Just My Luck By Adele Parks

‘Just My Luck’ is the current ’Sunday Times’ number 1 bestseller by Adele Parks.

For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends, the Pearsons and the Heathcotes. Over dinner parties, fish & chip suppers and summer barbecues, they’ve discussed the important stuff – the kids, marriages, jobs and houses – and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything more than a tenner. But then, one Saturday night, the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone doesn’t tell the truth. And soon after, six numbers come up which change everything forever. Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth £18 million. And their friends are determined to claim a share of it.

2020 marks Adele Parks being an author for the 20 years and her latest book ‘Just My Luck’ is her twentieth book which I revealed on publication day is being optioned for screen.

The story is seen primarily through the narrative of Lexi, after years of doing the lottery, finally her lucky numbers come through. Up until the winning ticket, Lexi and her husband Jake, took part in a syndicate with their friends Carla, Patrick, Jennifer and Fred until the four of them decided that doing the lottery was common. Now £18,000,000 richer, the friends decide they are owed what they feel is rightfully theirs. So instead of being able to enjoy the excitement of being millionaires, Lexi and her family discover the how much of a disastrous effect coming into money can have on people’s lives.

I read this book in two sittings purely because Adele is one of my favourite authors and plus the story was just so addictive. Seen from the narrative of Lexi, a quiet woman who’s primary concern is her family, she’s refused to be swept away by the madness of winning the lottery unlike her husband Jake, who’s throwing money left, right and centre. She wants to be sensible with the money and put it to good use and charitable needs whilst Jake would prefer to rub it in everyone’s faces. She’s hurt when their friends demand that they are owed money even though they backed out of the syndicate. There’s also narrative from her husband Jake and her teenage children. The multiple narratives give an interesting insight to how money can influence and change people’s lives and not for the best.

Now a Sunday Times number 1 bestselling book, ‘Just My Luck’ is Adele at her finest. With short chapters that really grip the readers attentions from the exciting moment of discovering those lucky numbers, to the twisted reveal at the final page, this book was a riveting rollercoaster of a story. A story filled with suspense and drama that explores the dynamic of relationships and the challenges faced new found wealth is bestowed upon them, ‘Just My Luck’ is compelled and well crafted story that is relatable and triggers the question, would we change if we won the lottery?

You can buy ‘Just My Luck’ from Amazon and will be availble to buy from good bookshops.

Check out my interview with Adele Parks catching up with the excitement of publication day as well as life in lockdown.