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Just My Luck
It’s the stuff dreams are made of – a lottery win so big, it changes everything.
For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. Over dinner parties, fish & chip suppers and summer barbecues, they’ve discussed the important stuff – the kids, marriages, jobs and houses – and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything more than a tenner.
But then, one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone doesn’t tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever.
Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth £18 million. And their friends are determined to claim a share of it.
Adele Parks returns with a riveting look at the dark side of wealth in this gripping take on friendship, money and betrayal, and good luck gone bad…
For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. Over dinner parties, fish & chip suppers and summer barbecues, they’ve discussed the important stuff – the kids, marriages, jobs and houses – and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything more than a tenner.
But then, one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone doesn’t tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever.
Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth £18 million. And their friends are determined to claim a share of it.
Adele Parks returns with a riveting look at the dark side of wealth in this gripping take on friendship, money and betrayal, and good luck gone bad…
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2020
About the author
Adele Parks
49books2,802followersAdele Parks MBE is one of the most-loved and biggest-selling women's fiction writers in the UK. She has sold over 4 million books and her work has been translated into 30 different languages.
She has published 21 novels, all of which have been London Times bestsellers.
Adele has written 19 contemporary novels and 2 historical ones, Spare Brides and If You Go Away, which are set during and after WW1. Her latest novels, Both of You, Just My Luck, Lies Lies Lies, I Invited Her In, The Image of You and The Stranger in My Home are twisty, domestic noirs. Adele likes to scrutinize our concepts of family, our theories on love, parenting and fidelity.
During her career Adele has lived in Italy, Botswana and London. Now she lives happily in Surrey, UK with her husband, son and cat.
If you want to stay in touch you can find Adele on Twitter @AdeleParks, Instagram @Adele_Parks or Facebook @OfficialAdeleParks. You can sign up to her newsletter ateepurl.com/cI0land there’s lots more info about Adele and her books onwww.adeleparks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,815 reviews
April 3, 2021
Winning the lottery is probably a dream for most of us, but you may think twice about buying a ticket after reading this cautionary tale.
Lexi and her husband, Jake, have just won the lottery...almost 18 million pounds ($24,895,800 in U.S. currency) after faithfully playing the same numbers every week over the past several years. They, along with their children Emily and Logan, are understandably ecstatic!
Almost immediately, word gets out...and they are faced with their first issue. For years, their friends Jennifer and Fred, and Carla and Patrick, chipped in to the lottery fund. They all had plans to split the winnings between the three couples if they won. Now, Lexi and Jake are adamant that the other couples backed out the week prior. However, the other couples are insisting no such thing happened, and that they are entitled to a cut.
As Lexi prepares to keep her job and help a man who tragically lost his wife and son, the rest of the family couldn’t care less about school or work. To them, life is all of a sudden about new cars, new clothes, vacation spots that cost $80,000, a new house, etc. Greed gets in the way, and may not leave everyone intact in the end.
Just My Luckhas a very interesting and captivating premise as it paints some of the dangers lottery winners face (we’ve all heard the stories). Some of the ones included here are overspending and under-thinking, strangers begging for money, friends to enemies, the aforementioned greed, and some dangerous situations I won’t reveal. It’s all very compelling.
The tone is a bit all over the place, as the first 60-70% reads like a semi-light gossip drama with poignant scenes sprinkled in. After that, suspense emerges as things take a sinister turn and secrets come to light. I was pleasantly surprised by this direction, and appreciated the twists. I figured some of them out on my own, and others startled me. Most of the characters aren’t very likable with the possible exception of Lexi, but...
Jake
Takes
The cake
I’m a poet now. 😂 Sorry about that...but I digress. 🤦♂️🙄
While there are many reasons I didn’t care for him, I cannot get over how ridiculous he was with spending the money. I literally had massive anxiety as I was trying to calculate how much money the family could potentially have left after his impulse spending.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read that kept me hooked and won me over by the end...and I appreciated the last wicked surprise. This is the perfect read for when you want something entertaining, but not too deep. Good for a lazy day with a glass (or bottle) of wine. 🍷
3.5 stars.
Thank you to MIRA for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this book, and providing a widget through NetGalley. The novel will be published on 4/6/21.
Review also posted at:https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Lexi and her husband, Jake, have just won the lottery...almost 18 million pounds ($24,895,800 in U.S. currency) after faithfully playing the same numbers every week over the past several years. They, along with their children Emily and Logan, are understandably ecstatic!
Almost immediately, word gets out...and they are faced with their first issue. For years, their friends Jennifer and Fred, and Carla and Patrick, chipped in to the lottery fund. They all had plans to split the winnings between the three couples if they won. Now, Lexi and Jake are adamant that the other couples backed out the week prior. However, the other couples are insisting no such thing happened, and that they are entitled to a cut.
As Lexi prepares to keep her job and help a man who tragically lost his wife and son, the rest of the family couldn’t care less about school or work. To them, life is all of a sudden about new cars, new clothes, vacation spots that cost $80,000, a new house, etc. Greed gets in the way, and may not leave everyone intact in the end.
Just My Luckhas a very interesting and captivating premise as it paints some of the dangers lottery winners face (we’ve all heard the stories). Some of the ones included here are overspending and under-thinking, strangers begging for money, friends to enemies, the aforementioned greed, and some dangerous situations I won’t reveal. It’s all very compelling.
The tone is a bit all over the place, as the first 60-70% reads like a semi-light gossip drama with poignant scenes sprinkled in. After that, suspense emerges as things take a sinister turn and secrets come to light. I was pleasantly surprised by this direction, and appreciated the twists. I figured some of them out on my own, and others startled me. Most of the characters aren’t very likable with the possible exception of Lexi, but...
Jake
Takes
The cake
I’m a poet now. 😂 Sorry about that...but I digress. 🤦♂️🙄
While there are many reasons I didn’t care for him, I cannot get over how ridiculous he was with spending the money. I literally had massive anxiety as I was trying to calculate how much money the family could potentially have left after his impulse spending.
All in all, this is an enjoyable read that kept me hooked and won me over by the end...and I appreciated the last wicked surprise. This is the perfect read for when you want something entertaining, but not too deep. Good for a lazy day with a glass (or bottle) of wine. 🍷
3.5 stars.
Thank you to MIRA for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for this book, and providing a widget through NetGalley. The novel will be published on 4/6/21.
Review also posted at:https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
May 31, 2021
A winning lottery ticket. All your dreams are about to come true. But what if it turns into a nightmare instead?
Lexi and Jake just hit the jackpot! They are over the moon and ready to spend their winnings. But there may be one small problem. Two other couples went in week after week on lottery tickets with Jake and Lexi…until last week.
Can these two couples still stake a claim to the winnings?
This read captured me from the beginning as I was caught up in the excitement with our winning couple. But as the former friends spoke up wanting their share my anxiety was off the charts. Why you ask?💁🏻♀️. I’m not sure what it was about this scenario that left me completely unsettled.
I do play the lottery occasionally but after reading this book I will not be participating in a lottery pool!🙈
A buddy read with Susanne!
Posted to:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.
Lexi and Jake just hit the jackpot! They are over the moon and ready to spend their winnings. But there may be one small problem. Two other couples went in week after week on lottery tickets with Jake and Lexi…until last week.
Can these two couples still stake a claim to the winnings?
This read captured me from the beginning as I was caught up in the excitement with our winning couple. But as the former friends spoke up wanting their share my anxiety was off the charts. Why you ask?💁🏻♀️. I’m not sure what it was about this scenario that left me completely unsettled.
I do play the lottery occasionally but after reading this book I will not be participating in a lottery pool!🙈
A buddy read with Susanne!
Posted to:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.
June 2, 2021
Review posted to blog:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Anxiety Inducing!
I used to think winning the lottery would be an amazing thing, however after reading this book, I have changed my mind.
From greed, to overzealous spending, to truly despicable characters, “Just My Luck” gave me heart palpitations.
Lexi plays the same numbers on the lottery year after year with nothing to show for it, until one day when she wins it big. I’m talking $18 Million Pounds (think $25.5 Million Dollars). For years their friends had a pool and played the same numbers, but the weekend before, their friends pulled out of the pool and low and behold, the following week Lexi wins and now their friends want a piece of the pie.
Can you say MEOW?!
A display of how despicably people act when money is on the line.
From the exorbitant purchases made, to his complete disregard for his wife, Jake, Lexi’s husband, made my blood boil. Though this novel ramps up in suspense as the novel gets going, I admit that the premise made me way too anxious and frankly, gave me nightmares.
Thank goodness I had a glass of bourbon in hand, and a buddy to read this book with! Kaceey - I wouldn’t haven’t gotten through this one without you!
2.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Mira and Adele Parks for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
Anxiety Inducing!
I used to think winning the lottery would be an amazing thing, however after reading this book, I have changed my mind.
From greed, to overzealous spending, to truly despicable characters, “Just My Luck” gave me heart palpitations.
Lexi plays the same numbers on the lottery year after year with nothing to show for it, until one day when she wins it big. I’m talking $18 Million Pounds (think $25.5 Million Dollars). For years their friends had a pool and played the same numbers, but the weekend before, their friends pulled out of the pool and low and behold, the following week Lexi wins and now their friends want a piece of the pie.
Can you say MEOW?!
A display of how despicably people act when money is on the line.
From the exorbitant purchases made, to his complete disregard for his wife, Jake, Lexi’s husband, made my blood boil. Though this novel ramps up in suspense as the novel gets going, I admit that the premise made me way too anxious and frankly, gave me nightmares.
Thank goodness I had a glass of bourbon in hand, and a buddy to read this book with! Kaceey - I wouldn’t haven’t gotten through this one without you!
2.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin - Mira and Adele Parks for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
February 24, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up.
Can you imagine winning £17.8 million on the Lottery? What would you do this all that loot? Would it change you apart from in material ways? If so, how? This is the premise of Just My Luck as Lexi’s ticket scoops the family the jackpot. There husband Jake, daughter Emily and son Logan. There’s just one teensy, weensy snag. Their friends Carla and Patrick and Jennifer and Fred claim they are in a syndicate and have been for many years. Lexi and Jake are adamant that two weeks prior to the win the couples all fell out over continuing to do the lottery and pulled out. There’s a second strand to the story which is Toma’s story.... he’s from Moldova and tragically lost his wife and son to carbon monoxide poisoning in their substandard accommodation. Do these stories connect? At first glance they don’t seem to but he will play a vital role in the ensuing drama. The story is told from several perspectives including Lexi, Toma and Emily.
I really like the premise of the novel. It’s a massive amount of money and it’s interesting reading about what it does to their family and friends. There are massive changes in dynamics as you would expect and this part of the story is fairly predictable. The least changed is Logan who apart from Toma is probably the most normal and likeable character. There are few others that are likeable but I guess that is entirely the point as it undoubtedly brings out the worst in people. Jake becomes truly awful and he’s lucky he’s fictional as he may have got a piece of my mind!!! The fists clenched!!! Lexi seems to be very weak and she lets him ride rough shod over her. However, she does have the last laugh if she’s capable of it! The other two families are totally vile. There are some good descriptions and some colourful scenarios. I really like the juxtaposition of a family who wins so much but ultimately loses a lot against the situation that Toma finds himself in with the downward spiral of his life. Here Lexi gets my admiration as she tries and succeeds in improving his life.
However, the sections narrated by Emily do not feel very authentic as to me she didn’t sound like s teenager in her language. Sure, in her actions she’s a teenager especially the spend, spend, spend ably assisted by Jake. Whilst I did like s lot of the story it is predictable and so there’s not much surprise. The ending came out of left field and though I understood it, what preceded it then didn’t make much sense.
Overall, a fun read with some good sections and some where you knew what was coming.
Can you imagine winning £17.8 million on the Lottery? What would you do this all that loot? Would it change you apart from in material ways? If so, how? This is the premise of Just My Luck as Lexi’s ticket scoops the family the jackpot. There husband Jake, daughter Emily and son Logan. There’s just one teensy, weensy snag. Their friends Carla and Patrick and Jennifer and Fred claim they are in a syndicate and have been for many years. Lexi and Jake are adamant that two weeks prior to the win the couples all fell out over continuing to do the lottery and pulled out. There’s a second strand to the story which is Toma’s story.... he’s from Moldova and tragically lost his wife and son to carbon monoxide poisoning in their substandard accommodation. Do these stories connect? At first glance they don’t seem to but he will play a vital role in the ensuing drama. The story is told from several perspectives including Lexi, Toma and Emily.
I really like the premise of the novel. It’s a massive amount of money and it’s interesting reading about what it does to their family and friends. There are massive changes in dynamics as you would expect and this part of the story is fairly predictable. The least changed is Logan who apart from Toma is probably the most normal and likeable character. There are few others that are likeable but I guess that is entirely the point as it undoubtedly brings out the worst in people. Jake becomes truly awful and he’s lucky he’s fictional as he may have got a piece of my mind!!! The fists clenched!!! Lexi seems to be very weak and she lets him ride rough shod over her. However, she does have the last laugh if she’s capable of it! The other two families are totally vile. There are some good descriptions and some colourful scenarios. I really like the juxtaposition of a family who wins so much but ultimately loses a lot against the situation that Toma finds himself in with the downward spiral of his life. Here Lexi gets my admiration as she tries and succeeds in improving his life.
However, the sections narrated by Emily do not feel very authentic as to me she didn’t sound like s teenager in her language. Sure, in her actions she’s a teenager especially the spend, spend, spend ably assisted by Jake. Whilst I did like s lot of the story it is predictable and so there’s not much surprise. The ending came out of left field and though I understood it, what preceded it then didn’t make much sense.
Overall, a fun read with some good sections and some where you knew what was coming.
February 8, 2021
Just My Luckis oddly compelling...I really wanted to know what this cracked out family was going to do with all that money.
Unfortunately, that's about the only positive I can think of looking back at this book. Told primarily through Lexi's (the mother) and Emily's (the daughter) points of view, the story was absolutelyexplodingwith really, really long passages of internal dialogue.
Those sections bored me to tears.
I can't say that any of the characters had redeeming qualities. It was literally one of those cases where I was sitting there thinking, "Hmmm, I need somebody to root for here, so who do I hate the least?"
My super organized and ultra compulsive self became anxious every time I started reading. Days into getting the money and this family was blowing endlessly through it, with zero checks and balances, handing it out to random people, and just being terribly irresponsible. I was annoyed at all of them throughout 99% of the story.
Admittedly, there was one twist I didn't see coming at the end, which helped me like Lexi a bit more...the res of the twists were quite obvious. Bottom line, I simply can't champion this book.
It looks likeJust My Luckis already available, and has been for awhile, so I'm guessing my ARC is for the re-release, which is scheduledApril 6, 2021.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for my review copy.
Unfortunately, that's about the only positive I can think of looking back at this book. Told primarily through Lexi's (the mother) and Emily's (the daughter) points of view, the story was absolutelyexplodingwith really, really long passages of internal dialogue.
Those sections bored me to tears.
I can't say that any of the characters had redeeming qualities. It was literally one of those cases where I was sitting there thinking, "Hmmm, I need somebody to root for here, so who do I hate the least?"
My super organized and ultra compulsive self became anxious every time I started reading. Days into getting the money and this family was blowing endlessly through it, with zero checks and balances, handing it out to random people, and just being terribly irresponsible. I was annoyed at all of them throughout 99% of the story.
Admittedly, there was one twist I didn't see coming at the end, which helped me like Lexi a bit more...the res of the twists were quite obvious. Bottom line, I simply can't champion this book.
It looks likeJust My Luckis already available, and has been for awhile, so I'm guessing my ARC is for the re-release, which is scheduledApril 6, 2021.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for my review copy.
April 18, 2020
When Lexi and Jake win the lottery, 17 million, they and their children Logan and Emily are planning how to spend their windfall.
Lexi and Jake have been friends with Carla and Patrick and Jennifer and Fred. They have been close friends since their children were young and get together most weekends to eat and do the lottery syndicate.
Their win will split their friendship, when they expect a share of the winnings, when it appears they are not getting g a single penny,they are not giving in lightly even if it means hiring lawyers.
This is such a great story with its twists along the way, as we come to the explosive ending I couldn’t read this fast enough to see how it was all going to end.
I was going to do the lottery this weekend but I’m not sure I will now lol!! I can still dream though.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Lexi and Jake have been friends with Carla and Patrick and Jennifer and Fred. They have been close friends since their children were young and get together most weekends to eat and do the lottery syndicate.
Their win will split their friendship, when they expect a share of the winnings, when it appears they are not getting g a single penny,they are not giving in lightly even if it means hiring lawyers.
This is such a great story with its twists along the way, as we come to the explosive ending I couldn’t read this fast enough to see how it was all going to end.
I was going to do the lottery this weekend but I’m not sure I will now lol!! I can still dream though.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
November 4, 2021
This was just an average read for me I thought the prose was good but didn’t thrill me at all. The characters were quite stoic I couldn’t relate to them, thought this was mediocre.
May 14, 2021
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
A shocking page-turner that was gripping and the twists were utterly astounding. Lies and secrets were abound. Money changes everything!
Imagine winning the lottery after you’ve just had a falling out with your best friends that you just happened to be in a lottery syndicate with the week before.
Every week for fifteen years Lexi and Jake along with their four best friends, the Heathcote’s and Pearsons would partake in a lottery syndicate together and would also meet up socially for dinner and get-togethers most weeks with their families.
After a bit of a rift the lottery syndicate dissolves, Lexi and Jake still go with it and astoundingly win 17.8 million pounds the week after with the same six numbers!!
The friends are horrified and determined to claim a share of the winnings......but at what cost?
I found the characters brilliant. Our protagonist Lexi is a dedicated social worker and really likeable, the other characters well you’ll have to read to find out more. Loved this domestic thriller, well written and totally satisfying.
A shocking page-turner that was gripping and the twists were utterly astounding. Lies and secrets were abound. Money changes everything!
Imagine winning the lottery after you’ve just had a falling out with your best friends that you just happened to be in a lottery syndicate with the week before.
Every week for fifteen years Lexi and Jake along with their four best friends, the Heathcote’s and Pearsons would partake in a lottery syndicate together and would also meet up socially for dinner and get-togethers most weeks with their families.
After a bit of a rift the lottery syndicate dissolves, Lexi and Jake still go with it and astoundingly win 17.8 million pounds the week after with the same six numbers!!
The friends are horrified and determined to claim a share of the winnings......but at what cost?
I found the characters brilliant. Our protagonist Lexi is a dedicated social worker and really likeable, the other characters well you’ll have to read to find out more. Loved this domestic thriller, well written and totally satisfying.
April 19, 2020
Just My Luck by Adele Parks was a quick and fun read, although it does get a bit dark in places. It makes you think about what you would do if you won the lottery. Most people, regardless of if they play the lottery or not, have dreamed about winning and how they would spend it.
So what would you do with 17.8 million pounds (approximately $36 AUD)? This is how much Lexie and Jake have just won? It is a huge amount of money and it will change their lives. They have different ideas about how to spend it though. And then their "friends" Carla, Patrick, Jennifer and Fred claim that they are owed their share, despite pulling out of the syndicate the weekend before.
Jake spends the money like it is burning a hole in his pocket, buying a flash new sports car and new phones for them all among other things. Lexie feels that they could help alot of people who need it. The money changes them all in different ways, and changes how people view them. It is not always positive.
I read this quickly as I have with all Adele's books. I had an idea of how it was going to end but I was not 100% correct which I loved. There are alot of nasty characters in this book -money certainly does bring out the worst in people.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. all opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
So what would you do with 17.8 million pounds (approximately $36 AUD)? This is how much Lexie and Jake have just won? It is a huge amount of money and it will change their lives. They have different ideas about how to spend it though. And then their "friends" Carla, Patrick, Jennifer and Fred claim that they are owed their share, despite pulling out of the syndicate the weekend before.
Jake spends the money like it is burning a hole in his pocket, buying a flash new sports car and new phones for them all among other things. Lexie feels that they could help alot of people who need it. The money changes them all in different ways, and changes how people view them. It is not always positive.
I read this quickly as I have with all Adele's books. I had an idea of how it was going to end but I was not 100% correct which I loved. There are alot of nasty characters in this book -money certainly does bring out the worst in people.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. all opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
January 4, 2022
A good story with lots of unexpected, as well as some expected twists. A satisfying ending.
June 4, 2021
Just my luck.......I just finished a 13-hour audiobook that "coulda and shoulda" been an 8-hour audiobook.
Yes, author Adele Parks' new domestic noir tale about the dark side of wealth suffered from too much superfluous dialogue.
The book's premise was intriguing: a family who always played the same six lottery numbers with two other couples wins the lottery --.£17.8 million.
The problem? Even though the family's friends had allegedly opted out of purchasing future lottery tickets before the winning ticket was purchased, they still felt that they were still entitled to a share of the winning ticket.
From the book's early pages, readers instantly see the devastating impact that money can have on friendship and one's mental health. physical safety, and happiness.
The story is told from the POVs of Lexi (mom and winning lottery ticket purchaser), Emily (daughter), and Toma (an indigent Moldovan widower who Lexi meets while working at the Citizens Advice Bureau).
WARNING: None of the characters are likable, although I did admire Lexi's desire to continue working and donate a portion of the lottery winnings to charity. I also felt that Lexi had many good lines -- even when she was at her lowest point.
Lexi's husband, on the other hand, could have easily won a "Most Despicable Husband" award and Lexi's two best friends had no redeeming attributes. With a husband like Jake and two best friends like Lexi's best friends....WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
Although the book featured several compelling twists and turns, author Adele Parks used waaaay too many words to tell her story.
I always love it when an audiobook has multiple narrators and this book had two narrators. The narrator reading Lexi's lines did an outstanding job. The narrator reading Emily's lines was whiney and borderline annoying.
"Just My Luck" "coulda and shoulda" been a 5-star read, but it wasn't. Just my luck.
Yes, author Adele Parks' new domestic noir tale about the dark side of wealth suffered from too much superfluous dialogue.
The book's premise was intriguing: a family who always played the same six lottery numbers with two other couples wins the lottery --.£17.8 million.
The problem? Even though the family's friends had allegedly opted out of purchasing future lottery tickets before the winning ticket was purchased, they still felt that they were still entitled to a share of the winning ticket.
From the book's early pages, readers instantly see the devastating impact that money can have on friendship and one's mental health. physical safety, and happiness.
The story is told from the POVs of Lexi (mom and winning lottery ticket purchaser), Emily (daughter), and Toma (an indigent Moldovan widower who Lexi meets while working at the Citizens Advice Bureau).
WARNING: None of the characters are likable, although I did admire Lexi's desire to continue working and donate a portion of the lottery winnings to charity. I also felt that Lexi had many good lines -- even when she was at her lowest point.
Lexi's husband, on the other hand, could have easily won a "Most Despicable Husband" award and Lexi's two best friends had no redeeming attributes. With a husband like Jake and two best friends like Lexi's best friends....WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
Although the book featured several compelling twists and turns, author Adele Parks used waaaay too many words to tell her story.
I always love it when an audiobook has multiple narrators and this book had two narrators. The narrator reading Lexi's lines did an outstanding job. The narrator reading Emily's lines was whiney and borderline annoying.
"Just My Luck" "coulda and shoulda" been a 5-star read, but it wasn't. Just my luck.
April 5, 2021
This is an interesting domestic drama about the trials and tribulations of winning the lottery. Three couples have been friends since meeting in a class fifteen years before when the wives were pregnant with their firstborn children. They start a tradition of having dinner together every Saturday night and playing the lottery as a group. Something happens within the group and when Lexi and Jake win the lottery, they claim the other couples had pulled out of the group a couple of weeks prior. As the new winners struggle with everything that such a windfall means to their family and to everything around them, lies and secrets come to light.
I liked this book, but it is fairly predictable. Most of the events and situations I called way before they happened, however as a cautionary tale for the pitfalls of such a huge win (and in the UK the winnings aren't taxed! Wow!) I found the entire premise intriguing. I didn't care for Jake at all, I thought he was immature and I also thought that Lexi did not stand up for herself or to him strongly enough. She was too much of a doormat with all of his schemes and purchases. I did like the ending up until the very last section, which I thought was quite odd in light of the rest of the book.
The pacing of the novel is a bit uneven at times, with some flashbacks thrown in occasionally in places that didn't really make sense. A regular back and forth would have been fine within the context, but the random flashbacks pulled me out of the story because I didn't know whether I was in the past or the present.
All in all, this is a decent read with some moments that will make you gasp and moments that will make you think. If you ever thought you wanted to win the lottery, this is a great book to let you know why you don't.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I liked this book, but it is fairly predictable. Most of the events and situations I called way before they happened, however as a cautionary tale for the pitfalls of such a huge win (and in the UK the winnings aren't taxed! Wow!) I found the entire premise intriguing. I didn't care for Jake at all, I thought he was immature and I also thought that Lexi did not stand up for herself or to him strongly enough. She was too much of a doormat with all of his schemes and purchases. I did like the ending up until the very last section, which I thought was quite odd in light of the rest of the book.
The pacing of the novel is a bit uneven at times, with some flashbacks thrown in occasionally in places that didn't really make sense. A regular back and forth would have been fine within the context, but the random flashbacks pulled me out of the story because I didn't know whether I was in the past or the present.
All in all, this is a decent read with some moments that will make you gasp and moments that will make you think. If you ever thought you wanted to win the lottery, this is a great book to let you know why you don't.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 18, 2020
A cautionary tale of a lottery win, greed,jealousy and envy coupled with all the elements of a ‘Summer Poolside’ kind of read ( or in 2020 a garden or settee read! )
6 friends have done the lottery for 15 years, 4 friends decide it’s too ‘common’ and want to stop playing with immediate effect
Lexi and Jake carry on and BINGO ( and here as readers we need that pinch of salt ) the next week....they win!
The other 4 are livid and start legal action to ‘prove’ they hadn’t pulled out and that Jake and Lexi are making it up to keep the whole 18 million
Meantime Lexi, a virtuous ( sometimes painfully so ) CAB advisor feels guilty having so much whilst Jake is throwing caution, himself and money to the wind and spending as much as he can, their 2 kids are equally loving it and helping him spend
But there is more to this 6 than meets the eye and little by little secrets are revealed and after a ‘celebration party’ where someone is kidnapped things go from bad to worse and the extent of the lies, greed and inter tangled secrets of the 6 is uncovered, all leading to a multi shock ending that keeps on giving, shocks that is, there is also a very clever link to one of Lexi’s CAB client’s, to say more would give it away but its a real ‘I get it now’ moment
An exciting story, the characters are all unlikeable in their own way, in fact most are vile 🤓 sometimes the ‘preachy’ anti money sentiment got on my nerves but a great lockdown read that wont fail to please any reader who enjoys Adele Parks fab character cantered books, and in fact anyone who loves a good story, beware though your mind will wander imagining what you too would do with the winnings 🤗
9/10
5 Stars
6 friends have done the lottery for 15 years, 4 friends decide it’s too ‘common’ and want to stop playing with immediate effect
Lexi and Jake carry on and BINGO ( and here as readers we need that pinch of salt ) the next week....they win!
The other 4 are livid and start legal action to ‘prove’ they hadn’t pulled out and that Jake and Lexi are making it up to keep the whole 18 million
Meantime Lexi, a virtuous ( sometimes painfully so ) CAB advisor feels guilty having so much whilst Jake is throwing caution, himself and money to the wind and spending as much as he can, their 2 kids are equally loving it and helping him spend
But there is more to this 6 than meets the eye and little by little secrets are revealed and after a ‘celebration party’ where someone is kidnapped things go from bad to worse and the extent of the lies, greed and inter tangled secrets of the 6 is uncovered, all leading to a multi shock ending that keeps on giving, shocks that is, there is also a very clever link to one of Lexi’s CAB client’s, to say more would give it away but its a real ‘I get it now’ moment
An exciting story, the characters are all unlikeable in their own way, in fact most are vile 🤓 sometimes the ‘preachy’ anti money sentiment got on my nerves but a great lockdown read that wont fail to please any reader who enjoys Adele Parks fab character cantered books, and in fact anyone who loves a good story, beware though your mind will wander imagining what you too would do with the winnings 🤗
9/10
5 Stars
June 10, 2020
Having enjoyed Adele Parks novels in the past I decided to give Just My Luck a try despite being sceptical that the premise of winning millions on the lottery and watching the ensuing fallout had much to offer. As might be guessed whilst money solves a lot of problems it also creates several of its own too, most of which can be anticipated before even opening the book.
Lexi and Jake Greenwood have been together for the best part of twenty-five-years and are parents to fifteen-year-old Emily and thirteen-year-old Logan. For fifteen years and ever since meeting at antenatal classes the couple have been firm friends with the Heathcote and Pearson families, spending Saturday nights together and taking part in the lottery as part of an implied syndicate. Winning the jackpot a week on from an acrimonious fallout amongst the group, Lexi and Jake claim both the other two couples pulled out of the syndicate, a claim which is refuted by both the Heathcotes’ and Pearsons’ and neither couple are going out with a fight, only made more difficult by the fact that Emily is dating one of their children and is best mates with the other. And that’s just the start of the trouble as the Greenwood’s are cleaved apart by the win, Emily finds herself bullied and Jake reveals another side to his nature. As Jake splashes out and proves money really does breed greed there is an extenuated flabby middle that does little to further the plot or fuel suspense before five weeks on from their win, the couple throw a celebratory party and fireworks really do explode..
Jake and Lexi are the most unlikely pairing conceivable and their opinions on everything differ making it difficult to swallow their twenty-five year history with Lexi a holier-than-thou do-gooder and impetuous Jake undermining everything she says. It is difficult to suspend disbelief and think that some of these issues they are faced with wouldn’t have cropped up before. The majority of the novel is narrated in the first-person by either Lexi or Emily, neither of whom I entirely connected with. Lexi is weak-willed and does very little to arrest the tide of Jake’s largesse and is more of a bystander to events than an active participant. Meanwhile Emily’s affected teen speak is so obviously penned by an older person that I found myself cringing.
A second thread runs through the novel which concerns homeless Moldovan widower, Toma Albu, and his struggle to get back on his feet after his wife and son’s death from carbon monoxide poisoning with the support of Lexi initially in her work capacity at the citizens advice bureau. Whilst the tie-up between the two strands is admittedly easily guessable it proved to be the most satisfying thing about a weak novel.
Readable but far from compelling, I found my attention wandering and even finishing the novel a struggle. The novel spends very little time in realistic territory, the characterisation is over-egged and the plot really does become ridiculous! The ending and what I presume to be the shocking twist is nothing of the sort as it involves one character behaving completely out of character and just about sums up an unconvincing novel that in all honesty bored me senseless. Just My Luck really was escapism of the most banal variety that would make me think twice about reading future books by the author.
Lexi and Jake Greenwood have been together for the best part of twenty-five-years and are parents to fifteen-year-old Emily and thirteen-year-old Logan. For fifteen years and ever since meeting at antenatal classes the couple have been firm friends with the Heathcote and Pearson families, spending Saturday nights together and taking part in the lottery as part of an implied syndicate. Winning the jackpot a week on from an acrimonious fallout amongst the group, Lexi and Jake claim both the other two couples pulled out of the syndicate, a claim which is refuted by both the Heathcotes’ and Pearsons’ and neither couple are going out with a fight, only made more difficult by the fact that Emily is dating one of their children and is best mates with the other. And that’s just the start of the trouble as the Greenwood’s are cleaved apart by the win, Emily finds herself bullied and Jake reveals another side to his nature. As Jake splashes out and proves money really does breed greed there is an extenuated flabby middle that does little to further the plot or fuel suspense before five weeks on from their win, the couple throw a celebratory party and fireworks really do explode..
Jake and Lexi are the most unlikely pairing conceivable and their opinions on everything differ making it difficult to swallow their twenty-five year history with Lexi a holier-than-thou do-gooder and impetuous Jake undermining everything she says. It is difficult to suspend disbelief and think that some of these issues they are faced with wouldn’t have cropped up before. The majority of the novel is narrated in the first-person by either Lexi or Emily, neither of whom I entirely connected with. Lexi is weak-willed and does very little to arrest the tide of Jake’s largesse and is more of a bystander to events than an active participant. Meanwhile Emily’s affected teen speak is so obviously penned by an older person that I found myself cringing.
A second thread runs through the novel which concerns homeless Moldovan widower, Toma Albu, and his struggle to get back on his feet after his wife and son’s death from carbon monoxide poisoning with the support of Lexi initially in her work capacity at the citizens advice bureau. Whilst the tie-up between the two strands is admittedly easily guessable it proved to be the most satisfying thing about a weak novel.
Readable but far from compelling, I found my attention wandering and even finishing the novel a struggle. The novel spends very little time in realistic territory, the characterisation is over-egged and the plot really does become ridiculous! The ending and what I presume to be the shocking twist is nothing of the sort as it involves one character behaving completely out of character and just about sums up an unconvincing novel that in all honesty bored me senseless. Just My Luck really was escapism of the most banal variety that would make me think twice about reading future books by the author.
April 7, 2020
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**2.5 stars**
Just My Luck by Adele Parks. (2020).
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free advance readers copy of this novel; due to be published 20 April 2020**
It's the stuff dreams are made of – a lottery win so big, it changes everything. For 15 years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. But then one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There's a rift in the group. Someone doesn't tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever.
Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth £18 million. And their friends are determined to claim a share of it...
I haven't read anything by this author previously but I have heard of her and am aware she's pretty popular. Unfortunately I wouldn't rate this one highly. For a start, Jake is the biggest tosser (and that's really the best word I can come up with without going more inappropriate) from the very beginning and basically gets worse. And then Lexi is unlikable too because while she has a good heart, she just let's Jake do whatever he wants and in my opinion does almost nothing to rein it in. There's a reveal moment later in the book that could explain Lexi's attitude but by that point I just didn't really care to be honest. There is a secondary storyline in relation to a tragic character named Toma who has a connection with Lexi, I found this storyline to be interesting. I'm giving this a 2.5 rounded up to 3 because I did think the author did a good job on pointing out that a big lottery win isn't going to necessarily make your life fabulous. But overall I didn't really get into this one much - entertaining enough to keep me going but not one I'd read again or anything.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**2.5 stars**
Just My Luck by Adele Parks. (2020).
**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free advance readers copy of this novel; due to be published 20 April 2020**
It's the stuff dreams are made of – a lottery win so big, it changes everything. For 15 years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. But then one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There's a rift in the group. Someone doesn't tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever.
Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth £18 million. And their friends are determined to claim a share of it...
I haven't read anything by this author previously but I have heard of her and am aware she's pretty popular. Unfortunately I wouldn't rate this one highly. For a start, Jake is the biggest tosser (and that's really the best word I can come up with without going more inappropriate) from the very beginning and basically gets worse. And then Lexi is unlikable too because while she has a good heart, she just let's Jake do whatever he wants and in my opinion does almost nothing to rein it in. There's a reveal moment later in the book that could explain Lexi's attitude but by that point I just didn't really care to be honest. There is a secondary storyline in relation to a tragic character named Toma who has a connection with Lexi, I found this storyline to be interesting. I'm giving this a 2.5 rounded up to 3 because I did think the author did a good job on pointing out that a big lottery win isn't going to necessarily make your life fabulous. But overall I didn't really get into this one much - entertaining enough to keep me going but not one I'd read again or anything.
January 29, 2022
Wishlist|Blog|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest
What would you do if you win the lottery?
What happens when a person suddenly has a chance to be rich? Just My Luck by Adele Parks is a brutal book about bad luck, betrayals, friendships and most importantly – how life can change in just one moment.
For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends. Over dinners, they have discussed many important things over the years: kids, marriages, houses and jobs… But one Saturday night, there is an argument in the group. Someone is lying. And then, six numbers come up on the lottery that are about to change everything.
Lexi and Jake have the winning ticket for almost £18 million. And their friends want their share in it…
My Thoughts:
I dived into this book completely unprepared. I only knew that someone wins the lottery, but I wasn’t too familiar with the synopsis. And trust me – it was better for me to explore it all throughout the book.
We follow the story mostly focused on Lexi’s point of view, however, we also get a glimpse of other people’s stories as well, which I think for me was refreshing and kept the pace moving in a nice manner.
Not only do we meet different characters in this book, but we also meet different personalities, with different motivations, dreams and life goals. When Lexi and Jake realised they have won the lottery, they both behave in a very different way.
Lexi is the one that wants to keep things as normal as they are, plan for their future, have small luxuries and then keep the rest of the money mostly as savings, and donate some of it to charity and try to help other people.
Jake, on the other side, wants to enjoy the money they won, and spend it on a new house, new car, be part of the upper class and hire driver services for his children, when they move to a private school.
The relationship between Lexi and Jake will begin to change, as they both will change during this period. This book is a perfect summary of what money may actually do to people and relationships, and how it may help them or destroy them completely.
I loved the drama where the friends were involved as well, also when the children played their part as well into the whole situation. It is crazy to see how easily children can be manipulated by words and wealth too, in their own little worlds.
I really wished I have seen more of Toma’s story and point of view, and had a proper closure to his chapter. His story was definitely my favorite one for sure!
If you are a fan of thrillers and drama, you will definitely enjoy this book. It will keep you on the edge until the very last chapter. And that last chapter will change everything! Let me know once you’ve read it, because I am dying to talk to someone about that last revelation!
I am extremely lucky to be part of the blog tour organised by the amazing team at HQ! Thank you for this opportunity, and thank you for sending me this book in exchange for my review! Check out the other amazing participants of this blog tour as well:
Wishlist|Blog|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest
What would you do if you win the lottery?
What happens when a person suddenly has a chance to be rich? Just My Luck by Adele Parks is a brutal book about bad luck, betrayals, friendships and most importantly – how life can change in just one moment.
For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends. Over dinners, they have discussed many important things over the years: kids, marriages, houses and jobs… But one Saturday night, there is an argument in the group. Someone is lying. And then, six numbers come up on the lottery that are about to change everything.
Lexi and Jake have the winning ticket for almost £18 million. And their friends want their share in it…
My Thoughts:
I dived into this book completely unprepared. I only knew that someone wins the lottery, but I wasn’t too familiar with the synopsis. And trust me – it was better for me to explore it all throughout the book.
We follow the story mostly focused on Lexi’s point of view, however, we also get a glimpse of other people’s stories as well, which I think for me was refreshing and kept the pace moving in a nice manner.
Not only do we meet different characters in this book, but we also meet different personalities, with different motivations, dreams and life goals. When Lexi and Jake realised they have won the lottery, they both behave in a very different way.
Lexi is the one that wants to keep things as normal as they are, plan for their future, have small luxuries and then keep the rest of the money mostly as savings, and donate some of it to charity and try to help other people.
Jake, on the other side, wants to enjoy the money they won, and spend it on a new house, new car, be part of the upper class and hire driver services for his children, when they move to a private school.
The relationship between Lexi and Jake will begin to change, as they both will change during this period. This book is a perfect summary of what money may actually do to people and relationships, and how it may help them or destroy them completely.
I loved the drama where the friends were involved as well, also when the children played their part as well into the whole situation. It is crazy to see how easily children can be manipulated by words and wealth too, in their own little worlds.
I really wished I have seen more of Toma’s story and point of view, and had a proper closure to his chapter. His story was definitely my favorite one for sure!
If you are a fan of thrillers and drama, you will definitely enjoy this book. It will keep you on the edge until the very last chapter. And that last chapter will change everything! Let me know once you’ve read it, because I am dying to talk to someone about that last revelation!
I am extremely lucky to be part of the blog tour organised by the amazing team at HQ! Thank you for this opportunity, and thank you for sending me this book in exchange for my review! Check out the other amazing participants of this blog tour as well:
Wishlist|Blog|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Pinterest
April 3, 2021
Entertaining, twisty, & engrossing!
JUST MY LUCK by ADELE PARKS was such a fun and easy to read domestic suspense novel about a group of longtime friends that played the lottery together. They were part of a syndicate, until a few of those friends dropped out just a week before one of the couples won the lottery. We see how the dynamic changes within that group and for the couple that wins the lottery.
ADELE PARKS does a wonderful job with the characters here in showing us how winning a big lottery can affect some people in how they behave, choices that they make and the lengths they will go to secure that win. I definitely got a little annoyed with one of the characters in how they uncontrollably spent the money and didn’t take anything else into consideration. Lexie was by far the more sensible and stable character here.
The story is told from a few perspectives but mostly through Lexie and Emily’s point of view. I quite enjoyed how this story unfolded. The premise totally intrigued me and did keep me interested but I thought the story dragged a little bit in some parts. The story started off strong and then, lost a little bit of steam in the middle and totally picked up again near the end. As the final twists were unveiled I was totally fooled, my jaw dropped and I didn’t see the ending coming at all. I did have a sneaky suspicion about one aspect of the reveal though, but it was still a fabulous and very satisfying twist though.
I loved the complexity, all the secrets and how unlikeable and nasty these characters were made for quite the fun and entertaining read. Would recommend it!
Expected Publication Date: April 6, 2021
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin/Mira Books and Adele Parks for my review copy!
JUST MY LUCK by ADELE PARKS was such a fun and easy to read domestic suspense novel about a group of longtime friends that played the lottery together. They were part of a syndicate, until a few of those friends dropped out just a week before one of the couples won the lottery. We see how the dynamic changes within that group and for the couple that wins the lottery.
ADELE PARKS does a wonderful job with the characters here in showing us how winning a big lottery can affect some people in how they behave, choices that they make and the lengths they will go to secure that win. I definitely got a little annoyed with one of the characters in how they uncontrollably spent the money and didn’t take anything else into consideration. Lexie was by far the more sensible and stable character here.
The story is told from a few perspectives but mostly through Lexie and Emily’s point of view. I quite enjoyed how this story unfolded. The premise totally intrigued me and did keep me interested but I thought the story dragged a little bit in some parts. The story started off strong and then, lost a little bit of steam in the middle and totally picked up again near the end. As the final twists were unveiled I was totally fooled, my jaw dropped and I didn’t see the ending coming at all. I did have a sneaky suspicion about one aspect of the reveal though, but it was still a fabulous and very satisfying twist though.
I loved the complexity, all the secrets and how unlikeable and nasty these characters were made for quite the fun and entertaining read. Would recommend it!
Expected Publication Date: April 6, 2021
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harlequin/Mira Books and Adele Parks for my review copy!
May 15, 2020
Just My Luck is the latest standalone twisty domestic noir from bestselling Adele Parks. Each of her family dramas addresses some of the core concepts of familial relationships including scrutinising our concepts of family, our theories on love, parenting and fidelity. A cautionary tale of greed and getting ideas above your station/elitism. When Lexi and Jake discover they're in receipt of a winning £18 million lottery ticket every man and his dog emerge and suddenly want to know them. It explores human nature, envy, betrayal and the often devastating consequences when these turn deadly. Money really is the root of all evil...
I must admit I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Adele Parks’s books and haven't enjoyed some of her most recent ones quite as much but I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was a totally gripping and addictive read pretty much from the start. Loyal long-time fans will no doubt find the same formula as we're used to seeing from Parks but I felt this was definitely one of her better crafted and thought through domestic thrillers with a potent mix of an interesting cast of characters, a well rounded and compulsive plot, plenty of twists, reveals and wicked surprises, an alluring premise, and suspense, action and drama by the truckload, making this the perfect escapist for the times we currently find ourselves in as it transports you to a world of decadence and glamour most can only dream of. Recommended to both domestic noir and women's fiction fanatics. All in all, this was a cracking page-turner that remains on the relatively light-hearted side and is a quick, easy and thoroughly entertaining story. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
I must admit I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Adele Parks’s books and haven't enjoyed some of her most recent ones quite as much but I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was a totally gripping and addictive read pretty much from the start. Loyal long-time fans will no doubt find the same formula as we're used to seeing from Parks but I felt this was definitely one of her better crafted and thought through domestic thrillers with a potent mix of an interesting cast of characters, a well rounded and compulsive plot, plenty of twists, reveals and wicked surprises, an alluring premise, and suspense, action and drama by the truckload, making this the perfect escapist for the times we currently find ourselves in as it transports you to a world of decadence and glamour most can only dream of. Recommended to both domestic noir and women's fiction fanatics. All in all, this was a cracking page-turner that remains on the relatively light-hearted side and is a quick, easy and thoroughly entertaining story. Many thanks to HQ for an ARC.
April 28, 2020
A group of friends who have played the lottery for fifteen years have a falling out and the next week they win the lottery. Lexi who bought the ticket maintains that the other two couples had left the syndicate but they disagree and want their share.
A story of greed, envy and dishonesty with quite a few twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A story of greed, envy and dishonesty with quite a few twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2021
Who doesn’t dream of winning the lottery? Life has to be easier when you don’t have to worry about finances. But people change when there are large sums of money involved!
My Rating:4 ⭐️’s
Published:April 6th 2021 by Harlequin Audio
Audio:12 hours 50 minutes
#JustMyLuck #AdeleParks #Lottery #JustFinished #BookReview #HarlequinAudio #AudioBook
After publication, my reviews can be found at Amazon, Twitter, GoodReads, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
@adeleparks @HarlequinBooks
My Rating:4 ⭐️’s
Published:April 6th 2021 by Harlequin Audio
Audio:12 hours 50 minutes
#JustMyLuck #AdeleParks #Lottery #JustFinished #BookReview #HarlequinAudio #AudioBook
After publication, my reviews can be found at Amazon, Twitter, GoodReads, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
@adeleparks @HarlequinBooks
April 14, 2021
Lexi and Jake live in an ordinary house with their two children. They struggle to make ends meet. They struggle to give their children the best they can. They have a group of friends others would be enviable of. They have been through births, deaths, happy and significant times in each other’s lives. They even still get together once a week after all these years of friendship. They also play the weekly lottery together as a group and imagine what it would be like if they actually won. What they would buy? Where they would go and what they would give to charity?
But that all changes one Saturday night when the group gets into an argument and two of the couples decide they don’t want to play the lottery anymore, and it seems don’t want to even associate with Lexi and Jake. Heartbroken, Lexi and Jake decide to play the lottery numbers alone, and they win! But even before they get to enjoy the excitement of what comes with winning millions in a lottery, their friends decide they are entitled to some of the winnings.
And thus begins not only the unraveling of years long friendships, but secrets, deceits, lies and hidden agendas which had been hidden for many years. As the group breaks apart, their children who have been friends since birth must decide whose side they are taking. And some of them decide to take their jealousy a bit too far.
Jake and Lexi try to adjust to a life of not worrying about money and spending as fast as they can (well, mostly Jake), Lexi believes in giving back, something she seems to be trying to convince her husband to do. Greed swiftly begins to take over. As does the harassment from people trying to cheat them out of money.
And when the family decides to have an extravagantly lavish party at their new mansion, something incomprehensible occurs during the celebration which tears the families apart. Is all this money worth the jeopardy? When the dust finally settles and they get to the bottom of who was the mastermind, the shocking revelation and the accumulation of all the lies blow up and leave everyone horrified, revolted and traumatized.
Just My Luck is a story with a moral. Be careful what you wish for. It shows the evil side of what could happen with instant wealth and the greed with which some will go to receive their just rewards. And then there are those in which no amount of money will ever make them happy. The ending is both astounding and impressive.
Thank you #NetGalley #MIRA #AdeleParks #JustMyLuck for the advanced copy.
But that all changes one Saturday night when the group gets into an argument and two of the couples decide they don’t want to play the lottery anymore, and it seems don’t want to even associate with Lexi and Jake. Heartbroken, Lexi and Jake decide to play the lottery numbers alone, and they win! But even before they get to enjoy the excitement of what comes with winning millions in a lottery, their friends decide they are entitled to some of the winnings.
And thus begins not only the unraveling of years long friendships, but secrets, deceits, lies and hidden agendas which had been hidden for many years. As the group breaks apart, their children who have been friends since birth must decide whose side they are taking. And some of them decide to take their jealousy a bit too far.
Jake and Lexi try to adjust to a life of not worrying about money and spending as fast as they can (well, mostly Jake), Lexi believes in giving back, something she seems to be trying to convince her husband to do. Greed swiftly begins to take over. As does the harassment from people trying to cheat them out of money.
And when the family decides to have an extravagantly lavish party at their new mansion, something incomprehensible occurs during the celebration which tears the families apart. Is all this money worth the jeopardy? When the dust finally settles and they get to the bottom of who was the mastermind, the shocking revelation and the accumulation of all the lies blow up and leave everyone horrified, revolted and traumatized.
Just My Luck is a story with a moral. Be careful what you wish for. It shows the evil side of what could happen with instant wealth and the greed with which some will go to receive their just rewards. And then there are those in which no amount of money will ever make them happy. The ending is both astounding and impressive.
Thank you #NetGalley #MIRA #AdeleParks #JustMyLuck for the advanced copy.
April 5, 2021
I really wanted to like this one but I should have trusted my gut and DNF'd at the 30% mark...
The problem for me was that some of the dialogue just went on and on and on and on and... well you get the point. It was long, drawn out, and unfortunately pretty boring. I felt as though so much of it could have been cut out of the book...
Sorry this isn't a more positive review friends. It just didn't work for me at all.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade, Mira Books and Netgalley for my review copy.
The problem for me was that some of the dialogue just went on and on and on and on and... well you get the point. It was long, drawn out, and unfortunately pretty boring. I felt as though so much of it could have been cut out of the book...
Sorry this isn't a more positive review friends. It just didn't work for me at all.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade, Mira Books and Netgalley for my review copy.
January 21, 2022
This book was so far from Adele Park's normal standards, that I wonder if it was written by her at all! Poorly written, Long and drawn out, badly edited, unlikable characters and an implausible plot, makes this book one of the worst I've read in a long time. It had no substance and the "twist" at the end was poorly executed. A waste of my time and money....
April 17, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
He is being crass. I am not sure what the elegant response to winning nearly eighteen million pounds is, but I doubt it is demanding the money like a highway robber.
These so-called friends of theirs are a bunch of sharks. There are more holes in their stories than there are in my kitchen colander.
I think we both wish we were in some sort of nineties cop show where she could open the drawer of her desk and pull out a bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses.
Toma stares at me with unadulterated admiration. It’s the best look one human being can give another. He looks at me with respect, approval, gratitude and eagerness.
How do you manage it?… Caring so much for people you don’t even know? In my experience, it’s cruel enough caring for those you do.
I wish them well, but mostly I wish them well away from us.
My Review:
I couldn’t seem to start this review for over a day, as I needed to ruminate, ponder, and mull. This was a prickly pickle. Most of the characters were not likable or annoyed me greatly as they were snide, greedy, snobby, selfish, unreliable, and conniving. They also disappointed me, as even the few likable ones tended to be wishy-washy and weak. However, I am aware that most people, regardless of culture, have a bit of all of these failings in their bag of traits. And I am also highly aware that as much as the characters were antagonizing me, I couldn’t have stopped reading about them as I was intrigued and rather desperate to know what was going to result from their flailing. The plotlines were maddeningly paced but when I reached the conclusion and looked back, I registered the cunning and shrewd craftsmanship in the storytelling. Adele Parks is a wily one.
He is being crass. I am not sure what the elegant response to winning nearly eighteen million pounds is, but I doubt it is demanding the money like a highway robber.
These so-called friends of theirs are a bunch of sharks. There are more holes in their stories than there are in my kitchen colander.
I think we both wish we were in some sort of nineties cop show where she could open the drawer of her desk and pull out a bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses.
Toma stares at me with unadulterated admiration. It’s the best look one human being can give another. He looks at me with respect, approval, gratitude and eagerness.
How do you manage it?… Caring so much for people you don’t even know? In my experience, it’s cruel enough caring for those you do.
I wish them well, but mostly I wish them well away from us.
My Review:
I couldn’t seem to start this review for over a day, as I needed to ruminate, ponder, and mull. This was a prickly pickle. Most of the characters were not likable or annoyed me greatly as they were snide, greedy, snobby, selfish, unreliable, and conniving. They also disappointed me, as even the few likable ones tended to be wishy-washy and weak. However, I am aware that most people, regardless of culture, have a bit of all of these failings in their bag of traits. And I am also highly aware that as much as the characters were antagonizing me, I couldn’t have stopped reading about them as I was intrigued and rather desperate to know what was going to result from their flailing. The plotlines were maddeningly paced but when I reached the conclusion and looked back, I registered the cunning and shrewd craftsmanship in the storytelling. Adele Parks is a wily one.
May 10, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Just My Luck is the latest domestic fiction release by British author Adele Parks. A story of chance, fortune, lies, truths, choices, betrayal, selfishness, greed and underhand tactics, Just My Luck will hold your attention from the opening newspaper article preceding the central narrative, through to the final sentence.
Just My Luck brings to light the story of Lexi and Jake, an ordinary working couple, who complete the same routines week in week out. A common practice as part of their friendship circle has been to play the same set of numbers on the lottery. These three couples have continued to religiously play the lottery with no success, while continuing to go about their daily lives. Although they know their chances of ever wining the jackpot is virtually impossible, they can only hope. Out of the blue, a win comes from their specially selected set of numbers. It causes shockwaves through the group, for a number of reasons. Questions of truth, entitlement and ownership are aired. Divisions and tensions soon arise. All Lexi and Jake know is that they have the winning ticket and they are not obliged to share it with their long standing friends.
Just My Luck is a suburban noir that delves into domestic life. It takes a close look at the impact of instant wealth on an individual, a couple, their children, their friends, workplace and wider community. By the close of the book, you will wonder why you ever wanted to win the lottery!
In Just My Luck, Adele Parks has produced a quick and riveting read. I raced through this one in around a time frame of just over a day. Just My Luck is a thrilling novel, offering plenty of unexpected plot twists, character obstacles, moral quandaries and late plot turnovers. The characters are an interesting lot. Parks takes a psychological approach her cast, providing an insight into how people behave when they are faced with instant wealth. Some of the acts these characters perform will astound you, repel you, or they may incite a level of sympathy. A shifting narrative structure which swaps between a mother and her teenage daughter provides further insight into this unusual situation.
It is often said that when money is involved it brings out a person’s true colours, I have witnessed this myself with my own family. It is unfortunate, but often true. Just My Luck interrogates the aftermath of the fast accumulation of wealth via a lottery win, pulling the reader in many different directions as Parks explores of the fallout from such a life changing event. Just My Luck is a great dilemma based read.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Just My Luck is the latest domestic fiction release by British author Adele Parks. A story of chance, fortune, lies, truths, choices, betrayal, selfishness, greed and underhand tactics, Just My Luck will hold your attention from the opening newspaper article preceding the central narrative, through to the final sentence.
Just My Luck brings to light the story of Lexi and Jake, an ordinary working couple, who complete the same routines week in week out. A common practice as part of their friendship circle has been to play the same set of numbers on the lottery. These three couples have continued to religiously play the lottery with no success, while continuing to go about their daily lives. Although they know their chances of ever wining the jackpot is virtually impossible, they can only hope. Out of the blue, a win comes from their specially selected set of numbers. It causes shockwaves through the group, for a number of reasons. Questions of truth, entitlement and ownership are aired. Divisions and tensions soon arise. All Lexi and Jake know is that they have the winning ticket and they are not obliged to share it with their long standing friends.
Just My Luck is a suburban noir that delves into domestic life. It takes a close look at the impact of instant wealth on an individual, a couple, their children, their friends, workplace and wider community. By the close of the book, you will wonder why you ever wanted to win the lottery!
In Just My Luck, Adele Parks has produced a quick and riveting read. I raced through this one in around a time frame of just over a day. Just My Luck is a thrilling novel, offering plenty of unexpected plot twists, character obstacles, moral quandaries and late plot turnovers. The characters are an interesting lot. Parks takes a psychological approach her cast, providing an insight into how people behave when they are faced with instant wealth. Some of the acts these characters perform will astound you, repel you, or they may incite a level of sympathy. A shifting narrative structure which swaps between a mother and her teenage daughter provides further insight into this unusual situation.
It is often said that when money is involved it brings out a person’s true colours, I have witnessed this myself with my own family. It is unfortunate, but often true. Just My Luck interrogates the aftermath of the fast accumulation of wealth via a lottery win, pulling the reader in many different directions as Parks explores of the fallout from such a life changing event. Just My Luck is a great dilemma based read.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Read
May 14, 2021The Hook- If you’ve ever dreamed of winning the lotto this is the book for you. When CT first started their lotteries, a ticket I had matched 5 of the 6 numbers. At that time 5 numbers paid nothing. It got me thinking about what I would do with a big win, how I'd spend it and how it might change my life. After much soul searching I decided I never wanted that big win as I could see all kinds of complications. You can't win if you don't play and mostly I don't.
The Line-”You think you know someone.”
The Sinker- It was just my luck that I really likedJust My Luck.It was a good peak at the sudden wealth of the Greenwood Family, Lexi & Jake, and their two teenage children. Kirkus’ review summed it up nicely with this quote“A thrilling and suspenseful story about how money can bring out the very worst in all of us.”See if you think they nailed it.
If there's a movie in the works, count me in.
The Line-”You think you know someone.”
The Sinker- It was just my luck that I really likedJust My Luck.It was a good peak at the sudden wealth of the Greenwood Family, Lexi & Jake, and their two teenage children. Kirkus’ review summed it up nicely with this quote“A thrilling and suspenseful story about how money can bring out the very worst in all of us.”See if you think they nailed it.
If there's a movie in the works, count me in.
December 8, 2020
This was such an easy book to read... though I found myself actually annoyed at how fast Jake went through money. They spent and spent and didn't think to keep count. Lexi was the most sensible of the lot. This whole story just shows how money can turn people, change them. It started with 6 friends and their children, also close friends. It ended with arguments, assault, kidnap and lies.
I didn't see the ending coming, though I wouldn't say the twist at the end was hugely dramatic, but it was a good twist in it's unexpected way.
I didn't see the ending coming, though I wouldn't say the twist at the end was hugely dramatic, but it was a good twist in it's unexpected way.
April 18, 2021
I just love Adele Parks from the first book of hers I read years ago I am yet to find one I don't love.
Imagine winning the lottery nearly £18 million and only the week before your friends leave your syndicate, but now they claim they didn't. Plus your husband is an idiot who is blowing through the winnings like its never ending.
In the book we follow Lexi and her daughter Beth. I found it interesting to see how friend dynamics change to both women. Lexi is older and understands where as Beth's is 15 in love and in trouble. Neither women want money to go before friends yet both women have major challenges.
I loved the social economic dynamic of the book it really brought into the issues that arise wirh money. I loved the syndicate element of the book as I know from experience money changes people this book just supports that. I could of read this book all way through again and again,@@.
It's so well written and u loved and I would totally recommend this book with a simple 5 stats loved!!
Imagine winning the lottery nearly £18 million and only the week before your friends leave your syndicate, but now they claim they didn't. Plus your husband is an idiot who is blowing through the winnings like its never ending.
In the book we follow Lexi and her daughter Beth. I found it interesting to see how friend dynamics change to both women. Lexi is older and understands where as Beth's is 15 in love and in trouble. Neither women want money to go before friends yet both women have major challenges.
I loved the social economic dynamic of the book it really brought into the issues that arise wirh money. I loved the syndicate element of the book as I know from experience money changes people this book just supports that. I could of read this book all way through again and again,@@.
It's so well written and u loved and I would totally recommend this book with a simple 5 stats loved!!
January 9, 2021
I read a review for this that said how the characters are so unlikable but they really are.
Three couples who have been friends since their kids were babies and doing the lottery all that time too end up winning the jackpot
But what if two couples pull out and the remaining couple win on the numbers picked as a syndicate?
I predicted every twist and found it hard to engage with the book. I feel adele parks is a bit too chick lit and predictable for me now. The teenage conversations were a bit try hard. Like a mum trying to be cool and down with the kids 😂
Three couples who have been friends since their kids were babies and doing the lottery all that time too end up winning the jackpot
But what if two couples pull out and the remaining couple win on the numbers picked as a syndicate?
I predicted every twist and found it hard to engage with the book. I feel adele parks is a bit too chick lit and predictable for me now. The teenage conversations were a bit try hard. Like a mum trying to be cool and down with the kids 😂
April 5, 2021
Six people. Three couples. The same six lottery numbers for fifteen years to no avail. However, the group had some issues so Lexi and Jake played the numbers on their own - and won - to the tune of nearly 18 million pounds. Two questions come at play? What broke the group apart and do Lexi and Jake owe any of their winnings to their former friends?
Quite naturally, the other four want part of the winnings. It seems only fair. They had a lottery syndicate that they all once took very seriously. Just because they did not join in that past week should not have excluded them part of the pot. How far will Lexi and Jake - and the others - go when it comes to those millions?
What ensues in Just My Luck is a display on how people can change when going from an average life to a possibly elite life - fancier cars, houses, clothes. This fascinating book also shows how nasty some can become and how changeable people can be. However, this book goes even deeper - secrets, lies and betrayal are also at play. I was utterly shocked at some of the twists in this story, twists that went past the associated greed with regard to the lottery winnings, which drew to volatile conclusion in this shocking book.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Quite naturally, the other four want part of the winnings. It seems only fair. They had a lottery syndicate that they all once took very seriously. Just because they did not join in that past week should not have excluded them part of the pot. How far will Lexi and Jake - and the others - go when it comes to those millions?
What ensues in Just My Luck is a display on how people can change when going from an average life to a possibly elite life - fancier cars, houses, clothes. This fascinating book also shows how nasty some can become and how changeable people can be. However, this book goes even deeper - secrets, lies and betrayal are also at play. I was utterly shocked at some of the twists in this story, twists that went past the associated greed with regard to the lottery winnings, which drew to volatile conclusion in this shocking book.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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