I was really pleasantly surprised by this coming-of-age story! Leo is a high schooler with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. He is also navigating life and his relationship with his father since his Yia Yia passed away. While there was a romantic storyline (with the great-granddaughter of the woman who “supposedly cursed his family with bad luck” no less!!!), I actually really liked the plot with Leo’s classmate Drake. He went from a bully who punched Leo to his friend who actually is understand and accepting of Leo’s anxiety, and even is working to help him be more comfortable around others. The character development was really great! I was also happy to see Leo’s relationship with his dad improve and evolve at the end of the story, and that he was able to be honest with him about his enjoyment of yoga and knitting. I loved the representation of Leo’s mental health diagnoses, and his discussion of how he is working to live with them. Also yarn-bombing sounds so interesting, I had to google that for pics!

I’m so glad I read this, and would recommend it to others who are looking for an uplifting, coming-of-age story unlike any they’ve read before.

Anxiety is crippling, anxiety coupled with coming of age and teenage hormones even more so. This fast-paced and heartwarming coming of age tale will have you rooting on main character Leo as he secretly trades his self-defense classes for hot yoga and works to take control of his own life. Even if it means disobeying his family the long-held tradition and belief of passed down bad luck.

Just My Luck gives a good look at what it’s like to have an anxiety disorder.

Like Leo, the main character, the author has anxiety; she also is Greek, does yoga, and knits. So, unsurprisingly, the story feels very real in many ways. Most of the focus of the book is on Leo’s untreated anxiety, because he spends so much time managing it so that he can function. It was easy for me to empathize with Leo’s struggles, especially since the descriptions of how it feels were so vivid at times that I felt a bit anxious myself. I was rooting for Leo to get a handle on his disorder and for him to find people who could support him after the death of his grandmother.

However, I didn’t connect with the story as deeply as I hoped. I never warmed up to Leo’s love interest, Evey, even after she stopped using him to get revenge on her ex. (That part of the plot seemed a little weird to me all the way through, since what she did to him didn’t seem like much in way of revenge.) For someone who was completely isolated at the beginning of the novel, Leo also seemed to slip into having a circle of friends very easily, and I would have liked to have more scenes with him and his new friend Drake connecting and a little less of Evey.

As a portrait of what it’s like to live with generalized anxiety, the book is a success, though, and I’d recommend it to readers looking for some insight into the condition.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Julia Walton’s new novel, Just Our Luck, is the feel good book I really needed in my life this year. It follows Leo, a teen who has struggled with anxiety all his life. His mom died when he was younger so his Greek grandmother, Yia Yia, was the one who watched over him and provided him, not only with coping mechanisms, like knitting, to help with his anxiety, but also with two “rules for life”: 1) Bad luck follows lies, and 2) Leave the Paros family alone. When his grandmother passes away and his father is too wrapped up in his own grief to really know how to relate to Leo, Leo starts to struggle even more and manages to break both of Yia Yia’s “rules for life” in one fell swoop when a fist fight at school, followed by a fib to his father about what happened, lands Leo enrolled in a self-defense class at a gym where you guessed it, Evey Paros, of the forbidden Paros family from rule #2, works. What follows is a life-changing journey for Leo and a delightfully, heartwarming coming of age story filled with humor, friendship, love, and so much more.

It was impossible not to root for Leo every step of the way as I was reading Just Our Luck. I’m a sucker for an underdog and for a soft boy and Leo is definitely both. Leo’s passions are photography and knitting and the thought of having to even set foot in a martial arts style self defense class makes his heart race. When Evey tells him she can secretly switch him over to a hot yoga class that takes place at the same time in exchange for a favor, Leo eagerly jumps at the chance even though he can practically hear his grandmother screaming at him to “LEAVE THAT PAROS GIRL ALONE!” Even though he has no idea what he has gotten himself into, with either the hot yoga or with Evey, I loved watching Leo take this journey because he just grew so much every step of the way. There were honest and raw moments as he continues to work through his anxiety and his overall awkwardness around people, and there were also hilarious moments in the yoga classes as well as with some of his antics with Evey. I also enjoyed watching Leo and Evey grow closer and learning what the deal was with grandma’s rule about Evey’s family.

I think my favorite part of Just Our Luck though was the friendship that develops between Leo and Drake, the boy who punched Leo in the face and kicked off this whole chain of events. Leo and Drake are forced to sit in a special detention every day and they have one goal: to work through whatever issue led to the punch in the face. It’s a hard sell at first with both boys just sitting there in awkward silence day after day, but once the breakthrough finally happens, a really wonderful friendship emerges. One that left me with an even bigger smile on my face than Leo and Evey growing closer.

I could go on and on about how truly heartwarming and delightful Just Our Luck is, but just take my word for it. If you’re in the mood for a feel good story, Just Our Luck is a must read.

This book is amazing. I’ve never read a story about a boy with anxiety. it makes me happy that there is diversity. He’s Greek and talks a lot about his grandma and heritage. I like that each chapter is a journal entry and starts with a yoga pose and how he feels about it. I appreciate that his Yia Yia is still encouraging him in his brain. It’s encouraging to know they still care. I appreciate that Leo had character development and he started to get more and more out of his comfort zone. The friendships in this book is great.

Quick Overview:
Overall: 3.5
Characters: 4
Plot: 3
Writing: 4
~
First of all, I think Julia Walton has officially become an auto-buy author for me. Words of Bathroom Walls was one of my favorite books I read in 2020, and Just Our Luck was another fun, great read.
I adored Evey and Leo’s relationship. Friendly-ish rivals to lovers is an obscure trope that I simply ADORE and can never get enough of. Their banter, the awkward angst. Leo’s pining. I love it. Leo was such a relatable character. Some of the things he did kind of felt like a personal call out—but in the best way.
On a related note, Julia Walton’s portrayal of anxiety was one of my favorite that I’ve read. It was real and a part of the story without taking over the story or being sensationalized. It hit on all the ways it affects you and plays into your life. Leo and my anxiety presents in different ways, his triggers the fight response and mine the flight, but I still felt so seen in his character.
The plot, however, was wanting. Evey’s plot didn’t seem very well thought out, and everything seemed to fall apart in a very unsatisfactory way that felt disconnected from the lead up. Likewise, the “curse” was just such a weird aspect. Like it had the potential to make the book so much better, but it was barely touched on. It was mentioned in the beginning, brought up barely in passing in the middle and always made me go “what? Oh, right. There’s a curse.” And then tied up neatly in a bow at the end. It just didn’t tie into the story at all, and I felt like it even distracted from it. It definitely shouldn’t have been one of the major points mentioned in the blurb.
All in all, if you’re looking for a book that tackles mental health, Greek American culture, and a dash of romance—you should definitely pick up Just Our Luck.

Before Leo’s Yia Yia died, she had two rules for her grandson. First, “Bad luck follows lies, agapi mou.” And second, “Leave the Paros family alone.” But after his anxiety lands him in a fight at school, Leo’s dad enrolls him in a self-defense class at a local gym to “man-up” his croquet-and-photography-loving son. Until Leo secretly switches to a hot yoga class instead by way of the gym’s desk assistant: Evey Paros, a brilliant and kind of intimidating classmate whose family supposedly cursed Leo’s long ago. In an unlikely turn of events, Leo finds himself breaking both of his Greek grandmother’s edicts as he agrees to help Evey get back at an ex-boyfriend in exchange for keeping his secret.

With the nuanced mental health representation à la Darius the Great is Not Okay and the curse hijinks of Holes, Just Our Luck is a charming and heartfelt addition to young adult contemporary literature. Walton explores tough topics like anxiety, grief, and toxic masculinity with honesty and sensitivity. It’s hard not to love Leo with his self-deprecating sarcasm, profuse kindness, and unabashed refusal to conform to masculine norms—we stan a young man who likes to knit! Each character is crafted with care and complexity; not endearing despite their flaws, but because of them. Walton writes about mental health in a way that hits deep and true. As a person who has had generalized anxiety for most of their life, I felt truly seen while reading Leo manage (and sometimes, relatably, fail to manage) his anxiety on a day-to-day basis. Showcasing vibrant Greek culture, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the promise of young love, Just Our Luck is sure to pull at the heartstrings and inspire readers of all ages.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

Another great NetGalley read! Julia Walton portrays mental health so well. The descriptions of Leo’s struggle with anxiety are spot on. As someone who struggles with anxiety myself, I related so well to his character. This story also represents growth in so many ways. Each character grows somehow in their own respects. It’s so amazing getting to know these characters and watching them evolve into such great people. This is a feel good story that really warms your heart. In the times we live in, books like these make the days a little bit easier. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I feel like it made a difference in my week being able to read it.

A riveting coming of age story about a young man navigating his place in life while dealing with crippling anxiety.  A great story that illustrates how a troubled youth copes with adversities that come his way, develops friendships after having experiences being bullied. The novel is written in “journal entry” format which I found appealing and engaging; the format helps the reader really identify with Leo in an intimate way.  This is a great book for lovers of YA and an interest in coping with grief and mental health struggles. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a copy of Just Our Luck by Julia Walton thanks to the publisher for free through NetGalley for an honest review.

Content warnings: child neglect adjacent, mental illness, bullying/revenge

Review: Just Our Luck did give me a feeling of All The Bright Places but definitely a less extreme version. This makes sense based upon the mental illnesses each main character was dealing with. Bipolar I is much more high energy/dangerous than Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which is a constant inner turmoil but less outward explosions. If that makes sense. That's the feeling I got from this story.

Leo is definitely a kicked puppy. He tries so hard to be who he is and the world is so against him. He knows what he is able to handle and only does things outside of his comfort zone when pressured. He would rather stay home and knit but those around him expect more from him. His father wants a "strong son" rather than one that bonded closest to his grandmother and her hobbies.

Then he meets the daughter of the 'rival family' (very Romeo-Juliet). And she blackmails him (no wonder Yia Yia said to leave that family alone). But things aren't always what they seem.

Overall, characters are great and definitely have a personality. However, the pacing feels... off. Almost like there were large gaps of time in between chapters that goes ignored. Yes, the diary-style format typically have these gaps, but there are normally dates for reference. I think the story would have benefited from this minor addition. Other than this, I really enjoyed the story and I hope others do too because it really normalizes that feeling of constant anxiety that soooo many people suffer with every day and don't acknowledge.

What an amazing story!

Leo deals with severe anxiety and now is faced with grief. As the story progresses, Leo builds wonderful relationships and learns how to cope with his anxiety and his emotions. This is such a feel-good story and I think it would be such a helpful tool for children experiencing anxiety and/or grief. Loved it.


Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Julia Walton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

JUST OUR LUCK was a moving, coming-of-age title about Leo learning to find his place in the world when he's plagued with anxiety. Then comes along Evey, descendant of a long-time Greek family nemesis, and his world is turned a little bit upside down.

This book was giving me all the vibes of a crossover between To All The Boys I've Loved Before and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I'll admit, I think there was a little bit too much "sweat" happening in the first 1/3 of the book, but by the time Leo got over the sweat, so did I. I got caught up in the whirlwind story of Evey out for revenge, Leo trying to calm his troubled soul, and the unlikely friendship that stemmed from a fight on page one.

Maybe it was the fact that I listened to the brand-new "evermore" by Taylor Swift while I read the majority of the book, but I was enchanted by this story. It exposed life as a teenager to the world, all the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, and I loved that Julia Walton was able to bring this story to life. A moving, relatable tale that people will be sure to fall in love with.

5 Stars!!!!

What an adorable, feel-good story!!!

Meet Leo, junior in high school, major sufferer of anxiety. He's lost his mother and more recently, his grandmother. He doesn't handle social situations very well and knits (that's correct, knits), to cope. When he gets punched in the face at school, his father enrolls him in a military self defense class. Much to Leo's dismay, Evey, whose family supposedly cursed Leo's, helps him switch to a hot yoga class.

As the story progresses, Leo and Drake, the boy that punched him, become friends. He starts learning how to cope with his anxiety and learns how to have a relationship with his father. The story just puts a smile on your face and gives you the warm and fuzzies.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Julia Walton for providing me with an ARC.

I'm usually not a fan of this kind of novels, written in journal entries, but I loved this one! It was really amazing! I admit, I loved Words on bathroom walls more, but this one was really close to it. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Dear Evan Hansen.

Just Our Luck by Julia Walton is a coming of age story told through Leo's journal entries. Leo has an anxiety disorder, is bullied, and finds solace in the solitary hobbies of photography, knitting, and crochet - all things that make him less than popular with his high school peers. When he finds himself developing unlikely friendships and support with his yoga class, his bully, and a girl whose family cursed his family generations ago, he evolves into a healthier and braver young man.

I enjoyed this book. I identified immediately with Leo's issues with anxiety and his sensory issues and found the developing friendships a pleasant, unexpected touch. I think that it is a novel that everyone can learn from as messages of resiliency, friendship, healing a family after grief, and maintaining healthy coping strategies are front and center throughout the narrative.

Advanced readers copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Who knew a punch in the face could be so life changing!

After getting into a scuffle at school, two things happened. Leo was forced to have lunch every day with the boy who hit him, and his dad signed him up for self defense classes. Though he couldn't escape the mandatory lunch time talks, He was able to replace the self defense class with hot yoga, and that was where his journey began.

This book was such a delight to read! I adored Words on Bathroom Walls, but wasn't sure what to expect from Just Our Luck. What I found a funny and heartwarming story love and acceptance and finding your place in this world.

I immediately fell in love with Leo. He lost his mother when he was quite young, and his Yia Yia had been the center of his world. When she died, he was left on his own, as his father never quite recovered from his wife's death many years ago. Leo leveraged a lot of the advice his Yia Yia left him with, but things were still difficult for him. That's part of why it was so wonderful to see him coming into his own.

Leo not only struggled with anxiety, he also had trouble adopting the "norms" expected by his manly father and a good chunk of society for that matter. Leo was a quiet boy, who liked to knit, crochet and take pictures, to his father's dismay. He also cried "too much" according to his dad, but Leo was ok with it. He was a sweet and beautiful soft boy, who absolutely owned my heart. I loved that he was not ashamed to show emotion or his love of crafts, and it was so satisfying that people began to really "see" him and appreciate him for who he was. Leo grew and changed in the best ways. He gained more confidence, and this led to a chain reaction of great things for him. He made new friends, worked through his grief, made inroads with his father, and even found a little romance in his life.

One friendship worth mentioning was between Leo and Drake. At first glance, Drake was sort of a meathead, but like all Walton's characters in this book, he was actually quite complex. The bromance between these two did not come easy, but it was so lovely watching it grow. Drake went from being one of Leo's tormentors to being one of his champions. It was definitely something special to see.

Walton put all her characters on a journey in this story. All the main players experienced some sort of growth and change, and it was a joy to be part of their evolution. In the end, this story was about loving and accepting yourself and finding those people who will love and accept you for who you are. I hope many people get the opportunity to meet Leo, because he was such a special character and someone worth cheering for.

I'm struggling with how to review this book. Overall, I did enjoy it. It was a quick read, and I was interested enough in the story to keep going. I did want to see how things would turn out. I liked Leo's character. I have attempted yoga before, so I loved his descriptions of his attempts at the various poses. It was fun watching his friendship with Drake develop throughout the story.

That being said, there was just not enough. I didn't feel like there was a true climax to the story. When I thought it was coming, I felt like it just kind of fell short. There needed to be more emotion in those scenes.

This boy Leo is Greek. He’s a loner trying to deal with anxiety and grief while disappointing his dad by not being into “manly” activities. The first part is about his Greekness and his relationship with his recently deceased grandmother who raised him, and the curse that another Greek family nearby put on their family many years ago. This part read like he was 13 years old, which is what I thought until a girl in his high school junior class mentioned that he’s kind of hot.

We watch him grow as a person, make friends, get a girlfriend (from the aforementioned family he was to avoid), and ultimately learn to deal with his grief and anxiety. And also become a yogi. This would be a good book for any young adult with anxiety issues or anyone wanting to understand them.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very well written with an unusual storyline, this book will grab your attention and hold on to it. The main characters are very well-developed and easy to empathize with. I absolutely adored the main character, with his unusual interests and non-traditional high school difficulties and angst. However...
TW - death, loss, grief, anxiety disorder, panic attacks, cursing, verbal and physical bullying, revenge porn, blackmail.
With that being said, the literary elements in this YA novel are fully and beautifully developed. You will cheer for these characters, cry with them, and laugh at their antics. Check out the publishers description and industry accolades to make sure this book is for you. If so - you will live it as I did!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this adorable book! Leo is such a lovable main character, and I love the way that he deals with his anxiety and goes against the standard stereotypes of masculinity. I also love the way that the supporting characters truly accept him for who he is, and that he is able to help them find themselves in certain ways as well. The romantic piece of the story is also very sweet and well done, and I loved watching the relationship between Leo and Evey blossom. The writing style also incorporates text conversations in addition to standard narration, and I think this adds another fun dimension to the story, as well as being something extremely relatable to the YA crowd. Another extremely heartwarming piece of the story is Leo's relationship with his dad, and I was constantly wondering throughout the story how that relationship would develop, and I was not at all disappointed with the resolution. This is truly a fun and beautiful book, and I recommend it to fans of contemporary YA as well as anyone who is looking to read a sweet story that defies the norm!