Thank you, Berkeley romance, for the e-arc!

I’m a huge Denise Williams fan, so you know I immediately requested this and gave up my current read to read it, and it did not disappoint!

We meet new characters Sybil and Kiaren. Sybil is messy, fun-loving, and a risk-taker. Kiaren is on a straight path, serious, and trys to anticipate any risk. After Sybil loses her job and goes out for drinks with her friends, she ends her night at a donut shop, where she meets Kiaren. Kiaren is on the path to becoming a doctor, but because his Grandpa is sick, he’s back home running his donut shop. I don’t want to spoil the rest, but there’s a winning lottery ticket, fake (but is it really fake?) dating, tough family dynamics, great friends, and a whole lot of donuts.

Although my life is nothing like Sybil’s I found her character relatable. The two had great chemistry, banter, and I just found myself smiling while reading this. It’s got the usual Denise charm and made me realize how much I missed her writing!

This wasn't quite what I needed it to be. there are so many romances any more, and this cover promised something so special! But ultimately it just fell flat. The banter was nice, the vibes were there, but the chemistry was lacking.

this was my least favorite denise williams so far 🫣 i could chalk it down to disliking the main characters, but i thought what would make a super unique lottery premise was underutilized and i simply never shipped out mc’s!! will def be reading her next release though!

I don't know. I didnt connect with either character very much. They felt shallow and very mean. I love the cover but overall not my favorite.

A book about a plus sized woc in an interracial relationship who loves donuts? That’s literally me, but I was so extremely disappointed in this book. The lack of character development is damning. She starts off as a bum who doesn’t know how to handle money and ends up as a bum who doesn’t know how to handle money. The best part about the book was the chemistry between the two main characters, but the actually plot was meh and the main characters themselves were annoying.

I thought this was overall so cute. I loved the plus sized POC FMC representation! However Sybil's character felt a little immature, she made choices that I just couldn't get behind. I don't want to list them out as to not spoil, but she just wasn't for me. I do think she could definitely be somebody else's cup of tea though, so I would still say give this a shot! I really liked our MMC; he falls first! That's a trope I adore! And the relationship had heartwarming moments which I liked. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review!

thank you to netgalley and denise williams for an advance copy of this book!

ੈ♡˳ rating: two of five stars

ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
let me start by saying denise williams is one of my favorite authors. as someone who is a plus sized black woman in an interracial relationship with a white man, i love her. however this book did not hit the mark for me.

i began writing this review while still reading the book so obviously i don’t know how it ends. but as of right now, i’m conflicted. the fmc is like, a bum? can’t keep a job, can’t keep a man, can’t keep more than $100 in her bank account? then she randomly wins the lottery and it doesn’t feel like it’s a big part of the story at all. like she becomes a millionaire and is literally like, “yeah that money was transferred in my account this morning.” just like nonchalantly as hell. and then she does win and still has no clue what she’s doing with her life at all. just sleeping on someone’s couch and vibing. like first chapter she literally said i am so bad with money and then won the lottery and didn’t get a financial planner and just started going around buying her entire family thousands of dollars worth of useless jewelry like girl.

the fmc mom is like a bitch. and for good reason she doesn’t believe in her daughter making any good decisions in her life but like calls her out on it all the time. she’s so unloving to her daughter it’s insane.

mmc eats fmc cat on the first date and is insanely attached to her and then the next day he’s super awkward and doesn’t like her and acts like he doesn’t and is like scared to touch her? confused.

^^ written at 50% in the book.

fmc is actually just dumb? i fear she doesn’t think before she does anything. she doesn’t ask for opinions, she just does things that are going to ruin everything. i would have dnf’d this if i wasn’t 85% through with it already. she’s just jarring. it really seems like she can’t do anything right, girl you are grown. time to GROW UP. but at least at the end of the book she can keep a man.

spice level - 3/5

ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ fake dating
ꕥ plus sized fmc
ꕥ he falls first (ish)
ꕥ interracial relationship

ੈ♡˳ fave quotes
“ೃ⁀➷ no quotes because an arc is always subject to change!

◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈

Just Our Luck was fun, rom-com. Sybil’s sense of humor and grit are endearing. I wish there was more background or development of some characters. Some plot points were resolved too easily, but overall it’s a cute and fun love story.

4 stars!

I was originally drawn to this book by the STUNNING COVER! I still cannot get enough of it, then I read the synopsis and fell in love with the unique premise and had to read it - and newsflash, I loved it!

I loved Sybil and Kieran together and as individuals, and their banter was ADORABLE! My only complaint was there felt like a lot of filler dialogue and even filler inner monologues. It made it feel long and arduous at times. But honestly this is an easy recommendation for me. Despite my hang ups I still had a great time

Donut lovers rejoice! ‘Just Our Luck’ is going to make you crave a wide range of donut flavours and honestly, you’ll want every kind after reading this book.

At times Sybil can be extremely immature that my face would scrunch up while reading her dialogue and situations she’s in and places other characters in. Not my favourite leading female character (I’m not a big fan of flighty, devil may care, character types) but I know so many of you will like her. I had hope that she would grow on me in the course of the novel but I’m ok with how I feel. 🤷🏽‍♀️

On the other hand, Kieran is the donut making king. He leaves medical school and helps his grandfather’s donut shop stay afloat. He’s all hustle and heart. He agrees to Sybil’s scheme to pretend to be in a relationship for the media (to help his grandfather’s business) and her family. I just find him to be solid.

Overall, this is a 3 star read for me. Thanks Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the ARC!

Halfway through this book, all I could think about is how relieving it could be to be with someone who accepts you as you are. To be loved by someone who acknowledges your faults and ensures you don’t internalize them. Denise Williams skillfully portrays Syb and Kieran’s journey of understanding, acceptance, and growth, making their love story both relatable and heartwarming (even the winning the lottery part). The dialogue is sharp, filled with humor and genuine emotion, and the character development is rich, which allowed me to really connect with the characters and celebrate when they overcome their challenges. Ultimately, this book is not just a romance; it’s a portrayal of love's ability to bridge differences. A must-read for anyone who appreciates nuanced depictions of relationships in the face of personal challenges.

Just god damn, this was perfection. I loved the new to me take on romance with the lottery winnings- I just thought that was a cool and interesting meet cute moment. The cover is absolutely beautiful and my girl Sybil is the best!