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?

I usually love books by this author however I have to admit to being a bit underwhelmed by this book. It was predictable to begin due to the lottery win and none of the characters were particularly likable. 
I felt the ending was rather abrupt and much more could have been made of it.

I usually love Adele Parks novels but I really struggled with this one. I loved the premise and it started great with the lottery win and whether or not the syndicate was on/off. However the longer I read, the more I struggled. The plot became a bit ridiculous and I struggled to enjoy it towards the end. I'll still be sure to read whatever Adele Parks writes next.

A book that explores the extent of human nature  when individuals are in an invidious position linked to wealth and it’s possible effects. It brings out the best and the worst in individuals as exemplified in the apparently close friendship group where Lexi runs a syndicate . She and her husband Jake believe the other two couples have opted out and so they are the sole winners.  She is cautious and her husband extravagant. The future lives do not run smoothly, doubling crossing , subterfuge, kidnapping, ransoms and some very unpleasant people abound in this. 
I kept reading to the end bemused by the twists and turns but believe that the only likeable character was Lexi.

I read this book in about a day. It sucked me in right from the very first page. Adele is such a skilled writer and she knows exactly what she's doing. She created a variety of characters each of whom were developed well. The dialogue between them developed the story well and I hated most of them as they were so vile. But this is a good thing considering the themes if the book and I believe that if an author leaves you feeling something strongly, they've done their job.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

If you weren't certain money was the root of all evil here is another story to help confirm it! More a garden than a beach read with lockdown, but still good escapism with jealousy, twisted morals and love featuring strongly.
Thank you to netgalley and HQ books for an advance copy of this book

This was an interesting read, different to other books I’ve read recently.  It certainly made me feel lucky that I haven’t won the lottery!!!! I read this book quickly because I just keep wanting one more chapter.  There were some interesting twists in the book but I can’t say I loved the ending - it felt rushed.   I loved some of the secondary story lines such as Tobu and how he fit into the lottery win. I didn’t much like any of the main characters for various reasons - spineless, greedy, obnoxious, fake..... but that kind of added to the story.  They weren’t the kind of characters you needed to like !!  All in all it was A good Read

I must admit that I was curious as to where this one would go before I began reading, but what a story!

Three couples get together most weekends and since their friendships began, have always played the lottery together until, one week, there is a bit of a disagreement which causes friction, leaving one couple feeling cut adrift. When they routinely check the ticket the following week, they've won! And, since the others dropped out, the jackpot is all theirs .. but is that how the other four see it?

There is real food for thought in this book. Don't we all dream of our numbers coming up - and insist it won't change who we are? What an eye-opener! These are ordinary families, like you and me and the surprises and shocks just keep coming. I have been heard to utter the odd expletive whilst engrossed in this tale - so much so that I had to explain the set-up to my husband who was a bit concerned at my vehemence! This isn't a placid read, it's one to get your juices flowing and your dander up! I began reading in bed and was half-way through before I could bear to set the book aside. Gripping, riveting and stunning! And then, when I thought it was all finished, there was more! A really contemplative read for every single person who pins their hopes on the lotto draw. A well-conceived and beautifully written story, which absolutely earns each one of the five sparkling stars I'm happy to give it, along with my recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Jake and Lexie win the lottery. But Jake started frittering the money away before it was in their bank account. They had been playing the lottery for fifteen years with their friends, the Heathcotes and the Pearsons, but they never thought that they would win. But the friends had pulled out of playing the lottery then week before Jale and Lexie won 18 million. 

This domestic thriller has lots of twist and turns. Its told from multiple points of view. I was pulled into the story quite quickly. This is a story of jealousy, greed, secrets and betrayals.  The story did seem to dip a bit around the  middle  ut then it picks up, leading you to a surprise twist at the end. This is a cleverly written story. Lexi was my favourite character, she was more grounded than the rest of them. This is a gripping and page turning book. I do recommend this book. 

I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Adele Parks for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Pearsons, The Heathcotes and Lexi and Jake are about as close as friends can get. They have known each other since meeting in an NCT group fifteen years before. Emily, Lexi and Jake’s daughter, is best friends with the Pearson’s daughter and dating the Heathcote’s son. Every Saturday the families meet up for drinks and dinner and check if their lottery numbers have finally come up. Only, one week there is a fall out and two of the families drop out of the syndicate. The next week Lexi buys a ticket out of habit and their numbers come up. They win £18 million pounds.

This is a real ‘be careful what you wish for’ book. Overnight Lexi and Jake’s lives change. But all is not well. Their friends feel betrayed and want their share of the money. Their daughter loses her best friend and boyfriend. Jake has turned into a gluttonous monster who wants more, more, more and Lexi struggles to maintain any sense of the normality she so desperately craves.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. This was only the second Adele Parks book I had read and the style was similar to one of my favourite authors, Liane Moriarty. The characters were well written, and the majority were loathsome, the only redeeming characters being Lexi and a work client of hers, Tomas. The author successfully made me feel a permanent rising sense of nausea and dread alongside Lexi, the protagonist, as her family continue to spend spend spend. 

The only major letdown for me was that at about 3/4 of the way through the book there is a plot point that takes it from being a (just about) believable family drama, to a full blown soap opera. It felt like an unnecessary additional plot segway that removed the credibility of the book and I almost dropped it down to 3* as a result. Having said that, I suspect most readers will love the high stakes drama towards the end of the novel. 

I would recommend this, I am sure this will be a well received book and I will definitely be reading more of Adele Park’s novels. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So, your dream is to win the lottery...or maybe this might just turn out to be worst living nightmare! I found this was an engaging read but I just thought that the surprises, which were there, to be slightly brushed over and worthy of more explanation and scene development. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an advanced reading  copy.

I gave enjoyed other books by Adele Parks but stopped reading this about a quarter of the way through, as I found the storyline too unpleasant.  I’m sure other readers will enjoy it but it just wasn’t for me. Lexi is a very empathetic character but her  husband changed, and not for the better, as soon as they won the lottery.  The other two couples were just horrible, so I didn’t want to read more about them.

A bittersweet story where a large lottery win can spell trouble and not remove all life’s problems. An well written, plausible storyline.

A dark and disturbing look at the unexpected effects of winning the lottery. We all know our lives would change, but we'd hope they would change for the better. Unfortunately for Lexi and her family, it shines a light on the flaws in their lives and family. I really enjoyed this as there were some great twists and turns.

Having the opportunity to read an ARC of Just my luck, Adele Parks twentieth novel to date, felt a bit like winning the lottery, obviously without all the shenanigans that go on in this addictive domestic thriller.
With this author being in my top ten of favourite writers, a new novel is always eagerly anticipated. Amongst many of the reasons why I loved this novel is that the subject she has chosen to fictionalise is very ordinary and so relatable. Who hasn’t daydreamed of one day winning a huge sum on the lottery and then having fanciful conversations with either family or friends or work colleagues about how you’d go about spending the windfall? I think if you were to eavesdrop on any one of these conversations you’d probably get some insight into each individual’s personality depending on how they’d think to spend the millions and that’s kind of how I felt reading Just My Luck. Jake and Lexi’s story is an example of the kind of salacious, titillating material that would feature in the more sensationalist red top newspapers, satisfying a human need for gossip and scandal which is what makes this such an easy and highly entertaining read. I practically inhaled each page as I gained an insight into how differently Jake and Lexi, alongside their children Emily and Logan dealt with such life changing news.
Of course the first twist in the tale is that Jake and Lexi are part of a winning syndicate, having played the lottery every week with best friends Jennifer and Fred and Carla and Patrick. Initially I thought the direction this novel would take was the fallout from the revelation that these two other couples had left the syndicate a week previously and were therefore not entitled to a share of the winnings. However this deliciously dark piece of fiction goes way beyond that, with all the characters, Lexi being the exception, revealing the very worst sides of human nature. Jealousy, greed, resentment, betrayal and even violence motivate these individuals to some extent and I lapped up revelations of their transgressions with glee.
Jake and Lexi come across as polar opposites. Quite frankly he is ‘a bit of a dick’ in Lexi’s own words as he immediately starts acting like a kid in a sweet shop spending money so fast it’s astonishing. He’s a poor role model for his teenage children who are automatically swept up in his impulsive spending sprees, mistakenly thinking all these material goods will buy them friends and happiness and love. Lexi by contrast is a saintly character, working as an adviser with the citizens advice bureau and contemplates their good fortune in a more calm and measured way. She’s keenly aware of the huge responsibility and burden their wealth now places on them, acknowledging all the deserving cases she encounters on a daily basis, so her reluctance to splash the cash exposes the flaws in their marriage. They don’t seem to be the cohesive family unit that on the surface they first appear to be and as the storyline progresses that gap widens with every little secret revealed, of which there are many.
Whilst I loathed Jake from the start, I really liked his wife. She has a conscience and a desire to help others with the money they’ve won which is clearly evident in her dealings with Toma, a homeless man she has gone out of her way to help. I kept thinking how this thread related to the rest of the storyline and was surprised by some of the clever and unexpected twists that tie all the characters together.
This domestic thriller is told from the perspective of both Lexi and Emily which I found interesting, wondering why the author chose just two of the characters to relay events rather than include Jake or Logan. I’d love to know!! Towards the end the  narrative takes a turn I wasn’t expecting which for some may be a stretch too far but if you appreciate the author has exaggerated events to question human behaviour for the purpose of fiction, then this will not bother you. All becomes clear with an ending I absolutely loved and the very final words bought a wry smile to my face.
Everyone thinks their problems will be solved if they win a life changing amount of money but Jake and Lexi’s story prove that money will not buy you happiness. It can divide you and bring out the worst in people and you perhaps won’t know who your real friends are, making, in this instance, the lottery win a curse rather than a blessing. Instead of bringing luck it can split families and friends apart so be mindful when purchasing your next ticket, particularly if you’re part of a syndicate!!
For me this was a yet another brilliant read from a first class author. Perfect reading to whet the appetite of those of us who love a bit of scandal and satisfies our curiosity about our fellow human beings.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.