Love and Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding, and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind. So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism. And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother.You know the friend in Love & Gelato?  This book is about her. And it's not very good.Welp, I had high expectations for this book. I LOVED the first book - Love & Gelato. Like LOVED. It made the required reading list for Traveling and for Young Adult novels.  This book will not make either list.Let me start by saying the love in this book is love of family and friendship. So don't expect the world's cutest love story. Love is love. But.... I mean, I feel like that expectation was there and then it wasn't met.The secret. ENOUGH with secrets that are obvious!!!!! PLEASE I BEG OF YOU. I cannot take it anymore! If the secret isn't a secret, there is no twist and no suspense. It is just an annoying storyline.Sibling bickering.  Don't enjoy reading siblings bicker for roughly 250 pages? You will not enjoy this book.I've read a few books where people are obsessed with something specific.  From Fangirl, to Geekerella, to Eliza and her Monsters. In this book they are obsessed with a band named TitleTrack.  I didn't enjoy it. I could probably expound on that but I just didn't like reading about it. There was nothing wrong with it- I just didn't care for it.The Mom.  She was awesome. You know how you read some books and the kids are up to no good and you think to yourself- where in the world are their parents?!  This mom is present and she is awesome.I liked the snippits of the Irish guide book in between chapters.That is all.I would still HIGHLY recommend Love & Gelato.  This book is a companion book and not a sequel- so you're not missing anything by not reading this book.  I say skip it and end on a high note.  OR if you can manage your expectations then go ahead and pick this up.Watch: Leap YearEat: Irish StewDo: check your car's oil (and schedule an oil change)Click here.