Just My Luck by Adele Parks is a fabulous contemporary psychological thriller that will mess with your mind and emotions.
An ordinary house in suburbia. An ordinary family with an ordinary life – until a day that changes everything. Just My Luck examines the fall-out that happens when everything changes. What you thought you wanted, what you thought you knew, who you thought you were – the ground shifts and everyone envies you.
There is the huge question of truth and lies, and trust. Adele Parks has created a marvellous novel that will consume you as you try to separate the truth from the lies. There is a stark warning – be careful what you wish for. Be content with what you have.
The love of money, power and greed corrupts lives and hearts. When you take your eyes off people and look to your bank balance, you are in trouble. The totally pure in heart see money as a way to help others. The purely selfish see it as a way to feather their own nests.
Just My Luck was an all consuming read. I could not put it down. At one stage I literally gasped out loud.
An ordinary family. An ordinary life. A far from ordinary story. Adele Parks has created a marvellous, intricate and cleverly thought out plotline. This book will keep you up at night.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Well after reading this book I am glad I don’t play the lottery!!

Something that should be a happy, exuberant event turns out to be the catalyst to everyone’s lives being ruined.

Lexi, jake, Carla, Patrick, Fred and Jennifer have been friends for over 15 years, they have raised their kids together, moved out of London together and so you would think life was pretty good.

Every week they play the lottery together but one week Patrick wants to pull out. The next week their numbers come up. Of course there is a battle over who is entitled to a share of the win.

While everyone else appears set on spending as much as they can on material goods, Lexi wants to help others. In particular she wants to help Toma Albu who she met through her work and has been supporting as he comes to terms with the loss of her wife and child through landlord negligence.

The story unfolds into a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with twists and turns right up to the very end...

A lottery win does more harm than good

When the Greenwood family win they lottery, they think their luck is in. Little do they know! Lexi Greenwood has just discovered her husband's infidelity. This turns out to be the least of their troubles. The story takes a while to get into, mostly because the characters are selfish, unlikable types, except for earth-mother Lexi and Toma, the homeless man she helps. Worth persevering with, because the ending is a stunner!

'Just My Luck' is about wife and husband Lexi and Jake, who suddenly win over 17 million pounds in the Lottery, just one week after their four best friends pulled out of their syndicate. The story is told through the alternating POVs of Lexi and her daughter, Emily as they deal with the positives and negatives of winning the Lottery.

I expected quite a light-hearted read with some drama thrown in, but this book was quite the opposite. In fact, it  was a tale of despair, with plenty of backstabbing and greediness.

I would give this book 3 stars out of 5. Barring one minor character, not of the characters were likable and, unfortunately, this book didn't really sparkle for me.

Oh wow, this was a rollercoaster. It seemed quite slow at first, but once things started happening, it didn't stop. What a web of intrigue - I did not see the ending coming. In fact none of the endings to each strand. Almost makes me not want to win the lottery!! Almost. You always feel you'd do differently, I certainly wouldn't be taking publicity!! The lottery win was the catalyst for the group of friends whole lives untangling- they were linked in ways that weren't obvious from the start.  My heart is slowing down about now, I got really invested in Lexi's story. Her husband certainly didn't come out of it well - the lottery win didn't help anyone's relationships!! #netgalley #justmyluck

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 Addle 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.

The maxim that money does not buy you happiness was very true in this book.  The lottery win of many millions should have made the dreams of several families come true.  However it did not bring happiness, just the opposite, A life of richness beyond our dreams is something we all probably think we want, but it would appear that any cracks in a relationshipbecomes huge chasms once money is involved.
The dream of a fancy car, clothes in quantity, holidays to far off lands, all of these crumble to nothing once a family cohesion is broken by money.
I enjoyed this book very much, it had a great cast of characters and a main storyteller who yu really equated with, she was very human.  
A book well worth reading, perhaps  an old lottery ticket might make a bookmark!

I absolutely loved this book! It's about an ordinary family that win a life changing amount of money - who wouldn't want that?! But unfortunately things aren't that simple, and their lives change dramatically in ways none of them were expecting!

This book had me hooked early on - there was so much drama! So many secrets were revealed and events escalated in a way that I would never have predicted. It made me think twice about whether I'd want to win that much money! I don't want to say too much as I don't want to spoil anything, but I would definitely recommend reading this. You won't want to put it down!

I enjoyed this. A few incidents I could genuinely get emotional about, and it was a full range of emotions: anger, sympathy, irritation, shock... a book I could actually fully engage in. Right from the start I was desperate to reach the end and find out what would happen. I think I maybe preferred the first half to the latter but that's because it started so well.

Unlikeable characters who did not deserve any money. Friendships are torn apart due to lies and greed.  A quick read that makes you think.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Wow, I wasn’t expecting that ending!  There were lots of twists and turns to this story, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.

Lexi and Jake are in an unofficial lottery syndicate with two other couples – their best friends.  One evening, there’s a disagreement over the syndicate and then Lexi’s numbers come up and she wins almost £18 million.

It’s difficult to review this book without giving too much away, but it really does keep you hooked and wanting more.  It’s a brilliant book and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Any Adele Parks book is a guaranteed good read, and I think this is her best one yet. It must be everyone's dream to win the lottery but this book shows that it doesn't bring the perfect outcome. Lots of twists which shows we should be careful what we wish for. Highly recommended and well worth more than the five stars I can give

After doing the lottery for 15 years 3 families win the jackpot of £18 million.Only problem is 2 of the families have pulled out of the unofficial syndicate the night of the draw.
Secrets unravel and friendships  are tested to the limit.
For the family at the centre of the story Lexi,jake and children it changes them forever but maybe not for the better.
I could warm to lexi but Jake was reckless,selfish and I found myself getting angry with him.Anyway I the story was riveting and took a few twists.I am surprised there hasn't already been a story based on this topic.
I do enjoy Adele Parks books and this one did not disappoint.

Twenty books in Twenty years is quite something, but to consistently make each one better than the last, is something else. Yet it is something that Adele Parks manages with ease.

Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a huge fan of Adele's so it is difficult for me to write an unbiased review, but I always try to, and anyone who knows me will know that I am very honest, sometimes brutally so.

Just My Luck I think may be my favourite of Adele's novels so far, it's very clever, with lots of twists to keep the reader guessing right up until the end.

Let's be honest for a moment, we've all sat and wondered what we would do with the money if we were to win the lottery. Haven't we?

Well for Lexi and Jake, that seemingly impossible dream is now a reality.

The unthinkable has happened, all six of their numbers have come up, they are rich beyond their wildest dreams. It should be perfect, they can now have the life that they have always dreamt of. But money does strange things to people and Lexi and Jake quickly realise that they have very different ideas on how their new found winnings should be spent.

And that's only the start of it, because Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers for the last fifteen years with their so called friends the Heathcotes and the Pearsons, but a rift in the group before the win has torn the relationship apart.

When they hear of Lexi and Jake's win, the two couples are determined to get their hands on their share of the winnings, no matter what the cost...

Just My Luck is a thrilling ride through a roller coaster of complex family relationships, adult friendships and trust. It is magnificent and I can't wait for everyone to read it!

When I first started reading this I thought it was going to be about greedy nasty people who win the lottery and make a car crash of their lives in the way of spend spend spend fame, so I started to skim read so I could get to the end quickly. Then it got a grip of me and I have been reading all day - just as well we are in lockdown because nothing has been done. I even prepared lunch with one hand. Yes it is about greedy, nasty people but the twists and turns of plot are so tightly and cleverly woven, and there are a couple of redeeming characters - Logan, innocent of all that is going on, Emily the victim, and Lexi, the slightly misguided do-gooder who has no idea her friends are so toxic. The last chapter is the icing on the cake!  is it believable - no not really , but it is engrossing and entertaining!

What would you do if you won £18 million on the lottery ?? Adele Parks has come up with a superb domestic thriller which answers the question to some degree.Jake and Lexi are in a syndicate with best friends Carla,Patrick,Jennifer and Fred but when they win the jackpot things start to go awry as Jake and Lexi claim the money for themselves because they are saying the others pulled out of the syndicate the week before.What follows is an excellent story of greed and betrayal as secrets and lies start to emerge about all 3 couples and just what their 15 year friendship has been hiding.I would have to say Just My Luck is the best book i have read this year so far,it really is that good ! If you ever dream of winning the lottery read this book and it might just put you off doing the lottery for life ! WOW what a superb 5 star read.

Wouldn’t we all love to win the lottery? So you would think but after reading this book it will make you question that. The story begins with a big lottery win for a family but what follows is the different traits this brings out in them and their loved ones good and bad. A really good read, well written and tense at times to read

What would you do if you won the lottery?
This is a question that is probably asked every second of the day somewhere in the world. There always seems to be 2 definitive answers, what they are going to spend the money on, or how they are going to give their money away. This books seems to use those 2 paths with a family who wons millions on the lottery, and how it can create cracks in relationships with best friends, partners and even work. 

This book definitely took me by surprise. I knew from the synopsis there was going to be quite a lot of tension and conflict but it then pushes even further than that by using some cleverly woven in plot twists to become sort of a domestic thriller. The author really showed how each character was flawed even in their best intentions. I found it interesting that she chose the POVs of Emily and Lexi when there were so many people involved in the story. The way Emily was written though was perfect for the narration of a 15 year old girl without bordering on cliche.

This is a fantastic and quick and which has plot twits to keep you shocked until the very last chapter.

Lexie and Jake have played the lottery for years with their friends, so when they are the sole winners of the jackpot it seems that their dreams have finally come true. However, whilst it seems that the other two couples might have pulled out of the syndicate the week previously following acrimony in their friendship, they are not going to forego a chance to share the winnings. As if this weren't bad enough, Jake and Lexi are pulling in different directions regarding how to spend the money and it starts to become evident that the foundations of their relationship are starting to crack. As the book progresses, Jake's reckless spending and arrogance reveals something much darker, and secrets and lies lurk between the three couples. It's a cracking read that looks at friendship and loyalty, morals and greed. There are some great twists along the way, and the final twist made me want to go back to the start and read the book all the way through again.  If winning the lottery meant there is the slightest possibility of ending up like the families in this story then I'm never playing again. 


My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Title: Just My Luck
Author: Adele Parks 
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5

A huge thank you to Netgalley, HQ Stories and Harper Collins for letting me review and read this advanced reader copy. 

Synopsis:

How would you spend 18 million? Lexi and Jake are left with this decision when they win the lottery, just a week after their friends the Pearsons and Heathcoates pull out of their syndicate, meaning they get to keep it all! However, soon others begin to question the truth when their friends become adamant that they deserver a share and that they didn’t pull out after all. Greed can change people in unpleasant ways and soon Lexi and her family are faced with this, leaving them questioning if the lottery win was worth it after all. 

Review:
I was excited for this read, the description pulled me in and had me questioning what decisions I would make if I was fortunate enough to win a huge amount of money. The reviews also looked promising and some of my favourite authors had spoken highly about this read, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in, I was not disappointed! 

The story kicks off with a bang, you can feel the characters buzz and excitement of becoming millionaires and this is quite infection as you feel excited for them. I found myself being quite envious at fictional characters at this point. I was really interested in seeing how this would begin to develop the story. 

Just My Luck is told through the perspectives of Lexi and her daughter, they are easy to follow and it is clear to see when there is a change of story teller. I found I really connected well with the female lead Lexi, she was compassionate, good hearted and true to herself all the way through, money didn’t change her. As for Jake, her husband, I disliked him from the start which I think was intended. He was childlike, greed began to change him and he was a very controlling, arrogant character. I liked how this read genuinely made me feel hatred towards some characters, I like to feel emotions when reading even if it is anger! 

There is quite a lot going on in this read, it is packed with drama and each of the character involved is on their own journey in some way. The book was filled with true and meaningful sayings which generally had me thinking about life. It also had me thinking how money is the cause of many problems and hate which is exampled perfectly in this story. 

Now, as for the twists and turns, all I can say to that is wow! From the half way mark this book became impossible to put down and some parts genuinely caught me off guard, I struggled to guess what would happen and this is what makes a book thrilling to me. I knew that eventually things would really kick off in this read but I wasn’t expecting what we got. The best thing is that there is no relent with these twists and turns they are all the way through. 

I genuinely thought there was a plot hole at one point, but there wasn’t the author had cleverly left you in suspense to take the reader off guard. I had guessed this was to come but yet it still got me. The ending was explosive and we are hit with another brilliant twist which makes this book a brilliant read. 

This was a cleverly written page turner that, a fun read turned serious with a strong message about greed all the way through. This was a read that gave me many emotions when reading from frustrations to my heart strings been tugged on. Praise for Adele Parks.