What do you think?
Rate this book
Good Luck and Other Lies
Imagine being one of six high school students who win a 50 million-dollar lotto prize. What would you buy first? The latest phone? A new wardrobe? A fancy car to learn to drive in? Cassie and her friends get to do exactly that – until they find their lives spiralling into a web of secrets, deception, and danger. Past suspicions are renewed, blurring the truth, and they are left struggling to protect one another from the outside world that threatens to take away their new-found freedom.
In this heart-pounding tale of wealth, deceit, and moral reckoning, the millionaires club find themselves entangled in a treacherous game where the price of fortune is higher than they ever imagined. As they attempt to shield their newfound riches, they begin to realise that luck can be far from good, and lies, once buried, have a way of clawing their way back to the surface.
In this heart-pounding tale of wealth, deceit, and moral reckoning, the millionaires club find themselves entangled in a treacherous game where the price of fortune is higher than they ever imagined. As they attempt to shield their newfound riches, they begin to realise that luck can be far from good, and lies, once buried, have a way of clawing their way back to the surface.
296 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 9, 2025
4.5 stars.
It has been a while since I've read a story set in Australia and reading this felt like coming home.
This had such an interesting premise. I don't think there are many people who haven't dreamt of winning the lotto. Good Luck and Other Lies explores how a group of teens would handle it if they did win. There was a diverse range of characters and it was interesting seeing how each of them dealt with suddenly becoming millionaires.
Cassie, our main character, hasn't had much money in her life, and really needs the money. She lives with her dad and his family, but they have to move and there is no room for her. She will have to go live with the mother she hardly knows, that is until she wins and has money to buy a place of her own.
The group decided to keep the win a secret, and as they do, the lies build. With secret and lies comes a lot of stress, and like all lies, they are always found out in the end.
I felt for Cassie. She was lonely, having lost most of her friends after a bullying incident years previous, and at home she feels like she is only wanted to look after her siblings. She wants to belong, and to be loved for who she is, not just for what she does.
Cassie was a likeable character. I thought it was great how she was responsible and that she held to her convictions and didn't compromise. She had learnt from her past mistakes and was now guarded, not willing to repeat them.
Beat boy was the character who surprised me the most. I judged him on his name, but he turned out to have more depth then you would first think. I also loved Cassie's friend George and his care and concern he had for her. He had stuck with her all those years ago when her other friends abandoned her.
Overall, Good Luck and Other Lies was a fast paced, well written novel. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat! It was a thrilling read and I highly recommend it.
Content warnings: (Contains slight spoilers.)
Kisses only.
The B word is said twice.
A past incident of bullying is mentioned involving an inappropriate photo of an underaged girl.
There is a scene at a party and teens drink.
A parent dies in a fire under suspicious circumstances.
#I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It has been a while since I've read a story set in Australia and reading this felt like coming home.
This had such an interesting premise. I don't think there are many people who haven't dreamt of winning the lotto. Good Luck and Other Lies explores how a group of teens would handle it if they did win. There was a diverse range of characters and it was interesting seeing how each of them dealt with suddenly becoming millionaires.
Cassie, our main character, hasn't had much money in her life, and really needs the money. She lives with her dad and his family, but they have to move and there is no room for her. She will have to go live with the mother she hardly knows, that is until she wins and has money to buy a place of her own.
The group decided to keep the win a secret, and as they do, the lies build. With secret and lies comes a lot of stress, and like all lies, they are always found out in the end.
I felt for Cassie. She was lonely, having lost most of her friends after a bullying incident years previous, and at home she feels like she is only wanted to look after her siblings. She wants to belong, and to be loved for who she is, not just for what she does.
Cassie was a likeable character. I thought it was great how she was responsible and that she held to her convictions and didn't compromise. She had learnt from her past mistakes and was now guarded, not willing to repeat them.
Beat boy was the character who surprised me the most. I judged him on his name, but he turned out to have more depth then you would first think. I also loved Cassie's friend George and his care and concern he had for her. He had stuck with her all those years ago when her other friends abandoned her.
Overall, Good Luck and Other Lies was a fast paced, well written novel. There were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and the last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat! It was a thrilling read and I highly recommend it.
Content warnings: (Contains slight spoilers.)
Kisses only.
The B word is said twice.
A past incident of bullying is mentioned involving an inappropriate photo of an underaged girl.
There is a scene at a party and teens drink.
A parent dies in a fire under suspicious circumstances.
#I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2025
A thrilling blend of escapism, intrigue and drama. Through this book, I got to experience the exciting feeling of what it would be like to win the lotto, what to do with all that money and who to hide it from, along with the weighing dread that comes with keeping an enormous secret from everyone around you. The characters feel very real and the dialogue is engaging and realistic. I especially liked the dynamic between Cassie and Beat-Boy.
As someone who has both experience with lotto rules and journalism studies, there were times in the book where I could see that the rules had been stretched for dramatic purposes and though this was a little immersion breaking for me, it's only due to my personal understanding of the subjects. I don't think this will be an issue for most readers.
In saying that, there was clearly a lot of research done here on money investing and stock markets and real estate options and I really respected this. The book gives some interesting perspectives on what can be done with all that money, and I think there is a lot for young people to learn here.
All in all, a really great read!! 😁
As someone who has both experience with lotto rules and journalism studies, there were times in the book where I could see that the rules had been stretched for dramatic purposes and though this was a little immersion breaking for me, it's only due to my personal understanding of the subjects. I don't think this will be an issue for most readers.
In saying that, there was clearly a lot of research done here on money investing and stock markets and real estate options and I really respected this. The book gives some interesting perspectives on what can be done with all that money, and I think there is a lot for young people to learn here.
All in all, a really great read!! 😁
June 29, 2025
A most excellent read . The story kept me intrigued right to the end . The characters felt so true to life and you felt you were on a journey with them . Its great to read something that also reflects life today and the ups and downs it brings with it . I love the way Catriona writes and the way her stories flow . As a grandmother of 11 when I buy books for my teen grandchildren I like to read them first to know what the content is and I am always confident to buy Catriona's books . My family love them .
July 11, 2025
Good Luck and Other Lies is a sharp, emotionally layered novel that delves into the complexities of truth and deception, weaving a compelling narrative about friendship, identity, and the moral weight of the choices we make. With deft storytelling and a keen psychological insight, the author crafts a story that is as entertaining as it is unsettling, constantly asking: *How far would you go to protect your secrets
May 24, 2026
Most of this book was 4-5 stars but the ending just sucked and sorta ruined it.
The characters in this book are written so well (aside from maybe Luke) and everyone feels human which is so good to see.
Though when dialog is said in this book it’s always like this
“Skxjsis” Luke said
“Owsnixebks?” I asked
“Nskxbdke” Meg said
Like it’s only said and asked, which I didn’t find annoying but some might
The characters in this book are written so well (aside from maybe Luke) and everyone feels human which is so good to see.
Though when dialog is said in this book it’s always like this
“Skxjsis” Luke said
“Owsnixebks?” I asked
“Nskxbdke” Meg said
Like it’s only said and asked, which I didn’t find annoying but some might
July 27, 2025
Very easy to read. Very descriptive. Easy to picture. (Would make a good movie). Challenging morals & ethics. I am way past adolescence, but this story challenges both young & old regarding moral choices & their consequences. A good read. Well done.
July 27, 2025
Was a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It kept me interested and intrigued for the most part. It was great because it kept my attention, i didn’t find myself zoning out while reading it. I highly recommend!
August 6, 2025
It's a gripping children's/teens novel about friendship, fortune, and the messy truths that come with too much luck. The super-engaging narration and a great cast of characters made me feel like I was right there with them.
October 29, 2025
I feel like I was not the target audience. The book read very immature and more like a middle school book.
January 12, 2026
I read this YA novel in just a few days - I found the scenario interesting and the characters engaging. The writer kept us in suspence with the mystery of a past deception in the group of teens who became the millionaires club. The backstories of each teen was what held my interest most, and how they developed in their understanding of each other and themselves. A good reminder not to trust surface appearances. The lotto scenario added interest, and did make the reader wonder how all those millions might affect their own life. With discussion of crime, possible murder, ethics around AI, the rental crisis, family issues, there was something for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews