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Just My Luck
Marty has terrible luck and she knows exactly why. While working as a housekeeper at the ritzy Grand Palms hotel in Maui, Marty made it a habit to steal small items from the guests. What better way to stick it to the rich snobs they have to clean up after? Marty knows how to turn her luck around -- she just has to return all of the items she stole.
When Marty meets Will, a new guest who is staying for the summer, she does the one thing she always promised herself she'd never do -- fall for an out-of-towner. But Will's special, different from the other guests at the hotel. Maybe Marty's luck is finally turning around.
After a string of misunderstandings and accidents threaten Will and Marty's relationship, Marty has to find a way to fix her luck for good -- or say goodbye to Will forever.
When Marty meets Will, a new guest who is staying for the summer, she does the one thing she always promised herself she'd never do -- fall for an out-of-towner. But Will's special, different from the other guests at the hotel. Maybe Marty's luck is finally turning around.
After a string of misunderstandings and accidents threaten Will and Marty's relationship, Marty has to find a way to fix her luck for good -- or say goodbye to Will forever.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 2019
7 people are currently reading
1930 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Honeybourn
6 books152 followersJennifer Honeybourn is a fan of British accents, Broadway musicals, and epic, happily-ever-after love stories. She is the author of several young adult novels, including Wesley James Ruined My Life, When Life Gives You Demons, Just My Luck and The Do-Over. She also writes middle grade books under the pseudonym J.E. Hailstone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 8, 2019
DNF 50%
I'm surprised I made it this far. The combination of insta love / immediate connection / tingling feelings during the first meeting and the ridiculous and unrealistic bad luck was just off-putting : (
ARC provided by edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review
I'm surprised I made it this far. The combination of insta love / immediate connection / tingling feelings during the first meeting and the ridiculous and unrealistic bad luck was just off-putting : (
ARC provided by edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review
July 2, 2019
2.5 stars
I had read and enjoyed Jennifer’s other titles, so I was fairly eager to get to this one.
I liked Marty well enough. She’s maybe a little lost and struggling with her life, but she was tenacious and eager to set things right. There were a few other characters, but everyone felt really one dimensional and clichéd.
Plot wise, it was a fast moving slice of time. Marty and Will were always doing activities and talking, yet it still seemed like everything was just at the surface. There weren’t any deep thoughts or conversations. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I think I just wanted a bit more from everything.
Overall, it was a cute idea, but not as fleshed out as it could have been.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**
I had read and enjoyed Jennifer’s other titles, so I was fairly eager to get to this one.
I liked Marty well enough. She’s maybe a little lost and struggling with her life, but she was tenacious and eager to set things right. There were a few other characters, but everyone felt really one dimensional and clichéd.
Plot wise, it was a fast moving slice of time. Marty and Will were always doing activities and talking, yet it still seemed like everything was just at the surface. There weren’t any deep thoughts or conversations. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I think I just wanted a bit more from everything.
Overall, it was a cute idea, but not as fleshed out as it could have been.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**
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May 24, 2020
July 17, 2019
A story about winning against Karma.
Marty works are a resort in Maui and she knows better than anyone not to get involved with the tourists—she'd only gets a heartbreak from it. But her luck in on the negative lately, and bad things keep happening to her, to the point she's lost her car, her boyfriend and her best friend is going the same direction. So it's not surprising when she falls for Will, who's in the best room with his brother for the month and for whom she now needs to act as private guide tour.
There are many positive aspects in this book, but my favorite is the description of Maui. They're smoothly inserted there, and it feels like a native is really teaching us about Hawaii as we go along. I confess I didn't know a thing of what was there so it was a real a pleasure.
I was hoping for the bad luck incidents to be more funny, but this isn't really a book I laughed that much. Marty is just too frightened and that seemed to go into me, every time something happened, I got as frustrated as she did. It was clearly impossible to laugh.
And have I mentioned how much I love the cover? That picture of the beach wouldn't have done it for me but together with everything else it made for a perfect show of what to expect of the story. Swoon Reads just gets better with each title.
As for down points, I didn't think it was the best romance. Will is a nice guy and I'd probably fall for him too, but I didn't see the sparkles. Even the meet-cute wasn't that cute in my opinion. Concomitantly, that didn't matter. This is not just a romance but also about Marty getting over herself and doing things right, that's why I loved the ending. Unfortunately, I can't go in details for obvious reasons, but as fitting as it was, I didn't think the author would actually do it.
This is another good title in Swoon Reads catalog and I was super glad I could read it.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by the blog tour and Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
Marty works are a resort in Maui and she knows better than anyone not to get involved with the tourists—she'd only gets a heartbreak from it. But her luck in on the negative lately, and bad things keep happening to her, to the point she's lost her car, her boyfriend and her best friend is going the same direction. So it's not surprising when she falls for Will, who's in the best room with his brother for the month and for whom she now needs to act as private guide tour.
There are many positive aspects in this book, but my favorite is the description of Maui. They're smoothly inserted there, and it feels like a native is really teaching us about Hawaii as we go along. I confess I didn't know a thing of what was there so it was a real a pleasure.
I was hoping for the bad luck incidents to be more funny, but this isn't really a book I laughed that much. Marty is just too frightened and that seemed to go into me, every time something happened, I got as frustrated as she did. It was clearly impossible to laugh.
And have I mentioned how much I love the cover? That picture of the beach wouldn't have done it for me but together with everything else it made for a perfect show of what to expect of the story. Swoon Reads just gets better with each title.
As for down points, I didn't think it was the best romance. Will is a nice guy and I'd probably fall for him too, but I didn't see the sparkles. Even the meet-cute wasn't that cute in my opinion. Concomitantly, that didn't matter. This is not just a romance but also about Marty getting over herself and doing things right, that's why I loved the ending. Unfortunately, I can't go in details for obvious reasons, but as fitting as it was, I didn't think the author would actually do it.
This is another good title in Swoon Reads catalog and I was super glad I could read it.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by the blog tour and Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
May 25, 2019
MY RATING: 4.5/5 stars
I received an ARC from Raincoast Books in exchange for a honest review.
My gosh, guys. This book is short,simple, and sweet. I was so happy to read this book during my vacation because it felt like a perfect compliment to the sunny days off. It takes place in Hawaii first of all, so you're not going wrong with picking this book up for a summer read. And it has this really pure and fluffy romance blossoming between a rich boy who is the sweetest thing ever and a girl who washes toilets in the hotel he's currently staying in.
Basically, the jist of this story is that Marty works at the hotel her mother is currently employed at. She doesn't want anything to change because her father packed up and left a few months ago and she sees her mother struggling with it all. Marty doesn't want to cause any more trouble for her mother so she just kind of stagnates. Enter a super rich boy and his younger brother, and a special request to have Marty show them around the island. Rich boy is named Will and after a prank gone horribly wrong after a drunken night, he resorts to do the same thing as Marty--comply to everything his strict parents want him to do. Despite not wanting to go to a snobby college to study business, Will can't think of any way to get out of it. He needs to comply because he has a trust fund and he depends on his family's wealth/connections. Talk about his bank account being his prison.
Anyways, there's also the idea going on where Marty has the worst of luck because she takes small items from rooms she cleans as a small 'stick it to the man' when the resident of the room is particularly awful. So an epiphany strikes and she decides to track down each item's owner and return it to them in hopes her luck will come back.
Despite it being really short, I had no issue with the flushing out with the characters bit that majority of reviewers have an issue with right now. It's meant to be brain candy. I took it as it was and loved it. The ending was also adorable? Jennifer Honeybourn didn't try to pull a fast unrealistic ending where both characters can overcome ALL their battles and win in the end.
MY RECOMMENDATION
This should be your first 'summer vacation' read.
I received an ARC from Raincoast Books in exchange for a honest review.
My gosh, guys. This book is short,simple, and sweet. I was so happy to read this book during my vacation because it felt like a perfect compliment to the sunny days off. It takes place in Hawaii first of all, so you're not going wrong with picking this book up for a summer read. And it has this really pure and fluffy romance blossoming between a rich boy who is the sweetest thing ever and a girl who washes toilets in the hotel he's currently staying in.
Basically, the jist of this story is that Marty works at the hotel her mother is currently employed at. She doesn't want anything to change because her father packed up and left a few months ago and she sees her mother struggling with it all. Marty doesn't want to cause any more trouble for her mother so she just kind of stagnates. Enter a super rich boy and his younger brother, and a special request to have Marty show them around the island. Rich boy is named Will and after a prank gone horribly wrong after a drunken night, he resorts to do the same thing as Marty--comply to everything his strict parents want him to do. Despite not wanting to go to a snobby college to study business, Will can't think of any way to get out of it. He needs to comply because he has a trust fund and he depends on his family's wealth/connections. Talk about his bank account being his prison.
Anyways, there's also the idea going on where Marty has the worst of luck because she takes small items from rooms she cleans as a small 'stick it to the man' when the resident of the room is particularly awful. So an epiphany strikes and she decides to track down each item's owner and return it to them in hopes her luck will come back.
Despite it being really short, I had no issue with the flushing out with the characters bit that majority of reviewers have an issue with right now. It's meant to be brain candy. I took it as it was and loved it. The ending was also adorable? Jennifer Honeybourn didn't try to pull a fast unrealistic ending where both characters can overcome ALL their battles and win in the end.
MY RECOMMENDATION
This should be your first 'summer vacation' read.
March 3, 2024
this would make such a good like 2013 Disney Chanel movie.
The ending felt so unfinished, I wish it was like 50 more pages at least
The ending felt so unfinished, I wish it was like 50 more pages at least
June 18, 2019
DELIGHTFUL. Marty is a protagonist who’s easy to relate to and fun to root for. Will is super sweet! Loved the coming-of-age aspect of this novel, as well as the friendship and family aspects. The Hawaiian setting is perfection. I think contemporary YA fans adore this story—I definitely have!
July 19, 2019
This is the story of Marty, a young girl who works at the Grand Palms Hotel in Maui. Marty’s parents just separated, and she is quite upset by this turn of events. Because of her frustration, she starts stealing trinkets from the hotel guests… the cheap stuff that would not be missed by their owners. But soon, Marty is hit with a stroke of bad luck and she realizes that she needs to return the stolen objects to their owners in order to break this curse. In the meantime, Marty meets Will, a new guest who is staying for the summer, and breaks the first rule of working in a hotel… do not fall for a guest.
The story is nicely written, the characters are believable, and the setting is dreamy. I really enjoy this light read. I wish the end turned out differently, but it was still a very enjoyable book. Great as a summer read.
💁🏼️ Thank you, RainCoast Books for sending me an ARC of this fun book. Just my Luck by Jennifer Honeybourn is now available at your favourite bookstore.
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August 9, 2019
ARC received in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
❌ Bland, forgettable, frequently irritating characters
❌ Insta-love
❌ Extraordinarily cheesy and non-closure ending
❌ MY ARC COPY WAS MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENS IN IT
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
❌ Bland, forgettable, frequently irritating characters
❌ Insta-love
❌ Extraordinarily cheesy and non-closure ending
❌ MY ARC COPY WAS MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENS IN IT
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
September 20, 2019
I loved the Hawaiian setting, but the story wasn’t as flushed out as it could have been. Still a cute summery read.
July 15, 2019
A pair of cherry red sunglasses, a vanilla-scented travel candle, a hula girl shot glass, and a luggage tag shaped like a surfboard were the sources of Marty's bad luck, and she was on a mission to reverse this bad karma.
After her parent's divorce, Marty seemed to make a few bad decisions. Among them was her string of petty thefts as she cleaned guest rooms at an upscale resort. These items were all meaningless, but she believed they were the source of her bad luck. This was not your everyday type of bad luck either. Marty suffered so many disasters in such a short time span, that I wanted to reach through the pages, and give her some hugs. It was brutal at times, but things did start to look up for her.
One of the positive things to happen to Marty was that she met Will. I instantly liked him, and I thought he gave Marty the push she needed to start making necessary changes in her life. Marty was nursing a wounded heart and dealing with some genuine feelings of abandonment. She closed herself off to people and possibilities, and it was via Will, that she began to open up again.
Obviously, I was fully onboard with this romance, and I liked the way Honeybourn utilized the search for the stolen items owners to give us a peek into Marty's near past, but I really loved all the island adventures I got to take with Marty, Will, and the gang.
This book was set in Maui, and having never been to Hawaii myself, I rely on books and magazine to "take me there". I felt as though Marty took me to some of the best places, and she also introduced me to some of the local cuisine.
Just My Luck was about family, friends, making peace with the past, appreciating the now, and not fearing the future. I found it quite delightful, and thought it had all the elements of a great summer read.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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After her parent's divorce, Marty seemed to make a few bad decisions. Among them was her string of petty thefts as she cleaned guest rooms at an upscale resort. These items were all meaningless, but she believed they were the source of her bad luck. This was not your everyday type of bad luck either. Marty suffered so many disasters in such a short time span, that I wanted to reach through the pages, and give her some hugs. It was brutal at times, but things did start to look up for her.
One of the positive things to happen to Marty was that she met Will. I instantly liked him, and I thought he gave Marty the push she needed to start making necessary changes in her life. Marty was nursing a wounded heart and dealing with some genuine feelings of abandonment. She closed herself off to people and possibilities, and it was via Will, that she began to open up again.
Obviously, I was fully onboard with this romance, and I liked the way Honeybourn utilized the search for the stolen items owners to give us a peek into Marty's near past, but I really loved all the island adventures I got to take with Marty, Will, and the gang.
This book was set in Maui, and having never been to Hawaii myself, I rely on books and magazine to "take me there". I felt as though Marty took me to some of the best places, and she also introduced me to some of the local cuisine.
Just My Luck was about family, friends, making peace with the past, appreciating the now, and not fearing the future. I found it quite delightful, and thought it had all the elements of a great summer read.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 3, 2019
A cute and quick summer read. Thanks to Swoon Reads for the arc!
July 17, 2019
*Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/*
Marty has been unlucky recently and it just seems to be getting worse. She is pretty sure her luck is due to the cheap knickknacks she stole from the rooms of hotel guests while she was cleaning rooms at work but she has no idea how to change her luck back. Add on a heaping of family drama and life angst, and Marty is overwhelming. But maybe her new assignment at work can help change her fate- if she can stay professional and not be charmed by the cute brooding guy she has been tasked with showing around the island.
I found Just My Luck to be incredibly adorable and easy to read. It was a fairly short book at 220 pages and the quick chapters and engaging main character made the book just fly by. I feel like this is the best possible timing for this book to come out also since it is summer and the story is set in the most summer of locations- Hawaii (Maui to be more specific). Jennifer really made Maui come alive for me, I felt like I was experiencing the food or seeing the sunset and the turtles right along with Marty. I have no idea how Jennifer was able to make a story so vivid and encompassing in so few pages but I loved everything about this story. This was the perfect mix of light tone and scenic setting to put some serious growing up issues into play.
And yes, there was a love story here (because let's be real, how can a YA contemporary not have at least a little romance) but that was not the focus of the book- and the amazing fact that it was not a HEA, it was an enjoy the moment kind of love that I think YA needs more of and I fully appreciated. Just My Luck was about so many things, like being true to yourself, being able to live for yourself and not others, that everyone makes mistakes but it is ok to forgive, always try to make things right, and the most important lesson- watch out for Karma because she will be looking for you!
This is my second read by Jennifer and I love the flawed, totally relatable characters that she brings to life. I think this is the perfect read for anyone who loves YA contemporary, the beach life style, coming of age stories and summer fun. Pick this book up on your next trip to the beach (or pool, just saying).
Marty has been unlucky recently and it just seems to be getting worse. She is pretty sure her luck is due to the cheap knickknacks she stole from the rooms of hotel guests while she was cleaning rooms at work but she has no idea how to change her luck back. Add on a heaping of family drama and life angst, and Marty is overwhelming. But maybe her new assignment at work can help change her fate- if she can stay professional and not be charmed by the cute brooding guy she has been tasked with showing around the island.
I found Just My Luck to be incredibly adorable and easy to read. It was a fairly short book at 220 pages and the quick chapters and engaging main character made the book just fly by. I feel like this is the best possible timing for this book to come out also since it is summer and the story is set in the most summer of locations- Hawaii (Maui to be more specific). Jennifer really made Maui come alive for me, I felt like I was experiencing the food or seeing the sunset and the turtles right along with Marty. I have no idea how Jennifer was able to make a story so vivid and encompassing in so few pages but I loved everything about this story. This was the perfect mix of light tone and scenic setting to put some serious growing up issues into play.
And yes, there was a love story here (because let's be real, how can a YA contemporary not have at least a little romance) but that was not the focus of the book- and the amazing fact that it was not a HEA, it was an enjoy the moment kind of love that I think YA needs more of and I fully appreciated. Just My Luck was about so many things, like being true to yourself, being able to live for yourself and not others, that everyone makes mistakes but it is ok to forgive, always try to make things right, and the most important lesson- watch out for Karma because she will be looking for you!
This is my second read by Jennifer and I love the flawed, totally relatable characters that she brings to life. I think this is the perfect read for anyone who loves YA contemporary, the beach life style, coming of age stories and summer fun. Pick this book up on your next trip to the beach (or pool, just saying).
August 1, 2019
Trigger warnings: divorce, teen alcoholism, head injury in surfing accident
***I received this book from the publisher at BookExpo. All opinions are uninfluenced.***
Just My Luck follows Hawaiian native Marty and her string of recent bad luck. From a tree branch falling on her car to her prom date making out with someone else at the dance, she just can't seem to catch a break. Luckily, Marty knows just what's causing it: she works at a fancy hotel and has been stealing small items from the rooms she cleans. All she has to do is track the people down, send the items back, and all will be right with the world again, right? She just hopes she can get it all fixed before her bad luck destroys her chances with her new crush, a hotel summer resident named Will.
This was the perfect beach read. It's set in Hawaii, I read it on the beach on the NC coast and it was a great decision. It's light, fun, and not too serious. It does touch of some more serious topics like divorce, teen alcoholism, and leaving home, but overall it's super low stakes, funny and enjoyable.
I'm not going to lie, I don't have much to say about this one because it's pretty "what you see is what you get." The writing is easy to fly through, the plot is predictable but enjoyable, and it's a super quick read if you're looking to knock something out in an afternoon!
Have you read Just My Luck? If not, does it sound interesting to you? Let's discuss!
October 9, 2019
Just My Luck by Jennifer Honeybourn is an amazing adorable story of Marty and all the bad luck that comes to her during the summer. Marty has ups and downs but she also has to keep together her family and job. Her old friends and new are all helping her through this crazy summer before taking a year off to go around the country with her friend Nalani. More crazy things happen has Marty just tries to not fall for the new cute hotel guest Will while also having to show him around the beautiful Maui.
This was an adorable read that had me laughing and wanting a summer just like this. Though I have never been to Hawaii this story made me want to go even more. If you need a good cute love story in your life this one is for you!
This was an adorable read that had me laughing and wanting a summer just like this. Though I have never been to Hawaii this story made me want to go even more. If you need a good cute love story in your life this one is for you!
August 19, 2019
Cute, light and quick read!
February 5, 2020
A cute fun YA story set in Hawaii!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2019
I think it was a fun summer read and more slice-of-life than I was expecting, but overall enjoyable.
The premise was... not weak, exactly, but while it seemed like the impetus for the plot it mostly just felt like a sub-plot that could have been cut and not impacted the story at all. Which is weird when it even influences the title. Her whole fixation with luck both seems like an afterthought and also a hyperfixation, which is a bit tricky to reconcile but there you have it.
I did love Marty as a character, and didn’t need a meticulously crafted reason to follow her adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for the ARC!
The premise was... not weak, exactly, but while it seemed like the impetus for the plot it mostly just felt like a sub-plot that could have been cut and not impacted the story at all. Which is weird when it even influences the title. Her whole fixation with luck both seems like an afterthought and also a hyperfixation, which is a bit tricky to reconcile but there you have it.
I did love Marty as a character, and didn’t need a meticulously crafted reason to follow her adventure.
Thanks to NetGalley and Swoon Reads for the ARC!
August 23, 2020
Eerder las ik 'Wesley James Ruined My Life' van deze schrijfster en dat boek heeft een plekje in mijn favorietenlijst behaald. Ook van dit boek heb ik enorm genoten: het verhaal leest lekker vlot door, de personages zijn fijn en de Hawaïaanse omgeving was geweldig beschreven.
Ja, er is best wel sprake van insta-love en ja, vele ongelukkige gebeurtenissen waren iets te toevallig en ongeloofwaardig en kwamen soms te snel weer goed, maar je moet gewoon niet teveel nadenken tijdens het lezen van dit boek en dan heb je echt een fijn verhaal in handen.
Haar andere boek vond ik beter, maar dit boek verdient wat mij betreft zeker 4 sterren.
Ja, er is best wel sprake van insta-love en ja, vele ongelukkige gebeurtenissen waren iets te toevallig en ongeloofwaardig en kwamen soms te snel weer goed, maar je moet gewoon niet teveel nadenken tijdens het lezen van dit boek en dan heb je echt een fijn verhaal in handen.
Haar andere boek vond ik beter, maar dit boek verdient wat mij betreft zeker 4 sterren.
July 15, 2019
Just My Luck by Jennifer Honeybourn is a quick, but lighthearted and enjoyable YA contemporary romance.
This book is an easy and cute read. I really liked the concept of the story and some parts are quite delightful. I also liked the pacing and the swiftly moving plot with plenty of events and happenings. However, I felt like both the story and characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more. I just wanted everything to be MORE than what it was. So while there are definitely a few things that could have been executed better, I did enjoy the friendships, the family drama, the adventure, the setting, and the coming-of age aspects of the book. I also liked the sibling relationship between Ansel and Marty and wished they had more moments together. And even though the ending seemed a bit rushed, it still made me smile.
The characters are all right. I liked Marty and Will well enough. Marty is relatable and I rooted for her the entire time. Will is quite funny, adorable and caring. The side characters like Ansel, Hayes and Nalani are likeable. They're all interesting on their own ways, but I just really wanted them to be more complex and to have more depth.
Romance wise… Uhmmm well, I’m not too sure I completely liked it. I know I didn't not like it, but I just wanted something more. There are some moments that are quite romantic and sweet... it's just I didn't really feel intense and delicious swoony vibes between Marty and Will. They also didn't seem to have the kind of chemistry that makes my heart melt. Having said that, they shared some adorable moments and I did enjoy some of their flirty scenes together.
Overall, this novel is a light and cute read. Despite the fact that I personally wanted to feel MORE excitement, MORE fun, and ultimately just MORE feels, I still enjoyed most of the story and I think this book is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author, publisher, and Xpresso Book Tours via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is an easy and cute read. I really liked the concept of the story and some parts are quite delightful. I also liked the pacing and the swiftly moving plot with plenty of events and happenings. However, I felt like both the story and characters needed to be fleshed out a bit more. I just wanted everything to be MORE than what it was. So while there are definitely a few things that could have been executed better, I did enjoy the friendships, the family drama, the adventure, the setting, and the coming-of age aspects of the book. I also liked the sibling relationship between Ansel and Marty and wished they had more moments together. And even though the ending seemed a bit rushed, it still made me smile.
The characters are all right. I liked Marty and Will well enough. Marty is relatable and I rooted for her the entire time. Will is quite funny, adorable and caring. The side characters like Ansel, Hayes and Nalani are likeable. They're all interesting on their own ways, but I just really wanted them to be more complex and to have more depth.
Romance wise… Uhmmm well, I’m not too sure I completely liked it. I know I didn't not like it, but I just wanted something more. There are some moments that are quite romantic and sweet... it's just I didn't really feel intense and delicious swoony vibes between Marty and Will. They also didn't seem to have the kind of chemistry that makes my heart melt. Having said that, they shared some adorable moments and I did enjoy some of their flirty scenes together.
Overall, this novel is a light and cute read. Despite the fact that I personally wanted to feel MORE excitement, MORE fun, and ultimately just MORE feels, I still enjoyed most of the story and I think this book is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author, publisher, and Xpresso Book Tours via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 6, 2020
Jennifer Honeybourn’s Just My Luck is a story about a teenage girl named Marty Taylor who works as a housekeeper at the prestigious Grand Palms hotel in Maui, Hawaii. Tired of cleaning up after rich snobs, she starts to steal small items from their rooms right before they leave. Karma kicks in and she starts to have terrible luck. She decides the only way she can get her luck back and be able to stay close to Will Foster, the guest she’d fallen for, is to return all the items she lost.
When I first started reading, I wasn’t immediately intrigued and I didn't care to keep reading, which often is not a good sign and I won’t keep reading. The author didn’t have a very interesting writing style and it’s very simple to read. Although this isn’t a bad thing, her writing just lacks the figurative language and descriptive detail that other authors have that set the mood and feeling of the book. Often I felt there were areas she could have added more detail. However, Just My Luck was easy to relate to as a teenager. Some instances of bad luck, like a tree falling on Marty’s car, is a little outrageous, but other problems, such as boys, family, friends, and uncertain futures are very easy to relate to.
After finishing the book, I was left a little confused and I had a lot of questions, which isn’t a good way to end a book. I am still wondering why Marty’s dad left her and why sending back items she stole would fix her “luck.” The ending was especially confusing, and I think that Jennifer was just trying to finish the book. A lesson this book teaches is to one, don’t steal, and two, enjoy your life for yourself, not for others. I don’t think it was that Marty’s had bad luck, I think she just had a pessimistic view in life.
After getting past the first couple of chapters, I did enjoy reading the book. It was an easy read and a fun story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is bored and needs something to read. Just My Luck is easy and entertaining, perfect for a lazy summer day.
When I first started reading, I wasn’t immediately intrigued and I didn't care to keep reading, which often is not a good sign and I won’t keep reading. The author didn’t have a very interesting writing style and it’s very simple to read. Although this isn’t a bad thing, her writing just lacks the figurative language and descriptive detail that other authors have that set the mood and feeling of the book. Often I felt there were areas she could have added more detail. However, Just My Luck was easy to relate to as a teenager. Some instances of bad luck, like a tree falling on Marty’s car, is a little outrageous, but other problems, such as boys, family, friends, and uncertain futures are very easy to relate to.
After finishing the book, I was left a little confused and I had a lot of questions, which isn’t a good way to end a book. I am still wondering why Marty’s dad left her and why sending back items she stole would fix her “luck.” The ending was especially confusing, and I think that Jennifer was just trying to finish the book. A lesson this book teaches is to one, don’t steal, and two, enjoy your life for yourself, not for others. I don’t think it was that Marty’s had bad luck, I think she just had a pessimistic view in life.
After getting past the first couple of chapters, I did enjoy reading the book. It was an easy read and a fun story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is bored and needs something to read. Just My Luck is easy and entertaining, perfect for a lazy summer day.
October 5, 2019
Things haven't been going very well lately for Marty Taylor, and it seems as though a cloud of bad luck is following her everywhere. Even though she lives in most folks' idea of paradise--Maui--Marty isn't particularly fond of her job as a housekeeper at the Grand Palms Hotel. Angry at her father for abandoning the family and afraid to leave her mother for a planned trip with her best friend, Nalani, Marty has taken several small objects from some of the hotel guests' rooms during her tenure as a housekeeper. Although the objects weren't particularly valuable, she becomes convinced that she must return them to those guests in order to dispel the bad luck. She begins researching to whom the stolen objects belonged to while serving as an island tour guide to Will Foster and his brother, the scions of a wealthy patron. Slowly and against her best intentions, Marty begins falling for Will, and he seems to be returning her affections. Could he be different from all the other privileged guests the hotel has served? Readers may find the slow build-up of their relationship entertaining and hope that both of them will be able to find the courage to tell the truth about the secrets they're hiding to themselves and others. Although much of what happens here is predictable, I still enjoyed all the jaunts across the island through Marty's insider's eyes. For all the drama of the opening pages in which Marty rescues a cat left behind by tourists, naming her Libby, she doesn't seem to spend much time with the animal. Readers looking for light romance amid an exotic setting will find it here. They will probably love the ending although I seemed a bit abrupt and unlikely for my tastes.
June 15, 2019
(Note: I received an ARC of this title in a Goodreads giveaway, and leave my honest opinions below.)
Martina, or Marty for short has two big problems. One involves her never ending string of bad luck from a universe that seems to want to get her back for her habit of stealing odds and ends from the folks who come to the hotel she works at in Maui. And the second is an out-of-towner named Will who just might be the antidote she needs.
In this extended meet cute between the two of them, the author does just enough to color her title with warm breezes and Hawaiian culture to provide the proper tropical flavor to her tale. From their initial meeting at the front desk late at night to their cross island trip that goes anywhere but expected, Marty and Will are both likable characters that the reading audience will want them to succeed. Marty especially is a complicated, though realistic figure torn between her obligations to the hotel and her mom, during an especially trying time for both of them, and her desire to get out and experience the world outside of sandy beaches and torn-through hotel rooms. The story flows effortlessly, like a wave to shore, and it will not be difficult to read this very quickly, as I found myself doing!
This is perfectly suited for the 12-17 crowd. There is nothing objectionable in the story material, and chapters are kept short enough to establish and keep your attention. All in all, a great little summer beach read!
Martina, or Marty for short has two big problems. One involves her never ending string of bad luck from a universe that seems to want to get her back for her habit of stealing odds and ends from the folks who come to the hotel she works at in Maui. And the second is an out-of-towner named Will who just might be the antidote she needs.
In this extended meet cute between the two of them, the author does just enough to color her title with warm breezes and Hawaiian culture to provide the proper tropical flavor to her tale. From their initial meeting at the front desk late at night to their cross island trip that goes anywhere but expected, Marty and Will are both likable characters that the reading audience will want them to succeed. Marty especially is a complicated, though realistic figure torn between her obligations to the hotel and her mom, during an especially trying time for both of them, and her desire to get out and experience the world outside of sandy beaches and torn-through hotel rooms. The story flows effortlessly, like a wave to shore, and it will not be difficult to read this very quickly, as I found myself doing!
This is perfectly suited for the 12-17 crowd. There is nothing objectionable in the story material, and chapters are kept short enough to establish and keep your attention. All in all, a great little summer beach read!
August 26, 2019
Just my Luck was a quick and easy read. Marty is our protagonist and she's a teen working in a hotel in Maui. Since her dad left her, she's been lost and debating taking time off from attending college to stay with her mom. While working at the hotel, she meets a cute guy who's on vacation and that should have been a good day but Marty keeps getting unlucky.
Marty thinks that her bad luck is the result of her stealing things from the hotel guests. So, she figures that she has to change her luck and that'll only happen if she returns the things she took.
Like, I said before it was a fun read. I wasn't bored or tempted to close the book but it wasn't memorable. I have no idea if Marty's luck truly changed or not? After Marty was assigned to show Will and his brother some scenic spots of the island, they ended up spending some good amount of time which eventually ended up being a summer romance.
I'm not sure if I should recommend this book. Overall, there was a girl who's lost in life and trying to spend her life by walking on eggshells, makes you think about whether there's such a thing called karma, there's a summer romance and an open ending that'll leave you with a small smile on your face.
Verdict: 2.5 stars
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
Marty thinks that her bad luck is the result of her stealing things from the hotel guests. So, she figures that she has to change her luck and that'll only happen if she returns the things she took.
Like, I said before it was a fun read. I wasn't bored or tempted to close the book but it wasn't memorable. I have no idea if Marty's luck truly changed or not? After Marty was assigned to show Will and his brother some scenic spots of the island, they ended up spending some good amount of time which eventually ended up being a summer romance.
I'm not sure if I should recommend this book. Overall, there was a girl who's lost in life and trying to spend her life by walking on eggshells, makes you think about whether there's such a thing called karma, there's a summer romance and an open ending that'll leave you with a small smile on your face.
Verdict: 2.5 stars
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
April 26, 2023
Jennifer Honeybourn's Just My Luck is very light YA reading about a young girl coming of age while working at a Hawaiian hotel. Marty has a bad habit of stealing items from the hotel rooms she cleans, and after a string of bad luck, she is convinced she needs to return the items to their rightful owners for her luck to change. She wasn't counting on falling for Will, however, a wealthy teenage boy who is staying the entire summer at the Grand Palms hotel. Will Will throw a wrench in Marty's plans to right her wrongs, or will he be a welcome distraction?
Just My Luck is just right for the emerging YA crowd. Those around the 15-16 year old age range on the cusp of striking out on their own. While this story and its characters were decent, I was not at all blown away by this book, and that is because it is so simply written (which is also why I recommend it to younger YA readers.) This book suffers from an extreme lack of plot development and complex sentence structure. A multitude of topics are literally introduced and closed within the span of a sentence or two. Because very few of the plot points are expounded upon, I have to give this book a three star rating.
Just My Luck is just right for the emerging YA crowd. Those around the 15-16 year old age range on the cusp of striking out on their own. While this story and its characters were decent, I was not at all blown away by this book, and that is because it is so simply written (which is also why I recommend it to younger YA readers.) This book suffers from an extreme lack of plot development and complex sentence structure. A multitude of topics are literally introduced and closed within the span of a sentence or two. Because very few of the plot points are expounded upon, I have to give this book a three star rating.
July 16, 2019
A big thank you to Honeybourn, Swoon Reads, and Xpresso Book Tours for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted on my blog June Reads Books.
The only explanation for all the things going wrong in Marty's life is karma. What else could explain the fact that, in one day, she broke her tooth, a tree fell on her car, and she ruined a good pair of slippers because someone didn't clean up after their dog? She needs to put things right and that doesn't include being distracted by an out-of-towner that she's being forced to show around the island, thank you very much.
Honeybourn writes a humorous and sweet story about love, luck, and learning how to move forward in life. All of Marty's misadventures kept me glued to the page in happy expectation. While the story was lighthearted and fun, I found myself craving more depth from the characters. Will and Marty are the only characters in the story that are fleshed out, and still there was more to be desired. If you're looking for something feel good to make you laugh after a heavier read, this is a good option for you!
The only explanation for all the things going wrong in Marty's life is karma. What else could explain the fact that, in one day, she broke her tooth, a tree fell on her car, and she ruined a good pair of slippers because someone didn't clean up after their dog? She needs to put things right and that doesn't include being distracted by an out-of-towner that she's being forced to show around the island, thank you very much.
Honeybourn writes a humorous and sweet story about love, luck, and learning how to move forward in life. All of Marty's misadventures kept me glued to the page in happy expectation. While the story was lighthearted and fun, I found myself craving more depth from the characters. Will and Marty are the only characters in the story that are fleshed out, and still there was more to be desired. If you're looking for something feel good to make you laugh after a heavier read, this is a good option for you!
August 3, 2019
Perfect read for a summer at the beach!! Marty Taylor feels like she has terrible luck, brought on by her stealing small items from the rooms she cleaned at her mothers hotel in Maui. I love books set in Hawaii, just because it’s such a magical place and makes people think of love and adventure. This book has a lot of love and adventure following Marty and her friends through the beginning of summer.
Marty believes that if she returns the things she took from the guests that she can turn her life around. She struggles to get her life back on track even though she has had so much go wrong. Things get better when she’s forced to show hot boy Will and his snobby brother Hayes around the island during their stay. Will she learn to love again? Will things finally get better in Marty’s life??
What I love is that everyone has issues in this book, and they work through things in a meaningful way. The ending is nice, but I could have seen more if what happens to the characters after things close.
Marty believes that if she returns the things she took from the guests that she can turn her life around. She struggles to get her life back on track even though she has had so much go wrong. Things get better when she’s forced to show hot boy Will and his snobby brother Hayes around the island during their stay. Will she learn to love again? Will things finally get better in Marty’s life??
What I love is that everyone has issues in this book, and they work through things in a meaningful way. The ending is nice, but I could have seen more if what happens to the characters after things close.
February 19, 2020
Marty just can't catch a break. Her father has abandoned the family, her mom caught her sneaking in past curfew and is making sure her summer party days are over, and now she's stuck on the night shift desk at the hotel where both she and her mother work. On top of this, anything terrible that CAN happen has. From catching her dream date with another girl to a tree falling on her car. And Marty knows why. When she worked in housekeeping in the hotel, she stole cheap, silly items from the rooms of less-than-kind hotel guests. If she can just get the items back where they belong, she knows her luck will change. The question is, can she survive to set things right? And what about the super cute rich boy who's staying in the hotel all summer? Jennifer Honeybourn takes us on a wild Hawaiian ride we won't soon forget. From the adventures Marty has as tour guide to the rich and spoiled to a summer romance to dealing with ALL the family issues, this is a YA novel with heart. This novel is geared toward YA, but is tame enough for middle schoolers looking for romance and a fun read.
June 5, 2019
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway from the publisher - thank you! All opinions are my own.
This book was alright. I wasn't blown away by it, but I didn't hate it. I think it may just be too short of a book to really develop the characters. We get a sense of who they are, but I was left wanting a bit more. The main character, Marty, is a little hard to sympathize with at first since she stole things from the hotel where she works. However, she does progress a bit and wants to fix her mistakes, so she definitely gets better as the book progresses.
Plot-wise, this was pretty predictable. I think the ending tied things up nicely and wasn't completely unrealistic. I also liked that it took place in Maui - this makes it a good beach read candidate.
Overall, I'd recommend this to people who are looking for a short, simple YA romance and don't expect too much from the characters and plot. It's a popcorn read, but not a particularly outstanding book.
This book was alright. I wasn't blown away by it, but I didn't hate it. I think it may just be too short of a book to really develop the characters. We get a sense of who they are, but I was left wanting a bit more. The main character, Marty, is a little hard to sympathize with at first since she stole things from the hotel where she works. However, she does progress a bit and wants to fix her mistakes, so she definitely gets better as the book progresses.
Plot-wise, this was pretty predictable. I think the ending tied things up nicely and wasn't completely unrealistic. I also liked that it took place in Maui - this makes it a good beach read candidate.
Overall, I'd recommend this to people who are looking for a short, simple YA romance and don't expect too much from the characters and plot. It's a popcorn read, but not a particularly outstanding book.
August 1, 2019
I originally didn't plan on picking up Just My Luck but it turned out to be a quick contemporary goody. The story delivered exactly what the synopsis promises.
For a short book I thought Marty was a well-developed character. She may be young but she recognized that every time she decided not to face her problems, she was running away from them. I was able to be more patient and tolerant with her because of her self-awareness. Like any other teenager she just lacked a little courage. In many ways though her hesitations worked to her advantage. They helped her realize and solve some of her biggest worries.
The romance wasn't what I was hoping for probably because I thought Will was kind of a meh love interest. He was a genuine and good person but nothing he did made me really care or swoon. I wish he was more outspoken. Also, his interactions with Marty felt very insta-love. They were cute at times but their relationship just didn't stand out.
The synopsis doesn't mention any family troubles but I found them to be a crucial part of the story. Due to a certain event Marty's relationship with both her parents was strained. A big part of Just My Luck was spent addressing her struggling feelings and how she eventually dealt with them. The representation was pretty solid. It made me happy to see she had great rapport with her brother despite their parental problems.
While Just My Luck wasn't 100% my cup of tea, it was a fun contemporary read. The story was quick but meaningful. It's the perfect summer beach read~
For a short book I thought Marty was a well-developed character. She may be young but she recognized that every time she decided not to face her problems, she was running away from them. I was able to be more patient and tolerant with her because of her self-awareness. Like any other teenager she just lacked a little courage. In many ways though her hesitations worked to her advantage. They helped her realize and solve some of her biggest worries.
The romance wasn't what I was hoping for probably because I thought Will was kind of a meh love interest. He was a genuine and good person but nothing he did made me really care or swoon. I wish he was more outspoken. Also, his interactions with Marty felt very insta-love. They were cute at times but their relationship just didn't stand out.
The synopsis doesn't mention any family troubles but I found them to be a crucial part of the story. Due to a certain event Marty's relationship with both her parents was strained. A big part of Just My Luck was spent addressing her struggling feelings and how she eventually dealt with them. The representation was pretty solid. It made me happy to see she had great rapport with her brother despite their parental problems.
While Just My Luck wasn't 100% my cup of tea, it was a fun contemporary read. The story was quick but meaningful. It's the perfect summer beach read~
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