Skip to main content

Editorial Content for If You're Lucky

Book

If You're Lucky

Contributors

Grace P.

Reviewer (text)

Grace P., Teen Board Member

IF YOU’RE LUCKY --- the latest book by Yvonne Prinz, award-winning author of THE VINYL PRINCESS and ALL YOU GET IS ME --- follows Georgia, an unreliable narrator with some mental health issues. At the very beginning of the story, Georgia’s golden-boy brother, Lucky, dies in a surfing accident in Australia. This raises Georgia’s suspicions Lucky was a very skilled surfer and would not have drowned easily. Soon after Lucky’s death, a stranger named Fin appears in the town and everyone falls in love with him; he slides right into Lucky’s place. Georgia stops taking her medication because she is hoping that will help her figure out the truth about Fin. We follow Georgia as she tries to find out what happened to Lucky, what Fin has to do with it and how to deal with her own mental illness.

"A murder mystery mixed with an unreliable narrator makes for a unique plot that flows surprisingly well."

IF YOU’RE LUCKY throws you right into the head of an unreliable narrator with schizophrenia, where you as the reader have no idea what is real and what is not real. This book tackles mental health in a very straightforward and personal manner. A murder mystery mixed with an unreliable narrator makes for a unique plot that flows surprisingly well. The book did not really pick up speed until halfway through, but the second half was very fast-paced. The length was just perfect because you got a full story that wasn’t too long, but I still didn’t feel like I got enough closure. The characters were frustratingly real and that made the story that much more realistic. Georgia holds nothing back in her view on the world, and it created an eye-opening perspective of schizophrenia.

This book would be great for anyone looking to learn more about mental health issues or just wanting to read a creepy murder mystery with a twist. It does deal with more serious issues for the more mature teen reader, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting and engaging. Pick up IF YOU’RE LUCKY for a refreshing and informative read!

Teaser

When 17-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother and dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder if Fin murdered Lucky in order to take over his whole life. She is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.

Promo

When 17-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother and dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder if Fin murdered Lucky in order to take over his whole life. She is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.

About the Book

Lucky was four feet from my face. He looked exactly like he did in my nightmares.
 
When seventeen-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Lucky was smart. He wouldn’t have surfed in waters more dangerous than he could handle. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother, dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder: did Fin murder Lucky in order to take over his whole life?
 
Determined to clear the fog from her mind in order to uncover the truth about Lucky’s death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head. Georgia is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth about Fin, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying.
 
As the chilling narrative unfolds, the reader must decide whether Georgia’s descent into madness is causing her to see things that don’t exist --- or to see the deadly truth.