** spoiler alert ** I love Nic Stone’s writing. There’s just something about it that makes me never want to stop reading. I loved the characters and the plot, even though it was pretty predictable where it was going. I really hope Rico and Xan reconnect and they both get where they want without people or responsibilities holding them back.

What a great book. The relationship between Rico and Zan is refreshing. It's not love at first site, even though Rico is attracted to him. Nor is he trying to save her. His feelings for her grow out of an admiration for her closeness to her family and her freedom — two things he doesn't feel he has. Essentially both see the traits they wish for themselves in the other. That combined with the search for the woman bring them together.

I read this book in one day across about three different sittings. It was my first book of 2020, and I honestly can say it was enjoyable. It had the right amount of suspense that I kept reading. I was actually invested in the romance plot, as well. It gave me all the feelings that a good YA novel gives me - taking me back to being younger and falling in love for the first time. Nic Stone is a wonderful writer who explores the nuances of race very well through a YA lens. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for YA writing that isn't bland.

Really enjoyed this book and the style of writing. Made for a quick and easy read. The character of Rico was very relatable. The plot was a bit of stretch but not so much that it took me out of the book. A few loose ends not tied up but that didn't bother me. Overall you could find worse ways to while away an afternoon

4.5 ⭐️ because I wasn’t very satisfied with the ending

cute book

This book has content warnings for alcoholism and anxiety. I was really captivated by this book. I really liked the characters a lot and the romance. The only probleem I have with romances like this (poor/rich) is that often the poor character acts like you can't gave problems if you have a lot of money. That you can't be sad as long as you have money. It's a trope I've never understood but oh well. This book does fall in that category and I think that has gotten in the way of fully loving this book. For a little bit I thought we would get out of it because the love interest keeps telling the main character he isn't happy but NOPE it got flipped back to him so far that he ended up agreeing with her that he didn't actually have any issues, which just made me very angry as it basicly came out of nowhere. But yeah, for the rest I really liked the main character. I loved how confident she was but at the same time also had her insecurites. She felt very real. I also really liked the love interest and the side characters. The family dynamics in this book might have been my favourite though. I also really liked the plot and just thought it was very fun. Honestly, this whole book was just a lot of fun. It did have some hard hitting moments in it but overall I had a great time. I also laughed quite often. So yay! Nic Stone is slowly becoming one of my favourite authors, which I wasn't expecting as the first book I read by her I didn't like.

3.5

If you have enjoyed Stone's other publications but want something a little softer, this is the book for you. Jackpot is a story that looks at what happens when there is a complex clash of different socio-economic and racial backgrounds. When Rico, a senior who works to support her family paycheck to paycheck, needs the help of Zan, a well-off, privileged classmate, things obviously don't go smoothly. As well as our main characters, we are also graced with the narration from various inanimate objects, offering a creative and unique insight to the lives of those in strikingly different backgrounds. While this certainly is not my favourite Stone book, I can truly appreciate how she has managed to weave a much lighter narrative without forgoing the critical and tough themes which her books have become known for. Yes, this is also a bit of a romance story, but a more complex one than I would say YA contemporaries typically portray. It is not quite an 'enemy-to-lovers' trope, rather a 'will-they-won't-they'. Personally it wasn't anything that blew me away but it keeps the story going and the reader guessing. Overall, this was a really enjoyable book! If you are looking a lighter read which isn't necessarily 'fluffy' definitely check this one out! Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Overall I enjoyed this novel, it touched many issues that are often overlooked in teen novels (poverty, inter-racial relationships, growth, family, friendships, and more!).

** spoiler alert ** “What do I do with all this? He can’t possibly really like me, can he? All signs point to yes, he can, dumbass, but... we’re too different.” What Nic Stone does so well is capture the essence of being a high schooler and the storm of emotions you have as a teenager. There are lines like above that make you slightly cringe because it’s a familiar feeling for a lot of people- the whole does s/he, doesn’t s/he like me? On top of that, narrator Rico has another added layer of stress to go with all the romantic emotions she’s experiencing as she’s trying to help with her family’s finances. I enjoyed Rico as a narrator, especially her inner dialogues and how those carried into her conversations with other characters. Also, Macklin is hilarious. If I was still in high school, he’d definitely be a book-crush for me. I also appreciated that the supporting characters in Jackpot, like Jax, Jess, Rico’s mom, and even Mr. 50-dollar bill, were not one-note and had many layers of their own. At one point, I was so drawn into the characters and everything going on in their day-to-day lives that I forgot about Rico and Macklin’s quest to find the ticket. When an author can make you care and enjoy the side moments just as much as the main quest... 👏.

ooh this was so great! the writing style, the characters, the plot, the pace, the discussions of race, money and privilege, the mystery, the romance, the relationships, the chapter structure; it was all brilliantly addictive and made it incredibly easy to highly recommend. I’m still slightly unsure about how I feel about the ending but other than that, this was a fantastic book and one I enjoyed each and every moment reading.