This book was not what I was expecting. It’s a little heavier than the cover indicates. A family drama about four siblings packing up their family’s beach house after their mother’s death. A few of the siblings chip and buy lottery tickets and win. Between this and the feelings in selling the family house, there is a lot of life changes happening for the group

Told in alternating POVs of the siblings with mixed media thrown in. I was a fan of the “fantastic four’s” text chain.

It’s heartfelt and messy. Just like families are. The characters are complex and relatable. All the siblings are in different places in their lives and you get to see how they aren’t always in tune with each other. Something I think we all forget whether we are dealing with family or others.

Their mother was the one that could diffuse their issues and solve their problems, so it was a little bit of a study in how do the siblings move forward in their lives without her guidance.

While it was a little weightier than I anticipated, it also made me laugh. The banter and rivalry between the siblings added some entertainment and lightness to the otherwise serious issues.

Thérèse Plummer Did an excellent job narrating the siblings and bringing their idiosyncrasies and issues to life. I easily followed along and kept track of who was narrating each chapter.

If you are a fan of the messiness of family drama, this needs to be on your summer reading list.

The highlight of this book is the relationship between the four siblings, Matthew, Laura, Sophie and Noah. After their mother, Sylvia, dies, the four are packing up the house when Noah buys a lottery ticket for three of them. Hitting the Powerball should make life easier, but the downfalls and pitfalls make for both humorous and challenging stories for the siblings and their families. Laura and her husband Doug attempt to put their life back together by throwing money towards an expensive house and extravagant vacations, while Sophie quits her teaching job but loses her inspiration to create. Noah is lonely as he feels everyone just wants some money from him, while Matthew, originally left out, is cut back in and is dealing with work issues, his wife Beth and his so , Austin, I recommend this book for the human foibles that can occur even when it seems life should be easy. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Let me shout about how much I love this author. Last Summer at the Golden Hotel was so stinkin' fun and I still think about it often. I know these characters, the Fantastic Foursome will stay with me a long time, too.

Alternating perspectives amongst the four siblings is *chef's kiss*. I love all of the drama, the spouses, the dysfunction, all of it. What could possibly go wrong when the four win the lottery?

A perfect summer read!

3.5/5 stars - rounded up

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced reading copy!

SYNOPSIS -- Though the four Jacobson children were taught to budget from an early age, they still show up to help their Dad clean out their beach house in total financial disarray. Between a failed marriage, a successful but miserable career, and two with little to no career at all, these four are a total mess. When Noah, the youngest, sees and ad for a Powerball drawing, three of the siblings go in on tickets, while one of them passes. Suddenly, three of the four siblings are millionaires, their Dad is living in a retirement village in Florida, and their other brother is miserable and left-out. While the money is great, it's no substitute for family, and the sooner the Jacobson's realize that, the better.

This was a super fun book, and great to listen to on audio! The multiple POVs from the siblings added a ton of dimension to the story, though I do think this could have been further emphasized by having different narrators for each character, too. The character development was great, though, and all of them had such dynamic and chaotic personalities, it was a blast! Some parts of this book felt a little bit too long, but it wrapped up well and in a satisfying way. The dad felt pretty generic for about 90% of this book and the beginning of the story was fairly chaotic, it took a second to get in to. Overall this was a fun read. Great family dynamics and fun turn of events, there was just something lacking to bring it up to a higher rating.

This book was perfect while I was away this week!! This was so entertaining & full of drama and was such a blast to read with a glass of wine in my hand. 🤩

This story is about a somewhat dysfunctional family (I’ve seen worse 😆) who end up winning the lottery on a whim, but one sibling decides not to join in & their lives & close knit relationships change forever. This is told in the four perspectives of the siblings and each chapter alternates. There are also fun sections between the siblings chatting in a group text. Every sibling has their own unique set of struggles to overcome, and even though this had some heavier themes this is a delightful beach read.

Read this if you:
- enjoy reading about dysfunctional families
- like books with Jewish characters/themes & want to support a Jewish author
- want a fun beach read that’ll have heart
- have siblings who you’re super close to
- buy lotto tickets all the time 🙏🏻
- were ever high at a holiday dinner & watched drama unfold (🙋🏼‍♀️ lmao)

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley for this ARC!

3.5*

This was a unique type of family story and I enjoyed it. Lots of family drama with some light hearted comedy thrown in. Classic Friedland.

The story is about 4 grown siblings whose Mother has recently passed. Their Father informs them that he's going to sell the family vacation home at The Jersey Shore as he's moving to Florida. While at the shore cleaning out the home 3/4 of the siblings buy a Powerball ticket and lo and behold they win! Each of the siblings are going through some personal struggles and will find out exactly what really matters in life.

I mainly enjoyed the story. Some parts were more engaging while some parts dragged for me. A clever plot with some good characters. I especially liked Leo, the Dad. I got a hoot out of him! Good book but, "Last Summer at the Golden Hotel" is still my favourite one by this author.

I received Jackpot Summer as an ARC from net galley. I flew through it in just three days. It a fun family drama about three siblings from a close-knit family who win the lotto and how it effects them. This is the perfect summer beach read, but with add depth. There is strong characters development, so I was invested in the characters and finding out what happen to them. The story takes place in both NYC and NJ. Focusing mostly on the NJ town where the family has a beach house that is full of summer memories from growing up. The book is written through multiple viewpoints, so the reader sees all the main characters perspectives. There is a fourth sibling and while he declined to participate in the lotto, he is still very much a part of the story. The father also plays a strong role throughout the story. I highly recommend this if you are looking for an entertaining summer beach read.

If you’ve ever wondered how winning the lottery might affect your life, read this book! It’s a fun read about a lottery winning family. We find out how money changes each family member and how it affects their close family dynamic. I think we all believe we’d be sensible about spending/saving that money but we don’t always behave like we’d predicted! I really enjoyed reading how each character was changed, and I love that the book is set at the Jersey shore. 4 stars.

From the publisher:
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, as adults, their financial lives—as well as their personal lives—are in complete disarray…
So when Noah sees an ad for a Powerball drawing, he and his sisters go in on a ticket. Matthew passes but the ticket is a winner and all hell breaks loose as the infusion of cash causes sibling rivalries and family secrets to resurface.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

2.5 ⭐️

What to expect in this book:

-Family connection story
-Jersey Shore setting
-Family dysfunction
-Dealing with grief and loss
-Sibling dynamics
-Money problems

Thoughts 💭

Thank you to #NetGalley and @prhaudio for advanced copies of this book in exchange for an honest review. Jackpot Summer follows the lives of the four Jacobson siblings. After the passing of their mother, their father decides to sell their beloved family home on the Jersey Shore. Setting out to box up the home, there is a mega jackpot lottery announced and each with their own money troubles, the siblings decide on a whim to buy a lottery ticket. In a flash, their lives are forever changed.

This story shows the messy and chaotic relationships of adult siblings and the roles that they play in each other’s lives. They each have their own problems and issues and it was interesting to see how their relationships with each other and in their own lives played out. I did not love some of the characters and found myself losing interest about 30% in, so I am grateful to have had the audio to finish this. I read the author’s previous book, The Most Likely Club and found it to be similar in depth of character.

While there was some drama in this one, it lacked the depth of characters that I look for in a contemporary fiction story. There were also a few elements that really rubbed me the wrong way (certain phrases the characters said and choices that they made). I won’t reveal those as to not spoil the overall plot line, but let’s just say I don’t understand why some characters ended relationships and others chose to stay with their partner. Ultimately, this one just wasn’t it for me. If you are looking for a character driven story with funny and chaotic family elements, you might enjoy this one!

Yes, yes, yes, more Women’s Fiction that isn’t tragedy porn or romance, please!

This is such a sweet, fun, light read for summer that still has some substance to it, and I love how consistently Elyssa Friedland gives us both solid plot and lovably charming characters in her novels.

This one was extra special to me because it’s set on Long Beach Island, a vacation spot very dear to me, but the story is also a good one, and the plot and the sense of place both shine in this book.

It’s a fun and relatively low stakes story, but it also explores some interesting stuff about loyalty and family, as well as the ways in which a large amount of found money might change your life, for better and for worse.

A perfect summer read.

The Jacobson family seemed to have it all. Leo and wife Sylvia raised their four children in Westfield, New Jersey with love and lots of support. A beach house on the Jersey Shore (Beach Haven, LBI) provided the perfect summer getaway. But Sylvia fell ill and passed away and Leo decided to move to Boca Raton, Florida. Their now grown-up children needed to help go through the contents of the beach house and prepare it for its sale. Noah, the youngest brother, went out to purchase a lottery ticket and sisters Laura and Sophie happily joined in for their chance at the multi-million-dollar Powerball prize. Oldest brother Matthew, an attorney and the most successful of the siblings, wanted no part of the silliness citing the odds against winning. When it turns out that the three Jacobsons had a winning ticket, their good luck appears to be short-lived. Each family member is impacted by their sudden wealth and the normal issues they've been experiencing in life become magnified. Without the guidance from their wise mother, the family needs to find a way to pull together. Will they realize that their family bond is their most valuable asset?

Author Elyssa Friedland writes enjoyable contemporary novels that are so relatable. Having just lost a spouse, sold my house in New Jersey, and moved to South Florida, Jackpot Summer is a book I fully connected with (although I have never played the lottery). Friedland deals with the messiness of family dynamics in a way that is both heartwarming and funny. A perfect book to head to the beach with.

I absolutely adored this family drama! The large group of characters were so well developed (not an easy feat) that they felt like real people. I was so invested in their stories! This was a heartwarming read but it had some hilarious moments as well. Dad and Stanley were my favorites. And Sophie. And Noah. I just really loved the family dynamics and the group texts were a great touch. I will definitely be recommending this one!

This one took me a while to read and I think it was the pacing - I do wish it were a bit faster moving. I still loved this one but I didn’t have that pull to flip the pages as fast as I could. I only took off half a star for that aspect!

4.5 stars rounded up

There were a few mistakes in this one that didn’t take away from my reading experience but were definitely noticeable. The most obvious one was the scene where Sophie and Noah are together and they are FaceTiming Laura, who is traveling on another continent with her jackpot money. At one point in the conversation Laura reaches over and affectionately tugs on Sophie’s ponytail…. I’m sorry but how? Aren’t they FaceTiming? Oh well haha!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for my advanced copy of Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland via Netgalley.

I know Elyssa Friedland books and was looking forward to this book because of the Jersey Shore setting!

I loved the NJ setting of this book and it made me think of my family trips to LBI. Four adult siblings win a lottery jackpot and it is full of family dynamics and laughs as they come to terms with their changing lives. I liked the family texts and seeing the perspective of each of them and how winning the money changed them. Plus I loved their dad.

If you're looking for a great book about family' dynamics and a little romance you'll enjoy this!

Friedland loves to write about a messy family full of drama, and we love her for it. Jackpot Summer is no exception. I found myself laughing several times as I got to know the Jacobson children and follow their summer antics. Winning the lottery is an interesting set up for a book. What would I do with the winnings? What if I had to split them with my siblings? I can already tell you which of my siblings would forget about the taxes, that’s for sure.

The book opens with several news stories about lottery winners. One of the stories features a lottery winner who found themselves bankrupt within a few years. Is this foreshadowing some hiccups in the aftermath of the lottery winnings? The Jacobson kids were raised to be mindful with money. They know the value of the dollar; it was a lesson that was reinforced from a young age. Surely they won’t fall into the same mistakes other lottery winners have made… Their father Leo is selling his home at the Jersey Shore after their mom passed away, and is moving to a retirement village in Florida. The Jacobson’s have many fond memories at the shore, but this may be their last. As the four Jacobson children gather at the Shore to pack up the house, each has their own problems they are dealing with in their own lives. Matthew and his wife work at a prestigious law office, meaning they have very little time for their son and leave him with a string of au pairs. Laura’s lonely after her daughter leaves for college, and is starkly confronted with the cracks in her marriage. Sophie is a classroom teacher and artist who is seeing her boyfriend’s art career take off while hers is firmly not. Noah has been living at the beach house and working odd jobs for the locals, but is about to find himself without a home.

When the Jacobson kids decide to go in on a Powerball ticket, Matthew declines the offer. The other three go in together and against all odds, they win. More money, more problems, they say, and that is certainly the case with the Jacobson siblings. Chaos and drama ensues, the three siblings need to decide whether they should split the money four ways with Matthew, and family secrets buried deep suddenly begin to surface. The Jacobson’s make questionable choices with the money. Or rather, the choices they make don’t lead to what they hoped.

Laura and her husband buy a mansion and go on luxury vacations, but all of the money in the world can’t seem to fix their marriage. Sophie quits teaching to do art full time, but finds herself stuck in a creative rut. And Noah does… nothing. He gives money away to anyone who asks, and continues to feel aimless in life.

Leo is a fantastic character. He’s watching his children spiral with more money than they know what to do with, and he’s waiting for them to find their way back to the people he raised them to be. I found the story funny and it was full of hijinks and light moments. The plot is well-paced and the book is a quick and breezy read. The siblings each have their own alternating chapters, allowing the reader to get to know them (and their problems).

Anyone with siblings knows there is no relationship quite like those you were raised with. The dynamics among the Jacobson’s were great and made the book fun to read. As was foreshadowed at the beginning, the children don’t know quite what to do with the money, and choose to throw it at their problems without really doing the work to figure out how to solve them. Ultimately, I was wondering if they would eventually see things more clearly and look for happiness (and realize that it doesn’t necessarily come from money). Matthew already had money, and he is motivated by money even before the winnings, causing him to miss out on getting to know his own son and be a parent.

I found this book charming. A quick and fun read perfect for a summer vacation (or even a summer staycation)!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland is a fun story about a family of four Jacobson siblings, who spend the summers in LBI (Long Beach Island) on the Jersey Shore. The story begins when their widowed father tells the family that he has put his home on the market, much to their chagrin. Everyone is spending the July 4th weekend together, not too happy about the sale; but their dad is determined to move to Florida. We meet the four siblings, Matthew, who is a wealthy lawyer; Laura, who thought all was well in her marriage; Sophie, is an artist, as well as a teacher; and Noah, the youngest, makes little money doing tech work. During their time of helping to pack up the place for the sale, we get a see each of the them in their own environment, which gave us a view of their lives.

Noah says he wants to buy a lottery ticket, as it is currently in the millions; Laura and Sophie want to join in, with only Matthew not interested. To their shock, they win part of the lottery (a couple of others share the prize), making them instant billionaires. Laura, Sophie and Noah are all thrilled at their winnings, anticipating that their lives will change for even better. The three of them learn quickly that winning all the money is not always the answer to their own problems, especially with each of them doing extravagant purchases, taking trips, buying a new expensive house, making donations, etc. They also began to feel guilty of leaving Matthew out of the group, even though he and his wife were very wealthy on their own
.
Each of the characters were so enjoyable, entertaining and fun; I loved how close they all were, as they were always committed to each other. Laura and her husband became closer once they won the money, though they bought a huge house, but over time, she missed her friends. Sophie loved doing her art, but she did miss her teaching days. Noah, who truly was lonely, managed to spend too much of his winnings. Matthew and Beth were not worried about money, but in time Matthew will quit his job, looking for something more filling. The Jacobson’s were a close-knit family and knew they needed to resume a normal life with their family.

Jackpot Summer was a fun, sweet engaging story, filled with family, love and laughter. I loved all the mentions of places in LBI (I am a Jersey Girl), which was so much fun to catch. Jackpot Summer was a different kind of story, which was so very well written by Elyssa Friedland. I loved every minute of this book, and suggest you read Jackpot Summer.

When I think of winning the lottery my mind only goes for the positives: pay off debt, no more waiting on a paycheck, nearly anything you want is in your grasp. Jackpot Summer brought me back to down to reality by envisioning the not so perfect lives of lottery winners.

💰 Three out of four Jacobson siblings win the lottery and discover that money may not buy complete happiness. 💰

This was a cozy, multiple point of view look into a tight knit Jewish family in the midst of extraordinary change. I really liked how not all the siblings went into the pool for tickets creating a really interesting family dynamic after the win.

I loved how immediately everything in life felt like it was solved for the siblings who won. From marriage issues, money issues, and even sentimental issues, the money was the ultimate fix.

Over time things deteriorate for each sibling, causing problems even money can’t fix. Eventually the story becomes about the little things that truly matter in life: your family, your friends, your health, etc.

I felt like I could easily identify with each character and that each of their stories was well rounded. I could see myself at different stages of my life in each characters story.

My favorite part was the group chat threads at the end of the chapters. They really lightened the mood and made me smile.

Also, the end was particularly touching and made me tear up a bit. It felt very full circle and earned.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

💰 Money Probs
🏖️ Jersey Shore
🧬 Family Drama
4️⃣ Siblings
💨 Quick Read
🗣️ Multi POV

Spice: 🌶️/5

👉🏼 #bookstackcityreviews

🎁 Thank you @berkleypub for this #gifted copy of #JackpotSummer !

❓ Describe your ideal weekend getaway – what would you do and where would you go?

💭 I would want to spend the weekend alone with my husband somewhere beautiful where we could swim and fish and read of course!

The Jacobson siblings are messy, loud, fierce and so beyond Jewish. Like all of Elyssa's books, we get to see the true full picture with alternating chapters told in third person following each sibling. I loved getting to know the Jacobson clan and the way each sibling really took charge of their lives. This was a fun and funny read with great Jewish rep!

3.5 ⭐️ - 🎧

Thank you PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook and Berkley for the gifted ARC.

I enjoyed this family saga about siblings who win the Powerball and how it changes their lives, both for the better and for the worse. Here's what I enjoyed:
- Family dynamics and drama.
- Money problems that swing in both directions - both not enough and too much.
- Watching them learn from their mistakes. Every character had immature moments that irked me, but they all learned a lot by the end of the book.
- Jewish rep! And what losing the matriarch of the family does to Jewish traditions.

Overall, I think the book could have been a been tighter length-wise and some of the characters annoyed the heck out of me, but if you like family dramas you'll probably enjoy this one well enough.

Another deliciously messy multiple POV Jewish family drama that takes place over the course of a year as four siblings win the lottery and see their lives changing in different ways because of it. Funny and heartwarming and great on audio, this was such an enjoyable read!! I can't wait for more from Elyssa Friedland! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

TW: drug/alcohol addiction

In Jackpot Summer, adult brothers and sisters won the lottery and their lives changed, for the better but mostly for the worse. The family dynamics were superb in this book, similar to The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel and Floating Feldmans. Perfect comedic timing, hilarious banter and heartwarming vibes. I loved this family, I loved how they interacted, I loved seeing their before and after lives, I loved the messiness and honesty of it all. I loved that I laughed and cried. I just loved it.