From NYT bestselling author of Love and Gelato comes a new tale of riveting heartbreak and growth set among the emerald rolling hills of Ireland.
When a lapse in judgement turns Addie’s life upside down, she is relieved that her aunt’s destination wedding in Ireland will give her the perfect opportunity to forget about the mess she left behind in America. That is, if her brother Ian will stop nagging her about it. Constant fights ensue making Addie grateful that in a few days she will be jetting off to Italy to visit her best friend.
However, when Addie’s travel plans change she suddenly finds herself on a whirlwind tour of of Ireland smashed in the backseat of a tiny VW bug driven by Ian’s admittedly cute, Irish friend Rowan who has a penchant for driving well above the speed limit. With the help of a quirky guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, Addie hopes to heal her shattered heart and relationship with her brother as the trio journeys through rolling hills and fairytale forests.
4/5 Stars
Love and Luck is a darling and quick read that is perfect for readers looking to dive back into the world Jenna Welch created in her first novel Love and Gelato. I absolutely adore the way Welch used excerpts from the guide book to, well guide the novel and Addie’s journey. The guidebook lady, as she’ s called, enriched the overall narrative style and added an extra something, something that kept the reader's attention.
I loved Addie! I can definitely see why she and Lina from Love and Gelato are best friends. She’s a highly relatable character with all of the emotional struggles she’s dealing with and her act first think later personality got her into some situations that had me laughing so hard. There’s a mini romance in this novel, that I thought was very endearing. I am SO glad that Welch kept the romance a bit slower since the book takes place over the course of a few days. Great execution on her part as well because despite only meeting each other just recently, its very apparent that Addie and Rowan have a great emotional connection that will extend far after the novel ends. Their banter is adorable and I hope we get to see them again soon!
While this novel is a fun, light read Welch does bring up some serious themes of appearance vs reality in many ways, giving this read a similar depth and complexity that made us all adore Love and Gelato. Overall, this was another wonderful addition to Welch’s repertoire and I definitely recommend it for those looking for a great, quick read.
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About the Author
Jenna Evans Welch spent her high school years in Florence, Italy, where she drove a scooter, danced in fountains, and ate entirely too much gelato. She now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and young son. Read her blog, The Green Lemon, at JennaEvansWelch.com.