficult for me to connect with her, thus lessening the impact of the issue on me. Nevertheless, the core message remains prominent throughout the book and serves as a very distinct theme throughout the story.

All in all, The Lucky Ones is a letter for the survivors. At its core, it's a story about carrying the guilt for surviving and mourning the grief for those who didn't, but it's also a story about letting go and forgiveness, not only to those around you but also forgiveness to yourself. I do want to give Liz a big round of applause to publish a story that holds a very real and important issue as her debut novel, which I think she did a very remarkable job with. Even though I don't see myself rereading this book anytime soon, as it is quite a heavy read, I do see the significance of why everyone should read it at least once in their life. So, if you do want to pick up The Lucky Ones, please do give it a go as I hope the story will impact you like I did or probably even more.

This was a very heart wrenching story. I cried a lot. I'm so glad I read this. This was something I needed right now. I'm so pleased to have read it and I push others to read it as well!

Very intense and difficult to read. May survived a school shooting in which her brother was killed. Zach’s mother is defending the shooter. The two come together and the story is told from their POV. May is suffering from guilt as she is a survivor, she was able to hide in a closet when the shooter was shooting others in the room. Gut-wrenching story about surviving, guilt and friendship.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In a sense, although the writing wasn't outstanding, I appreciated how unsentimental this was - it's something of a change from much of YA. In another book, the Last Bookstore visit or the playground date idea would have led to May being charmed and falling at least a little in love; here she has a panic attack and tells Zach he's cliche. The narrative does a good job at spinning out the long term nature of grief and showing May's guilt and anger, and eventually healing. But I didn't feel much connection with either MC or their relationship (maybe not insta-love, but insta-inexplicable emotional connection) and felt that they were barely characterized apart from the events happening to them. Neither of them seems to have hobbies or interests, and they each have basically one friend* (who, btw, despite having real and enormous problems of their own, seem to exist pretty significantly to comment on the lives of the MCs) so they and their world feels underdeveloped. I was, however, interested by the inclusion of the anti-drinking/partying messaging in here and the ways that "classic teen behavior" can slip into "classic alcoholic/problematically addicted behavior." Also, and this isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, just an observation of something odd: the parents/parental figures in this book, with perhaps one and a half exceptions, are portrayed pretty harshly and as pretty dysfunctional. I don't know that the turnaround at the end really changes things.

*May does have two friends but I can't think about the second one because her name is apparently Chimera but she's nicknamed Chim and I spent the entire book going "Kime? Ch-im? Kim?" Utterly baffled by this.

THE LUCKY ONES is quite an emotional ride. The book follows May and Zach in alternating first person points-of-view. May was a survivor in a school shooting that killed her twin brother, favorite teacher, and classmates. She was spared because she had left the first chair band practice to get another musical stand in the closet, where she hid while she listened to the others dying. It is now a year since, and May is still not sure how to live with the heavy survivor's guilt she feels. Her anger frequently seems to explode out of her, and she still gets frequent panic attacks.

Zach has been taking care of his sister, Gwen, for at least a year. His mother is a high-powered attorney and his father left his job years ago to work on his garage-band music. However, most days, his father doesn't even seem to get out of bed. The worst part is that his mother is the defense attorney for the school shooter, and many of his friends have abandoned him for the choices his mother made in defending him.

Zach and May have a chance meeting before knowing who the other is, but their pain seems to call to the other. As they connect, they will each begin to work through some of their own problems. However, they will still hit rock bottom.

This is a highly emotional and engrossing read. The pages seem to turn really fast, and the dual perspectives adds a lot of power to the book. Both have a lot to learn about themselves and the people around them, and it was interesting to follow their journey. This book captures all the guilt and anger around these events and how it can follow you for years.

This book could be triggering for some. It is a valuable read for many who may only know of the news stories. The author's note at the end was also really poignant and definitely worth reading. School shootings are real and this is a snapshot into a potential after that is a really powerful read.

Although this is not an easy read, it is highly engrossing and quite poignant. Powerfully emotional, THE LUCKY ONES is a topical and important YA contemporary about the after of school shootings.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is so important. Liz Lawson conveys such a beautifully written message about gun violence in schools, loss of loved ones, and surviving the tragedy. It’s raw and real and lovely. The romance aspect of the book is so well done. They save each other and isn’t that all we’re looking for? Someone to save us and having the ability to save someone.

This is a story I’ve been waiting to read and Lawson does a masterful job of weaving loss, regret, and grieving into the teenage experience in a way that will resonate with readers of all ages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

I had SUPER high expectations for this one. You can't blame when one of the tags I read said it was a great "next - read" for fans of All the Bright Places . Sadly, this one was just OK in my opinion. (and AtBP was far more than just OK) This one should have been something that really moved me (a survivor of a school shooting, the son of the defense attorney, etc) but parts of it felt too contrived and the dialogue seemed to dip over into unrealistic pretty easily. I mean, May (survivor of a school shooting where her twin was killed outside the closet she was hiding in) finds herself opening up to this boy she doesn't know very well for no reason even though she can't talk to any of her friends? What is it about him? Ugh, ugh, ugh. Such a tired trope. There was a lot that could have been done here, and it was only done haphazardly. I'm hoping that Lawson's next books will hold a bit more weight as this shows promise.

The Lucky Ones // by Liz Lawson

"Now they are one and the same, the frightening places and the daily places."

May is the lucky one. She's the only person that was in that room that day that survived the shooting. She is a survivor and can go on living. But is that really what she has been doing in the almost year since that fateful day where she lost her twin? This story is about how May is learning to handle her feelings, her interactions with friends and family, her guilt and everything else connected to the shooting that changed her whole world and took the most important person of her life from her. 

The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson is a debut novel that blew me away. When I first received this book, I was excited because I try my best to read books that are relevant to current events and school shootings are sadly a hot topic now and probably will be for a good while until something concrete can be done to change this reality in the US. Once I picked it up though to get started, I was not so sure anymore if I was ready for such a serious read during such a serious time that we live in right now. I ended up finishing this book within 24 hours because I just could not put it down. It is a quick read that really packs a punch. The flow of the story is smooth, the pace is just right, and the feelings are so well conveyed. She really helps you understand why someone may react in a way that is generally seen as unreasonable but makes complete sense in these situations to the person feeling those difficult emotions. I laughed and I cried. I rejoiced and I grieved. This is a really well put together book, especially considering that it is a debut novel, but the ease of reading takes nothing away from the seriousness of such a poignant story.

We always hear about who did it, who was affected, possibly why it happened, and how it could have been avoided. But rarely do we hear about the difficulties of living in the "after." Lawson did a great job of making this topic accessible and acceptable to speak about. She wrote this book for those "lucky ones,' for the families, the educators, and everyone else that has to face this reality day in and day out.

Lawson's Author's Note really emphasized the importance of this book once more. I almost wish her note was at the beginning of the book to put people into the right mind for reading this book. I'm also really happy to see all the resources she choose to include for people struggling with various issues, such as PTSD, survivor's guilt, addictions, depression, etc.

ARC from Netgalley. 4.5 stars. I didn’t really know what I’d be going into with this story. I hesitate to read things nowadays that are dark because the real world seems to give me enough darkness. However, I really liked how this tackled grief and forgiveness in a realistic way. I also liked the author’s writing style. It really worked for telling this story how it needed to be told.

Overview: May and Zach are an unlikely couple. His mother is the lead defense attorney for the school shooter that took the life of May's twin brother and her other band classmates. What they do have in common is feeling less than seen. Zach is ostracized because of his mother's choices, and May feels like people only see her as a victim. Both want to reclaim their independent identities and move forward from the terrible tragedy, but without the support and space to grieve, everyone is left fumbling for a sense of closure and unable to deal with their unresolved feelings. Lawson dives into the aftermath of the aftermath of a school shooting and the echoes that are felt by the survivors and the community. Overall: 4.5

Characters: 5 May and Zach are great main characters, and I'm happy that we got to hear both of their voices. May has a lot of unresolved grief and feelings about that day that manifest in anger that has complicated her getting more help. She doesn't have a support from her parents who are coping by burying themselves in work. She didn't mesh well with the therapist the school tried to connect her to. The school wants to support her but a series of fights left her halfheartedly homeschooling before returning to the newly incorporated school. Without the open forum to talk about what happened and express herself, May is lost with how to move forward and cope with her lingering PTSD symptoms. Even with two well-meaning friends, Lucy and Chim, it's not till Zach comes along that May feels comfortable enough to start opening up about what happened.
Zach is in a difficult situation too, but no one feels sorry for him. After his mom takes David's case, their house gets vandalized, his mom checks out of their lives, and Zach is left to care for and protect his younger sister. Zach has a lot of angry feelings towards his mom both for taking the case and for basically abandoning them. Those extend to his dad who is just as absent from his life due to issues with depression.
May and Zach both have gone through major changes in their lives and bond over being the ones left on the edges of their families, friendships, and lives in general. Despite their connection being unlikely, it's the best thing that could've happened to either of them. They offer each other a safe space to process their most complicated feelings, and it's heartwarming to watch.
I appreciate how much of a focus parent's rolls play in teen's lives. I feel like parents are usually explained away quickly or forgotten about in YA, but they really are central to teens lives and developments. Their presence or absence has a major effect. Liz doesn't shy away from discussing how their parents respective ways of handling the situation have affected their kids. Their relationships with their parents is a major arch of the book that is satisfying and relatable.
Finally, their friends do play a role in the story by mostly giving us a glimpse into their old lives. They all want to be supportive, but there is a sense of baggage in all of these relationships where they know too much about each other to completely open up about their new feelings.

Plot: 4 The book's pacing is great. It never lagged or made me want to put it down. The major plot points were perfectly timed and played their roles perfectly, but I also really loved the quiet moments in between. There's a surprising amount of focus on music throughout the book, which I really enjoyed. Lucy and Conner, their friends, are in a band that they watch play often, and music is used as a major element of remembering certain memories and with healing. Each show and event May goes to marks an important point in her evolution which was really cool to see. While it's emotionally driven, there's plenty of plot to keep you engaged.

Writing: 5 I loved Liz's ability to develop each of the character's individual voices and get to the deepest complexities about what they had all been through. She perfectly balances moving the plot forward and digging into the emotions of the moment on the deepest level to make sure your experience is as full as the character's. It makes for quite the immersive story. I also want to applaud her for knowing how to expertly harness the dual POV story. She switches back and forth often to give the fullest picture of a moment, and it allows us to start an emotionally intense situation inside one person's head and then pivot to seeing it from the outside. It's a tool I haven't seen utilized this effectively often.

Content Warning: School Shooting, PTSD, survivers remorse, anger issues.

This is a tough book. It will make you cry, cry, and did I mention cry. It follows a girl post school shooting. She survived but her twin brother did not. After being homeschooled she returns to school. Not the same school but another one. This is basically a what comes after and how can one learn to cope.

Do not read this if you cant handle the warnings above. This doesn't give you a play by play of the shooting just afterwards. But it will still tear at you. This is a book that you better go in prepared to cry your eyes out. It tears at you and gives you a side that normally we don't want to look at. I may be over mentioning the crying but for me it was a whole book whole box of Kleenex.

The main character has a lot of survivers guilt and we see it play out through the book and how it interacts with daily life, making friends, moving forward, and just knowing you lost that person. To me this was the best part because it brought you in and made you feel for May.

This book, you guys. This book!

Told in multiple POV's, this story centers around two teens in the aftermath of a school shooting.

May has serious survivors' guilt. Her twin died in the shooting and part of her wishes she'd either been the one to die, or died with them. She's angry and broken with no real way out of it. Until she meets Zach, who's mother sits as the shooter's attorney.

This book is difficult and important for teenagers who are currently facing this traumatizing emotional climate in America. This book shoulders the heavy stuff that our young people should NOT have to bear, but underneath all that sadness, there's a glimmer of hope and tells the old tale that love conquers all.

I know readers will love THE LUCKY ONES as much as I did. Lawson's writing sucked me in and drew out the emotions even I keep locked up inside. This book is a definite preorder.

This is a beautiful, gut-wrenching book about survivor's guilt and all the ripple effects of tragic violence. May's pain, grief, and guilt over surviving a school shooting that left her twin brother Jordan and six others dead are compounded by the fractured state of her relationship with Jordan in the weeks before his death. She funnels all her anger toward the killer's defense attorney until she falls for the attorney's son and realizes her actions have only caused more pain to him and his sister, who are just more innocent bystanders. May's anger and pain are so raw and real that her hard-fought resolution feels like a triumph for the reader as well. Highly recommend.

This book was incredible. It was so hard to read, but man was it worth it. It frustrated me, and brought me to tears. This topic is so tough, but it deserves to be read and brought to light. I loved this book. I loved these characters. I loved the writing, and how the author fleshed out the plot. This book was done so incredibly well.

The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson was emotional, heartfelt story about a school shooting that takes place and how May and Zach both dealing with it in their own separate ways. This story is told in two alternate points of view. You have May who's twin brother died in the school shooting. Then you have Zach who's mother is the lawyer for the school shooter. Each dealing with their own situations end up needing each other.

Thank You Random House, Delacorte Press and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This book was really good. It feels strange to say I enjoyed a book about the aftermath of a school shooting... but I didn’t want to stop reading it. I thought the characters were well written and believable. Their pain radiated off the pages. It was intense and obviously a heavy topic, but I thought the author did a good job of including lighter moments between characters to lift the heaviness did even just a minute. I appreciated the help section at the end for students needing to reach out.