Just My Luck by Adele Parks #Book #Review @AdeleParks #JustMyLuck #NetGalley @HQstories

Just My Luck by Adele Parks

Published by HQ

Publication Date: 14 May 2020 (ebook & hardback), 10 December 2020 (paperback)

Psychological Thriller/Mystery

Book Description:

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.

Sunday Times Number One bestseller 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…

My Thoughts:

Adele Parks has done it again!  Real people. real scenarios but with a sting in the tale.
The Greenwoods, Heathcotes and Pearsons have been friends for over 15 years since meeting at parentcraft classes before the birth of their first children. They meet every Saturday night, taking it turns to play host at each of the houses. A few drinks, lots of laughs and equal donations to a line on the lottery. But recently things have turned sour especially in regard to playing the lottery. One of the group has voiced the opinion that playing the lottery is for losers, that it's a waste of money and that they don't wish to participate any more. The manner in which the opinion was given has upset others in the group and a rift has formed between the adults in the group. Then in just a matter of days following the disagreement the unbelievable happens and their chosen numbers come up, collecting a jackpot win of nearly £18million. But unlike all the dreams they've ever had, the win signals the start of more problems than they could ever have imagined. Never a truer word than the old cliché: be careful what you wish for.
The win triggers a legal investigation as to who is part of the syndicate - and whether the syndicate actually exists anymore. The bickering between the adults filters down and has devastating effects on the children's relationships. The money brings out the worst in most of the group, with the predictable shopping sprees for expensive and designer items and bookings of extravagant holidays. 
But there's a charitable thread running through the story too. The desire to do good for the least fortunate members of society. My hopes were built up that this part of the story would come to the fore but that's where some superb plot twists came in and knocked this book out of the ballpark.
None of the characters are particularly likeable despite some glimmers of hope for some of them; the story is totally believable but also devastatingly sad in parts. I spun through this book in record time and enjoyed my reaction to each of the characters' behaviour along their journey to potential riches.
A unique but very grounding look at the dream that is a lottery win.

From the Author:

I’ve always dreamed of being a writer and when my first novel - Playing Away - was published the Evening Standard identified me as one of London’s ‘Twenty Faces to Watch’, which was very nice of them!

I like to keep busy and I’ve published 19 novels, and I'm thrilled to say that they've all hit the bestseller lists. I've sold over 3.5 million books in the UK alone and I've been translated into 26 different languages. I have written 17 contemporary novels and 2 historical ones, Spare Brides and If You Go Away, which are set during and after WW1. My latest novels, Lies Lies Lies, I Invited Her In, The Image of You and The Stranger in My Home are twisty, domestic noirs. I like to scrutinize our concepts of family, our theories on love, parenting and fidelity.

I passionately believe that reading is a basic right. I'm a proud Ambassador of The National Literacy Trust and a The Reading Agency, charities that are devoted to encouraging emerging adult readers and children who are becoming passionate about books.

During my career I've lived in Italy, Botswana and London. Now I live happily in Surrey with my husband, teenage son and cat.