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Such a Lucky Girl
Perfect for fans of Rory Power and Tiffany D. Jackson, this twisty horror novel follows a magnetic young influencer who gets ensnared in a web of dark, jealousy-fueled magic.
Three years ago, Bella dumped her best friend Kerry to follow her dreams of becoming an influencer. It worked; she is Such a Lucky Girl, famous for her epic manifesting glow-up and dedicated to helping other girls be "lucky," too. She's living the dream—success, sponsorships, and fame. She burned her old life to the ground and never looked back.
Leaving Kerry behind. Alone. Angry.
When Kerry picks up a vintage self-help book on shadow work, she's fascinated by the suggested rituals. Get back at those who have wronged her? Yes, please. She has one person in mind, and that girl is smiling at her millions of followers, having forgotten Kerry long ago. But there's something attached to the book, something dark and ancient, and Kerry and Bella may not be ready for what is about to be unleashed.
Three years ago, Bella dumped her best friend Kerry to follow her dreams of becoming an influencer. It worked; she is Such a Lucky Girl, famous for her epic manifesting glow-up and dedicated to helping other girls be "lucky," too. She's living the dream—success, sponsorships, and fame. She burned her old life to the ground and never looked back.
Leaving Kerry behind. Alone. Angry.
When Kerry picks up a vintage self-help book on shadow work, she's fascinated by the suggested rituals. Get back at those who have wronged her? Yes, please. She has one person in mind, and that girl is smiling at her millions of followers, having forgotten Kerry long ago. But there's something attached to the book, something dark and ancient, and Kerry and Bella may not be ready for what is about to be unleashed.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Wendy Heard
8 books1,127 followersWendy Heard is the author of books for adults and teens, including You Can Trust Me and She's Too Pretty To Burn. Wendy lives in Los Angeles, her hometown, and she enjoys haunting local bookstores and spending time with her little rescue dogs. You can hear more from Wendy through her newsletter at www.wendyheard.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well, the title certainly does not refer to me, because I did, in fact, not feel like such a lucky girl while reading this book. Maybe I just have to give up on Wendy Heard, because this is the second book by her that lured me in with a cool cover and left me disappointed in the end. It didn't help that this cover is kinda giving werewolf or Buffy in my opinion, but I also might be delusional, so let me know what you think about that. At least the book is not about anything like that at all. The actual premise is still pretty intriguing, though. It's all about this teen influencer called Bella who became famous for manifesting her dream life and actually ended up living it. She's talking all positive on the internet, but she actually might have performed a little witchy ritual or two to get what she wanted. The book introduces this envy-fueled magic and I was honestly pretty hooked. But we never get Bella's perspective and learn everything through a whole lot of other characters. There's Kerry, Bella's ex best friend turned number one hater; Brianna, who looks rather plain next to her influencer sister; Oliver, a random guy at Bella's school, or Cynthia, Bella's mom who is also there for like 3 chapters, I guess. If you get the feeling that I didn't treat the characters equally in the last sentence, then it's because some of their perspectives didn't serve a purpose at all and led to absolutely nothing. The chapters are pretty short and the POV is always switching from one chapter to the next, making everything feel convoluted. There are also chapters set in the past and lengthy journal entries and that didn't make the story any less messy either. I was somewhat invested in the present-day storyline, but only in the second half of the book when things actually started leading up to something. Before that the story was seriously overshadowed by stupid characters who just never think before they act. There was this whole thing about Bella putting a love spell on a hot guy, only to notice afterward that it's pretty shitty to steal another girl's boyfriend AND that the guy is actually awful. Could have been avoided if she had used her brain for one second if you ask me. There were many things like that that got on my nerves in an equal measure and I just didn't have a good time for the majority of this book. (Like, why were Chromebooks mentioned 18 times in this book? Is the author getting royalties or why can't she just write laptop?) Anyway. I think the book had its moments, but I overall don't have that many positive things to say about it. It was a fast read, but it will leave my mind just as quickly and I also can't recommend it to anyone without serious reservations.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Christy Ottaviano Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Christy Ottaviano Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2026
I chose this book because the cover interested me. When I saw the rating I was a bit weary that I was in for a sub par book but I absolutely enjoyed the entire thing and stayed up way too late to finish.
The story felt like the movie, "The Craft" with a cult twist.
It had some creepy and eerie parts and enjoyed the modern contribution of social media Influencer and the highlighting of how easy it is for some of these influencers to spread and information and potenally harm their followers.
Crazy fun read.
The story felt like the movie, "The Craft" with a cult twist.
It had some creepy and eerie parts and enjoyed the modern contribution of social media Influencer and the highlighting of how easy it is for some of these influencers to spread and information and potenally harm their followers.
Crazy fun read.
July 9, 2026
3.5 Stars rounded up.
This story seemed like a YA book to me.
Still, I needed to keep turning the pages.
High school students.
Supernatural & cult experiences..
Murders.
Friendships.
Unique twists including the ending.
Creepy Good.
This story seemed like a YA book to me.
Still, I needed to keep turning the pages.
High school students.
Supernatural & cult experiences..
Murders.
Friendships.
Unique twists including the ending.
Creepy Good.
June 30, 2026
this is a solid 3 stars. this book did everything i was looking for in a ya horror. it’s not perfect and there’s room for improvement but sometimes you need a read like that.
also the cover 😮💨🤌🏽 my compliment to the artist
also the cover 😮💨🤌🏽 my compliment to the artist
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have mixed feelings about this book. I was fully on board for the toxic relationships, the undercurrent of envy, and the slow-burn, insidious creepiness that seeps into the narrative. The atmosphere and tension carried me for most of the book, and I genuinely enjoyed the ride. Unfortunately, the ending lost me, not because of the horror elements, which I thought were handled well, but because the resolution of the central relationship didn’t feel believable to me.
What worked for me:
Creepy cult stuff. I love a creepy cult, and this one delivers. There are clear nods to real-world cults and familiar tropes, but they’re woven together effectively and with real menace.
The horror resolution. The way this storyline ultimately resolves was satisfying and tonally consistent with the rest of the book.
The portrayal of envy. The jealousy and resentment between the two girls is sharp and uncomfortable.
What didn’t work for me:
The central relationship. I never fully believed the emotional trajectory between the two main girls, particularly where it ends up. The final state of their relationship felt unearned and at odds with the psychological groundwork laid earlier in the story.
What worked for me:
Creepy cult stuff. I love a creepy cult, and this one delivers. There are clear nods to real-world cults and familiar tropes, but they’re woven together effectively and with real menace.
The horror resolution. The way this storyline ultimately resolves was satisfying and tonally consistent with the rest of the book.
The portrayal of envy. The jealousy and resentment between the two girls is sharp and uncomfortable.
What didn’t work for me:
The central relationship. I never fully believed the emotional trajectory between the two main girls, particularly where it ends up. The final state of their relationship felt unearned and at odds with the psychological groundwork laid earlier in the story.
July 23, 2026
“Humans as a species have a hunger to hurt each other, and when one rises too high, there are always hordes waiting to shoot her down…”
Bella and Kerry used to be best friends. Then Bella got a glow-up, rebranded herself as a manifesting influencer, and cut Kerry loose without a second glance. Their friendship just collateral damage on Bella’s way to the top. But Kerry has been watching from the sidelines as Bella’s following grew, and the more followers Bella got the more Kerry’s resentment grew.
Then one day Kerry finds an old self-self book about shadow work, they say a really good book can change your life - but Kerry, nor Bella - fully realize how true this is about to become. For the both of them.
I liked this book but it did feel like a YA read - because it is yeah yeah but some YA doesn’t read like YA. This one does - and it’s really the only thing I didn’t enjoy about it. The beginning few chapters are just kids arguing and living life. I almost gave up on the story but I managed to push through.
I loved the central theme of the book and when it focused on the influencer world. It tackles a lot of hard themes and was a pretty fun read at times. I also liked how we kind of got a book in a book and the story from 1957 - these added another part of the story and made things interesting.
Overall not as good as I thought it’d be.
Bella and Kerry used to be best friends. Then Bella got a glow-up, rebranded herself as a manifesting influencer, and cut Kerry loose without a second glance. Their friendship just collateral damage on Bella’s way to the top. But Kerry has been watching from the sidelines as Bella’s following grew, and the more followers Bella got the more Kerry’s resentment grew.
Then one day Kerry finds an old self-self book about shadow work, they say a really good book can change your life - but Kerry, nor Bella - fully realize how true this is about to become. For the both of them.
I liked this book but it did feel like a YA read - because it is yeah yeah but some YA doesn’t read like YA. This one does - and it’s really the only thing I didn’t enjoy about it. The beginning few chapters are just kids arguing and living life. I almost gave up on the story but I managed to push through.
I loved the central theme of the book and when it focused on the influencer world. It tackles a lot of hard themes and was a pretty fun read at times. I also liked how we kind of got a book in a book and the story from 1957 - these added another part of the story and made things interesting.
Overall not as good as I thought it’d be.
June 17, 2026
I’ve liked Wendy Heard’s books in the past even though they can be a bit much, especially when it comes to believability. I usually go into her books knowing that I need to view them as entertainment rather than plausible scenarios, and it usually works. Unfortunately with Such A Lucky Girl I was unable to strictly view it as entertainment, mainly because of how Heard frames Shadow Work.
For those unfamiliar, a very basic explanation of Shadow work is that it’s exploring and understanding the unconscious parts of your personality with the goal of making them conscious so that you are more whole. Whether you are a student of psychology or a practicing Pagan or witch like myself, Shadow Work is extremely beneficial.
I was hoping that the way written and Shadow Work was mentioned in the blurb was simply an error that occurred trying to condescend the premise of the story, and not that a character was using it as revenge spell work since that’s not what it is at all. Regrettably, the blurb was correct and Heard has a character almost immediately using this psychological practice in a manner that has nothing to do with it. It’s intentionally warping the idea of Shadow Work to be something negative, something used for revenge and retribution, and not for healing.
Since this is a YA book being marketed towards younger people I find this depiction of Shadow Work to be extremely harmful. It’s bad enough you can buy witchcraft books at Five Below now, or at the mall in novelty shops like Spencers, but to intentionally frame a practice this way as a means for revenge in a horror book is simply irresponsible. There are enough baby witches these days who don’t know the basics of what they are practicing without intentionally adding misinformation into the mix.
My view on everything else in the book was obviously affected and I was never truly able to enjoy reading because it. If Kerry read about Shadow Work and decided in the haze of her jealousy that the best way to obtain the aspects her shadow self had shown was to use witchcraft to obtain them, that would be a different story. It’s not changing what Shadow Work is and the character is still getting to that place where they are using spells to get revenge. Instead Heard decided to alter the basis of a practice whose beginnings date back over a hundred years.
All of that aside, Heard has a lot of different characters and chapters written in various POV’s which really doesn’t work here because everything is too muddled. Not only are there a lot of characters, some are completely unnecessary and are just “bare bones.”
The story also gets dragged down by long journal entries and flashbacks to the past. It would definitely benefit from some more editing and streamlining.
The premise of how social media is negatively affecting people, especially young people, is definitely a topic that needs to be studied more and explored. I can see where Heard wanted to go with this, she just didn’t quite get there.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Christy Ottaviano Books, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.
For those unfamiliar, a very basic explanation of Shadow work is that it’s exploring and understanding the unconscious parts of your personality with the goal of making them conscious so that you are more whole. Whether you are a student of psychology or a practicing Pagan or witch like myself, Shadow Work is extremely beneficial.
I was hoping that the way written and Shadow Work was mentioned in the blurb was simply an error that occurred trying to condescend the premise of the story, and not that a character was using it as revenge spell work since that’s not what it is at all. Regrettably, the blurb was correct and Heard has a character almost immediately using this psychological practice in a manner that has nothing to do with it. It’s intentionally warping the idea of Shadow Work to be something negative, something used for revenge and retribution, and not for healing.
Since this is a YA book being marketed towards younger people I find this depiction of Shadow Work to be extremely harmful. It’s bad enough you can buy witchcraft books at Five Below now, or at the mall in novelty shops like Spencers, but to intentionally frame a practice this way as a means for revenge in a horror book is simply irresponsible. There are enough baby witches these days who don’t know the basics of what they are practicing without intentionally adding misinformation into the mix.
My view on everything else in the book was obviously affected and I was never truly able to enjoy reading because it. If Kerry read about Shadow Work and decided in the haze of her jealousy that the best way to obtain the aspects her shadow self had shown was to use witchcraft to obtain them, that would be a different story. It’s not changing what Shadow Work is and the character is still getting to that place where they are using spells to get revenge. Instead Heard decided to alter the basis of a practice whose beginnings date back over a hundred years.
All of that aside, Heard has a lot of different characters and chapters written in various POV’s which really doesn’t work here because everything is too muddled. Not only are there a lot of characters, some are completely unnecessary and are just “bare bones.”
The story also gets dragged down by long journal entries and flashbacks to the past. It would definitely benefit from some more editing and streamlining.
The premise of how social media is negatively affecting people, especially young people, is definitely a topic that needs to be studied more and explored. I can see where Heard wanted to go with this, she just didn’t quite get there.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley, Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Christy Ottaviano Books, however this review is completely my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.
February 23, 2026
This one was a hard read for me . From the first several chapters all being different POVS and the confusing storytelling i knew it wasn’t for me. But then it was MOREEE povs, like a lot . And none of them tie up nicely, infact several add no purpose ?
It also is so confusing because of journal entries and timelines and just how many characters we are reading about it made the entire experience unenjoyable .
I did like the premise but the execution was poorly done. the ending was very strong though!
It also is so confusing because of journal entries and timelines and just how many characters we are reading about it made the entire experience unenjoyable .
I did like the premise but the execution was poorly done. the ending was very strong though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Christy Ottaviano Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wendy Heard’s “Such a Lucky Girl” is a dark, unsettling YA horror story that explores envy, identity, and the dangerous desire to control one’s destiny. Combining supernatural horror with social commentary about internet culture and adolescence, the book offers a creepy and suspenseful story about the consequences of jealousy and the power of influence, both magical and social.
The story centers on the relationship between two troubled teenagers: Bella and Kerry. Bella, a teen influencer who becomes famous online for “manifesting” her dream life. Behind her carefully curated image, however, lies a lonely girl obsessed with others’ approval. Her former best friend Kerry, consumed by jealousy after their friendship falls apart, turns to dark magic in an attempt to destroy Bella’s life. What begins as an act of revenge soon spirals into something far more dangerous when a sinister shadow demon becomes involved; it’s an entity that feeds on negative emotions and threatens widespread destruction.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its atmosphere. Heard builds a sense of slow-burning dread as envy and resentment seep into every aspect of the story. The story examines the toxic pressure to be liked, and the danger of blindly following online personalities. Themes like the “evil eye,” the consequences of attracting too much attention (which I found to be very unique and extremely prevalent in today’s world of social media and influencers) add a unique layer to the supernatural horror. The story also incorporates creepy cult elements and explores how easily impressionable audiences can be manipulated, giving the story a sharp and unsettling edge.
The portrayal of jealousy between Kerry and Bella is particularly effective. Their fractured friendship and competing desires create uncomfortable tension that drives the story forward. The book also tackles broader themes of identity, beauty, power, and belonging, which can make this book very relatable for younger readers.
The structure of the story is a bit ambitious, featuring short chapters told from a wide range of perspectives, including friends, family members, and even figures connected to the mysterious spell book’s past. These shifting viewpoints create a sense of interconnectedness and gradually reveal how individual actions contribute to a larger supernatural threat. The pacing is fast and the tension builds steadily, especially in the latter half of the novel, leading to a dramatic and satisfying horror resolution.
However, the multiple perspectives can also be a drawback. The constant shifts between narrators, including minor characters and flashbacks, can feel overwhelming and sometimes distract from the central storyline. The large number of characters and side plots made it a bit difficult for me to keep track of everything, and some viewpoints didn’t seem to contribute much to the overall development of the story.
Characterization is another mixed aspect of the story. Many of the characters, particularly Kerry, are intentionally flawed, but their selfishness and impulsive decisions can make them difficult to sympathize with. The central relationship between Kerry and Bella, which is key to the story’s emotional impact, didn’t feel very convincing at times, especially in how it ultimately resolves.
Overall, “Such a Lucky Girl” is a dark, twisted exploration of envy and power that will appeal to those who enjoy atmospheric horror, social commentary, and stories about the dangers of wanting too much. The story’s eerie tension and thought-provoking themes make it a memorable and unsettling read.
Wendy Heard’s “Such a Lucky Girl” is a dark, unsettling YA horror story that explores envy, identity, and the dangerous desire to control one’s destiny. Combining supernatural horror with social commentary about internet culture and adolescence, the book offers a creepy and suspenseful story about the consequences of jealousy and the power of influence, both magical and social.
The story centers on the relationship between two troubled teenagers: Bella and Kerry. Bella, a teen influencer who becomes famous online for “manifesting” her dream life. Behind her carefully curated image, however, lies a lonely girl obsessed with others’ approval. Her former best friend Kerry, consumed by jealousy after their friendship falls apart, turns to dark magic in an attempt to destroy Bella’s life. What begins as an act of revenge soon spirals into something far more dangerous when a sinister shadow demon becomes involved; it’s an entity that feeds on negative emotions and threatens widespread destruction.
One of the book’s strongest elements is its atmosphere. Heard builds a sense of slow-burning dread as envy and resentment seep into every aspect of the story. The story examines the toxic pressure to be liked, and the danger of blindly following online personalities. Themes like the “evil eye,” the consequences of attracting too much attention (which I found to be very unique and extremely prevalent in today’s world of social media and influencers) add a unique layer to the supernatural horror. The story also incorporates creepy cult elements and explores how easily impressionable audiences can be manipulated, giving the story a sharp and unsettling edge.
The portrayal of jealousy between Kerry and Bella is particularly effective. Their fractured friendship and competing desires create uncomfortable tension that drives the story forward. The book also tackles broader themes of identity, beauty, power, and belonging, which can make this book very relatable for younger readers.
The structure of the story is a bit ambitious, featuring short chapters told from a wide range of perspectives, including friends, family members, and even figures connected to the mysterious spell book’s past. These shifting viewpoints create a sense of interconnectedness and gradually reveal how individual actions contribute to a larger supernatural threat. The pacing is fast and the tension builds steadily, especially in the latter half of the novel, leading to a dramatic and satisfying horror resolution.
However, the multiple perspectives can also be a drawback. The constant shifts between narrators, including minor characters and flashbacks, can feel overwhelming and sometimes distract from the central storyline. The large number of characters and side plots made it a bit difficult for me to keep track of everything, and some viewpoints didn’t seem to contribute much to the overall development of the story.
Characterization is another mixed aspect of the story. Many of the characters, particularly Kerry, are intentionally flawed, but their selfishness and impulsive decisions can make them difficult to sympathize with. The central relationship between Kerry and Bella, which is key to the story’s emotional impact, didn’t feel very convincing at times, especially in how it ultimately resolves.
Overall, “Such a Lucky Girl” is a dark, twisted exploration of envy and power that will appeal to those who enjoy atmospheric horror, social commentary, and stories about the dangers of wanting too much. The story’s eerie tension and thought-provoking themes make it a memorable and unsettling read.
July 30, 2026
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley/Little, Brown Books. All thoughts + opinions are my own.
2.5 ⭐
Such a Lucky Girl follows Kerry, a high school girl who was abandoned by her best friend Bella. Bella dropped her and became a popular influencer focused around manifesting and being "a lucky girl," while Kerry was left behind, confused and hurt. When Kerry finds a book about harnessing your shadow self and provides ritual instructions for getting back at those who have wronged you, she believes she's found the answers to her problems: using Bella's own tools against her.
This book was...just okay. As I neared the end, I felt like it had really overstayed its welcome. It definitely could have been 100 pages shorter and things would have felt more urgent and tense, but there was a lot of time spent on interactions between the various main and side characters that I don't really feel added much to the development of the characters and story.
I love the idea of the new generation of teenagers being very into manifestation and witchcraft/new age spirituality, because that feels like a natural progression based on social media trends and the rising prevalence of self-care rituals, etc. On the other hand, some of the stuff in the book was downright silly and I feel like some aspects of witchcraft/shadow work were being demonized/portrayed overly negatively as well as inaccurately. Shadow work is painted as an evil and vengeful thing and only used as a result of the cult presence in the book, whereas the manifestation is the morally "good" side of things. I don't know, it really rubbed me the wrong way. It's clear that Heard did a lot of research into witchcraft and rituals, but the overall message of the book seems like a condemnation of certain aspects of witchcraft rather than a warning that anything (religious, spiritual, or otherwise) can be dangerous due to your intentions and have unintended consequences.
All of the supernatural and cult elements were kind of silly to read like I said, so it was difficult to take anything seriously as a real threat or get immersed. I feel like the author was afraid to really commit with the possession/dark forces, and we only got the full impact of such through flashbacks.
All of that aside, it was a relatively fun read that dragged at points and could have used more detail at others. I thought the themes of social media's impact on children as well as friendship issues/growing pains were well handled and served a good purpose in this, whereas other aspects (like the occasional throwaway eating disorder commentary) felt out of place or half-baked. There was a lot going on in this, and some things were left mostly unexplored.
I think there was a lot of potential here that led to an ultimately underwhelming and middling book. I think it was an interesting take on the "scorned ex-best friend" plot, but there were a lot of issues that kept from me fully enjoying it for what it was.
2.5 ⭐
Such a Lucky Girl follows Kerry, a high school girl who was abandoned by her best friend Bella. Bella dropped her and became a popular influencer focused around manifesting and being "a lucky girl," while Kerry was left behind, confused and hurt. When Kerry finds a book about harnessing your shadow self and provides ritual instructions for getting back at those who have wronged you, she believes she's found the answers to her problems: using Bella's own tools against her.
This book was...just okay. As I neared the end, I felt like it had really overstayed its welcome. It definitely could have been 100 pages shorter and things would have felt more urgent and tense, but there was a lot of time spent on interactions between the various main and side characters that I don't really feel added much to the development of the characters and story.
I love the idea of the new generation of teenagers being very into manifestation and witchcraft/new age spirituality, because that feels like a natural progression based on social media trends and the rising prevalence of self-care rituals, etc. On the other hand, some of the stuff in the book was downright silly and I feel like some aspects of witchcraft/shadow work were being demonized/portrayed overly negatively as well as inaccurately. Shadow work is painted as an evil and vengeful thing and only used as a result of the cult presence in the book, whereas the manifestation is the morally "good" side of things. I don't know, it really rubbed me the wrong way. It's clear that Heard did a lot of research into witchcraft and rituals, but the overall message of the book seems like a condemnation of certain aspects of witchcraft rather than a warning that anything (religious, spiritual, or otherwise) can be dangerous due to your intentions and have unintended consequences.
All of the supernatural and cult elements were kind of silly to read like I said, so it was difficult to take anything seriously as a real threat or get immersed. I feel like the author was afraid to really commit with the possession/dark forces, and we only got the full impact of such through flashbacks.
All of that aside, it was a relatively fun read that dragged at points and could have used more detail at others. I thought the themes of social media's impact on children as well as friendship issues/growing pains were well handled and served a good purpose in this, whereas other aspects (like the occasional throwaway eating disorder commentary) felt out of place or half-baked. There was a lot going on in this, and some things were left mostly unexplored.
I think there was a lot of potential here that led to an ultimately underwhelming and middling book. I think it was an interesting take on the "scorned ex-best friend" plot, but there were a lot of issues that kept from me fully enjoying it for what it was.
June 24, 2026
OMG truly this was so good. I stayed up late to finish this. I will try to pick my jaw up off the floor and write a coherent review at a reasonable hour.
I initially didn’t like the book because the main character seemed very negative and pessimistic. However, the book is about exploring the darker side of manifestation and other newer practices. This was something I was excited to read about because I believe in manifestation. I did not expect the book to explore new aged cults in the way it did. Initially I felt for Bella because one of the characters in the book mentioned she had anxiety and I can see how someone with anxiety would want to get into manifestation. It is a way to take control over your life that is backed by science. In the beginning, I was also worried that Bella was going to be painted as just a stereotypical villain throughout the book. This was an easy assumption to make because Bella has no chapters from her POV in the book. However, Bella turns out to be a complex flawed character just like Karry. I didn’t like Karry for most of the book, but I liked what this book had to say about friendships and how toxic they can get when you don’t realize your in love with your friends LOL. I think the books message about jealousy was really important as well. Right now, it’s more cool to be relatable and that’s fine but there will always be people we are Jealous of. It's important to remember that if we had everything someone else had our life would not be our own. We got to see how Bella became who she is today through Cynthia’s chapters which were genuinely so concerning. Whose mom is encouraging them to do a “manifestation” ritual involving using their own blood!? Please don’t do that! I really liked Ruby's chapters from when she was growing up in the 50s and seeing how they intersect with her life now. I thought the ending was really satisfying when Karry and Ruby started to make sense of what happened. I think the only aspect of the book that I didn’t love were the chapters from the “as within” book that Karry finds. I can see how it helped with the story, but it was annoying because we always had to read those parts when the story was getting interesting. At the end I ended up feeling for all of the characters, even Karry. I really liked the letter that she wrote to Bella in chapter eighty two. All in all, this is a really grate thriller book with interesting mystical elements that make you think. The character development was really good. I liked the ending, but I don’t think that last chapter with the famous acter was really necessary.
I initially didn’t like the book because the main character seemed very negative and pessimistic. However, the book is about exploring the darker side of manifestation and other newer practices. This was something I was excited to read about because I believe in manifestation. I did not expect the book to explore new aged cults in the way it did. Initially I felt for Bella because one of the characters in the book mentioned she had anxiety and I can see how someone with anxiety would want to get into manifestation. It is a way to take control over your life that is backed by science. In the beginning, I was also worried that Bella was going to be painted as just a stereotypical villain throughout the book. This was an easy assumption to make because Bella has no chapters from her POV in the book. However, Bella turns out to be a complex flawed character just like Karry. I didn’t like Karry for most of the book, but I liked what this book had to say about friendships and how toxic they can get when you don’t realize your in love with your friends LOL. I think the books message about jealousy was really important as well. Right now, it’s more cool to be relatable and that’s fine but there will always be people we are Jealous of. It's important to remember that if we had everything someone else had our life would not be our own. We got to see how Bella became who she is today through Cynthia’s chapters which were genuinely so concerning. Whose mom is encouraging them to do a “manifestation” ritual involving using their own blood!? Please don’t do that! I really liked Ruby's chapters from when she was growing up in the 50s and seeing how they intersect with her life now. I thought the ending was really satisfying when Karry and Ruby started to make sense of what happened. I think the only aspect of the book that I didn’t love were the chapters from the “as within” book that Karry finds. I can see how it helped with the story, but it was annoying because we always had to read those parts when the story was getting interesting. At the end I ended up feeling for all of the characters, even Karry. I really liked the letter that she wrote to Bella in chapter eighty two. All in all, this is a really grate thriller book with interesting mystical elements that make you think. The character development was really good. I liked the ending, but I don’t think that last chapter with the famous acter was really necessary.
March 7, 2026
Ok so here’s my thought process reading:
0-70% - Wow this is really good so far. The plot is nice, and I love the present storyline. This feels very different and unique than what I usually read and it was refreshing. I loved the whole shadow storyline and Kerry was a good FMC. I loved where we were going, setting her up with Oliver and Bella’s accident and learning more through flashbacks, it was all just really good. Like a 4 star read so far.
70-90% - This is where I was like OMG! NOW THIS IS GOOD! 5 stars. I loved this whole ending part of the ritual when it’s revealed Brianna is the sacrifice, Bella is possessed, etc., etc.. I could just tell the author worked really hard on this book so far and was really impressed to here.
Now 90% and beyond is where my rating kind of dropped. This could just be me, but I felt like there was so much unanswered and left up to interpretation. It felt like Bella and Kerry being lesbians was supposed to just solve everything, but it didn’t do that for me? I wanted to see more of their friendship rekindling since they’ve been ex best friends for a long time now. I wanted to see them explain what happened to Oliver and how his whole case with Ben seems to work out. I wanted to hear the verdict with Bella. I wanted to have Ruby’s book be written. I wanted a satisfying outcome with her Step-dad. None of this all happened, and it just felt kind of rushed. Ruby destroyed the book and yet it somehow ended up back in a random bookstore for another guy to grab, and Bella decides she just wants to skip the back to friendship stage and go hardcore relationship. Like literally what is happening? That’s what was going through my mind reading that. How the book is back again? No idea. Was never fully explored/talked about, and the whole magic system never wraps up that nicely. We don’t know if Kerry gets connected to that one girls murder, and as you can see, I feel like there was a whole 15% of this book that was missing. I really wish it would’ve just wrapped up most of the mysteries in a longer-ish manner at the end, because the climax was amazing.
Overall, I really would’ve just liked some questions to be answered, Bella and Kerry’s relationship to be rekindled better, and more explanation/backstory on the book and shadow.
In all though, the author did do a pretty good job still and it was enjoyable for the most part.
Would I recommend? Maybe. I think it just depends on the person.
0-70% - Wow this is really good so far. The plot is nice, and I love the present storyline. This feels very different and unique than what I usually read and it was refreshing. I loved the whole shadow storyline and Kerry was a good FMC. I loved where we were going, setting her up with Oliver and Bella’s accident and learning more through flashbacks, it was all just really good. Like a 4 star read so far.
70-90% - This is where I was like OMG! NOW THIS IS GOOD! 5 stars. I loved this whole ending part of the ritual when it’s revealed Brianna is the sacrifice, Bella is possessed, etc., etc.. I could just tell the author worked really hard on this book so far and was really impressed to here.
Now 90% and beyond is where my rating kind of dropped. This could just be me, but I felt like there was so much unanswered and left up to interpretation. It felt like Bella and Kerry being lesbians was supposed to just solve everything, but it didn’t do that for me? I wanted to see more of their friendship rekindling since they’ve been ex best friends for a long time now. I wanted to see them explain what happened to Oliver and how his whole case with Ben seems to work out. I wanted to hear the verdict with Bella. I wanted to have Ruby’s book be written. I wanted a satisfying outcome with her Step-dad. None of this all happened, and it just felt kind of rushed. Ruby destroyed the book and yet it somehow ended up back in a random bookstore for another guy to grab, and Bella decides she just wants to skip the back to friendship stage and go hardcore relationship. Like literally what is happening? That’s what was going through my mind reading that. How the book is back again? No idea. Was never fully explored/talked about, and the whole magic system never wraps up that nicely. We don’t know if Kerry gets connected to that one girls murder, and as you can see, I feel like there was a whole 15% of this book that was missing. I really wish it would’ve just wrapped up most of the mysteries in a longer-ish manner at the end, because the climax was amazing.
Overall, I really would’ve just liked some questions to be answered, Bella and Kerry’s relationship to be rekindled better, and more explanation/backstory on the book and shadow.
In all though, the author did do a pretty good job still and it was enjoyable for the most part.
Would I recommend? Maybe. I think it just depends on the person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Such a Lucky Girl by Wendy Heard releases June 16, 2026. This is a teen horror story about envy, influencer culture, fractured friendship, and a shadow-work book that seems to open the door to something much darker.
This one was difficult for me to settle into. I can see where the book is aiming with social media success, jealousy, and the ugly side of wanting someone else’s life, but the execution kept pulling me out of the story.
The biggest issue for me was the voice and reading level. The character voice does read middle school to me, but the overall execution felt even younger than I expected for YA horror. As someone who read above grade level at that age, and who now has a 13-year-old who also reads at a high school/YA level, I had a hard time imagining this connecting with teen readers who want something sharper or more mature. The dialogue and character behavior didn’t ring true to the teens I know, and that made it difficult for me to take the tension seriously.
I also struggled with the way shadow work is framed early on. I can see the book trying to use the idea of a shadow work journal as part of the horror setup, but the language around it felt muddled to me. Shadow work is generally about self-reflection and confronting the parts of yourself you avoid, not the same thing as a spellbook or revenge-magic manual. As a pagan, and as someone raising a young witch, that distinction matters to me, especially in a book aimed at teen readers.
I wanted this to feel sharper, darker, and more grounded in its teen voice. Instead, I found myself more distracted by the execution than pulled into the horror. Readers who enjoy very teen-forward social media drama with supernatural elements may have a better experience, but this one didn’t work for me.
Rating: 1.5/5 - rounded down to 1 for NetGalley
Author Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This one was difficult for me to settle into. I can see where the book is aiming with social media success, jealousy, and the ugly side of wanting someone else’s life, but the execution kept pulling me out of the story.
The biggest issue for me was the voice and reading level. The character voice does read middle school to me, but the overall execution felt even younger than I expected for YA horror. As someone who read above grade level at that age, and who now has a 13-year-old who also reads at a high school/YA level, I had a hard time imagining this connecting with teen readers who want something sharper or more mature. The dialogue and character behavior didn’t ring true to the teens I know, and that made it difficult for me to take the tension seriously.
I also struggled with the way shadow work is framed early on. I can see the book trying to use the idea of a shadow work journal as part of the horror setup, but the language around it felt muddled to me. Shadow work is generally about self-reflection and confronting the parts of yourself you avoid, not the same thing as a spellbook or revenge-magic manual. As a pagan, and as someone raising a young witch, that distinction matters to me, especially in a book aimed at teen readers.
I wanted this to feel sharper, darker, and more grounded in its teen voice. Instead, I found myself more distracted by the execution than pulled into the horror. Readers who enjoy very teen-forward social media drama with supernatural elements may have a better experience, but this one didn’t work for me.
Rating: 1.5/5 - rounded down to 1 for NetGalley
Author Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.75 stars
The premise intrigued me, and I've enjoyed other books by this author. This one moved way too slowly for me, especially considering the genre.
Bella became an influencer a few years ago, and she's been quite successful in this pursuit. You know what she is not good at? Friendship. Just ask Kerry. These two were besties, and then when Bella drops Kerry like an out-of-fashion pair of ultra low rise jeans, well, Kerry gets mad. Then she gets...something else.
I happened to read this book about three days after viewing the newest episode of _Widow's Bay_, "Beach Reads" (highly recommended), where a character similarly comes across a book that is not all it seems. Situationally, it was very difficult to separate myself from that excellent viewing experience while reading this book. There are some major distinctions, but I also just kept thinking about missed opportunities. Also, having grown up - and continuing to live quite near - where most of this takes place, the geographic connections kept me more invested than I might have been otherwise. These external factors helped me engage with the book more, but I still experienced challenges with the read.
While this isn't my favorite example from the genre or from this author, I will absolutely be back for another shot. Folks who can manage a slow burn, some really out there supernatural suggestions without much world building to match them, and some characters who are not the easiest to root for will do best here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Christy Ottaviano Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The premise intrigued me, and I've enjoyed other books by this author. This one moved way too slowly for me, especially considering the genre.
Bella became an influencer a few years ago, and she's been quite successful in this pursuit. You know what she is not good at? Friendship. Just ask Kerry. These two were besties, and then when Bella drops Kerry like an out-of-fashion pair of ultra low rise jeans, well, Kerry gets mad. Then she gets...something else.
I happened to read this book about three days after viewing the newest episode of _Widow's Bay_, "Beach Reads" (highly recommended), where a character similarly comes across a book that is not all it seems. Situationally, it was very difficult to separate myself from that excellent viewing experience while reading this book. There are some major distinctions, but I also just kept thinking about missed opportunities. Also, having grown up - and continuing to live quite near - where most of this takes place, the geographic connections kept me more invested than I might have been otherwise. These external factors helped me engage with the book more, but I still experienced challenges with the read.
While this isn't my favorite example from the genre or from this author, I will absolutely be back for another shot. Folks who can manage a slow burn, some really out there supernatural suggestions without much world building to match them, and some characters who are not the easiest to root for will do best here.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Christy Ottaviano Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
June 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
SUCH A LUCKY GIRL by Wendy Heard (Out Now!)
Thank you Wendy for the copy!
3 years after being dumped by her best friend, Kerry is angry. Bella's popular, manifesting a better life with the millions of followers. After picking up a self-help book, Kerry begins completing rituals...but something dark is attached to the book. Something dangerous.
SUCH A LUCKY GIRL is a YA thriller/horror full of all things cult-like, witchy, and ritualistic. It's secrets, lies, betrayal...everything rolled into one.
I started this book, and basically read it in two days. I knew, obviously, from the description that something evil was lurking, but I needed to know how it would affect Kerry and, eventually, Bella. Honestly, this was dark. It was crazy, and the drama was perfectly curated. SUCH A LUCKY GIRL is mult-pov, multi-timeline---this offers insight into not only present day, but everything leading up to Kerry and the book. I think without Ruby's point-of-view, there would have been so much left undiscovered, so much confusion with the origin of the book.
I do recommend this; however, I have a nitpick: Chapter Sixty-One, Page 269. It starts: "Jeanie empties her cup sneakily into the dirt and smacks her lips dramatically like she soured her stomach with mystery concoction. When Jeanie's parents finish, Jeanie smacks her lips dramatically like she's soured her stomach with the mystery concoction." The repetitiveness here really stuck out because it was the only time the book didn't flow right. Nonetheless, this was quite an interesting book. All the darkness and eerieness; the drama and confessions.
SUCH A LUCKY GIRL by Wendy Heard (Out Now!)
Thank you Wendy for the copy!
3 years after being dumped by her best friend, Kerry is angry. Bella's popular, manifesting a better life with the millions of followers. After picking up a self-help book, Kerry begins completing rituals...but something dark is attached to the book. Something dangerous.
SUCH A LUCKY GIRL is a YA thriller/horror full of all things cult-like, witchy, and ritualistic. It's secrets, lies, betrayal...everything rolled into one.
I started this book, and basically read it in two days. I knew, obviously, from the description that something evil was lurking, but I needed to know how it would affect Kerry and, eventually, Bella. Honestly, this was dark. It was crazy, and the drama was perfectly curated. SUCH A LUCKY GIRL is mult-pov, multi-timeline---this offers insight into not only present day, but everything leading up to Kerry and the book. I think without Ruby's point-of-view, there would have been so much left undiscovered, so much confusion with the origin of the book.
I do recommend this; however, I have a nitpick: Chapter Sixty-One, Page 269. It starts: "Jeanie empties her cup sneakily into the dirt and smacks her lips dramatically like she soured her stomach with mystery concoction. When Jeanie's parents finish, Jeanie smacks her lips dramatically like she's soured her stomach with the mystery concoction." The repetitiveness here really stuck out because it was the only time the book didn't flow right. Nonetheless, this was quite an interesting book. All the darkness and eerieness; the drama and confessions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
If you want YA toxic yuri with influencers and demons, you're going to eat this one up with a spoon and read deep into the night like I did with this book. Kerry is extremely bitter that her old friend Bella friend-dumped her and ran off to be a manifestation influencer--so bitter that when she finds an old book with rituals to unleash her shadow self and turn the tables on Bella, she goes full-throttle into it.
Kerry is extremely viscerally written--she feels things so strongly, and it rings true to anyone who has been a teen girl with deep female friendships Bella is more of a cipher at first, but it makes sense in some respects since we see her from everyone else's POV first as an influencer until near the end when things get real dark. And make no mistake, this YA novel is not afraid to go dark and bloody, with all sorts of dark magic.
I will say that the pacing of this novel was somewhat uneven, with some extraneous POV's, especially that of two of Bella's followers. Bella's mom also changes far too quickly at the end, it was a bit jarring. But even with all that, the core of this novel is the painfully broken relationship between Kerry and Bella and all the fallout from that, and I very much enjoyed reading the depths to which Kerry is willing to sink, but also where her limits are.
If you want YA toxic yuri with influencers and demons, you're going to eat this one up with a spoon and read deep into the night like I did with this book. Kerry is extremely bitter that her old friend Bella friend-dumped her and ran off to be a manifestation influencer--so bitter that when she finds an old book with rituals to unleash her shadow self and turn the tables on Bella, she goes full-throttle into it.
Kerry is extremely viscerally written--she feels things so strongly, and it rings true to anyone who has been a teen girl with deep female friendships Bella is more of a cipher at first, but it makes sense in some respects since we see her from everyone else's POV first as an influencer until near the end when things get real dark. And make no mistake, this YA novel is not afraid to go dark and bloody, with all sorts of dark magic.
I will say that the pacing of this novel was somewhat uneven, with some extraneous POV's, especially that of two of Bella's followers. Bella's mom also changes far too quickly at the end, it was a bit jarring. But even with all that, the core of this novel is the painfully broken relationship between Kerry and Bella and all the fallout from that, and I very much enjoyed reading the depths to which Kerry is willing to sink, but also where her limits are.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC - all thoughts and opinions are my own!
This is one of those books that I really wanted to love more than I did. It started out really strong in the first half of the book, where we get to see the buildup of Kerry being jealous of former best friend, Bella’s, social media success as a manifestation influencer and the steps she takes to try and take Bella down a peg through trying manifestation rituals of her own. Kerry finds an old book about manifestation rituals and working on your shadow self, and once she does the rituals, it seems like things are looking up for as Bella’s life and fame seem to be falling apart.
I think I just struggled with the pacing of this book more than anything. It does have a lot of different POVs and flashbacks to the past, which I found very chilling and probably some of the stronger chapters in this book. There are also a few plot points that almost seemed to be left unresolved or brushed over and while I do think we had a satisfying conclusion, I do feel like we were thrown a curveball out of nowhere in the ending that left me wondering if I had missed something earlier on.
If you like YA stories about social media culture, cults, dark rituals with paranormal elements, and toxic friendships, then you may enjoy Such A Lucky Girl!
This is one of those books that I really wanted to love more than I did. It started out really strong in the first half of the book, where we get to see the buildup of Kerry being jealous of former best friend, Bella’s, social media success as a manifestation influencer and the steps she takes to try and take Bella down a peg through trying manifestation rituals of her own. Kerry finds an old book about manifestation rituals and working on your shadow self, and once she does the rituals, it seems like things are looking up for as Bella’s life and fame seem to be falling apart.
I think I just struggled with the pacing of this book more than anything. It does have a lot of different POVs and flashbacks to the past, which I found very chilling and probably some of the stronger chapters in this book. There are also a few plot points that almost seemed to be left unresolved or brushed over and while I do think we had a satisfying conclusion, I do feel like we were thrown a curveball out of nowhere in the ending that left me wondering if I had missed something earlier on.
If you like YA stories about social media culture, cults, dark rituals with paranormal elements, and toxic friendships, then you may enjoy Such A Lucky Girl!
June 29, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Wendy Heard for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also thank you publishers for your hard work!
The cover of this book was what first drew me in. I thought it was going to be another horror book about a killer on the loose goong after girls but im so glad that it wasent. Reading the summary definitely was what made me excited to read this book. I was so happy to be wrong about what this book was about. Reading this book i truly fell in love with the main character and her emotions. I agreed with her and how she felt. Of course things got dark as the story progressed and things changed. I won't tell spoilers but I really enjoyed how the book went and the characters changed and grew from their experiences.
The summary really is what draws you in and tells you so much. Not only that this book really is just different and unique I haven't read one like it in a while so it was just refreshing. It didn't feel like I was just reading because I had too but I was enjoying it the whole time.
Anyway, the story was fun, dangerous, filled with emotion and such a reat story overall. Not only that there is a darkness something evil that becomes known the further into the book you read. Is it real or something inside us? That's for you to find out. The real villian of this story is really interesting as well its not who you think it is.
The cover of this book was what first drew me in. I thought it was going to be another horror book about a killer on the loose goong after girls but im so glad that it wasent. Reading the summary definitely was what made me excited to read this book. I was so happy to be wrong about what this book was about. Reading this book i truly fell in love with the main character and her emotions. I agreed with her and how she felt. Of course things got dark as the story progressed and things changed. I won't tell spoilers but I really enjoyed how the book went and the characters changed and grew from their experiences.
The summary really is what draws you in and tells you so much. Not only that this book really is just different and unique I haven't read one like it in a while so it was just refreshing. It didn't feel like I was just reading because I had too but I was enjoying it the whole time.
Anyway, the story was fun, dangerous, filled with emotion and such a reat story overall. Not only that there is a darkness something evil that becomes known the further into the book you read. Is it real or something inside us? That's for you to find out. The real villian of this story is really interesting as well its not who you think it is.
March 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC copy of Such A Lucky Girl! This is my honest and voluntary review! 😊🖤
This book has several MCs but, the foremost FMCs are Kerry, a 17 year old high school student who had a best friend breakup when she was 14 that she never really got over and Bella, the best friend who dropped the friendship with Kerry in 9th grade and became an Instagram influencer in Manifestation.
Kerry finds a old book at the home of Ruby, an older woman in her 80’s that Kerry cleans for, which she borrows and starts doing her own kind of manifestation to bring about Bella’s downfall since their friendship breakup really hit Kerry hard and she never got over it.
This book has really interesting supernatural elements that kept me turning the pages. I really liked the multiple POVs but, I can understand why others might not care for them. There is a bit of romance sprinkled throughout but nothing more than a kiss here or there happens so, very minimal spice.
This book was very interesting and unlike anything else I’ve read thus far. I can’t wait to read more from Wendy Heard! The story was well written and I really enjoyed my time with it.
4.75 🌟 (Rounded Up For Goodreads)
This book has several MCs but, the foremost FMCs are Kerry, a 17 year old high school student who had a best friend breakup when she was 14 that she never really got over and Bella, the best friend who dropped the friendship with Kerry in 9th grade and became an Instagram influencer in Manifestation.
Kerry finds a old book at the home of Ruby, an older woman in her 80’s that Kerry cleans for, which she borrows and starts doing her own kind of manifestation to bring about Bella’s downfall since their friendship breakup really hit Kerry hard and she never got over it.
This book has really interesting supernatural elements that kept me turning the pages. I really liked the multiple POVs but, I can understand why others might not care for them. There is a bit of romance sprinkled throughout but nothing more than a kiss here or there happens so, very minimal spice.
This book was very interesting and unlike anything else I’ve read thus far. I can’t wait to read more from Wendy Heard! The story was well written and I really enjoyed my time with it.
4.75 🌟 (Rounded Up For Goodreads)
July 20, 2026
I am not familiar with Heard's work. So, I came into this with no expectations other than what you normally see with YA horror/thrillers.
The book is told from multiple perspectives and multiple timelines which, for me, made it a bit convoluted. I don't mind 2-3 characters as long as they serve a purpose and build a cohesive story and I don't mind going back and forth in time but having both just made the story take a bit too long. The first half of the book sort of sets the scene involving a girl who becomes an influencer, her abandoned and vengeful ex best friend, and a magical book with some major bad vibes. I thought it was odd that you don't really get the influencers perspective, but you get a parent and a teen boy, etc. I think the perspectives could have been slimmed down to help the pacing in the first half of the book.
Near the middle it picks up and things begin happening. I enjoyed the pacing and the spellcraft. There's a chance you won't like any of the characters which isn't a problem for me. You will also think they're constantly making bad choices. They are. Those things feel natural in a YA book of this kind.
Ultimately, this was an okay read for me. I can see how some may love it and others will not. Give it a go.
The book is told from multiple perspectives and multiple timelines which, for me, made it a bit convoluted. I don't mind 2-3 characters as long as they serve a purpose and build a cohesive story and I don't mind going back and forth in time but having both just made the story take a bit too long. The first half of the book sort of sets the scene involving a girl who becomes an influencer, her abandoned and vengeful ex best friend, and a magical book with some major bad vibes. I thought it was odd that you don't really get the influencers perspective, but you get a parent and a teen boy, etc. I think the perspectives could have been slimmed down to help the pacing in the first half of the book.
Near the middle it picks up and things begin happening. I enjoyed the pacing and the spellcraft. There's a chance you won't like any of the characters which isn't a problem for me. You will also think they're constantly making bad choices. They are. Those things feel natural in a YA book of this kind.
Ultimately, this was an okay read for me. I can see how some may love it and others will not. Give it a go.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was intrigued by the plot of this story, but overall, it just wasn't really for me.
The story is about Kerry, who is super jealous of her ex-best friend Bella's popularity that seemed to come about overnight after she stopped being friends with her out of the blue one day.
She comes upon a book about your shadow self and being able to bring things you will into existence. Curious, Kerry tries one of the spells in the book to try to get back at Bella for having everything and her having nothing. The spell ends up working, and strange things start happening to Bella and others around her. Together, she and Bella end up working together to try to understand what is happening and stop it. The book also goes back and forth in time to a cult where the spellbook originated from.
For me, the book was just a little too weird, and I just didn't connect with all of the story. This is a great story for anyone looking for a good YA story about lost friendships, cult vibes, and demons. I would read more from this author; this book just wasn't quite for me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.
The story is about Kerry, who is super jealous of her ex-best friend Bella's popularity that seemed to come about overnight after she stopped being friends with her out of the blue one day.
She comes upon a book about your shadow self and being able to bring things you will into existence. Curious, Kerry tries one of the spells in the book to try to get back at Bella for having everything and her having nothing. The spell ends up working, and strange things start happening to Bella and others around her. Together, she and Bella end up working together to try to understand what is happening and stop it. The book also goes back and forth in time to a cult where the spellbook originated from.
For me, the book was just a little too weird, and I just didn't connect with all of the story. This is a great story for anyone looking for a good YA story about lost friendships, cult vibes, and demons. I would read more from this author; this book just wasn't quite for me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I am so happy I received this ARC Thank you so much, Wendy Heard, for letting me bug you about it! 😂 First off look at that glowy cover.
This was such a fun YA horror read.
The story is told through multiple POVs (and I mean multiple multiple 😅). While there were one or two perspectives that didn't feel completely necessary to me, that's honestly my only real complaint.
The creep factor was on point. Witchy vibes, cult rituals, a dark demonic entity lurking in the shadows?
Absolutely sign me up.
The horror elements were unsettling without being over the top, and the story moved at a quick pace that kept me turning pages.
Such a Lucky Girl follows former best friends Bella and Kerry. After Bella leaves Kerry behind and becomes a famous influencer, Kerry discovers a mysterious shadow work book that promises revenge on those who have wronged her. But something dark and ancient is attached to the rituals, and what begins as payback quickly spirals into something far more terrifying.
If you enjoy YA horror with supernatural scares, friendship fallout, revenge, and plenty of eerie atmosphere, this one is definitely worth checking out.
This was such a fun YA horror read.
The story is told through multiple POVs (and I mean multiple multiple 😅). While there were one or two perspectives that didn't feel completely necessary to me, that's honestly my only real complaint.
The creep factor was on point. Witchy vibes, cult rituals, a dark demonic entity lurking in the shadows?
Absolutely sign me up.
The horror elements were unsettling without being over the top, and the story moved at a quick pace that kept me turning pages.
Such a Lucky Girl follows former best friends Bella and Kerry. After Bella leaves Kerry behind and becomes a famous influencer, Kerry discovers a mysterious shadow work book that promises revenge on those who have wronged her. But something dark and ancient is attached to the rituals, and what begins as payback quickly spirals into something far more terrifying.
If you enjoy YA horror with supernatural scares, friendship fallout, revenge, and plenty of eerie atmosphere, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars. I love to watch the Mean Girl Murders on TV and this book kind of reminded me of an episode of that show with some supernatural/evil elements thrown in the mix. This is the story of two troubled teens Bella and Kerry. Kerry is dumped by her best friend Bella who is a teenaged influencer. Bella has became obsessed with others approval like many influencers are. Even after some time has passed Kerry is still upset and bitter over being dumped and Bella's success. She gets a hold of an old book of rituals and decides to try to use a spell/ritual from the book to get revenge against Bella. What she didn't realize is there is evil connected to the book which could be bad for all those involved. There are multiple points of views along with a past storyline from the 1950's and a present day story and there are some strong themes of envy, obsession, power and popularity and then also evil/supernatural forces. The story is certainly more geared toward teenagers and maybe young adults. Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the complimentary copy of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published June 16, 2026.
3 stars
In this young adult book high schoolers Bella and Kerry used to be BFFs, then Bella dumped Kerry to become an influencer (which is apparently which teen most aspire to be now, based on some article I read, somewhere, which I know is great proof, but I’m going with it.) Now she’s all about manifesting (ugh, like THE SECRET? Isn’t that way past over because, um…..making poster board filled with yachts, diamonds and George Clooney didn’t work? And you know who got him, ladies? A human rights lawyer. So maybe think about getting an education and doing good works instead. Just a thought.)
But I digress. So Kerry is bitter. Very bitter. Then she finds a book of spells. And take a guess what she’s going to use them for…,
This will interest younger teens, especially those who enjoyed movies like “The Craft” (I’m sure there are more recent examples, but I don’t know what they are.) For an adult, it was OK.
3 stars
In this young adult book high schoolers Bella and Kerry used to be BFFs, then Bella dumped Kerry to become an influencer (which is apparently which teen most aspire to be now, based on some article I read, somewhere, which I know is great proof, but I’m going with it.) Now she’s all about manifesting (ugh, like THE SECRET? Isn’t that way past over because, um…..making poster board filled with yachts, diamonds and George Clooney didn’t work? And you know who got him, ladies? A human rights lawyer. So maybe think about getting an education and doing good works instead. Just a thought.)
But I digress. So Kerry is bitter. Very bitter. Then she finds a book of spells. And take a guess what she’s going to use them for…,
This will interest younger teens, especially those who enjoyed movies like “The Craft” (I’m sure there are more recent examples, but I don’t know what they are.) For an adult, it was OK.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A twisty and fun read! Bella and Kerry were best friends until Bella dumped Kerry to become a social media influencer who’s famous for manifesting things and helping other girls be lucky. Kerry hates her now. But maybe Bella was on to something. So Kerry picks up a book on shadow work. It’s full of rituals that fascinate Kerry. There’s even one to get back and those who wrong you and Kerry knows just the person for it. What Kerry doesn’t know is there is something connected to the book, something dark and evil. Kerry is about to unleash it on herself and Bella and neither are ready for what’s to come. Can they survive? Wendy Heard does an excellent job of making you feel the things that Kerry is feeling! Tons of dark magic and blood in this one, and horror that kept me invested and I couldn’t put it down! Lots of intrigue and thrills!
July 9, 2026
I had a lot of fun reading this book. The story was really easy to get sucked into and I really enjoyed the characters- even if they did make some of the dumbest decisions. But what horror story doesn't hinge on characters ignoring red flags and logic?
Some things I liked:
- The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus, who is one of my favorite audio narrators and I will listen to any book that she reads. That's actually how I found this book and I'm so glad that I did.
- The Shadow
- For once I liked the time hops. This book did it in a way that added to the story and didn't slow things down
- I even liked the influencer side of the story which in general I'm getting burned out on.
Some things I disliked:
- The cast was rather large and with the multiple POVs it was a little hard to follow at times.
- The MC's absolute inability to recognize she's doing something really dumb.
- No POV for Bella
- The ending was a bit rushed
Some things I liked:
- The audiobook is narrated by Natalie Naudus, who is one of my favorite audio narrators and I will listen to any book that she reads. That's actually how I found this book and I'm so glad that I did.
- The Shadow
- For once I liked the time hops. This book did it in a way that added to the story and didn't slow things down
- I even liked the influencer side of the story which in general I'm getting burned out on.
Some things I disliked:
- The cast was rather large and with the multiple POVs it was a little hard to follow at times.
- The MC's absolute inability to recognize she's doing something really dumb.
- No POV for Bella
- The ending was a bit rushed
Read
August 4, 2026Overall really enjoyed this one-- I love an unhinged cult story, and appreciate that this one also blended in a critique of influencer culture, parasocial relationships, and more. I was definitely hooked from the very beginning! But one thing I found hard to look past:
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Such A Lucky Girl is told in dual timelines, one set during the current time and the other, the late 50s. Author Wendy Heard has a knack for the dark and macabre. I was taken a back numerous times, the descriptions and the scenes that are created in your mind are extremely vivid. The intense dark & onimous feelings you get are over powered by this obsession to know more. This book opens up so many thoughts on social media and obsessions caused by the need for popularity and power. This was a book that really makes you wonder, how many people have tried to go THAT far? Were any of them successful? With the darkness Hollywood has been showing lately, situations like these, don't seem to far off.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Husband got sent an arc for blurbing purposes, 3.5 rounded up
I love Wendy's books, I always have, and when she puts a new one out I always know I'm in for an absolutely batshit time. This is one of those that I think I would have enjoyed more back when I was the target age for it and jumping around in so many perspectives would’ve been easier to keep straight, because it's very much a book for TEENS, perhaps a little hand-holdy in its messages but if that's what it takes to get through some teenagers heads to love yourself for you, not for social media, to eat a goddamn sandwich and be nicer to your friends, then the world needs more of that. As someone who went through a NASTY friendship breakup years ago, I definitely wish I'd had this at 17!
I love Wendy's books, I always have, and when she puts a new one out I always know I'm in for an absolutely batshit time. This is one of those that I think I would have enjoyed more back when I was the target age for it and jumping around in so many perspectives would’ve been easier to keep straight, because it's very much a book for TEENS, perhaps a little hand-holdy in its messages but if that's what it takes to get through some teenagers heads to love yourself for you, not for social media, to eat a goddamn sandwich and be nicer to your friends, then the world needs more of that. As someone who went through a NASTY friendship breakup years ago, I definitely wish I'd had this at 17!
June 20, 2026
3.5 stars.
Such a Lucky Girl delivered exactly the kind of creepy, atmospheric YA thriller I was hoping for. The witchy cult vibes immediately pulled me in, and I loved how the story unfolded through dual timelines, slowly revealing the truth behind the mystery.
The multiple POVs helped build tension, though at times I felt there were simply too many perspectives competing for attention.
My favorite part was the ending. It had that classic horror movie feeling. If you enjoy YA horror with cult elements, dark secrets, and an unsettling atmosphere, this one is worth picking up.
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Such a Lucky Girl delivered exactly the kind of creepy, atmospheric YA thriller I was hoping for. The witchy cult vibes immediately pulled me in, and I loved how the story unfolded through dual timelines, slowly revealing the truth behind the mystery.
The multiple POVs helped build tension, though at times I felt there were simply too many perspectives competing for attention.
My favorite part was the ending. It had that classic horror movie feeling. If you enjoy YA horror with cult elements, dark secrets, and an unsettling atmosphere, this one is worth picking up.
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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