With a Little Luck

When 16-year-old artist Jude discovers a mysterious red 20-sided die that grants him an impossible run of good luck, it seems as if everything is finally going his way. His family’s struggling record store starts turning a profit, his favorite gaming magazine accepts his art submission, he’s acing schoolwork without even trying, and Maya, the popular girl he’s loved from afar for years, agrees to go out with him. Nothing can go wrong—or so he believes. Because when Jude accepts that he and Maya would be better off as friends, he realizes that he’s been overlooking his best friend Ari, whom he’s never thought of in a romantic way before. And when his good luck starts swinging toward misfortune, Jude discovers that getting things the easy way may have a cost. In this companion to Instant Karma, Meyer presents a breezy and fun romantic comedy that cycles through predictable beats with good-natured charm. While there aren’t many surprises, Jude’s self-aware narration entreats to readers like a trusted confidante, and the chemistry between Jude and Ari is so palpable, it’s a wonder it took them so long to realize it. Jude is white, Ari is Latinx, and Maya has “dark skin.” Ages 12–up. [em]Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Feb.) [/em]