This is a really cute story!!! The FMC is such a positive ray of sunlight even when things didn't go her way. I love fake romances and this one did not disappoint. The story had a cute premise, witty banter and sexy main characters. The friends crew rounded out the main characters perfectly and made the story feel more well rounded. There was a level of predictability in the story, I could figure out what would happen most times, and I usually don't like that in a book, but it actually added to the charm of the book. It felt like I was watching a cute Hallmark romcom! I will definitely recommend this book to my friends and family.

This book is very realistic, which people might or not might enjoy. The FMC is messy with everything: jobs, money, love and family (which really happens with real people = ADHD!). The MMC it’s a dedicated man who fall in love at first sight/night stand and then is shy? Which was weird… but slowly each character start developing and finding their values and purpose. I feel like it was long for what it’s supposed to be but it accomplished its purpose of entertain me.

Thanks NetGalley and Berkley for the book!

I wanted to love this one so bad. I love Denise's work, but this just fell flat for me? I wasn't connected to either of them and I just felt like it lacked that signature Denise magic.

Kiran was just so mean to Sybil basically the entire time? And Sybil was just a hot mess? I don't know I just know this did not hit the mark for me and I'm incredibly sad about that.

Thank you Berkley for the ARC.

i thought this was such a fun premise and the writing is fun and descriptive… but I had a really hard time connecting to Sybil because she is a grown adult who literally does not think. And it doesn’t feel like she actually learns from it because things keep working out for her. Given, her family isn’t great in the way they act so disappointed/jump to the worst or just talk about her behind her back all the time. But you’re telling me this grown woman couldn’t keep a job, stole from a small business (even if she paid it back), made MULTIPLE major financial mistakes because she kept throwing her winnings around without paying attention, and because it worked out that’s character development? It’s a good thing they are so into each other and have a lot of money because yikes. Best of luck to them 😂

I will say I did love the side characters. Their friends are so lovely and supportive and multi-dimensional.

Thanks to Berkley and Netgallery for the eARC of Just Our Luck by Denise Williams.

First and foremost, I've really liked some of Denise work before this one. I LOVED The Fastest Way To Fall, and I really enjoyed her novellas. However, this was not for me. I think the story/romance felt all over the place. Sybil (our fmc) was a bit to immature for my liking and the mmc, Keiran, lacked personality. The book lacked chemistry even when their attraction SEEMED instant.

I really wanted to like this but ended up not enjoying it. Still, I will look forward to more books from Denise.

Denise Williams' work can be a bit hit or miss, and unfortunately, this book lands on the "miss" side for me. The plot centers around Sybil, who seems to coast through life, relying on luck rather than any real agency. She unexpectedly finds a lottery ticket, unaware of its worth. From there, she has a brief encounter with Kieran, our grumpy MMC (who's taking care of his grandfather’s donut shop while deferring medical school), and ends up leaving the ticket behind. The premise felt like it was attempting to be a modern Cinderella story, but it fell flat for me.

The development of the relationship between Sybil and Kieran felt contrived, especially given the sequence of events that unfolds. Kieran goes viral in search of the lottery ticket's owner, and in a rather forced move, he and Sybil enter into a fake dating arrangement. The goal is to boost traffic to his donut shop, but the chemistry between them is hard to believe. While the narrative seemed to suggest that they were falling in love along the way, it lacked the depth to make this transformation feel authentic or earned.

Additionally, Sybil’s behavior towards Kieran crossed significant boundaries, which made me uncomfortable. Her actions felt extreme and out of place within the context of their relationship. And yet, despite all these issues, the story ends with them living "happily ever after." This resolution felt unearned, considering the lack of genuine connection and the problematic moments that arose throughout their relationship.

Overall, I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot, making this book feel more like a missed opportunity than a romantic success.

Just Our Luck was such a sweet book! It was so fun to see a book try and answer the age-old question: “what would you do if you won the lottery?” Seeing Sybil figure out her dreams was incredibly heartwarming. Her and Kiran’s relationship was heartfelt, fun, and deep, which I loved. The banter and found family (and biological family) made this book extra sweet. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun, funny romance!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

This one started out at like a 3.5/4 star book for me, but then as it went on, I just got bored. I didn't feel much of the chemistry between both characters, except for the first chapter where they have a moment in the office (loved that scene btw). **SPOILER** And honestly, Sybil blowing 3 million dollars on a bribe to the medical school Kieran was so unhinged it felt totally out of the realm of possibility. Like as someone who is also impulsive and is very likely neurodivergent in some way, it made my feel like Sybil was being written as an idiot? I think it would make more sense for her character to just write a check as like a scholarship or something and then Kieran being frustrated at that? And then everyone else being pretty much totally cool with Sybil bribing a university and making Kieran feel like his feelings about it were unfounded??? Just absolutely bizarre.

I am so sad because I wanted to line this, the concept seemed new and the cover was so cute! unfortunately I am a mood reader and at the time this was approved for me, I no longer cared to read it but I read what I could in order to give an honest review. 3-5 stars the fmc kinda ruined it for me, she was… to put it plainly a bum. I always like leads that I can gravitate to or better yet, relate to and she just wasn’t it for me. it’s not a bad book, just not the one for me. thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc.

Denise Williams writes raw and honest characters that are likable because of their authenticity.

Sybil has been the outcast of the family and after losing her latest job, she takes a shot at luck and purchases a lottery ticket. Kirian has big plans to attend med school but has to put his life on hold and help run his father's bakery after health concerns. On one random night, Sybil enters the Kirian's bakery and not only the ovens heat up...

With no way to contact her and in possession of her winning lottery ticket, Kirian makes a statement - that looks like a grand romantic gesture. The two begin navigating a fake dating relationship, but sometimes things don't feel fake.

I love that Denise Williams allows characters to be flawed to be loved for them. I highly recommend this contemporary romance with fake dating, a plus size FMC, and a little bit of spice.

Thank you Berkley for my copy. I absolutely love Denise Williams' books but this one missed the mark for me. I found it difficult to believe a meaningful, romantic connection between the main characters and the portrayal of the FMC's undiagnosed ADHD was so exaggerated it felt like a stereotype instead of representation. Instead of connecting with, relating to or giving me more perspective of the FMC- it truly just made me dislike her. She didn't have any insight into her feelings, actions or how she treated others which didn't feel congruent with the inner monologue of her we received. I also had a major issue with the ending of the book and don't see how that could be forgivable.

This one missed the mark for me, however I will continue to read and support this author! I did enjoy the side characters in this one and am looking forward to hearing their love stories.

Let me start this off with Denise Williams has written some of my favorite books. I love her characters and their stories and how she writes and everything in between. And from this point forward, this book is proscribed by me in her lineup. Friends, random people on the internet, I full stop disliked this book (even some chapters I will admit I hated).

What's great:
the side characters. Joe and Tom and Lila and Marcus and Emi and Deacan and Grace and everyone else: loved. They were full of life and interesting. (I shall exclude Kieran, Sybil, and Sybil's mother).

What's Meh:
Kieran and Sybil separately as characters are built more like side characters in book one of a five book series. They have some development needed off screen because this wasn't it. At all. Kieran I could almost see as a MMC if he wasn't equally reserved as shallow. Seriously the first half of the book his main interactions with the FMC are are fantasizing about her butt or boobs. Thank you, basic white man, for nothing. Sybil, let's all be real here, has ADHD like real bad. As someone with ADHD (mind you I'm also not diagnosed, but like it's all but in official writing), how in the year of our lord, 2025, does this woman not have a clue? She's on social media all the time? I needed her to have some drive and she had NONE. Nothing of her own. Everything she did was because of someone else. Also, no clue how old anyone is. I'm guessing Kieran is 24 maybe 25 based on him having completed a year of med school, but not a single clue on Sybil.

Also, Sybil's mother felt very charactacture--ish. She's very much a driven, ambitious woman and struggles that her daughter is not. Which, honestly I support her mother. Yeah, she wasn't nice at all, but I could imagine (idk how old either character is-- there's no timescale here? Maybe 23-24? no clue. Some of these characters are full adults with adult careers and others are IN MEDSCHOOL?!?)

Honestly any plot line surrounding winning millions should be more exciting than this. I guess I also wanted more of Sybil figuring that out and she never did. She really didn't develop much of as a character? Stood up for herself more, but not in anyway I was super cheering for. I just wanted to go in the book and have a real talk with her about what she was doing.

The first 15% was great, the next ~40% was painful to get through (nothing really happens emotionally and even plot wise was weak), the next ~30% was moderately enjoyable it was like we finally found interesting characters and a mid-level plot, the last 15% made me take this book from a solid 3.75/5 straight down to a 1.5/5.

Still with me here? Great. I'm sorry Denise, I love your work, but here's my unfiltered opinions on this book:

I loathed the end. If I could erase the last two chapters of the book, it would have been wonderful. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR SYBIL TO DO WHAT SHE DID AND HONESTLY KIERAN UNDER REACTED TO THE SITUATION. Dude, I was LIVID reading this section. I did a load of laundry, took out cat litter, and rotated the dishwasher because every sentence made my blood pressure increase. I will not give spoilers, only Kieran was never in the wrong and he should have NEVER taken Sybil back. The whole setup of the HEA was utterly and completely ruined for me. Of all the things to have been a last minute twist in this book this was the last possible one I could have expected and made me absolutely hate this book. Yes, I said it, hate this book. And their relationship throughout the book was mediocre at best. There were some good moments, but overall incredibly lukewarm.

I hate writing this review, I really, really do. I have very much enjoyed all of Denise's other books, but I honestly wish I could go back in time and stop myself from reading it because I could have spent my time in more useful endeavors (DMV, jury duty, doctor's waiting room--you know exciting places we all want to be).

I knew that this was already going to be a hit for me as I am a plus size woman. And boy was I RIGHT! I typically don't love a fake dating book. IT can often leave me feeling slimy or like the FMC is a second choice or being used but this was a PERFECT and LIGHTHEARTED way to incorporate that trope! I enjoyed the dual point of views and the ADHD representation in this book and who doesn't love the incorporation of some scheming elderly side characters? My only issue with this book was that our main girl was a bit irresponsible and messy, but it also made her a bit more real and relatable if you're into that thing.

This is a steamy rom com layered with family drama, loyal and fierce friendships, and deals with issues such as adult ADHD, caring for an elder family member, and more.

I laughed often while reading and cheered for Sybil to figure out her future. I also connected to her relationship with her mom, though my hopes for mom's character growth never materialized in a way that felt authentic.

I enjoyed the dual point of view as I got to see both sides of the relationship and the struggles each character had with a fake relationship. The ending was a bit too neat for the messiness throughout, but the epilogue was much appreciated.

ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ || JUST OUR LUCK [thank you to @berkleyromance and @netgalley for my #gifted copy!]

Title: Just Our Luck
Author: Denise Williams
Genre: Romance
Format: Digital
Star Rating: ★★★★☆

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ:
Sybil Sweet is broke, directionless, and on a late-night donut run when she buys a lottery ticket that changes everything. Kiran Anderson is a baker struggling to save his family’s shop, but when Sybil accidentally leaves her winning ticket behind, his attempt to return it goes viral, sparking a fake relationship that could save the bakery and silence her meddling family.

ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
This was such a cute (steamy) novel! Watching Sybil and Kiran go from strangers to being each other’s best friend was a delight (and all of the doughnuts was an added bonus)!

Plus, by now, you must know I’m a sucker for a novel with meddling senior citizen side characters. 😂

If you like FMCs that are very messy but trying to make things better and MMCs that are actually just giant Green Flags, then you need to pick this up!

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Fake Dating
Foodie Romance
Opposites Attract
She’s a Mess, He’s Not
Adorable Senior Citizens

ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ:
GR: 3.47 ⭐️
# of Pages: 400
Pub Date: March 25, 2025

Just Out Luck was an overall fun story!

I immediately fell in love with Kieran even though he had that hard grumpy exterior. I have to say that I was utterly frustrated with Sybil for most of the book. She was such a mess and as someone who has to be 5 minutes early to be one time, it was incredibly infuriating that even after winning the lottery, she still couldn't seem to be on time anywhere.

*slight spoilers below*

I also couldn't handle how irresponsible she was with her winnings and in her 'grand gesture' to help Kieran. I couldn't imagine working so hard for something only to lose it because of something someone else did. I did sympathize for Sybil but I wish we would'e seem more growth from her in this book.

Today, I’m reviewing the latest romance by Denise Williams, Just Our Luck. In this romance we follow Sybil Sweet who is in need of a break after another failed job and relationship. Feeling a bit desperate and in need of some luck, she buys one lottery ticket and a donut.

Enter Kieran Anderson.

Kieran put his dreams on hold to help his aging grandfather run his donut shop. Barely making ends meet, while receiving notices of unpaid medical bills, not to mention the unpaid bills staking up for the shop, he’s in need of some luck too.

Book friends, the premise of this one is fantastic! Two people in need of a break, a one night stand, a winning lottery ticket, Sybil thinks she’s lost the ticket and moves on meanwhile the grumpy but adorable Kieran creates an "I’ve got you’re winning ticket" video, which goes viral, and catches Sybil’s attention, then what happens next??? you get a confection of a romance that readers will gobble up.

If you love grumpy + sunshine, he falls first, neurodiversity representation, and a steamy romance, make sure to grab a copy of Just Our Luck.

3/5 - kieran and sybil are faking dating with a mural understanding that kieran can save his family’s donut shop and sybil can convince her family she is stable enough to not need them hovering. The overall premise, fake dating, he falls first, one night stand, are all tropes I look forward to in a book. kieran and sybil weren’t any different. my main cons for this novel follow sybil’s storyline, I believe she has adhd and as a fellow adhd girly, there were many thought processes she had that I have also had. I also struggle with money, keeping hobbies, jumping from thing to thing. I am not judging Sybil, but I wanted so much more for her. She went from barely being able to keep money in her account to winning millions. I wish she would have gotten a financial planner or just someone to help her on that end. she started buying gifts for her family and I think she did this to “make up” for what she thought she lacked. It made me feel for her.

I did not feel a lot of chemistry between the two main characters. I loved the plus size and poc representation and I think kieran genuinely adored sybil but the chemistry just didn’t feel right to me. overall, I feel very average about the story and characters. I will definitely read another book by this author though! I always give second chances. thank you netgalley and berkley for the arc :)

Thank you for the opportunity to read this eARC.
This one starts off very cute, funny and flirty. But I began to find the MCs somewhat hard to like. The FMC was just a hint too chaotic/messy for me. The MMC just didn't seem that into her. I was not sold on their chemistry after the initial encounter.
Overall, its a quick, cute read.

So I thought this novel was so super cute. This was my first novel by Denise Williams and it for sure won't be my last! I did think the FMC was a bit immature toward the beginning, but she truly ended up growing on me. Same with the MMC. But despite my apprehensions about them at first, I really did end up enjoying this book. Thank you to Denise Williams, NetGalley, & Berkley Romance for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. :)