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Lucky 22
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Twenty-two was just a lucky number.
Until it wasn’t.
Ella Rose Holt believes in magic. Not always the fairy-tale kind, but the quiet kind that shows up when you least expect it. On the brink of her golden birthday, chasing acting dreams in Los Angeles, Ella’s life feels full of possibility…and just a little unfinished.
Christian Lucas has built his world on discipline, dedication, and the game he loves. As a professional baseball player, his life is carefully scheduled, a bit guarded, and rarely spontaneous.
When a chance encounter, a lucky number, and a not-so-blind blind date bring them together, neither is prepared for the connection that follows.
What starts as an unexpected meeting quickly becomes something deeper—an easy friendship, a steady trust, and a romance that grows quietly but undeniably. As their worlds collide under bright stadium lights and red-carpet flashes, Ella and Christian must decide whether love has a place in lives already full of ambition, sacrifice, and dreams in motion.
Because sometimes, the most extraordinary love stories aren’t loud or dramatic.
They’re built on faith.
On timing.
On believing that when the moment comes, you’ll be brave enough to say yes.
And a little bit of luck.
Until it wasn’t.
Ella Rose Holt believes in magic. Not always the fairy-tale kind, but the quiet kind that shows up when you least expect it. On the brink of her golden birthday, chasing acting dreams in Los Angeles, Ella’s life feels full of possibility…and just a little unfinished.
Christian Lucas has built his world on discipline, dedication, and the game he loves. As a professional baseball player, his life is carefully scheduled, a bit guarded, and rarely spontaneous.
When a chance encounter, a lucky number, and a not-so-blind blind date bring them together, neither is prepared for the connection that follows.
What starts as an unexpected meeting quickly becomes something deeper—an easy friendship, a steady trust, and a romance that grows quietly but undeniably. As their worlds collide under bright stadium lights and red-carpet flashes, Ella and Christian must decide whether love has a place in lives already full of ambition, sacrifice, and dreams in motion.
Because sometimes, the most extraordinary love stories aren’t loud or dramatic.
They’re built on faith.
On timing.
On believing that when the moment comes, you’ll be brave enough to say yes.
And a little bit of luck.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 8, 2026
About the author
Ashley Eckstein
10 books71 followersMaria Ashley Eckstein (née Drane; born September 22, 1981), credited as Ashley Eckstein or Ashley Drane, is an American actress, voice actress, and fashion designer, known to audiences of Blue Collar TV and as the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars Forces of Destiny. She also played a small role as Alicia in the film Sydney White and as Ms. Cole in the film Alice Upside Down, with both films being released in 2007. Eckstein also had a recurring role as Muffy on the Disney Channel sitcom That's So Raven.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 28, 2026
Lucky 22 is a sweet romance novel with a dream fairytale vibe. Ella Rose is an actress and she meets and falls for Christian a baseball player. There is a lot of long distance and struggles to overcome which Ella works hard for.
Overall the book was good but it’s not to my tastes, it felt overly insta-love and I didn’t feel like we got to know Ella at all really before she met Christian and then he was her entire personality. I wasn’t a huge fan of the time skips, I felt like it was all very surface level and we didn’t get very deep into any situation that happened.
Christian wasn’t the most likeable character at all, in fact not many of the characters has enough time for us to like them. Though Christian was self centred and didn’t think of Ella until closer to the end of the story. I feel like the authors left a lot out and could have delved a lot deeper into conversations and feelings.
It was a lighthearted, summer vibes, easy read and I could see a lot of other people enjoying it.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall the book was good but it’s not to my tastes, it felt overly insta-love and I didn’t feel like we got to know Ella at all really before she met Christian and then he was her entire personality. I wasn’t a huge fan of the time skips, I felt like it was all very surface level and we didn’t get very deep into any situation that happened.
Christian wasn’t the most likeable character at all, in fact not many of the characters has enough time for us to like them. Though Christian was self centred and didn’t think of Ella until closer to the end of the story. I feel like the authors left a lot out and could have delved a lot deeper into conversations and feelings.
It was a lighthearted, summer vibes, easy read and I could see a lot of other people enjoying it.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 29, 2026
ARC Review
The writing of this book was a bit weird for me. Maybe I’ve just gotten so used to dual pov that this threw me off but it almost seemed more like it was a journal and Ella was just writing all her thoughts and feelings down. Aside from that I disliked how it always seemed like Ella was sacrificing so much more than Christian ever did(I get he was in the MLB but her career was just as important as his). It always seemed like there was some unresolved issues in their marriage.
The writing of this book was a bit weird for me. Maybe I’ve just gotten so used to dual pov that this threw me off but it almost seemed more like it was a journal and Ella was just writing all her thoughts and feelings down. Aside from that I disliked how it always seemed like Ella was sacrificing so much more than Christian ever did(I get he was in the MLB but her career was just as important as his). It always seemed like there was some unresolved issues in their marriage.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling lucky 22! Thank you so much to Blue Box Press for the ARC of Lucky 22 in exchange for my little review!
Lucky 22 is Ashley Eckstein’s first foray into fiction, having already published several non-fiction books including It’s Your Universe and Star Wars Everyday (as well as narrated the self-titled Ahsoka novel’s audiobook, based on her popular character). Her partnership with Samantha Chase proves a dream, and the two of them craft something utterly hopeful and tremendously charming. Lucky 22 is a fictionalized portrayal of Ashley’s love story with her husband, David Eckstein. The description promises something out of Hallmark or Taylor Swift’s Love Story, fabricated fantasy made into a real partnership and true love. And Lucky 22 delivers everything it promises.
We are introduced to Ella Rose Holt, a young actress who is at the beginning of her career. The last thing she expects is to fall in love, but it seems like the universe has some surprises up its sleeve, and a series of coincidences (or fate?) land Ella Rose on a date with baseball player Christian Lucas, and on her birthday no less. The fairytale romance doesn’t take long to get underway, but as the dream makes way for reality, both Ella Rose and Christian are challenged by their frequently conflicting schedules and busy lives. Through it all, what remains steadfast is their devotion to each other. Maybe having it all isn’t having it easy, but having something worth working for.
While I’m sure there are artistic touches to add flare or respect privacy, it’s very plain to see how much this story mirrors Ashley Eckstein’s life and career. And for those of us who have been around since… Ashla first came on the scene, it’s a welcome exploration of a genuinely spectacular person. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet Ashley, you know she is sunshine personified, as if someone bottled up a wish and made it a person. At times though, you do wonder how someone can retain that powerful sense of optimism and joy. Lucky 22 gives us a further peek behind the curtain, and thus makes her even more inspiring of a figure. Ashley has broken stigmas, normalized conversations about mental health, encouraged a generation of girls (and boys) to believe in their talents, and kicked a lot of butt with a lightsaber - why not add author to the list?
Ashley lives in all of us ;)
Lucky 22 is Ashley Eckstein’s first foray into fiction, having already published several non-fiction books including It’s Your Universe and Star Wars Everyday (as well as narrated the self-titled Ahsoka novel’s audiobook, based on her popular character). Her partnership with Samantha Chase proves a dream, and the two of them craft something utterly hopeful and tremendously charming. Lucky 22 is a fictionalized portrayal of Ashley’s love story with her husband, David Eckstein. The description promises something out of Hallmark or Taylor Swift’s Love Story, fabricated fantasy made into a real partnership and true love. And Lucky 22 delivers everything it promises.
We are introduced to Ella Rose Holt, a young actress who is at the beginning of her career. The last thing she expects is to fall in love, but it seems like the universe has some surprises up its sleeve, and a series of coincidences (or fate?) land Ella Rose on a date with baseball player Christian Lucas, and on her birthday no less. The fairytale romance doesn’t take long to get underway, but as the dream makes way for reality, both Ella Rose and Christian are challenged by their frequently conflicting schedules and busy lives. Through it all, what remains steadfast is their devotion to each other. Maybe having it all isn’t having it easy, but having something worth working for.
While I’m sure there are artistic touches to add flare or respect privacy, it’s very plain to see how much this story mirrors Ashley Eckstein’s life and career. And for those of us who have been around since… Ashla first came on the scene, it’s a welcome exploration of a genuinely spectacular person. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet Ashley, you know she is sunshine personified, as if someone bottled up a wish and made it a person. At times though, you do wonder how someone can retain that powerful sense of optimism and joy. Lucky 22 gives us a further peek behind the curtain, and thus makes her even more inspiring of a figure. Ashley has broken stigmas, normalized conversations about mental health, encouraged a generation of girls (and boys) to believe in their talents, and kicked a lot of butt with a lightsaber - why not add author to the list?
Ashley lives in all of us ;)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much for the ARC of Lucky 22 NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Lucky 22 is a sweet, feel-good romance inspired by Ashley Eckstein’s real-life love story, and it definitely leans into those dreamy, fairytale vibes. The story follows aspiring actress Ella Rose Holt, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets professional baseball player Christian Lucas after what feels like a series of perfectly timed coincidences. What starts as a chance meeting quickly turns into something bigger as the two try to navigate demanding careers, distance, and the realities of making a relationship work.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was uplifting, easy to read, and had a lot of heart. The relationship between Ella Rose and Christian felt genuine, and there’s a warmth to the story that makes it hard not to root for them. That said, I did find the pacing quite quick at times — especially when it came to the romance — and I would have loved for certain moments to have been slowed down and explored a little more.
For me personally, I also found myself wishing there was a bit more spice in the romance, but that’s completely down to reading preference and didn’t stop me enjoying the story for what it is. If you enjoy wholesome romances, fated-meeting energy, and stories that leave you feeling happy by the end, this is definitely one to pick up.
You can also really feel Ashley Eckstein’s optimism woven throughout the book. While it’s clearly inspired by her own experiences, it still feels heartfelt and sincere rather than overly polished. Longtime fans will probably recognise that same warmth and positivity she’s known for, and it was lovely to see that come through in fiction.
Lucky 22 is a sweet, feel-good romance inspired by Ashley Eckstein’s real-life love story, and it definitely leans into those dreamy, fairytale vibes. The story follows aspiring actress Ella Rose Holt, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets professional baseball player Christian Lucas after what feels like a series of perfectly timed coincidences. What starts as a chance meeting quickly turns into something bigger as the two try to navigate demanding careers, distance, and the realities of making a relationship work.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was uplifting, easy to read, and had a lot of heart. The relationship between Ella Rose and Christian felt genuine, and there’s a warmth to the story that makes it hard not to root for them. That said, I did find the pacing quite quick at times — especially when it came to the romance — and I would have loved for certain moments to have been slowed down and explored a little more.
For me personally, I also found myself wishing there was a bit more spice in the romance, but that’s completely down to reading preference and didn’t stop me enjoying the story for what it is. If you enjoy wholesome romances, fated-meeting energy, and stories that leave you feeling happy by the end, this is definitely one to pick up.
You can also really feel Ashley Eckstein’s optimism woven throughout the book. While it’s clearly inspired by her own experiences, it still feels heartfelt and sincere rather than overly polished. Longtime fans will probably recognise that same warmth and positivity she’s known for, and it was lovely to see that come through in fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't know how to put it in words, but this book is definitely different than your regular romance novel. It was more like a diary or documentary.
It follows about love story between an aspired actress and a MLB athlete. Ella views her lucky number 22, is.. well, bring her luck. Coincidentally it's also Christian's number in MLB. Both lives has been intertwined for a while, but then a PR campaign brought them together in some sort of blind-but-also-not date. Then the book follow their journey juggling between both career, the life that comes with it, the bad, the good, and whole journey.
It's kind of weird reading it, because it only has single POV and the writing is way different than what deemed normal. I keep waiting for the plot twist, but it never come. This what made the book felt flat and boring to me. Ella's POV also not exactly solving any marriage problem, since she's basically just dedicated herself to the marriage at the cost of her career. Despite constant suggestion from her trusted support system, she just keep complaining and bottled everything inside. Yet, somehow everything solved by themselves because of what? I have no idea.
Christian.. IMHO he's an asshat. He thought his career was better than Ella's. I do think he married Ella so she can do his chores. Seriously, I thought this book will be more enchanting than this.
Overall it's refreshing because it's different. But also there's no solution to the problem, despite the problems are the main focus of the book. Not only that, but I feel the book is mysogynistic in round about way. So not my favorite, but interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. My review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
It follows about love story between an aspired actress and a MLB athlete. Ella views her lucky number 22, is.. well, bring her luck. Coincidentally it's also Christian's number in MLB. Both lives has been intertwined for a while, but then a PR campaign brought them together in some sort of blind-but-also-not date. Then the book follow their journey juggling between both career, the life that comes with it, the bad, the good, and whole journey.
It's kind of weird reading it, because it only has single POV and the writing is way different than what deemed normal. I keep waiting for the plot twist, but it never come. This what made the book felt flat and boring to me. Ella's POV also not exactly solving any marriage problem, since she's basically just dedicated herself to the marriage at the cost of her career. Despite constant suggestion from her trusted support system, she just keep complaining and bottled everything inside. Yet, somehow everything solved by themselves because of what? I have no idea.
Christian.. IMHO he's an asshat. He thought his career was better than Ella's. I do think he married Ella so she can do his chores. Seriously, I thought this book will be more enchanting than this.
Overall it's refreshing because it's different. But also there's no solution to the problem, despite the problems are the main focus of the book. Not only that, but I feel the book is mysogynistic in round about way. So not my favorite, but interesting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. My review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m going to be totally honest I requested to read and review this book because I’m a huge fan of Ashley Eckstein. Her portrayal of Ahsoka changed my life so when I saw she was partnering with Samantha Chase I immediately said say less. Sadly, this book just didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had set in my head.
I think my biggest issue with the book is how it’s written. And yes I know that’s basically an oxymoron. But instead of this feeling like a romance story. It felt like I was ready a biography or interview. I kept waiting for a plot twist, or drama or heck even passion. But instead it really was a whole lot of nothing. The book felt flat and I was struggling to stay attentive on the storyline.
My next big issue with this revolves around our FMC. Girly I know you love your husband but I’m sorry my dreams should not be pushed aside or come second. Maybe it’s the feminist in me but Christian was a dick 70% of the time. He constantly thought his career was more important than Ella’s. And trust me Ella isn’t blameless in this. I found myself fighting not to pull my hair out at her blatant disregard to her support system telling her you should not do this.
Overall this book was definitely different and I can’t in good conscience recommend it. I wish I had a different outcome because again I love Ashley and Samatha. But sadly this just wasn’t it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I think my biggest issue with the book is how it’s written. And yes I know that’s basically an oxymoron. But instead of this feeling like a romance story. It felt like I was ready a biography or interview. I kept waiting for a plot twist, or drama or heck even passion. But instead it really was a whole lot of nothing. The book felt flat and I was struggling to stay attentive on the storyline.
My next big issue with this revolves around our FMC. Girly I know you love your husband but I’m sorry my dreams should not be pushed aside or come second. Maybe it’s the feminist in me but Christian was a dick 70% of the time. He constantly thought his career was more important than Ella’s. And trust me Ella isn’t blameless in this. I found myself fighting not to pull my hair out at her blatant disregard to her support system telling her you should not do this.
Overall this book was definitely different and I can’t in good conscience recommend it. I wish I had a different outcome because again I love Ashley and Samatha. But sadly this just wasn’t it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A love story that makes you believe in fate. Ella is a working actress who is waiting for her big break and Christian is a professional baseball player who is at the top of his game. One glance at a game and time stopped. Lucky 22 felt like watching your favorite comfort romance movie!
Ella always believes in the magic of her lucky number 22. And she knows it is gonna work overtime because her golden birthday is approaching. When she is invited to a baseball game, she wears a gifted jersey with the number 22 and when she locks eyes with the player who wears that number, it feels like its only the two of them in the midst of a packed stadium. But did he feel the same way too?
Christian and Ella meet on a blind date and hit it off. Everything seems to be pushing them together and sparks are flying. They are spending as much time as they can with each other and I loved how open and honest they are about their expectations.
I have already read this book twice and I still enjoy it feeling giddy and kicking my feet, rooting for this couple. I think readers will appreciate the ups and downs because it makes this romance feel authentic. Sometimes falling in love is the easy part, but keeping it together with busy schedules, careers, long distance, and everything in between is the complicated part.
Ella always believes in the magic of her lucky number 22. And she knows it is gonna work overtime because her golden birthday is approaching. When she is invited to a baseball game, she wears a gifted jersey with the number 22 and when she locks eyes with the player who wears that number, it feels like its only the two of them in the midst of a packed stadium. But did he feel the same way too?
Christian and Ella meet on a blind date and hit it off. Everything seems to be pushing them together and sparks are flying. They are spending as much time as they can with each other and I loved how open and honest they are about their expectations.
I have already read this book twice and I still enjoy it feeling giddy and kicking my feet, rooting for this couple. I think readers will appreciate the ups and downs because it makes this romance feel authentic. Sometimes falling in love is the easy part, but keeping it together with busy schedules, careers, long distance, and everything in between is the complicated part.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you like a sweet and clean romance, this is the book for you not a lot of tension or fighting not. A lot of spice, well 0 spice? The book was fine. I just thought it was going to be a little bit more something I can't really explain it. It was just very plain. The story was fine. I understand it was i've written on the author's true life.But I just felt like it was blah blah- ella as an actress, and she believes in the power of her favorite number 22, and she sees a baseball player at a game Christian. And they get introduced kind of through her publicist, but they end up having a spark, get married. And it's the story of how it works with her being an actress and him being a baseball player. And it's a fine story. I just knead a little bit more in my books. I guess I just don't. I thought it was plain. I really don't have any other words for it. I waited for Ella to stand up for herself sometimes. And it never happened. And I understand that's how she wrote her book. And that's fine. But if you like clean romances, this is the book for you.
Thank you, net galley for the arc in n exchange for an honest review
Thank you, net galley for the arc in n exchange for an honest review
July 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an ARC of Lucky 22! I am a huge fan of Ashley Eckstein (my daughter is named after her), Ahsoka Tano (I have her tattooed on my arm), and Star Wars (my husband and I went to see Rogue One for our first date and got married on Star Wars Day) I also grew up in St. Louis watching the Cardinals win the World Series on my 9th birthday. So many invisible strings!!
When I heard Ashley Eckstein was writing a book, I knew I had to read it ASAP!! I appreciate that the author’s note mentioned “more stardust than spice” that was a very sweet touch, and yes there’s no spice, only kisses.
It was fun deciphering what shows and movies Ella was in based on Ashley Eckstein’s filmography and I’m disappointed with the people who treated her poorly.
Overall, I am a big fan of this book. I did notice a continuity error regarding Mr. Lucas’s health journey but nothing major.
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book.
“In baseball, I put my teammates first, and you are now my most important teammate.”
“You’ve worked too hard to not walk through doors when they open.”
When I heard Ashley Eckstein was writing a book, I knew I had to read it ASAP!! I appreciate that the author’s note mentioned “more stardust than spice” that was a very sweet touch, and yes there’s no spice, only kisses.
It was fun deciphering what shows and movies Ella was in based on Ashley Eckstein’s filmography and I’m disappointed with the people who treated her poorly.
Overall, I am a big fan of this book. I did notice a continuity error regarding Mr. Lucas’s health journey but nothing major.
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book.
“In baseball, I put my teammates first, and you are now my most important teammate.”
“You’ve worked too hard to not walk through doors when they open.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read Lucky 22.
We are following Ella, an actress who is trying to land the role of her life. When she has to go to a premiere, she needs to invite someone and has in mind a certain baseball player she’s seen before and felt connected to.
I thought I would love it after the first couple of chapters, but sadly I did not.
Here are the things that did not work for me:
-The writing. For some reason I did not connect with the writing, which did not help as I found the main character to be mainly annoying and hated most of her decisions.
-The pace! It was going way way too fast. I don’t like an insta-love trope and it felt like their love story was like this, which did not make me believe in it.
The things that were nice:
-Portraying the difficulties of marriage and trying to make it work
-No smut! It felt refreshing to read a romance without any sex scene especially as they were not necessary to the plot.
It's getting a 2.5 stars for me.
We are following Ella, an actress who is trying to land the role of her life. When she has to go to a premiere, she needs to invite someone and has in mind a certain baseball player she’s seen before and felt connected to.
I thought I would love it after the first couple of chapters, but sadly I did not.
Here are the things that did not work for me:
-The writing. For some reason I did not connect with the writing, which did not help as I found the main character to be mainly annoying and hated most of her decisions.
-The pace! It was going way way too fast. I don’t like an insta-love trope and it felt like their love story was like this, which did not make me believe in it.
The things that were nice:
-Portraying the difficulties of marriage and trying to make it work
-No smut! It felt refreshing to read a romance without any sex scene especially as they were not necessary to the plot.
It's getting a 2.5 stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of digital advanced copy from NetGallery.
I loved how this book pulled me in and left me feeling giddy and excited the whole time. I caught myself getting butterflies right along with her, constantly eager to see what would happen next.
I was fully on that emotional rollercoaster—right there with her, even getting a little teary-eyed at times.
It was also really interesting getting a glimpse into the lives of an actress and a professional baseball player, and what it actually takes to make a relationship work in those worlds. Their struggles and journey felt genuine and added a lot of depth.
I especially appreciated that the opening chapter didn’t drag out the foreshadowing—the moment came much sooner than expected, which was a refreshing change.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
Thank you Blue Box Press and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for an honest review.
I loved how this book pulled me in and left me feeling giddy and excited the whole time. I caught myself getting butterflies right along with her, constantly eager to see what would happen next.
I was fully on that emotional rollercoaster—right there with her, even getting a little teary-eyed at times.
It was also really interesting getting a glimpse into the lives of an actress and a professional baseball player, and what it actually takes to make a relationship work in those worlds. Their struggles and journey felt genuine and added a lot of depth.
I especially appreciated that the opening chapter didn’t drag out the foreshadowing—the moment came much sooner than expected, which was a refreshing change.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one!
Thank you Blue Box Press and NetGalley for providing this advance copy for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC!
Unfortunately this one didn’t really hit the mark for me as I wasn’t enjoying the writing style or the pacing of this particular book. I ended up not finishing around the 50% mark.
The writing made this book hard to read for me. It felt very on the nose and a little childish at times. There was points where the author spent a lot of time describing the setting or outfits but it was kind of clunky and almost like info dumps. Some scenes were completely skipped over entirely and we were then just told what was supposed to have happened.
The pacing was very fast. It felt almost like an insta-love situation, especially when the main character was talking like she was in love with this guy after making eye contact at a baseball game one time.
Overall, this book was not for me. However, if you’re looking for a low stakes, cute romance with no spice then this might be for you.
Unfortunately this one didn’t really hit the mark for me as I wasn’t enjoying the writing style or the pacing of this particular book. I ended up not finishing around the 50% mark.
The writing made this book hard to read for me. It felt very on the nose and a little childish at times. There was points where the author spent a lot of time describing the setting or outfits but it was kind of clunky and almost like info dumps. Some scenes were completely skipped over entirely and we were then just told what was supposed to have happened.
The pacing was very fast. It felt almost like an insta-love situation, especially when the main character was talking like she was in love with this guy after making eye contact at a baseball game one time.
Overall, this book was not for me. However, if you’re looking for a low stakes, cute romance with no spice then this might be for you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved the writing of this book! It felt really special to read Ashley’s love story. I am honored she chose to share it with the world and that I was lucky enough to experience it early. In reading this book I experienced all the emotions, all the way from immense joy to intense anger. I loved learning more about Ella’s love of “Wonder Land” and how much “Storyteller” magic was sprinkled throughout her whole life story. It was so beautiful to see her get the perfect proposal and a magical wedding. Being introduced to the struggles of a sports marriage was a strong reminder this love story was based on someone’s real life. As opposed to the idealized fiction I have become used to in the romance genre. Reading about these struggles broke my heart for Ella and I feared for her HEA. I was happy to have my fears proven wrong and for things to work out in the end. The epilogue was a perfect touch to fully cement the HEA as we see life from Christian’s POV.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
First, I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book is very sweet. Based on Ashley‘s real life romance with her husband, David, this book reads more like a memoir with the names changed than it does a romance book.
I think what this book does well is that it doesn’t end when they get together. It shows some of the more challenging sides of being in a relationship without ever getting too dramatic while showing what it is to be a team.
I’m a big fan of Ashley, so even though this book follows Ella & Christian, I found myself reading it as Ashley & David and the teams Christian played for were the real MLB teams in my head and Galactic Wars was definitely Star Wars, so in that way, I do kind of wish she had just written an actual memoir instead.
However, if you don’t know a lot about Ashley and/or David’s life, this is, at the heart of it, a sweet, zero spice, fun romance that has some fun insights in both her job as an actress and his job as a professional baseball player and the challenges and opportunities those careers encompass.
This book is very sweet. Based on Ashley‘s real life romance with her husband, David, this book reads more like a memoir with the names changed than it does a romance book.
I think what this book does well is that it doesn’t end when they get together. It shows some of the more challenging sides of being in a relationship without ever getting too dramatic while showing what it is to be a team.
I’m a big fan of Ashley, so even though this book follows Ella & Christian, I found myself reading it as Ashley & David and the teams Christian played for were the real MLB teams in my head and Galactic Wars was definitely Star Wars, so in that way, I do kind of wish she had just written an actual memoir instead.
However, if you don’t know a lot about Ashley and/or David’s life, this is, at the heart of it, a sweet, zero spice, fun romance that has some fun insights in both her job as an actress and his job as a professional baseball player and the challenges and opportunities those careers encompass.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ella Rose siempre ha confiado en que los sueños se cumplen si trabajas por ellos, pero en el amor no ha tenido la misma certeza. Vive persiguiendo oportunidades como actriz. Con su cumpleaños veintidós acercándose, no puede evitar aferrarse a la idea de que ese año tiene que ser diferente.
Entonces aparece Christian Lucas, primero como un momento pequeño que podría haber pasado desapercibido y después como alguien imposible de ignorar. Nunca se había sentido sentido así y sabe que tiene aprovechar la oportunidad y no dejarlo ir.
A partir de ahí, su vida se llena de pequeños momentos que parecen conectados, decisiones importantes y la sensación constante de que tal vez está frente a algo que podría cambiarlo todo.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This romance sounded so cute, and based on a true story? Real life fairy tale. Unfortunately the execution was not that great and the book fell flat. The present tense writing was stiff, the dialogue didn't seem natural (convos beginning with "You see," etc), and there was no tension (between the characters or in the storyline). Ella is a bit of a pick-me and "not like other girls", they were insta-lovey right off the bat (especially Ella -- who fell head over heels for him when their eyes connected at a ball game. Like girl, I get it, but...), and nothing really happened for the majority of the book. It's cute that it's based off their love story, but at times it felt too on the nose. I love a cute, fluffy rom-com, but this was too sweet, even for me.
Thank you to Blue Box Press for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Blue Box Press for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Publishers for this arc. If you have ever meet, watched an interview, or seen her social media, you know Ashley’s kind, sweet, outgoing, optimistic personality! This book truly feels like Ashley.
I have been a fan since 2020 and have been fortunate to meet her 3/4 times, and I was so excited to hear she was writing a book! This book is a sweet, kind story about love and prioritizing the person most important to you. This is not a book about falling in love, rather it’s a book about keeping that love present in the chaos of life (especially for a baseball player husband and an actress wife). I haven’t read too many books about married couples, so it was nice to read something different. At times I did feel a little bored, but I loved towards the end when she got to talk about Ahsoka, or Ashla.
I have been a fan since 2020 and have been fortunate to meet her 3/4 times, and I was so excited to hear she was writing a book! This book is a sweet, kind story about love and prioritizing the person most important to you. This is not a book about falling in love, rather it’s a book about keeping that love present in the chaos of life (especially for a baseball player husband and an actress wife). I haven’t read too many books about married couples, so it was nice to read something different. At times I did feel a little bored, but I loved towards the end when she got to talk about Ahsoka, or Ashla.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am biased and a fan of Ashley's and have gotten to know her, and David, over multiple years. They are seriously couple goals and this book gave me new appreciation of their relationship. Those two built an amazing foundation and I am in awe after this. I really did enjoy this story despite knowing some of her backstory and this is a great introduction to her if you just pick it up at the store.
This is seriously a Hallmark movie in a novel. This is based on the true story of Ashley and her husband, David. Things have been changed to be fictional, but wow this novel had it all. Heart fluttering moments, sweet moments that made me cry, the most realistic representation of being a WAG and dealing with a sports husband, and moments of triumph that made me cheer. I can't wait to also read David's story when it comes out and I am so glad I have both on preorder.
This is seriously a Hallmark movie in a novel. This is based on the true story of Ashley and her husband, David. Things have been changed to be fictional, but wow this novel had it all. Heart fluttering moments, sweet moments that made me cry, the most realistic representation of being a WAG and dealing with a sports husband, and moments of triumph that made me cheer. I can't wait to also read David's story when it comes out and I am so glad I have both on preorder.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Arc Press Publishing for the eARC of this book.
I finished this book, but I just could not get into it. I couldn’t tell if it was fiction or a memoir and while I appreciate some of the sweeter moments in the book, this just did not connect to me at all. Ella was almost too extra for me, like nothing bad ever happened because she could “Dream It, Be It”. I liked Christan’s character but I felt like he was kind of a jerk to her on the plane we’re at first it seemed like they had connected, but then he just turned away, and that was it. I always appreciate how much authors develop their stories and put them into a beautiful mix of words, emotions and settings, and yes I do appreciate that in this book, but it just didn’t do it for me.
I finished this book, but I just could not get into it. I couldn’t tell if it was fiction or a memoir and while I appreciate some of the sweeter moments in the book, this just did not connect to me at all. Ella was almost too extra for me, like nothing bad ever happened because she could “Dream It, Be It”. I liked Christan’s character but I felt like he was kind of a jerk to her on the plane we’re at first it seemed like they had connected, but then he just turned away, and that was it. I always appreciate how much authors develop their stories and put them into a beautiful mix of words, emotions and settings, and yes I do appreciate that in this book, but it just didn’t do it for me.
April 14, 2026
More like 3.5. I loved this at the beginning. Their meet cute is perfect. But as the story went on I just felt like I was reading her memoir. It was all a true story with just the names changed. I love Ashley Eckstein so I was so excited to get this as an ARC from NetGalley. But I think it’s hard to market a story as a romance novel based on their true story. I love a story with struggles, lust, fighting and romance and this doesn’t have that. Of course in real life that’s great - that’s why they’re still happy after all these years - but I wanted more in a book. I still enjoyed it though - once I started looking at it as more of a memoir.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to start by saying thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC.
Unfortunately, I did not finish this one. It felt more like I was reading a fanfiction, a soft book that was a bit too soft and sweet, and that just isn't for me personally. I was struggling to connect with the characters, and everything between them happened way too fast. It didn't feel like there was much build-up, and I love a bit of slow burn.
I love the fact that this one is based on a real-life story, and if you're into fast-paced, really soft, and sweet romance, then you should definitely give this one a go. But again, this one just wasn't for me.
Unfortunately, I did not finish this one. It felt more like I was reading a fanfiction, a soft book that was a bit too soft and sweet, and that just isn't for me personally. I was struggling to connect with the characters, and everything between them happened way too fast. It didn't feel like there was much build-up, and I love a bit of slow burn.
I love the fact that this one is based on a real-life story, and if you're into fast-paced, really soft, and sweet romance, then you should definitely give this one a go. But again, this one just wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to review this book. First, let me say I did not finish this book. It felt very very immature writing style. I felt like I was reading excerpts of a diary. I like a little bit of a surprise in my romance, and you know from the beginning who they end up with though I didn’t finish it. The prologue tells you that she ends up with the guy from the beginning of the book number 22 that fell off to me, but I went with it and I just couldn’t force it any longer. Unfortunately I’m gonna rate this two stars because it had potential but it missed for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lucky 22 starts out with an adorable meeting of the 2 main characters, Ella Rose and Christian. I appreciated the author's note that it was heavily inspired by her life with her partner. That being said, about halfway through the book it felt more like a memoir than a romance book. It was romantic in a soft, natural way, but felt very rushed at the same time. Their relationship wasn't forced or pressured. No spice (which wouldn't affect my opinion). Overall the story was sweet, but not exciting. Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this eARC. All opinions are my own expressed freely.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)
Charming but uneven
Ashley Eckstein’s Lucky 22 has a heartfelt premise and plenty of enthusiasm, but the execution feels a bit uneven. The story carries a positive message about resilience and believing in yourself, which is uplifting, yet the pacing drags in places and some sections feel overly simplified. While Eckstein’s passion shines through, the narrative doesn’t always fully engage or deliver the depth that older readers might expect. It’s a pleasant read with good intentions, but not one that leaves a lasting impression.
Charming but uneven
Ashley Eckstein’s Lucky 22 has a heartfelt premise and plenty of enthusiasm, but the execution feels a bit uneven. The story carries a positive message about resilience and believing in yourself, which is uplifting, yet the pacing drags in places and some sections feel overly simplified. While Eckstein’s passion shines through, the narrative doesn’t always fully engage or deliver the depth that older readers might expect. It’s a pleasant read with good intentions, but not one that leaves a lasting impression.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Blue Box Press for this Arc
Where to begin, this book started out so strong I couldn't put it down. I loved the storyline and the whole plot around the lucky number 22 and how everything fell into place when the number 22 was involved. However, I found myself sometimes getting whiplash, it was very ground hog day which I do understand with their careers however it would be mid chapter and we were jumping months ahead and it almost got confusing. Within 50-60 pages we were flying through three years time and it was kinda hard to keep up
Where to begin, this book started out so strong I couldn't put it down. I loved the storyline and the whole plot around the lucky number 22 and how everything fell into place when the number 22 was involved. However, I found myself sometimes getting whiplash, it was very ground hog day which I do understand with their careers however it would be mid chapter and we were jumping months ahead and it almost got confusing. Within 50-60 pages we were flying through three years time and it was kinda hard to keep up
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As someone from a generational family of Cardinals fans, I had to read this! Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the early access opportunity.
To be completely honest, I struggled to connect with this book. While it's based on a true love story, I felt it couldn't quite decide on its direction. It seems caught between two paths:
Lean harder into fiction romance with more tension and yearning
Or commit fully to nonfiction and simply tell the true love story of these two individuals
As it stands, the book hovers between both worlds without fully embracing either.
To be completely honest, I struggled to connect with this book. While it's based on a true love story, I felt it couldn't quite decide on its direction. It seems caught between two paths:
Lean harder into fiction romance with more tension and yearning
Or commit fully to nonfiction and simply tell the true love story of these two individuals
As it stands, the book hovers between both worlds without fully embracing either.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Blue Box Press for providing the E-ARC for review and consideration.
This is an adorable, feel-good type of book. If you're in a mood to read something light-hearted then this book is good to read. The writing style is smooth and the character interactions, even though the pacing is fast it's not hard to keep up with the plot. This has a bit of a naive storytelling, an innocent simplicity which is good if you just want a light-hearted read. But I just wish there was more to this story, though lovely. I hoped for some depth atleast.
This is an adorable, feel-good type of book. If you're in a mood to read something light-hearted then this book is good to read. The writing style is smooth and the character interactions, even though the pacing is fast it's not hard to keep up with the plot. This has a bit of a naive storytelling, an innocent simplicity which is good if you just want a light-hearted read. But I just wish there was more to this story, though lovely. I hoped for some depth atleast.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I requested this book on Netgalley thinking it would be a good sports romance to read, but I just wasn't feeling it. The main character, as well as the writing, felt juvenile to me (more juvenile than most YA books that I read). I ended up DNFing the book because I couldn't get into the book with the writing style. That doesn't mean that this book is not for you. If you are looking for a easy, spice free romance read, this may be for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.
May 20, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This was cute, but to be completely honest, I think you have to already know who Ashley is to really appreciate this story. It isn’t your tradition rom-com with a meet-cute, drama, and then a will they/won’t they tension with a happily ever after. This is all about Ashley and David’s first meeting and the early years of their marriage. It’s fictionalized, and I’m sure there’s details changes, but I wouldn’t have really enjoyed it at all if I didn’t already know who it was about. If you’re looking for a cute story with some early marriage struggles between two career-driven people, or you’re like me and you’ve adored Ashley Eckstein because Ahsoka Tano is your favorite Star Wars character, then this story is for you!
This was cute, but to be completely honest, I think you have to already know who Ashley is to really appreciate this story. It isn’t your tradition rom-com with a meet-cute, drama, and then a will they/won’t they tension with a happily ever after. This is all about Ashley and David’s first meeting and the early years of their marriage. It’s fictionalized, and I’m sure there’s details changes, but I wouldn’t have really enjoyed it at all if I didn’t already know who it was about. If you’re looking for a cute story with some early marriage struggles between two career-driven people, or you’re like me and you’ve adored Ashley Eckstein because Ahsoka Tano is your favorite Star Wars character, then this story is for you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of this book is something I believed I would really enjoy, unfortunately that wasn’t the case with this one. While I accidentally went into this book not understanding it was YA, I also felt as if I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Even the MMC, I almost wanted her to divorce him about 75% through the book. It has such potential, it just didn’t deliver. I needed more emotion, more detail. I would’ve suggested less time covered and more details for certain scenes to make me more connected. I felt as if I was being told their story instead of living it with them.
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