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.

Lexi and Jake have been best friends with two other couples; Jennifer and Fred & Carla and Patrick, since their eldest children were born 15 years ago. Every week, they would take part in a lottery syndicate, doing the same numbers each time. The winning numbers finally come up but it is just after Jennifer, Fred, Carla and Patrick pull out of the syndicate meaning that Lexi and Jake have won almost £18million.

Obviously, the path doesn't run smooth for them after the win with the other couples claiming that they hadn't pulled out. The eldest children of each family are close friends too so we hear a lot from the perspective of Emily, Lexi and Jake's daughter. I found these chapters a bit hard to read. I know that she is a teenager but I felt like they were trying to hard to sound like a teenager and it didn't really work.

Running alongside the lottery fiasco, there is another story. Lexi works at the Citizen's Advice Bureau and ends up helping a homeless man called Toma Albu get his life back on track. She learns that his wife and son died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to the landlord not carrying out the correct checks. I wasn't sure how it was relevant at the beginning but it all becomes clear when you get towards the end of the book. It kept me guessing the whole way through and I really thought I had it sussed before the curveball at the end.

Thank you to HQ for a digital review copy of this book - my thoughts are my own.

I was pleased to be invited to read a review copy of the 20th book by Adele Parks - I enjoyed reading Lies Lies Lies on my summer holiday last year. This book is another fast paced, dark story full of secrets, lies and some very unpleasant, selfish characters.

I enjoyed the story, which is told by Lexi (who bought the winning lottery ticket) and her 15 year old daughter Emily. I must admit that I wasn't totally convinced by the 15 year old narrative (having got a teenage daughter of my own) but it didn't spoil the story. Jake quickly becomes the most detestable character but is closely followed by many of the 'friends'. After longing to win the lottery for over 15 years, it changes Lexi's life in so many more ways then she ever expected.

My favourite character is Logan, the younger son, who seems to be the only person not corrupted by the huge amount of money. The story of Toma Albu, running alongside the lottery win story, was thought provoking and sadly too realistic.

If you enjoy a read full of secrets and twists, then I'm sure you will also enjoy this book, just as I did.

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.

This book had me hooked from page 1. I noticed that a few others were reading this on my instagram at the same time as me and I found myself messaging them saying "are you as hooked as me".
The book starts as a "fun read" in my opinion. It has you thinking "oh what would I do if I won the lottery". You start dreaming of the big house, the swimming pool and the designer clothes. The author quickly throws some twists in to show that there is so much more than meets the eye with all of the family members.
Adele did an absolute fantastic job of portraying the characters in her story. I hated who I was supposed to hate and routed for those who deserved it.
The book was hard to put down and I just wanted to know "what's going to happen to everyone".
I thought the ending was a perfect end to the book and found myself smiling at people's comeuppance.
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

This book was a hell of a ride and the ending was one twist after another. I really enjoyed it, to be honest.

The novel tells the story of Lexi and her husband, Jake. They woke up one day and realised they have won more than 17 million pounds in the lottery. They are thrilled and can't not believe their luck. That is, till they realise everything and everyone is changing around them. Their long-time friends say they are owed part of the money and that is a lie. Or is it? When Jake starts wasting the money and their daughter Emily is assaulted at school, Lexi starts asking herself if this is really good fortune or not.

This is a novel.about lies, friendship, family, marriage and what money does to people. Some bits were more difficult to believe than others but then again, I have never won the lottery so cannot say what I'd be spending my money on.

Just My Luck. Adele Parks.

So you’ve won the lottery - big time - nearly £18,000,000. You’re rich beyond your wildest dreams. Everything is going to be perfect. Only it isn’t. In this dark and twisting novel, Adele Parks explores what happens when the dream turns into a nightmare.

When Lexi and Jake win the lottery with the ticket Lexi bought they think all their troubles are over. Lexi wants to err on the side of caution and keep the news quiet for a while until they get their bearings but Jake can’t wait to spill the beans. Big mistake. They had been in a syndicate with two other couples until they fell out a few weeks before. Now these friends feel they are entitled to a share. Between Jake’s frenetic splashing of the cash and the legal suit their erstwhile friends bring the joy doesn’t last long. Their children, Emily and Logan react as ‘typical’ teenagers do and quickly find out who their true friends are. We see the darker and selfish sides of people emerge. There are, however, some charitable moments.

The book actually begins with a second thread which at first seems unconnected. Toma, an immigrant from Moldova tragically loses his family to carbon monoxide poisoning in their flat but the stories do inter-twine in an important way.

Although most of the characters are not likeable the story grabs the reader’s attention and quickly becomes a page turner. Well written, it is a cautionary tale full of dark twists and turns. It shows what greed and envy can do to people and how amoral they can become when you would least expect it. There are, however, some charitable moments.

A gripping tale which begs the question - what would I do if I won the lottery and would it be a blessing or a curse?

I love an Adele Parks book and yet again this did not disappoint.
Full of content with a well thought out plot line, clever characters and twists that will have you gripped. Seriously- what’s not to love?