Four Years of Bad Luck: Freshman Year

by Talisha Young

🌀 Freshman year was supposed to be a fresh start... not a four-year curse.
Layla Marie Dotson thought high school would be her chance to shake off three years of bad luck. But Greenville High Academy has other plans. New cliques, old insecurities, unexpected drama and a mysterious string of misfortunes...follow her everywhere.

📚 Four Years of Bad Freshman Year is a heartfelt and hilarious YA coming-of-age novel about friendship, fitting in, and finding your voice when everything seems to be going wrong.

✨ Perfect for fans of:

Dork Diaries meets On My Block

High school drama with real emotion

Girls who refuse to give up—even when the odds are stacked

Can Layla survive her cursed freshman year… or will bad luck win again?

✔ Great for ages 13–18
✔ Real talk about friendship, confidence, and growing up
✔ Book 1 of The Bad Luck Chronicles

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2024

Reviews

[Elizabeth Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the fast pace. Really kept the story going without it dragging. Quick read and enjoyable. Had drama, friendship and heartbreak. The unexpected twist with the love interest and the lead up to the cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more and excited for the second book.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to find some time to read this young adult book by Talisha Young, and I personally really enjoyed how fast paced it was.

I truly think this book is perfect for any teenager who is going through the motions of high school and trying to find themselves.

One thing I loved was how relatable this book felt and how the days of high school were a reminder of how high school used to be. To be honest it felt as though I was living the dramatic moments and feeling every feeling Layla felt when she was going through boy and friend troubles.

This is definitely a book I would’ve read when I was younger, and would recommend it to any teenager who’s looking for a quick and easy read. Sometimes the books you can relate to the most are the best ones for you!

[Margaret Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lalya begins High School hoping that she will have a good year. However, as she looks at her cracked mirror she is worried about her freshman year and how it will go. Layla and her friends go through the wringer with girls from their old middle school causing drama and Hating on Layla. As the year goes on. one of Layla's friends gets involved with drugs. The book showcases some of the reality that high school kids go through. The story ends on a cliff hanger as it is the first book in a series. Young Adult. Debut novel.

[Alana Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla’s journey is full of ups, downs, and unexpected bad luck. The way she handles it all made me want to hug her and cheer her on. It’s real, raw, and funny. Perfect for anyone who’s ever felt out of place in high school.

[Burnett Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book! Layla’s story felt so real, from friendship troubles to weird school surprises. The writing kept me hooked with every awkward and emotional moment. Definitely a must-read if you love books about surviving high school with a little bad luck.

[William M. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book wasn’t it. The storyline felt all over the place, and the constant drama got tiring. I kept waiting for something meaningful to happen, but it never did. I couldn’t connect with Layla or the writing. Big disappointment definitely not reading the next one.