Review: Lucky Caller by Emma Mills
10:00
Series: None
Author: Emma Mills
Published January 14th 2020 by Henry Holt & Company
Goodreads Synopsis
When Nina decides to take a radio broadcasting class her senior year, she expects it to be a walk in the park. Instead, it’s a complete disaster.
The members of Nina's haphazardly formed radio team have approximately nothing in common. And to maximize the awkwardness her group includes Jamie, a childhood friend she'd hoped to basically avoid for the rest of her life.
The show is a mess, internet rumors threaten to bring the wrath of two fandoms down on their heads, and to top it all off Nina's family is on the brink of some major upheaval.
Everything feels like it's spiraling out of control―but maybe control is overrated?
With the warmth, wit, intimate friendships, and heart-melting romance she brings to all her books, Emma Mills crafts a story about believing in yourself, owning your mistakes, and trusting in human connection in Lucky Caller.
Goodreads
Review
Now I don't know about you, but I have yet to find an Emma Mills books I didn't like. Very quickly, she became an auto buy author of mine, so it was inevitable I ordered this book while on lock down, as a pick me up, and just because I needed more of her writing. This time around, Nina is part of a team that is hosting a nineties themed station for her radio broadcasting class. Part of her group is Jamie, one of her childhood friends, who she hasn't really spoken to since middle school, and it's beyond awkward. Being the daughter of a DJ, Nina thinks she should be able to produce the show, no problem, but soon enough, mistakes happen, and her group is close to failing. Now they need to sort out Joydeep's shyness and convince Sasha to co-host, as well as dealing with the fans who believe the lead singer from an obscure band will be a special guest, when in reality, it's just Nina's dad - and that's not even confirmed.
I did like this one, but it's not my favourite of Emma's. The family dynamic of Nina and her two sisters, Rose & Sidney, and their mam living together in a two bedroom apartment was definitely one of the best parts of the book. They are such a close family, and when Dan the Dentist joins the family, the dynamic changes, but for the better. Her dad lives out in San Diego, and is fairly rarely around, but she still feels she has a decent relationship with him. However, he lets her down again and again, and her sisters, and she soon starts to realise that while he loves her, and cares for his family, they aren't a close knit group, and it's ok.
The idea of the radio station was a good one, and I enjoyed the banter between the four in Nina's group, especially when talking about Joydeep's pranks on other groups. Other than Nina and Jamie knowing each other when they were younger, there wasn't much in common between the four, but that worked in the setting they were in. On the topic of Jamie and Nina, while I thought they were cute together, and I enjoyed hearing about what they were like when they were younger, their relationship wasn't one I invested in, not really. Nor with Nina as a character either. I don't know what it was, but something was missing, and that's why this book is only a 4, rather than 5 stars. Still, I love Emma's books, and will be buying her next as soon as I can!
Dates Read:
April 19-23, 2020Rating
4 Stars
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