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The Windfall App
Marina Berghman is a classical piano prodigy, with parents who’ve had her life mapped out since she was in diapers. But their plan leaves no room for her secret love of alternative rock, or Sean, the edgy guitarist who recently moved to town.
When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.
But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own.
Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.
When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.
But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own.
Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2018
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Richards
10 books55 followersTeresa Richards is an award-winning and Amazon-best-selling author of young-adult fiction, and is a member of SCBWI and the Storymakers Guild. She’s a California girl in Kentucky and loves hiking, playing the piano, and impromptu dance parties. Teresa and her husband have five kids and an anxious dog. When she’s not busy writing or momming, she’s probably singing random song lyrics on repeat or hiding in the house with a treat she’s not planning to share.
You can connect with Teresa on Instagram @authorteresarichards, Facebook @AuthorTeresaRichards, or visit her website: authorteresarichards.com.
You can connect with Teresa on Instagram @authorteresarichards, Facebook @AuthorTeresaRichards, or visit her website: authorteresarichards.com.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 5, 2018
Turning eighteen and winning the lottery comes with a lot more trouble than Marina Berghman could have imagined in her “I’m an adult now,” mind! Unleashing herself from her parents’ ironclad plan for her life, Marina is about to discover just how sheltered her life was and how ill-prepared that sheltering made her for life.
In a quirky and sometimes chaotic tale, one teen and her family will learn some valuable lessons:
Money doesn’t buy happiness – not everyone can be trusted – love can smother and love can set you free – everyone has secrets – growing up is hard to do.
THE WINDFALL APP by Teresa Richards is a quirky mystery for young adults with a little romance and a lot of chaos that will leave readers wondering, “What would I do if I won $5,000 a day for life?”
I received a complimentary copy from Evernight Teen!
Publisher: Evernight Teen (July 25, 2018)
Publication Date: July 25, 2018
Genre: YA Mystery
Print Length: 257 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
In a quirky and sometimes chaotic tale, one teen and her family will learn some valuable lessons:
Money doesn’t buy happiness – not everyone can be trusted – love can smother and love can set you free – everyone has secrets – growing up is hard to do.
THE WINDFALL APP by Teresa Richards is a quirky mystery for young adults with a little romance and a lot of chaos that will leave readers wondering, “What would I do if I won $5,000 a day for life?”
I received a complimentary copy from Evernight Teen!
Publisher: Evernight Teen (July 25, 2018)
Publication Date: July 25, 2018
Genre: YA Mystery
Print Length: 257 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
February 3, 2019
This was a pleasant surprise! I’m not normally a fan of contemporaries, but this one kept me eager to find out what happened next the whole time. The main character is likable and not a bubbly moron. She’s also a pianist (as am I) and lives in San Francisco, which is near my hometown.
Marina has a real family, and she actually loves them even if they have conflicts. While she is inexperienced in life, she’s not an idiot. The other characters were also real people. There were a couple of mysteries that kept me intrigued, and the climax and ending were satisfying in their storytelling.
Editing is pretty good; better than many other novels. My only real complaint is that a San Franciscan would never ever ever call cable cars “trolleys.”
Clean content – no swearing, no sexual content, mild violence
I received a free copy of this book. I had the option of reviewing.
Book Blog
Marina has a real family, and she actually loves them even if they have conflicts. While she is inexperienced in life, she’s not an idiot. The other characters were also real people. There were a couple of mysteries that kept me intrigued, and the climax and ending were satisfying in their storytelling.
Editing is pretty good; better than many other novels. My only real complaint is that a San Franciscan would never ever ever call cable cars “trolleys.”
Clean content – no swearing, no sexual content, mild violence
I received a free copy of this book. I had the option of reviewing.
Book Blog
July 31, 2018
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to win the lottery? Marina buys a ticket to celebrate her 18th birthday and ends up winning a lot of money and I enjoyed the way that Richards develops a cast of charming characters, an entertaining mystery, and a plot full of decisions, fun, greed, and love (not necessarily in that order).
Marina is quirky and has her own style, but she's never felt truly free to fly her own course. Not until she has the money to do so and goes against her father's wishes of keeping it. I love her savvy, yet somewhat naive, character and I especially enjoyed her budding romance with the slightly mysterious guitarist from LA, Sean. He's full of adventure and fun, and really helps Marina find her true potential.
I loved the setting of San Francisco and seeing it through the eyes of this bold young adult. I wish I really could have heard the impromptu jam session. The mystery really wrapped the whole story up in a satisfying package. I hope that Teresa Richards continues to venture in this genre.
Content: mild language; mild violence; mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Marina is quirky and has her own style, but she's never felt truly free to fly her own course. Not until she has the money to do so and goes against her father's wishes of keeping it. I love her savvy, yet somewhat naive, character and I especially enjoyed her budding romance with the slightly mysterious guitarist from LA, Sean. He's full of adventure and fun, and really helps Marina find her true potential.
I loved the setting of San Francisco and seeing it through the eyes of this bold young adult. I wish I really could have heard the impromptu jam session. The mystery really wrapped the whole story up in a satisfying package. I hope that Teresa Richards continues to venture in this genre.
Content: mild language; mild violence; mild romance
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
August 2, 2018
What a cute book! This story was really just easy, breezy fun to read. I loved the quirky Marina, coming into her own and trying to figure life out. She is talented and smart but definitely not used to making her own decisions. Spreading her wings under such unusual and dynamic circumstances (winning the lottery!!) leads to a few big bumps in her road. Yes, Marina makes some mistakes but I thought she handled herself fairly well all things considered. Marina is kind and a bit fearless. I think I loved that about her the most.
What would you do with $5000/day for the rest of your life? It's crazy to think about, right?
This book was a little bit teenage drama, a little bit romance and a little bit mystery. It had moments where the sweetness of a new romance had me sighing happily and moments where my heart was speeding up because DANGER! It was just a good balance of all the good stuff a young adult novel should be filled with. It was fun and I really enjoyed reading it.
Content: underage drinking (party), peril
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
What would you do with $5000/day for the rest of your life? It's crazy to think about, right?
This book was a little bit teenage drama, a little bit romance and a little bit mystery. It had moments where the sweetness of a new romance had me sighing happily and moments where my heart was speeding up because DANGER! It was just a good balance of all the good stuff a young adult novel should be filled with. It was fun and I really enjoyed reading it.
Content: underage drinking (party), peril
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 1, 2018
I love it when you can escape into a book and forget what’s going on around you. This book did that for me. I was so lost in Marina’s world of craziness that I didn’t notice what was happening in my world.
Marina is such a great character. I loved the way everything in this one was told from her perspective. That makes it hard for the reader to know who they should trust. Because Marina had no idea who she could trust. I loved the whole premise of Marina, an 18 year old high school girl, winning a crazy amount of money. It makes the reader think, what would I have done with that much money at 18. I don’t know that I would have managed it any better than Marina does.
I liked her family. Her parents are always pushing her to be the very best at everything. For Marina that ends up stifling. And it’s doubly bad when they are furious that she bought a lottery ticket to begin with. And even more furious that she’s going to keep the money.
It’s a good thing she’s friends with the level-headed Darya. I liked her a lot. She gave really good advice, even though Marina rarely followed it. And she ends up in trouble in Marina’s place.
I liked the way Marina grows throughout the story. At the beginning, she’s greedy. She wants the money, really for herself. She’s planning to use it to go to Julliard. But she quickly becomes enamored with the money and starts buying anything and everything she wants. Some of what she wants ends up being on credit. But by the end of the book, she’s learned a lot. She learns who she can and can’t trust. She learns that money isn’t everything. And she learns to watch her back and fight back when she has to.
This is a great Young Adult book. I didn’t want to put it down!
Marina is such a great character. I loved the way everything in this one was told from her perspective. That makes it hard for the reader to know who they should trust. Because Marina had no idea who she could trust. I loved the whole premise of Marina, an 18 year old high school girl, winning a crazy amount of money. It makes the reader think, what would I have done with that much money at 18. I don’t know that I would have managed it any better than Marina does.
I liked her family. Her parents are always pushing her to be the very best at everything. For Marina that ends up stifling. And it’s doubly bad when they are furious that she bought a lottery ticket to begin with. And even more furious that she’s going to keep the money.
It’s a good thing she’s friends with the level-headed Darya. I liked her a lot. She gave really good advice, even though Marina rarely followed it. And she ends up in trouble in Marina’s place.
I liked the way Marina grows throughout the story. At the beginning, she’s greedy. She wants the money, really for herself. She’s planning to use it to go to Julliard. But she quickly becomes enamored with the money and starts buying anything and everything she wants. Some of what she wants ends up being on credit. But by the end of the book, she’s learned a lot. She learns who she can and can’t trust. She learns that money isn’t everything. And she learns to watch her back and fight back when she has to.
This is a great Young Adult book. I didn’t want to put it down!
July 28, 2018
In her young adult mystery novel, The Windfall App, author Teresa Richards has crafted an exciting and fun story that readers will thoroughly enjoy! From page one, Richards captures the attention of her readers with her unique characters and of course the anticipation of the lottery from the Windfall App. Richards does an excellent job of drawing her readers in and making them want more, not wanting to put the book down until the very last page is turned. This story will definitely keep readers on the edge of their seats wondering what will happen next. A fun and cute story with a bit of mystery and excitement, this story focuses on the importance of family and good friends, especially when life gets hard and you need them the most. Readers will not want to miss this thrilling story!
Genre: young adult, thriller, mystery
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Publication date: July 27, 2018
Number of pages: 257
A review copy of this book was provided by the author. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: young adult, thriller, mystery
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Publication date: July 27, 2018
Number of pages: 257
A review copy of this book was provided by the author. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
March 5, 2019
I met Teresa Richards a few years ago, shortly before her first book was to be published: a YA fairy tale retelling called Emerald Bound. While I enjoyed reading her first novel, I was intrigued to hear that she was working on a new book about a half-Asian teen growing up in the Bay Area. Once upon a time as a half-Asian teen growing up in the Bay Area, I was especially thrilled to hear that it had a main character my long-ago teenage self could identify with.
Many stories I’ve read have main characters who come from either one culture or another, and they often don’t navigate the in-between areas of our multi-ethnic and diverse world. Or if they do, the stories sometimes treat it as the be-all and end-all of the narrative – diversity for the sake of diversity. Where I come from, it was just another aspect of growing up, and this is how The Windfall App treats Marina’s background. Her mother is Chinese, her father American, and she’s caught in the middle between both of their expectations.
In addition to my own personal enjoyment of the setup, this is a book that has all the elements of a really fun story. It starts out with some common YA premises: Marina’s at the end of her senior year, trying to get into colleges, win academic competitions, hang out with her best friends and avoid her frenemies. And then it turns into a gripping adventure novel with plenty of mystery and suspense, romance and betrayal, and a close look at the importance of family and friends.
The story starts out with Marina in a private prep school in San Francisco. She and her best friend, Darya, have bought tickets in the new Windfall lottery to celebrate Marina’s eighteenth birthday, and when the numbers are announced via phone app, Marina discovers she’s won the big prize.
Her dad’s business has tanked after he parted ways with his billionaire business partner last year, so Marina thinks the news of her winning tons of money will be good for her family. But instead, her dad is upset – it turns out her grandfather was a compulsive gambler, so her dad abhors the lottery. He wants her to refuse the win, but Marina needs the money so she can go to Julliard in the fall. When her dad tells her she has to listen to him as long as she lives under his roof, she decides on the spur of the moment to move out.
But when Marina walks out of her home with only a duffel bag, this puts her in a bind. She doesn’t yet have the lottery money – it takes time to process the paperwork. And she doesn’t have much cash. So she heads to a motel to stay for a couple weeks until she gets her first payout check. On the way there, she gets a mysterious text from a strange number congratulating her on her win and saying that the texter is her “fairy godmother.” She’s so distracted she barely manages to hop onto her cable car to her motel, but a stranger helps her – a cute guy a couple years older than her. He introduces himself as Sean, just moved to the city. But she gets off before they can do more than trade first names.
After getting a lawyer to help her with the lottery payment, Marina receives another text from her “fairy godmother.” In addition to the creep factor, she’s curious – who would be keeping tabs on her?
In addition to her “fairy godmother,” Marina starts receiving texts and calls from STI, the company running the lottery. They try to pressure her to accept their financial services and suggest she ignore the advice of her lawyer, but she refuses to deal with them. Despite this, they continue to harass her with texts and phone calls.
At the press conference announcing her win, the mystery starts to deepen when she anonymously receives a photograph from twenty years ago. The picture shows her dad and his ex-business partner, in addition to Marcus Roland, the head of STI, all posed together. She had no idea they all knew each other so long ago, and it brings up the question: how lucky was she to win the lottery run by someone her dad used to know?
The story takes more twists and turns from this point onwards, but I won’t spoil it for readers. It’s an up and down ride nearly from the first page to the last, incorporating teenage rebellion seamlessly into criminal enterprises that threaten the foundations of the characters’ lives. Marina is a personable character caught up in a crazy scheme that drops her in the middle of spies, fraud, mysterious strangers, and life-threatening stakes. Who is helping her and who is out to get her? The story culminates in an edge-of-your-seat confrontation between Marina and the bad guys.
I always find myself engrossed with Ms. Richards’ writing – she has an eminently readable style, packed full of humor and voice in the narrative and dialogue. She creates 3-D characters who aren’t perfect, but have a number of flaws that make them likable and easy to identify with. Her teenagers are written like teenagers, not like miniature adults. And the storyline held my interest, with a fun and adventure-filled plot, great description and a realistic setting. I grew up in the Bay Area, and the level of detail thrown into the background feels very complete.
While it might not be as nostalgic a ride for other readers as it was for me, I hope you enjoy reading The Windfall App as much as I did. I’d definitely recommend it to YA fans.
This review was originally published in the magazine Bewildering Stories, Issue # 772.
Many stories I’ve read have main characters who come from either one culture or another, and they often don’t navigate the in-between areas of our multi-ethnic and diverse world. Or if they do, the stories sometimes treat it as the be-all and end-all of the narrative – diversity for the sake of diversity. Where I come from, it was just another aspect of growing up, and this is how The Windfall App treats Marina’s background. Her mother is Chinese, her father American, and she’s caught in the middle between both of their expectations.
In addition to my own personal enjoyment of the setup, this is a book that has all the elements of a really fun story. It starts out with some common YA premises: Marina’s at the end of her senior year, trying to get into colleges, win academic competitions, hang out with her best friends and avoid her frenemies. And then it turns into a gripping adventure novel with plenty of mystery and suspense, romance and betrayal, and a close look at the importance of family and friends.
The story starts out with Marina in a private prep school in San Francisco. She and her best friend, Darya, have bought tickets in the new Windfall lottery to celebrate Marina’s eighteenth birthday, and when the numbers are announced via phone app, Marina discovers she’s won the big prize.
Her dad’s business has tanked after he parted ways with his billionaire business partner last year, so Marina thinks the news of her winning tons of money will be good for her family. But instead, her dad is upset – it turns out her grandfather was a compulsive gambler, so her dad abhors the lottery. He wants her to refuse the win, but Marina needs the money so she can go to Julliard in the fall. When her dad tells her she has to listen to him as long as she lives under his roof, she decides on the spur of the moment to move out.
But when Marina walks out of her home with only a duffel bag, this puts her in a bind. She doesn’t yet have the lottery money – it takes time to process the paperwork. And she doesn’t have much cash. So she heads to a motel to stay for a couple weeks until she gets her first payout check. On the way there, she gets a mysterious text from a strange number congratulating her on her win and saying that the texter is her “fairy godmother.” She’s so distracted she barely manages to hop onto her cable car to her motel, but a stranger helps her – a cute guy a couple years older than her. He introduces himself as Sean, just moved to the city. But she gets off before they can do more than trade first names.
After getting a lawyer to help her with the lottery payment, Marina receives another text from her “fairy godmother.” In addition to the creep factor, she’s curious – who would be keeping tabs on her?
In addition to her “fairy godmother,” Marina starts receiving texts and calls from STI, the company running the lottery. They try to pressure her to accept their financial services and suggest she ignore the advice of her lawyer, but she refuses to deal with them. Despite this, they continue to harass her with texts and phone calls.
At the press conference announcing her win, the mystery starts to deepen when she anonymously receives a photograph from twenty years ago. The picture shows her dad and his ex-business partner, in addition to Marcus Roland, the head of STI, all posed together. She had no idea they all knew each other so long ago, and it brings up the question: how lucky was she to win the lottery run by someone her dad used to know?
The story takes more twists and turns from this point onwards, but I won’t spoil it for readers. It’s an up and down ride nearly from the first page to the last, incorporating teenage rebellion seamlessly into criminal enterprises that threaten the foundations of the characters’ lives. Marina is a personable character caught up in a crazy scheme that drops her in the middle of spies, fraud, mysterious strangers, and life-threatening stakes. Who is helping her and who is out to get her? The story culminates in an edge-of-your-seat confrontation between Marina and the bad guys.
I always find myself engrossed with Ms. Richards’ writing – she has an eminently readable style, packed full of humor and voice in the narrative and dialogue. She creates 3-D characters who aren’t perfect, but have a number of flaws that make them likable and easy to identify with. Her teenagers are written like teenagers, not like miniature adults. And the storyline held my interest, with a fun and adventure-filled plot, great description and a realistic setting. I grew up in the Bay Area, and the level of detail thrown into the background feels very complete.
While it might not be as nostalgic a ride for other readers as it was for me, I hope you enjoy reading The Windfall App as much as I did. I’d definitely recommend it to YA fans.
This review was originally published in the magazine Bewildering Stories, Issue # 772.
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed this YA book so much. I found myself getting lost in the story over and over again. This author has such a way of weaving words together that flow and skip. Absolutely loved this romp in the City by the Bay with Marina and all her friends and family. Definitely have to check out more books by Teresa Richards!
July 30, 2018
The Windfall App
By Teresa Richards
Marina Berghman is about to get the opportunity of a lifetime. Having celebrated her 18th birthday with the purchase of a lottery ticket (which would total upset her father if he found out, btw) Marina and her best friend Darya Cruz are eagerly awaiting the drawing not focusing on the silent auction school fundraiser going on around them. But when Marina 's ticket wins they are beside themselves even though they have no idea what she has won.
But having the winning ticket isn't everything she thought it would be. First, her father is dead set against her claiming the prize - worse he's forbidden it. Well, Marina knows the money is needed for college and her father's business so her only choice is to go against her parents. After all, it's just money and she is totally convinced that her father is way overreacting. Okay, maybe some of his reasons are good but it's not like she is a gambler and this is going to set her on the path of ruin. It was just one lottery ticket.
But when her father lays down the law Marina is so out of there - just one little problem she has no place to stay until her winnings are released. And that is just the start of her problems - with no one to turn to for advice she is basically on her own - and with a very small bank account and domestic skills not quite there she looking at some slim days for the next week plus. And all this while trying to juggle school and find a lawyer to help her understand all the legalese she has to sign. And she has friends galore crawling out the woodworks, bus seats, cafeteria tables - 99% of whom she's never even met before. What's a girl to do!!
But one bright spot in this whole mess is Sean the really (I mean, really) nice guy she meets on the trolley. He seems to totally get her and she's more than happy to have another person at her side who doesn't seem interested in what her new-found fortune can do for them.
But when things start to go really bad Marina isn't sure whom she can trust - and lives are at stake. Can she save the lives of those she cares about or will she totally blow it?
This is a fun read that teens will love. Marina is given the chance to get out from under the pressures and expectations of her parents. But sometimes growing up and having to make the big decisions is a whole lot harder than it looks especially without any advice from the people who loved and shaped the first eighteen years. There is a touch of romance and a definite dose of mystery in this one. This also a journey of self-discovery and learning just what has value in one's life. News Flash sometimes the things your parents warn you against doing truly are with your best interests at heart but sometimes we need to go out and make the big mistake to realize that.
I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book with no expectation but my honest review - all opinions expressed are my own.
By Teresa Richards
Marina Berghman is about to get the opportunity of a lifetime. Having celebrated her 18th birthday with the purchase of a lottery ticket (which would total upset her father if he found out, btw) Marina and her best friend Darya Cruz are eagerly awaiting the drawing not focusing on the silent auction school fundraiser going on around them. But when Marina 's ticket wins they are beside themselves even though they have no idea what she has won.
But having the winning ticket isn't everything she thought it would be. First, her father is dead set against her claiming the prize - worse he's forbidden it. Well, Marina knows the money is needed for college and her father's business so her only choice is to go against her parents. After all, it's just money and she is totally convinced that her father is way overreacting. Okay, maybe some of his reasons are good but it's not like she is a gambler and this is going to set her on the path of ruin. It was just one lottery ticket.
But when her father lays down the law Marina is so out of there - just one little problem she has no place to stay until her winnings are released. And that is just the start of her problems - with no one to turn to for advice she is basically on her own - and with a very small bank account and domestic skills not quite there she looking at some slim days for the next week plus. And all this while trying to juggle school and find a lawyer to help her understand all the legalese she has to sign. And she has friends galore crawling out the woodworks, bus seats, cafeteria tables - 99% of whom she's never even met before. What's a girl to do!!
But one bright spot in this whole mess is Sean the really (I mean, really) nice guy she meets on the trolley. He seems to totally get her and she's more than happy to have another person at her side who doesn't seem interested in what her new-found fortune can do for them.
But when things start to go really bad Marina isn't sure whom she can trust - and lives are at stake. Can she save the lives of those she cares about or will she totally blow it?
This is a fun read that teens will love. Marina is given the chance to get out from under the pressures and expectations of her parents. But sometimes growing up and having to make the big decisions is a whole lot harder than it looks especially without any advice from the people who loved and shaped the first eighteen years. There is a touch of romance and a definite dose of mystery in this one. This also a journey of self-discovery and learning just what has value in one's life. News Flash sometimes the things your parents warn you against doing truly are with your best interests at heart but sometimes we need to go out and make the big mistake to realize that.
I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book with no expectation but my honest review - all opinions expressed are my own.
August 4, 2018
This cute new novel by author Teresa Richards is a combination of modern life in San Francisco, a dream come true of winning the lottery, a mystery involving many people around her, and some romance thrown in for good measure.
The story starts with 18 year old Marina Berghman finding out she won the lottery; a $5 Million dollar prize! Her parents aren't happy about it, especially her father. So Marina decides to move away from home and that's when weird things start to happen. She's getting mysterious texts from someone who happens to know her every move. She also finds out why her father so strongly opposes her taking the winnings.
I really liked main character Marina. She has a cute, unique style, is very talented, but she sometimes lacks the confidence in herself. I also really loved the beautiful descriptions of San Francisco when Marina was taking her new friend, Sean, on a tour of the city. It makes me want to go there even more now.
Even though this story centers around a lottery winner, the main theme is about Marina finding out who she really is, despite what her parents expectations had always been for her. Her mom always wanted her to excel at everything. All people in her life wanted her to compete to be the best or compete against her. You could truly feel the pressure on this poor girl. This is a coming of age story quite like what we all ultimately go through as a young adult...without the mystery thrown in of course. I laughed at one particular conversation between Marina and Sean.
Marina said, "So we're in the same boat about not knowing what to do with out lives. Or, maybe in the same life raft. I don't feel like I'm in anything as solid as a boat."
Sean answered, "Nah, I'm hanging onto a rotted piece of driftwood. You're in a paddle boat doing circles around me."
I loved Marina's reply, "Maybe I could pull you in with me." He replies, "Yeah. I'd like that."
These two are very cute together, but still there is a lot of mystery surrounding Sean. This book is fun, exciting, mysterious, and a true thrill-ride until the very end. The writing and story flows so well that it is hard to put it down. I recommend it to older teens and adults looking to piece together truly what is going on in this novel, and to see how true friends and family are ultimately the most important things in life. It all may surprise you in the end.
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The story starts with 18 year old Marina Berghman finding out she won the lottery; a $5 Million dollar prize! Her parents aren't happy about it, especially her father. So Marina decides to move away from home and that's when weird things start to happen. She's getting mysterious texts from someone who happens to know her every move. She also finds out why her father so strongly opposes her taking the winnings.
I really liked main character Marina. She has a cute, unique style, is very talented, but she sometimes lacks the confidence in herself. I also really loved the beautiful descriptions of San Francisco when Marina was taking her new friend, Sean, on a tour of the city. It makes me want to go there even more now.
Even though this story centers around a lottery winner, the main theme is about Marina finding out who she really is, despite what her parents expectations had always been for her. Her mom always wanted her to excel at everything. All people in her life wanted her to compete to be the best or compete against her. You could truly feel the pressure on this poor girl. This is a coming of age story quite like what we all ultimately go through as a young adult...without the mystery thrown in of course. I laughed at one particular conversation between Marina and Sean.
Marina said, "So we're in the same boat about not knowing what to do with out lives. Or, maybe in the same life raft. I don't feel like I'm in anything as solid as a boat."
Sean answered, "Nah, I'm hanging onto a rotted piece of driftwood. You're in a paddle boat doing circles around me."
I loved Marina's reply, "Maybe I could pull you in with me." He replies, "Yeah. I'd like that."
These two are very cute together, but still there is a lot of mystery surrounding Sean. This book is fun, exciting, mysterious, and a true thrill-ride until the very end. The writing and story flows so well that it is hard to put it down. I recommend it to older teens and adults looking to piece together truly what is going on in this novel, and to see how true friends and family are ultimately the most important things in life. It all may surprise you in the end.
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February 18, 2019
Marina Berghman is a classical piano prodigy with parents who’ve had her life mapped out since she was in diapers. But their plan leaves no room for her secret love of alternative rock, or Sean, the edgy guitarist who recently moved to town.
When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day, for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.
But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own. Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.
This book is a page-turner! I started to realize pretty quickly that all was not right with this lottery. While it's fun to read about how logical Marina spends her winnings, the underlying dread is what propels this story forward. Whether it's someone following Marina home one night or the flirty yet slightly creepy anonymous texts she gets, these were the little things that kept me from being able to put the book down.
The romance in the book is sweet and well-written. I also really loved the setting. San Francisco figures so prominently in the book that it made me want to visit. Marina's best friend Darya is such a great character that I wish there was a spin-off novel that starred her! If you're looking for a fast-paced book with all the elements of a great YA, this is a perfect choice.
When Marina buys a lottery ticket on her eighteenth birthday via the new Windfall app, she expects it to be nothing more than a rite of passage. But she wins—the grand prize of five thousand dollars a day, for life. Suddenly given the means to break free from a life she never felt in control of, she’s quick to cut her family ties and turn her back on everything she knows.
But her lottery win was no lucky break. Her prize comes with strings attached, and Marina soon finds herself at the center of someone else’s life or death game. When she discovers evidence linking her dad to the intrigue, she turns to Sean for help. But he’s harboring secrets of his own. Now Marina must sort out who to trust and who’s pulling the strings, before her prize turns into a noose.
This book is a page-turner! I started to realize pretty quickly that all was not right with this lottery. While it's fun to read about how logical Marina spends her winnings, the underlying dread is what propels this story forward. Whether it's someone following Marina home one night or the flirty yet slightly creepy anonymous texts she gets, these were the little things that kept me from being able to put the book down.
The romance in the book is sweet and well-written. I also really loved the setting. San Francisco figures so prominently in the book that it made me want to visit. Marina's best friend Darya is such a great character that I wish there was a spin-off novel that starred her! If you're looking for a fast-paced book with all the elements of a great YA, this is a perfect choice.
November 26, 2018
This book is a page-turner and perfect if you’re looking for a fast-paced, entertaining read. It kept my mind occupied at the gym for a few workouts, successfully distracting myself from the drudgery of the elliptical machine. This is actually one of my qualifications for what makes a good book: it must entertain me at the gym. When I’m itching to go to the gym so I can get in some uninterrupted reading on the stationary bike, elliptical, or if I’m feeling really ambitious, the treadmill, that’s when I know a book is going to get a good rating! The Windfall App did that for me!
I loved the San Francisco setting, and I loved Marina’s relationship with her best friend, Darya. Darya is the best friend every girl needs. I got mad at Marina a few times during the story. There were moments when all her problems would have gotten so much easier if she would have just swallowed her pride and had a conversation with her father. Though I suppose this just makes the story more realistic since teenagers often make irrational decisions fueled by their emotions, right??
I highly recommend this one if you’re a fan of YA and looking for a fun, quick read!
I loved the San Francisco setting, and I loved Marina’s relationship with her best friend, Darya. Darya is the best friend every girl needs. I got mad at Marina a few times during the story. There were moments when all her problems would have gotten so much easier if she would have just swallowed her pride and had a conversation with her father. Though I suppose this just makes the story more realistic since teenagers often make irrational decisions fueled by their emotions, right??
I highly recommend this one if you’re a fan of YA and looking for a fun, quick read!
July 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. If it was a movie, it feels like one where a lot of suspenseful music would be playing in the background. Things appeared good, but you as the reader just feel this sense of foreboding that the main character seems to not fully realize. It was fun trying to guess and piece together what was going to really happen along the way, and I was not able to figure it all out! I love the unique background of the main character and the way the author described the book's setting in San Francisco, it made me really want to visit the city and I felt like I was getting a VIP guided tour of the great spots to hit while reading.
This is a perfect summer read that will keep you turning the pages wondering how it is all going to turn out. This is also a clean book free from graphic language or imagery.
-I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
This is a perfect summer read that will keep you turning the pages wondering how it is all going to turn out. This is also a clean book free from graphic language or imagery.
-I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a honest review.
July 25, 2018
I loved this book! Marina is a strong main character with a clear future planned out for her that she really doesn’t want. When she wins the lottery just after her 18th birthday, she realizes she now has the opportunity to break free from the plan, and she does. She goes on a spending spree—a luxury condo in SF and a new car. But bad things start happening to her, too, and she realizes it was a set-up. Her father has some powerful enemies, and they’re using her as a pawn in their life-or-death game.
There are some great side characters in this book, too, that feel very real and add to the book. The anonymous texter adds intrigue, too.
All in all, probably my favorite from this author so far. Can’t wait to see what she writes next! 😁
There are some great side characters in this book, too, that feel very real and add to the book. The anonymous texter adds intrigue, too.
All in all, probably my favorite from this author so far. Can’t wait to see what she writes next! 😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2018
I'm the author, so I'm a bit biased, but I really enjoyed writing this book. It combines some of my favorite things--music, family, and the city by the Bay. I hope you will enjoy being immersed in the city, the music, and the suspense. Will Marina get to keep her winnings and, if so, will she survive long enough to enjoy them?
July 18, 2018
The Windfall App was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Even though I am over 50 I still enjoy some YA books. This one was pretty good. An interesting storyline about the lottery, greed, a bit of romance, and good friends.
I give it four stars. I really liked it.
No swearing, sexual content, or graphic violence. I can recommend for teens and up.
Even though I am over 50 I still enjoy some YA books. This one was pretty good. An interesting storyline about the lottery, greed, a bit of romance, and good friends.
I give it four stars. I really liked it.
No swearing, sexual content, or graphic violence. I can recommend for teens and up.
July 26, 2018
This is an absolutely charming page-turner--part mystery, part romance, part love letter to music. Lots of ethical dilemmas, a tour of San Francisco, a take-charge heroine figuring out her life, and a fun shopping spree. I adored every page--couldn't put it down!
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