Lucky Break is a fun, lighthearted read! I enjoyed the summer lake setting, the quirky neighbors. and the mystery component! However, the writing and dialogue fell a little flat for me, and the romance felt a little forced.

My favorite part though would have to be Potato. 😌

This was my first book by Jaclyn Westlake and boy was I pleased. I fell in love with characters while trying to solve an atypical mystery. This is a book of friendship, of real talk and a side of who dun it. I loved the way she had her characters address hard situations with integrity. I hope this helps teach people how to be honest and true to yourself while still navigating complicated life situations.

ARC review- 07/15/2025 pub date

I actually loved this book. It was a perfect, cozy change from the thrillers I usually read. Also, let's be honest- all of us have, at some point, considered running away to a small town to start over. There is a touch of mystery and romance if that's up your alley too. This is just such a cute book that is definitely worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the advanced copy to review.

great book and I loved the action and the romance . I loved seeing the friends and family. I loved that they were able to figure things out. Overall a great book . loved the neighbors and the cute dog

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this e-ARC!

I loved this story for 1. The cover really caught my attention as I love the lake life. 2. I really have always felt the same about luck.
I enjoyed reading Eliza story and going on her journey, as a female also in a part of my life that I often think about starting again. I love the cozy small town vibes on a lake, and the atmosphere is picturesque described. Very easy quick read and has a little twist in the end. Enjoy!

Lovely. I love how effortlessly the author embraced a diverse range of personalities, backgrounds and events that profoundly affect lives. Erica uncovers a mystery and gets a lot more than she bargained for. What are the neighbours hiding? Lots of secrets to unravel as the story progresses. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I picked up Jaclyn Westlake’s debut novel, Dear Dotty, on a whim and it became a 5-star read for me. The main drawback was that this was a debut novel and I desperately wanted to read more of her books. When I saw that Lucky Break was an unreleased book by Jaclyn Westlake - I knew I had to read it asap. Luckily, NetGalley graciously provided me with an eARC, so thank you tremendously for that, and I was able to dive in to Jaclyn Westlake’s second novel, Lucky Break.

Lucky Break for me was a very easy read. As someone in her late twenties, I loved reading about this main character who is trying to figure her life out when not everything goes to plan. I did not foresee the mystery aspect of this novel and this was a welcome surprise. I know some people might be disappointed by the amount of romance within this book and I did expect more, but at the end I thought it was the perfect ratio. I think any more would have actually taken away from the main characters development. As she has experienced a recent break-up and is trying to make sense of what SHE truly wants out of her life.

I would absolutely read anything by Jaclyn Westlake again and hope she continues on writing these coming-of-age novels. Thank you again to NetGalley for the eARC.

We all need a Lucky Break now and then.
When her relationship comes to a brutal end, Eliza packs up her belongings and moves to small-town Minnesota. While the little house she purchased is the perfect fit, Eliza isn’t so sure about her neighbors in the cul-de-sac, especially when she notices the odd goings on. But, she finds fast friends with the coffee shop owner and the cute guy sent to give her a tour of her new town. And, of course, Potato, the sweet 3-legged dog. By the end, Eliza has found her Lucky Break.
A little bit mystery, a little bit romance, Lucky Break is a sweet, fast read that will make a great summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this e-ARC!

Lucky break by Jaclyn Westlake is a small town story about moving on from your past. The pace of the book is rather slow but I think it's not a bad thing for this exact story. The plot for me was a little bit flat.
The good thing - story has this mystery twist, it really was rather interesting in the end.

It started out slow but I felt like it was slowly building up to the excitement but then it just kind of went flat and I got bored quickly. The main character is kind of a basket case tho to be honest haha she’s completely planned out her entire life. Meet future husband by a certain age, get engaged in a certain time frame, have so many kids, get a dog at a certain time. Like she wants everything to happen a certain way and then it all falls apart and so she decided to be spontaneous and buy a house in a random small town far away and just see what happens and start over with her life. The idea was great but it just didn’t do it for me. I wish there had been more with the romance part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for allowing me to get an early read with this book. I could not set it down! I go weak for a small town romance and this one did it for me. I will definitely be recommending this one to anyone who asks.

I enjoyed this book, but wished the mystery and romance subplots were a little stronger. Neither fully grabbed me and I felt the plot moved a bit slow for my taste

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this nice summer beach read! Fun discoveries about the lake and herself are in store.

"Lucky Break" is a sweet and predictable story about a woman finding herself in a new town. The premise is charming, but the execution feels a bit superficial. The characters are somewhat one-dimensional, and the plot lacks real depth.

Pros: An adopted 3 legged dog named Potato. 🥹
Cons: I was bored af
Rounding up from a 2.5. I always enjoy a small town story with quirky characters but this one just lost me half way through.

This book is about a woman whose fiancé breaks up with her and she moves to a small lake town in Minnesota. It's basically about growing up and moving on. I actually really enjoyed this book and I am glad I got the chance to read it early care of NetGallery.

Lucky break is about MC Eliza who after a nasty breakup decides to move to a small town where she soon finds out secrets are being kept and everything might not be as it seems.

I want to start off by saying this book is very very slow moving, but in my opinion that isn’t a bad thing, at least not for this book. I really enjoyed getting to know the town and the people, the background of all the characters it really helps me connect more to the characters and gave the book a more nostalgic feel to it.

Secondly I went into this book thinking it was a romance , my mistake that being said it does have notes of romance but I soon discovered it was a thriller which also excited me since thriller is one of my favorite genre along side romance.

I loved this book, I loved the characters I loved the story, it did take me a bit longer to read than I would of liked because of how slow going the book was but I full heartedly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for the Arc

The pacing was a little too slow for me, with all the hinting about the big mystery that ended up being a little bit of a letdown after all the build up. Some of the side characters could use more of a well rounded look (Marco, for one).

Lucky Break by Jaclyn Westlake is a charming and heartfelt story about fate, second chances, and personal growth. The protagonist, facing life’s unexpected twists, must navigate new opportunities while confronting the emotional baggage of her past. Westlake’s writing is warm and engaging, drawing readers into the character’s journey with sensitivity and authenticity.

The novel strikes a great balance between light-hearted moments and deeper emotional insights, making it a quick yet satisfying read. The relationships in the book—whether romantic, familial, or platonic—feel real and thoughtfully developed. While the plot doesn’t break new ground, Westlake’s fresh take on familiar themes, along with her engaging characters, make this a story worth reading.

Overall, Lucky Break is an uplifting and relatable tale that will resonate with fans of contemporary fiction, offering a perfect blend of humor, heart, and hope.

Rating: 4/5

I enjoyed this book! Part mystery, part romance, part self-discovery. Well written and i didn't want to put it down. I'd now like to read more titles by this author.