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With a Little Luck
Alice Luckett is only nine years old when her father, Len, commits suicide. Her mother disappeared several months before, so Alice goes to live with her grandparents, Edith and Monty. They love her dearly but are often too preoccupied to have time for poor Alice. Her only real pleasure comes from the hours she spends next door with Nell Ainslie and her handsome son Eric. Slowly but surely, Alice comes to terms with her loss. But when Uncle Frank gets involved in the bakery business where she works, a chilling memory from the night of Len's death comes back to haunt her. And a shocking revelation changes life for the whole family...
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 1999
88 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Anne Baker
79 books64 followersAnne Baker trained as a nurse in England, but after her marriage lived in Libya and Nigeria before returning to Birkenhead, where she worked as a health visitor. She now lives with her husband in Merseyside.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 14, 2025
5⭐️
Such a beautifully written book!! I loved reading it so much and now that I've finished reading it, I'll miss all the characters, mainly Alice. The book is set in the 1920's and 30's. It's full of family drama, betrayal, loss and pain.
Let me first introduce the family, as they form the heart of this story. Alice’s grandparents are Edith Luckett and Monty, who have three sons. The eldest two are twins, Frank and Len, followed by the youngest, Peter.
--> Len, though not Alice’s biological father, plays a fatherly role alongside his wife Beryl , and they are Alice’s parents. They both die in the later parts of the book!!
--> Frank, Len’s twin, is married to Cecily, who work's as a hairdresser and their daughter Maddy is Alice’s cousin-but also, in a surprising twist, her stepsister. Alice, however, does not get along with Maddy, and their strained relationship adds tension and complexity to the story.
--> Peter, the youngest brother, becomes an important figure in Alice’s life when circumstances force her to rely on him.
Additionally, Alice’s grandparent’s neighbors, Eric and his mother, add warmth and love to the world surrounding her.
The story begins with Len taking his own life and Alice moving in with her grandparents. She loves spending time with Eric and his mother, sewing for hours with them in their home.
One of my favorite parts was seeing Alice rise above her hardships. When Uncle Peter gets into an accident, Alice starts working in his bakery. The descriptions of the bakery- the smell of fresh bread, the cozy warmth of the space, were so vivid that I could almost feel like I was right there with her. I hoped she would continue working there.
That being said, not all the characters won my heart. I really disliked Frank and his parents. They came across as selfish, and the way they treated their partners, with betrayal and manipulation was frustrating and upsetting. Their actions made Alice’s struggles feel even more real, but also left me angry at how little they seemed to care about others.
Also there is another plot, don't wanna give out spoilers, so yes I'm ending my review here. But at last, I really liked Alice ending up with Eric, that was the one thing she always wanted!!
Overall, With a Little Luck is a well-written and relatable story about family, love, and loss. The characters are complex and the emotions are handled thoughtfully. It’s a story that lingers, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven novels with real-life struggles and heartfelt moments.
Such a beautifully written book!! I loved reading it so much and now that I've finished reading it, I'll miss all the characters, mainly Alice. The book is set in the 1920's and 30's. It's full of family drama, betrayal, loss and pain.
Let me first introduce the family, as they form the heart of this story. Alice’s grandparents are Edith Luckett and Monty, who have three sons. The eldest two are twins, Frank and Len, followed by the youngest, Peter.
--> Len, though not Alice’s biological father, plays a fatherly role alongside his wife Beryl , and they are Alice’s parents. They both die in the later parts of the book!!
--> Frank, Len’s twin, is married to Cecily, who work's as a hairdresser and their daughter Maddy is Alice’s cousin-but also, in a surprising twist, her stepsister. Alice, however, does not get along with Maddy, and their strained relationship adds tension and complexity to the story.
--> Peter, the youngest brother, becomes an important figure in Alice’s life when circumstances force her to rely on him.
Additionally, Alice’s grandparent’s neighbors, Eric and his mother, add warmth and love to the world surrounding her.
The story begins with Len taking his own life and Alice moving in with her grandparents. She loves spending time with Eric and his mother, sewing for hours with them in their home.
One of my favorite parts was seeing Alice rise above her hardships. When Uncle Peter gets into an accident, Alice starts working in his bakery. The descriptions of the bakery- the smell of fresh bread, the cozy warmth of the space, were so vivid that I could almost feel like I was right there with her. I hoped she would continue working there.
That being said, not all the characters won my heart. I really disliked Frank and his parents. They came across as selfish, and the way they treated their partners, with betrayal and manipulation was frustrating and upsetting. Their actions made Alice’s struggles feel even more real, but also left me angry at how little they seemed to care about others.
Also there is another plot, don't wanna give out spoilers, so yes I'm ending my review here. But at last, I really liked Alice ending up with Eric, that was the one thing she always wanted!!
Overall, With a Little Luck is a well-written and relatable story about family, love, and loss. The characters are complex and the emotions are handled thoughtfully. It’s a story that lingers, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven novels with real-life struggles and heartfelt moments.
July 9, 2020
Such a lovely book from this author as usual. She tells a great story and really makes you feel like you know the characters. Felt so sorry for Alice at the beginning, wanted so much to swoop into the book and take care of her myself. Lots of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages over.
June 9, 2018
Good read
Lovely story of family intrigue. The twists and turns of family life were quite interesting. Just show all families have secrets.
Lovely story of family intrigue. The twists and turns of family life were quite interesting. Just show all families have secrets.
July 22, 2023
Another great story
January 6, 2011
nne Baker writes great family sagas. I have enjoyed each one that I have read, they are set around the same area of the Mersey in England but at different times. So far each book has had a different story.
This one is about Alice Luckett and her family. When the book starts Alice is 9 years old and the year is 1928 and her father has just died, at the end of the book Alice is 19 and it is 1938. Alice goes to live with her grandparents Edith and Monty and her Uncle Peter. She becomes very close to the people next door Nell and Eric Ainslie. There is also Uncle Frank, Aunt Cecily and her cousin Madison. Frank and Monty both have secrets.
I really enjoyed this book.
This one is about Alice Luckett and her family. When the book starts Alice is 9 years old and the year is 1928 and her father has just died, at the end of the book Alice is 19 and it is 1938. Alice goes to live with her grandparents Edith and Monty and her Uncle Peter. She becomes very close to the people next door Nell and Eric Ainslie. There is also Uncle Frank, Aunt Cecily and her cousin Madison. Frank and Monty both have secrets.
I really enjoyed this book.
March 31, 2012
Its a very interesting books, its a family drama. I just picked up this book in a book fair, I didn't know anything about the author. Just liked the cover, so brought it. It turned out to be a beautiful book.
Its about a girl named Alice, she looses her father when she was 9. The story revolves around her and the people in her life. It has its twists and turns, romance, sorrow and everything needed for a prefect family drama.
Its about a girl named Alice, she looses her father when she was 9. The story revolves around her and the people in her life. It has its twists and turns, romance, sorrow and everything needed for a prefect family drama.
June 27, 2009
Nice story, the plot held my interest the entire time and a happy ending, of course. This is the kind of book that is pleasant to read from time to time, just to be able to stop thinking about our problems.
October 7, 2012
Great family saga with many unexpected twists and turns in the story.
May 30, 2013
realised I had read it before but still great
November 26, 2023
With a little luck
Very enjoyable book It was a Gipping story about love and loyalty and secrets that came to a great conclusion and a happy ending a feel good book
😍💕💕
Very enjoyable book It was a Gipping story about love and loyalty and secrets that came to a great conclusion and a happy ending a feel good book
😍💕💕
September 26, 2024
A lovely heartfelt story. Loved every page
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews