Look Before You Leprechaun

by Jacqueline Mathias

A leprechaun trillionaire, a psychic pickpocket, and a brown-eyed beauty who is selfless to a fault. What could go wrong?

 

Stuck with the title of "leprechaun" – even though he's every inch a human – teenage trillionaire Robin Reilly longs for a life outside the boundaries of his secluded estate. But the strictly enforced leprechaun rules forbid him from leaving.

 

It's only when he receives a letter from the leprechaun king, informing him that he is betrothed to the king's short, pudgy, red-faced daughter – Pandora – that he decides he needs to do something about his hilariously unfortunate situation – and fast.

 

Setting out to escape his arranged marriage – and possibly open up a whole new life for himself as well – Robin decides to venture into the outside world and hide away from the leprechaun militia in the place that they'd least suspect.

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 11, 2024

Reviews

[Matthew Runals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, you just gotta read this.
If you enjoy a fun, coming-of-age read, pick this up.

The characters are believable. Throughout the story, there are jokes, emotions, and so much more! I appreciate how the characters interacted with each other. A powerful lesson on forgiveness and the need to have a community of friends who care for each other.

This is a read for any age.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel took me on a whimsical adventure teeming with lovable characters, wholesome romance, and mischievous leprechauns. The premise of a teenager being a trillionaire was absolutely wild, the pacing was excellent, and the real life struggles were beautifully written. Honestly, Jacks backstory made me ugly cry and I pray that he will have a redemption story of his own. Look Before You Leprechaun is a great reminder to never take family/friends for granted, that not everything that glitters is gold, and that money can never truly make you happy.

[Arion T. A. Nagge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this clean contemporary fantasy. Jack was my favorite character. The tension between him and Robin felt so real. I liked how the main action plot was paced, my only complaint with the plot being about a third of the way through as something that didn't have as much impact as it seemed it should which could've been replaced by an alternative, but it moves the plot along so I suppose it's good enough haha. I LOVED Sabbath the horse. The romance plot was where I got a little lost. There were some cute fluffy moments but it didn't feel real or well developed, just convenient for the plot. It had potential and I'd enjoy reading other takes on the relationship, but as it stands it was just meh for me and I honestly wanted the end to go differently. The way Jack stands in relation to this I think was much better fleshed out and more interesting. Cynthia had good moments, but they are sprinkled through her appearances like an everything bagel with not quite enough everything. Robin is sensitive and, from an emotional standpoint, believable. One thing I really appreciate though is you don't forget that the characters are young and impulsive. It made the clunkier relationship bits more believable. There was a lot of great prose in this story. The author does an excellent job of making you feel things. Especially Jack's inner mental conflict. The way she describes emotion is grounded and relatable. I loved the plot twist. I think it had so much potential for more or an alternate universe take on it. I would've loved more depth to the world building but not because it felt like a sandwich without enough meat, but rather a sandwich so good you want two or three. I would've loved to learn more about certain aspects of the world. All in all, worth the read, I would've put it 4.5 stars if I could.

[Grace Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look Before You Leprechaun is pure adventure with heart—and it delivers on every front.

The premise alone is brilliant: a teenage trillionaire labeled a “leprechaun” despite being fully human, trapped by absurd rules and facing an arranged marriage to the leprechaun king’s daughter. What follows is a masterfully crafted escape story filled with twists that kept me frantically turning pages, desperate to discover what happens next.

But here’s what makes this book truly special—beneath the whimsy and adventure, this young author fearlessly tackles real-life issues that give the story incredible authenticity. The way she weaves these harder subjects into a tale of merging worlds creates a reading experience that’s both entertaining and meaningful. The clever dialogue sparkles throughout, and the love triangle adds a perfect touch of tension that enriches the story beautifully.

As someone who works with horses daily, I’m drawn to stories that understand authentic struggle and transformation. Just as horses can sense when someone is running from fear versus moving toward freedom, this protagonist’s journey from trapped to empowered resonated deeply. The emotional arc feels as genuine as watching a nervous rider finally find their seat—there’s real growth, real stakes, and a satisfying payoff.

The writing is sharp and engaging. The characters feel genuine. The pacing gallops forward without stumbling. This is the kind of book that reminds you why supporting young authors matters—because fresh voices bring fresh magic to storytelling.

Do yourself a favor: read this book. Support this talented author. You won’t regret it.

[Alissa Vaziri · Rating 4 out of 5]

“And then, like a whisper, there was a bit of peace hanging in the air around him.
Just enough.
To help him lift his face and keep going.”

🍀 👑🤴🏙️💰💕

A special thank you to Jacqueline Mathias for giving me a copy of her debut novel! 💕
This book was so unique and adorable!! 🥹
Usually it’s not always easy for me to picture fantasy settings but this story was so nice and easy to visualize!
The bits of romance made me swoooooon! 😍
I’m so glad it was written for YA, teen, and even older middle-grade audiences in mind.
I do feel like it would be a bit too YA for adult audiences, but hey, as a 23 year old, I loved it! 🥰
The emotional aspect was so important and made me really feel for this characters throughout the whole book. Lots of great messages throughout as well!

I highly recommend! The book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

4.5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Charlotte S · Rating 4 out of 5]

👑 Summary: Robin Reilly has a problem. He’s a leprechaun. (Yes, leprechauns are real, and no, being a trillionaire isn’t nearly as fun as it’s made out to be.) He’s not truly unhappy, though, until the leprechaun king writes Robin a a letter saying that Robin is betrothed to his daughter. That does it. Robin needs to get out of this whole leprechaun business. Now. Join him on a quest for freedom along with some wanted and unwanted companions.

💭 Thoughts: This book is the DEFINITION of wholesome YA. It had all the feels!

Jack, my goodness, I want to give him a hug and tell him that everything is going to be okay.

I honestly wanted Jack and Cynthia to end up together, but I’m still happy about Robin and her after all 🩷 they’re so sweet together!

The twist with Pandora! Omg!

Such a great read and I’m so happy that I got this as a Christmas present!

[Adia Somi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be unexpected. Its contemporary setting is the great backdrop for a world of hidden whimsy. I liked and couldn’t help but like the characters. Robin is a bit clueless about some things but has a good heart, and Jack is a great many things. Their duo reminded me a bit of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger. The story itself was fast paced with a plot that twists around quite a bit. The romantic subplot could get a bit cheesy at times but mostly in amusing Disney Chanel -ish way. I liked the unlikely found family feels that the colorful cast of characters gave off, and even the funny were balanced out by some more serious heartfelt moments. Overall all I enjoyed Look Before You Leprechaun. It’s the kind of book I’d recommend to readers who like more upper middle grade YA novels.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super unique take on leprechauns. It went in a very different direction than I thought it would.

This dealt with some very heavy topics like alcoholism and abuse. It doesn’t go deep into it and stays surface level.

Jack had the best character arc and development. I think this is a really promising start for the author.

Recommended Reading Age (12 yrs+)
No Spice (just kisses)
No explicit language use
PG Violence/Gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️it’s a good start

[Sarah Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whimsical yet heart wrenching tale filled with leprechauns, gold, first loves, and overcoming the trials of life was a joy to read!

Robin Reilly spends his time riding his horse Sabbath on his mansion’s property, eating ice cream, and hangs out with his grandmother while she watches regency movies. When he wakes up one day feeling like something big is about to happen, he never expects to meet an angelic human named Cynthia, nor does he plan on receiving a letter from the leprechaun king, demanding that Robin marry his daughter and becoming the next leprechaun king. Robin makes a plan to escape, and befriends a psychic pickpocket, Jack, who has many secrets of his own to keep. Can Robin, Jack, and Cynthia keep the leprechauns from stealing Robin away? Or will Robin have to become the next leprechaun king?

This story had so many sweet moments that balanced out the hard choices that life allowed Robin, Jack, and Cynthia to face. The leprechaun officer named Yowie was one of my favorite characters! I would say that this story is a mash up of The Luck of the Irish, Midas, and has the whimsy of a modern day Ella Enchanted. I highly recommend this read for young adults!

Romantic Content: 🧁 Sweet/Clean

TW: Alcoholic Parent, Death of Parents (Not Described) Underage Drinking, Betrayal, Abandonment, Stealing, Abuse, Phobias, Lying, Manipulation

[MaryClaire Crisp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this read!

Every single one of the characters was relatable and well-rounded!

I loved following this unique story every step of the way!

Would highly recommend!