With a Little Luck

Gr 6 Up–Jude has always been allergic to the spotlight. Literally. The Dungeons & Dragons fanatic, comic-drawing introvert breaks out in hives when he gets called on in class. But when he finds a poster signed by Sir Paul McCartney, publishes a comic in his favorite magazine, and wins tickets to meet his longtime crush Maya’s favorite musician, he starts to believe he has found luck in the form of a magical dice. However, when the dates with his dream girl are less than dreamy and he loses the dice, Jude starts to wonder if he blew everything. And why does it bother him so much when best friend Ari accepts their obnoxious friend’s prom-posal? Meyer’s newest novel following the brother of Instant Karma’s protagonist stands on its own. This sweet, character driven, friends-to-lovers romance is full of diverse and supportive friends and family. Readers will cheer and feel for Jude as he struggles with social anxiety and his evolving feelings. Refreshingly, Maya and Jude’s relationship fizzles not because she is a villain, but because she simply doesn’t fit the image Jude built up in his head. His struggles to let go of the dream he held for so long and accept his feelings for Ari are realistic and relatable.