As someone who absolutely love "Last Summer at the Golden Hotel" I had HUGE expectations of this book but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me.

"Jackpot Summer" nails the summer vibes with its quirky characters and seaside location. What I found to be an issue was how long the book felt in the middle. As always though, Friedland nailed dysfunctional relationships that we often find in stories with family connections.

There’s nothing I love more than a messy family drama and Jackpot Summer delivered. This is a great beach read, highly recommend for the warmer months.

This was the summer read I needed in the middle of a cold spell! I loved the sibling dynamics and the Hamptons locale, as well as the Jewish rep. This book is funny and heartwarming - the perfect escape from the doom and gloom in the world.

Thanks to Berkley for the copy to review.

Four siblings from New Jersey, grieving their mom and packing up the family’s beach house, happen to win the lottery and each get a few million dollars. This book follows each of them, in turn, as they navigate their new normals - and how the money changes their lives, for both good and bad.
This one was just ok for me. I didn’t feel much of an attachment to any of the Jacobson siblings in particular, their deceased mom honestly seemed like she would’ve been the most interesting to read about. Their dad just peaced out to Florida - and I get that they’re adults, but it still seemed super crappy of him.
Overall, I didn’t love it, but it was an easy, summery read.

A little slow and anti-climactic, with plotting that was all over the place. Somehow it was both too slow and too fast. I didn't enjoy it, which is a big bummer because I thought I'd be super into the story (winning the lottery). Needed to be tightened up across the board.

This was an easy read with some humor, but overall, it didn’t quite hold my interest. The characters were predictably frustrating, which took away from my enjoyment at times. My level of engagement with the story ebbed and flowed—I’d get really invested, then lose interest for a while.

It’s a light read with minimal drama or conflict, and no spicy scenes to speak of. Personally, I tend to prefer books with more action and excitement, so this one wasn’t a perfect fit for me. If you’re looking for a story about growth and family relationships with a happily-ever-after, this could be the right pick for you. However, I found Jackpot Summer to be a bit anticlimactic. While I wasn’t expecting anything mind-blowing, I did expect some level of excitement. Some parts kept me entertained, but others felt like they dragged on.

If the synopsis speaks to you, go for it. But if you’re on the fence, this one might not be for you. While I didn’t connect with any of the four siblings and didn’t feel much emotional depth, I did appreciate their growth throughout the story

This book is about the Jacobson siblings who win the lottery. They think the money will change their lives but they are so wrong. This book is funny, heart warming, and emotional at times. I really enjoyed it.

Thanl you Berkley and Netgalley for my copy!

159 days until summer ….

I don’t know about you but the Summer has always been my favorite season. Sun kissed skin, margaritas, and a book in my hand, now that is what dreams are made of .

I absolutely love summer/beach themed books and what better than one that takes place in my home state !

This book was put on my radar by the cool kids over in the bookstagram world . So now, I will get you all excited by doing the same ! I can not wait for all of you to read this one!

If you aren’t a cute crier (like me) than make sure you read this one alone. This one pulled at my heart strings and had me ugly crying on quite a few occasions .

This is a story of family, love, loss, and everything in between . The characters are multi-dimensional, both lovable and at times hatable . I found myself completely consumed by them throughout the entire novel .

Money can do crazy things to people and these kids are no different…

Do you want to know if the Jacobson kids get their happy ending ?

Pick up a copy of Jackpot Summer to find out.

Check out this teaser:

After the Jacobson siblings win a life-changing fortune in the lottery, they assume their messy lives will transform into sleek, storybook perfection–but they couldn’t be more wrong.

The four Jacobson children were raised to respect the value of a dollar. Their mother reused tea bags and refused to pay retail; their father taught them to budget before he taught them to ride a bike. And yet, now that they’re adults, their financial lives are in disarray.

The siblings reunite when their newly widowed father puts their Jersey Shore beach house on the market. Packing up childhood memories isn’t easy, especially when there’s other drama brewing. Matthew is miserable at his corporate law job and wishes he had more time with his son; Laura’s marriage is imploding in spectacular fashion; Sophie’s art career is stalled while her boyfriend’s is on the rise; and Noah’s total failure to launch has him doing tech repair for pennies.

When Noah sees an ad for a Powerball drawing, he and his sisters go in on tickets while their brother Matthew passes. All hell breaks loose when one of the tickets is a winner and three of the four Jacobsons become overnight millionaires. Without their mother’s guidance, and with their father busy playing pickleball in a Florida retirement village, the once close-knit siblings search for comfort in shiny new toys instead of each other.

It’s not long before the Jacobsons start to realize that they’ll never feel rich unless they can pull their family back together.

I enjoyed this family drama in which four siblings with financial trouble return to the family home to help their newly widowed father. I didn't think I could relate to a book set on the Jersey Shore, but I ended up loving it. The siblings where surpassingly easy to relate to.

The Jacobsons are meeting at the summer house for one last Fourth of July before it is sold. Their widower father, while mourning his wife's passing, is looking forward to moving to Florida. The four siblings, are all at low points in their lives; coupled with the loss of their mother and the ending of life-long traditions is more than any of them can process. As they sit one night mourning their losses and making future plans, the siblings (minus one) throw money in the pot for a pizza and a lottery ticket. The lottery ticket was a winner, but instead of making their lives better, it complicated things further.

Elyssa Friedland is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing style is very easy to not only read, but become consumed in - the story. grabs you and keeps you turning pages because everything is so real. On the surface, I think, these books sound like light-hearted beach reads, and while the reader can bust through a title rather quickly, there are deeper themes and slices of "life philosophies" sprinkled through out. Friedland's cast of characters (in all her books, not just this one) are easy to identify and connect with. While there are plenty of light-hearted and humorous moments, I like the fact the books end in the "right" way, not just the happy-ending way. Grab this title for a refreshing read!

I enjoy all of Elyssa Friedland's work! Her characters are so familiar, they feel like people you know! If you enjoy jackpot Summer definitely go back and check out her other books!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland!

2.5 stars

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland tells the story of the four Jacobson children who get together following the death of their mother. They work together to pack up their Jersey Shore home for their father, who's living it up in a Florida retirement community. Each of the siblings are dealing with life issues and being home is bringing up a lot of feelings and memories for all of them. Noah sees an ad for the Powerball and he and his sisters all go in together to buy a ticket. Well, their luck is about to change - their ticket is a winner!

I thought that this one was going to be a fun read, but it was a bit flat and anticlimactic. Much of the book was a little slow for me, although there were a number of funny parts that had me giggling out loud. Overall, it took me too long to get into this book and I often found my thoughts wandering while reading it. If you like a more action packed fast paced book, this one isn't for you. If you're looking for a cozy read about sibling dynamics, you'll enjoy it.

Thank you to the author and publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Even though we are mid winter here in PA… I loved escaping to LBI in the summer and dive into the world of the Jacobsons! 4 siblings each carrying their own issues- things should only get better by winning the powerball right?! Well, it gets more complicated when only 3/4 of the siblings win… and boy do things u ravel quickly! This one has some laugh out loud moments, but also some serious topics as well such as marital issues, addiction, and grief. The bond between these siblings is so special, and I really loved the text message exchanges. I listened to the majority on audio, and I do feel like a full cast would have been a better experience. I would still recommend if you enjoy family dramas (with this one being on the lighter side!)

This was the perfect summer beach read! A true delight from start to finish, with all the family drama, and so long dynamics.

I felt completely immersed into the Jersey shore setting right along with the Jacobson family while reading, and loved the audio narration by Therese Plummer.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-family drama
-a beach house
-laugh out loud moments
-alternating POVs

*many thanks to Berkley and PRH Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

A family that wins a lottery jackpot should be the dream outcome everyone wants, except it brings out all of the problems that a family shares. The author writes tenderly and humorously about family drama.

Winning the lottery jackpot—a dream many cherish, envisioning a life a hundredfold better. This is precisely what the Jacobson family just might be about to experience when their long-shot dream finally comes true.

Four siblings, all raised in poverty, find themselves about to divide their life-changing windfall. As they gather to pack up their deceased father’s belongings, one of the brothers, Noah, responds to an ad for a Powerball drawing. His siblings, Matthew, Laura, and Sophie, are at crossroads in their lives, perhaps even facing dead ends. Matthew, the only sibling who didn’t want to contribute to the ticket purchase, soon finds himself entangled in a web of unexpected consequences that his now millionaire siblings are facing..

As the siblings grapple with the prospect of their newfound wealth, they must confront the challenges that lie ahead. This book serves as a lesson, a poignant exploration of futility. While their regular lives may have been marked by misery, the changes they face bring unexpected results, sometimes amusing, sometimes poignant. Elyssa Friedland’s latest read delves into the measure of their lives, challenging readers to contemplate the true essence of happiness and fulfillment.

Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Jacobson siblings lose their mother to lung cancer and after their father decides to move to another state, lose their family vacation home as well. While packing up their family belongings, a few of the siblings buy a lottery ticket. A few weeks later, they found out that they won over $250 million. The winnings change things for all the siblings and the winners/millionaires struggle to find common ground with the sibling that wasn't a part of it.

The themes of forgiveness, loyalty, and new beginnings resonate with the reader and it’s a fun read as well!

Thank you, NetGalley for this book!!

This is a perfect read for fans of family drama. I honestly expected it to be a lighter read, maybe because of the cover? However, what I found was authentic characters going through a rough time in their lives. They are all reeling from the loss of their matriarch and dealing with their own baggage.

When 3 of the 4 siblings go in on a winning Powerball ticket, they have high hopes for the possibilities the money allows for. However, as research shows, Powerball winners often have other struggles that the money brings around. The exploration of this aspect also adds to the heaviness and reality of the book.

Thank you, @berkleypub, for the opportunity to read and discuss this one for a @letstalkbookspromo #buddyread