No. This book and plot had so much potential but it just didn't connect with me. YMMV. All of the characters had secrets that they couldn't talk about. All were referred to and nothing came out until they all came out at a rush at the end of the book. To much all at once.

This book was so good. I love read Wendy's books. She is a master of suspense.
I read it in one day!

Thank you Wendy for another great read. Loved this book.

This was a bit of a miss for me. I was never really able to connect with any of the characters or the story. I wanted to like this book because the premise and the setting sounded intriguing, but it just wasn’t for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good. My only complaint, and only reason that I didn't give 5 stars is it felt slow to begin, and then rushed at the end. I wish it would have been a little more even. But overall, incredible story, kept me guessing and wondering what the heck was going on. So good!

Unfortunately….no. This one didn’t do anything for me. And I hate that. I really do.

The circumstances were way over the top implausible. The dialogue between three “best friends”…idk, it just wasn’t authentic. Best friends do not speak to each other this way. Stiff and so parochial, it felt like they were more strangers than friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 7.11.23

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Windfall: a piece of unexpected good fortune, typically one that involves receiving a large amount of money

When three best friends from college win a one billion dollar lottery jackpot, Leila decides to hire Windfall, a company that specializes in helping people adjust to their new lives after coming into a vast sum of money. Leila, Molly and JJ travel to Windfall to meet with its owner, Shea, at the reportedly cursed mansion with the same name. Excitement surrounds the trip not just because of the lottery win but also because of Windfall's lore, especially the high-profile disappearance of actress Chantal Charbonneau. The excitement quickly fades when wildfires spread, phone signal is lost, one member of the trio goes missing, and the others realize they are trapped.

This is the first book I have seen that follows lottery winners and the dangers that come with their newfound fortunes, and this idea and its uniqueness drew me in. The complexity of the characters and their relationships with one another added an extra layer to the mystery, especially given that each one is holding onto secrets but wants to keep up the illusion of a perfect friendship. By far my favorite part of the book, however, is its setting. A potentially haunted mansion that is completely isolated and surrounded by wildfires? I'm intrigued and a little afraid. The setting drove the tension and added to the fear the characters were experiencing, explaining a lot of their perhaps otherwise questionable actions.

I did struggle to get into this book, which is always disappointing with a thriller. The pace of the first half was more of a slow burn, and then the ending was rapid and full of excitement and surprise. The slowness of the beginning is definitely why this book was a 3.5 star rather than 4 for me. The multiple points of view were also a little difficult for me to follow, even though I usually love this style of narrative. Interweaving the podcast covering Chantal's disappearance also didn't add much to the story for me.

That said, I really enjoyed the ending. I didn't see it coming, but once it happened, it made perfect sense. It's tricky for a mystery to do that, so seeing it so successfully done felt like a treat.

From the very first page, this book had me hooked and took me on a whirlwind of emotions. It's an incredible journey that beautifully captures the complexities of human experiences, particularly when someone goes missing. The blend of joy, drama, and desperation within the story is masterfully crafted, making it a truly captivating read.

One of the most striking aspects of this book is its ability to evoke such genuine emotions. The author skillfully delves into the minds of the characters, allowing readers to feel their anxiety, joy, and desperation firsthand. I found myself fully invested in their lives, experiencing their triumphs and setbacks alongside them. The author's storytelling prowess is exceptional, pulling the reader in and creating an immersive world of emotions.

The plot of this book is nothing short of extraordinary. The mystery surrounding the missing person kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth. Each twist and turn heightened the tension, keeping me guessing until the very end. It was impossible not to feel a personal connection to the characters and their struggles. This book effortlessly creates a rollercoaster of emotions that leaves a lasting impact.

The writing style is exquisite, with the author expertly weaving together drama, suspense, and heartfelt moments. The pacing is perfectly balanced, never leaving a dull moment. Each chapter leaves you yearning for more, unable to put the book down until you reach its satisfying conclusion. The dialogue between the characters feels authentic and poignant, providing a deep understanding of their relationships and inner conflicts.

Beyond the captivating plot, the book also explores profound themes of love and its various forms. It delves into the depths of human connections and the lengths people are willing to go to protect and find their loved ones. This exploration adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story, leaving readers reflecting on their own relationships and the importance of cherishing those they hold dear.

In conclusion, this book is a masterpiece that takes readers on an emotional journey they won't soon forget. Its ability to evoke powerful emotions is a testament to the author's skill and talent. If you're seeking a read that will leave you breathless, captivated, and deeply moved, then this is an absolute must-read.

Short synopsis: Three college friends, now in their 40s, ended up winning the lottery together. They plan to work with a company called Windfall to help them manage their new found wealth. The three friends; Leila, J.J., and Molly all decide to meet with the owner of Windfall, Shea Daniels. They meet at Shea’s mansion in California. The only problem with this is that there are wildfires that are slowly getting out of control. The three friends find themselves stuck at Shea’s haunted mansion with no cell service, internet, and the roads have been closed. In the midst of all of this Leila goes missing. Did she leave with the winning lottery ticket? Or did something else happen to her?

My thoughts: This book was a little slow in the beginning for me. I was constantly getting the main characters and their back stories mixed up. There were a couple instances where things didn’t quite add up for me. Like sleeping in a room with your 10 month old surrounded by wildfires and smoke and leaving the windows open in your room. I also didn’t like how everyone was quick to assume there were ghosts.

About 50% of the way through thought it had me hooked. The ending was good but left me super sad! I felt like the concept of the book was great, I just wasn’t really interested in the Chantel aspect as much but I understand why it was necessary!

If you’re looking for a fast easy read this one is for you. Keep in mind the ending might make you sad… or might make you mad.

Windfall is a story about friendship, mistrust and the knowledge that you never really know someone.

Molly, J.J and Leila have been friends since college, they made a pact to try and get together for their September birthdays every year.

This last trip would be on they would never forget. On a whim on their way to the airport they all went in to by a lottery ticket for the billion dollar jackpot.

They won that jackpot and the steps they take to avoid falling into the normal lotto winner failure drives them to a place they may never come back from.

It was a little all over the place but as the story goes on it all seems to come back together.

I enjoyed this as it’s a mystery with some definitive drama thrown in.

This was a highly engaging fast paced thriller about what happens when a group of three friends win a billion dollar lottery prize. I loved the setting and ominous tension throughout the novel. It kept me flipping the pages to see what would happen next.

I would add a trigger warning for anyone with a young baby or new mothers as this piece surprised me as a reader.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Girls birthday weekend in Las Vegas and they purchase a lottery ticket with the winning numbers . Will this change their lives? They decide it would be smart to meet with Shea who is a sudden wealth manager. The house they stay in is beautiful but thought to be cursed. It begins to seem that way when they are trapped there by wild fires, and then the girl with the winning ticket disappears or was she taken? Will they find her and the ticket- will they get home safe.?

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc.

After a night out, three friends win the lottery together.

This was an enjoyable read. The plot kept me guessing every step of the way. The characters were hard for me to connect to, but the story was engaging. I found the multiple points of view to be relatively easy to follow. Overall a quick enjoyable read.

Three college friends get together after years apart and buy a lottery ticket. They are winners and hire a wealth management company. They get together at the home of the wealth manager, a home where a famous movie star disappeared from. All 3 are keeping secrets and soon one of them disappears. The remaining people are trapped, surrounded by a forest fire. There are a whole lot of twists in this story, a couple I guessed but some came completely out of left field. This will definitely keep you turning the pages to find out how it will end. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Windfall is a captivating, page-turning suspense novel that leaves you guessing until the end! You have a winning lottery jackpot to be divided among three former college roommates all eager to use their share of the winnings to make a fresh start. Add in an inquisitive podcaster who features "Disappearing Acts" and a beautiful mansion on the California coast once onwed by a famous actress who mysteriously disappeared years ago, and your are in for a real treat. As raging fires close in on the mansion and the ticket-holding lottery winner is no where to be found, everyone is suspected of wrongdoing. The pieces of the puzzle slowly come together as the intensity of the search increases. Windall is a clever and highly satisfying read.

Leila, J.J., and Molly were friends in college. Recently they met in Las Vegas for a girl's trip. At the end of the trip they all pool money together and buy a lottery ticket that ends up being a billion dollar winning ticket. Shea Daniels is a sudden wealth manager. She invites them to her secluded mansion in California called Windfall. California wildfires are raging and secrets are revealed. The pacing of this novel is fast. The plot is very unique. The setting was described perfectly. This was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

This is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. Lots of complicated and untrustworthy characters making complicated decisions. This will be a great summer read.

Wendy Corsi Staub’s stand-alone books are phenomenal. I live the nonsense & frills way she writes - it’s the story and nothing buy the story. This book is so suspenseful and a great beach read - I read it in one day!! Thanks for the advanced copy.

I couldn’t put it down. The plot was so unique that it was difficult to see what was coming next. The characters were developed along the way, but the story was interesting enough to keep turning the pages even without the character development, the development only made me want to turn the pages faster. I had to fight the urge to look ahead. The twists I never saw coming. The use of someone’s pain to cause illusions and delusions was genius, and unpredictable. Definitely one of Corsi Staubs best books ever! I don’t know how she can top this one, but if anyone can, she can! Can’t wait for the next one!

I found this story to be well-written, twisty, and set in an appropriately dangerous and murky setting. The ending was a surprise, but once I finished it, I felt the story mostly made sense. I found some of the characters to be well-formed and deep, but others needed more teasing out. I have to say, I think the mental illness issues that one of the characters had felt rather glossed over and it honestly seemed like that person was just absolutely villainized, without explanation, for why they were experiencing what was happening. Yes a trauma occurred, but how you get from that to a person having a seeming mental break serious enough to cause injury/death of others just seemed rather abrupt and not explored deeply enough.

Windfall is the story of three college friends who win a billion dollar lottery.

A woman who helps newly wealthy folks helps them and invites them to a majestic hotel for pampering. In typical locked room mystery fashion the woman with the winning lottery ticket disappears.
Did I mention the hotel is known as haunted with a previous disappearance of a movie star?

Did the friend abscond with the ticket or did something more sinister cause the disappearance?

A fast paced thriller perfect for summer reading