The Lucky List

“We're all lucky, not because every thing works out, but we get to wake up in the morning and take chances and make mistakes and keep trying not to.”

The Lucky List is a fantastic sapphic romance that centres around grief, loss, self-acceptance and coming to terms with your identity. I loved She Gets The Girl so I went into this with high expectations and I am so glad that it didn't disappoint.

I think this book will leave a significant mark on people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. I know it certainly left one on me. I loved how authentic it felt. It was almost like you could feel the pain flowing from the pages and the characters and that's something that truly resonated with me.

The slow burn of the romance between Emily and Blake was beautiful and I loved that it was a slow burn because I feel like if it had been faster paced it would've lost something. Dealing with grief is slow and we can't expect finding love with someone can help mend that so I appreciated that it took its time and it helped the readers savour Emily's journey of acceptance with her loss and her relationship with her sexuality.

This was a great read!

3.5

Emily’s Summer before senior year is nothing she pictured it would be. She still grieves the loss of her mother, and no one seems to understand what she is going through. Life continues to move on around her and Emily just feels…stuck. The only person around willing to listen is Blake, the new girl in town. But Emily is nervous around Blake, in a way she can’t quite understand. Then Emily finds her mother’s lucky list. Encouraged by Blake to live out her mother’s Summer adventure through the list, Emily will not only discover a new connection with her mother but her true feelings as well.

The Lucky List took a little while to establish the characters and plot direction, but once it did, this story shined. The confusion Emily felt when those around her dealt with grief in their own way was heartbreaking. While some have moved on, she hasn’t and the lack of communication between herself and others made it so much more difficult for her to understand. My heart went out to Emily as she tried to put her life back on track, and made missteps along the way. But the journey she underwent is well worth the read. It is not only about life after grief but about discovering your identity.

Emily experiences such a transformation as the story progresses. Once she and Blake begin to work through the lucky list, Emily slowly but surely opens up. She grows as a person and starts to live life for herself, instead of how she thinks people want her to live. Watching Emily evolve from a timid girl into one willing to take chances and embrace life was delightful to read. And the amount of pressure Emily feels as she realizes her true feelings are intense. The Lucky List puts into perspective the fear of rejection from loved ones when coming out.

The Lucky List is a wonderful story about discovering identity and coming of age. It’s a slow-burn lesbian romance that shows the social pressures when coming out. But it also shows how the loving support of friends and family can make a world of difference. This was a quick easy read, and if you’re looking for a book to read this Summer, go ahead and pick up a copy of The Lucky List.