Kirkus Reviews

Fortune favors the nerd in this heartwarming novel by bestselling novelist Meyer.Sixteen-year-old Jude is content to live a quiet life, creating art, waging Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, hanging with his best friend (a girl named Ari), and pining over Maya, his unrequited crush. One night, while working at his parents' record store, Ventures Vinyl, he stumbles across a ruby-red 20-sided die, which he pockets for later use. Suddenly, Jude conquers coin flips, slays a pop quiz, and vanquishes a vending machine-and starts to wonder if perhaps his new die has magical powers. After snagging a pair of VIP tickets to a sold-out concert, Jude seizes the opportunity to ask Maya on a date. But as the two get to know each other better, Jude starts to wonder whether his vision of her aligns with reality. And what about the feelings Ari unexpectedly stirs in him? When Jude loses his precious die, and his luck takes a turn for the worse, he's forced to face a terrifying fact: His fortune may well depend solely on his own choices. This humor-infused romance features a likable cast of racially diverse characters, both main and ancillary: Jude is coded white, Maya is Black, and Ari has Mexican heritage. Noah, a sparkly side character, uses they/them pronouns. Jude's breaking of the fourth wall to address readers adds charm to the story, as do his comics, which are interspersed throughout.Wonderful, witty, and as sweet as spun sugar. (Romance. 13-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

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. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Feb.)

School Library Journal (Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2024)

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. VERDICT There's no shortage of humor and heart in this one. Sweet and slightly magical, this romance is guaranteed to please fans and newcomers alike.— Elisha Sheffer