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The Lottery Winner Widows Club
'An absolute hoot. Twisty, turny, funny and absolutely marvellous.' - MILLY JOHNSON
'Riotously funny, gripping and twisty' - CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
'Joyous, dark, witty as hell. A devilishly funny celebration of female friendship' - EMMA JANE UNSWORTH
'A funny and touching crime romp' - CLAIRE MCGOWAN
'Fun, fabulous and a force to be reckoned with' - LUCY DIAMOND
Meet The Lottery Winner Widows Club - a fabulous, filthy-rich sisterhood whose husbands all hit the jackpot . . . and then mysteriously dropped dead.
Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, John, in a freak car accident, she's utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery - with the ticket he bought.
Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.
They tell her that they've been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There's just one Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course.
But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.
Twisty, mischievous, and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies, and the dangerous appeal of starting over, from a fresh new voice in the crime world.
MORE PRAISE FOR THE LOTTERY WINNER WIDOWS CLUB:
'This book is so good it's criminal' - DAISY BUCHANAN
'A riotous romp. Fun, funny and full of heart' - ASIA MACKAY
'A super fun book about female friendship and solidarity' - JULIE MAE COHEN
'The feel-good novel par excellence! I bloody loved it!' - HARPER FORD
'Full of humour and deliciously deadly intent' - KATE STOREY
'Such a joy! A true escape' - LAURA PEARSON
'Deliciously fun with a delightful cast of characters!' - FIONA GIBSON
'People always say 'I laughed out loud' but they hardly ever do? I ACTUALLY DID! A lot!' - CAROLINE CORCORAN
'The perfect blend of darkness and humour.' - KATE WESTON
'Utterly delicious' - LAURA WOOD
'Hilarious, twisty and hugely satisfying!' - LUCY NICHOL
'First Wives Club meets Bad Sisters' - ZAC HAMMETT
'An emotional depth I didn't see coming' - REBECCA RYAN
'An absolute slam-dunk. Wildly funny and wholly bingeable' - ROSIE WALSH
'Will make you laugh, cheer and weep - sometimes all at once' - JUSTIN MYERS
'A perfect read' - SALMA EL-WARDANY
'The twist shook me to my core' - OLIVIA BEIRNE
'A fabulously enjoyable romp' - PJ ELLIS
'Bags of fun and warmth' - HANNAH DOYLE
'Perfect mix of comedy and drama' - JULIE HAWORTH
'Truly original' - SOPHIE COUSENS
'We Solve Murders meets First
'Riotously funny, gripping and twisty' - CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN
'Joyous, dark, witty as hell. A devilishly funny celebration of female friendship' - EMMA JANE UNSWORTH
'A funny and touching crime romp' - CLAIRE MCGOWAN
'Fun, fabulous and a force to be reckoned with' - LUCY DIAMOND
Meet The Lottery Winner Widows Club - a fabulous, filthy-rich sisterhood whose husbands all hit the jackpot . . . and then mysteriously dropped dead.
Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, John, in a freak car accident, she's utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery - with the ticket he bought.
Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.
They tell her that they've been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There's just one Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course.
But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.
Twisty, mischievous, and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies, and the dangerous appeal of starting over, from a fresh new voice in the crime world.
MORE PRAISE FOR THE LOTTERY WINNER WIDOWS CLUB:
'This book is so good it's criminal' - DAISY BUCHANAN
'A riotous romp. Fun, funny and full of heart' - ASIA MACKAY
'A super fun book about female friendship and solidarity' - JULIE MAE COHEN
'The feel-good novel par excellence! I bloody loved it!' - HARPER FORD
'Full of humour and deliciously deadly intent' - KATE STOREY
'Such a joy! A true escape' - LAURA PEARSON
'Deliciously fun with a delightful cast of characters!' - FIONA GIBSON
'People always say 'I laughed out loud' but they hardly ever do? I ACTUALLY DID! A lot!' - CAROLINE CORCORAN
'The perfect blend of darkness and humour.' - KATE WESTON
'Utterly delicious' - LAURA WOOD
'Hilarious, twisty and hugely satisfying!' - LUCY NICHOL
'First Wives Club meets Bad Sisters' - ZAC HAMMETT
'An emotional depth I didn't see coming' - REBECCA RYAN
'An absolute slam-dunk. Wildly funny and wholly bingeable' - ROSIE WALSH
'Will make you laugh, cheer and weep - sometimes all at once' - JUSTIN MYERS
'A perfect read' - SALMA EL-WARDANY
'The twist shook me to my core' - OLIVIA BEIRNE
'A fabulously enjoyable romp' - PJ ELLIS
'Bags of fun and warmth' - HANNAH DOYLE
'Perfect mix of comedy and drama' - JULIE HAWORTH
'Truly original' - SOPHIE COUSENS
'We Solve Murders meets First
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
February 28, 2026
I want to be Audrey when I grow up, I’m googling pashminas right now, I even have the mad dog, I just don’t have the bank balance or the Jag, but I’m manifesting.
This was a real feel good laugh out loud romp, which wasn’t initially what I expected but was absolutely what I needed. It’s screen ready too so it might be one to look out for in more ways than one.
Paula has been, in the course of a few days, hit with 2 of the biggest shocks of her life, and she doesn’t know how to cope with it, her family are trying to help but she’s really just stuck in a rut until the mysterious Teddy turns up quite literally in her house with an invite to join TLWWC the group of women become firm friends have some mad cap adventures and offer Paula a happiness that she never knew she was missing. There’s a serious undercurrent to the story but it’s delivered in a way that you’ll forgive the little group almost anything.
Great fun.
Huge thanks to Headline Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Solid 4 ⭐️ I loved the narration too.
This was a real feel good laugh out loud romp, which wasn’t initially what I expected but was absolutely what I needed. It’s screen ready too so it might be one to look out for in more ways than one.
Paula has been, in the course of a few days, hit with 2 of the biggest shocks of her life, and she doesn’t know how to cope with it, her family are trying to help but she’s really just stuck in a rut until the mysterious Teddy turns up quite literally in her house with an invite to join TLWWC the group of women become firm friends have some mad cap adventures and offer Paula a happiness that she never knew she was missing. There’s a serious undercurrent to the story but it’s delivered in a way that you’ll forgive the little group almost anything.
Great fun.
Huge thanks to Headline Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Solid 4 ⭐️ I loved the narration too.
March 26, 2026
OUTLIER ALERT!
I'm sorry to say but I really didn't like this book.
I wasn't aware when I started this book that this author has written under the name Lucy Vine, which I was pleased about because I have enjoyed what I have read from her previously. But this just did not work for me.
Right from the start this was a struggle to enjoy. I felt like the writing at the start felt weird and a bit jarring and I found it difficult to get into the rhythm of the writing.
There were two main problems I had with this story and the first one was definitely the characters. I hated them. All of them. Especially our main character Paula. I think I was meant to find them all witty and charming but I never felt that at all. In fact I found them unlikeable.
The plot also didn't feel like anything special to me either. It lacked any warmth or charm to me. I feel like there have been quite a few of these types of books published recently and I have to say I think I'm just not a fan of this type of book.
By the 20% mark in I wanted to DNF as I really wasn't liking this but I carried on in hopes it would improve. And it did, slightly.
The only thing I did like about this was the twist. I enjoyed it and it did seem to liven up the story a bit. It's just a shame this didn't happen until about 70% in, by which time I had lost all interest and then began skim reading just to finish it.
So, sadly this was just a big flop for me.
Thanks to Headline for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
I'm sorry to say but I really didn't like this book.
I wasn't aware when I started this book that this author has written under the name Lucy Vine, which I was pleased about because I have enjoyed what I have read from her previously. But this just did not work for me.
Right from the start this was a struggle to enjoy. I felt like the writing at the start felt weird and a bit jarring and I found it difficult to get into the rhythm of the writing.
There were two main problems I had with this story and the first one was definitely the characters. I hated them. All of them. Especially our main character Paula. I think I was meant to find them all witty and charming but I never felt that at all. In fact I found them unlikeable.
The plot also didn't feel like anything special to me either. It lacked any warmth or charm to me. I feel like there have been quite a few of these types of books published recently and I have to say I think I'm just not a fan of this type of book.
By the 20% mark in I wanted to DNF as I really wasn't liking this but I carried on in hopes it would improve. And it did, slightly.
The only thing I did like about this was the twist. I enjoyed it and it did seem to liven up the story a bit. It's just a shame this didn't happen until about 70% in, by which time I had lost all interest and then began skim reading just to finish it.
So, sadly this was just a big flop for me.
Thanks to Headline for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
December 7, 2025
What a fantastic read, I couldn’t put it down. I definitely didn’t see some of the twists and turns coming.
Paula’s husband John dies whilst away on a work trip, 2 days later she finds out that they have won the lottery.
Whilst also dealing with her grief for her husband she gets a visit from a trio of women who also have won the lottery and also all have dead husbands.
Then the news comes out to the public that she’s won the lottery and lost her husband and then there is lots of speculation that she killed him. When the news comes out, she gets lots of messages and calls from people wanting her money, who can she trust?
As she starts to get used to her husband not being around, what will happen when a shocking discovery and secrets come to light? Will she be able to move on?
Received from Netgally
Paula’s husband John dies whilst away on a work trip, 2 days later she finds out that they have won the lottery.
Whilst also dealing with her grief for her husband she gets a visit from a trio of women who also have won the lottery and also all have dead husbands.
Then the news comes out to the public that she’s won the lottery and lost her husband and then there is lots of speculation that she killed him. When the news comes out, she gets lots of messages and calls from people wanting her money, who can she trust?
As she starts to get used to her husband not being around, what will happen when a shocking discovery and secrets come to light? Will she be able to move on?
Received from Netgally
November 4, 2025
I really enjoyed the premise of this book but my favourite part was the friendships that came out of a highly unusual situation, especially as everyone in the friendship group were such different characters.
I liked that we found out more about Paula & Johns relationship quite far into the book as I was then hooked from about halfway through and wanting to find out more.
I think there were a few parts of the book that were a little repetitive in places, but overall I did enjoy!
I liked that we found out more about Paula & Johns relationship quite far into the book as I was then hooked from about halfway through and wanting to find out more.
I think there were a few parts of the book that were a little repetitive in places, but overall I did enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2026
“How has her life come to this? A dead husband, twenty million in the bank, an adult son living in the shed, and endless days spent hiding away from the internet comment sections.”
The premise of this story was really interesting! It took me a while to get really hooked on the story, the plot was quite slow to unravel at first, but it picked up closer to 50% mark and somewhere around 70-80% it was packed with quite a lot of action and plot twists.
Even with the slow beginning, I think the plot was very well planned and executed.
It’s not exactly a story with likable characters, at least I didn’t particularly like any of them, but I also didn’t not like them. Each character was definitely well written, with quite strong characteristics.
The antics (let’s call it that) of the widows club got ridiculous at some points (in entertaining and funny way!), so you have to squint your eyes a bit and not worry about the logic or probability of some of their actions/plans but overall it worked well for this plot and this type of book.
There were even a couple moments when I laughed!
At the end (maybe from 70% or something like that) it got pretty dark due to themes it touched - domestic abuse. It could be overwhelming and pretty depressive for a moment, but at the very end the overall mood was back to light, funny and a bit quirky.
I got both the ARC and ALC. I was mostly listening to the audiobook, with immersive reading at times.
Although the book is under 400 pages, the audiobook is pretty long - over 11h. It’s narrated by Virginia Grainger.
I was mostly listening with speed 2.0x, getting to 2.5 or even 3x at times. The narration was very good. I did have a small issue following some of the dialogues but this is when the ARC came in handy, and also it might have been due to my listening speed. I wish NetGalley had more options of listening speed between 2-3x, cause 2.0 was still a bit too slow for me, but 3.0x was too fast.
I guess if you’re not listening to an ALC but the published version, there should be more options of setting up speed.
Big thanks to Headline and Headline Audio for the NetGalley arc+alc
~~~
The only highlights I made:
“‘Male violence is not something we should be aspiring to. We should stick to female violence as much as possible. And there’s nothing wrong with a bit of poison, if that’s what we’re left with. We just need to find some.’”
“‘Oh my God,’ she says at last. ‘Oh my God. So you really, actually, totally didn’t murder your husband. Oh my God!’ ‘No,’ says Paula, shaking her head. ‘But I should’ve done.’”
The premise of this story was really interesting! It took me a while to get really hooked on the story, the plot was quite slow to unravel at first, but it picked up closer to 50% mark and somewhere around 70-80% it was packed with quite a lot of action and plot twists.
Even with the slow beginning, I think the plot was very well planned and executed.
It’s not exactly a story with likable characters, at least I didn’t particularly like any of them, but I also didn’t not like them. Each character was definitely well written, with quite strong characteristics.
The antics (let’s call it that) of the widows club got ridiculous at some points (in entertaining and funny way!), so you have to squint your eyes a bit and not worry about the logic or probability of some of their actions/plans but overall it worked well for this plot and this type of book.
There were even a couple moments when I laughed!
At the end (maybe from 70% or something like that) it got pretty dark due to themes it touched - domestic abuse. It could be overwhelming and pretty depressive for a moment, but at the very end the overall mood was back to light, funny and a bit quirky.
I got both the ARC and ALC. I was mostly listening to the audiobook, with immersive reading at times.
Although the book is under 400 pages, the audiobook is pretty long - over 11h. It’s narrated by Virginia Grainger.
I was mostly listening with speed 2.0x, getting to 2.5 or even 3x at times. The narration was very good. I did have a small issue following some of the dialogues but this is when the ARC came in handy, and also it might have been due to my listening speed. I wish NetGalley had more options of listening speed between 2-3x, cause 2.0 was still a bit too slow for me, but 3.0x was too fast.
I guess if you’re not listening to an ALC but the published version, there should be more options of setting up speed.
Big thanks to Headline and Headline Audio for the NetGalley arc+alc
~~~
The only highlights I made:
“‘Male violence is not something we should be aspiring to. We should stick to female violence as much as possible. And there’s nothing wrong with a bit of poison, if that’s what we’re left with. We just need to find some.’”
“‘Oh my God,’ she says at last. ‘Oh my God. So you really, actually, totally didn’t murder your husband. Oh my God!’ ‘No,’ says Paula, shaking her head. ‘But I should’ve done.’”
Read
April 7, 2026I went into The Lottery Winner Widows Club already a fan of Elly Vine’s books written under her other name, Lucy Vine, so I was really curious to see what she’d do differently here. And it definitely is different-darker, sharper, and with a delicious edge that makes it clear why she chose to publish under another name. This isn’t your typical rom-com territory; it leans much more into suspense and secrets, and I was hooked by the premise alone.
The story centres primarily around Paula, with the other three women forming the rest of the lottery-winning widows’ group around her-and what a group they are. All four are lottery winners and all are widows, which immediately gives the book that slightly sinister, “what really happened?” energy. If you loved The Housemaid (or its film adaptation), this one will absolutely be for you. I really enjoyed getting to know Paula first and then gradually peeling back the layers of the other women in the club. Watching their friendships unfold was such a highlight-they know how to have a fabulous time, but they’re also fiercely protective of one another. There’s real loyalty there, even if everything isn’t quite as glossy as it first appears.
What really makes this book shine is the underlying message: you truly never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Everyone has secrets, and this novel peels them back layer by layer in such a satisfying way. And let’s just say… revenge is most definitely a dish best served cold here. It’s sharp, entertaining, and packed with twists-a bold and intriguing departure from the author’s previous work that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The story centres primarily around Paula, with the other three women forming the rest of the lottery-winning widows’ group around her-and what a group they are. All four are lottery winners and all are widows, which immediately gives the book that slightly sinister, “what really happened?” energy. If you loved The Housemaid (or its film adaptation), this one will absolutely be for you. I really enjoyed getting to know Paula first and then gradually peeling back the layers of the other women in the club. Watching their friendships unfold was such a highlight-they know how to have a fabulous time, but they’re also fiercely protective of one another. There’s real loyalty there, even if everything isn’t quite as glossy as it first appears.
What really makes this book shine is the underlying message: you truly never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Everyone has secrets, and this novel peels them back layer by layer in such a satisfying way. And let’s just say… revenge is most definitely a dish best served cold here. It’s sharp, entertaining, and packed with twists-a bold and intriguing departure from the author’s previous work that I thoroughly enjoyed.
March 30, 2026
Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
'The Lottery Winner Widows' Club' is mystery slice of life by Elly Vine.
The plot has a crazy idea of a prompt, but the author handles it maverously.
The story, thus, is light, but it digs deeper into more sensitive and darker themes.
Overall, I loved how those themes were handled and how the women had a strong relationship.
Finally, the audiobook was nicely narrated and produced.
'The Lottery Winner Widows' Club' is mystery slice of life by Elly Vine.
The plot has a crazy idea of a prompt, but the author handles it maverously.
The story, thus, is light, but it digs deeper into more sensitive and darker themes.
Overall, I loved how those themes were handled and how the women had a strong relationship.
Finally, the audiobook was nicely narrated and produced.
March 18, 2026
Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, John, in a freak car accident, she's utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery - with the ticket he bought. Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands & suspiciously large bank accounts. They tell her that they've been where she is now & that grief looks good on her, and freedom does, too. There's just one problem: Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course. But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.
This is Lucy Vine’s foray into the crime genre and, as a big fan of her romcom titles, it has been one of my anticipated reads of 2026.
So firstly, genre wise I would describe this as a dark comedy crime as it covers a darker range of issues than Lucy’s usual titles. However it’s safe to say that she hasn’t lost her comical prose and easy flowing writing style that brings some fabulous characters to life.
Switching between the audiobook and a physical copy meant that I got to fully emerge myself in the world of TLWWC gang and it was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. Yes you might have to suspend reality at some points and some parts seem a little repetitive but does it matter? Not in the slightest because overall the characters and their journeys are the crux of this title, exploring some serious issues to the forefront along the way.
As always with Lucy’s writing there are some genuinely brilliant laugh out loud moments, the mentions of Narnia and MarioKart bringing a smile to my face whilst I don’t think I will ever forget the ‘arm knee’ reference to an elbow - just brilliant! (Honestly this makes so much more sense when reading in context!)
I can’t end this review without a special nod to Audrey, wow, I think this woman might be one of my favourite ever characters! I honestly believe the world would be a much better place if we were all like her - well apart from the murderous chat of course!🤣
There are some great twists in this title, including one halfway through that totally came out of the blue, and from this point on the story definitely ramps up a level with secrets being exposed left right and centre. A great debut from Elly and I look forward to reading whatever comes next from Elly (& Lucy!)
This is Lucy Vine’s foray into the crime genre and, as a big fan of her romcom titles, it has been one of my anticipated reads of 2026.
So firstly, genre wise I would describe this as a dark comedy crime as it covers a darker range of issues than Lucy’s usual titles. However it’s safe to say that she hasn’t lost her comical prose and easy flowing writing style that brings some fabulous characters to life.
Switching between the audiobook and a physical copy meant that I got to fully emerge myself in the world of TLWWC gang and it was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. Yes you might have to suspend reality at some points and some parts seem a little repetitive but does it matter? Not in the slightest because overall the characters and their journeys are the crux of this title, exploring some serious issues to the forefront along the way.
As always with Lucy’s writing there are some genuinely brilliant laugh out loud moments, the mentions of Narnia and MarioKart bringing a smile to my face whilst I don’t think I will ever forget the ‘arm knee’ reference to an elbow - just brilliant! (Honestly this makes so much more sense when reading in context!)
I can’t end this review without a special nod to Audrey, wow, I think this woman might be one of my favourite ever characters! I honestly believe the world would be a much better place if we were all like her - well apart from the murderous chat of course!🤣
There are some great twists in this title, including one halfway through that totally came out of the blue, and from this point on the story definitely ramps up a level with secrets being exposed left right and centre. A great debut from Elly and I look forward to reading whatever comes next from Elly (& Lucy!)
March 1, 2026
Meet The Lottery Winner Widows Club - a fabulous, filthy-rich sisterhood whose husbands all hit the jackpot . . . and then mysteriously dropped dead.
I enjoyed this book,
Twisty, mischievous, and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies, and the dangerous appeal of starting over, from a fresh new voice in the crime world.
I enjoyed this book,
Twisty, mischievous, and deliciously dark, The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a story of luck, lies, and the dangerous appeal of starting over, from a fresh new voice in the crime world.
January 1, 2026
It took me a while to get into this book, I must confess, however, I later understood why. I got a bit frustrated by Paula the main character, whose life has just been turned upside down by the death of her husband and her massive lottery win soon after, but you need to be patient and then you understand more why she is as easily pushed around as she is.
I enjoyed the plot thoroughly and it’s very well thought out, sure, some of it is a bit far-fetched but it’s fiction……poetic licence is allowed. I also enjoyed thinking about what I might do first if I won a huge amount on the lottery. What I found a little hard to believe was that her two grown up children at no point so much as suggested that she give them any money!
As the book went on I got more and more engrossed in it and by the three-quarters of the way through I was looking for excuses to sit down and read………….always a good sign.
It’s my first book by this author, I’d be happy to read more.
My thanks, as always go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed the plot thoroughly and it’s very well thought out, sure, some of it is a bit far-fetched but it’s fiction……poetic licence is allowed. I also enjoyed thinking about what I might do first if I won a huge amount on the lottery. What I found a little hard to believe was that her two grown up children at no point so much as suggested that she give them any money!
As the book went on I got more and more engrossed in it and by the three-quarters of the way through I was looking for excuses to sit down and read………….always a good sign.
It’s my first book by this author, I’d be happy to read more.
My thanks, as always go to the author, the publishers and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
November 4, 2025
Review of ‘The Lottery Winner Widows Club’ by Elly Vine, due to be published on 26 March 2026 by Headline, Wildfire.
Paula, dealing with the unexpected news of her husband’s death in Austria, learns that they have won the lottery - £21 million to be exact. She’s shell shocked, unsure what to do with the money whilst navigating her life as a widow.
Enter Teddy, Audrey and Ivy - three fellow recent widows who also happen to have won the lottery, who bring Paula back to life and get up to wonderful antics together.
This was a light hearted, amusing story which has well written characters, centring around the four main female protagonists. It’s a story of flourishing friendship, love, grief, acceptance and revenge. A fun read that is recommended.
Paula, dealing with the unexpected news of her husband’s death in Austria, learns that they have won the lottery - £21 million to be exact. She’s shell shocked, unsure what to do with the money whilst navigating her life as a widow.
Enter Teddy, Audrey and Ivy - three fellow recent widows who also happen to have won the lottery, who bring Paula back to life and get up to wonderful antics together.
This was a light hearted, amusing story which has well written characters, centring around the four main female protagonists. It’s a story of flourishing friendship, love, grief, acceptance and revenge. A fun read that is recommended.
April 20, 2026
To say Paula was having a roller coaster of a week would be an understatement. Trying to cope with the loss of her husband of more than thirty years is shocking enough, but to also discover that she is now in sole charge of a twenty-one million pound lottery win has sent her reeling.
Lost in grief, mired in family ructions, and weighed down with newly discovered secrets about her husband, Paula feels like she is in a walking nightmare - until a trio of glamourous lottery winner widows barrel into her life. They are all for Paula spending her millions on living the high-life, the problem is they think she killed her husband to get her hands on the winnings, just like they did... and they are not the only ones.
When the lovely Lucy Vine decides to change-lanes with a crime thriller, under the pseudonym Elly Vine, she does not do things by halves! Enter stage right the fabulous Lottery Winner Widows - Teddy, Audrey, and Ivy - as The Lottery Winner Widows Club (TLWWC) who draw Paula into their multi-generational gang, and carry her along on an adventure filled with Vine's enjoyable brand of laughs and emotion... but this time with a dark core of murderous mayhem!
Paula suddenly finds herself tied up in knots as she discovers things she never realised about her husband, and the way he has manipulated her over the years. It is time for her to take charge of her own fate, but first she must disentangle herself from the 'tentacles of grief' her bossy daughter Tilly seems obsessed with saving her from; work out exactly what is going on with her lackadaisical son Seb; and deal with sinister types after her money - which is going to require the help of the unconventional TLWWC ladies.
This story is a riot. I found myself constantly chuckling along at the antics of the TLWWC and their shambolic plans to rid the world of troublesome men. There are really enjoyable twists and turns in the course of the story that take in the TLWWC and their families, and Vine packs this book with poignant themes that will bring a tear to your eye, particularly when it comes to coercive control, and domestic abuse. Paula's heart-rending situation, as an older woman breaking-free and trying to be seen, is very powerful - and I loved being at her side as she finds the courage to change her fate with the assistance of the glorious TLWWC (and a little help from sweet Seb). There is oodles of thought-provoking stuff about navigating the weird world of lottery winners too.
Uplifting, and with bags of humour and heart, this is an intriguing change of direction from Vine that blurs the edges between feminist buddy story, comic crime caper, and family drama. It totally works with Vine's writing style, and I absorbed it in a single sitting. More please!
Lost in grief, mired in family ructions, and weighed down with newly discovered secrets about her husband, Paula feels like she is in a walking nightmare - until a trio of glamourous lottery winner widows barrel into her life. They are all for Paula spending her millions on living the high-life, the problem is they think she killed her husband to get her hands on the winnings, just like they did... and they are not the only ones.
When the lovely Lucy Vine decides to change-lanes with a crime thriller, under the pseudonym Elly Vine, she does not do things by halves! Enter stage right the fabulous Lottery Winner Widows - Teddy, Audrey, and Ivy - as The Lottery Winner Widows Club (TLWWC) who draw Paula into their multi-generational gang, and carry her along on an adventure filled with Vine's enjoyable brand of laughs and emotion... but this time with a dark core of murderous mayhem!
Paula suddenly finds herself tied up in knots as she discovers things she never realised about her husband, and the way he has manipulated her over the years. It is time for her to take charge of her own fate, but first she must disentangle herself from the 'tentacles of grief' her bossy daughter Tilly seems obsessed with saving her from; work out exactly what is going on with her lackadaisical son Seb; and deal with sinister types after her money - which is going to require the help of the unconventional TLWWC ladies.
This story is a riot. I found myself constantly chuckling along at the antics of the TLWWC and their shambolic plans to rid the world of troublesome men. There are really enjoyable twists and turns in the course of the story that take in the TLWWC and their families, and Vine packs this book with poignant themes that will bring a tear to your eye, particularly when it comes to coercive control, and domestic abuse. Paula's heart-rending situation, as an older woman breaking-free and trying to be seen, is very powerful - and I loved being at her side as she finds the courage to change her fate with the assistance of the glorious TLWWC (and a little help from sweet Seb). There is oodles of thought-provoking stuff about navigating the weird world of lottery winners too.
Uplifting, and with bags of humour and heart, this is an intriguing change of direction from Vine that blurs the edges between feminist buddy story, comic crime caper, and family drama. It totally works with Vine's writing style, and I absorbed it in a single sitting. More please!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It’s all happening for Paula. Her husband has been killed in a car crash and she’s just won millions of pounds in the lottery.
The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a cracking narrative. It is packed with intrigue, surprisingly twisty and, with weightier elements making it more than mere entertainment, incredibly satisfying to read. I found myself wrong footed and surprised by the plot on more than one occasion.
If I’m honest, I was a bit frustrated by Paula initially and I wasn’t convinced I was going to love the book. Although the stultifying effects of losing her husband in a car crash are understandable, Paula seemed somewhat ineffectual, allowing her daughter Tilly to control events far too readily. However, as the book progressed and Elly Vine revealed more and more about her, I realised that I was at fault in judging Paula too quickly. Indeed, I went from wanting to crawl between the pages of the book and shake her into action, to cheering her on and delighting in her development. Why she is as she is becomes a central and perfect theme of the narrative. I loved the other women too. They are devious, feisty and vulnerable so that they truly spring to life. It’s also fascinating to discover how easily and skilfully Elly Vine manages to make her readers fully on the side of women with murderous intent!
But aside from the fun and engaging story, where there are often funny moments, it was the darker themes of the The Lottery Winner Widows Club that captured me the most. Elly Vine provides so much to think about that the reader questions their own morality. As the background stories of Teddy, Audrey and Ivy are uncovered, aspects of coercive control, and physical and emotional abuse are balanced by strong female friendship, the ability to reinvent ourselves and the resilience of human spirit. Each of these aspects is brilliantly handled because the author explores them with wit, humour and understanding, so that I found The Lottery Winner Widows Club utterly captivating.
Knowing Elly Vine’s romantic comedies as Lucy Vine, I was expecting a highly entertaining, funny read with added crime. What I found in The Lottery Winner Widows Club most certainly had humour and was extremely diverting to read, with a fresh tone and a lively pace, but underpinning this super read are darker and important themes as Paula finds herself friends with other women in similar situations. Should you choose to read this one, you’ll be given much to think about even as you’re enjoying the story. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The Lottery Winner Widows Club is a cracking narrative. It is packed with intrigue, surprisingly twisty and, with weightier elements making it more than mere entertainment, incredibly satisfying to read. I found myself wrong footed and surprised by the plot on more than one occasion.
If I’m honest, I was a bit frustrated by Paula initially and I wasn’t convinced I was going to love the book. Although the stultifying effects of losing her husband in a car crash are understandable, Paula seemed somewhat ineffectual, allowing her daughter Tilly to control events far too readily. However, as the book progressed and Elly Vine revealed more and more about her, I realised that I was at fault in judging Paula too quickly. Indeed, I went from wanting to crawl between the pages of the book and shake her into action, to cheering her on and delighting in her development. Why she is as she is becomes a central and perfect theme of the narrative. I loved the other women too. They are devious, feisty and vulnerable so that they truly spring to life. It’s also fascinating to discover how easily and skilfully Elly Vine manages to make her readers fully on the side of women with murderous intent!
But aside from the fun and engaging story, where there are often funny moments, it was the darker themes of the The Lottery Winner Widows Club that captured me the most. Elly Vine provides so much to think about that the reader questions their own morality. As the background stories of Teddy, Audrey and Ivy are uncovered, aspects of coercive control, and physical and emotional abuse are balanced by strong female friendship, the ability to reinvent ourselves and the resilience of human spirit. Each of these aspects is brilliantly handled because the author explores them with wit, humour and understanding, so that I found The Lottery Winner Widows Club utterly captivating.
Knowing Elly Vine’s romantic comedies as Lucy Vine, I was expecting a highly entertaining, funny read with added crime. What I found in The Lottery Winner Widows Club most certainly had humour and was extremely diverting to read, with a fresh tone and a lively pace, but underpinning this super read are darker and important themes as Paula finds herself friends with other women in similar situations. Should you choose to read this one, you’ll be given much to think about even as you’re enjoying the story. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
March 28, 2026
The downtrodden Paula’s life changes in an instant when she and her husband win a staggering £21 million lottery jackpot. But her initial euphoria is quickly overshadowed by tragedy when she learns the devastating news that he has apparently died in an accident overseas while away on a work trip. Reeling from the shock, Paula finds herself struggling to cope. For years, her life has revolved around him, and without his presence she’s lost. Meanwhile, everyone around her seems to have their hands out for a share of the money, and the press camped out on her doorstep, hungry for a story, only adds to her stress. Just when things seem at their lowest, an unexpected visitor, the glamorous Teddy, arrives at her door stunning Paula with what she believes she has done, and welcoming her into an exclusive circle.
The Lottery Winner Widows Club apparently marks a shift in genre for an author better known for writing romcoms but as a first-time reader of their work anyway, I had no set expectations going into this book, I was just intrigued by the sound of the blurb. Initially though, I found it difficult to warm to Paula; her general demeanour and lack of assertiveness were just so frustrating. However, as the story unfolded and more of her past married life was revealed, my opinion began to shift and I felt more sympathetic towards her. Then the introduction of Teddy, along with Audrey and Ivy, brought a whole new energy to the story while serving as a turning point for Paula’s character. What followed was an engaging and humorous journey of discovery, as Paula slowly came into her own. The dynamic between the women was a particular highlight, blending humour, warmth, and a touch of mischief. Together, they navigated grief, betrayal, and revenge, not forgetting the opportunists that circled them, forming a bond that was both supportive and empowering.
Overall, Elly Vine delivered a well-paced and emotionally engaging story that was easy to follow while balancing some heavier themes with a subtly dark sense of humour and a few well-placed twists to keep readers on their toes. The characters were likeable and easy to root for, and by the end, the story left the door open for more. The Lottery Winner Widows Club has the potential to grow into an entertaining series focused on friendship, resilience…. and a bit of well-earned revenge. And while I’m usually sceptical about adaptations, this is one story I’d genuinely like to see on screen - so long as it stays true to the book of course.
The Lottery Winner Widows Club apparently marks a shift in genre for an author better known for writing romcoms but as a first-time reader of their work anyway, I had no set expectations going into this book, I was just intrigued by the sound of the blurb. Initially though, I found it difficult to warm to Paula; her general demeanour and lack of assertiveness were just so frustrating. However, as the story unfolded and more of her past married life was revealed, my opinion began to shift and I felt more sympathetic towards her. Then the introduction of Teddy, along with Audrey and Ivy, brought a whole new energy to the story while serving as a turning point for Paula’s character. What followed was an engaging and humorous journey of discovery, as Paula slowly came into her own. The dynamic between the women was a particular highlight, blending humour, warmth, and a touch of mischief. Together, they navigated grief, betrayal, and revenge, not forgetting the opportunists that circled them, forming a bond that was both supportive and empowering.
Overall, Elly Vine delivered a well-paced and emotionally engaging story that was easy to follow while balancing some heavier themes with a subtly dark sense of humour and a few well-placed twists to keep readers on their toes. The characters were likeable and easy to root for, and by the end, the story left the door open for more. The Lottery Winner Widows Club has the potential to grow into an entertaining series focused on friendship, resilience…. and a bit of well-earned revenge. And while I’m usually sceptical about adaptations, this is one story I’d genuinely like to see on screen - so long as it stays true to the book of course.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well... I took a bit of a punt on this book and I am so glad I did. I blooming loved it from start to finish. Even though it wasn't quite what I was expecting, it definitely ticked every box for me.
We start with Paula who is having a bit of a life at the time we meet her. She has just lost love-of-her-life husband John in a freak car accident in Austria. This obviously devastates her. But then, a couple days later their lottery numbers come up, winning her just shy of 20 million quid. Bitter sweet. Mixed emotions. All that and more, and totally overwhelming. Her grown up children Seb and Tilly try and help her but she can't really function. Until, that is, she is recruited to join Teddy and Audrey in their "Lottery Winners Widow's Club". They are joined swiftly by Ivy and the three of them try and get Paula to embrace her new found freedom, and money.
And that's all I am saying as the shocks and reveals you will discover herein won't be as wonderfully hard hitting if you inadvertently find out something too early. Suffice to say I knew nothing going in and, oh my days, the twists and turns and directions this story took, all the way through... Most of them completely flooring me, all of them impressing me and, occasionally kicking myself for not realising. Absolutely brilliant! And that ending! And the epilogue...
And the characters... please say this is not the last we hear from them. I love each and every one of the four club members and Seb of course. Tilly is still a bit of an unknown quantity but I would like to get to know her and her wife better. Please say this isn't the end for them. They have so much more to give. A sequel at least please :)
And then, as usually do when I think I have found another potential favourite author, and I want to zoom off and add all her back catalogue to my TBR, from the afterward, I discover out that "Elly" Vine is a pseudonym for "Lucy" Vine who is a RomCom author. Now, that's not my usual genre but I have been known to dip my toes so, obviously, I now have all her books on my TBR.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We start with Paula who is having a bit of a life at the time we meet her. She has just lost love-of-her-life husband John in a freak car accident in Austria. This obviously devastates her. But then, a couple days later their lottery numbers come up, winning her just shy of 20 million quid. Bitter sweet. Mixed emotions. All that and more, and totally overwhelming. Her grown up children Seb and Tilly try and help her but she can't really function. Until, that is, she is recruited to join Teddy and Audrey in their "Lottery Winners Widow's Club". They are joined swiftly by Ivy and the three of them try and get Paula to embrace her new found freedom, and money.
And that's all I am saying as the shocks and reveals you will discover herein won't be as wonderfully hard hitting if you inadvertently find out something too early. Suffice to say I knew nothing going in and, oh my days, the twists and turns and directions this story took, all the way through... Most of them completely flooring me, all of them impressing me and, occasionally kicking myself for not realising. Absolutely brilliant! And that ending! And the epilogue...
And the characters... please say this is not the last we hear from them. I love each and every one of the four club members and Seb of course. Tilly is still a bit of an unknown quantity but I would like to get to know her and her wife better. Please say this isn't the end for them. They have so much more to give. A sequel at least please :)
And then, as usually do when I think I have found another potential favourite author, and I want to zoom off and add all her back catalogue to my TBR, from the afterward, I discover out that "Elly" Vine is a pseudonym for "Lucy" Vine who is a RomCom author. Now, that's not my usual genre but I have been known to dip my toes so, obviously, I now have all her books on my TBR.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had a great time reading this book. In fact reading may not be accurate, I devoured it. I was enjoying it so much I wasn't aware of time passing, I just needed to keep knowing what would happen next.
It also raises the question of if you were to win big on the lottery and were in a less than ideal marriage, would you get rid of your husband in a permanent manner?
As that is the premise of the group of new friends Paula finds herself making, only she is adamant that she didn't kill John, she is grieving him, she is helpless without him But yet the others have offed their husbands, and are all rather rich too.
And with that you have a fledgling friendship, where Paula starts to discover who she is without John. Her adult children seem to have pre-conceived ideas as to what she should do, and there are relatives and all manner of people asking her for money, after word of the Lottery win gets out.
Some of them far more sinister than others!
And this new group of women, they are a breath of fresh air, various ages, but they don't just want to stop with their own husbands, they would ideally like to rid the world of other horrific men. But well things aren't always as they seem, and it turns out cold heartedly plotting something is easier said than done!
There are multiple twists and turns, and plenty of reveals that I certainly didn't see coming at all. There is a total and utter mastermind to the group, who is utterly brilliant too.
I absolutely loved my time spent with Audrey, Teddy, Ivy and both Paulas (one is in dog form). I loved the various extravagant purchases mentioned, as well as Paula now trying to adjust to the fact that she can afford to spend money.
I'm also incredibly impressed that an author I know more as a rom-com author, under another name, is now writing fabulous comic crime. I think she may have found a new niche and long may it continue.
This is a lot of fun, and I was incredibly satisfied with the ending. I just really hope this isn't the last we see of these wonderful women.
Thank you to Wildfire and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
April 16, 2026
I think most of us have thought about what it would be like to win the lottery. But I doubt any of us imagine it turning out how it does for Paula Sheldon, who wins big the same week her husband John is killed in a freak accident. Things only get worse when the loan sharks come calling and she finds John’s notebook full of dark secrets. Life can’t get any crazier. Or so she thinks. Enter The Lottery Winner Widow’s Club - a group of glamorous, feisty and filthy rich women who hit the jackpot before their husbands mysteriously died. She might not have killed John like they think she did, but she can’t help but be drawn to these fascinating women and their luxurious lifestyles. But as news of Paula’s win spreads and rumours about her husband’s death begin to circulate, she is faced with a choice. Will return to the life she knows or accept the unconventional help of her new friends?
Wonderfully witty, outrageous, mischievous and compelling Elly Vine’s first foray into comedic crime fiction is a roaring success. Expertly written, cleverly plotted and full of twists, this hilarious crime caper had me hooked from start to finish. It’s a fabulous blend of female rage, murder and dark comedy that skillfully blends humour with more serious topics such as domestic abuse. Elly has written this sensitive topic so well and as a survivor I really appreciated her bringing awareness to the insidious and devastating realities of coercive control in a way that was moving, powerful and hilarious.
I loved the charismatic characters of The Lottery Winner Widow’s Club and their absurd antics. I love nothing more than seeing women come together to support and help one another, and this sisterhood does exactly that. Paula was a great protagonist who I related to on many levels (though sadly not the lottery win part lol) but my favourite character was Teddy, the American force of nature who lit up every page she was on. It truly felt like together there was nothing these women couldn’t do and I was cheering them on at every step, even if their way of doing things wasn’t exactly above board.
Entertaining and hilarious, this is a must for your TBR.
Wonderfully witty, outrageous, mischievous and compelling Elly Vine’s first foray into comedic crime fiction is a roaring success. Expertly written, cleverly plotted and full of twists, this hilarious crime caper had me hooked from start to finish. It’s a fabulous blend of female rage, murder and dark comedy that skillfully blends humour with more serious topics such as domestic abuse. Elly has written this sensitive topic so well and as a survivor I really appreciated her bringing awareness to the insidious and devastating realities of coercive control in a way that was moving, powerful and hilarious.
I loved the charismatic characters of The Lottery Winner Widow’s Club and their absurd antics. I love nothing more than seeing women come together to support and help one another, and this sisterhood does exactly that. Paula was a great protagonist who I related to on many levels (though sadly not the lottery win part lol) but my favourite character was Teddy, the American force of nature who lit up every page she was on. It truly felt like together there was nothing these women couldn’t do and I was cheering them on at every step, even if their way of doing things wasn’t exactly above board.
Entertaining and hilarious, this is a must for your TBR.
Read
January 27, 2026I can highly recommend The Lottery Winner Widows Club (Kindle Edition) a crime novel with humour in the mix by Elly Vine. Her book, Hot Mess is optioned for a TV series in America.
Paula has recently become a widow due to having lost her husband John in a car crash abroad. Then out of the blue, Paula wins twenty million in the lottery.
Then Teddy contacts Paula to join their elite clique which is known as The Lottery Winner Widows Club aka TLWWC.
They inform her that they too have been in her shoes as they too have killed their partners, except Paula hasn't killed her husband.
The three merry widows all have different personalities. Teddy an American forty-something, who dresses like a football WAG was a former lawyer. Audrey in her eighties, has a pet dog called Paula also has a wicked sense of humour. Ivy who is even younger than Paula's two adult children who believes in making the world a better place for abused women. Audrey has called themselves the four muskateers in jest.
Paula's grown son Seth and daughter Tilly arrange for them to all have grief counselling, especially as Paula is struggling since John's demise. Paula is keeping things that she has locked away all through her marriage in order to maintain a united front for her children.
After John's death, Paula discovers he has kept things from her as mean looking men come knocking on her door demanding money, an entanglement with his secretary, and a big cover up.
Relativism or euphemism, the doctrine that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute sums up the four merry widows.
I felt for Paula, as she could not carry on with her care work, due to the press hounding her. Also the enormous amount of wealth that felt more like a hindrance than a blessing.
Paula felt a comaradie with the three widows who released her from a caterpillar into a butterfly. She shared experiences which she never had with John as her new found friends took her on cruises and flights to hotter climates.
Paula has recently become a widow due to having lost her husband John in a car crash abroad. Then out of the blue, Paula wins twenty million in the lottery.
Then Teddy contacts Paula to join their elite clique which is known as The Lottery Winner Widows Club aka TLWWC.
They inform her that they too have been in her shoes as they too have killed their partners, except Paula hasn't killed her husband.
The three merry widows all have different personalities. Teddy an American forty-something, who dresses like a football WAG was a former lawyer. Audrey in her eighties, has a pet dog called Paula also has a wicked sense of humour. Ivy who is even younger than Paula's two adult children who believes in making the world a better place for abused women. Audrey has called themselves the four muskateers in jest.
Paula's grown son Seth and daughter Tilly arrange for them to all have grief counselling, especially as Paula is struggling since John's demise. Paula is keeping things that she has locked away all through her marriage in order to maintain a united front for her children.
After John's death, Paula discovers he has kept things from her as mean looking men come knocking on her door demanding money, an entanglement with his secretary, and a big cover up.
Relativism or euphemism, the doctrine that knowledge, truth and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute sums up the four merry widows.
I felt for Paula, as she could not carry on with her care work, due to the press hounding her. Also the enormous amount of wealth that felt more like a hindrance than a blessing.
Paula felt a comaradie with the three widows who released her from a caterpillar into a butterfly. She shared experiences which she never had with John as her new found friends took her on cruises and flights to hotter climates.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this jaw dropping book
when paula received the news that she had won the lottery and we are talking millions she also received the news that her husband had been in a fatal car crash where he had been on a work thing......
it was all surreal how on earth would she cope luckily for paula she had her two children tilly and seb....
it was tilly who managed the funeral arrangement and everything else seb was his normal self but at least he was there
at the reading of the will... her brother in laws lost the plot when they realised they werent going to get a share of the jackpot but all paula felt was lost and was ready to hand it all over to them luckily for her though tilly put an end to that
the press announcement of her lottery win went badly well for a start she hadnt wanted any attention but she couldnt stop it from getting out and the aftermath was horrible rumours were starting that she had murdered her husband for the money .... she really couldnt cope with it all
then on that fateful day a woman entered her house and introduced herself as teddy.... she was also a winner of the lottery and she was a member of the lottery winner widow club and she and her friend another lottery winner wanted paula to join them.... get her use to the money and what it could do....
paula didnt have any friends she only had her family and this concept of being in a club wasnt something she was use to but she allowed teddy to pull her in.....
omg this story its everyones else dream to win the lottery how life changing it would be... but this story has a twist that i didnt see coming
i loved the antics of the group and the ease with which they went through life ....paula was about to learn.... the group dynamics and paula and her family it was all about to be tested but what a learning expericence for everyone even me the reader.... thought provoking about friendship and everyones roles in your life who you let enter and who you dont
when paula received the news that she had won the lottery and we are talking millions she also received the news that her husband had been in a fatal car crash where he had been on a work thing......
it was all surreal how on earth would she cope luckily for paula she had her two children tilly and seb....
it was tilly who managed the funeral arrangement and everything else seb was his normal self but at least he was there
at the reading of the will... her brother in laws lost the plot when they realised they werent going to get a share of the jackpot but all paula felt was lost and was ready to hand it all over to them luckily for her though tilly put an end to that
the press announcement of her lottery win went badly well for a start she hadnt wanted any attention but she couldnt stop it from getting out and the aftermath was horrible rumours were starting that she had murdered her husband for the money .... she really couldnt cope with it all
then on that fateful day a woman entered her house and introduced herself as teddy.... she was also a winner of the lottery and she was a member of the lottery winner widow club and she and her friend another lottery winner wanted paula to join them.... get her use to the money and what it could do....
paula didnt have any friends she only had her family and this concept of being in a club wasnt something she was use to but she allowed teddy to pull her in.....
omg this story its everyones else dream to win the lottery how life changing it would be... but this story has a twist that i didnt see coming
i loved the antics of the group and the ease with which they went through life ....paula was about to learn.... the group dynamics and paula and her family it was all about to be tested but what a learning expericence for everyone even me the reader.... thought provoking about friendship and everyones roles in your life who you let enter and who you dont
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fate seems to be playing tricks on Paula. At the same time, she learns that her husband has died in a terrible accident abroad, she also discovers that she's won millions on the lottery. Both events leave Paula feeling numb; luckily, some like-minded people are there to help her come to terms with the events.
I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy crime caper; it is pure escapism. Paula is overwhelmed by the two pieces of news she receives; things are made doubly difficult as her husband, John, is the one who made all the decisions. Thankfully, another lottery winner, Teddy, seeks her out and takes her under her wing. Through the glamorous Teddy, she is also introduced to another lottery winner, Audrey, and both admit to killing their abusive husbands after winning big. They are both convinced that Paula is responsible for John's death.
The longer Paula is with Teddy and Audrey, the more she comes out of her shell. It was lovely to see the personal growth Paula goes through, although there are still lots of times when she hesitates over making decisions. She's particularly reluctant to stand up to her grown-up children.
Taking a fourth lottery-winning female under their wing, the group decides that they are going to put their particular skills to use and free women from abusive relationships by murdering the men responsible. This leads to some hilarious situations. I found myself giggling at times over the antics of the trio.
There is a serious side to the story, with some alarming statistics shared with the reader. Unfortunately, the group of women proves to be poor at murder, but they are still able to ensure that fate comes calling for some of the despicable men in the story.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy crime caper; it is pure escapism. Paula is overwhelmed by the two pieces of news she receives; things are made doubly difficult as her husband, John, is the one who made all the decisions. Thankfully, another lottery winner, Teddy, seeks her out and takes her under her wing. Through the glamorous Teddy, she is also introduced to another lottery winner, Audrey, and both admit to killing their abusive husbands after winning big. They are both convinced that Paula is responsible for John's death.
The longer Paula is with Teddy and Audrey, the more she comes out of her shell. It was lovely to see the personal growth Paula goes through, although there are still lots of times when she hesitates over making decisions. She's particularly reluctant to stand up to her grown-up children.
Taking a fourth lottery-winning female under their wing, the group decides that they are going to put their particular skills to use and free women from abusive relationships by murdering the men responsible. This leads to some hilarious situations. I found myself giggling at times over the antics of the trio.
There is a serious side to the story, with some alarming statistics shared with the reader. Unfortunately, the group of women proves to be poor at murder, but they are still able to ensure that fate comes calling for some of the despicable men in the story.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review: The Lottery Winner's Widow's Club by Elly Vine
I’ll admit, when I first picked up The Lottery Winner's Widow's Club, I expected a breezy, perhaps slightly superficial "chick-lit" romp about spending millions. What I actually found was a story with surprising heart, a bit of grit, and a very relatable exploration of what happens when the "big win" doesn’t actually fix your life.
What the Book is About
The story follows a group of women who share a very specific, bittersweet bond: they were all married to men who hit the jackpot, only to lose their husbands shortly after. Instead of living the dream, they’re left navigating massive wealth alongside massive grief—all while dealing with the "vultures" (family and strangers alike) who think a bank balance cancels out a broken heart.
My Personal Takeaways
* The Emotional Weight: I was impressed by how Elly Vine handled the nuance of grief. It’s not just about sadness; it’s about the guilt of inheriting a fortune you’d trade in a heartbeat to have your partner back.
* The "Club" Dynamic: The chemistry between the women is the soul of the book. I loved seeing how their different backgrounds clashed and then eventually fused into a support system that no one else could provide.
* The Pacing: It’s a fast read. Vine has a knack for sharp dialogue and keeping the plot moving with enough "what would I do?" scenarios to keep you turning pages.
Final Verdict
I’d give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It’s the kind of book that makes you look at your own life and realize that while money can buy a bigger house, it can’t buy a seat at a table for someone who’s gone. It’s poignant, occasionally funny, and deeply human.
Key takeaway: A "wealthy" read that reminds you the most valuable things in life aren't found in a bank vault, but in the people who show up when the world gets quiet.
I’ll admit, when I first picked up The Lottery Winner's Widow's Club, I expected a breezy, perhaps slightly superficial "chick-lit" romp about spending millions. What I actually found was a story with surprising heart, a bit of grit, and a very relatable exploration of what happens when the "big win" doesn’t actually fix your life.
What the Book is About
The story follows a group of women who share a very specific, bittersweet bond: they were all married to men who hit the jackpot, only to lose their husbands shortly after. Instead of living the dream, they’re left navigating massive wealth alongside massive grief—all while dealing with the "vultures" (family and strangers alike) who think a bank balance cancels out a broken heart.
My Personal Takeaways
* The Emotional Weight: I was impressed by how Elly Vine handled the nuance of grief. It’s not just about sadness; it’s about the guilt of inheriting a fortune you’d trade in a heartbeat to have your partner back.
* The "Club" Dynamic: The chemistry between the women is the soul of the book. I loved seeing how their different backgrounds clashed and then eventually fused into a support system that no one else could provide.
* The Pacing: It’s a fast read. Vine has a knack for sharp dialogue and keeping the plot moving with enough "what would I do?" scenarios to keep you turning pages.
Final Verdict
I’d give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It’s the kind of book that makes you look at your own life and realize that while money can buy a bigger house, it can’t buy a seat at a table for someone who’s gone. It’s poignant, occasionally funny, and deeply human.
Key takeaway: A "wealthy" read that reminds you the most valuable things in life aren't found in a bank vault, but in the people who show up when the world gets quiet.
February 19, 2026
I enjoyed this book; it was great fun to read, with some darkly funny & tense moments, plenty of twists & turns & and an unexpected ending. Paula’s nightmare begins when she has a phone call informing her that her husband died in a car accident whilst overseas on business. Soon afterwards she gets news of a huge lottery win. She doesn’t cope well with these situations, which frustrates both her children, but especially bossy daughter Tilly. Life starts looking up for Paula when fellow lottery winners Teddy & Audrey (also widows, both in mysterious circumstances!) turn up & take her under their wing. Much hilarity ensues as the three of them, now joined by Ivy, spend their winnings & enjoy life to the full; one of my favourite events is the time they take Paula to view a (highly unsuitable!) mansion accompanied by Audrey’s small dog (confusingly, also named Paula!) who took a liking to the hapless young estate agent!
It was a fun & enjoyable read. However, it took me a while to get into the story & I read the second half much faster than the first, eager to find out how it would all end. I found Paula a bit frustrating at times & it’s only in the second half of the book that we find out her back story, & then I felt I understood her better. There’s an extensive cast of supporting characters, some more likeable than others. Her daughter Tilly was bossy & managing but son Seb was gentle & understanding when we eventually got to know him. It’s the kind of story where people & events seem improbable, so for me it’s been a matter of suspending belief & just enjoying the fun. Having finished reading, I can appreciate the quality of the writing & the way the different strands of the story fit together. It is a good read & I will be looking out for more by this new author for me (& her alter ego, Lucy Vine!).
Thanks to the author, Netgalley & publishers Wildfire for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
It was a fun & enjoyable read. However, it took me a while to get into the story & I read the second half much faster than the first, eager to find out how it would all end. I found Paula a bit frustrating at times & it’s only in the second half of the book that we find out her back story, & then I felt I understood her better. There’s an extensive cast of supporting characters, some more likeable than others. Her daughter Tilly was bossy & managing but son Seb was gentle & understanding when we eventually got to know him. It’s the kind of story where people & events seem improbable, so for me it’s been a matter of suspending belief & just enjoying the fun. Having finished reading, I can appreciate the quality of the writing & the way the different strands of the story fit together. It is a good read & I will be looking out for more by this new author for me (& her alter ego, Lucy Vine!).
Thanks to the author, Netgalley & publishers Wildfire for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
February 27, 2026
“It really is such bad timing that John’s dead. Just when the biggest thing to ever happen to either of them – to anyone she’s ever met! – has occurred. Just when she and John have won twenty-one million pounds on the lottery. How is she going to manage this on her own?”
This was such a fun read! With so many twists and turns, and unexpected reveals, this is a book that’ll keep you guessing. Fast paced and very entertaining.
Paula has had two pieces of big news - firstly she’s just found out she’s won over 20 million on the lottery, secondly she’s just found out her husband has died in an accident abroad. Her life gets even more complicated when she begins to unravel her husbands secrets, and then a strange group of women get in contact with her - they’re a group who’ve apparently killed their husbands and then won the lottery.
‘Well,’ she begins, then pauses. ‘Me and a friend are putting together a group of . . . like-minded women,’ she explains in a lowered voice, elongating her vowels. ‘We’re both lottery winners who’ve . . . lost our husbands. We’re thinking of calling ourselves – are you ready for this, babe? – The Lottery Winner Widows Club!’ She pauses. ‘And we want you to join.’”
This is a book that celebrates female friendships - in her fellow Widows Paula finds not only companionship, but begins to find herself. Despite all the murders and their shenanigans, Paula is on a journey of self-discovery and I loved how this played out in the book. There’s also great themes of feminism - supporting women’s rights and women’s wrongs - and the struggles of patriarchal oppression. This is all tied together with a hilarious comedic tone.
Overall this book took plenty of turns I wasn’t expecting and was a read I couldn’t put down!
ARC copy provided by Headline & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was such a fun read! With so many twists and turns, and unexpected reveals, this is a book that’ll keep you guessing. Fast paced and very entertaining.
Paula has had two pieces of big news - firstly she’s just found out she’s won over 20 million on the lottery, secondly she’s just found out her husband has died in an accident abroad. Her life gets even more complicated when she begins to unravel her husbands secrets, and then a strange group of women get in contact with her - they’re a group who’ve apparently killed their husbands and then won the lottery.
‘Well,’ she begins, then pauses. ‘Me and a friend are putting together a group of . . . like-minded women,’ she explains in a lowered voice, elongating her vowels. ‘We’re both lottery winners who’ve . . . lost our husbands. We’re thinking of calling ourselves – are you ready for this, babe? – The Lottery Winner Widows Club!’ She pauses. ‘And we want you to join.’”
This is a book that celebrates female friendships - in her fellow Widows Paula finds not only companionship, but begins to find herself. Despite all the murders and their shenanigans, Paula is on a journey of self-discovery and I loved how this played out in the book. There’s also great themes of feminism - supporting women’s rights and women’s wrongs - and the struggles of patriarchal oppression. This is all tied together with a hilarious comedic tone.
Overall this book took plenty of turns I wasn’t expecting and was a read I couldn’t put down!
ARC copy provided by Headline & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This had such a beautiful, eye-popping cover which I loved.
Elly Vine is a pseudonym for Lucy Vine, so this is her debut novel under that name. I have looked at her Lucy Vine books but I haven't read any, and so I had no expectations going in.
This was fun. It's funny and naughty; is it the most sophisticated of writing? No, but I didn't really mind as the story was interesting enough that it didn't really matter.
I loved this group of women. They're strangers who someone become friends, bonding over shared experiences. They're all so different and made it exciting to read.
Paula was an interesting protagonist. She's obviously been hit with two shocks - one good and one bad - and she's just trying to keep her head above water, and it's not helped by her family, although I accept they are just trying to support her. But I really felt for her and just wanted her to get through this. She is a bit of a doormat at times, and that is a bit annoying but I forgive her.
I will say the tone is a bit haphazard. It's not a big issue, it doesn't spoil the reading of it, but it tries to be serious but wrapped up in comedy, but it doesn't always gel, so you get a bit confused as to how you're meant to feel about it.
It is a bit repetitive at times, particularly in the middle it sags slightly, but on the whole it was quite easy to read and for the most part it zoomed by.
Whilst it is ultimately a funny comedy, an uplifting, quite frivolous book, it does touch upon some difficult subjects, particularly that of bereavement and grief, and I think she's handled that very well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wildfire for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This had such a beautiful, eye-popping cover which I loved.
Elly Vine is a pseudonym for Lucy Vine, so this is her debut novel under that name. I have looked at her Lucy Vine books but I haven't read any, and so I had no expectations going in.
This was fun. It's funny and naughty; is it the most sophisticated of writing? No, but I didn't really mind as the story was interesting enough that it didn't really matter.
I loved this group of women. They're strangers who someone become friends, bonding over shared experiences. They're all so different and made it exciting to read.
Paula was an interesting protagonist. She's obviously been hit with two shocks - one good and one bad - and she's just trying to keep her head above water, and it's not helped by her family, although I accept they are just trying to support her. But I really felt for her and just wanted her to get through this. She is a bit of a doormat at times, and that is a bit annoying but I forgive her.
I will say the tone is a bit haphazard. It's not a big issue, it doesn't spoil the reading of it, but it tries to be serious but wrapped up in comedy, but it doesn't always gel, so you get a bit confused as to how you're meant to feel about it.
It is a bit repetitive at times, particularly in the middle it sags slightly, but on the whole it was quite easy to read and for the most part it zoomed by.
Whilst it is ultimately a funny comedy, an uplifting, quite frivolous book, it does touch upon some difficult subjects, particularly that of bereavement and grief, and I think she's handled that very well.
March 1, 2026
Synopsis—Paula is having a surreal week. Having just lost her husband, John, in a freak car accident, she's utterly gobsmacked when, two days later, she wins the lottery - with the ticket he bought.
Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.
They tell her that they've been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There's just one problem: Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course.
But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.
#mythoughts
A very easy and engaging read. After Paula’s husband dies in a car accident, she unexpectedly wins over £20 million on the lottery. Soon after, she meets an intriguing group of women — Teddy, Audrey and Ivy — who have also all “won” the lottery… but each of them has killed their husbands too. Or have they?
Paula’s daughter, Tilly, and her son, Seb, think she has lost the plot in her grief, as she begins behaving in ways they never expected. Through moments of darkness and sharp, cohesive conversations, we slowly see a clearer picture of Paula’s life emerge.
I don’t want to say too much and spoil what is such an enjoyable read. It’s full of humour, brilliant characters and witty dialogue, all with a subtle undercurrent of seriousness running beneath the surface.
Just as she thinks things can't get crazier, Paula is approached by a tight-knit trio of glamorous women - also jackpot winners - with dead husbands, suspiciously large bank accounts . . . and a very specific interest in Paula.
They tell her that they've been where she is now. That grief looks good on her. That freedom does, too. There's just one problem: Paula didn't kill her husband. She loved him, of course.
But something about their world - lavish, secretive, thrilling - is hard to resist. And when word of Paula's jackpot win spreads and others come sniffing around for a share, she's faced with the ultimate choice: hold onto her old life, or accept help from her new friends, whose methods are a little more . . . unconventional.
#mythoughts
A very easy and engaging read. After Paula’s husband dies in a car accident, she unexpectedly wins over £20 million on the lottery. Soon after, she meets an intriguing group of women — Teddy, Audrey and Ivy — who have also all “won” the lottery… but each of them has killed their husbands too. Or have they?
Paula’s daughter, Tilly, and her son, Seb, think she has lost the plot in her grief, as she begins behaving in ways they never expected. Through moments of darkness and sharp, cohesive conversations, we slowly see a clearer picture of Paula’s life emerge.
I don’t want to say too much and spoil what is such an enjoyable read. It’s full of humour, brilliant characters and witty dialogue, all with a subtle undercurrent of seriousness running beneath the surface.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The book opens with the main character Paula's who has found out she has won the lottery and become a widow. Her children Tilly and Seb are treating her like a child and her overbearing brother's in law treat her like dirt and she mostly goes along with it. I found myself screaming and swearing at them all to leave her be to grieve and make her choices in her own time. The book is a bit slow at this point but it's worth persevering as it all makes sense later. Well it does other than one particularly bad choice, Seb letting the uncles know about the lottery win, leads to more similarly bad decisions which leads to the win being made public.
Paula can barely leave the house let alone go back to work which she planned to do. Luckily a stranger called Tina Edwina aka Teddy turns up and invites her to join The Lottery Winners Widows Club. This is under the false impression that Paula murdered her husband John.
Against her better judgement Paula joins the club with Teddy and Eileen and has more fun, friendship, power and adventure than she has in the 3 decades of her marriage. The pick up a new member and there is a strong sense of sisterhood and they are very supportive of each other although Eileen goes a bit rogue at times.
There are themes of death, murder and domestic abuse.
A very enjoyable book with unexpected events and twists. I found the narration fit the book well and was very clear. I would listen to books read by this narrator again. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for audio DRC, it was much appreciated and I would highly recommend this version.
Paula can barely leave the house let alone go back to work which she planned to do. Luckily a stranger called Tina Edwina aka Teddy turns up and invites her to join The Lottery Winners Widows Club. This is under the false impression that Paula murdered her husband John.
Against her better judgement Paula joins the club with Teddy and Eileen and has more fun, friendship, power and adventure than she has in the 3 decades of her marriage. The pick up a new member and there is a strong sense of sisterhood and they are very supportive of each other although Eileen goes a bit rogue at times.
There are themes of death, murder and domestic abuse.
A very enjoyable book with unexpected events and twists. I found the narration fit the book well and was very clear. I would listen to books read by this narrator again. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for audio DRC, it was much appreciated and I would highly recommend this version.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a bit of a surprise—in the best way.
We meet Paula, 61, newly widowed after her husband dies in a car accident in Austria. While she’s still trying to process his death (and, frankly, her own slightly foggy existence even before it), she discovers she’s also won £21 million in the lottery. Timing, as they say, is everything… and in this case, deeply suspicious.
Enter Teddy, who invites Paula to join a rather unusual club: women whose husbands all died shortly after they hit the jackpot. What follows is a mix of mystery, humour, and an unexpectedly touching exploration of friendship.
The cast is eclectic and delightful—Audrey (an absolute scene-stealing octogenarian), Ivy (in her twenties), and Teddy herself (blonde, bouncy hair, strange accent). Together, they form a found family that feels both chaotic and comforting, and watching Paula slowly come back to life in their company is genuinely satisfying.
What I didn’t quite expect was the emotional undercurrent. Beneath the humour and the slightly madcap premise, the story explores heavier themes—particularly domestic violence and coercive control—with surprising sensitivity. Paula’s story has more layers than initially meet the eye, and her journey (alongside her children, Tilly and Seb) adds a welcome depth.
The mystery itself is fun rather than particularly complex—it keeps the pages turning without demanding too much heavy lifting from the reader. I read this in one sitting, and it’s perfect for a plane ride or a lazy afternoon when you want something engaging but not exhausting.
A warm, witty, and slightly offbeat read that balances laughs with some darker, more thoughtful moments.
We meet Paula, 61, newly widowed after her husband dies in a car accident in Austria. While she’s still trying to process his death (and, frankly, her own slightly foggy existence even before it), she discovers she’s also won £21 million in the lottery. Timing, as they say, is everything… and in this case, deeply suspicious.
Enter Teddy, who invites Paula to join a rather unusual club: women whose husbands all died shortly after they hit the jackpot. What follows is a mix of mystery, humour, and an unexpectedly touching exploration of friendship.
The cast is eclectic and delightful—Audrey (an absolute scene-stealing octogenarian), Ivy (in her twenties), and Teddy herself (blonde, bouncy hair, strange accent). Together, they form a found family that feels both chaotic and comforting, and watching Paula slowly come back to life in their company is genuinely satisfying.
What I didn’t quite expect was the emotional undercurrent. Beneath the humour and the slightly madcap premise, the story explores heavier themes—particularly domestic violence and coercive control—with surprising sensitivity. Paula’s story has more layers than initially meet the eye, and her journey (alongside her children, Tilly and Seb) adds a welcome depth.
The mystery itself is fun rather than particularly complex—it keeps the pages turning without demanding too much heavy lifting from the reader. I read this in one sitting, and it’s perfect for a plane ride or a lazy afternoon when you want something engaging but not exhausting.
A warm, witty, and slightly offbeat read that balances laughs with some darker, more thoughtful moments.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a fun read, but one that also has a serious side to it. Paula has had an interesting week; she has just won a large amount of money on the lottery, but also has had a call to say that her husband has been killed in an accident abroad.
Paula is coming to terms with a lot; her two children are worried that she is not acting as they think she should. Especially as she has new friends, these are wealthy women who have also had wins, so they are not befriending her for her money. She and her grown-up children are seeing a grief counsellor. There is, however, someone who has an issue and is sending her messages!
This is a very good book, and I really enjoyed getting to know Paula and seeing how she transforms herself and how she finds herself in another predicament. This is something that completely knocks the wind out of her sails. She has been a fixture in her children's lives, who, by the way, are adults; she doesn't feel as if she is being seen for who she is, though. But since meeting and becoming friends with the other women in The Lottery Winner Widows Club, she has finally got a chance to work out who she is.
It's a story of new beginnings for Paula, a chance to stand up for herself and show the world, okay, her family who she is and what she likes. It is fun at times, and some of the Clubs antics and conversations had me sniggering. But, as I mentioned, there is a serious side to the story and one that took me as much by surprise as it did Paula.
This is a book for those who like fiction, family drama and mystery genres. Fabulous book that I would be very happy to recommend.
Paula is coming to terms with a lot; her two children are worried that she is not acting as they think she should. Especially as she has new friends, these are wealthy women who have also had wins, so they are not befriending her for her money. She and her grown-up children are seeing a grief counsellor. There is, however, someone who has an issue and is sending her messages!
This is a very good book, and I really enjoyed getting to know Paula and seeing how she transforms herself and how she finds herself in another predicament. This is something that completely knocks the wind out of her sails. She has been a fixture in her children's lives, who, by the way, are adults; she doesn't feel as if she is being seen for who she is, though. But since meeting and becoming friends with the other women in The Lottery Winner Widows Club, she has finally got a chance to work out who she is.
It's a story of new beginnings for Paula, a chance to stand up for herself and show the world, okay, her family who she is and what she likes. It is fun at times, and some of the Clubs antics and conversations had me sniggering. But, as I mentioned, there is a serious side to the story and one that took me as much by surprise as it did Paula.
This is a book for those who like fiction, family drama and mystery genres. Fabulous book that I would be very happy to recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paula doesn't know what to do when two life-changing events happen in the same week. First of all her husband, John, is killed in a car accident overseas & then she wins the lottery. 21 million pounds! As relatives begin to circle for their share of the payout, Paula feels as if she is just going through the motions of life as John saw to everything & she can't bring herself to spend any of the winnings.
One afternoon after the funeral, Paula is approached by a glamorous woman who offers her the chance to join a select group. These women are also jackpot winners whose husbands died suddenly after the win. As they talk the woman, Teddy, says that they understand what Paula is going through after all they killed their husbands too. Paula is swept up into the group & for the first time in years makes genuine friends who provide emotional support, friendship, & tips on living the high life. There's just one thing - Paula didn't kill her husband.
This is not my usual type of read as I tend to gravitate towards the dark & twisty but I found it quite entertaining. It was amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny although I did chuckle at one scene where Paula gets Novichok mixed up with a tennis player. Speaking of main character Paula, she is a little frustrating at first as she is very passive & timid but there is a reason for that which is revealed in due time. Overall it was an entertaining crime comedy which also deals with some heavy issues.
SUMMARY:
Plot: Moderate - Not my usual type of read as I tend to gravitate towards the dark & twisty. It was amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny but it was good.
Writing Style: Good - Even though it deals with some heavy issues, it manages to balance it out with funnier moments.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - It kept my attention & I enjoyed it. Not sure it is the kind of genre I would want to read regularly.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Headline/Wildfire, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
One afternoon after the funeral, Paula is approached by a glamorous woman who offers her the chance to join a select group. These women are also jackpot winners whose husbands died suddenly after the win. As they talk the woman, Teddy, says that they understand what Paula is going through after all they killed their husbands too. Paula is swept up into the group & for the first time in years makes genuine friends who provide emotional support, friendship, & tips on living the high life. There's just one thing - Paula didn't kill her husband.
This is not my usual type of read as I tend to gravitate towards the dark & twisty but I found it quite entertaining. It was amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny although I did chuckle at one scene where Paula gets Novichok mixed up with a tennis player. Speaking of main character Paula, she is a little frustrating at first as she is very passive & timid but there is a reason for that which is revealed in due time. Overall it was an entertaining crime comedy which also deals with some heavy issues.
SUMMARY:
Plot: Moderate - Not my usual type of read as I tend to gravitate towards the dark & twisty. It was amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny but it was good.
Writing Style: Good - Even though it deals with some heavy issues, it manages to balance it out with funnier moments.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - It kept my attention & I enjoyed it. Not sure it is the kind of genre I would want to read regularly.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Headline/Wildfire, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
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