Best of Luck by Kate Clayborn is out today, and I really loved it. Discovering her books was one of the highlights of my year. I think what makes these books special, as simple as it sounds, it's that they are just really fucking good contemporaries! They aren't truing to subvert or reinvent anything, they just are masterfully crafted novels that read like they were written by someone who is talented but also knows and loves the genre. The characters are recognizable, sure, but they are nuanced and hard to label beyond "real".

This new book has a hero who is dealing with depression and anxiety, and he's sweet and kind and has regrets and I really liked him as a person. Same with the heroine who is focused and kind and brave, and I loved spending time with her. It's a lovely book. My favorite book is still the second one, but that's personal preference. I don't have a general romance conversion kit, but if I had, I would include this series as an example of what the genre is at its core.



I have read a lot of great contemporaries in the past few years and there have been some truly great new voices, but these books are wonderful and unassuming in a way that surprised me.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Dual POVs
Part of a series: Chance of a Lifetime
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading more from this author.

It is a shame that some insist on putting their best of book lists out in October, because they’ve possibly missed this one. It is one of the best books I have read this year. If you’re looking for a contemporary series, the first in this trilogy is Beginner’s Luck. The first two were great and this was an excellent finale to the trilogy.

Greer is set to graduate when she’s informed that she can’t count her second art history course as her visual arts credit. This is a disaster because she has already lined up a job as a social worker at a hospital and it won’t wait for her; she knows she is incredibly lucky to get it. She may be able to fit in one last course but only if she gets the head of the department’s approval. This is where Alex comes in.

Alex and Greer met two years prior to the start of the book and both were really attracted to each other and did not act on it. This time around, Alex is back for his sister’s wedding. Greer asks him to help her out with getting into the course so she can get the credit for graduation. The attraction is there, the in-jokes start happening, it’s pretty cute. Alex needs a break. He is having panic attacks and Greer makes him a deal; he helps her, she helps him by setting him up with a therapist. So Alex is going to stick around for a bit. He starts therapy and teaching her photography to help with her class. He starts building up his own support system in their town. There’s a will-they-or-won’t-they feel to it until they decide how it’s going to work for them and make it happen.

The question now is, as they fall in love, how will they make it work? Greer is just about to start her new job. Alex’s job takes him all over the world and he’s not known for sticking with anyone since he helped move his sister to college after raising her.

Both characters were a delight, there are several funny moments between them and with their friends and family. They both keep so much hidden from others and work to share it with each other. It’s hard for both of them, as Greer doesn’t want Alex to know something major that could cause him to treat her differently, as her family and childhood friends do. Maybe they can’t have a conversation with each other right now about something but they will get to it. They persevere and keep building their relationship. The theme of luck is also an interesting one to examine; how much of what happens is luck?

Highly recommended. One of the strongest contemporary romances I have read this year.

This series of interconnected novels tells the story of three women- Kit, Zoe, and Greer- who won the lottery and turned their lives around into what they want them to be. This is Greer's story and she's the one with the biggest physical adversity but she's determined to finish college and become a social worker. She meets Kit's brother Alex when he comes to town for Kit's wedding and he agrees to help her with the art course she needs to graduate. He's got some mental health issues but is determined to deal with them. One of the nicest things about these novels is that they are more than love stories- they are about people moving forward in the most positive way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you didn't read the first two books- this is fine as a standalone . It's good heart warmer.

I've now read all three books in this trilogy, and this one was my favorite. I enjoyed the previous 2 books very much, but thought they slowed down just a bit in the middle, whereas this book kept me racing through, not wanting to put it down. As in both of the previous books, I love how the author is able to create multi-layered, multi-faceted characters who feel like real people. Both Alex and Greer are people I'd like to meet and hang out with. They have faults and blind spots, but there is a genuine decency about them that makes you root for them to get their HEA. Also, I found their quiet interactions believable and could really feel their attraction to each other.

Both are dealing with the fallout from life altering events. In Greer's case, a serious illness in her teen years set her back significantly and caused her family to become very overprotective. She's now finally mostly recovered and at age 27 is trying to obtain her college degree but needs to complete one final photography course. That's where Alex, Kit's brother (from book 1) and a famous photojournalist comes in. He's dealing with severe panic attacks that started several years ago and have worsened to the point that they are threatening his ability to perform the work he loves and lead the lifestyle he has chosen. He is coming to realize that he needs help and is therefore willing to consider starting therapy with someone that Greer recommends after she witnesses him in a full blown attack. Both characters face these challenges as head on and I enjoyed the way the author shows them at different points in their journey (Greer at the end of her recovery, Alex just starting his) yet clearly shows how they parallel and complement each other, and how each makes the other stronger. This isn't a story where love magically conquers all, but rather it shows how love can lift you up and get you over the hump where you are stuck.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Both Alex and Greer were slightly broken and running from their past. They found great comfort in each other, but will that be enough to heal their wounds?

• Pro: I. Love. Greer. She was probably the biggest mystery of the group, because she was quieter, but I got to know her, layer by layer in this book, and she was one special woman. She was fierce and I wanted her to get everything she set her eyes on - the degree, her freedom, I wanted it all for her, because she deserved it.

• Pro: Greer's family was fantastic! From their Hollywood homage names to their over-involvement in Greer's life, this colorful group captured my heart. But, I mostly, I appreciated how much love they shared with each other.

• Pro: Alex was so complicated, and it was wonderful to be there with him, as he worked out his issues and his needs. I especially liked seeing him connecting to others, and recognizing these connections as a good thing. I think it was an important step for him towards his recovery, and oh! How I wanted him to heal.

• Pro: I am a terrible photographer, but I was captivated by that part of the story. Clayborn did such a wonderful job taking us on shoots, and, at times, I felt like I was looking through the viewfinder myself.

• Pro: I appreciated the way the mental health and chronic health issues were addressed. It was done in a positive and sensitive manner, and most importantly, without stigma.

• Pro: Watching Alex and Greer's romance blossom and blaze was a special treat. They had chemistry and connection, and also understood the other's needs. They were beautiful together.

Overall: I am sad to see this series end, because each book was wonderful, but at least I can say it went out on a high note. I am eagerly anticipating reading more from Clayborn in the future.

Dayum, Kate Clayborn just writes a book that makes me feel all the ache! Best of Luck is EVERYTHING GOOD wrapped in several thousand words. It delivers FEELS, characters that I just want to know in real life, as much as CONTENTMENT when I finish.

What I love the most about Best of Luck is the character (and relationship) development. Clayborn is excellent in creating these two characters, Greer and Alex, whom, at first glance might be as different as ever with the way they live their life, but actually sharing something similar, which drawn them to one another.

Greer is the shy heroine, she masters the science of being invisible. Greer yearns of gaining freedom, of being independent. Greer's biggest obstacle is that even if she dreams big, her physical body cannot always support it. The people around her keeps her close, out of love, out of concern, out of fear... Greer is trapped in inability to fly high.

So close to my freedom, and once again I haven’t been able to see something through, to cross that threshold that gives me my independence


Alex is the handsome - GQ handsome - hero; who seems to be comfortable in his own skin. He's a world renowned photographer, he travels into places. Alex masters the science of never really staying still. But Alex actually keeps a secret too, because even if his physical body lets him do the things he wants to do, his mind sometimes freezes. Alex is trapped in inability to stay grounded.

Despite the unsteadiness I feel, I’m grounded somehow by the lightness in her gaze, a slight sparkle that tells me she knows something I don’t.


I love Greer and Alex as their own, but oh how I LOVE when they're together. Those moments when it's just Greer and Alex, Alex and Greer, like when Alex teaches Greer with photography, being patient and quiet, capturing ladybugs, or Greer making Alex the subject of her photos, when they watch movies together, when they talk about themselves, when they love each other, worship each other's body... SO PRECIOUS!

Because in Alex, Greer learns that she can get what she wants while still accepting help. Because in Greer, Alex learns that he can settle down while still doing what he does best.

Because Greer and Alex learns that they take care one another.

I guess you can see how passionate I am with this book because I'm trying to make a short essay out of it (laugh). Bottom line, Best in Luck is definitely my favorite book of this series, and one of my favorites of the year.

Every book in this series is better than the last, which I wasn't sure was possible after the last installment. I loved Greer and Alex and watching them fall in love and learn how to be the partner the other one needed. Clayborn writes so deftly and packs in so much detail to the development of her stories but never in a heavy handed, obvious way. Her stories are so emotionally satisfying. We are able to understand how Greer and Alex came to be the people that they are and see them work through their issues in ways that felt real.

I hate that this is the last book but I will read anything that Clayborn comes out with next.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The third/final book of this series, and I was blown away by this first-time author’s writing!

The stories revolve around three friends who win a lottery...how it affects their lives (and doesn’t). Friendship, family, lovers...insecurities/self-confidence, weaknesses/strengths, stagnation/growth...it’s all here, and it’s all SO REAL. So many times I feel contemporary romances are shallow and repetitive, and being so, I don’t tend to read a lot of them. The seemingly effortless way Clayborn crafts these wonderful, beautiful stories will make you laugh, cry and FEEL.

So very happy I discovered her and highly recommend. I’ll be watching for more from her!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Gorgeously written but was almost painful to read at times due to the lyrically detailed descriptions of Alex and Greer's past and present demons. He's suffering from panic attacks and she's struggling to live a full life despite a childhood of pain and recovery. There's so much emotional weight on Greer and Alex's shoulders that it truly is a miracle that they found love and peace together.

Kate Clayborn is a true emotional wordsmith because she doles out these descriptive paragraphs that first lull and then club you over the head with feeling. First, the unspooling of Alex's childhood and then his anxiety issues. Then, wham, the revelation of Greer's medical history. So many things were stacked against them that I loved how good luck and hope wove into their struggles:

My dad took me out one night to see the harvest moon and we saw a shooting star, and for three weeks afterward I didn’t have a single headache. And I got—I got sort of obsessed with good luck charms, good luck omens. I’d play these little games with myself. Don’t look at the clock during the thirteenth minute of every hour. Save the heads-up pennies you find on the ground. Avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk... I know they don’t really work. I know it doesn’t make sense. But they made me feel—in control, I guess.

And when Greer challenges Alex that he doesn't believe in luck, I loved his heartfelt response: “I don’t,” he says, simply, a small shrug of his shoulders. “But I believe in you.”

Alex was not likable in the first book or even at the start of this book. But when he starts sharing his life with Greer, the gruff sweetness of this man is so lovely, like in the beach scene. (True story: Alex thanking his sister Kit made me call my brother who did not want to hear about some romance I was reviewing but told me he loved me anyway. Brothers, sheesh.)

This is supposed to be a cleansing ritual, that’s what Alex said—wash away your bad luck, splash on some good. But when Alex is up to his knees, his lips still dragging across mine, I start to think of this ocean as something else—a vast, endless wishing well. When he dips down, the water swirling around us both now, we’re the coins—plain copper pennies about to be turned into something special and precious and memorable. Maybe he’s making a wish on me, and I’m definitely making one on him. A big, bold, unlikely wish.

In the end, I was fascinated by how the author wove the notion of luck with love, fear, family, pain, and happiness. So glad Alex and Greer got a well-deserved HEA.

Hot damn. This book is full of feels in the best way. Mental health. Chronic illness. Family dynamics. Personal achievements. Solid female friendships. Fire romantic chemistry. In short, another five star, must read novel from Kate Clayborn.

Best of Luck is a beautifully written love story that rounds out the A Chance of a Lifetime series. It is about two people coming to terms with their own struggles while finding their hearts counterpoint. It’s just so good.

I've enjoyed all the books in this series, but I think Kate Clayborn saved the best for last. In the story of Greer and Alex, the after-effects of trauma mark each character, but they are far more than what has happened to them.

I appreciated that Greer was introduced as a person first and not a condition. I got to know her as a complex person before understanding how she got that way. Alex was hyperaware of Greer from the beginning but he begins to see her as someone who sees the entire him and is not trying to trap him or tie him down. Greer is quiet but has no problem giving it right back to him.

Art and service to others were central themes her for both characters although they approached it in different and complementary ways. A beautiful, emotional love story that circled back to family, survival, and finally living a fully human life. I loved their story.

A few months ago I went through a phase where I only wanted to read about heroines in STEM industries. Beginner's Luck by Kate Clayborn was one that I read and loved. The whole idea of a group of friends winning the lottery and making plans for their new lives was fun. Kit's book introduced her brother Alex and I'll be honest - I wasn't a fan of his. He seemed selfish and I was annoyed with how he treated Kit.

Best of Luck is the third in the series and features Greer and Alex. Greer is an adult college student and one of the friends trio who won the lottery. Alex is Kit's brother and a photojournalist with no home base.

Alex comes back to town for Kit and Ben's wedding. He is struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. Greer has issues of her own including an overprotective family and a missing art credit before she can graduate. The two strike a deal that he will help her learn photography and he will stick around for a month and see a therapist.

I honestly loved everything about this book. My heart ached for both of them. Both characters have experienced so much in their life and are coming to terms with their new selves. "You learn - I guess you learn that watching is helping." I saw myself in both characters. Greer's life has been the best she can make of it and Alex is fighting to find his place in the world. I loved how Greer relaxed by watching cooking shows because that is totally me.

Their love story was realistic and beautiful. They both were not expecting one another and the slow fall into love was a joy to read. "I love you. I don't need you, but I want you, and that's-that's even better. For me, that's-that's the best thing."

A great read - I hadn't realised it was the third in a series. I hadn't read the first two books and I don't think this mattered, but I enjoyed this book so much I do want to go back and read the others.

Greer is a mature student, just about to graduate and get a job she can't wait to start. Just a last minute problem which means she needs to do one more art course. Her best friend;s brother is a photographer who just happens to be in town - she enlists his help but given his past will he stick around long enough for her to submit her final coursework?
Although an enjoyable read the ook does deal with some serious issues too.

This is the last book in the series of 3 (Chance of a Lifetime) in which Kit, Zoe and Greer won the lottery together (but that is not the main thing!). Those women are best friends and this time it is Greer's book that draws you in.

Greer has decided to use her lottery money to go back to school to become a social worker. Alsmost near graduation she is devastated when she finds she made a mistake and maybe won't graduate unless she takes an (art) course. Fortunately she gets help from Alex (Kit's older brother) who is a photographer and travels the world. Greer has had a crush on Alex for a while now, but she knows he is always leaving. Until he admits to having anxiety attacks and they strike a deal. Their attraction leads to more, but Greer has her own secrets and thinks their lives are too different to mesh.

How I loved Alex, who has raised his sister Kit when he was a boy himself. In his talks to his therapist Patricia, we get to know him so much better and my heart sometimes broke for him.
And Greer, so quiet and strong and also proud of her achievements. They were so well suited.

This damn book. It is sure detrimental to my sleep habits, but so so good for my heart.

I started making a list right around the 30% mark of all the things I wanted to include in the review. I wanted to be prepared, and not have a bunch of nonsense that was all gushy about how good it was. I PROMISED. I'm about to break that promise. (I will shockingly ignore the list, so you're welcome)

First, you must read this series. I've inadequately reviewed all of them.
Kate Clayborn officially writes intense romances that somehow avoid angst-making melodrama.

The series is done now--once this is released. It's one of my favorite. You deserve this: Go get started.

These are layered romances, layered characters, real development and good jobs. These relationships are real to me too. In fact in my review for Beginner's Luck, I mention how painful and real I thought Kit's relationship to Alex (her brother and hero of this book that I'd like to climb) was fantastically done, as it is here. I love seeing his angle, and while he was all swoony in the prior book, I'm going to tell you that you have seen really nothing yet. Perfect. Heck no. This is Kate Clayborn (this is a thing we get to say now!) but he is compelling, intense, beautiful, and many other things.

And Greer, well, I think I posted an update that said I don't know who I'm more in love with. I really did love them both. Greer's quiet observations of the world around her to her participation in it were just really beautifully drawn. She's easy to adore. Unassuming yet assertive, brave, caring and appreciative.

Do the goodies stop there? No. That would be a stellar romance though. This is better than that. Because we still have Kit, Greer's family, and of course Zoe. We have a wonderful female-centered novel with subtle feminist touches (as we've seen throughout the series). And of note, neither the heroes nor heroines remotely resemble one another.

What stops me in my tracks anytime I read a romance is the idea of relatable multi-dimensional characters, in settings I can feel, with relatable problems. Honestly, give me a mundane love story that feels like it could be me or anyone I know any damn day. The magic of Kate Clayborn and authors like her is how the ordinary becomes extraordinary to read. This was fabulous. I was nervous. We were waiting for this couple. It was worth the wait.


Adding: For a more adequate review (Blackjack is always excellent, adequate doesn't describe her):
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks to netgalley/publisher for an advanced copy of this book

What a beautiful book this was! With every book in the Chance of a Lifetime series, Kate Clayborn's incomparable talent only seems to be growing. Best of Luck was a heartwrenching and beautiful tale of two lovely, but slightly broken, characters finding their way towards each other.

Though I have read many books in my lifetime, there is just a handful that has managed to turn me into a blubbering emotional mess. Best of Luck happens to be part of that handful. Kate Clayborn, through Alex and Greer's POVs, makes their every feeling the center of the book. Both of these characters were so well-written. Growing up, Greer led a rather sheltered life as a result of a life-threatening illness. She has felt caged and over-protected and wants nothing more than to break free and gain her complete independence. One of her first steps in that direction was to gain a college education that she had been deprived of. The only obstacle in her way is a missed fine art course requirement. There was a quiet courage to Greer that I found made her easy to cheer on. You cannot help but want for her to achieve all her goals. Life may have thrown her a curveball in the form of her illness, but that didn't mean Greer gave in without a fight. She was a genuine sweetheart who saw the good in people and went out of her way to help those that struggled. By the end of the book, I was so proud of Greer and the growth and healing she had undergone.

Alex, a man equally as wounded as Greer, was just the perfect complement of her. A renowned photographer, he comes to Greer's rescue by helping her catch up on the photography course she is forced to take to make up the credit to graduate on time. Alex struggled with anxiety and accompanying panic attacks, and struggled to form roots of any kind. His issues were portrayed in a raw and realistic way. There were times when I momentarily forgot that both he and Greer were fictional. I just wanted to reach into the book and give them both a hug. His journey towards healing through therapy and self-care was also brilliantly written. This whole book was an ode to treating and loving yourself with care and asking for help when necessary and that's such an important lesson, in my opinion. The romance between Greer and Alex was just like their characters - quiet, innocent, and full of passion. It was just the sweetest romance and I found it touching how they both found ways to help each other without making the other feel like an invalid. My heart just about melted at how good they were together. The way they made each other happy and the way they shared their feelings had me weeping under my covers. Alex and Greer were special and precious to me.

There is more to love in Best of Luck, including strong themes of friendship, family and mental health. I won't ramble too much longer about this book, but Kate Clayborn has truly outdone herself with Best of Luck. I didn't think it could wreck me as it did and I am so glad to have found another favorite romance author in Kate Clayborn.

I rate books completely on how they make me feel. I am usually on a high at the end of a good romance because the characters are relatable people who found their HEA. Ms. Clayborn smashed that standard to pieces and placed the bar so high it is not in the stratosphere. At the end of this book, the characters still had a lot of issues to deal with, but I knew with absolute certainty that they would work through them and grow as a couple. And that is more realistic and optimistic than any engagement or wedding scene.

But I should really start at the beginning. The story is told in first person present tense dual point of view. Greer has an amazing imagination and a quiet sense of observation. These really show in the narration. I enjoyed the details she notices and how her mind bounced around, bringing out her sense of humor.

Each character's personality and job contributes to the narration. Alex is a photographer. So when he narrates, the descriptions are vivid and completely natural, as if he is trying to capture the image. He is helping Greer with a photography project and their conversation shows that he is really good at what he does and that he really observes. And he gives the best compliments:

<i>"You don't seem shy to me. You seem - separate." She winces slightly, and I rush to say it better, what I mean. "You seem strong, in yourself. Comfortable in the quiet. Watchful."</i>

So it's really the story of two people who are working on themselves so they can be together. And it's a beautiful story.

I really enjoyed how fleshed out Greer and Alex were. I very much identified with Alex and his anxiety/panic attacks. I often caught myself silently thinking "Yes, that's exactly how it feels!" whenever he would go through one. It isn't always easy to express exactly what they feel like if you haven't experienced them before, so I thought Kate Clayborn did a good job in doing so. She handled both Alex and Greer's issues very well in my opinion. Greer could sometimes seem extra stubborn and determined to keep her walls up at times, but it still felt understandable considering her past. I think the end showed good character development for both characters. Overall, I thought it was another great book of hers after having read Luck of the Draw.

This beautiful, heart-wrenching story is one that I know will be with me for a long, long time. You know how movie sequels are hardly ever as good as the first? I find that many book series are that way as well. But not this series. Ms. Clayborn defies logic in that these books have each either gotten better or been at least as good as the previous one. Nonetheless, there was a part of me that expected this one to let me down because it had to happen eventually, right? Wrong. Ms. Clayborn worked her voodoo once again and created the most emotional, riveting story yet. I know I'm not doing a good job of describing how great Alex and Greer's story is because I'm blubbering with emotion, so if you still aren't sure about it, try reading a few pages. You'll get sucked right in. And you'll be glad you did.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC for review.