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Life of Riley: Beginner's Luck
oityedsg321
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2020
6 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Simon James Green
22 books773 followersSimon James Green grew up in a small town in Lincolnshire that definitely wasn’t the inspiration for Little Fobbing – so no-one from there can be mad with him, OK? He enjoyed a classic British education of assorted humiliations and barbaric PE lessons before reading Law at Queens’ College, Cambridge, where he further embarrassed himself by accidentally joining the rowing team despite having no upper body strength and not being able swim. When it turned out that being a lawyer was nothing like how it looks in Suits or The Good Wife, and buoyed by the success of his late night comedy show that involved an inflatable sheep, he travelled to London to pursue a glamorous career in show business. Within weeks he was working in a call centre, had been mugged, and had racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt. Finding strength and inspiration in the lyrics of "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba, he eventually ended up working on a range of West End shows and UK tours, co-wrote a feature-length rom-com for the BBC and directed Hollyoaks for C4 / Lime Pictures. After trying really, really hard, he also managed to write Noah Can’t Even. If you are interested in stalking him, he still lives in London, where he spends a lot of time telling people that Noah Can’t Even is only partly autobiographical, and his mum has definitely never done a Beyoncé tribute act.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 23, 2025
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
Jeez Louise, talk about dramatic! 😭 But, in this case, I don't blame Riley for going the extra ten thousand miles to do everything - and I mean, everything - to protect himself from being thwarted from whatever harm may fall his way. And fall it did. Until he figured out that hey, this new kid on the block, Brad Chicago (yes, that is his real name 😄) might just be his good luck charm to ward off evil. Okay, fine, not evil but just darn bad vibes. Keeping that news on the down low, though, will be more trouble than he thought. 🥺
Well, Riley certainly left no stone unturned in his attempt to protect himself. 'Curses wear off. Luck changes.' 🍀 Ridiculing himself and lying to others becomes an everyday occurrence, because he really can't shake off Madame Olga's doomed curse. Yet, there's such a genuinely honest candidness to Riley's oh-so innocent actions that you can't help but sympathize with his plight. 😥
Yes, rational minds would see that if he just calmed down and looked at it closely, rather than being a total nightmare, to be honest, highly annoying at times that he was, then he might just see that he's really the only one who's digging a hole for himself.
“There’s no such thing as bad luck or good luck, Riley. People make their own luck.”
The comedy routine, though, did get a bit over the top at times, that you wanted Riley to just realize that the more he avoided trouble, the more he found himself in hot water! It's probably why I couldn't rate it higher, because the constant mishaps befalling him tended to get a bit unbelievable; even if it's kinda deliberate in its overkill, it does get a bit taxing. 😮💨
But, he's a ten-year-old boy. YOU try telling a ten-year-old that if he just thinks calmly, he might keep himself safe from impending disaster. 😅 Good thing, Brad was there. ah, good ole Brad. They were such a funny and quirky, if not lovable pair that you just couldn't help but smile at how ridiculous most of the drama was, but somehow it was still mildly entertaining. 😌
I really enjoyed how Brad tried to stay his gracious friend, and Riley doing everything in his blessed power to self-sabotage himself into appearing not so sane as he already was. 🫂 It was especially funny when Brad's own parents - who actually value taking extra precautions, something Riley greatly appreciated (even though Brad was a bit embarrassed by it) - started to get fed up with Riley's persistence of staying by their son's side. 🙅🏻♀️
“Wanna talk about it?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Not now. Maybe one day.”
I understood why this wasn't explored now, but SJG, please oh please consider continuing their friendship; there's so much potential here that my mind is just on the fritz seeing how Brad's calm, reassuring, composed nature may be just the balm to Riley's chaotic and accident-prone self. ❤️🩹 It just felt like their story wasn't quite over, hoping they'll be 'Mates for ever!'
The illustrations were a lot of fun; made the crazy and impossible moments even funnier with the quirky dialogue and OTT imagination that Riley cooked up for himself. 👍🏻 They had a certain Cam Jansen feel to them that maybe clicked with me more with how fond I was of that girl with a photogenic memory series.
“Sometimes there are ups, and sometimes there are downs. And you gotta find ways of dealing with the downs. Trying to make them ‘ups’, if you can.”
It's always a pleasure picking up a SJG read; true, his humor is often at the expense of his protagonist, which may not fly well with most. But, he still makes the situations amusing enough that you can't help but laugh. 🥰 Not in a mean way, but in a way that you see that this extraordinary bad luck - could happen to anyone — you do make your own luck, you just gotta learn how to spin it. 🤞🏻
“OK, one curse is bad enough - especially when you have the school show coming up — but a thousand curses?
And that is the only explanation for what followed... ”
Jeez Louise, talk about dramatic! 😭 But, in this case, I don't blame Riley for going the extra ten thousand miles to do everything - and I mean, everything - to protect himself from being thwarted from whatever harm may fall his way. And fall it did. Until he figured out that hey, this new kid on the block, Brad Chicago (yes, that is his real name 😄) might just be his good luck charm to ward off evil. Okay, fine, not evil but just darn bad vibes. Keeping that news on the down low, though, will be more trouble than he thought. 🥺
Well, Riley certainly left no stone unturned in his attempt to protect himself. 'Curses wear off. Luck changes.' 🍀 Ridiculing himself and lying to others becomes an everyday occurrence, because he really can't shake off Madame Olga's doomed curse. Yet, there's such a genuinely honest candidness to Riley's oh-so innocent actions that you can't help but sympathize with his plight. 😥
Yes, rational minds would see that if he just calmed down and looked at it closely, rather than being a total nightmare, to be honest, highly annoying at times that he was, then he might just see that he's really the only one who's digging a hole for himself.
“There’s no such thing as bad luck or good luck, Riley. People make their own luck.”
The comedy routine, though, did get a bit over the top at times, that you wanted Riley to just realize that the more he avoided trouble, the more he found himself in hot water! It's probably why I couldn't rate it higher, because the constant mishaps befalling him tended to get a bit unbelievable; even if it's kinda deliberate in its overkill, it does get a bit taxing. 😮💨
But, he's a ten-year-old boy. YOU try telling a ten-year-old that if he just thinks calmly, he might keep himself safe from impending disaster. 😅 Good thing, Brad was there. ah, good ole Brad. They were such a funny and quirky, if not lovable pair that you just couldn't help but smile at how ridiculous most of the drama was, but somehow it was still mildly entertaining. 😌
I really enjoyed how Brad tried to stay his gracious friend, and Riley doing everything in his blessed power to self-sabotage himself into appearing not so sane as he already was. 🫂 It was especially funny when Brad's own parents - who actually value taking extra precautions, something Riley greatly appreciated (even though Brad was a bit embarrassed by it) - started to get fed up with Riley's persistence of staying by their son's side. 🙅🏻♀️
“Wanna talk about it?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Not now. Maybe one day.”
I understood why this wasn't explored now, but SJG, please oh please consider continuing their friendship; there's so much potential here that my mind is just on the fritz seeing how Brad's calm, reassuring, composed nature may be just the balm to Riley's chaotic and accident-prone self. ❤️🩹 It just felt like their story wasn't quite over, hoping they'll be 'Mates for ever!'
The illustrations were a lot of fun; made the crazy and impossible moments even funnier with the quirky dialogue and OTT imagination that Riley cooked up for himself. 👍🏻 They had a certain Cam Jansen feel to them that maybe clicked with me more with how fond I was of that girl with a photogenic memory series.
“Sometimes there are ups, and sometimes there are downs. And you gotta find ways of dealing with the downs. Trying to make them ‘ups’, if you can.”
It's always a pleasure picking up a SJG read; true, his humor is often at the expense of his protagonist, which may not fly well with most. But, he still makes the situations amusing enough that you can't help but laugh. 🥰 Not in a mean way, but in a way that you see that this extraordinary bad luck - could happen to anyone — you do make your own luck, you just gotta learn how to spin it. 🤞🏻
Read
November 14, 2020When 10 year old Riley visits a fortune teller at a funfair, he's not expecting to be cursed, especially not a thousand times over! As disaster strikes again and again, Riley realises he needs to break the curse. When a new boy, Brad, joins his class, Riley is desperate to be his friend but how can he? Brad is so cool and he definitely won't want to be friends with someone who's cursed.
Simon James Green's middle grade debut has brought his famous humour to a whole new audience. Life of Riley is the perfect book for reluctant readers - short, laugh out loud funny and full of perfectly placed illustrations, this book deserves a place in every primary school classroom.
I really enjoyed reading this, despite absolutely Not being the target audience. I appreciated that Riley enjoyed more typically 'girly' things like singing, dancing and theatre and that this was only ever presented positively. I also liked the message that no one is as perfect as they appear and that they probably have their own doubts and worries.
This book wrapped some important messages up in a fun novel full of humour that I'm sure younger readers will adore. I encourage you to pick this book up for any children in your life.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*Thank you Harriet at Scholastic for sending me a copy for review. This hasn't affected my review and all opinions are my own.*
Simon James Green's middle grade debut has brought his famous humour to a whole new audience. Life of Riley is the perfect book for reluctant readers - short, laugh out loud funny and full of perfectly placed illustrations, this book deserves a place in every primary school classroom.
I really enjoyed reading this, despite absolutely Not being the target audience. I appreciated that Riley enjoyed more typically 'girly' things like singing, dancing and theatre and that this was only ever presented positively. I also liked the message that no one is as perfect as they appear and that they probably have their own doubts and worries.
This book wrapped some important messages up in a fun novel full of humour that I'm sure younger readers will adore. I encourage you to pick this book up for any children in your life.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*Thank you Harriet at Scholastic for sending me a copy for review. This hasn't affected my review and all opinions are my own.*
September 9, 2020
This was so much fun to read. I was lying on the floor laughing most of the time. It was such a pleasure to follow Riley's adventures or more like misadventures. Brad was having the time of his life watching all this and so did I. Not to forget the illustrations are brilliant. I'd love to see some Riley and Brad comics in the near future. And also maybe a sequel to this book. Let's hope Beginner's Luck is just the beginning.
Note: Although filed under the M/M romance genre (probably because of the author's history of gay YA books), this is just a children's book and not a romance novel. It's about children's fun and adventures. Riley is most likely a gay kid, but that's just hinted. So the LGBT genre label is sort of justified, but not the M/M romance.
Note: Although filed under the M/M romance genre (probably because of the author's history of gay YA books), this is just a children's book and not a romance novel. It's about children's fun and adventures. Riley is most likely a gay kid, but that's just hinted. So the LGBT genre label is sort of justified, but not the M/M romance.
January 29, 2021
When 10 year-old Riley is cursed by a fortune teller his life suddenly starts going downhill as he encounters many many disasters that he finds himself to be the cause of.
Accompanied by Brad who is a new by to the school really tries to find a way to change his look for the better
But that's not so easy when you're cursed...
The story was so easy to read light-hearted and fun it was exactly what I needed right now. Every disaster that happened made me laugh out loud and I love the relationship between Brad and Riley
This was something that was just so easy to read that I could not fault it and I really hope we get to see more from this duo in the future.
Accompanied by Brad who is a new by to the school really tries to find a way to change his look for the better
But that's not so easy when you're cursed...
The story was so easy to read light-hearted and fun it was exactly what I needed right now. Every disaster that happened made me laugh out loud and I love the relationship between Brad and Riley
This was something that was just so easy to read that I could not fault it and I really hope we get to see more from this duo in the future.
January 24, 2022
Riley has a run in with a fortune teller at the fair, and she curses him. Ever since then, nothing goes right for Riley, and pretty much every unexpected spot of bad luck that could happen, does happen. It’s all over-the-top and seriously outlandish fun crossed with clueless naivety and not peeing your pants. This time.
This was so ridiculous I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. It’s full of bodily fluids humour, and all the gross things my son will love. I’ve left the book strategically placed on the couch so he stumbles across it, because all the best books are the ones we think we shouldn’t actually be reading.
It’s definitely made for kids, and I think they’d all love it.
This was so ridiculous I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe. It’s full of bodily fluids humour, and all the gross things my son will love. I’ve left the book strategically placed on the couch so he stumbles across it, because all the best books are the ones we think we shouldn’t actually be reading.
It’s definitely made for kids, and I think they’d all love it.
September 3, 2020
Full review over at LiamReads.co.uk
WARNING: Reading this book may result in a little bit of pee coming out.
I was so excited to hear Simon was writing a Middle Grade book and, oh boy, Life of Riley certainly didn’t disappoint! Hot dogs dipped in custard, killer seagulls, and runaway rabbits - this book had me in stitches and I just know that kids (and parents!) are going to love it! Perfect for fans of Wimpy Kid and Charlie Changes into a Chicken, this is an ideal read for reluctant readers and kids who love their comedy. Aleksei Bitskoff’s illustrations are brilliant and Riley is the perfect role model for boys who don’t necessarily conform to masculine stereotypes.
I thoroughly enjoyed Life of Riley: Beginner’s Luck and I really hope this is going to be the start of a series because I need to see what disasters are in store for Riley and Brad next!
WARNING: Reading this book may result in a little bit of pee coming out.
I was so excited to hear Simon was writing a Middle Grade book and, oh boy, Life of Riley certainly didn’t disappoint! Hot dogs dipped in custard, killer seagulls, and runaway rabbits - this book had me in stitches and I just know that kids (and parents!) are going to love it! Perfect for fans of Wimpy Kid and Charlie Changes into a Chicken, this is an ideal read for reluctant readers and kids who love their comedy. Aleksei Bitskoff’s illustrations are brilliant and Riley is the perfect role model for boys who don’t necessarily conform to masculine stereotypes.
I thoroughly enjoyed Life of Riley: Beginner’s Luck and I really hope this is going to be the start of a series because I need to see what disasters are in store for Riley and Brad next!
September 11, 2022
Really can’t fault these books for middle grade humour. Riley spends his treat money on a fortune teller and is accidentally cursed to be very unlucky. Everything he touches then goes wrong, like letting out the junior class pet rabbit, getting sprayed with water during the school production so it looks like he wet his pants, and so it goes on. The arrival of Brad as a potential new best friend seems to bring with it extraordinary good luck so maybe he has found the way to reverse the curse, and there are many giggling laugh out loud moments. This made me chuckle out loud on a plane today - Riley and Brad find themselves hilarious when they attempt to rescue drowned said escaped rabbit from a pond only to find it was a furry pencil topper
“Everyone’s gonna say we wet ourselves!” I hooted
“Honest truth,” Brad said, “ I actually have a bit.”
and I finished it in one sitting. Another great read aloud, an alternative to Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates etc, I’d love more from this author for this age group.
“Everyone’s gonna say we wet ourselves!” I hooted
“Honest truth,” Brad said, “ I actually have a bit.”
and I finished it in one sitting. Another great read aloud, an alternative to Wimpy Kid, Tom Gates etc, I’d love more from this author for this age group.
July 23, 2021
Täitsa asjalik lasteraamat. Parasjagu lustakaid seikluseid kui ka elulisi õppetunde.
May 26, 2023
4,5*
Hab's absolut geliebt. Ich muss echt mehr Middle Grade lesen!
Dieses Buch war so witzig und herzerwärmend. SJG kann es einfach, egal ob MG oder YA. Er kann es.
Hab's absolut geliebt. Ich muss echt mehr Middle Grade lesen!
Dieses Buch war so witzig und herzerwärmend. SJG kann es einfach, egal ob MG oder YA. Er kann es.
December 22, 2024
Read this book in class with my Year 5/6 students and they all absolutely loved it. The mixed in humour of Riley throughout the book makes it one you can laugh with and have entertaining conversations around! Highly recommend!
May 24, 2021
A light read, fast paced, full of ridiculous storylines and it made me laugh. Recommended.
November 14, 2021
Such a fun read. It has all the silliness and extravagance you'd expect in a SJG book, just with a little less naughtiness.
Made me genuinely laugh out load at one point, which seems to be a regular occurrence when reading Simon's books, but not something that happens a lot in my general reading life. There's just something especially amusing about the way Simon weaves a story and the characters he comes up with.
The art throughout was a great addition to the story and really gave life to these characters and the crazy shenanigans and awkward situations Riley found himself in.
Made me genuinely laugh out load at one point, which seems to be a regular occurrence when reading Simon's books, but not something that happens a lot in my general reading life. There's just something especially amusing about the way Simon weaves a story and the characters he comes up with.
The art throughout was a great addition to the story and really gave life to these characters and the crazy shenanigans and awkward situations Riley found himself in.
November 25, 2021
Hilarious! I loved the voice work. I listened to this on my earphones while at work. I shouldn't have though, because people started to think I was possessed or something. A reminder I should only read or listen to whatever Simon James Green wrote in the privacy of my own home. Otherwise, they'd call the priest or the asylum hotline on me next time.
June 15, 2022
What happens when you get cursed by bad luck? Well… a lot of chaos and tons of humour!
After reading Simon James Green’s The Sleepover Takeover I just had to check out his backlist and see what else was on there! I found out that I got plenty to read! I decided to buy this book + one of his picture books! This one was first and I loved reading it, it was just oodles of fun and I laughed a lot, because dang that is just not some bad luck but extra-ordinary bad luck.
I will write my review as a AWESOME and mmm unsure one.
😍 The cover is just so fitting for the story. How Brad’s side is all fine and Riley is getting all the rain and having no umbrella.
😍 How one sneeze can curse someone, I just had a laugh and I guess I should stay away from fortune tellers if they are this easily angry. Because I have some serious hayfever and my body also loves getting colds and such. Don’t want to sneeze and break something.
😍 Seeing the curse take effect. From small things to big things. Yes, I felt sorry for Riley that he had to go through all of this… but I was also laughing because it was just so over the top. That glue accident for instance just had me in total stitches.
😍 Riley trying to find a cure for the curse which ranges from throwing in all the herbs (and more) in a bathttub to asking his mum for a credit card to finding that fortune teller. He is going for it and I was rooting for him.
😍 The illustrations were fantastic. Really fitted with the book and I am becoming a big big fan of the illustrator!
😍 Brad! At first I thought he was something of an alien, but I am glad he is just normal human. With his own issues. I love how he stuck close to Riley and helped him out when needed. I loved seeing their friendship get bigger and bigger. I am guessing you want to know why I thought he was an alien? Yeah, I guess that is a bit weird. But with how he talked and acted and how he, despite everyone avoiding Riley, immediately went for Riley.. it was just all very sus.
😍 That beach scene? I was just laughing so so hard and even read it aloud to my husband when he got home again. And then we both laughed some more.
😍 Riley was such a fun character, plenty of flaws (like acting like a very young child when the situation got out of hand) but also tons of fabulousness. I love that he is part of the theatre and would have loved to see more of that. He just makes the best of the situation no matter what.
😍 The time when that fire prevention presentation came around and boy, that firefighter really regrets picking Brad and Riley. XD
😍 The ending. Haha, I didn’t expect it to go that way and I love that the author decided to go for that. Good luck boys!
😶 I just wish that Riley had been more honest towards Brad! In many aspects. Early on, but also later when Riley finds out how lucky he is with Brad around. I just wish he had told Brad. Explained it. Now we get some, yes I would call it that, dumb drama that reminded me of romance novels. Everything is going fine and then boom, suddenly dramarama. rolls eyes
😶 How everyone was easily to dismiss Riley’s bad luck. He just felt so down in the dumps and he was trying to get things solved and everyone just acted like he should just turn around the luck to good. Hello? It is quite obvious that this isn’t just any bad luck… this is a curse. Bad luck is falling over something on the road, or breaking something, or losing with a bet. Bad luck isn’t injuring people, or having things explode, or bad things happening just because you are there. Sure, there were some smaller bad lucks happening to Riley that I am not sure is the curse or not (like yelling on the beach about a dog called Shark), but other than that, the rest is not normal. And I just wish that people were a bit more understanding.
All in all, I read this book in a flash, it was just too funny and I couldn’t stop reading! I really had fun and I would highly recommend this book to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
After reading Simon James Green’s The Sleepover Takeover I just had to check out his backlist and see what else was on there! I found out that I got plenty to read! I decided to buy this book + one of his picture books! This one was first and I loved reading it, it was just oodles of fun and I laughed a lot, because dang that is just not some bad luck but extra-ordinary bad luck.
I will write my review as a AWESOME and mmm unsure one.
😍 The cover is just so fitting for the story. How Brad’s side is all fine and Riley is getting all the rain and having no umbrella.
😍 How one sneeze can curse someone, I just had a laugh and I guess I should stay away from fortune tellers if they are this easily angry. Because I have some serious hayfever and my body also loves getting colds and such. Don’t want to sneeze and break something.
😍 Seeing the curse take effect. From small things to big things. Yes, I felt sorry for Riley that he had to go through all of this… but I was also laughing because it was just so over the top. That glue accident for instance just had me in total stitches.
😍 Riley trying to find a cure for the curse which ranges from throwing in all the herbs (and more) in a bathttub to asking his mum for a credit card to finding that fortune teller. He is going for it and I was rooting for him.
😍 The illustrations were fantastic. Really fitted with the book and I am becoming a big big fan of the illustrator!
😍 Brad! At first I thought he was something of an alien, but I am glad he is just normal human. With his own issues. I love how he stuck close to Riley and helped him out when needed. I loved seeing their friendship get bigger and bigger. I am guessing you want to know why I thought he was an alien? Yeah, I guess that is a bit weird. But with how he talked and acted and how he, despite everyone avoiding Riley, immediately went for Riley.. it was just all very sus.
😍 That beach scene? I was just laughing so so hard and even read it aloud to my husband when he got home again. And then we both laughed some more.
😍 Riley was such a fun character, plenty of flaws (like acting like a very young child when the situation got out of hand) but also tons of fabulousness. I love that he is part of the theatre and would have loved to see more of that. He just makes the best of the situation no matter what.
😍 The time when that fire prevention presentation came around and boy, that firefighter really regrets picking Brad and Riley. XD
😍 The ending. Haha, I didn’t expect it to go that way and I love that the author decided to go for that. Good luck boys!
😶 I just wish that Riley had been more honest towards Brad! In many aspects. Early on, but also later when Riley finds out how lucky he is with Brad around. I just wish he had told Brad. Explained it. Now we get some, yes I would call it that, dumb drama that reminded me of romance novels. Everything is going fine and then boom, suddenly dramarama. rolls eyes
😶 How everyone was easily to dismiss Riley’s bad luck. He just felt so down in the dumps and he was trying to get things solved and everyone just acted like he should just turn around the luck to good. Hello? It is quite obvious that this isn’t just any bad luck… this is a curse. Bad luck is falling over something on the road, or breaking something, or losing with a bet. Bad luck isn’t injuring people, or having things explode, or bad things happening just because you are there. Sure, there were some smaller bad lucks happening to Riley that I am not sure is the curse or not (like yelling on the beach about a dog called Shark), but other than that, the rest is not normal. And I just wish that people were a bit more understanding.
All in all, I read this book in a flash, it was just too funny and I couldn’t stop reading! I really had fun and I would highly recommend this book to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 16, 2022
Riley’s life is cursed. He knows it’s properly cursed because the fortune teller put a thousand curses on him after that little ‘accident’ with an unfortunate sneeze and her crystal ball. He knows that he is properly cursed because everything he does goes wrong, like the great glue incident, or the thing with the school rabbit, or the swimming trunks and the waterslide. It wasn’t actually his fault. He was totally cursed.
Until he realises that when he is with Brad, the new boy at school, the accidents don’t happen. The question is how can he keep the curse from spoiling his new friendship?
Simon James Green creates the most hilarious events for Riley that will have the reader howling with laughter. He truly encapsulates the totally bonkers life of a pre-teen boy with wonderful illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff. A true corker of a book that I will definitely be promoting within my class and to other teacher readers too.
https://donsybee.wordpress.com/2022/0...
Until he realises that when he is with Brad, the new boy at school, the accidents don’t happen. The question is how can he keep the curse from spoiling his new friendship?
Simon James Green creates the most hilarious events for Riley that will have the reader howling with laughter. He truly encapsulates the totally bonkers life of a pre-teen boy with wonderful illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff. A true corker of a book that I will definitely be promoting within my class and to other teacher readers too.
https://donsybee.wordpress.com/2022/0...
Read
April 16, 2020Curses, calamity, friendship and farce are combined to produce a book of belly-laugh inducing brilliance.
April 23, 2021
I listened to the audiobook for this title and oh lord, it was the best decision ever! No doubt that the story is what makes the book stand out, but I think that the voice actor did a great job at capturing the emotions!
Riley is a 10-year-old who likes otherwise 'girly' things like singing, dancing and painting. He is always curious and also has an overactive imagination.
One day he visits the funfair and instead of riding the amazing rides or trying to win a teddy, he decides to get his fortunes read!
Here the witch curses him! Not once, not twice but a thousand times!! He is utterly desperate to do anything to get this curse off him. He already has bad luck that never leaves his side and now having this curse on him means that nobody would want to do anything with him!
And he is right! Things go from bad to worse! And he is sure that he has been cursed. So, he goes to his sister and mother who both turn him down. Irritated and sad, he feels helpless!
A new guy, Brad joins his class and he is made to sit with Riley! Riley is happy to see him but he is not very sure if he wants to be around him much because he knows he has a curse on him! Brad wants to be Riley's friend and we just sort of go from there and follow how Riley overcomes his fear of the curse and accepts to befriend Brad and so on!
The book was honestly so much fun! Riley did get a tad bit annoying towards the end but that's probably because you know this book is aimed at a much younger audience.
With some good morals and key takeaways like - one makes their own luck and that we are always responsible for what course of action our life takes, Life of Riley: A Beginner's Luck is a fun, quick and easy read.
Dont miss out!
Riley is a 10-year-old who likes otherwise 'girly' things like singing, dancing and painting. He is always curious and also has an overactive imagination.
One day he visits the funfair and instead of riding the amazing rides or trying to win a teddy, he decides to get his fortunes read!
Here the witch curses him! Not once, not twice but a thousand times!! He is utterly desperate to do anything to get this curse off him. He already has bad luck that never leaves his side and now having this curse on him means that nobody would want to do anything with him!
And he is right! Things go from bad to worse! And he is sure that he has been cursed. So, he goes to his sister and mother who both turn him down. Irritated and sad, he feels helpless!
A new guy, Brad joins his class and he is made to sit with Riley! Riley is happy to see him but he is not very sure if he wants to be around him much because he knows he has a curse on him! Brad wants to be Riley's friend and we just sort of go from there and follow how Riley overcomes his fear of the curse and accepts to befriend Brad and so on!
The book was honestly so much fun! Riley did get a tad bit annoying towards the end but that's probably because you know this book is aimed at a much younger audience.
With some good morals and key takeaways like - one makes their own luck and that we are always responsible for what course of action our life takes, Life of Riley: A Beginner's Luck is a fun, quick and easy read.
Dont miss out!
June 15, 2021
It was so funny! I really loved it when the woman kept saying, "I curse you chiiiiild!"
Brad and Riley were my favourite characters because together they make a good team and I think it's very good that Riley and Brad are friends.
I also liked Riley's big sister because she was kind when it counted and made Riley a lovely hot chocolate.
This story makes me feel happy and I wish that I had Riley's luck and a friend like Brad.
I LOVED IT!
Brad and Riley were my favourite characters because together they make a good team and I think it's very good that Riley and Brad are friends.
I also liked Riley's big sister because she was kind when it counted and made Riley a lovely hot chocolate.
This story makes me feel happy and I wish that I had Riley's luck and a friend like Brad.
I LOVED IT!
September 7, 2020
Simon James Green has done it again! This is an absolute gem of a book and even though I am decidedly NOT a 10yo, I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing out loud all the way through this!
Riley and Brad are such great characters - both different but so, so loveable!
I can just recommend this with all my heart!
Riley and Brad are such great characters - both different but so, so loveable!
I can just recommend this with all my heart!
August 8, 2020
This is full of absolute capers and calamity. Poor Riley. Cursed, everything is going wrong and he can’t seem to do anything about it. In comes Brad Chicago. What will change? This made me laugh a lot. I think kids will LOVE this!!
June 1, 2021
I had the pleasure of reading the authors “heartbreak boys” and decided to buy his whole back list.
This was such a cute and funny middlegrade book. I laughed so much. It would be perfect for young boys for sure. 5 stars for all the laughs I had
This was such a cute and funny middlegrade book. I laughed so much. It would be perfect for young boys for sure. 5 stars for all the laughs I had
September 19, 2021
When a review says ‘laugh out loud’ I rarely do but this book had me in stitches. Funny, realistic, great illustrations and just a good story make this a great read. Friendship, families and growing up, this is an excellent book for Wimpy Kid fans and so much better written!
October 22, 2021
Kohati on see raamat nii üle vindi keeratud, kui üldse keerata annab. Samas naerda sain ma südamest ja palju (ma ei ole lihtsalt 100% veendunud, kas 4 klassi laps ka sellest huumorist sotti saab). Aga proovida tasub igal juhul :)
May 9, 2023
The delightful mind of a 10 year old!
Reading the Life of Riley was delighted and made me laugh SO hard. I am certain that Simon James Green and Riley Optimus share the same brain. Thanks for a great read!
Reading the Life of Riley was delighted and made me laugh SO hard. I am certain that Simon James Green and Riley Optimus share the same brain. Thanks for a great read!
August 18, 2024
Riley and Brad were the sort of friends I'd have wanted at their age. Epic adventures, a curse, and a school project all combine for an amazing story. Green has become one of my favorite authors, if you haven't been able to tell from my reviews.
November 28, 2021
This was a really fun little middle grade, it didn't quite translate for the older age group like some mg novels do but this really was a fun read.
November 21, 2023
Such a cute book! I loved it! Made me laugh out loud and was so uplifting and warm!!
July 26, 2024
DNF I’m not the right audience. World of Norm style book.
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