Book Description Review “Mills truly excels at creating vivid characters that will tear at readers’ heartstrings . . . . A stunning read filled with wit and wisdom.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review“A well-crafted, bittersweet comedy of errors filled with realistically flawed characters and taut, witty dialogue.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review“A terrifically appealing venture through the fraught task of connecting with other people.” ―Booklist”A charming romance with nuanced supporting characters and exceptionally good dialogue.” ―School Library JournalFamous in a Small Town:”Rife with witticism, like a finely honed sitcom, and brimming with heart.” ―Kirkus Reviews Foolish Hearts:”Mills evokes the high stakes and vast rewards of trust, intimacy, and honesty.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred reviewThis Adventure Ends:”Immensely enjoyable.” ―BooklistFirst & Then:“A fresh, smart, inventive, and altogether impressive debut.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review Read more About the Author Emma Mills is the author of First & Then, This Adventure Ends, Foolish Hearts, and Famous in a Small Town. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and has recently completed a PhD in cell biology. Read more Customers Review: I’m a big fan of Emma Mills. This didn’t disappoint. I could relate to Nina, our main character, with her need to make everyone happy. I also really enjoyed the romance between Nina & Jamie – very sweet, but not saccharine.
Another cute, fun, quick read from Emma Mills. While it wasn’t my favorite but I really enjoyed the family and the radio station aspects. Jamie is adorable and sweet.
ARC from Edelweiss3.5 starsEmma Mills is an author who has been on my TBR for a long time, and when I read the synopsis for Lucky Caller, I thought this would be a great place to start. While I didn’t love this book, I do think it was a decent introduction to the Emma Mills’ writing, and I am interested in picking up her backlist. Let’s start with the things I didn’t like to get them out of the way:Show of hands – who’s sick of the obligatory Harry Potter references in YA? I don’t understand the need for this crutch if an author’s writing can stand on it’s own, and Emma Mills’ can. Is it really worth the half second gasp of excitement from Potter fans to fall into line with almost every other YA Contemporary author? (And lots of Adult Contemporary ones, too.)The last hurrah for childhood game that Nina kept flashing back to. It was unrealistic and contrived, and it took up way too much of the plot. I can’t imagine two older sisters (and a male neighbor) humoring a little girl for that long.The relationship between the sisters, Rose, Nina, and Sidney – it was way too smooth for me to believe. Especially since they lived in such close quarters. It was a nice fantasy, but I couldn’t buy it.Lastly, a lot of this book felt surface, like it could have delved much deeper than it did into the issues it presented. When I compare this book to others of the same genre, it just doesn’t feel like there was enough substance to me.Despite those issues, there was a lot to like about this book:How Nina’s divorced parents weren’t always at each other – the girls lived with their mom, but they had constant contact with their dad, even if they didn’t see him a lot. And while their relationship with him felt like it was an obligation sometimes, it made it feel more realistic. Especially with him living so far away.Dan the ‘Dantist’ – He was the mother’s fiance, and what a wonderful character he was. He was so kind and caring, and he was the standout character in this book for me, as well as standout plot point. I love that the author went this way. By the end of the book, I loved this man so much.The lesson Nina’s learning – she made a crappy decision years ago and lost her friend because of it, and I thought it was a great lesson for her to learn. You can spend years regretting and paying for one wrong decision, and Nina is well aware of this. I like that she takes responsibility for what she’s done, and that it’s something that constantly plagues her. Hopefully she takes this to heart and this lessons sticks with her long term.Jamie’s character – there was just something so charming about him, and the backstory of his character (while not very fleshed out – and that’s not a slam; I don’t feel it needed to be,) really evoked strong emotions from me. It reminds me of how selfish people can be, how children can be an afterthought, and how so many people can’t be bothered to raise their kids. Even when they’re better off, it’s heartbreaking. And I loved the romance and history Jamie and Nina had.Nina’s friend group – I’ve read that Emma Mills writes amazing friend groups, and I found that here. Of course I loved her relationship with Jamie, but even the new friendship with Joydeep and Sasha was wonderful. Joydeep’s character especially was hilarious, and I loved all of his side bets.The sort of question left unanswered at the end of this book – I absolutely love the idea of it. (Don’t worry; I won’t spoil it for you.) It’s just such a fun idea, and I love that the author even presented it.Overall, I found Lucky Caller to be an enjoyable read, but nothing mind-blowing. I think if I’d never heard of Emma Mills, I may have not had such high expectations. But I have, and my expectations were pretty darn high. Having said that, like I mentioned earlier, I am excited to read more from the author. I have a feeling there’s a book out there by her that I’m going to love, and I can’t wait to see which one it is!
“It doesn’t devalue what you had with them, the stuff you experienced, the time you spent with them. That’s still valid, even if it wasn’t built to last. It’s not any less significant.”Nina is fine coasting through high school. After all, it’s called the path of least resistance for a reason. Taking radio broadcasting as her elective is one more way to have an easy senior year.Until it isn’t.Nina’s radio team is not at all who she would have chosen. There’s Joydeep–who is happy to steer their radio show toward the easiest theme possible and steps up to host despite his obvious lack of comfort behind the mic–and Sasha–a girl who has never slacked on anything and doesn’t know what to make of this group of misfits. Then there’s Jamie, the childhood friend Nina has been actively trying to avoid since middle school.Turns out, no one on the team knows what they’re doing with the radio show. Nina’s home life is on the verge of a big change as her mom gets ready to remarry. And Jamie, confusingly, might want to talk to her again. Then just when Sounds of the Nineties seems to be hitting its stride as a show, internet rumors and rogue fandoms threaten to ruin their fragile success.When it starts to feel like nothing is made to last, Nina will have to decide if some things are actually worth working for in Lucky Caller (2020) by Emma Mills.Mills’ latest standalone contemporary is set in the same world as her previous novels and once again taps into themes of fandom and belonging to great effect.Nina is a self-proclaimed passive participant in her own life. She doesn’t like to think too deeply about anything and she avoids conflict. Both of which led to her years-long avoidance of her best friend Jamie despite his living in the same apartment building.While the plot of Lucky Caller centers Nina’s radio show and her family dynamics as she adjusts to the idea of her mom remarrying, Nina’s willful ignorance about her father’s short-comings as a long distance parent and her own potential for change add a secondary layer to this otherwise straightforward story. As Nina works through these self-delusions she, along with readers, begins to get a clearer picture of her own life compared to the performative persona Nina presents in public to make things easier.Despite the lack of self-awareness, Nina is incredibly pragmatic and acknowledges that a lot of life is transient and changing. She knows relationships, like so many other things don’t always last, but she also learns that a set expiration date doesn’t make a friendship or any other relationship any less valuable.Lucky Caller is a thoughtful, sentimental, laugh out loud funny story with one of my favorite plot twists of all time in the final act. Highly recommended.Possible Pairings: What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen, The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo, Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke, The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe, How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell, Listen to Your Heart by Kasie West, Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner |
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