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Clean & readable

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

733 people are currently reading
4607 people want to read

About the author

Jackie Collins

227 books2,690 followers
There have been many imitators, but only Jackie Collins can tell you what really goes on in the fastest lane of all. From Beverly Hills bedrooms to a raunchy prowl along the streets of Hollywood; from glittering rock parties and concerts to stretch limos and the mansions of power brokers-Jackie Collins chronicles the real truth from the inside looking out.

Jackie Collins has been called a "raunchy moralist" by the late director Louis Malle and "Hollywood's own Marcel Proust" by Vanity Fair magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than forty countries, and with some 30 New York Times bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world's top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivalled insider's knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous. "I write about real people in disguise," she says. "If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre."

Jackie Collins died of breast cancer Saturday, September 19, 2015. Jackie Collins, who had kept her illness secret, said recently that she believed in an afterlife, that she had no regrets and that she had emulated Frank Sinatra in that “I did it my way.”

Visit Jackie's website: www.jackiecollins.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JackieJCollins
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/jackiecollins and Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/jackiejcollins

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5 stars
6,433 (44%)
4 stars
4,463 (31%)
3 stars
2,700 (18%)
2 stars
576 (4%)
1 star
195 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews
Profile Image for Diane Wallace.
1,448 reviews168 followers
August 5, 2018
Great series! entertaining,funny,intense and includes the foul-mouth,strong characterization of Lucky who never disappoints in taking charge when necessary..well written (paperback!)
Profile Image for Monica Mathis-Stowe.
Author 5 books64 followers
February 9, 2012
Once you read one Jackie Collins book, you'll want to read them all. I loved Lucky's strength. Jackie makes all her female characters strong and I like that.
Profile Image for Taury.
1,201 reviews198 followers
February 8, 2025
Lucky by Jackie Collins. If I didn’t need this for a bookclub I would have DNF within 30 minutes. From the story to the narrator was a horrendous waste of time
Profile Image for Karyn.
294 reviews
December 23, 2021
Recently I watched a Netflix biography on Jackie Collins and was intrigued by her statement that she doesn’t even pretend to write literary books but that “I’m a good storyteller.” And you know what? She’s right.

For years in the public library her books didn’t have the opportunity to collect dust because they were so popular. Her trashy reputation was undisputed and I always told myself that one day I would have to read one for myself. And finally I have! This fun escapism coincided with me watching another Netflix show titled “Maid,” an underprivileged young woman struggling to get by which contrasted in so many ways to Lucky, the wealthy and overly entitled young woman.

In the tradition of Jacqueline Suzanne, who I read as a teenager, reading Lucky with its flamboyant characters and excessive wealth, it was a splash in the fantasy world of the 1980s that was so popular then.

Absolute trash. But entertaining trash.
Profile Image for Melyssa Dawn Michaels.
97 reviews11 followers
July 31, 2012
This is Book 2 in the Lucky Santangelo series and much like Chances before it, this one does not disappoint. I had the pleasure of reading these books, both Chances and Lucky years ago, and have recently gone back to visit them again.

It is written in such a way that only Jackie Collins can do.Intrigue, romance, sex, liars and players all rolled into a fabulous 600 page adventure. Completed with quite possibly the best Heroine ever created and you get the idea, its a non stop ride.

I have always loved the banter between Lucky and Lennie, in the later books as well as these earlier ones. Their road to marriage was a long one, but most definitely worth every second of reading time put into it.

If there was a rating higher then 5 for this book, it would most definitely get it, much like all of her other novels.

Profile Image for Carrie Kellenberger.
Author 2 books113 followers
December 14, 2014
Gino Santangelo and his beautiful daughter Lucky are back in the second installment of the Lucky Santangelo series. Lucky is ambitious, talented, wild, and notorious for getting what she wants on her own terms.

All of my favorite characters are back in Book Two. Olympia Stanislopolous and her father Dimitri are still as rich and spoiled as ever, Gino has fallen in love again, and Lucky finds Lennie, the man who is destined to be her future partner. You can always count on Jackie Collins for a great family saga that doesn't disappoint. A Jackie Collins novel is always a page turner!

Profile Image for Caroline O'Donoghue.
Author 9 books7,077 followers
September 24, 2020
Reviewing a Jackie Collins is like reviewing a compilation CD of unlicensed Christmas music intended for supermarkets. It's not meant to be reviewed. It's meant to create a mood. And it does that! When I read a Jackie Collins novel, I don't remember a word of dialogue or a line of prose, but my body language changes. I don't walk. i STRUT. I want to BUY THINGS. I want to shout "SCREW YOURSELF!" from a car window. The writing is poor; the story makes no sense; it's far too long. But I had a great time.
Profile Image for S. Noël.
Author 1 book8 followers
October 31, 2015
Okay, So It’s Not Middlemarch.

The recent death of Jackie Collins after her struggle with breast cancer inspired me to read one of her books. In a second hand store I happened upon this book, Lucky, which I bought for a dollar. The copy is worn, with a creased back cover, a torn spine and dog-eared pages. Clearly it has made a few trips to the beach and has probably ridden on a few airplanes. Although I’m sure it has also spent a few hours hidden under more reputable books, many people certainly have enjoyed it, and now, I’m the latest.
Lucky tells the story of several characters in addition to that of its protagonist, Lucky Santangelo, who made appeared in an earlier Collins book, Chances. A successful businesswoman, Lucky owns a hotel in Las Vegas with her father, a man with connections to organized crime. The chief strength of this novel is its characters. Lucky has her flaws. Early in the book, she fires an employee of her casino after he refuses her advances. She later becomes involved with a wealthy tycoon who is the father of an old school chum of hers from many years ago. She uses this relationship to finance the construction of her Atlantic City hotel. Lucky’s relationship with her father is stormy, and at one point it appears as if the two will become permanently estranged. Other characters in the book are also well done, especially the mother of the love interest and the old school friend who becomes an enemy. Once again, the flaws in the character make him or her an interesting person to read about.
In addition to her confident hand with the characters, Collins keeps the action bouncing along, with several illicit affairs, a kidnapping, and a murder. There was a point where the action did become contrived, but all the same it never let up. By contrast, a few weeks ago I tried to read a “serious” novel that has been nominated for several awards. I found none of the action in this book credible or interesting, and I ended up putting it down after reading forty pages. In contrast to the “serious” book, a Jackie Collins novel delivers what it promises. I have much more respect for a writer who can keep the reader turning pages, the whole point of writing a novel.
So if you’re looking for unpretentious entertainment, certainly pick up Lucky. The passing of Jackie Collins is certainly a sad loss to her fans, and whether or not one can call them classics, her books surely had their place.
Profile Image for Ang~Dirty Laundry Review.
144 reviews106 followers
February 20, 2014
Wow! So much love for this book. I first read the Lucky series about 20 years ago when I was a teenager, and I recently did a reread. I really like Ms. Collins' writing style with the short chapters and her ability to write from so many different POVs. Lucky Santangelo is a sexy heroine that you can admire, respect, and read about with glee. Don't mess with Lucky. Ever. Seriously. I can't believe how fresh this novel feels after all this time. I guess with all the simpering heronies that have become popular in the past several years (I'm looking at you Ana Steele and Bella Swan), it's great to read about such a strong female character. Long live Lucky Santangelo!
Profile Image for Anastasiaadamov.
1,057 reviews38 followers
June 25, 2021
This is one of the books I was intimidated by for a few years now. I pulled it out of my TBR Jar Draw more than once and the chonky yellow brick like book always got pushed aside.
I have read the previous book almost two decades ago and this book is almost as old as I am!
Even though, I was shocked to be able to remember most of the details from the first book and at the actual pace this book sucked me in.
The style is crass and decadent and the theme is from a different time all together. The storytelling is gripping with star crossed destinies, crime, money and the lives of the rich in the colorful decades of the past century. This is one of the first authors who expertly juggled multiple main characters and wove a engaging and nail biting story with wonderful highs and terrible lows for many different characters.
The nature of human condition in this book is summed up in the most basic and sometimes cliche stereotypes that serve as a great way to enrich the story. I was reminded at soap operas that ruled the households in my childhood where the whole family would gather around the TV and watch shows together like a multi generational experience it was.
Much like the most elements of the this book, those experiences are a thing of the past and there is a great divide in most media content for specific audiences. It is unthinkable for the teenagers today to enjoy the same things as their parents and grandparents in this way...
I am lamenting for some times that are past and it probably means I am finally getting old...
I loved reading this book!
Profile Image for Andrea.
140 reviews24 followers
December 30, 2010
Smut book, but it was entertaining, Lucky is a woman not to be messed with :)
Profile Image for Gemma.
10 reviews15 followers
February 25, 2011
This book was fun to read. I liked how Lucky doesn't let anyone push her around and how she's her own woman. jackie Collins did a good job on this book.
Profile Image for Lea Kane.
206 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2021
Oh my goodness, what a wild ride. It's a fast-paced juicy soap opera that will keep you turning the pages. Lucky Santangelo is a 28-year-old, beautiful sexy woman. Lenny Golden is an up-and-coming star. Lots of ins and outs with her father Gino, her old friend Olympia, and so much more. I loved it. So trashy but so good!
Profile Image for Heather A.
688 reviews18 followers
August 2, 2014
While I was reading Poor Little Bitch Girl I saw the mini series LUcky Chances and immediately went out and bought al, the Santangelo books I could get my hands on. Lucky is one if my all time favourite female characters. She kicks ass, knows what she wants, she's smart, strong and doesn't take any shit from anyone. She's made of total win. I love reading about how she became a huge roaring success in the saga. I much prefer these older books actually building the hotel empire and learning about GIno and Lenny and how everyone met and came to be. I love the wild ride throughout the 60s/70s/80s. The writing is hot, snaps and crackles and pulls you into the story. The characters are vivid and larger than life and fully engaging. A brilliant series I love reading.
Profile Image for Lori Schiele.
Author 3 books24 followers
July 25, 2014
I have read Jackie Collins novels in the past and decided to try one again. The biggest issue I have with her novels is that she has too many characters and it is hard to keep them straight. By the end of the book, all of the characters manage to come together, but in the meantime, it can be very confusing.
Profile Image for BabyLunLun.
916 reviews132 followers
October 10, 2021
Nevermind that this is over 600 pages long and took me 2 weeks to finish it. I am always hestitant to start a book over 500 pages because I usually read one book at a time and can't stay in a world for too long. Well I guess I am wrong for not picking this up earlier

But when I do pick this up , I definitely have a blast and can easily read it for long period of time because thats how entertaining it is. I barely remember what happened in the first book and I had a blast. Its just so calming and enjoytable to read about scandalaous and rude characters. We definitely get some new characters like Susan, Olympia , Lennie , Jess and Brigitte. A crazy mix of drama , drama , drama which I love, people smoking coke, Paige sleeping with both Gino and Susan. Santino and Eden. I would have love to see Lucky taking the best revenge on Susan but sadly that didn't happened. Susan and Gino got divorced after he find out she is sleeping with Paige

Trashy drama are always my comfort read
Profile Image for Becca Younk.
575 reviews44 followers
July 6, 2021
I mean, there's no way I can actually recommend this book to anyone. It's WILDLY offensive. Like, basically whatever you think might be offensive is in this book. To be fair, the worst parts are regulated to characters we're supposed to think are awful, but still. The funniest offensive part is the stereotypical Italian accent assigned to one character: "He gotta da fever!" "Eh! Why you showa me this?" "Where you putta my husband?" Hilarious, but maybe not to Italian people.

Here's the thing though; Jackie Collins can write a story. It's a constant barrage of Things Happening. People are bumped off, affairs happen (with hilarious and awkward sex scenes), money is spent, drugs are taken, etc etc. So yeah, I will read more Jackie Collins because sometimes I just want trash.
Profile Image for Jane Fogg.
36 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2023
I’d never read a Jackie Collin’s book before! Wow, so ridiculous but so fantastic. It had twists, turns with plot taking us all over the early eighties internet-free world. Glad I dipped my toe into this story of summer escapism. ✈️🍾🥂🛥️
Profile Image for H.J. Moat.
Author 1 book5 followers
February 9, 2019
I never expected to like this book. I only bought it because I was in the King/Queen of used book shops Barter Books and it happened to catch my eye and I thought it would be a fun thing to own. I put it in my book case next to Proust's Swann's Way and found it hilarious. Well, joke was on me because I found Lucky a million more times enjoyable than La Recherche la temps perdu.
I'm not saying it's a beautifully crafted novel. I'm not saying it's well-written (sample quote "She was beautiful in an exotic and dangerous way"). I'm not even saying you'll be left satisfied by the ending.
But my god, what a queen of trash Jackie Collins was. I was gripped by the inter-linking stories, held together by gossamer and with the addictive urgency of the best soap-operas. Collins is far better at writing sex than your D.H Lawrence's and your Tom Wolfe's (they make me gag and I've never made it past a single paragraph of E.L James without wanting to declare celibacy), and also, even by 2018 standards her characters are diverse and totally rad - she includes multiple strong women, a ridiculously awesome lady of colour in her twilight years, a hugely attractive obese socialite, a chic Beverley Hills lesbian and a sexy 40-something bisexual who ultimately is not punished for swinging both ways, among her protagonists. Most modern books and TV shows can't boast such a mix and the amazing JC was doing this back in the early eighties. Yes, the main character of this book, Lucky, is tiresome in that she isn't like other women, she's a cool girl and she has unruly hair and blazing black gypsy eyes (Collins's words not mine) but if you set that aside this is a fascinating take on love and deception and scandal and heartache. It's SO good. There are story beats that are predictable because I read this some 34 years after publication (it's basically the same age as me, but honestly, once I got about a third into the book I didn't want to put it down and I say that as a person who genuinely counts War and Peace in their top 5 of all time. As an added bonus, I liked imagining all the characters and settings in their 80s pomp - maybe I watched too much GLOW but it was a fabulous image. All hail the amazing Jackie Collins, who makes literary trash that's better than 90% of published literature.
Profile Image for Kelly.
1,648 reviews47 followers
March 20, 2016
I may be a decade or two late in reading the Lucky Santangelo series but by golly I feel like it is worth the wait.

I didn't enjoy this second novel as much as the first. I loved Chances because it was such an in depth study of the life of Gino Santangelo from his humble beginnings to his big shot present, it was so developed and detailed and so wonderfully crafted that you were within Gina every step of the way. When he hurt, you hurt. When he was happy, you were happy...

As this novel was entitled Lucky I assumed that this would be the Chances for Lucky. Her life mapped out from her wild beginnings to her big shot present, yet Gino, Costa and a wide variety of characters were as much a part of this book as Lucky. The different narratives and the variety of subplot was just perfectly crafted, and you knew that the stories would combine and that there would be this TENSE, EMOTIONAL, TOTALLY AWESOME ending. It was like my strings were being tightened and tightened and then at the last SNAP . My emotions were everywhere and my eyes couldn't devour the words quickly enough...


The reason this was a four star rather than a five star is simply because I felt that halfway through it just descended into a so-and-so slept with so-and-so and he married her and she married him and no one was happy. There was very little progression beyond relationships being formed and then disintegrating. It all felt a bit boring and repetative. Luckily that didn't last for too long.

Cannot wait to get onto the next installment!
Profile Image for Sylvia "Chivy".
127 reviews
December 15, 2023
This is one of my favorite books from Jackie Collins. In this book you get the back story of Lucky Santangelo.
One of the reasons why I love this book, is because back in 1990 they made a television mini series out of the books "Chances and Lucky"
They cast a huge group of well known actors for this series. My favorite one was a very young and beautiful Nicollette Sheridan who played the role of Lucky Santangelo.
WOW. If I could get this mini series on DVD I totally would, but I can't find one. Do however have it on VHS......LOL
Profile Image for Lanette.
21 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2009
I enjoy reading family sagas and this one doesn't disappoint. Jackie Collins earlier novels are worth reading. This was the very first one that I'd read. I liked Lucky because she was adventurous and terribly head strong. Anything having to do with Gangsters, Thugs, crime- I'm in! This book, I could just fall into, after some deep reading or life's problems. Better than mindless television!
Profile Image for Lorma.
157 reviews3 followers
July 26, 2016
I just love me some Jackie Collins!!! I especially enjoy reading the Santangelo family sagas and later on discussing it with my cousin who was also a big fan. Lucky Santangelo is your typical head strong, gutsy, Italian mob princess you just can't get enough of.
Profile Image for Carmella.
15 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2016
Not without entertainment value, but all characters are unsympathetic sleazes, and speaking about sleazy, there´s she-deserved-it subplot of villainess being imprisoned and repeatedly raped and tortured.
Profile Image for Isabel Luna.
1,220 reviews18 followers
January 21, 2020
Me había gustado mucho la primera parte - Chances - aunq el final de ese libro me dejó por el piso. En esta novela se retoma la historia de los Santangelo pero principalmente de Lucky, q había perdido al amor de su vida por culpa de los mafiosos con quienes solía relacionarse su padre. Ahora aparece un nuevo amor en su horizonte, pero como es una chica complicada resulta q tampoco la va tener muy fácil.
Es un libro comercial para los gustos de la sociedad norteamericana de los 80´s y 90´s. Mucha acción, drogas y sexo y algo de romance con final feliz para q venda bien. No es nada espectacular, pero entretuvo en su momento.
380 reviews
August 20, 2023
I really don't think this style of book is for me. I found there were far too many characters and I really couldn't find anything about them that I really cared too much about. I've tried Jackie Collins but not again!
Profile Image for Eva Mato.
13 reviews1 follower
August 17, 2018
Absolutely entertaining, high paced and with addictive stories.
Profile Image for Lindsay.
675 reviews3 followers
August 21, 2023
My first Jackie Collins and it sure was a page turner. Might not be to everyone’s taste with the sexual content and language but she could sure weave an engaging plot!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 357 reviews

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