A small town, family drama, and a friends-to-lovers story line: a perfect formula for a contemporary YA novel. Josie Saint Martin has been dragged to several different cities in the past five years, but her mother decides to move them back to Beauty. It’s where Josie grew up and where her previous best friend, Lucky lives. After a party where a bully spreads gossip about the Saint Martin family, Josie lets out her frustrations by vandalizing a store window, but Lucky takes the fall for her. Josie must reconnect with her old friend to see why he would do this for her and to see if their chemistry from childhood may blossom into more than friendship now. Jenn Bennett has written yet another riveting teen romance with a well-rounded plot where the setting and the adult characters are also crucial to the storyline. Both teens and adult readers can find something to relate to in this book.

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett

Wow what a great little book! I really hope there is more to come with this book! I need a follow up series! What happen to everyone did it all work out??? I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with!!! ​

5 stars

I was highly anticipating this book. Alex, Approximately is in the top 3 of my favorite ya romance book I’ve ever read. I hate to say it, but I was slightly disappointed by this book. The main reason for my disappointment was probably the characters. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike the characters by any means, but I think that they just fell a little flat. Josie was pretty unmemorable and I felt like Lucky was kinda like Jess Mariano, but not nearly as charming. The mom character and Josie’s cousin were both kind of aggravating. The mom acted like she had this major chip on her shoulder, and didn’t always act exactly like a mom. I also thought her reasoning for not liking Lucky at the beginning wasn’t completely justified. The cousin’s relationship with the antagonist would have been more interesting if she would have explored it more and maybe discussed the extent of the abusiveness of the relationship.

I did really like the setting. I’m a total sucker for a New England coastal town setting. Josie’s pictures at the end of the chapters were a unique touch as well. Jenn Bennett’s writing is good, and there is no denying that. I appreciate that her books are sex positive, and they often feel more mature than other ya romances that I’ve read. There were definitely parts in here that were cute between Lucky and Josie, but I ultimately found it underwhelming. However, I will still continue to pick up whatever Bennett writes, because I appreciate her as an author.

Just like the charming New England seaside resort town, you'll want to revisit Chasing Lucky. A feel-good romance with just enough of a cautionary tale of falling into the rumor mill instead of getting to know a person to make you feel like there's more than a tale of first love between childhood friends. The sweetness of family and the glow of forgiveness make this book comfort food that doesn't leave you feeling guilty after devouring it. So good!

Josie has returned to her family's small Rhode Island town, a town where the female line of her family are rumored to be cursed. For Josie, the return feels like some stability after years of moving; an opportunity to further develop her skills as a photographer and a chance at normalcy.

Josie quickly realizes that the past can't remain in the past. After one fateful night, Josie must live with the results of her actions and the guilt she feels when her childhood best friend Lucky takes the fall for her. The strength of this book is in the relationship that develops between Josie and Lucky. Both characters are fully fleshed out and three-dimensional. Through wonderful dialogue, the two slowly rebuild their fractured relationship. Jenn Bennett has written an excellent contemporary Young Adult book with real-world issues that many teens can relate to. I will definitely be recommending this book to my students.

"Chasing Lucky" is one of the few books I've read recently that I could not put down. I fell in love with Josie and Lucky and was rooting for them from the beginning. Jenn Bennett did a beautiful job of weaving healing mother/daughter relationships into a teenage love story. Well written! I would highly recommend reading "Chasing Lucky".

I'm a huge fan of Jenn Bennett and her writing so I was super excited to dive into her new book. I'm so happy to say that I was not disappointed at all! 'Chasing Lucky' is another great read! I love the small town feel to this story and the characters that take up the space inside of it. It reminded me a lot of Gilmore Girls which I absolutely loved. I always enjoy the characters Jenn Bennett creates. This is a story full of heart and a sweet, swoonworthy romance. A perfect read! <3

Posted to Goodreads: Josie Saint-Martin has spent the last five years moving from town-to-town with her mother but now they are moving back to their hometown of Beauty. Josie isn't ready to facedown bad memories that haunt their former home but she is happy to settle into life at school she from which she may actually be able to graduate. Josie's life gets more complicated when she comes face-to-face with Lucky, a boy that was once her best friend but who she hasn't spoken to since she and her mother left town. After Josie acts out against the most powerful family in town she finds herself once again linked to Lucky and as the two spend time together they may find love.

This feels very much like a Jenn Bennett book and I mean that in the best way possible. "Chasing Lucky" has the same well-developed characters as her other books that have interesting backstories and complex relationships. The romance between Josie and Lucky is sweet and its slow progression from friend to love was realistic and well written. The story was fast-paced and fun like a good rom-com that is just entertaining to read.

Thank you for sending me an ARC for Chasing Lucky, I’m not sure why but I had a really tough time getting into this story. It took about 80 pages for me to actually start enjoying it. The character development was well done. But it wasn’t my absolute favorite.

This book was super cute! I didn't love it as much as Starry Eyes but I really loved the way everything was wrapped up. The main characters were lovable even if a bit frustrating at times. I appreciated the portrayal of difficult family relationships and seeing how the main character dealt with them. Definitely a great read, always love Jenn Bennett!

If you've read any books by Jenn Bennett you'll know what to expect. Jenn does a great job with rom-com stories. If you haven't read any of Jenn's books they are the perfect YA read for anyone who is a fan of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, or Morgan Matson.

Josie Saint-Martin goes back to her hometown after years away to run the family bookstore, Josie knows it’s not forever. Her dreams are on the opposite coast, and she has a plan to get there. Her plans get even more derailed by the town's bad boy, and former best friend, Lucky Karras.

This book is the perfect antidote for spring time when everything seems possible. I loved reading about Lucky and Josie. Their friendship and budding relationship was such a breathe of fresh air.

I will always adore Jenn Bennett's books. Her YA Contemporary storytelling is unmatched, and Chasing Lucky is no different. Josie Saint-Martin has been moving around the East Coast since she turned 12. Her mom doesn't have much luck with men or jobs or family in life, so they are continuously looking to go somewhere new. The latest move is back to where Josie grew up, a small town named Beauty in Rhode Island where the Saint-Martin's are known for their terrible luck with men. In fact, it's widely considered to be a curse placed on all the women in the family, several generations back. When Josie moves back, she's immediately confronted with the sight of her long lost best friend, Lucky, who she hasn't spoken to since she moved away. Now he's 17 and... hot?! But Josie has no plans on sticking around Beauty longer than necessary.

I love a bad boy. And I will swoon forever over a bad boy persona covering a tormented and soft cinnamon roll of a boy. This is basically Lucky. In terms of characters, I prefer him over Josie our MC, as I feel Josie just makes terrible decisions half the time? That trope just gets irritating the more you read it. Lucky and Josie are basically polar opposites, and you know what they say... opposites attract.

I enjoy the small town life setting, it really reminded me of Nicholas Sparks books (just the setting, none of the heart-wrenching) with the idea of everyone knowing everyone's business. Also, I love that Josie's family runs a bookstore and has for a very long time. Small town life makes for some great contemporary novels.

The writing is just beautiful, I mean Jenn Bennett almost isn't capable of doing anything but write beautifully. Her ability to weave stories and backgrounds for characters is amazing. If you're a Jenn Bennett fan, I would say Chasing Lucky relates most closely to Starry Eyes.

This book has quickly become one of my favorite Jenn Bennett books! As with her other books there is a mature and emotional approach to sex, the romance is great, and the family dynamics are complicated. I love the messages conveyed throughout the book and loved the characters. The emphasis on trust and communication in this book is great and I can't wait to buy it and reread it (and reread it, and reread it).

There is nothing like a young adult romance novel to get you through tough times. Jenn Bennett shares the story of Josie, a young woman whose mom is constantly on the move and she is forced to move with her. When they end up back in her childhood town, Josie, connects with her best friend, Lucky, and hopes they won’t be moving again. Lucky has not only grown up, is now making Josie’s heart flutter. Incident after incident brings them together and then pushes them apart. Is it the family curse, or just young love? This was a sweet love story and I can’t wait to share with my students when we get back to school!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were real and raw and I hurt for all of them. Then I smiled and felt giddy when the “wall”came down. Such a great story and something everyone can learn from.

I love Jenn Bennett’s books, and this was certainly no exception! The setting of the book makes it have a magical vacation feel from the very beginning, and the characters are likable and well-written. The romance is sweet, and the sex positivity is very appreciated and important. I can’t wait to add this to my library’s purchase list!

I really liked this! It's a long book, but it goes by fast most of the time. It flows well throughout the story, but for some slightly slower parts in the start of the book. Lots of building for the setting and characters.

I really enjoyed the setting laid out...it really felt like a northern New-England, small coastal town. Our main character, Josie seems young and naive, but I truly feel like that's realistic, even for her age, based on her past narative. She hadn't had the time, or capacity, to grow. Lucky just seems too good to be true, though. I like the growing chemistry and passion between the two, that they both don't give into straight away.

But I feel like the character growth for all the main family characters is too easily made better. Grandma comes home and bam...all kinds of issues from years past start to right themselves. However, this makes for a nice, feel-good ending to a great read, and I still really enjoyed it!

After five years of absence, Josephine and her mom, Winona Saint-Martin, are heading back to their hometown of Beauty, Rhode Island, in spite of an estranged grandmother who could be compared to a ticking time bomb, and a love curse that only gets stronger as its source draws near . What waits for them there is a whole book of shenanigans and memories that neither Saint-Martin woman is prepared for and little does Josie know that even more trouble awaits in the form of an ex-best friend who is suddenly dark, mysterious, and oh-so-bad.

First of all, there are some basic elements that Jenn Bennett always does extremely well in her YA contemporaries. The setting is always fantastic, the characters colorful, and the town and people that Bennett crafts in Chasing Lucky is no exception. Bennett really made the small-town setting work for her in this book and there were all the necessary factors that give me a love-hate relationship with small towns in real life as well as in fiction. Secondly, Bennett always manages to portray sex and relationships in a positive, healthy way no matter which YA contemporary book of her design that I'm reading. Next, I especially loved the theme of communication in this story - it added another layer of depth that I didn't realize I wanted and needed as a reader until it happened . Lastly, there were descriptions of pictures that Josie took around town that kind of wrapped up/introduced chapters and as I hope that there will be actual pictures in their place by the time this book is published, I highly anticipate them and look forward to re-reading this book in order to fully experience the photographs with the story.

While I did feel that Chasing Lucky was pretty dramatic at times and I did not enjoy it as much as Alex Approximately or Starry Eyes, it is still definitely a book more than worth reading both for returning fans of Jenn Bennett's writing and those who have yet to experience the pleasure of her stories.

I've been a fan of Jenn Bennett's YA romances for years; Chasing Lucky did not disappoint!

Taking place in a fictional seaside Rhode Island town, Chasing Lucky follows two teens navigating personal and family trauma as they rebuild a childhood friendship into something new.

Bennett is a master of the slow-burn romance; her characters, while teenagers, feel human and fully-formed, with interesting hobbies and personalities, and believable foibles. (I was horrified to find that, as an adult reader, I was older than the mom in the book, but I still enjoyed reading it!)

This is pretty nit-picky, but as a Rhode Island resident, I wondered why Bennett used a made-up town as the setting. I completely understand if it was easier than setting everything in a real place, but it felt a little fake to me. I think I would have preferred fictional places, etc., set in a real-life town, like Newport.

Thank you Simon Pulse and NetGalley for a gifted copy of this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Josie Saint-Martin and her single mom returns to their hometown of Beauty, RI to run their family bookstore after years of moving from city to city. While in town, she runs into her childhood best friend, Lucky Karras, who apparently has earned quite a bad boy rep in the historic New England town. After Lucky takes the fall for her in an accident, she is determined to find out what happened to him during these past 5 years. Of course, she realizes that he's not quite the bad boy everyone in the gossipy small town thinks he is.

This was my first YA novel by Jenn Bennett and I don't think it will be my last. I love her writing style! This is definitely a page turner with some good banter that made me chuckle. It's fluffy but has substance. I love Josie and Lucky and appreciate that they aren't perfect characters. Josie gets a little in her head at times but Lucky is so sweet but sadly so misunderstood. I wish we got to know him a little bit more and I think I would love it more if the story was also written from his perspective. If you are a fan of Jenny Han, you will like this one. Definitely adding Jenn Bennett to my list of must read YA authors!