This was cute. I loved Sybil and her messiness. I truly related to her mishaps and lifestyle, as i also have ADHD and seem to be that sibling. And Kiran was so cute and perfect! It was a bit confusing how they went from an instant attraction and one night stand to becoming timid and shy with one another. But I was able to overlook that bit with time and ended up falling in love with both of them. I especially loved Joe and Tom, not main characters, but they're both hilarious and enjoyable. I loved the growth between Sybil and her mom throughout the story. It was a lovely read, and I felt so seen because of this story. I hope I find my luck like Sybil has!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Berkley to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

Let me start by saying, I really like Denise Williams. The first encounter between Sybil and Kieran was pretty spicy and gave me high hopes for steamy novel. But after that it fell flat. Kieran went from being cool and a little adventurous to a stick in the mud. I felt like Sybil had so much potential to be a fun and quirky neurospicy gal but there was absolutely no character development.

I did love Kieran's sister and grandpa, Joe. Joe was by far the best character in the book.

Don't get me wrong, I will still read Denise Williams. But this was no from me.

Oh my gosh, what a wonderful story. I loved everything about this book. I literally read it in less than 24 hours. The characters, the romance, the writing.. SO GOOD!

3.5 stars!
On a break from medical school to help his ailing grandfather get back on his feet, Kieran Anderson is trying anything new to make some money—including a late night hangover repair kit of a few painkillers, a bottle of water, and a couple of donuts. It’s just what Sybil Sweet needs after a night of drinking with her friends, lamenting the lack of financial or romantic stability in her life. She and Kieran share an instant connection and their flirtation ends in his back office—until his sister shows up to make the donuts and interrupts them. Flustered, Sybil leaves behind her recently purchased lottery ticket… and it’s a winner! Kieran tracks her down and they conspire to use the story to their advantage: get some publicity for the shop, and provide a veneer of purpose and solidity for Sybil. Their fake dating turns into real feelings, of course.

Williams crafts a compelling tale of trying to do the next right thing while maintaining a deceit that will hopefully harm none and pay off. Kieran The main characters are thoughtfully crafted and complex, and supporting characters seem one-dimensional and then blossom. The plot feels both far-fetched and contemporary (I mean, someone has to win the lottery, and you can’t win unless you buy a ticket). The narrative meanders and gets repetitive—tighter editing could have made for leaner prose. I admittedly don't read enough BIPOC romance, and this multicultural frame gave me an authentic slice of life into race, class, and neurospicy issues alongside a well-told and entertaining story.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #JustOurLuck via #NetGalley courtesy of Berkley. This review will post ot HLBB on 3/24/2025

Denise Williams never disappoints. This was so cute and reminded me of that movie with Nick Cage and Bridget Fonda, but with a Black lead. I enjoyed it so much.

Not bad! This is my first from this author, so maybe I just picked the wrong book, but maybe I just wasnt the audience for this particular one! The dmc just didnt have the direction or drive that would have made me connect with her. It felt more like vibes than actual plot. If youre looking for a fluffier read, this would definitely be that read! It didnt miss the mark, I just wasnt the right target!

This is one of those books that I really had to be in the mood for. When I first started reading it, I was not but put it aside and came back to it later. The biggest reason is that the main character, Sybil, is just a mess. Like a chaotic mess and she doesn’t care. It was really aggravating. She didn’t have her life together, and she had no plan to get things back on track. Then when she won the lottery, she made poor choices. I also didn’t really like Kiran. Sure, he had some sweet points, like dropping out of school to help his family, but then he just…let his dreams die. It was also aggravating. He was also such a jerk to Sybil in the beginning, which is not my jam. I appreciated the neurodivergent rep, it was well done, but the characters were so over the top for me that I really didn’t enjoy myself on this read.

Thank you Berkeley romance for the e-arc. All thoughts are my own. I enjoyed this read and felt so bad for Sybil, she was a mess but all in good ways. This was good rom-com and made me want to try the donuts for sure!

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams is an absolute gem of a romance! The story blends humor, heart, and some seriously swoon-worthy moments in a way that feels fresh and engaging.

The characters are so well-drawn and relatable. I loved watching the main characters navigate their personal challenges while finding their way to each other. The themes of self-growth and taking chances really hit home, and the romance is sweet and steamy in all the right ways. The writing is sharp and witty, with plenty of moments that made me laugh out loud and others that had me tearing up. It’s one of those feel-good stories that leaves you smiling long after you’ve finished it.

Highly recommend for fans of heartfelt romantic comedies with a touch of depth!

This is the first time I ever read something by this author and im immediately a big fan! Will definitely read their other books in the future! I’m always a sucker for fake dating and this was no exception!

A VERY generous round up to 4 stars. This book is preposterous - like, the entire setup and families and lottery thing and execution - just entirely preposterous. The scale of money is so disproportionate to the winnings and the idea that there are no financial planners or that they aren't mobbed everywhere they go is just one tip of the iceberg. The end twist means the doctor plot line is never really resolved. But I do really like Sibyl and Kieran and all their friends, and I like the setting in Des Moines.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley.

The way I devoured this book in just a few days...it was delicious from start to finish. I'm not surprised. Denise Williams knows how to create a sweet love story that brings humor, romance, and the heat! I adored Kieran and Sybil with their grumpy-sunshine dynamic against the backdrop of a colorful cast of friends and family. And be forewarned, the mouth-watering donut descriptions will give you cravings.

What's interesting about JUST OUR LUCK is that it manages to be a slow burn with quickie tryst at the beginning. So, while it's obvious that these two are attracted to each other from the beginning, the author cools things off to build the tension back up slowly for most of the book. You will be hanging on every scene waiting for them to realize what we as readers already know.

What I also loved is that it's funny. There were genuine laugh-out-loud moments in this book, especially with the banter. Denise has always had a knack for clever dialogue and JUST OUR LUCK nails it once again.

This book is your happy place. When you need a palette cleanser or just an easy, fun read that will make you smile and swoon, this is the one.

Sweet as the donuts inside, Williams's latest romcom has great neurodivergence rep that gives her signature depth to the story.

If you like cute Interracial romance with instant attraction you should read this book. This book follows the fmc who has adhd and has been told her whole life she doesn’t stick to anything. The mmc is a medical student whose has currently deferred his admission to take care of his recovering grandad. He is running his grandpas donut shop which ks currently struggling. They meet and its this big thing where the fmc loses her winning lottery ticket and the mmc looks for her and someone gets it on video and they both get alot of press. They decide to fake date to help the donut shop and the fmc with her mom.

I liked the fmc yes she was a bit impulsive and all over the place but she was fun. The mmc took a whilr to grow on me cause he was mean and a bit rude to her for like 30 percent of the book. I just did not like the way he treated her even though sometimes his inner monologue say differently. He acted like they forced him to fake date. He did get way better after and i ended up liking both of them. The romance was fun and cute, i liked the backstories to the mc’s. I wanted a little more emotional connection with it but this was fine. Thanks to Berkley for this arc.

Sybil Sweet has been barely scraping by, living at home with her mom, juggling financial struggles, and making one bad decision after another. When she loses her job and gets stood up for what she hoped would be a promising date, Sybil impulsively buys a lottery ticket, clinging to a sense of optimism despite the odds.

Kieran Anderson, meanwhile, is balancing the weight of family responsibility. Taking a break from medical school, he’s working in his grandfather’s struggling donut shop, trying to save the business and pay off mounting debts before returning to his studies.

One late night, Sybil stumbles into Kieran’s donut shop, and the two share a surprisingly magical evening. However, their connection takes an unexpected turn when Sybil, embarrassed by an awkward encounter with Kieran’s sister, leaves abruptly, scribbling a note on the back of what turns out to be a jackpot-winning lottery ticket. True to his character, Kieran embarks on a quest to find Sybil and return the ticket.

The two are soon reunited, drawing the attention of their small town. To help drum up publicity for the donut shop and prove to her family that she’s capable of making mature decisions, Sybil and Kieran agree to pretend they’re dating. While the fake relationship draws them closer, they spend much of the story denying their growing feelings for each other.

Sybil’s struggles with self-doubt and inadequacy play a significant role in the story, though they can feel overwhelming at times. Her lack of confidence is a persistent theme, making it difficult to root for her at certain moments. Therapy, rather than a fake boyfriend, might have been a more effective way for her to address these challenges.

Kieran, on the other hand, is defined by his overachieving nature and sense of duty as a caregiver. While admirable, his career in medicine feels less like a true passion and more like a means of providing stability for his family, which left his character feeling somewhat one-dimensional.

While Denise Williams is known for delivering standout romantic comedies, this one fell short for me. Sybil’s impulsiveness, seemingly intended to be charming, often comes across as immature and frustrating. Even when her potential neurodivergence is revealed, some of her choices remain baffling. Though she does show growth by the end, it feels too little, too late.

Ultimately, while the premise of *Just Our Luck* had promise, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark. Fans of Williams may still find moments to enjoy, but this one may not stand out among her other works.

I really wanted to love this story, and I did for about the 1st half. However, once the 2nd half started and everything started to come together, I was disappointed. I LOVED Sybils energy, but after a while of constantly messing up and beating herself up about it, just got too repetitive. I really wanted her to find and be happy in herself. We did get that towards the end, but it was so brief. Kieran was amazing starting out as well, and he was so good for Sybil, but he was always fighting himself and his feelings, and it came across as being a real jerk sometimes. A lot of the plot was saving his family's donut shop and him going back to medical school. The whole book was focused on this plot. They save the shop, and he has a chance to go back to school, and Sybil royally messed it up. Like it was awful, and everyone's just over it in a couple of pages. I know she makes rash decisions, but that was like.......what are you thinking, Sybil?! Then all is well, and there's no medical school. They sell the donut shop they worked so hard to save, and now Kieran is not a doctor but a medical researcher? The entire plot, the first 300 pages, was just gone. I really loved all the many side characters, and Denise Williams does a wonderful job of giving personalities to all of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Publishing for allowing me to read this book.

A little bit sweet,
a little a lot silly,
a fun distraction
⭐️⭐️⭐️


I write haiku reviews but am happy to provide more feedback.

Donuts, baked goods, fake dating… what more could a girl ask for?

In Just Our Luck we follow Sybil Sweet, who leads a rather unlucky directionless life, yet she’s very positive and optimistic. She crosses paths with Kiran Anderson who gave up his dream as doctor and dropped out of med school to help his grandfather run his bakery after a stroke. Sybil, down on her luck, buys a lottery ticket and after a steamy interaction at the bakery with Kiran, leave it there. Kiran and his family figure out that the lottery ticket was a winning ticket. They search for Sybil via a video on social media that goes viral and the two start fake dating for the viewers. However, their chemistry and attraction to each other blossoms.

I really enjoyed this read. It was light hearted and fun and quick, I think we could’ve delved deeper into the neurodivergence angle. It just seemed like something that was thrown in at the end. But overall this book was a fun good time. The romance was cute, the third act break up was reasonable and resolved in a grand gesture which I loved.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Just Our Luck by Denise Williams

🍩 A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this sweet and steamy fake-dating romance from Denise Williams, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

Sybil and Kieran’s instant connection had me hooked from their very first late-night donut shop encounter. Sybil’s charm and struggle to find her footing in life paired perfectly with Kieran’s quiet strength and dedication to his family bakery. The fake dating trope was executed so well here—it’s always a favorite of mine, but this one felt especially fresh and heartwarming.

I loved how both characters brought out the best in each other, with their chemistry leaping off the page. Denise Williams gave them so much depth and vibrancy that I found myself rooting for their happy ending from start to finish. The story was fun, romantic, and oh-so-satisfying, like the perfect donut.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Denise Williams has once again delivered another fun and charming contemporary romance that is sure to leave readers smiling. 🍩✨

#BookReview #ContemporaryRomance #FakeDatingTrope #RomanceBooks #DeniseWilliams #SweetReads #BookLovers #DonutShopRomance #NetGalley #RomComBooks #Bookstagram #MustRead #JustOurLuck

I did really enjoy this book for a cute little romance! It was nice to see body positivity and neurodivergence representation! I can’t wait for this book to be out to recommend to people!