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Chasing Karma: A small town, 2 brothers, lol romcom
Twenty good deeds, two brothers, and one quest for good karma. A small town, laugh-out-loud tale of self-discovery, friendship, and the power of kindness.
Life is kicking Ava’s butt, and a fender-bender in traffic is just the latest disaster. That’s when Ryan, the mysterious (and hot) good Samaritan helps her out - more than once.
But Ava’s misfortunes are a little more than just bad luck. Convinced by her best friends Tracy, Donna, and Eden that it’s a case of bad karma, Ava sets out on a mission to turn her luck around by finding good deeds to do in her local community.
Determined to complete as many good deeds as possible, Ava dives headfirst into her community looking for ways to spread kindness and positivity - and chase some good karma. However, her efforts result in a string of comical disasters that make her wonder if she’s cursed, not to mention her soul-crushing job at the local supermarket with the worst boss in the world. Despite the chaos, she bonds with a lively group of seniors and volunteers at a local soup van.
At the soup van Ava meets Liam, a handsome and compassionate volunteer who seems too good to be true. But her growing feelings for Liam are complicated by the undeniable chemistry she shares with Ryan, his unpredictable and charming brother – who has already saved her on multiple occasions.
In this heartwarming and hilarious romantic comedy, Ava discovers that karma works in mysterious ways and true fulfillment might actually be found in helping others.
Will Ava find the good karma she’s chasing, and who will win her heart in the end?
Get ready for ‘Chasing Karma’ - a journey of self-discovery and good deeds with LOL mishaps on the road to redemption.
Life is kicking Ava’s butt, and a fender-bender in traffic is just the latest disaster. That’s when Ryan, the mysterious (and hot) good Samaritan helps her out - more than once.
But Ava’s misfortunes are a little more than just bad luck. Convinced by her best friends Tracy, Donna, and Eden that it’s a case of bad karma, Ava sets out on a mission to turn her luck around by finding good deeds to do in her local community.
Determined to complete as many good deeds as possible, Ava dives headfirst into her community looking for ways to spread kindness and positivity - and chase some good karma. However, her efforts result in a string of comical disasters that make her wonder if she’s cursed, not to mention her soul-crushing job at the local supermarket with the worst boss in the world. Despite the chaos, she bonds with a lively group of seniors and volunteers at a local soup van.
At the soup van Ava meets Liam, a handsome and compassionate volunteer who seems too good to be true. But her growing feelings for Liam are complicated by the undeniable chemistry she shares with Ryan, his unpredictable and charming brother – who has already saved her on multiple occasions.
In this heartwarming and hilarious romantic comedy, Ava discovers that karma works in mysterious ways and true fulfillment might actually be found in helping others.
Will Ava find the good karma she’s chasing, and who will win her heart in the end?
Get ready for ‘Chasing Karma’ - a journey of self-discovery and good deeds with LOL mishaps on the road to redemption.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
6 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Susan Murphy
11 books38 followersAs a marriage and funeral celebrant from Adelaide, South Australia, Susan Murphy has some stories to tell.
Having conducted hundreds of weddings, funerals, naming days and many other more 'out there' celebrations, storytelling is a natural part of the process.
Her first book 'Confetti Confidential: They Do, I Don't' was first published with Harper Collins, (and re-published in 2022), with the follow-up, 'Annabel's Wedding' soon after. Her third, 'Aloha Love' is now available in paperback and ebook through Kindred Ink Press.
After a stint as the Writer in Residence at the SA Writers Centre, Susan is now working on a historical fiction project as well as a new women's fiction series.
www.susanmurphyauthor.com
Having conducted hundreds of weddings, funerals, naming days and many other more 'out there' celebrations, storytelling is a natural part of the process.
Her first book 'Confetti Confidential: They Do, I Don't' was first published with Harper Collins, (and re-published in 2022), with the follow-up, 'Annabel's Wedding' soon after. Her third, 'Aloha Love' is now available in paperback and ebook through Kindred Ink Press.
After a stint as the Writer in Residence at the SA Writers Centre, Susan is now working on a historical fiction project as well as a new women's fiction series.
www.susanmurphyauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 8, 2024
I absolutely adore this book! It is a very relatable read, at least for me personally, and it served as a reminder to live in the moment. It is lighthearted and easy to get invested in. Holding out hope that there will be a second book to follow because I enjoyed it so much!
October 23, 2024
“I mean that I think I’m realising that life is surrounding me with bad karma to force me to change.” (Page 101).
What is karma and how did Ava get so bad at it? Misfortune and disaster are always bringing her down but she’s determined to be grateful and find the good in everything. It can’t all just be bad luck. But if it is bad karma, Ava is convinced she has to change it to bring her life around. She jumps at every chance to do good deeds in her local community but soon realizes that she has to make her own opportunities to make a bigger difference.
It’s all bad luck for Ava. She’s rear-ended someone (didn’t even try to brake), chipped a tooth, choked on a piece of donut, tripped, fell, stubbed her toe, and dropped a vat of soup. That’s just in the last few days. Every little incident looms big in her mind as bad luck, disaster, and misfortune. Ava is determined not to be a victim of her bad luck and to drown in any bad attitude. She can’t live her life in misery but she’s tried changing her attitude and it’s time to change her karma instead. Karma is the idea that a person’s actions and their consequences are connected in a cycle of cause and effect. Ava thinks she has the power to change her karma by doing good for others. At first, she intentionally tries to help others for the sake of a point-based karma system as if it were a game. Even her friends are skeptical that doing good deeds is going to magically bring good things her way. Yet, Ava perseveres in her quest for karma because she has hope that everything will eventually balance out in her favor.
Ava has an enviably supportive group of friends and a telepathic twin-like relationship with her sister which makes me jealous. Ava just so happens to be helped by a very attractive man and finds herself surrounded by welcoming people. She doesn’t just have meet-cutes she has meet-disasters. Her life is chaotic and I want to know everything that’s going to happen next. She is the car crash you can’t look away from but at the same time, I am rooting for her.
Ava needs to have her aha moment before anything will change. Much like Yes Man or Eat Pray Love, Ava must continue her quest of self-discovery to unleash her power to make a change in her life before anything changes. I love how powerfully this concept is presented. Ava doesn’t even realize that she’s stuck in a rut. It will take a new perspective and a drive for change both mentally in the way she looks at the world and in her physical situation. I love how feel-good this book is. Ava is not a glass-half-empty person wallowing in her self-pity. She is still so positive, so hopeful, even amidst her rampant bad luck. I want to have the same strength of character as Ava. She is a force. She carries the book. She could be the star of a movie. I would love to see this book as a romcom. It would work so well. The elements of self-discovery, humor, and romance are boldly present.
Even when things go wrong Ava is likeable and I love that about her. She is humble to the point of self-deprecation but it’s not over the top or grating. It’s still on the humble scale. When she realizes that she has to be the change, it doesn’t scare her. I want to be more like Ava in my own life. She realizes that doing something meaningful is important. In other words, if it’s not heck yes, then it’s heck no! Do what you love. Do what makes you happy. What a wonderfully uplifting message from this book. Reading this book was not just entertaining but made me happy.
First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.
What is karma and how did Ava get so bad at it? Misfortune and disaster are always bringing her down but she’s determined to be grateful and find the good in everything. It can’t all just be bad luck. But if it is bad karma, Ava is convinced she has to change it to bring her life around. She jumps at every chance to do good deeds in her local community but soon realizes that she has to make her own opportunities to make a bigger difference.
It’s all bad luck for Ava. She’s rear-ended someone (didn’t even try to brake), chipped a tooth, choked on a piece of donut, tripped, fell, stubbed her toe, and dropped a vat of soup. That’s just in the last few days. Every little incident looms big in her mind as bad luck, disaster, and misfortune. Ava is determined not to be a victim of her bad luck and to drown in any bad attitude. She can’t live her life in misery but she’s tried changing her attitude and it’s time to change her karma instead. Karma is the idea that a person’s actions and their consequences are connected in a cycle of cause and effect. Ava thinks she has the power to change her karma by doing good for others. At first, she intentionally tries to help others for the sake of a point-based karma system as if it were a game. Even her friends are skeptical that doing good deeds is going to magically bring good things her way. Yet, Ava perseveres in her quest for karma because she has hope that everything will eventually balance out in her favor.
Ava has an enviably supportive group of friends and a telepathic twin-like relationship with her sister which makes me jealous. Ava just so happens to be helped by a very attractive man and finds herself surrounded by welcoming people. She doesn’t just have meet-cutes she has meet-disasters. Her life is chaotic and I want to know everything that’s going to happen next. She is the car crash you can’t look away from but at the same time, I am rooting for her.
Ava needs to have her aha moment before anything will change. Much like Yes Man or Eat Pray Love, Ava must continue her quest of self-discovery to unleash her power to make a change in her life before anything changes. I love how powerfully this concept is presented. Ava doesn’t even realize that she’s stuck in a rut. It will take a new perspective and a drive for change both mentally in the way she looks at the world and in her physical situation. I love how feel-good this book is. Ava is not a glass-half-empty person wallowing in her self-pity. She is still so positive, so hopeful, even amidst her rampant bad luck. I want to have the same strength of character as Ava. She is a force. She carries the book. She could be the star of a movie. I would love to see this book as a romcom. It would work so well. The elements of self-discovery, humor, and romance are boldly present.
Even when things go wrong Ava is likeable and I love that about her. She is humble to the point of self-deprecation but it’s not over the top or grating. It’s still on the humble scale. When she realizes that she has to be the change, it doesn’t scare her. I want to be more like Ava in my own life. She realizes that doing something meaningful is important. In other words, if it’s not heck yes, then it’s heck no! Do what you love. Do what makes you happy. What a wonderfully uplifting message from this book. Reading this book was not just entertaining but made me happy.
First Reviewed through Reedsy Discovery.
October 7, 2024
When accident-prone Ava becomes convinced that bad karma is at the root of all her problems, she devises a system that awards her points for good deeds completed. At first, working at the local soup kitchen and assisting elderly residents in the community feels like a chore, but soon Ava comes to realise that not only is she enjoying helping people, but that she has also forged some valuable new friendships.
With a new purpose in her mundane existence, Ava sets out on a course of action she hopes will change the trajectory of her life, which is complicated not only by the mishaps that occur on a regular basis, but also by a complex family situation, a horrible boss and her non-existent love life.
Before long, however, two brothers begin messing with Ava’s head – the too-good-to-be-true Liam and the erratic Ryan. Which brother is right for her? And which will she choose?
A light-hearted romcom with a message for us all.
With a new purpose in her mundane existence, Ava sets out on a course of action she hopes will change the trajectory of her life, which is complicated not only by the mishaps that occur on a regular basis, but also by a complex family situation, a horrible boss and her non-existent love life.
Before long, however, two brothers begin messing with Ava’s head – the too-good-to-be-true Liam and the erratic Ryan. Which brother is right for her? And which will she choose?
A light-hearted romcom with a message for us all.
August 14, 2024
Ava, a supermarket worker, seems to stumble from one crisis to the next.
She and her three best friends decide she is receiving bad Karma, for whatever reason, and so sets out to try and turn things around.
She is a very likeable character, despite being clumsy and unlucky, and things do take a turn for the better, after she helps out at mobile soup kitchen.
This is a lovely story of hope and community coming together, with a host of great characters (her former boss not included).
I was slow to start reading this book, but soon began to fall in love with the storyline, and characters, who were all written.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
She and her three best friends decide she is receiving bad Karma, for whatever reason, and so sets out to try and turn things around.
She is a very likeable character, despite being clumsy and unlucky, and things do take a turn for the better, after she helps out at mobile soup kitchen.
This is a lovely story of hope and community coming together, with a host of great characters (her former boss not included).
I was slow to start reading this book, but soon began to fall in love with the storyline, and characters, who were all written.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
October 1, 2024
I loved this book! It was so funny and charming. Ava needs to change her luck and do good deeds to improve her Karma, and along the way she finds a group of new friends and even a new job.
The premise was really good, but the characters were the best part. Her family dynamic felt real, her group of childhood friends was always supportive, but the senior citizens, Jack, Harriet, Jan and Paddy were the best. I was always entertained when they were together. And we have two sexy brothers, Liam and Ryan to choose from and I confess I agree with Ava's choice.
Overall, this is a charming and uplifting story and I highly recommended it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The premise was really good, but the characters were the best part. Her family dynamic felt real, her group of childhood friends was always supportive, but the senior citizens, Jack, Harriet, Jan and Paddy were the best. I was always entertained when they were together. And we have two sexy brothers, Liam and Ryan to choose from and I confess I agree with Ava's choice.
Overall, this is a charming and uplifting story and I highly recommended it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 23, 2024
My first thought in writing this review is that the material is silly. There is nothing wrong with the premise that bad karma can be overcome by good karma but the way it is written, it did not make me laugh. It made me think it was non-sensical/
The MC gets into all kinds of weird troubles - like knocking a cake out of the hands of the presenter with only a candle for light as a surprise. Two brothers who could not be as different as these two just make things sillier.
I will not give away the ending as I do not wish to spoil it for the reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The MC gets into all kinds of weird troubles - like knocking a cake out of the hands of the presenter with only a candle for light as a surprise. Two brothers who could not be as different as these two just make things sillier.
I will not give away the ending as I do not wish to spoil it for the reader.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 26, 2024
I enjoyed reading this story about a young woman wanting to improve her life. I immediately fell in love with it when I read the Dalai Lama's 20 Ways to Get Good Karma as the introduction. The focus of the story was Ava's efforts to find ways to serve in her community, while the romance was a subplot. The question of "which brother will she choose?" added interest to the romance. There were many interesting side characters, and they all fit well into the story. I liked how Ava evolved in her motivations to serve. Overall this was a meaningful story with a sweet romance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2024
If it wasn't for bad luck, Ava would have no luck at all! She and her friends figure she needs to straighten out her karma. This was proven correct after going to a psychic reading and unsolicitedly, a man who was present confirmed she needed to straighten out her karma. She tries to correct this by doing good deeds. Will she figure this out before it is too late? There seems to be a romance ahead, but, will her bad karma hinder this? An enjoyable laugh filled book!
August 7, 2024
3.5! Although the book started off a little slow and was dialogue heavy, I thoroughly enjoyed this cute and sweet little read! Jack will permanently have a special place in my heart 🥹 what a wholesome guy
October 6, 2024
Great story! Loved the complications of two love interests and the story itself was really good! So funny and great banter! Definitely recommend!
November 14, 2025
Chasing Karma is a warm, hilarious small-town romcom full of charm, chaos, and heart, with a lovely message about kindness, community, and unexpected love
August 11, 2024
true meaning
In poor Ava´s case you can say that "karma is a bitch", but in my opinion doing good for your own gain isn´t the right way to go, selfish motives won´t be rewarded by the higher instituions.
In poor Ava´s case you can say that "karma is a bitch", but in my opinion doing good for your own gain isn´t the right way to go, selfish motives won´t be rewarded by the higher instituions.
October 5, 2024
This is the first time I read a book by this author and I really enjoyed it.
Our FMC Ava who is a
market employee, seems to constantly face many bad luck scenarios after another. Along with her best friends, she believes she's experiencing bad karma and decides to take action to change her luck.
Despite her clumsiness and misfortunes, Ava is an endearing character, and things begin to improve after she volunteers at a mobile soup kitchen.
This book has me laughing and it was heartwarming I definitely recommend this book.
Our FMC Ava who is a
market employee, seems to constantly face many bad luck scenarios after another. Along with her best friends, she believes she's experiencing bad karma and decides to take action to change her luck.
Despite her clumsiness and misfortunes, Ava is an endearing character, and things begin to improve after she volunteers at a mobile soup kitchen.
This book has me laughing and it was heartwarming I definitely recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews