What do you think?
Rate this book
With a Little Luck
If love is in the cards, then somebody stacked the deck.
Los Angeles radio DJ Beryl “Berry” Lambert, whose name means luck, doesn’t much believe in it—although, thanks to her dear old gambling dad, she’s a bit superstitious, certain that everything happens for a reason. She keeps a four-leaf clover in her wallet, never takes off her horseshoe necklace, and won’t tempt fate by walking under a ladder or opening an umbrella indoors. Ever.
When it comes to love, though, she could use a little luck. Two disastrous relationships back-to-back can mean only one thing to a woman who knows that everything good or bad happens in A third Mr. Wrong is imminent. But fellow DJ Ryan Riley goes against the odds. Their on-air battle of the sexes is a hit for the station and sparks some serious heat after hours. Ryan is funny and sexy, and he thinks Berry’s quirkiness is cute. Is their romance doomed by the numbers—or is a girl who leaves nothing to chance finally ready to gamble?
Caprice Crane’s witty, winsome novel about the game of modern romance proves that with a little luck and the right stakes, everybody wins.
Los Angeles radio DJ Beryl “Berry” Lambert, whose name means luck, doesn’t much believe in it—although, thanks to her dear old gambling dad, she’s a bit superstitious, certain that everything happens for a reason. She keeps a four-leaf clover in her wallet, never takes off her horseshoe necklace, and won’t tempt fate by walking under a ladder or opening an umbrella indoors. Ever.
When it comes to love, though, she could use a little luck. Two disastrous relationships back-to-back can mean only one thing to a woman who knows that everything good or bad happens in A third Mr. Wrong is imminent. But fellow DJ Ryan Riley goes against the odds. Their on-air battle of the sexes is a hit for the station and sparks some serious heat after hours. Ryan is funny and sexy, and he thinks Berry’s quirkiness is cute. Is their romance doomed by the numbers—or is a girl who leaves nothing to chance finally ready to gamble?
Caprice Crane’s witty, winsome novel about the game of modern romance proves that with a little luck and the right stakes, everybody wins.
303 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2011
26 people are currently reading
1235 people want to read
About the author
Caprice Crane
15 books446 followersCaprice Crane is a screenwriter and novelist who'll be making her way into your movie theaters, bookshelves, and hearts in the very near future!"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 15, 2015
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
This is the first Caprice Crane novel that I’ve read so I didn’t know what to expect; however, I follow her on twitter and she’s constantly cracking me up. I was hoping for the same humor in novel form but it didn’t hit the mark for me. For the first third of the book there was no apparent plot and I had no clue what the point of the book even was. At times I had to stop, shake myself, and continue reading when the words had turned into Charlie Brown's teacher.
The heroine of the novel, Beryl ‘Berry’ Lambert was essentially completely unlikable, and oftentimes got so wrapped up in being funny that it’s almost as if she forgot about her audience and the story line entirely. She drove me absolutely nuts with her superstitions and the occasional reference to herself.
”This alone isn’t remarkable; believe it or not, Berry gets her share of the lookie-loos.”
Yes. She was talking about herself. Direct quote.
The rest of the characters failed to garner interest as well, including her gambling addict father who at one point has to ask if he can come live with her when his electricity is shut off. And then that other time when he has a friend call Berry asking for $500 for ‘bail money’ because he’s in jail… when he really wasn’t. Really sad situation because she really loved her dad, he was just a loser, and I was glad that she eventually stand up to him.
By the end it had garnered a few giggles, but the smattering of well-placed “Tweets” were too few and far between for it to be a successful book in my eyes.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
This is the first Caprice Crane novel that I’ve read so I didn’t know what to expect; however, I follow her on twitter and she’s constantly cracking me up. I was hoping for the same humor in novel form but it didn’t hit the mark for me. For the first third of the book there was no apparent plot and I had no clue what the point of the book even was. At times I had to stop, shake myself, and continue reading when the words had turned into Charlie Brown's teacher.
The heroine of the novel, Beryl ‘Berry’ Lambert was essentially completely unlikable, and oftentimes got so wrapped up in being funny that it’s almost as if she forgot about her audience and the story line entirely. She drove me absolutely nuts with her superstitions and the occasional reference to herself.
”This alone isn’t remarkable; believe it or not, Berry gets her share of the lookie-loos.”
Yes. She was talking about herself. Direct quote.
The rest of the characters failed to garner interest as well, including her gambling addict father who at one point has to ask if he can come live with her when his electricity is shut off. And then that other time when he has a friend call Berry asking for $500 for ‘bail money’ because he’s in jail… when he really wasn’t. Really sad situation because she really loved her dad, he was just a loser, and I was glad that she eventually stand up to him.
By the end it had garnered a few giggles, but the smattering of well-placed “Tweets” were too few and far between for it to be a successful book in my eyes.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
August 14, 2011
Caprice Crane is a writer I’ve wanted to read for ages. Her books sound totally amazing, with plots no other writer has ever written about, and her books have appealed to me for ages. I finally(!) got to read Forget About It earlier this year and although it wasn’t perfect, it was still a great read. So after reading it I quickly pre-ordered Caprice’s new book With A Little Luck. Because it sounded awesome and because Caprice is a genuinely funny writer (and, yes, I feel qualified to say that even if I have only read one of her books – well, it’s two now, but… you know what I mean!). My pre-order finally came in but it took an agonising two weeks – two weeks!! – for the book to finally arrive. Two weeks, though, that’s just cruel… Anywhoo, I couldn’t wait to read it, and well, it was all of the awesome I expected and more.
Much like Forget About It, With A Little Luck has an absolutely brilliant plot. I mean, come on! How many books have you read with an uber-superstitious heroine? I’m betting it’s zero. I’ve certainly never read a book all about luck. I was immediately sucked in to Berry’s story (BTW, I love her name). How can you not enjoy a book about someone who’s so neurotic, but who’s also so loveable with it? I don’t know how Caprice does it, but despite all of Berry’s neuroses and superstitions, she’s not annoying. Despite feeling that good luck feeds bad luck and that she must avoid black cats, not step on a cracked pavement and always wear her lucky horseshoe necklace, or the world will end, Berry is surprisingly normal. In fact, I enjoyed her superstitions. I enjoyed how she saw life. Sure it was a bit skewered, something that’s not exactly sustainable forever (otherwise a week or two in the nuthouse will indeed beckon), but Berry had her reasons for why she was like she was and I loved her for it.
With A Little Luck is set in and around a radio station, as Berry is a soft-rock DJ who ends up in a heated battle-of-the-sexes between herself and ‘Dr Love’ (really, that’s what his show was called) Ryan Riley culminating in their very own morning show. I loved their banter, their back-and-forth, the way they sparked off each other and the way it all just seemed so natural. Not many writers can make sparks like that seem natural rather than forced, but Berry and Ryan worked perfectly and I was a total sucker for their budding romance – though, because Ryan was the third boyfriend in a trio of bad boyfriends (believe me, the way bad boyfriend #1 turns out is hilarious, if… morbid, shall we say), Berry thought it would inevitably go bad. Normally with a female character as crazy/neurotic as Berry I would usually find myself getting annoyed and fed up with her antics, I didn’t and I was totally on Berry’s side for the entire novel. Even when she got a bit crazier than normal.
I thought the characters were excellent. Crane easily manages to make the characters so loveable and so warm and like people you’d like to know in real life. I adored Berry, from page one. This is a girl brought up by a dad who’s a professional gambler and who sees her as his lucky charm. How the hell else is she meant to end up but crazy superstitious? (I don’t think I’ve ever typed the word “superstitious” so many times.) So fearful that she’ll forever have to live like that. Many people would question Berry’s sanity or say she’s too superstitious (although if you are going to be superstitious, it might as well be whole hog, right? There’s no point in being half-superstitious, that’s just crazy) but I liked it. It set the novel apart. It set Berry apart. I also loved Ryan. Loved him. Despite his radio alter-ego – what a name, Dr Love! – I still loved him. Unlike Berry’s previous two bad boyfriends (total bozo’s the pair of them, although perhaps Boyriend #1 wasn’t so much a bozo; I suppose we’ll never know…Sigh) he seemed totally perfect and totally hilarious and cool and all those other superlatives that should be attributed to leading men like Ryan Riley. There weren’t many other characters who made up the novel – Berry’s parents, Berry’s best friend Natalie (she made me laugh), a few people at the station, but nobody who really took precedence over Berry and Ryan.
I loved every page of With A Little Luck. Caprice Crane is one of the most fresh and talented Chick Lit writers out there. Her books are always unique (and yes, I feel qualified to say that having only read two of her four novels) and her characters are ones you care about. Not to mention, she’s genuinely funny. It’s not all bluster, the quotes on her books aren’t lying; Caprice Crane does make you laugh. I could see this movie on the big screen (and as a screen writer, Caprice would write it) because everything was there to make a brilliantly funny rom-com. I’d particularly LOVE to see that helicopter scene on the big screen – I almost died laughing. But, in all seriousness, it would make a great movie. A great battle-of-the-sexes with a lot of superstition thrown in. I can’t wait to read Caprice’s other two novels – A Family Affair and Stupid and Contagious) and I dearly, sincerely absolutely beggingly hope Caprice is working on novel #5. She’s an author more people should be reading – you should be reading her. Yes. You. With A Little Luck was something special, it had it all; it was funny, it was romantic, it was sweet, it was charming. It’s everything you ask for in a novel, really, and there was nothing I didn’t like. It was, seriously, perfect.
Much like Forget About It, With A Little Luck has an absolutely brilliant plot. I mean, come on! How many books have you read with an uber-superstitious heroine? I’m betting it’s zero. I’ve certainly never read a book all about luck. I was immediately sucked in to Berry’s story (BTW, I love her name). How can you not enjoy a book about someone who’s so neurotic, but who’s also so loveable with it? I don’t know how Caprice does it, but despite all of Berry’s neuroses and superstitions, she’s not annoying. Despite feeling that good luck feeds bad luck and that she must avoid black cats, not step on a cracked pavement and always wear her lucky horseshoe necklace, or the world will end, Berry is surprisingly normal. In fact, I enjoyed her superstitions. I enjoyed how she saw life. Sure it was a bit skewered, something that’s not exactly sustainable forever (otherwise a week or two in the nuthouse will indeed beckon), but Berry had her reasons for why she was like she was and I loved her for it.
With A Little Luck is set in and around a radio station, as Berry is a soft-rock DJ who ends up in a heated battle-of-the-sexes between herself and ‘Dr Love’ (really, that’s what his show was called) Ryan Riley culminating in their very own morning show. I loved their banter, their back-and-forth, the way they sparked off each other and the way it all just seemed so natural. Not many writers can make sparks like that seem natural rather than forced, but Berry and Ryan worked perfectly and I was a total sucker for their budding romance – though, because Ryan was the third boyfriend in a trio of bad boyfriends (believe me, the way bad boyfriend #1 turns out is hilarious, if… morbid, shall we say), Berry thought it would inevitably go bad. Normally with a female character as crazy/neurotic as Berry I would usually find myself getting annoyed and fed up with her antics, I didn’t and I was totally on Berry’s side for the entire novel. Even when she got a bit crazier than normal.
I thought the characters were excellent. Crane easily manages to make the characters so loveable and so warm and like people you’d like to know in real life. I adored Berry, from page one. This is a girl brought up by a dad who’s a professional gambler and who sees her as his lucky charm. How the hell else is she meant to end up but crazy superstitious? (I don’t think I’ve ever typed the word “superstitious” so many times.) So fearful that she’ll forever have to live like that. Many people would question Berry’s sanity or say she’s too superstitious (although if you are going to be superstitious, it might as well be whole hog, right? There’s no point in being half-superstitious, that’s just crazy) but I liked it. It set the novel apart. It set Berry apart. I also loved Ryan. Loved him. Despite his radio alter-ego – what a name, Dr Love! – I still loved him. Unlike Berry’s previous two bad boyfriends (total bozo’s the pair of them, although perhaps Boyriend #1 wasn’t so much a bozo; I suppose we’ll never know…Sigh) he seemed totally perfect and totally hilarious and cool and all those other superlatives that should be attributed to leading men like Ryan Riley. There weren’t many other characters who made up the novel – Berry’s parents, Berry’s best friend Natalie (she made me laugh), a few people at the station, but nobody who really took precedence over Berry and Ryan.
I loved every page of With A Little Luck. Caprice Crane is one of the most fresh and talented Chick Lit writers out there. Her books are always unique (and yes, I feel qualified to say that having only read two of her four novels) and her characters are ones you care about. Not to mention, she’s genuinely funny. It’s not all bluster, the quotes on her books aren’t lying; Caprice Crane does make you laugh. I could see this movie on the big screen (and as a screen writer, Caprice would write it) because everything was there to make a brilliantly funny rom-com. I’d particularly LOVE to see that helicopter scene on the big screen – I almost died laughing. But, in all seriousness, it would make a great movie. A great battle-of-the-sexes with a lot of superstition thrown in. I can’t wait to read Caprice’s other two novels – A Family Affair and Stupid and Contagious) and I dearly, sincerely absolutely beggingly hope Caprice is working on novel #5. She’s an author more people should be reading – you should be reading her. Yes. You. With A Little Luck was something special, it had it all; it was funny, it was romantic, it was sweet, it was charming. It’s everything you ask for in a novel, really, and there was nothing I didn’t like. It was, seriously, perfect.
October 25, 2011
This was predictable and quite honestly, boring. I haven't read any of the author's other books and considering how long it took me to struggle through this one, I don't think I will ever pick up another one.
The back has a review that says "....Laugh-out-loud, snort-inducing hilarious." I don't think I even chuckled once. The main character is just sad and really lacks likability.
The back has a review that says "....Laugh-out-loud, snort-inducing hilarious." I don't think I even chuckled once. The main character is just sad and really lacks likability.
January 21, 2012
i loved this book from the start. seriously, i always say that, but really truly loved it. when i came to it in my pile, i was a little eh about reading it because caprice crane is an author i have never read before. sometimes that causes me a little hesitation, since i'm unsure if it's going to be horrible.. another amazon recommendation. but wow, i was completely blown away. i was so into this book that when we were watching a movie this morning, my boyfriend got up to use the little boy's room and i picked it up and read during the two minutes he was gone. that how good with a little luck was.
with a little luck is a story about a woman named Berry (short for Beryl), who is a radio DJ in LA. She is very superstitious. she is also VERY funny. i really wanted her to be happy in the end (although, let's face it - this is chick lit. she would be happy in the end). she totally buys into all the hype and superstitions about everything - black cats, rabbits feet, horseshoes, and bad things happening in threes, just to name a few. when she meets man number three, she is sure it won't work as he would be the bad third, so it's almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. i won't give anything else away, but suffice it to say that she is very funny, very real, and someone i would definitely want to be friends with if she were a real person.
i will be adding every other book written by caprine crane to my amazon wishlist today, and possibly ordering them when i get paid next week. i cannot wait to read everything she's written, and i am hopeful that they are all just as amazing as this book was!
with a little luck is a story about a woman named Berry (short for Beryl), who is a radio DJ in LA. She is very superstitious. she is also VERY funny. i really wanted her to be happy in the end (although, let's face it - this is chick lit. she would be happy in the end). she totally buys into all the hype and superstitions about everything - black cats, rabbits feet, horseshoes, and bad things happening in threes, just to name a few. when she meets man number three, she is sure it won't work as he would be the bad third, so it's almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. i won't give anything else away, but suffice it to say that she is very funny, very real, and someone i would definitely want to be friends with if she were a real person.
i will be adding every other book written by caprine crane to my amazon wishlist today, and possibly ordering them when i get paid next week. i cannot wait to read everything she's written, and i am hopeful that they are all just as amazing as this book was!
August 29, 2011
I can't really appreciate the love and angst travails of an aggravating heroine. Also, the first third of the book was basically a monologue, stand-up comedy style, about how superstitious and neurotic the narrator is. At first it was clever, but by page twenty, it became redundant and gratuitous. It was like the author got so caught up in her cleverness that she forgot about her audience who was very ready to move on. I recommend for adults because of worldly lifestyles and language.
August 23, 2011
Thank you Goodreads for an advance copy! This is a very fun read, and I identified with so many of the character Berry Lambert's foibles. Her life is a roller coaster ride of superstition, bad boyfriends and a needy dad. A LOL read that will keep you turning the pages to find out what's going to happen next!
August 11, 2015
Fun tangents!
September 28, 2022
This review is unfair because I didn't (couldn't) finish the book. I got maybe 1/4 of the way in, saw what I needed to see, and had to return it early to the library. My summary: internalized misogyny, plot without direction, annoying quirky girl annoys everyone but is pretty so it's ok.
I remember Stupid and Contagious being really funny, so I chose another Caprice Crane book for something light to read in between other books I have rotating. The main character is really unlikeable, sexist, judgemental...I just couldn't get on her side for anything or even get interested in good or bad things happening to her. She called herself a "slutbag" for considering sex on a first date, ranted on her radio show about to-be-or-not-to-be a slutbag, and just trashed other women for their physical appearance over and over. A real Pick Me of a main character.
I remember Stupid and Contagious being really funny, so I chose another Caprice Crane book for something light to read in between other books I have rotating. The main character is really unlikeable, sexist, judgemental...I just couldn't get on her side for anything or even get interested in good or bad things happening to her. She called herself a "slutbag" for considering sex on a first date, ranted on her radio show about to-be-or-not-to-be a slutbag, and just trashed other women for their physical appearance over and over. A real Pick Me of a main character.
February 24, 2018
Cute and funny at some points. Other points were a little bit annoying and cringe worthy. It’s a fun read about a girl who is obsessed with luck. There were just some parts that were a little much for me and it ended a bit abruptly.
May 21, 2020
I loved Stupid and Contagious and Forget About It but this was just meh. The characters weren't terribly likable and the dialogue was bland. It took 100+ pages to actually get to the point and then the end felt contrived and rushed. A disappointing read.
December 31, 2017
Meh...
March 5, 2018
good book. easy read. would read again
April 12, 2018
This one started off slow but once I got started it turned out to be a fairly quick read. It was actually quite a good book.
April 23, 2018
Thought about not finishing the book in the beginning. Too much explaining and long paragraphs about why things are....The dialogue was my favorite parts. I did end up like the book some.
February 24, 2022
Really enjoyed it. Read it in 3 days.
April 7, 2022
3.5 stars
September 23, 2023
Silly cute fun.
March 20, 2017
Quirky, funny, seriously why is this not done as a movie yet? This is a girl with a serious problem with superstition, and I learned more about superstition than I really cared to but I laughed a lot in this book. I love the repartee between her and her love interest. This would make a great date movie if they don't mess it up. I get tired of seeing films take a book and bastardize it...Eragon was a dissapointment. Anyway, this was a very funny book and fun to read.
March 19, 2017
I tried to muddle through, but finally gave up after several chapters.
January 26, 2019
I did not love this book. Berry, the self-absorbed radio DJ, was not a character that I could empathize with at all. She is supposed to be a grown woman but all of her relationships seem to be stuck in middle school. Playing games, lack of communication, lying, and even the language she uses comes across as a teenager trying out on-trend words and phrases. Berry, as well as her friends, just came across as flat to me. And, there was a character who was brought into the story (at the book store) then never heard from again. Was he just a space filler?
Although it was an easy read, it just did not jump out at me as in interesting book.
Although it was an easy read, it just did not jump out at me as in interesting book.
January 12, 2017
2.5
Cute premise but ultimately a little flat.
Cute premise but ultimately a little flat.
October 3, 2012
After reading and loving The First Husband so much, I really wanted another chick-lit novel, and as this is the only one I had around, I picked it up, though I didn’t expect it to live up to the one I’d just finished. Also, I’d read one of Caprice Crane’s books before and remember liking it, but it wasn’t something that I loved to death. Well, this book, I loved to death.
Beryl Lambert, Berry for short, is a DJ at KKCR playing classic rock from seven to midnight during the week. Her parents divorced when she was a child due to her father’s addiction to gambling, which Berry enables as an adult because, well, he’s her father and she loves him, she has a best friend who owns a restaurant and her dating track record leaves something to be desired. After a couple brief, disastrous, stopped before they really started relationships, Berry meets Ryan Riley, a DJ at another radio station (though they’re both owned by the same parent company) and sparks fly. But, unfortunately for Ryan, he’s guy number three (bad things come in threes, you know), which means that he’s the last in a string of jerks that she needs to get out of the way before she’s able to really look for Mr. Right. You see, one thing Berry inherited from her father is a ridiculous and seemingly crippling adherence to superstitions, just about every one under the sun. Though it wasn’t irritating to the point of distraction, it was annoying, especially at the beginning, and my head was spinning reading about all of the superstitions she believes in and has to follow. But, while Berry was a stickler for following every superstition, she was still able to live a relatively normal life and was a hysterical and charming character.
I loved Ryan. He was funny, sweet and put up with Berry’s craziness about superstitions to a point, yet wasn’t afraid to eventually call her out on them.
There was something that had me cracking up on every page. The one-liners and quick wit that Crane suffused her characters with were top-notch. When they got going, the banter between characters was hilarious. Berry’s comments about bands and people were so gut-bustingly funny, there was one line referencing Silence of the Lambs and another from her best friend, Nat, that involved eating something totally disgusting that had me cracking up on the train and at my apartment, which I can’t say my sister appreciated.
Despite all of the hilarity, there are serious issues that are dealt with, OCD-like behavior and gambling, but they’re handled with a light touch yet in a realistic way.
The only thing I can really say I didn’t like about this book is the music. I cannot stand classic rock and agree with the character from Die Hard with a Vengeance who said that just ‘cause it’s classic doesn’t mean it’s good and listening to it is like having a pinecone shoved up my ass.
I would love it if Crane wrote other stories about characters in this book, Nat would be fun, and I’d especially like to see more of Berry’s brother, Peter, with, of course, Berry, Ryan and others making appearances.
This was seriously one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time, with great characters and interesting storylines. I really look forward to seeing what Crane writes about next.
January 12, 2016
In ‘With A Little Luck’, radio Dj Berry is extremely superstitious to the point where she lets her irrational beliefs influence her decisions and ultimately every aspect of her life. When she falls for fellow DJ Ryan though, will their possible relationship be affected by her beliefs or will she finally take a chance on him despite the fact that he’s guy number three – which symbolizes bad news?
This book turned out to be an incredibly pleasant surprise for me. Initially it was slow-paced and seemingly directionless for several chapters which mostly featured Berry’s monologues which were simultaneously interesting, funny and insane. Those were truly entertaining but I found myself wondering what exactly was the storyline? But my patience paid off because when Ryan ended up as a prominent character and had frequent interactions with Berry, this helped to shape the storyline and provide some memorable moments between them.
The two of them were great characters. They were perfectly fleshed out and believable. I liked that the author didn’t emphasize their looks but instead successfully brought out their personality via their conversations. Berry could drive just about anyone crazy with her practices attributed to her superstitious beliefs but I thought that was a cute sort of quirk though I doubt it’d be that amusing in real life. She was smart and funny despite exercising too much control on her actions. Ryan was the perfect match for her – I enjoyed their witty banters. They were definitely on the same wavelength and had sizzling chemistry.
The subplot regarding Berry and her father (who’s a gambling addict) was well-written and relevant to the overall story. Thanks to her father, she believed that she could have prevented him and her mother from separating if only she had done something (superstitious) that could have supposedly made things right. Therefore, humour wasn’t the only awesome thing in this book – there were also some meaningful lessons and food for thought concerning how we’re brought up and how our actions and thoughts can shape our life. It also conveyed the message that we have the power to make changes and that it’s never too late.
Overall, ‘With A Little Luck’ surpassed my expectations. Filled with various hilarious and sweet moments, this was a fun read which was worth every second.
This book turned out to be an incredibly pleasant surprise for me. Initially it was slow-paced and seemingly directionless for several chapters which mostly featured Berry’s monologues which were simultaneously interesting, funny and insane. Those were truly entertaining but I found myself wondering what exactly was the storyline? But my patience paid off because when Ryan ended up as a prominent character and had frequent interactions with Berry, this helped to shape the storyline and provide some memorable moments between them.
The two of them were great characters. They were perfectly fleshed out and believable. I liked that the author didn’t emphasize their looks but instead successfully brought out their personality via their conversations. Berry could drive just about anyone crazy with her practices attributed to her superstitious beliefs but I thought that was a cute sort of quirk though I doubt it’d be that amusing in real life. She was smart and funny despite exercising too much control on her actions. Ryan was the perfect match for her – I enjoyed their witty banters. They were definitely on the same wavelength and had sizzling chemistry.
The subplot regarding Berry and her father (who’s a gambling addict) was well-written and relevant to the overall story. Thanks to her father, she believed that she could have prevented him and her mother from separating if only she had done something (superstitious) that could have supposedly made things right. Therefore, humour wasn’t the only awesome thing in this book – there were also some meaningful lessons and food for thought concerning how we’re brought up and how our actions and thoughts can shape our life. It also conveyed the message that we have the power to make changes and that it’s never too late.
Overall, ‘With A Little Luck’ surpassed my expectations. Filled with various hilarious and sweet moments, this was a fun read which was worth every second.
August 19, 2011
This is a great, very funny, summer read!
Berry Lambert is a DJ in Los Angeles who is very superstitious and that's an understatement!
I never knew there where so many things to be superstitious of but apparently there are! Example: Have you ever heard of the split seven? Apparently, it's worse than a triple four or a reverse nine descending but not as bad as a quadruple duple (four twos) or a runzie- five zeros in a row in the middle of a number (no I'm not kidding!). Berry gets this notorious split seven on a dinner check and almost has a meltdown.
The story begins with Berry going into a party following a guy, Dustin, with an umbrella, wearing a T-shirt that says "Everybody Dies." Inside, Dustin's umbrella opens up, snagging Berry's favorite sweater. Let the bad luck begin! He is cute and against Berry's better judgement she connects with him and spends the night making out with him. He promises to call but she never hears from him. I won't go any further on that story, you'll need to find that out on your own, let's just say it doesn't end well! Enter guy number two, Kyle, who Berry meets on a plane. They talk the whole way from LA to New York, instant chemistry. This also does not end well. Berry figures now that her next love interest will end badly too because, of course things always happen in three's.
Enter guy number three: Handsome, funny, and fellow DJ Ryan Riley. Berry catches Ryan eating someone else's cake from the office refrigerator and plays a prank on him. He pays her back by offering her up for a blind date on a radio contest. Needless to say sparks fly. However, Berry is afraid this relationship will never work because he is guy number three in her unlucky run.
This was a very funny and cute story! I was laughing out loud so many times, my husband thought I was losing it. Berry is so hilarious with all her hang-ups, you just have to laugh at the ridiculousness of it! Ryan is such an adorable guy, you fall for him right along with Berry! Perfect summer vacation read!
I won this copy through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
Berry Lambert is a DJ in Los Angeles who is very superstitious and that's an understatement!
I never knew there where so many things to be superstitious of but apparently there are! Example: Have you ever heard of the split seven? Apparently, it's worse than a triple four or a reverse nine descending but not as bad as a quadruple duple (four twos) or a runzie- five zeros in a row in the middle of a number (no I'm not kidding!). Berry gets this notorious split seven on a dinner check and almost has a meltdown.
The story begins with Berry going into a party following a guy, Dustin, with an umbrella, wearing a T-shirt that says "Everybody Dies." Inside, Dustin's umbrella opens up, snagging Berry's favorite sweater. Let the bad luck begin! He is cute and against Berry's better judgement she connects with him and spends the night making out with him. He promises to call but she never hears from him. I won't go any further on that story, you'll need to find that out on your own, let's just say it doesn't end well! Enter guy number two, Kyle, who Berry meets on a plane. They talk the whole way from LA to New York, instant chemistry. This also does not end well. Berry figures now that her next love interest will end badly too because, of course things always happen in three's.
Enter guy number three: Handsome, funny, and fellow DJ Ryan Riley. Berry catches Ryan eating someone else's cake from the office refrigerator and plays a prank on him. He pays her back by offering her up for a blind date on a radio contest. Needless to say sparks fly. However, Berry is afraid this relationship will never work because he is guy number three in her unlucky run.
This was a very funny and cute story! I was laughing out loud so many times, my husband thought I was losing it. Berry is so hilarious with all her hang-ups, you just have to laugh at the ridiculousness of it! Ryan is such an adorable guy, you fall for him right along with Berry! Perfect summer vacation read!
I won this copy through the Goodreads Giveaway program.
December 8, 2012
3½ stars - Berry Lambert is a DJ at a classic rock station on the 7 to midnight shift. She’s just had really bad luck with two guys she met, and she’s sure that the next guy will be Mr. Write Off, not Mr. Right. Why does she think that? Because bad things happen in threes. You see, thanks to her gambling addicted father, who thinks she’s his good luck charm and his personal ATM, Berry’s also ridiculously superstitious. To the point that I’m pretty sure it would qualify as OCD. To the point that it detracted from the book and annoyed the shit out of me.
Berry’s best friend Nat is a voice of reason in her life, though she mostly just accepts her friend’s idiosyncrasies. Berry’s mom is in the book a little and she’s a pretty normal character; it’s clear that Berry’s dad, who is not only a gambler, but is more messed up than Berry, is the source of the luck craziness. The main relationship in the book is between Berry and a radio talk show host, Ryan “Dr. Love” Riley. He’s sarcastic but nice and funny. Berry and Ryan end up going out because of a publicity stunt by their respective radio stations. To Berry, though, he’s just bad luck guy number three, and there’s no way the third guy in this list is going to be anything to her, especially the love of her life, despite her growing feelings for him. When the two are offered a morning talk show together, ratings are high, but airing her private life is not something Berry has ever done or wanted to do. Of course, this leads to on air exchanges that lead Berry to wonder if she’s made a horrible mistake.
I did like this book, Crane’s writing style and there were quite a few funny parts, but the whole luck insanity with Berry drove me crazy and I learned more than I ever wanted to about things like collard greens being lucky because they look like folded money.
I do have to say that the last quarter or so of the book improved my opinion of it, overall. Berry has some heart to hearts and seems to begin to realize how all of her superstitions are affecting her life and she stands up for herself and begins to take control of her life instead of thinking everything that happens is because of luck or fate.
Berry’s best friend Nat is a voice of reason in her life, though she mostly just accepts her friend’s idiosyncrasies. Berry’s mom is in the book a little and she’s a pretty normal character; it’s clear that Berry’s dad, who is not only a gambler, but is more messed up than Berry, is the source of the luck craziness. The main relationship in the book is between Berry and a radio talk show host, Ryan “Dr. Love” Riley. He’s sarcastic but nice and funny. Berry and Ryan end up going out because of a publicity stunt by their respective radio stations. To Berry, though, he’s just bad luck guy number three, and there’s no way the third guy in this list is going to be anything to her, especially the love of her life, despite her growing feelings for him. When the two are offered a morning talk show together, ratings are high, but airing her private life is not something Berry has ever done or wanted to do. Of course, this leads to on air exchanges that lead Berry to wonder if she’s made a horrible mistake.
I did like this book, Crane’s writing style and there were quite a few funny parts, but the whole luck insanity with Berry drove me crazy and I learned more than I ever wanted to about things like collard greens being lucky because they look like folded money.
I do have to say that the last quarter or so of the book improved my opinion of it, overall. Berry has some heart to hearts and seems to begin to realize how all of her superstitions are affecting her life and she stands up for herself and begins to take control of her life instead of thinking everything that happens is because of luck or fate.
November 3, 2013
My library, probably all of them, really, shows "suggested readings" at the bottom of a book's page. I'd been looking up ... can't remember, and this was one of the "suggested." I liked its description so wrote myself a note to pick it up next time I was at the library. I'd forgotten everything about the book (if I'd known much to begin with) so read it with a truly unjaundiced eye.
And I liked it.
I liked that the main character, Berry (a Los Angeles classic rock DJ), is slightly snarky but has destructive pecadilloes, so she's not really better than anyone else. I like that she supports herself -- doesn't have a trust fund or unaccounted for millions. (ahem) I like that she is independent, feisty. I like that she has a close relationship with her *female* best friend, Natalie, who, while owning her own successful restaurant, also struggles both with finding a relationship and facial hair!
I like that Berry keeps trying, keeps moving forward. She has these crazy superstitions which were embedded by her truly debilitated and debilitating (gambler) father: those superstitions were too strong for even her primary caregiver mother to undo. While Berry knows they are keeping her paralyzed it is that paralysis which prevents her from breaking free. She knows this. She's sad.
But she keeps trying. She keeps trying to forge a connection, and when she does with another DJ, Ryan, she gets really confused. She's in her late-20s and these beliefs have been her constant companions: how can she move forward with Ryan and let herself grow?
I'm making it sound much more profound than it was (because it wasn't a profound book *at all*), but I liked it. I liked the characters. I liked that Ryan was not (none of the men were) an Alpha, none of the men were domineering -- it wasn't one of "those" books (which I am finding increasingly unsettling) where the men solve everything, make every decision, know more than the woman (ugh). I liked that Berry tries, she messes up, she apologizes.
While I won't read it again I am pleased I read it.
And I liked it.
I liked that the main character, Berry (a Los Angeles classic rock DJ), is slightly snarky but has destructive pecadilloes, so she's not really better than anyone else. I like that she supports herself -- doesn't have a trust fund or unaccounted for millions. (ahem) I like that she is independent, feisty. I like that she has a close relationship with her *female* best friend, Natalie, who, while owning her own successful restaurant, also struggles both with finding a relationship and facial hair!
I like that Berry keeps trying, keeps moving forward. She has these crazy superstitions which were embedded by her truly debilitated and debilitating (gambler) father: those superstitions were too strong for even her primary caregiver mother to undo. While Berry knows they are keeping her paralyzed it is that paralysis which prevents her from breaking free. She knows this. She's sad.
But she keeps trying. She keeps trying to forge a connection, and when she does with another DJ, Ryan, she gets really confused. She's in her late-20s and these beliefs have been her constant companions: how can she move forward with Ryan and let herself grow?
I'm making it sound much more profound than it was (because it wasn't a profound book *at all*), but I liked it. I liked the characters. I liked that Ryan was not (none of the men were) an Alpha, none of the men were domineering -- it wasn't one of "those" books (which I am finding increasingly unsettling) where the men solve everything, make every decision, know more than the woman (ugh). I liked that Berry tries, she messes up, she apologizes.
While I won't read it again I am pleased I read it.
September 25, 2011
First off, I think the back copy gets Berry all wrong. The copy says she doesn’t believe in luck, which may be technically true, but she puts a lot more than a “bit” of stock in any and every superstition that’s out there. From an aversion to even numbers, to getting caught by too many yellow lights being a harbinger of a bad day, Berry has got a superstition for everything in the world. This neurosis stems from the fact that her father is a gamble-holic and thinks she’s his lucky charm. Despite the fact that Berry’s got more superstitions than a haystack’s got hay, she can’t handle when anyone else fails to take her seriously, in spite of her dislike of the number 5. This is her tragic flaw. Berry is ridiculous, but doesn’t realize it, and because the story is written in first person, there’s no way to escape Berry’s particular brand of crazy. This made WITH A LITTLE LUCK difficult to enjoy.
It’s not that WITH A LITTLE LUCK is poorly written or even boring, per se; but I didn’t find the story engaging either. This is all the more unfortunate, because as evidenced by her twitter feed, Caprice Crane can be quite amusing. However, here the funny just falls flat. WITH A LITTLE LUCK was almost a chore to read, which is pretty sad because, with the exception of Berry, I liked the rest of the people in this book and would have gladly read a story where Berry was not the star.
There is no question that Caprice Crane is a talented writer; however, WITH A LITTLE LUCK was not my favorite of her four books. Having read all of Crane’s books, my advice to newcomers of her work would be to start with STUPID AND CONTAGIOUS, move on to FORGET ABOUT IT, and then proceed with caution. I like Caprice Crane, but at this point, I’m not convinced she’s more than a two-hit wonder.
Originally posted on romancereaderatheart.com
It’s not that WITH A LITTLE LUCK is poorly written or even boring, per se; but I didn’t find the story engaging either. This is all the more unfortunate, because as evidenced by her twitter feed, Caprice Crane can be quite amusing. However, here the funny just falls flat. WITH A LITTLE LUCK was almost a chore to read, which is pretty sad because, with the exception of Berry, I liked the rest of the people in this book and would have gladly read a story where Berry was not the star.
There is no question that Caprice Crane is a talented writer; however, WITH A LITTLE LUCK was not my favorite of her four books. Having read all of Crane’s books, my advice to newcomers of her work would be to start with STUPID AND CONTAGIOUS, move on to FORGET ABOUT IT, and then proceed with caution. I like Caprice Crane, but at this point, I’m not convinced she’s more than a two-hit wonder.
Originally posted on romancereaderatheart.com
September 8, 2011
This was a cute story, and I was intrigued by the voice. It did take me a while to get into it though, because it was such a monologue, and there were also a few other things that bothered me. First, the fact that her visit to her brother was a wake-up call is all well and good, but I don't get how making a guess on a hudge fund purchase made her wake up and smell the coffee and stop being so "quirky." Also, spolier alert, saying "I love whats between us" is not the same as saying "I love you," which neither of them ever did. I also wish there had been more to the ending (real spoliers ahead) than I forgive you and I am not as superstitious anymore. Berry definitely screwed up, but what happened to the guy who was apologizing for betraying her trust? Because let me tell you, breaking someone's trust is a huge deal. So I wish the ending had been more of a two-way street of apologizing and forgiving, and that there had been one more chapter. Overall, I enjoyed the characters and would definitely read another of Caprice Crane's books. Maybe a story on Natalie in the future...?
One last thought, I really wish we could have heard Ryan's side. I know the point of view was supposed to be Berry's, but there were countless times I caught myself wondering what he was thinking. Especially when he mentions things that happened 6 months before they started dating. That means he was into her for a while, right? If so, why did he let her go so easily? And the comment about how she was the only one he wanted to call after his mother's medical issue; I don't know, I just think the story would have more to it if we got to hear his side of the story. Anyway, now I'm done for real.
One last thought, I really wish we could have heard Ryan's side. I know the point of view was supposed to be Berry's, but there were countless times I caught myself wondering what he was thinking. Especially when he mentions things that happened 6 months before they started dating. That means he was into her for a while, right? If so, why did he let her go so easily? And the comment about how she was the only one he wanted to call after his mother's medical issue; I don't know, I just think the story would have more to it if we got to hear his side of the story. Anyway, now I'm done for real.
August 28, 2011
I am a huge Caprice Crane fan. All too often I find myself reading her books and genuinely laughing out loud. With a Little Luck definitely didn't disappoint in that department. Things I enjoyed most include: The main character is completely neurotic about her superstitions that she seems to have developed her own unique brand of OCD, but she wasn't annoying about it. Her best friend was also one of the best secondary characters I've read in a long time. She had spunk and personality and her own problems - she doesn't just exist as an ear for the heroine which made the friendship so much more genuine and believable. And finally Crane's wonderfully awesome ability to create such fresh and witty dialogue between her characters without making it seem like I'm watching an episode of Dawson's Creek where all the characters spit out copious amounts of SAT words every other second.
What I didn't like: The sudden appearance of the brother and how his little spiel about his outlook on life and luck and how that completely changed the main character's approach to her life. Oh my god! My superstitions are a crutch I use to protect myself from living! Really? I wish I had known! ... Throughout the book, she had a legitimate disorder when it came to superstition and I don't think a convo with a brother she basically had no relationship with would have turned her around so quickly.
Overall, I loved it and I will probably reread it several more times just to invoke a bout of the giggles.
What I didn't like: The sudden appearance of the brother and how his little spiel about his outlook on life and luck and how that completely changed the main character's approach to her life. Oh my god! My superstitions are a crutch I use to protect myself from living! Really? I wish I had known! ... Throughout the book, she had a legitimate disorder when it came to superstition and I don't think a convo with a brother she basically had no relationship with would have turned her around so quickly.
Overall, I loved it and I will probably reread it several more times just to invoke a bout of the giggles.
February 17, 2017
I really liked the first book I read by this author, but this one- not so much. There was a lot of rambling and the main character was slightly annoying
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews