2.5 stars! The premise of this book sounded so great, but I unfortunately didn’t love it. I ultimately had a hard time connecting to Sybil and Kieran, and believing their relationship. I felt like we were being told about their relationship, rather than being shown and able to feel the progression. It never really felt like they moved on from the fake dating part. The third-act breakup also felt pretty serious and like it was moved on from too fast to get to the HEA. I think my favorite part of the book was the side characters, especially Kieran’s grandpa. He added a fun element of humor! The donut shop setting was also cool, and I could really picture the story there!

I really liked the other books by Denise Williams that I’ve read, so I’m sad about this, but I’m still excited to see what she comes out with next! This also could be the perfect book for someone else!

Just My Luck by Denise Williams is an interracial romantic comedy that explores the budding romance between Sybil and Kieran. This was such a cute read! Sybil was a complete mess while navigating all situations being diagnosed with ADHD. Sybil was very relatable either you are her or you know someone like her. I could definitely identify with her mishaps and how she seems to be that sibling who just can't quite get it together. And Kiran! What a perfect love interest.
He was sweet and charming, and I was rooting for them the entire time.
What seemed unrealistic was how quickly their relationship shifted. They went from an instant attraction and a one-night stand to becoming shy and timid with each other, which felt a bit confusing. However, they eventually morphed into something special.
Joe and Tom, while not the main characters, were hilarious and a joy to read. They brought a lightness and humor to the story that made it even more enjoyable. I was able to appreciate the character growth of both Sybil and her mom and it added depth to the storyline to see the evolution of their relationship.
4 star read and I would recommend. Thank You to Berkely via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Just Our Luck is a sweet and charming romance following Sybil, who after being fired from her last job, is betting on her luck and a lottery ticket to change her life around; and Kieran, a former medical student who had to put his education on hold to take over his families donut shop and care for his grandad. I enjoyed this fake dating romance and how Sybil adn Kieran came together! They were so cute and sweet for each other, Kieran was reluctant to give more of himself away but I loved that he was so enamored and helpless in falling for Sybil. The family and side characters were so fun and added so much charm and humor to the story. While I do think the fake-dating plot could have played out differently and the ending felt a bit rushed, this simple romance delivered plenty of heartwarming moments.

Read if you like:
🍩Diverse Romances🍩
🍩Fake Dating🍩
🍩He Falls First🍩
🍩Opposites Attract🍩
🍩Slow burn🍩
🍩Plus Size Rep🍩

Thank you to the publisher for the free book!

Rating: 4/5 stars

Sybil has always been lucky—and that is never more true than when she wins the lottery and gets a (fake) boyfriend on the same day.

This book was so cute and fun (and also made me want a donut real bad). Sybil was a great FMC, and I appreciated the neurodivergence and plus size representation so much. Kieran was also super relatable, and I loved the ending of this one and the different turns that the plot took!

I also found this to be a super original premise that unfolded in a unique way even as it hit the major rom-com beats. Highly recommend as a fun sweet (and spicy) contemporary romance read!

CW: mentions of parental abandonment

This was a good book, however I don’t think it ended up being for me exactly.

The book starts off with the main character Sybil being down on her luck and swearing off men. She is only interested in money and donuts and ends up stumbling into a donut shop after a late night out and meets the MMC, Kieran who is the grandson of the donut owner.

From there, there’s a quick lust/attraction between the two characters and then fake dating ensues and so on and so on.

I did like the Black fat woman representation. I don’t think it’s ever mentioned that Sybil is Black per say, which i found to be a little off putting.

I didn’t really connect with the characters that much and felt very detached. I did enjoy the relationship that Sybil had with Tom and Joe! It was so cute and i loved seeing their interactions. You could feel the love and care from both sides and that was really cute.

I also liked the friend group that Sybil had and Kieran’s sister Lila. They were all hilarious and supportive as siblings and friends.

I’m usually all for third act breakups but this one was so awful, I probably would not have gotten back together with someone if they did this, whether knowingly or not.

The ADHD representation felt off as well. I know it shows up differently in people but it came off as being a label to slap on? I don’t really know how to explain it, but Sybil’s character was just not it for me.

I do think other people would really love this book. It just didn’t hit with me, but I will continue to try other books from this author because I have heard nothing but good things!

Thank you to Berkley Pub for the free eARC of this book!

Just Our Luck started out really promising for me, but towards the end, I wasn't sure how to feel about the book. Sybil did something that just didn't sit right with me and I couldn't then believe that Kieran would just be okay with it after some time.

I listened to the audio version, and Emma Ladji and Teddy Hamilton did a great job bringing Sybil and Kieran to life with their narration.

Overall the story was enjoyable. The romance was sweet and I liked our main characters Sybil and Kieran. I appreciated their differences, Sybil’s impulsive, free spirited nature balanced against Kieran’s structured, goal driven personality. I struggled to buy into their romance because it felt rushed especially after their initial encounter. I typically enjoy the fake dating trope but I’m growing tired of it being centered around needing a wedding date, I’d love to see more creative takes on it. While this wasn’t my favorite book by this author, I’m still excited for their next release.

I thought this book was a cute romance book. I have never read from Denise Williams before. I enjoyed the short chapters and Sybil & Kieran's dynamic. I enjoyed the fact that this story wasn't all cutesy - that both characters were dealing with personal issues behind the scenes. I will have to check out Denise Williams other novels.

**Read If You Like:**

- Fake dating tropes
- Interracial romance
- Stories involving lottery wins
- Characters seeking personal direction
- Romantic comedies with depth

Sybil Sweet’s life is in free fall—her career is going nowhere, and her love life is a disaster. On a whim, she buys a lottery ticket and stops for late-night donuts, where she meets Kieran Anderson, a former med student now running his family’s struggling bakery. A spontaneous night together ends with Sybil unknowingly leaving behind her winning ticket. When Kieran tries to return it, his good deed goes viral, giving his bakery unexpected publicity. To keep up appearances—and help both of their reputations—Sybil and Kieran agree to a three-month fake relationship. But as their staged romance unfolds, real feelings surface, forcing them to question what they truly want.

This novel balances humor and emotional depth, following two characters at a crossroads in their lives. Sybil and Kieran’s chemistry is undeniable, and their dynamic shifts from lighthearted banter to heartfelt connection as they navigate their personal struggles. The fake dating trope is used effectively, adding tension and charm while exploring themes of self-worth, ambition, and love.

With witty dialogue, well-drawn characters, and a romance that feels both playful and sincere, this is a story about taking risks—not just in love, but in life.

Thank you for my ARC!

Absolutely adored this!! Two characters you can’t help but root for. A quick “one-night” fling ends up becoming a viral moment and a fake-dating scheme when a winning lottery ticket, medical bills, and a donut shop on the verge of bankruptcy are on the line.

Sybil, the lucky girl fmc, is known as the messy, non-committing daughter in the family while Kiran is the type-A oldest son, taking care of his sick grandfather and his donut shop. An insta-attraction turns into a slow-burn as they plan to fake-date for the world. I really really enjoyed this, the end conflict wasn’t my favourite but I enjoyed every single other part!! the audiobook with teddy hamilton and emma ladji was INCREDIBLE!! as always teddy hamilton knocks it out of the park, and emma was a fantastic narrator!

highly recommend this one!! comes out march 25th! Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC and PRH audio for the free audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

Sybil and Kiernan are pretty polar opposites. Sybil is outgoing, chatty, social, and enthusiastic. Kiernan doesn’t like “people-ing” and can sometimes be a bit rigid. However, the two get together at Kiernan’s bakery one evening, and Sybil leaves a winning lottery ticket behind. Somehow, the winnings of that lottery ticket end up being the crux of the story. It spurs an almost domino effect of events that leads to Sybil and Kiernan turning their one-and-done night to fake dating each other to help out Kiernan’s bakery.

I enjoyed Just Our Luck. Sybil’s character, I believe, was intentionally written to demonstrate how frustrating it can be and what it can look like before a late-in-life neurodivergent and ADHD diagnosis. Some of Sybil’s decisions and actions that others got mad at her often made me sad for her. At other times, I was just as frustrated—though her heart was in the right place. I did love that Kiernan was ultimately able to learn from her. Just Our Luck was a sweet story.

I feel compelled to start by saying every single person who read this and thought, ugh Sybil is a disaster, ugh I wish she would get it together, ugh just be on time MISSED THE ENTIRE DAMN POINT. More on that later.

Anyway, I liked this book so much! This felt like the epitome of why representation matters so much in the books people read. And why I am so immeasurably grateful that Berkeley ensures readers have access to the books that reflect them. It’s a bolstering, invigorating experience to see whole parts of who you are alive on a page. So for me, who is plus sized, neurodivergent, and POC, Sybil was incredible. I loved that the descriptions of what she looked like were presented through Kiran’s eyes in a way that showed he worshiped her body exactly as she was. Also as someone who received their ADHD diagnosis late in life, it was so rewarding to see Sybil come to learn about and accept that part of her. Speaking of Kiran, the man that you ARE! He is absolutely my new book boyfriend and WOW did I love not just who he was but the way he loved Sybil. I really loved the two of them together. I also loved all the side characters, who were so much fun and brought both conflict and light into the story. The only thing I didn’t love was the conflict at the end. Sybil’s actions felt so far outside of the realm of reasonable and forgivable that I really struggled with how that made her seem. It felt at odds with who she was. But overall, this was such a joy to read and I feel so lucky to have been able to read it.

I did not finish this one because right of that bat the writing did not work for me. It felt very elementary and put me off the characters right away. Denise Williams's early books are some of my favorites, but her newer books have just not been working for me.

First and foremost, thank you to Denise Williams, Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of Just Our Luck in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
Sybil Sweet has spent her life bouncing between jobs and relationships, struggling to find her place. One night, she buys a lottery ticket and meets Kiran Anderson, a struggling baker trying to save his family’s shop. When Sybil accidentally leaves behind her winning ticket, Kiran’s attempt to return it goes viral, skyrocketing business. To keep up the momentum—and get Sybil’s family off her back—they agree to fake date for three months. But as their arrangement turns into something real, they’ll have to figure out if luck alone is enough to make it last.

Short and Sweet Opinion:
The premise was fun, but the execution didn’t work for me. Sybil’s character was frustrating, the romance felt forced, and the third-act conflict was so over-the-top it ruined the story. The lack of believable chemistry and an unearned happily-ever-after made this a disappointing read.

In-Depth Opinion:
I wanted to love Just Our Luck, but it missed the mark for me. Sybil was a tough protagonist to connect with—her impulsivity, poor decision-making, and repetitive self-doubt became frustrating fast. The late ADHD diagnosis representation had potential, but instead of adding depth, it felt exaggerated to the point of making her even harder to relate to, despite personally having been in a similar situation. Her habit of constantly messing up and spiraling into guilt became repetitive and exhausting.

The biggest issue, though, was the third-act conflict. While the book foreshadowed it, it was so minor at the time that it felt irrelevant—until it suddenly exploded into an absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary drama. It felt forced, like the book needed a breakup moment but didn’t have a natural reason for one. Adding to the frustration, Sybil’s mother constantly belittled her in ways that were framed as humor but instead came across as cruel.

The romance itself lacked chemistry. The fake dating setup was interesting, but Sybil and Kiran never truly felt like they were falling for each other. The banter didn’t work for me, and their connection felt superficial. On top of that, Sybil crossed some serious boundaries with Kiran that made me uncomfortable, making their eventual happily-ever-after feel completely unearned.

Overall, while the premise had potential, Just Our Luck didn’t deliver for me. Between the frustrating protagonist, the forced romance, and the over-the-top conflict, it ended up being more frustrating than enjoyable.

3.5 stars

Thank you to PRH Audio for the complimentary ALC and to Berkley Pub for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sybil Sweet and Kieran Anderson meet when she accidentally leaves behind a winning lottery ticket at his grandfather's struggling bakery.

Sybil is a hot mess. She is an adult who has no direction in life and makes a lot of mistakes and does not own up to them. She really needed to grow up and mature some, which is evident in her actions when winning the lottery.

The whole winning the lottery part seemed so unrealistic. Where was her financial planner to help her? She just seemed to be throwing out money left and right. Plus. I didn't think they needed to fake date, either. The object was to get more attention to the donut shop, but I thought the attraction between them was there that they could have started out dating for real.

The audiobook was good. I enjoyed both narrators.

Not my favorite by this author, but I will keep reading her books!

3.5-3.75 ish

Just Our Luck is a lighthearted, cheeky, rom-com full of fake dating and donuts!

When Sybil Sweet impulsively buys a lottery ticket, she has no idea her luck is about to change. After being fired from yet another job, she decides to swear off men and put her hope into winning the lottery. But a chance encounter at a donut shop with a gorgeous man leads to her losing said ticket and her chance at winning 350 million dollars.

Kiran, said donut shop man, is on leave from medical school while taking care of his grandfather & his business. The shop is struggling, and after it is broken into and left vandalized, Kiran knows he needs a miracle to keep it afloat. Lucky for Kiran, he finds Sybil’s ticket and his attempt to return the ticket to her goes viral, leading to a boost in sales and reconnecting with the girl who got away.

In an attempt to save the shop and to help Sybil get her family off her back, they decide to feed into their viral fame and fake date. Soon they find that money might not be the key to happiness and their luck was in finding each other.

This book was super cute and a really easy read! Their first meeting starts out super hot and heavy, so there’s definitely some insta-lust happening. After their second meeting, things slow down a bit as they decide to be just friends and to keep it hands off while they fake date, but the tension is still so obvious between them - the book is filled with repressed feelings!

The story is pretty light hearted, with lots of joking and fun within the couple and the side characters. There is also an emotional aspect with these two having different roles within their families and careers that they are trying to figure out. There is a lot of drama between Sybil and her family, with how they treat her and how she behaves. While no one was intentionally mean-spirited, it definitely is a little sucker punch of emotion, but had some really beautiful resolution in the end!

I will admit that some of Sybil’s actions near the end would be on my unforgivable list, and the grand gesture being from him kind of irked me. It just felt like the resolution with that conflict was over way too fast and he kind of let her ‘get away with it’, which I would have liked a more in depth conversation or at least more remorse on her end because it was a big f*ck up. Even with her character being clearly coded as a woman with ADHD, that went beyond an oopsie for me.

Overall, the book is a fast, deliciously sweet and slightly spicy romcom. Kiran and Sibal brought some heart to the story, but I would have liked a little more depth and connection between them. It was good, I just wasn’t as locked in as I wanted to be.

I did listen to a lot of this with PRHAudio copy and I just LOVE Teddy Hamilton. I definitely think the audio helped me enjoy this book as much as I did, and both narrators did a fantastic job with their parts. They gave so much life to the characters, so I’d definitely recommend reading it on audio if you’re an audiophile!

Thank you NetGalley and Denise Williams for an advance copy of this book!

Just Our Luck is a blend of chaotic fun and heartwarming moments, making it an entertaining, steamy read with plenty of heart. Sybil Sweet is a whirlwind! Her fun, unpredictable energy is infectious, even though she struggles with responsibility and often has a hard time keeping a steady job. At first, I found myself really frustrated with Sybil, but as I put myself in her shoes, I realized just how much pressure she was under. She was desperately trying to impress her family and prove to them—and to herself—that she could grow and thrive. That struggle (though messy at times) made me empathize with her in a way I hadn’t expected.

On the flip side, Kieran Anderson is the perfect foil to Sybil’s free-spirited personality. A medical student who deferred to help run his grandfather’s donut shop, Kieran is responsible, driven, and somewhat of a perfectionist. He carries a lot of weight on his shoulders, feeling the obligation to take care of everything and everyone around him.

The chemistry between Sybil and Kieran is undeniable, and their dynamic is both hilarious and heartwarming. What really stood out to me, though, was how they ultimately balanced each other and brought out the best in one another. Sybil surprised me with a depth I hadn’t initially expected. Kieran surprised me with a more carefree side to himself. Their relationship is steamy, spicy, and at times incredibly vulnerable, with moments that will tug at your heartstrings.

If you're a fan of fake dating tropes, spicy chemistry, and characters who grow together, this one will definitely satisfy your cravings!

Thank you to the publisher for sending a gifted copy!

Sybil may be used to being called a mess, but that doesn't mean that her family needs to constantly step in to protect her from herself. When she loses her job and is stood up by her date, she decides to see if her luck has changed by purchasing a lottery ticket. On her way home, she stops to grab a donut and meets Kiran, a former medical student who had to put his dreams on hold to help out his family's donut shop. There is immediate chemistry (girl, you don't even know him! he's a stranger!) but when Sybil rushes away, she leaves Kiran no way of contacting her. Like a modern day Cinderella, though, he has one clue: the lottery ticket she accidentally left behind.

If all of that seems like a LOT of hijinks to occur in one day of a book, you're not wrong. This has a very hectic energy to it where things are constantly happening to characters in a series of crazy coincidences (or is it... luck?). I liked both Sybil and Kiran as characters, and their banter back and forth was silly and sweet. This starts off with a bit of insta-lust (even a very quick hook up!) and then transitions into a fake dating slow burn, which is always a fun structure for a romance book.

I think if you don't like a big dash of silliness and some suspension of disbelief in your romance, you may struggle with this one a bit. I also wish the book had been a little more clear on the ADHD representation, particularly with how it handles Sybil's very real struggles to function in society and her family's response to that. But if you want a romance that feels like a 90s romcom and are willing to just go along for the ride, this could be a lot of fun.

I love the cover of this book so much!
This was a quirky and fun book! It was definitely lust at first sight. A drunken donut fix, hot donut guy, before they knew it they were in fake dating situation.
Sybil is used to being called a mess and is def neurodivergent. But her family is overprotective to the point of insult.
Kieran is helping his grandfather with his donut shop and on hold from medical school.
There were so many mistakes and bad calls and Kahn learning opportunities. But some of us need their SO to triple check certain things cause they can never get it right. And that’s ok.
Their fake dating which started off physical turned real fast. He was a little stiff and stand offish in the middle but he was trying to not get feelings.

Denise William's books always offer a fun time for the reader with lots of cute moments. This particular book required some suspension of belief as there had to be a lot of serendipitous moments for the story to work. Plus, I'd love to believe that a complete stranger would be as kind as our MMC to share their winnings with another complete stranger but sadly, this is too far out of the realm of possibilities in this current world.

All that said, I read this book in less than 24 hours and enjoyed my time with each of the characters. The wit, chemistry, and overall joy between the two main characters was so fun to read and I appreciated some of the spicy bits. Plus, who doesn't love a romance centered around donuts??!

Overall, I liked this book however I don't know that I'd scream from the rooftops about it. The miscommunication was rough at times, the donuts sounded delicious, the side characters were heartwarming and I do love a HEA.