🤍Book review 🤍

Just Our Luck
by Denise Williams

Very grateful to the publisher @berkleyromance and @acebooks for my #gifted copy through @netgalley , opinions are my own


Just Our Luck was such a fun, heartwarming read! I loved the mix of fake dating, grumpy/sunshine vibes, and a little lottery magic. Sybil and Kieran were both relatable in their own ways—figuring out life, facing family pressure, and trying to protect their hearts. Their chemistry was sweet and steamy, and I really enjoyed the dual POV. The side characters added charm, and the bakery setting made me crave donuts! While the spark slowed down in the middle, the ending made up for it. A light, feel-good romance with depth and heart.

Just Our Luck was a highly anticipated read for me, and it satisfied my craving for a quick escape into a fictional world. It was a good balance of flirty, fun, quirky, and romance, and a splash of realism – which Denise Williams does well. The characters were Sybil and Keiran; two polar opposites who found themselves in an interesting pickle. Keiran was helping run his family-owned donut shop, with hopes of resuming his residency, and Sybil was the “life of the party” – and lived her life on luck and a prayer.
What should have been a quick one-night rendezvous, turned into a full-blown media frenzy when Sybil left her winning lottery ticket in the donut shop, leaving Keiran turning to social media to find her. The two must navigate a fake relationship, becoming internet sensations, and adjusting to becoming millionaires.
You’ll have to read more about their journey to see if it was just luck or true love for these two. I thoroughly enjoyed this one..

I enjoyed reading this book, but overall it wasn't something that I was really attached to. I liked the characters but found myself bored at times. I have liked other books by this author and will continue to read her books.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC copy! This review contains my personal thoughts and opinions.

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams is a charming romance with plenty of heart and humor. The story had me smiling and laughing at times, and I really enjoyed the overall journey of the characters. While I found Sybil to be a bit immature at times and her mother very annoying, the romance itself was sweet and satisfying. If you're looking for a fun, feel-good read with some great banter, this one is worth picking up!

This was my first book by Denise Williams, and I can’t wait to read more from her! This was such a creative, fun, and sweet story. Sybil and Kiran were so likable and easy to relate to. They were both trying to figure out their lives, and deal with the positions they were in. I loved the premise of the lottery ticket, the fake dating, grumpy/sunshine vibes, the character growth, and the side characters!

Read/listen if you like ⇣
•Insta-lust
•Fake dating
•Grumpy x sunshine
•ADHD rep
•Dual POV
•Spice

Thank you to Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for the ARC and ALC!

Who hasn't had a daydream about winning the lottery? I sure have! Now imagine, you win BIG, and it also leads to you finding your soulmate? Can't beat it.

That's the premise of Just Our Luck, the newest novel by Denise Williams. I've loved her other books and this is no exception. It's fun and it's steamy and the audiobook narration is also excellent. I shared immediately with my audience and I suspect a reread is in my future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kieran is a serious, thoughtful med student who has temporarily left med school to run his family's donut shop while his grandfather recovers from a stroke. Sybil, meanwhile, is described by her family as flighty because she hasn't quite figured out what she wants to do with her life. Kieran and Sybil have a meet-cute of course, and along the way, Sybil wins a lottery ticket, and they decide to fake a relationship and split the winnings.

I wanted to like this book, but it was pretty meh. The beginning was promising and fun, but the middle part definitely dragged, and we kept hitting the same character beats over and over again. By the end, I was waiting for it to finish, which is never a good feeling. I did appreciate Sybil learning she had ADHD, but that felt like an afterthought tacked on at the end; I wish the book had engaged more fully with her neurodiversity and her journey to discovering it. Unfortunately, overall this book was kind of forgettable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute yet substantive story. I enjoyed both Sybil and Kieran's characters and their respective journeys of self-discovery. One major question both characters grapple with throughout the novel is, "What do I want to do with my life? Should I choose this path or that one?" This is especially prevalent for Sybil who is constantly changing her mind about jobs, showing up late, or acting impulsively. Some readers may find this part of her character frustrating, but by the end, it makes sense why she is the way she is. I would have liked that part of the story to be explored a little more or maybe placed a little earlier in the novel, but otherwise, it was an enjoyable read.

This book has some great high points the plot and main idea was so cute!
I loved the growth that happened.
Sybil and Kieran had great chemistry and strong initial connection.
Where I got lost was how they got to almost feel like they hated each other while fake dating.
Also was not a huge fan of Sybil’s character arc she grows so much to have it thrown out so fast for a third act break up. Not my fav comfy cozy romance but not a bad time either

This was a fun read about a man who runs a donut shop and a girl who gives away her winning the lottery ticket. I really loved the setting of the donut shop and the back story of both characters. Solid read!

DNF @ 45%

Just Our Luck had a really promising start! They have an instant attraction and one night stand, but then are reconnected and decide to fake date. Loved the meet cute, HATED how Kiran acted when they reconnected. He felt really judgy and like he only liked how Sybil looked? And while I think that is like, revolutionary in a way, to have a plus sized FMC be lusted over before she’s loved, I have a really hard time with romances where the MMC isn’t down bad.

From what I hear, Sybil also starts to get evaluated for ADHD, which makes sense based on how she is written. I think it can be hard to read about people who share a condition with you, but experience it differently. I found her ADHD believable, but felt like she didn't feel bad when she inconvenienced others. And while it's ok to have a disability, it's not really ok to weaponize your disability to inconvenience others without remorse.

Thank you so much for the ARC—I really enjoyed this book! One of the things I loved most was the representation of plus-size women, especially since the story didn’t revolve around her size being an issue. It was just a part of who she was, not a problem to be solved, which was so refreshing to see. The late ADHD diagnosis was also incredibly relatable and handled in a way that felt real. This book delivered as a true romcom—funny , but still packed with heart. Sybil’s friend group was another highlight, and I loved how effortlessly she fit in with them.

Overall, this was a fun, engaging read with great representation and characters you can’t help but root for. I’d definitely recommend it.

𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
3⭐️

Guys I really really really wanted to fall in love with this book. I love a good love story with a food theme. BUT the Virgo in me couldn’t love the Main female lead, Sybil. I noooooo this is a work of fiction but geezzz she was the definition of I don’t think before I act. Repercussions be damned!! Yea she is a free spirit, kind hearted and beautiful. That trait was what helped me to make it through the book. Along with the secondary characters. I loved the grandfather, her group of best friends and the Kirans spunky smart little sister. Sybil wins the lottery. Her life before was sleeping on her friends couch to can’t even hold a job at burger king longer than a few days. Fast forward she walks in the doughnut shop and Meets the Kiran. Let me pause, the author wrote the heck out the witty banter and sexual tension between these two. Kiran was the boy you want to bring home to mom. Responsible, smart, good looking etc. So when he goes on this roller coaster with Sybil the mom in me cringed. I was routing for him the whole book to find his way back to his career and live out his dream. I’m sorry I know this review is all over the place but the chick wasn’t it for me. Anyone who is in the medical field the heartbreak cringe moment at the end, be prepared. Also her diagnosis in the end to explain her behavior patterns in life, 🙈. From this point on I checked out on the remainder of the plot 🤦‍♀️.

❓Has anyone read this yet please weigh iN?

❤️thank you @prhaudio @netgalley @berkleypub for my ARC and ALC.

𝓠𝓾𝓞𝓽𝓮𝓼:
“I found a penny!” I bent to wedge the coin from where I’d seen it peeking between the
grass and the sidewalk under the last few layers of melting snow. My fingertips were
chilled, but one didn’t just leave a penny on the ground-at least, I never did. “Got it!” I
held it out like a gold medal toward my mother before shoving it in my pocket.

I love Denise's books so so much and this was such a fun one. On the surface, it's lighter than the normal stories she tells, but as is usual with Denise, she perfectly balances the sweet and fun with the serious. I loved watching these two find their way to each other, but also find their way to their true selves. A perfect read!

Fate, fortune, and frosted treats collide in Denise Williams’ latest romantic comedy, “Just Our Luck,” a deliciously engaging read that had me hooked from the first chapter to the last. As someone who devoured this novel during a two-hour plane ride, I can confidently say Williams knows how to craft a page-turner that makes time fly faster than turbulence. Her signature blend of heartfelt moments, sizzling chemistry, and authentic character growth is on full display here, though not without a few bumps along the narrative road.

The Setup: A Lottery Ticket Left Behind
Our story centers on Sybil Sweet, a woman whose name might suggest good fortune but whose life experiences say otherwise. Perpetually labeled the family disappointment (especially when compared to her perfectly put-together dentist sister), Sybil can’t seem to hold down a job or an apartment despite having genuinely good ideas. Her mind races with brilliant concepts and creative solutions, but her execution often falls victim to distraction, impulsivity, and poor timing — classic signs of something Sybil doesn’t yet have a name for.

After yet another employment termination and a particularly humiliating dating disaster (being stood up and receiving an unsolicited picture instead — yikes!), Sybil finds herself at Joe’s Doughnuts with her friends, drowning her sorrows in sugar and carbs. The scene at the doughnut shop beautifully illustrates Sybil’s character: spontaneous, charming, and eternally optimistic despite life’s constant curveballs. Williams excels at creating protagonists who feel refreshingly human in their struggles, and Sybil is no exception.

Enter Kieran Anderson: a med school student who’s pressed pause on his dreams to help his ailing grandfather Joe run the family doughnut shop. Kieran represents everything Sybil isn’t — organized, responsible, and perpetually putting others before himself, often to his own detriment. What begins as casual doughnut-related banter quickly escalates into a steamy encounter against an office door (Williams certainly knows how to write chemistry that practically caramelizes on the page!). But when morning comes, Sybil slips away, accidentally leaving behind a lottery ticket purchased on a whim.

That ticket? Worth a cool $35 million. Talk about a plot twist that’s sweeter than any glazed confection!

When Fake Dating Gets Real
Despite the doughnut shop having been recently robbed and his family desperately needing the money, Kieran — ever the honorable hero — tracks Sybil down on social media to return her winning ticket. This noble act sets our narrative in motion and establishes one of the book’s central themes: the true meaning of generosity and what we owe to one another.

In a delightful reversal of the typical romance dynamic, it’s wealthy Sybil who proposes the arrangement: a fake relationship with stable, responsible Kieran to impress her critical family, complete with a six-figure payment for his troubles. The financial element adds fascinating layers to their power dynamic — suddenly Sybil, perpetually viewed as incapable by those around her, holds tremendous economic power, while Kieran, accustomed to being the provider, must grapple with accepting help.

Kieran’s resistance stems from what Williams skillfully reveals as a deeper psychological wound: childhood abandonment by his mother has left him with an almost pathological need to care for others while rejecting help himself. His relationship with his grandfather Joe and sister Lila provides some of the novel’s most touching moments. The doughnut shop itself becomes a character in these scenes — a warm, flour-dusted haven of community and connection that stands in contrast to the disapproval of Sybil’s family gatherings.

What follows is a masterclass in the fake-dating-to-real-feelings pipeline. Williams excels at creating authentic emotional connections between characters whose chemistry leaps off the page. Every shared glance, every accidental touch, every late-night conversation builds believably toward the inevitable realization that neither is acting anymore. The author particularly shines in writing scenes that blend vulnerability with desire — moments where emotional barriers fall simultaneously with clothing. These scenes never feel gratuitous but rather serve as natural expressions of character development.

The Conflict: Well-Intentioned Disasters
Where the novel gets particularly interesting — though somewhat frustrating — is in its climactic conflict. In a well-intentioned but catastrophically misguided attempt to help Kieran pursue his dreams while still caring for his grandfather, Sybil bribes his medical school to allow him to defer enrollment for another year. The result? His immediate expulsion and blacklisting from medical programs nationwide.

This moment gave me serious pause. While I understand the plot necessity of a third-act breakup, Sybil’s action borders on too impulsive to be believable, even for her character. The portrayal veers dangerously close to conflating her (at this point undiagnosed) neurodivergent traits with a lack of basic judgment. Anyone with a functioning understanding of professional ethics would know that bribing an academic institution isn’t just inappropriate — it’s potentially illegal.

What saves this plot point from complete implausibility is Williams’ careful groundwork throughout the novel: Sybil’s history of grand gestures backfiring, her difficulty with impulse control, and her desperate desire to prove her worth to both Kieran and herself. Still, the execution feels heavy-handed, especially when more nuanced conflicts could have achieved similar narrative tension.

Equally puzzling is the medical school’s failure to verify Kieran’s involvement before ruining his career. The administrative politics feel thinly sketched, as if serving plot convenience rather than logical institutional behavior. While the narrative ultimately positions this as a blessing in disguise — revealing Kieran had been falling out of love with medicine anyway — the resolution feels somewhat convenient rather than earned.

The aftermath of this conflict showcases both Williams’ strengths and weaknesses as a storyteller. On one hand, Kieran’s anger feels authentic — rooted in betrayal rather than the mere fact of losing his spot in medical school. His realization that his dream had evolved while he wasn’t looking provides one of the novel’s most resonant moments of character growth. On the other hand, the reconciliation feels rushed, with insufficient emotional processing before we’re whisked to a happily-ever-after. The weight of such a significant breach of trust deserved more narrative space to breathe and heal.

What Works & What Doesn’t
The Strengths:

The chemistry between Sybil and Kieran sizzles on the page with authentic tension and tenderness
Williams creates layered characters with genuine emotional baggage that informs their actions
The premise offers a fresh twist on the fake-dating trope with the lottery element adding stakes
The financial elements introduce interesting power dynamics rarely explored in romance
Secondary characters (especially Kieran’s sister and grandfather) feel fully realized rather than mere plot devices
The doughnut shop setting provides a warm, sensory-rich backdrop that enhances the story’s themes of comfort and connection
Williams’ prose strikes an excellent balance between witty dialogue and emotional introspection
The Weaknesses:
Sybil’s family’s treatment of her often crosses from frustrated to outright cruel, with insufficient accountability by the story’s end
The portrayal of Sybil’s behaviors (later diagnosed as ADHD in the epilogue) occasionally feels reductive throughout most of the narrative
The third-act conflict resolution feels rushed — I wanted more time to see the couple work through such a major breach of trust
Some plot mechanics (particularly around the medical school expulsion) strain credibility and feel contrived
The pacing lags in the middle sections as the fake relationship develops, with some scenes feeling repetitive
The ADHD diagnosis in the epilogue, while validating, comes too late to meaningfully impact the main narrative
Final Thoughts
Despite my criticisms, “Just Our Luck” remains a highly enjoyable romance that I’d recommend to fans of the genre. Williams has a gift for creating characters you can’t help but root for, even when they’re making decisions that make you want to throw your e-reader across the room (please don’t actually do this on a plane — the flight attendants frown upon it, trust me).

The novel examines interesting questions about luck versus choice, the meaning of success, and the courage it takes to accept help when you’re used to being the helper. While it doesn’t perfectly stick the landing on all its themes, it provides enough sweet moments and genuine emotional depth to satisfy romance readers looking for a story with substance beneath the steam.

What lingers after finishing “Just Our Luck” isn’t just the satisfying happily-ever-after, but the journey of two people learning to redefine success on their own terms rather than through others’ expectations. In that sense, perhaps the most radical act in this romance isn’t finding love but finding self-acceptance — a message that resonates far beyond the final page.

Rating: 4 out of 5 doughnuts 🍩🍩🍩🍩

Perfect for fans of: Emily Henry’s emotional depth, Talia Hibbert’s authentic character voices, Ali Hazelwood’s academic settings, and anyone who enjoys romances featuring big emotional payoffs, realistic family dynamics, and the occasional pastry-related innuendo that’ll make you blush while waiting in line at your local bakery.

4.5⭐️s!
This book was such a fun read! Donuts and a winning lottery ticket? Sign me up!! If only real life was that lucky! I loved being able to read about these characters and the smoothness in which the MMC spoke had me giggling and kicking my feet! It was refreshing to read a book where the FMC is still figuring life out and doesn’t have life all put together and where the MMC learns to release a bit of the control/the plan he has set up for his life. The friend group chat in this book had me laughing so much and I loved it! Only Denise can bring so much life into the side characters in a book that has you begging for books on every single one of them! Can’t wait to read what is next!

If you’re looking for a classic rom com with a fake dating trope this book is for you!

Just Our Luck follows Sybil, a free-spirit who believes in all things luck but has maybe hit a less than lucky patch (bouncing from job to job and now living back home with her mom). But that’s all about to change with the winning lottery ticket and a grumpy donut baker, Kieran, who’s had to push his dreams aside to take care of his aging grandpa. After an unintentional romantic gesture these two find themselves fake dating to help both of them reach their goals!

This book is perfect for readers who love
💕 fake dating
👯 fantastic side characters
🌶️a little to medium spice
📚neurodivergent and plus size characters who actually have confidence and joy

this is my first book by this author i wanted to say i really enjoyed it!! I felt like this was pretty realistic because not everyone has a static and calm life. many people's lives are chaotic and messy.

in the first portion of the book it felt like Sybil wanted to make her parents happy and to show them she is making good choices and not mistakes.

I loved how basically Kiran was instantly infatuated with Sybil and immediately wanted to see her again after they first met.

Sybil vows to replace men with donuts due to having bad experiences with men. I felt bad for her sometimes since I know she wanted someone to be there for her and care for her and actually acting like they cared. also, I really liked how surroundings were described!

It was so cool that Sybil won the lottery. I'm definitely super jealous. I wouldn't know what to do with that much!!

tropes:
fake dating
opposites attract
he falls first

Sybil Sweet has a hard time keeping a job and has yet to find something special in terms of dating. After being stood up, she is over it and has accepted her fate, kind of. She has just enough money for a lottery ticket and decides to splurge on one because why not, and gets herself a treat from the donut shop as well. Little did she know that she’d meet someone like Kiran. Kiran, on the other hand, is struggling to make ends meet as he helps his grandfather run his doughnut shop, after abandoning his dream of becoming a doctor to do so. His grandpa’s medical bills are piling up, and there’s the cost of tuition if he ever wants to go back to school. The shop is just not making enough to support it all or even some. Down her luck, Sybil stumbles into the shop and notices Kiran. The flirting and banter are all there, even a bit of kissing and play that same night! After their encounter is interrupted by Kiran’s sister, Sybil bolts, leaving Kiran with a note that leaves him feeling some odd way about her due to what she admitted and what happens next; but she also wrote it on the back of her winning lottery ticket! Kiran finds a way to get it back to her, and in return, she offers to help him financially if he pretends to be her fake BF until her sister’s wedding.
Stories like this have been done before with the end game being to have a date to a wedding and look some kind of way for my family's ordeal. However, I enjoyed the book, and the premise of it was more interesting and relatable. I like the author’s writing style and the characters, faults and all. However, I enjoyed the book, and the premise of it was more interesting and relatable. I like the author’s writing style and the characters, faults, and all. Sybil was a mess, but she was still hopeful and trying. She was just down on her luck, and Kiran didn't believe in luck; however, Sybil may have made him reconsider.

I will leave the sweet strawberry frosting & sprinkles first🍩 and say that the premise of this book was very cute! Seemingly unlucky, scatter brained,Sybil, finds a ‘lucky’ penny and ends up winning the lottery. Except she’s left the winning ticket with her one night stand, Kiran, at the donut shop. 🤭 Both refusing the take the full amount, they plan to fake date to get the donut shop back in good standing and for Sybil to prove she isn’t an actual hot mess.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to feel the connection with Kiran & Sybil. He seems infatuated at their first meeting and then as the book goes on, he seems to really.. not like her?! I did enjoy Sybil’s lighthearted way of life and it definitely got me through most of this book. However, the 3rd act breakup was really just diabolical and made it hard for me to get back to any connection they could have had.