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Just Our Luck
A lottery ticket + donuts = love in this steamy new fake dating romance from beloved author Denise Williams.
Who needs love? Not Sybil Sweet. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is embracing her role as the directionless, floundering member of her family. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.
Kiran Anderson abandoned his dreams of becoming a doctor to take over running his family’s bakery, and after two years of fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted and broke. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.
Lucky for Kiran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to get Sybil’s family off of her back, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.
Who needs love? Not Sybil Sweet. After years of bouncing from job to job in search of something that feels right and from man to man in search of something special, Sybil is embracing her role as the directionless, floundering member of her family. All she really wants now is a little financial stability and carb comfort. Lucky for her, she’s got just enough in the bank to buy a lottery ticket, and the late-night donut store is open.
Kiran Anderson abandoned his dreams of becoming a doctor to take over running his family’s bakery, and after two years of fighting a losing battle to save the place, he’s exhausted and broke. But when a whirlwind of a woman sweeps in late one night, flirty energy gives way to more…until she runs out the next morning, leaving behind her winning lottery ticket.
Lucky for Kiran, his attempt to return the ticket looks like a grand romantic gesture and goes viral, sending sales through the roof. In an effort to keep the store afloat and to get Sybil’s family off of her back, they agree to fake a relationship for three months. Even with hundreds of millions of dollars, finding each other might end up being the sweetest bit of luck for both of them.
400 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2025
366 people are currently reading
21278 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,210 reviews
March 25, 2025
happy pub day to this book :)
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thank you to netgalley and denise williams for an advance copy of this book!
ੈ♡˳ rating: two of five stars
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
let me start by saying denise williams is one of my favorite authors. as someone who is a plus sized black woman in an interracial relationship with a white man, i love her. however this book did not hit the mark for me.
i began writing this review while still reading the book so obviously i don’t know how it ends. but as of right now, i’m conflicted. the fmc is like, a bum? can’t keep a job, can’t keep a man, can’t keep more than $100 in her bank account? then she randomly wins the lottery and it doesn’t feel like it’s a big part of the story at all. like she becomes a millionaire and is literally like, “yeah that money was transferred in my account this morning.” just like nonchalantly as hell. and then she does win and still has no clue what she’s doing with her life at all. just sleeping on someone’s couch and vibing. like first chapter she literally said i am so bad with money and then won the lottery and didn’t get a financial planner and just started going around buying her entire family thousands of dollars worth of useless jewelry like girl.
the fmc mom is like a bitch. and for good reason she doesn’t believe in her daughter making any good decisions in her life but like calls her out on it all the time. she’s so unloving to her daughter it’s insane.
mmc eats fmc cat on the first date and is insanely attached to her and then the next day he’s super awkward and doesn’t like her and acts like he doesn’t and is like scared to touch her? confused.
^^ written at 50% in the book.
fmc is actually just dumb? i fear she doesn’t think before she does anything. she doesn’t ask for opinions, she just does things that are going to ruin everything. i would have dnf’d this if i wasn’t 85% through with it already. she’s just jarring. it really seems like she can’t do anything right, girl you are grown. time to GROW UP. but at least at the end of the book she can keep a man.
spice level - 3/5
ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ fake dating
ꕥ plus sized fmc
ꕥ he falls first (ish)
ꕥ interracial relationship
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes
“ೃ⁀➷ no quotes because an arc is always subject to change!
◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈
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thank you to netgalley and denise williams for an advance copy of this book!
ੈ♡˳ rating: two of five stars
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
let me start by saying denise williams is one of my favorite authors. as someone who is a plus sized black woman in an interracial relationship with a white man, i love her. however this book did not hit the mark for me.
i began writing this review while still reading the book so obviously i don’t know how it ends. but as of right now, i’m conflicted. the fmc is like, a bum? can’t keep a job, can’t keep a man, can’t keep more than $100 in her bank account? then she randomly wins the lottery and it doesn’t feel like it’s a big part of the story at all. like she becomes a millionaire and is literally like, “yeah that money was transferred in my account this morning.” just like nonchalantly as hell. and then she does win and still has no clue what she’s doing with her life at all. just sleeping on someone’s couch and vibing. like first chapter she literally said i am so bad with money and then won the lottery and didn’t get a financial planner and just started going around buying her entire family thousands of dollars worth of useless jewelry like girl.
the fmc mom is like a bitch. and for good reason she doesn’t believe in her daughter making any good decisions in her life but like calls her out on it all the time. she’s so unloving to her daughter it’s insane.
mmc eats fmc cat on the first date and is insanely attached to her and then the next day he’s super awkward and doesn’t like her and acts like he doesn’t and is like scared to touch her? confused.
^^ written at 50% in the book.
fmc is actually just dumb? i fear she doesn’t think before she does anything. she doesn’t ask for opinions, she just does things that are going to ruin everything. i would have dnf’d this if i wasn’t 85% through with it already. she’s just jarring. it really seems like she can’t do anything right, girl you are grown. time to GROW UP. but at least at the end of the book she can keep a man.
spice level - 3/5
ੈ♡˳ tropes
ꕥ fake dating
ꕥ plus sized fmc
ꕥ he falls first (ish)
ꕥ interracial relationship
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes
“ೃ⁀➷ no quotes because an arc is always subject to change!
◡̈ ◡̈ ◡̈
September 11, 2025
i went from skeptic, to enjoyer, to... hater? eh my feelings aren't quite that strong but this was a pretty frustrating read. i'd get excited for moments and they fizzled quickly, leading to moments i really didn't care about or felt were out of line with characters' personalities or prior behaviors.
and don't get me started on the heroine lol.
and don't get me started on the heroine lol.
April 7, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was really cute!! Quick, fun... and easy to move on from! Anyway, this review is kind of a jumbled mess. I have a bunch of thoughts that are all weirdly tangled together. honestly? I feel no pressure to keep it organized😩🤣
I really liked the whole lottery ticket premise. it felt unique to me since I haven’t read anything like that before. The whole “famous” aspect was definitely a bit over-the-top, though. At first, I thought I was in for some insta-love with how things kicked off, but it actually turned into a weird slow burn-ish with this weird tension between the main characters. There were moments I found myself wondering if they even liked each other—well, mostly him. He was kinda mean to her? But I don’t know… I sort of got him?
Sybil was definitely kind of annoying, but I also sympathized with her, especially considering her diagnosis. That third-act conflict though😳….I was just like, girl! Oof. Kiran is better than me because Sybil would've never seen me again😭. That part wasn’t resolved all that well, honestly.
Weirdly enough, I liked how the tension made the (usually overdone) fake dating trope feel a little fresher. Typically, in fake dating stories, the characters do a great job pretending, but here? It was so obvious they were bad at it, and even the other characters could tell. I kind of loved how imperfect it was. It matched the awkward, chaotic energy of their relationship in a good way.
I also appreciated getting to see their individual lives. Sybil struggling with her family’s expectations and Kiran taking care of his granddad while navigating his own future. That grounded things a bit. So yeah, it was an enjoyable enough read… but definitely a mixed-feelings kind of ride!
This was really cute!! Quick, fun... and easy to move on from! Anyway, this review is kind of a jumbled mess. I have a bunch of thoughts that are all weirdly tangled together. honestly? I feel no pressure to keep it organized😩🤣
I really liked the whole lottery ticket premise. it felt unique to me since I haven’t read anything like that before. The whole “famous” aspect was definitely a bit over-the-top, though. At first, I thought I was in for some insta-love with how things kicked off, but it actually turned into a weird slow burn-ish with this weird tension between the main characters. There were moments I found myself wondering if they even liked each other—well, mostly him. He was kinda mean to her? But I don’t know… I sort of got him?
Sybil was definitely kind of annoying, but I also sympathized with her, especially considering her diagnosis. That third-act conflict though😳….I was just like, girl! Oof. Kiran is better than me because Sybil would've never seen me again😭. That part wasn’t resolved all that well, honestly.
Weirdly enough, I liked how the tension made the (usually overdone) fake dating trope feel a little fresher. Typically, in fake dating stories, the characters do a great job pretending, but here? It was so obvious they were bad at it, and even the other characters could tell. I kind of loved how imperfect it was. It matched the awkward, chaotic energy of their relationship in a good way.
I also appreciated getting to see their individual lives. Sybil struggling with her family’s expectations and Kiran taking care of his granddad while navigating his own future. That grounded things a bit. So yeah, it was an enjoyable enough read… but definitely a mixed-feelings kind of ride!
August 19, 2025
eh didn’t care for too much about this book. the fmc is a hot mess to the mmc’s straightlaced no-nonsense(esque) kinda vibe and when they said opposites attract, i’m not sure anyone was talking about these two 🤨
the first 40% he is SO mean to her. and then in his perspective, he’s not thinking about her kindly where you swoon either: he is toeing the line of despising this woman and i’m supposed to root for y’all??? rightttt.
the book is kinda boring and just drags, like nothing is *really* utilizing the lottery plotline until it did. 😐 and boy did that third act conflict boil my blood. they’re better people than me, because that’s a HUGE conversation you have with someone in my personal preference.
overall i was disappointed, confused, and reluctantly entertained
thank you to netgalley and berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
the first 40% he is SO mean to her. and then in his perspective, he’s not thinking about her kindly where you swoon either: he is toeing the line of despising this woman and i’m supposed to root for y’all??? rightttt.
the book is kinda boring and just drags, like nothing is *really* utilizing the lottery plotline until it did. 😐 and boy did that third act conflict boil my blood. they’re better people than me, because that’s a HUGE conversation you have with someone in my personal preference.
overall i was disappointed, confused, and reluctantly entertained
thank you to netgalley and berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
February 1, 2025
I am so grateful to Berkley Romance and Denise Williams for the opportunity to read this ARC! Just Our Luck features Sybil and Kieran, two polar opposites who have an *almost* one night stand at his donut shop-until a winning lottery ticket left behind forces them together to help with each of their mounting struggles. I was so excited to read a book with a plus size, neurodivergent FMC, especially one where her body is celebrated and never seen as a struggle or something to “get over”. It was even more exciting to see Sybil’s journey through acceptance of her neurodivergence and how her friends and Kieran appreciated her for it-a super power instead of a hindrance. Late-in-life ADHD diagnosis is a path I identify deeply with and Denise Williams honors Sybil’s character while not shying away from the challenges she faces because of it. This is also a romcom where the side characters shine brightly, and I found myself wishing I had more book to explore further scenes in Kieran and Sybil’s relationship but also to learn more about the complex characters surrounding them. I hope to read about them in other books! This is a quick read, and it’s funny, poignant and sexy all at once. A solid 4⭐️read!
December 11, 2024
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.
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.
March 24, 2025
Just Our Luck is a sweet and charming romance following Sybil, who after being fired from her last job, is betting on her luck and a lottery ticket to change her life around; and Kieran, a former medical student who had to put his education on hold to take over his family's donut shop and care for his grandad. I enjoyed this fake dating romance and how Sybil and Kieran came together! They were so cute and sweet for each other, Kieran was reluctant to give more of himself away but I loved that he was so enamored and helpless in falling for Sybil. The family and side characters were so fun and added so much charm and humor to the story. While I do think the fake dating plot could have played out differently and the ending felt a bit rushed, this simple romance delivered plenty of heartwarming moments.
Read if you like:
🍩Diverse Romances🍩
🍩Fake Dating🍩
🍩He Falls First🍩
🍩Opposites Attract🍩
🍩Slow burn🍩
🍩Plus Size Rep🍩
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read if you like:
🍩Diverse Romances🍩
🍩Fake Dating🍩
🍩He Falls First🍩
🍩Opposites Attract🍩
🍩Slow burn🍩
🍩Plus Size Rep🍩
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
3/5
- Really loved how fun this book felt! It truly felt like I was watching a rom com while reading this one! Definitely could see this being a movie.
- This book was a lot spicier than I thought it would be! The steam was steaaaaamy!
- Wasn’t the biggest fan of how immature the fmc felt at times, but she also felt so real too! It’s rare to read about characters that don’t really have their life together and are huge people pleasers so it was a nice change from other romances!
- Really loved how fun this book felt! It truly felt like I was watching a rom com while reading this one! Definitely could see this being a movie.
- This book was a lot spicier than I thought it would be! The steam was steaaaaamy!
- Wasn’t the biggest fan of how immature the fmc felt at times, but she also felt so real too! It’s rare to read about characters that don’t really have their life together and are huge people pleasers so it was a nice change from other romances!
dnf
March 28, 2025DNF @ 10% - I struggled to connect with the FMC, the writing was cringy at times, and life is too short to stick with a book I am not enjoying. Eventually I may go back and try this one again as an eyeball read, but for now, it's a DNF.
January 20, 2025
2.5 rounded up to be nice - lmao changed my rating to 2 stars were not being nice.Denise Williams' work can be a bit hit or miss, and unfortunately, this book lands on the "miss" side for me. The plot centers around Sybil, who seems to coast through life, relying on luck rather than any real agency. She unexpectedly finds a lottery ticket, unaware of its worth. From there, she has a brief encounter with Kieran, our grumpy MMC (who's taking care of his grandfather’s donut shop while deferring medical school), and ends up leaving the ticket behind. The premise felt like it was attempting to be a modern Cinderella story, but it fell flat for me.
The development of the relationship between Sybil and Kieran felt contrived, especially given the sequence of events that unfolds. Kieran goes viral in search of the lottery ticket's owner, and in a rather forced move, he and Sybil enter into a fake dating arrangement. The goal is to boost traffic to his donut shop, but the chemistry between them is hard to believe. While the narrative seemed to suggest that they were falling in love along the way, it lacked the depth to make this transformation feel authentic or earned.
Additionally, Sybil’s behavior towards Kieran crossed significant boundaries, which made me uncomfortable. Her actions felt extreme and out of place within the context of their relationship. And yet, despite all these issues, the story ends with them living "happily ever after." This resolution felt unearned, considering the lack of genuine connection and the problematic moments that arose throughout their relationship.
Overall, I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot, making this book feel more like a missed opportunity than a romantic success.
The development of the relationship between Sybil and Kieran felt contrived, especially given the sequence of events that unfolds. Kieran goes viral in search of the lottery ticket's owner, and in a rather forced move, he and Sybil enter into a fake dating arrangement. The goal is to boost traffic to his donut shop, but the chemistry between them is hard to believe. While the narrative seemed to suggest that they were falling in love along the way, it lacked the depth to make this transformation feel authentic or earned.
Additionally, Sybil’s behavior towards Kieran crossed significant boundaries, which made me uncomfortable. Her actions felt extreme and out of place within the context of their relationship. And yet, despite all these issues, the story ends with them living "happily ever after." This resolution felt unearned, considering the lack of genuine connection and the problematic moments that arose throughout their relationship.
Overall, I struggled to connect with the characters and the plot, making this book feel more like a missed opportunity than a romantic success.
March 19, 2025
came for the lottery winnings and donuts, left feeling emotional about the big feelings on loving someone with ADHD (undiagnosed or otherwise).
When she returns to pay for the donuts she accidentally stole that morning, Sybil Sweet finds herself totally distracted by the good looking donut maker, and ends up bantering herself into his back office, on his desk, with his head between her legs. When they are interrupted, Sybil disappears, only leaving an apology note and a lottery ticket behind to in lieu of payment.
Turns out the lottery ticket was a real big winner, leaving Kiran Anderson desperate to find the woman who rocked his world the night before (even if she was an inadvertent thief).Kiran's plea to find Sybil on the news goes viral, leading her back to his shop, and striking a deal. Since Kiran won't take half, or even part, of the millions in winnings, Sybil concocts a scheme to fake date in order to help the failing donut business he's been trying to keep afloat after his grandpa got sick.
Fake date they do, and while falling for each other any way both sybil and kiran need to figure out their futures, and whether the two can combine.
LOVED IT. And not just because this is my friend's book!
When she returns to pay for the donuts she accidentally stole that morning, Sybil Sweet finds herself totally distracted by the good looking donut maker, and ends up bantering herself into his back office, on his desk, with his head between her legs. When they are interrupted, Sybil disappears, only leaving an apology note and a lottery ticket behind to in lieu of payment.
Turns out the lottery ticket was a real big winner, leaving Kiran Anderson desperate to find the woman who rocked his world the night before (even if she was an inadvertent thief).Kiran's plea to find Sybil on the news goes viral, leading her back to his shop, and striking a deal. Since Kiran won't take half, or even part, of the millions in winnings, Sybil concocts a scheme to fake date in order to help the failing donut business he's been trying to keep afloat after his grandpa got sick.
Fake date they do, and while falling for each other any way both sybil and kiran need to figure out their futures, and whether the two can combine.
LOVED IT. And not just because this is my friend's book!
March 9, 2025
hellooooo insta lust. kieran was down bad from like the moment he saw sybil. and then literally got on his knees for her not long after.
I love fake dating!!! the pretending and suppressing their feelings. there was a lot going on in terms of their identities, their jobs, the lottery winning. but sometimes I still felt like there wasn’t a whole lot going on. I found myself a bit bored and not as locked in as I’d hope to be because of the insta love.
kieran was so grumpy and honestly for good reason. I loved the neurodivergent rep with sybil and found myself relating to her quite a bit. I also loved the resolution with her mom and how she stood up for herself.
thank you berkley romance and penguin random house audio for the earc and alc!
what to expect
⟢ grumpy x sunshine
⟢ fake dating
⟢ they split lottery winnings kinda
⟢ neurodivergence rep
instagram || storygraph
actual rating 3.5
I love fake dating!!! the pretending and suppressing their feelings. there was a lot going on in terms of their identities, their jobs, the lottery winning. but sometimes I still felt like there wasn’t a whole lot going on. I found myself a bit bored and not as locked in as I’d hope to be because of the insta love.
kieran was so grumpy and honestly for good reason. I loved the neurodivergent rep with sybil and found myself relating to her quite a bit. I also loved the resolution with her mom and how she stood up for herself.
thank you berkley romance and penguin random house audio for the earc and alc!
what to expect
⟢ grumpy x sunshine
⟢ fake dating
⟢ they split lottery winnings kinda
⟢ neurodivergence rep
instagram || storygraph
actual rating 3.5
Read
April 9, 2025DNF the audiobook at 33%.
I didn't like either MC. She's too irresponsible and flighty (and maybe a bit dumb), and he's boring and grumpy but not in a fun way. I didn't feel any chemistry between them.
Also, wasn't a huge fan of the voices the narrators chose for their characters. It made them even more unlikable.
I didn't like either MC. She's too irresponsible and flighty (and maybe a bit dumb), and he's boring and grumpy but not in a fun way. I didn't feel any chemistry between them.
Also, wasn't a huge fan of the voices the narrators chose for their characters. It made them even more unlikable.
April 19, 2025
Just our luck by Denise Williams
-Sybil is so cute and such a sunshine girly I feel like we’d be besties I love her
-I should’ve really been eating a donut while reading this book 😂🍩
-maybe this book can be my lucky charm I’m delulu that I too can win the lottery and fake date a man lol
-ahh we love a caring man I love Kieran
-their back and forth has me giddy 🥰
-the way Sybil describes dating and men ouff I relate harddddd 😩
-the tension, connection and spice 👀❤️🔥 gobble gobble
-the family pressure ouff can a girl catch a break geez we just trying to figure it out lol
-AHH I LOVE FAKE DATING
-the interview ate it up 💋
-ouuu the tension between them tensioningggg
-Kieran is my next book boyfriend 🫶🏾 he can bake, sing, caring, funny, going to med school, hot yesssss
-I want to work at a bakery now lol
-their connection was adorable and had me giddy the whole time
-this was such a cute and fun read ate this up
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Sybil is so cute and such a sunshine girly I feel like we’d be besties I love her
-I should’ve really been eating a donut while reading this book 😂🍩
-maybe this book can be my lucky charm I’m delulu that I too can win the lottery and fake date a man lol
-ahh we love a caring man I love Kieran
-their back and forth has me giddy 🥰
-the way Sybil describes dating and men ouff I relate harddddd 😩
-the tension, connection and spice 👀❤️🔥 gobble gobble
-the family pressure ouff can a girl catch a break geez we just trying to figure it out lol
-AHH I LOVE FAKE DATING
-the interview ate it up 💋
-ouuu the tension between them tensioningggg
-Kieran is my next book boyfriend 🫶🏾 he can bake, sing, caring, funny, going to med school, hot yesssss
-I want to work at a bakery now lol
-their connection was adorable and had me giddy the whole time
-this was such a cute and fun read ate this up
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 11, 2025
sad to say this just was not right for me. the FMC, sybil, continuously made poor decisions & then was surprised when she wasn’t happy with life & how it turned out for her. she was a mess in a BAD WAY. had no redemption arc. actually had no redeeming qualities. i had 0 interest in either character, and had to stop myself from DNF’ing multiple times. the MMC, kieran, was actually mean most of the time. i will say i ended up liking him better than the FMC tho. as for the ending… ABSOLUTELY. NOT. GOODBYE.
thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3
thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3
April 21, 2025
I really enjoyed the characters and the premise of the story.
The journey Sybil takes to find herself is honest and compelling.
Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and this did not disappoint!
I do wish the writing had been a bit more succinct since at times things were a bit over explained/described which made the book drag at times.
Would still recommend!
Much love to Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC!
The journey Sybil takes to find herself is honest and compelling.
Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and this did not disappoint!
I do wish the writing had been a bit more succinct since at times things were a bit over explained/described which made the book drag at times.
Would still recommend!
Much love to Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC!
July 10, 2025
Sybil was tearing up those donuts!! 😂
I felt like I didn't know much about the characters for this book. Other than Sybil's love for donuts & impulsiveness and Kieran just being very dry, I found them flat. The insta spice/love a few chapters in had me rolling my eyes 😂...likeeee girl, were the donuts that good?! And Kieran...you were all in there from the jump, but wanna act like you don't like her at all later?
This was an odd (but sorta cute) romance. A little all over the place (duel POVs every other chapter, dry jokes) , but a good pallet cleanser for me.
I really liked Grandpa Joe!
I felt like I didn't know much about the characters for this book. Other than Sybil's love for donuts & impulsiveness and Kieran just being very dry, I found them flat. The insta spice/love a few chapters in had me rolling my eyes 😂...likeeee girl, were the donuts that good?! And Kieran...you were all in there from the jump, but wanna act like you don't like her at all later?
This was an odd (but sorta cute) romance. A little all over the place (duel POVs every other chapter, dry jokes) , but a good pallet cleanser for me.
I really liked Grandpa Joe!
December 21, 2024
Donuts. Lottery. Family. Friends. Fake dating. Banter. Sexy as hell.
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
November 7, 2025
Fmc is mad everyone treats her like a dumb bitch and then precedes to be the dumbest bitch throughout the novel
April 10, 2025
That awkward moment when you discover a fun new romcom author in your hometown thanks to an independent bookstore 1000 miles away.
I can’t believe Denise Williams lives in Des Moines! And this story takes place in Des Moines, it is the April Pick for the happy Endings book club of the Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio.
A very cute concept- Sybil and Kieran have some insta-lust- a one night stand and she leaves behind a winning lottery ticket. Winning, like hundreds of millions of dollars. And he runs a family donut shop. She wants to split the winnings with him but he won’t hear of it.
I liked how even though they hooked up right away they started liking each other as people doing fake dating. It really was a relationship built of communication and understanding. The third act had a few cringey moments, and I’m not thrilled about the direction of Kieran’s career, but they had good chemistry and fun side character friends.
I can’t believe Denise Williams lives in Des Moines! And this story takes place in Des Moines, it is the April Pick for the happy Endings book club of the Nowhere Bookshop in San Antonio.
A very cute concept- Sybil and Kieran have some insta-lust- a one night stand and she leaves behind a winning lottery ticket. Winning, like hundreds of millions of dollars. And he runs a family donut shop. She wants to split the winnings with him but he won’t hear of it.
I liked how even though they hooked up right away they started liking each other as people doing fake dating. It really was a relationship built of communication and understanding. The third act had a few cringey moments, and I’m not thrilled about the direction of Kieran’s career, but they had good chemistry and fun side character friends.
November 28, 2024
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 is 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 a lot 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 while 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.
I liked the fmc yes she was a bit impulsive and all over the place but she was fun. The mmc took a while 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.
March 5, 2025
Thanks so much to Berkley Pub for the free book! #BerkleyPartner
This is my first time reading Denise Williams, and I am sad to say this was a major miss for me. Sybil is one of the most unlikable FMCs I've read in a very long time, and I was hoping to relate to her. We're both Black, plus-sized, and the youngest sibling who is underestimated and invalidated by family members. However, Sybil was impulsive, selfish (chronically late, which is selfish), and extremely crude. I'm not a saint and I swear quite a bit, but Sybil's sense of humor very much gave "Deadpool is my favorite movie of all time." in that it was very immature, poorly-timed, and seemed to serve as a wall she erected between herself and others to keep them from getting to know her particularly well. She was also a little bit of a bum and never took accountability for how all of these things made her experience the consequences of her actions, instead falling into a "womp, womp, I guess my family is right and I AM a loser" headspace that got old very quickly. I was thrown off by the sudden assertion that her behavior was explained by a diagnosis at the end of the novel; it felt very clunky. I'm also noticing a trend where Black characters are being written in a way that Blackness doesn't impact their day-to-day, and I'm not saying Sybil needed to get pulled over by the cops, but I'm also not sure why Black characters are suddenly being written this way.
Kieran was a mean stick in the mud with a stick up his butt who stressed every moment of every single day and spoke to Sybil absolutely crazy at times. I didn't find him likable, believable as a love interest, or supportive of Sybil in any way. He was very much just floundering around his life and blaming everyone and his circumstances for why he couldn't return to medical school, but he ultimately didn't seem like he ever wanted to take that path seriously in the first place. His grandfather and the grandfather's best friend were my favorite characters in this story, hands-down!
The overall narrative wasn't super compelling. The lottery aspect was decentered then recentered at very odd moments, the donut shop was a very uninteresting background to most of the scenes, and the side characters seemed to only exist to give the narrative something to hold onto. None of the characters are described particularly well in a way that makes it easy to imagine what they look like or what behaviors are common for them to display, so I overall felt quite disconnected from literally all of the characters as well. Sybil's mother was cruel but it's presented as her being caring; since she was underdeveloped she felt very sinister at times and I ended up feeling anxious whenever she was in a scene.
This just wasn't for me. While some of the moments were cute and the overall writing in terms grammar, syntax, etc. is digestible and accessible, I didn't care for the writing style, the characters, or the plot. Also, as a personal aside, I *really* want authors to stop mentioning Elon Musk/Tesla and Taylor Swift in their books omg.
2.5 ⭐️s
2 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 3/25/25
This is my first time reading Denise Williams, and I am sad to say this was a major miss for me. Sybil is one of the most unlikable FMCs I've read in a very long time, and I was hoping to relate to her. We're both Black, plus-sized, and the youngest sibling who is underestimated and invalidated by family members. However, Sybil was impulsive, selfish (chronically late, which is selfish), and extremely crude. I'm not a saint and I swear quite a bit, but Sybil's sense of humor very much gave "Deadpool is my favorite movie of all time." in that it was very immature, poorly-timed, and seemed to serve as a wall she erected between herself and others to keep them from getting to know her particularly well. She was also a little bit of a bum and never took accountability for how all of these things made her experience the consequences of her actions, instead falling into a "womp, womp, I guess my family is right and I AM a loser" headspace that got old very quickly. I was thrown off by the sudden assertion that her behavior was explained by a diagnosis at the end of the novel; it felt very clunky. I'm also noticing a trend where Black characters are being written in a way that Blackness doesn't impact their day-to-day, and I'm not saying Sybil needed to get pulled over by the cops, but I'm also not sure why Black characters are suddenly being written this way.
Kieran was a mean stick in the mud with a stick up his butt who stressed every moment of every single day and spoke to Sybil absolutely crazy at times. I didn't find him likable, believable as a love interest, or supportive of Sybil in any way. He was very much just floundering around his life and blaming everyone and his circumstances for why he couldn't return to medical school, but he ultimately didn't seem like he ever wanted to take that path seriously in the first place. His grandfather and the grandfather's best friend were my favorite characters in this story, hands-down!
The overall narrative wasn't super compelling. The lottery aspect was decentered then recentered at very odd moments, the donut shop was a very uninteresting background to most of the scenes, and the side characters seemed to only exist to give the narrative something to hold onto. None of the characters are described particularly well in a way that makes it easy to imagine what they look like or what behaviors are common for them to display, so I overall felt quite disconnected from literally all of the characters as well. Sybil's mother was cruel but it's presented as her being caring; since she was underdeveloped she felt very sinister at times and I ended up feeling anxious whenever she was in a scene.
This just wasn't for me. While some of the moments were cute and the overall writing in terms grammar, syntax, etc. is digestible and accessible, I didn't care for the writing style, the characters, or the plot. Also, as a personal aside, I *really* want authors to stop mentioning Elon Musk/Tesla and Taylor Swift in their books omg.
2.5 ⭐️s
2 🌶️
🚨 Pub Date: 3/25/25
December 30, 2025
Oh boy! It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a book that’s opted to self destruct itself in the last few chapters, but this book did just that. This book opens with the loveable screwup FMC crossing paths with the grumpy buttoned up MMC who has a lot on his plate. She feels like she can’t do anything right and her family judges her because of it and the MMC is trying to keep his grandfathers business afloat after he’s had some medical setbacks. His dream to become a doctor is hold and he’s barely holding the shop together.
In true romance book fashion these two have an instant connection that’s further complicated when they opt to enter into a fake relationship after she wins an ungodly amount of money from the lottery. As the book progresses the author attempts to portray that the FMC is misunderstood, wants to do good and is actively trying too. This would be all well in good but my issue was that we don’t see any growth from her actions. Repeatedly we see her dive first into situations to only go oh no the consequences when things don’t work out well or she’s misjudged a situation. While the rest of the characters in the book baby her or brush off her mistakes. It’s was slightly irritating but I was able to hang on until the last few chapters.
The MMC has been on a sabbatical from school and asked for an extension. The author opts to slap in around this time that he’s been questioning his medical school dreams recently since he’s so wrapped up in his life with the FMC and his granddads shop. (You know to try and soften the blow for what happens next.) The FMC gets the bright idea to call his school and offer them three million dollars if they grant his request. As a result he’s tossed from medical school on an ethics violation. He blows up and literally everyone in the book acts like he’s in the wrong after having a meltdown about this and blaming the FMC.
He’s the one who ends up doing a bit of groveling with a grand gesture to get her back. I was 🤬 floored to say the least! This was just new levels of WTH wild for a romance book for me. I just couldn’t. The epilogue tried to save things with mentioning the MMC is in school to become a medical researcher now. Tbh this didn’t help at all. It wasn’t any coming back after that.
In true romance book fashion these two have an instant connection that’s further complicated when they opt to enter into a fake relationship after she wins an ungodly amount of money from the lottery. As the book progresses the author attempts to portray that the FMC is misunderstood, wants to do good and is actively trying too. This would be all well in good but my issue was that we don’t see any growth from her actions. Repeatedly we see her dive first into situations to only go oh no the consequences when things don’t work out well or she’s misjudged a situation. While the rest of the characters in the book baby her or brush off her mistakes. It’s was slightly irritating but I was able to hang on until the last few chapters.
The MMC has been on a sabbatical from school and asked for an extension. The author opts to slap in around this time that he’s been questioning his medical school dreams recently since he’s so wrapped up in his life with the FMC and his granddads shop. (You know to try and soften the blow for what happens next.) The FMC gets the bright idea to call his school and offer them three million dollars if they grant his request. As a result he’s tossed from medical school on an ethics violation. He blows up and literally everyone in the book acts like he’s in the wrong after having a meltdown about this and blaming the FMC.
He’s the one who ends up doing a bit of groveling with a grand gesture to get her back. I was 🤬 floored to say the least! This was just new levels of WTH wild for a romance book for me. I just couldn’t. The epilogue tried to save things with mentioning the MMC is in school to become a medical researcher now. Tbh this didn’t help at all. It wasn’t any coming back after that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
It is truly unacceptable that Goodreads changed their logo but didn’t add a half-star rating function.
With that said, how dare this book start with spice in chapter 5 and then no more until chapter 35. I also hated the end of this book and wanted to DNF at page 342.
With that said, how dare this book start with spice in chapter 5 and then no more until chapter 35. I also hated the end of this book and wanted to DNF at page 342.
March 25, 2025
Just Our Luck was a highly anticipated read for me, and it satisfied my craving for a quick escape into a fictional world. It was a good balance of flirty, fun, quirky, and romance, and a splash of realism – which Denise Williams does well. The characters were Sybil and Keiran; two polar opposites who found themselves in an interesting pickle. Keiran was helping run his family-owned donut shop, with hopes of resuming his residency, and Sybil was the “life of the party” – and lived her life on luck and a prayer.
What should have been a quick one-night rendezvous, turned into a full-blown media frenzy when Sybil left her winning lottery ticket in the donut shop, leaving Keiran turning to social media to find her. The two must navigate a fake relationship, becoming internet sensations, and adjusting to becoming millionaires.
You’ll have to read more about their journey to see if it was just luck or true love for these two. I thoroughly enjoyed this one..
*ARC review*
What should have been a quick one-night rendezvous, turned into a full-blown media frenzy when Sybil left her winning lottery ticket in the donut shop, leaving Keiran turning to social media to find her. The two must navigate a fake relationship, becoming internet sensations, and adjusting to becoming millionaires.
You’ll have to read more about their journey to see if it was just luck or true love for these two. I thoroughly enjoyed this one..
*ARC review*
April 3, 2025
A fake dating, contemporary romance! This one was okay, a little too long and the characters weren’t favorites or that memorable sadly. But stuck with it since I had the audio from the library.
He always planned to be a doctor but dropped out of that idea when he had to help his grandfather with his donut shop after his grandfather had a stroke. They have a one night hook up which leads to fake dating when she accidentally leaves behind a winning lottery ticket. He finds it and returns it to her and she wins millions. They decide to help one another out by fake dating, she wants to impress her family with having a boyfriend and in return she’ll get good press for his family’s failing donut shop.
He always planned to be a doctor but dropped out of that idea when he had to help his grandfather with his donut shop after his grandfather had a stroke. They have a one night hook up which leads to fake dating when she accidentally leaves behind a winning lottery ticket. He finds it and returns it to her and she wins millions. They decide to help one another out by fake dating, she wants to impress her family with having a boyfriend and in return she’ll get good press for his family’s failing donut shop.
April 15, 2025
i tried my best but i could not enjoy this book...set in des moines AND the fmc was stressing me tf out omfg i do not expect this couple to last beyond the last chapter of this book i woulda been SO MAD AT FMC
November 2, 2025
Both of the mc's were blah. Non-stop bad choices from the fmc. They gave her this, 'girl, your adhd is why you did all this dumb sh*t', ending. adhd ≠ stupid.
I can't even talk about the ending. No way this man is getting over that colossal of an f up. Like what?!?!
I can't even talk about the ending. No way this man is getting over that colossal of an f up. Like what?!?!
March 27, 2025
4.25!!! thank you berkley for the gifted copy!!!
this was SO CUTE and filled with the perfect amount of sweetness & chemistry/tension!!!! i love a good fake dating romance!!!
this was SO CUTE and filled with the perfect amount of sweetness & chemistry/tension!!!! i love a good fake dating romance!!!
June 19, 2025
This is really cringey
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