Love & Luck – Jenna Evans Welch

Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Received: Publisher
Published: May 8th, 2018
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Recommended Age: 11+
Pacing: Fast
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Family, Siblings, Contemporary, Summer, Traveling

BLURB:

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.

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Two years ago, I read a wonderful story titled Love & Gelato. It introduced me to gelato, a very succulent human invention, and quite a swoon-worthy Italian – Ren.

I couldn’t wait to read more from this author.

So when I had the opportunity to read Love & Luck, I jumped with joy. I kid you not, I received an e-mail saying I would receive a copy of it thirty minutes before taking one of my final exams. Let me tell you that I was more eager than usual to sit for three hours and answer an essay question.

All that to say that while I had expectations, since I was familiar was the author’s style I knew to read it when in need of something light and family-themed.

Because that was the most important theme in Love & Gelato, and the same applies here. Addie (Lina’s best friend) isn’t going to Ireland to get swept off her feet by a local boy, which proves that love comes in different forms.

It is the love between two siblings that is explored. Addie and Ian had a falling-out recently, and neither is ready to do what the other person asks to move on. Ian wants his sister to tell the truth about what happened between her and Cubby. Addie, on the other hand, just wants to think about something else and leave the past in the past.

Once again, there is a *mild* mystery in the storyline, one that might surprise you a little, but won’t shock you in any way. That was alright with me. I didn’t much care for what happened between Addie and Cubby, but I did care about her relationship with her brother and wished for them to patch things up.

I adored witnessing their conversations. He reminded me why having a brother can be so amazing – and not just a brother, but a sibling in general. I have one, by the way, and even when he and I fight, we still mean a lot to each other and know that we’ll be fine the next day. Granted, it takes longer for Addie and Ian to solve their problems, but that’s because they don’t communicate effectively, something they both need to learn.

I find that, although the characters visited different parts of Ireland, I learned close to nothing about the culture. I wouldn’t have even batted an eye if you had told me that Rowan, Ian’s Irish friend and love interest of the story, was actually American.

Still, I flew through this story. Not simply because it is fast, but also because it is full of entertaining banter and heart-warming scenes.

All I have left to say is… Please write a story set in an Asian country next, Ms. Evans Welch. Please, oh, please.

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