What do you think?
Rate this book
Better Luck Next Time
A generational family comedy for fans of Eligible, This Is Where I Leave You, Heartburn and television’s This Is Us
It isn’t easy being related to a feminist icon, especially when she’s celebrating the greatest moment of her storied career.
Just ask the daughters of Lydia Hennessey, who could have it all if only they’d stop self-destructing. Mariana, the eldest, is on the verge of throwing away a distinguished reputation in journalism, along with her marriage. Nina, the middle daughter, has returned from a medical mission overseas as a changed woman but won’t discuss it with anyone. And Beata, the youngest, has a hostile teenaged son who just discovered the existence of a father who didn’t know about him either. Meanwhile, their cousin Zoe is making divorce look like a death match, while her brother, Zack, is grappling with the fallout from his popular television dramedy, which is based far too closely on Lydia herself.
It might be easier to find their paths if they could step out of Lydia’s shadow—but the biggest women’s march in history is underway, and Lydia and her family are at the centre of it.
Over the course of an eventful year, the Hennessey children contend with the big struggles of aging parents, raging teens, crumbling marriages and bodies, new loves and the choice between playing it safe or taking life-altering risks. And as they inch toward a new definition of happiness, they might even persuade their parents—and themselves—that they’re all grown up.
It isn’t easy being related to a feminist icon, especially when she’s celebrating the greatest moment of her storied career.
Just ask the daughters of Lydia Hennessey, who could have it all if only they’d stop self-destructing. Mariana, the eldest, is on the verge of throwing away a distinguished reputation in journalism, along with her marriage. Nina, the middle daughter, has returned from a medical mission overseas as a changed woman but won’t discuss it with anyone. And Beata, the youngest, has a hostile teenaged son who just discovered the existence of a father who didn’t know about him either. Meanwhile, their cousin Zoe is making divorce look like a death match, while her brother, Zack, is grappling with the fallout from his popular television dramedy, which is based far too closely on Lydia herself.
It might be easier to find their paths if they could step out of Lydia’s shadow—but the biggest women’s march in history is underway, and Lydia and her family are at the centre of it.
Over the course of an eventful year, the Hennessey children contend with the big struggles of aging parents, raging teens, crumbling marriages and bodies, new loves and the choice between playing it safe or taking life-altering risks. And as they inch toward a new definition of happiness, they might even persuade their parents—and themselves—that they’re all grown up.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2020
12 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hilton
6 books265 followersKATE HILTON is a bestselling Canadian writer. She is the co-author of the Quill and Packet mystery series; the most recent title, Widows and Orphans, was published in 2025. Her fiction includes the forthcoming City of the Muse (2026), as well as The Hole in the Middle, Just Like Family, and Better Luck Next Time. When not writing, Kate maintains an active psychotherapy practice, with a particular focus on personal reinvention and life transitions. She lives with her family in Toronto.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
November 24, 2020
Better Luck Next Time is a great book with excellent characters. I was immediately drawn to the characters and wanted to hear more about them. I really wanted everything to work out for the characters. Hilton does a great job telling all these characters’ stories in a way that makes it interesting but isn’t too much. The book encompasses a year.
Better Luck Next Time discusses many different family issues and how they affect family dynamics. Divorce, infidelity, dating apps, dating after divorce, and marriage are all discussed. A teenage boy also discovers who his Dad really is and starts to develop a relationship with him.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rachel Fulginiti. I really enjoyed her narration and thought it added to the story.
I loved Better Luck Next Time and recommend it to anyone that likes fiction novels about families.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio/Harper Collins Publishers for Better Luck Next Time.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Better Luck Next Time discusses many different family issues and how they affect family dynamics. Divorce, infidelity, dating apps, dating after divorce, and marriage are all discussed. A teenage boy also discovers who his Dad really is and starts to develop a relationship with him.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rachel Fulginiti. I really enjoyed her narration and thought it added to the story.
I loved Better Luck Next Time and recommend it to anyone that likes fiction novels about families.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio/Harper Collins Publishers for Better Luck Next Time.
Full Review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
November 20, 2020
Dynamic, biting and funny with a feminist twist. Family, dating, political, and feminist humor abounds, and a fantastic audio narrator brings it all to life. In other words, this book felt made especially for me!
The book is about the three children of Lydia Hennessey, a famous feminist along the lines of Gloria Steinem. While Lydia is steadfast in her feminist ideals, her children are struggling in her shadow with divorce, infidelity, mental health and other issues that sometimes make a perfect feminist life hard to lead. All while preparing for a massive women's march, while the family is very much in the public eye.
This book is very modern and cool without trying too hard (a pet peeve of mine in this genre) and reflects perfectly the real-life struggles of the third-wave feminist generation. I loved the well-drawn and funny characters, particularly Lydia's daughter Mariana, who was funny and so relatable to me. The time flies while listening to this book, which is at once a fun, easy listen and also very thoughtful and deeper than you'd expect. Though it centers on a high-profile feminist family, their problems are very much like all of ours, and not easily resolved (which is a fun and interesting statement in itself). I LOVED the narrator of this audiobook - she really brought the characters to life with a witty, slightly caustic, and always fun tone. This book perfectly conveys the atmosphere of both the urgency and the ridiculousness of the crazy times in which we are living - from feminism to kids to dating to mothers who are a little bit (or a lot) overbearing.
So yes, I loved this book. Kate Hilton is a worthy heir to Nora Ephron. (I don't say that lightly as Nora is one of my favorites.) Her writing also reminds me a bit of Sue Miller and Meg Wolitzer. I am so looking forward to reading more from her. I could also easily see this book as a successful movie.
Thanks to Harper Collins Audio, NetGalley, and Kate Hilton for the advance copy of this great book. 4.5 and I can't wait to see what Kate Hilton writes next.
The book is about the three children of Lydia Hennessey, a famous feminist along the lines of Gloria Steinem. While Lydia is steadfast in her feminist ideals, her children are struggling in her shadow with divorce, infidelity, mental health and other issues that sometimes make a perfect feminist life hard to lead. All while preparing for a massive women's march, while the family is very much in the public eye.
This book is very modern and cool without trying too hard (a pet peeve of mine in this genre) and reflects perfectly the real-life struggles of the third-wave feminist generation. I loved the well-drawn and funny characters, particularly Lydia's daughter Mariana, who was funny and so relatable to me. The time flies while listening to this book, which is at once a fun, easy listen and also very thoughtful and deeper than you'd expect. Though it centers on a high-profile feminist family, their problems are very much like all of ours, and not easily resolved (which is a fun and interesting statement in itself). I LOVED the narrator of this audiobook - she really brought the characters to life with a witty, slightly caustic, and always fun tone. This book perfectly conveys the atmosphere of both the urgency and the ridiculousness of the crazy times in which we are living - from feminism to kids to dating to mothers who are a little bit (or a lot) overbearing.
So yes, I loved this book. Kate Hilton is a worthy heir to Nora Ephron. (I don't say that lightly as Nora is one of my favorites.) Her writing also reminds me a bit of Sue Miller and Meg Wolitzer. I am so looking forward to reading more from her. I could also easily see this book as a successful movie.
Thanks to Harper Collins Audio, NetGalley, and Kate Hilton for the advance copy of this great book. 4.5 and I can't wait to see what Kate Hilton writes next.
June 29, 2020
All adult children – Mariana, Nina and Beata – under the spotlight of their mother Lydia Hennessey, with cousins Zoe and Zack also in the mix. The two families, parents and children alike, were in somewhat of a mixed crisis. Beata’s son Oscar, now a teenager and a surly, resentful one at that, had just discovered the father he didn’t know about – and who didn’t know about his son. Nina’s return from overseas pleased the family, but Nina had changed. And Mariana was in the throes of a divorce, with her twin daughters not coping at all well.
Meanwhile cousin Zoe was also going through a divorce – the outcome which would make her a happier person, but she couldn’t see herself getting there any time soon. And Zack, Zoe's brother, with his chaotic past, was being a stalwart supporter of all who needed him.
Over the period of a year, the angst, drama, family dynamics and chaos all collided. Would anyone come out of what was happening a better person? Or were they all destined to fail?
Better Luck Next Time by Kate Hilton is basically an extended family’s drama which occurs during a small period of the characters’ lives and their efforts to make things better. With divorce, careers, parenting, bitterness and love all vying for a place, it was a quick read and reasonably light. Recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Meanwhile cousin Zoe was also going through a divorce – the outcome which would make her a happier person, but she couldn’t see herself getting there any time soon. And Zack, Zoe's brother, with his chaotic past, was being a stalwart supporter of all who needed him.
Over the period of a year, the angst, drama, family dynamics and chaos all collided. Would anyone come out of what was happening a better person? Or were they all destined to fail?
Better Luck Next Time by Kate Hilton is basically an extended family’s drama which occurs during a small period of the characters’ lives and their efforts to make things better. With divorce, careers, parenting, bitterness and love all vying for a place, it was a quick read and reasonably light. Recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
Having avoided this book for quite some time after I received it, I thought it was time to pick this book up and give it a go. Well, I can’t say I loved it, but I see from varying reviews there are many people who have. My main worry going into this book was about, it having so many characters I honestly thought I’d find it hard to follow, but thankfully the author made it easy to follow in that regard.
Family dramas such as divorce and relationships woes were plentiful in this book so much so I began to lose interest and I found my mind was elsewhere. I feel I might be on the outer on this one as many people loved it and found it rather funny. This was an okay read for me and maybe it was just the wrong time for me to read this book, but nevertheless don’t let my review stop you from picking this book up because you too may really enjoy it like many other readers have.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC copy to read and review.
Family dramas such as divorce and relationships woes were plentiful in this book so much so I began to lose interest and I found my mind was elsewhere. I feel I might be on the outer on this one as many people loved it and found it rather funny. This was an okay read for me and maybe it was just the wrong time for me to read this book, but nevertheless don’t let my review stop you from picking this book up because you too may really enjoy it like many other readers have.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC copy to read and review.
June 23, 2020
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Better Luck Next Time is a generational comedy with a subtle theme of feminism.
The story opens on a Hennessey Christmas where the Hennesseys and the Goldstein-Hennesseys all come together for Christmas lunch. This opening family Christmas scene is both tragically funny and wholly relatable. The room is in chaos, some are simply there out of duty and want to get the day over with.
There is quite a cast of characters in this extended family and Kate Hilton has them listed in the front pages but it doesn’t take long to get the idea of who is related to who.
I immediately liked Zoe who is reticent to tell her overbearing mother that she had recently separated from her husband. Zoe had a wonderful relationship with her younger brother Zack and it was nice to see them opening up to each other. Their friendly banter and ribbing come across as fun and natural.
Mariana, Nina and Beata are siblings, cousins to Zoe and Zack. Nina doesn’t feature much in the story but when she does it is heart-breaking and meaningful.
Mariana is a high flying journalist unhappy with her marriage but feels trapped with a no-hoper husband and young twins to bring up.
Beata, a single mother and Reiki specialist, has dedicated her life to raising her 15 year old son Oscar. She now wonders how she ended up with an angry teenager who slams doors and won’t talk.
Putting their grievances aside the family comes together as family matriarch and well known feminist Lydia Hennessey plans to lead the upcoming feminist march with coordinating marches across the country
The story follows the Hennessey family over the course of one eventful year which will see separations, bridal showers, secrets divulged and a confrontation ending in hospitalisation. The Hennessey’s are anything but boring!
Better Luck Next Time is a light easy read that is filled with relevant issues such as divorce, dating after divorce, single parenthood, secrets, gay relationships, self love and family. Hilton’s characters are highly relatable. You might find yourself in one of the characters or little bits of yourself in all of them.
Kate Hilton tests the six degrees of separation theory, again and again, but in most cases here it is on about two degrees which makes for some awkwardly funny situations.
This is not a dysfunctional family it is just an all round normal family finding their way in love and life.
Better Luck Next Time is everything it promised to be; funny, engaging and highly relatable.
*I received my copy from the publisher
Better Luck Next Time is a generational comedy with a subtle theme of feminism.
The story opens on a Hennessey Christmas where the Hennesseys and the Goldstein-Hennesseys all come together for Christmas lunch. This opening family Christmas scene is both tragically funny and wholly relatable. The room is in chaos, some are simply there out of duty and want to get the day over with.
There is quite a cast of characters in this extended family and Kate Hilton has them listed in the front pages but it doesn’t take long to get the idea of who is related to who.
I immediately liked Zoe who is reticent to tell her overbearing mother that she had recently separated from her husband. Zoe had a wonderful relationship with her younger brother Zack and it was nice to see them opening up to each other. Their friendly banter and ribbing come across as fun and natural.
Mariana, Nina and Beata are siblings, cousins to Zoe and Zack. Nina doesn’t feature much in the story but when she does it is heart-breaking and meaningful.
Mariana is a high flying journalist unhappy with her marriage but feels trapped with a no-hoper husband and young twins to bring up.
Beata, a single mother and Reiki specialist, has dedicated her life to raising her 15 year old son Oscar. She now wonders how she ended up with an angry teenager who slams doors and won’t talk.
Putting their grievances aside the family comes together as family matriarch and well known feminist Lydia Hennessey plans to lead the upcoming feminist march with coordinating marches across the country
The story follows the Hennessey family over the course of one eventful year which will see separations, bridal showers, secrets divulged and a confrontation ending in hospitalisation. The Hennessey’s are anything but boring!
Better Luck Next Time is a light easy read that is filled with relevant issues such as divorce, dating after divorce, single parenthood, secrets, gay relationships, self love and family. Hilton’s characters are highly relatable. You might find yourself in one of the characters or little bits of yourself in all of them.
Kate Hilton tests the six degrees of separation theory, again and again, but in most cases here it is on about two degrees which makes for some awkwardly funny situations.
This is not a dysfunctional family it is just an all round normal family finding their way in love and life.
Better Luck Next Time is everything it promised to be; funny, engaging and highly relatable.
*I received my copy from the publisher
January 24, 2021
More insightful than funny, Better Luck Next Time follows five cousins rebuilding their lives over the course of a year. Hilton captures the love and aggravations of marriage and family, the sorrow and loss of divorce, and the insecurities of trying to keep your shit together. Well-intentioned and flawed, the extended members of the Goldstein-Hennessey family are vividly brought to life. I love their resilience and was delighted by the return of Will Shannon, a character from Hilton's first novel, though he might be too perfect.
Read
July 22, 2020Thanks to Allen&Unwin for my ARC to read and review. Well, I tried my best and had several goes at trying to read this one hoping it would improve and engage me. When I saw Marianne’s comments about needing to read past chapter 3, I dutifully picked it back up and started reading again. But two more chapters on, I am admitting defeat. The writing style does not appeal to me. Despite claims that it was hilarious, captivating and full of laughs out loud moments, I didn’t find it that way. I just found the characters annoying and unrelatable. That’s not to say this is a bad book. I know others have enjoyed it. Sadly it’s just not a book that appeals to this person. No doubt I will probably be an outlier here, but that’s the way it is. Rather than make it more of a chore trying to continue, I have decided not to read further, so not going to rate this one. Sorry Allen&Unwin, this just did not work for me. A shame when, Finding Eadie, the other book I received from this publisher at the same time was such a gem, as have other books they have sent me at times.
June 14, 2020
3 and a half stars. I picked this book out of my pile because I felt like a laugh and the cover calls it “a brilliant, laugh-out loud family comedy”. I laughed out loud once (Attention parents, the ball pit has been soiled!) so I think they exaggerated. It’s an enjoyable read about a mixture of sisters and cousins in their 30s and early 40s going through various life upheavals, divorces, online dating, angry teenage children, career choices etc. The story is told in monthly bites between one Christmas and the next so the pacing is good and I wasn’t bored. An easy, light, quick read.
July 8, 2020
Better Luck Next Tine is the third novel by Canadian author, Kate Hilton. It’s Christmas 2019 when we first meet the extended Goldstein-Hennessey family members, and they’re not on their best behaviour. Many of them are being snarky (maybe with some cause), and there’s a lot more criticism than caring going on. And a few dramas…
Zoe Hennessy is finally divorcing her lazy, cheating husband, but concerned she’ll lose her hard-won business in the process; her cousin, Mariana Goldstein-Hennessy has her hands full with a demanding part-time job as a journalist, twin four-year-olds and a sometimes-working husband; and Oscar Goldstein-Hennessy (a fire-breathing teenager according to his mother, Beata) is very angry to only now discover there is a flesh-and-blood father, rather than a test-tube, in his genesis.
Divorce lawyer, Eloise Embree finds herself providing her services to two members of the extended family, while also delivering a reality check on Beata’s reason for lying to her son, her family and the wider world for fifteen years. Meanwhile, every member of the family is careful not to air any personal issues within the hearing of scriptwriter Zack Hennessy, who already has form for mining the family’s crises for his TV dramedy.
Lawyer Will Shannon seems like the almost-perfect guy and, even if he has the treatment of muscle injury all wrong, he is one character who is instantly appealing. But if readers find themselves somewhat disliking many of the others at the outset, patience and persistence is definitely rewarded as they do develop into much more likeable people over the course of the twelve months, while they deal with a wide array of turmoils and dilemmas.
The story is mainly narrated by three characters, and set in 2020: not, of course, the version written by Stephen King and directed by Quentin Tarantino that we are currently living, but an alternate, much less nasty 2020. And while it does contain a generous sprinkling of expletives, the tangle of relationships (that sometimes falls just short of incestuous) provides many laugh-out-loud moments as well as the odd tear or lump in the throat. Funny, moving and thought-provoking, this is a very entertaining read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin
Zoe Hennessy is finally divorcing her lazy, cheating husband, but concerned she’ll lose her hard-won business in the process; her cousin, Mariana Goldstein-Hennessy has her hands full with a demanding part-time job as a journalist, twin four-year-olds and a sometimes-working husband; and Oscar Goldstein-Hennessy (a fire-breathing teenager according to his mother, Beata) is very angry to only now discover there is a flesh-and-blood father, rather than a test-tube, in his genesis.
Divorce lawyer, Eloise Embree finds herself providing her services to two members of the extended family, while also delivering a reality check on Beata’s reason for lying to her son, her family and the wider world for fifteen years. Meanwhile, every member of the family is careful not to air any personal issues within the hearing of scriptwriter Zack Hennessy, who already has form for mining the family’s crises for his TV dramedy.
Lawyer Will Shannon seems like the almost-perfect guy and, even if he has the treatment of muscle injury all wrong, he is one character who is instantly appealing. But if readers find themselves somewhat disliking many of the others at the outset, patience and persistence is definitely rewarded as they do develop into much more likeable people over the course of the twelve months, while they deal with a wide array of turmoils and dilemmas.
The story is mainly narrated by three characters, and set in 2020: not, of course, the version written by Stephen King and directed by Quentin Tarantino that we are currently living, but an alternate, much less nasty 2020. And while it does contain a generous sprinkling of expletives, the tangle of relationships (that sometimes falls just short of incestuous) provides many laugh-out-loud moments as well as the odd tear or lump in the throat. Funny, moving and thought-provoking, this is a very entertaining read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin
June 21, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
Family is the word in Kate Hilton’s latest novel, Better Luck Next Time. Drama, relationships, careers, parenting, divorce and family politics rule this new release from Canadian based author Kate Hilton. Better Luck Next Time is an entertaining, light touch novel that is quick witted from start to finish.
Better Luck Next Time is an all-encompassing family drama. It revolves around the daughters and wider family circle of feminist icon Lydia Hennessey. Lydia’s offspring are plagued by a series of woes and setbacks throughout this book’s journey. For eldest child Mariana, both her career and marriage is in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Lydia’s middle child Nina holds a secret close to her chest after returning from an overseas mission. For the youngest member of Lydia’s brood, Beata is struggling to deal with her teenage son and the questions he has over his parentage. Lydia’s extended family are also grappling with a bevy of life issues. Cousins Zoe and Zack are contending with career and divorce problems. Lydia doesn’t know who to help in their time of need, there are just too many issues at hand! Following a period of a year, Better Luck Next Time charts the everyday struggles of the Hennessey clan, as they negotiate a litany of obstacles to attain a greater sense of self, as well as happiness.
Better Luck Next Time is an open, observant and sharp read from an author I have not encountered before. Kate Hilton is now onto her third release, but this is my first taste of her work. Better Luck Next Time was a super fast read for me, I knocked it off in just an afternoon. It is easy to fall into the step of this novel, due to the accessible and airy tone of the book. This novel has the ability to click with all readers, especially contemporary fiction fans.
This family comedy has been likened to television sitcoms Parenthood, Offspring and This Is Us. I’m not a fan of these television shows, but I could see the comparisons between Better Luck Next Time and these productions. There is a strong screen quality to Better Luck Next Time. I could easily see Kate Hilton’s new novel on the big screen, billed a family comedy. There is definitely a fun and lighthearted tone to this book. The snappy accompanying dialogue exchanged between the characters ensures that this novel delivers plenty of well timed laughs.
I liked the format of Better Luck Next Time, which stretches over the course of a year. The book opens at Christmas and closes a year later. The chapters alternate between the different points of view of the various Hennessey children and relatives through the months of the year, which are clearly marked out. This kept me interested, engaged and on my toes. I wasn’t quite sure who I would encounter next via each narration interchange. Life is definitely not boring for the Hennessey clan! With plenty of curveballs, setbacks, choices and changes to embrace, it was a full journey.
Hilton pits her protagonists against a range of life issues and struggles. From second chance love, relationship breakdown, divorce, dating, career crisis, parenting problems, teenage angst, political activism and more, Better Luck Next Time is an involving novel. I appreciated the exploration and sheer volume of themes raised by the author, but often these episodes were a little far-fetched and not quite as a funny as I would have liked, or expected. Nevertheless, Better Luck Next Time was an undemanding read, which was exactly what I wanted after a heavy week.
Better Luck Next Time is a well-timed, pointed and vibrant novel that paints a picture of a family and its extended fold coping with a host of common life problems. Kate Hilton has penned a contemporary tale that will be sure to sit well with all fiction fans.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
3.5 stars
Family is the word in Kate Hilton’s latest novel, Better Luck Next Time. Drama, relationships, careers, parenting, divorce and family politics rule this new release from Canadian based author Kate Hilton. Better Luck Next Time is an entertaining, light touch novel that is quick witted from start to finish.
Better Luck Next Time is an all-encompassing family drama. It revolves around the daughters and wider family circle of feminist icon Lydia Hennessey. Lydia’s offspring are plagued by a series of woes and setbacks throughout this book’s journey. For eldest child Mariana, both her career and marriage is in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Lydia’s middle child Nina holds a secret close to her chest after returning from an overseas mission. For the youngest member of Lydia’s brood, Beata is struggling to deal with her teenage son and the questions he has over his parentage. Lydia’s extended family are also grappling with a bevy of life issues. Cousins Zoe and Zack are contending with career and divorce problems. Lydia doesn’t know who to help in their time of need, there are just too many issues at hand! Following a period of a year, Better Luck Next Time charts the everyday struggles of the Hennessey clan, as they negotiate a litany of obstacles to attain a greater sense of self, as well as happiness.
Better Luck Next Time is an open, observant and sharp read from an author I have not encountered before. Kate Hilton is now onto her third release, but this is my first taste of her work. Better Luck Next Time was a super fast read for me, I knocked it off in just an afternoon. It is easy to fall into the step of this novel, due to the accessible and airy tone of the book. This novel has the ability to click with all readers, especially contemporary fiction fans.
This family comedy has been likened to television sitcoms Parenthood, Offspring and This Is Us. I’m not a fan of these television shows, but I could see the comparisons between Better Luck Next Time and these productions. There is a strong screen quality to Better Luck Next Time. I could easily see Kate Hilton’s new novel on the big screen, billed a family comedy. There is definitely a fun and lighthearted tone to this book. The snappy accompanying dialogue exchanged between the characters ensures that this novel delivers plenty of well timed laughs.
I liked the format of Better Luck Next Time, which stretches over the course of a year. The book opens at Christmas and closes a year later. The chapters alternate between the different points of view of the various Hennessey children and relatives through the months of the year, which are clearly marked out. This kept me interested, engaged and on my toes. I wasn’t quite sure who I would encounter next via each narration interchange. Life is definitely not boring for the Hennessey clan! With plenty of curveballs, setbacks, choices and changes to embrace, it was a full journey.
Hilton pits her protagonists against a range of life issues and struggles. From second chance love, relationship breakdown, divorce, dating, career crisis, parenting problems, teenage angst, political activism and more, Better Luck Next Time is an involving novel. I appreciated the exploration and sheer volume of themes raised by the author, but often these episodes were a little far-fetched and not quite as a funny as I would have liked, or expected. Nevertheless, Better Luck Next Time was an undemanding read, which was exactly what I wanted after a heavy week.
Better Luck Next Time is a well-timed, pointed and vibrant novel that paints a picture of a family and its extended fold coping with a host of common life problems. Kate Hilton has penned a contemporary tale that will be sure to sit well with all fiction fans.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
June 23, 2020
Thanks to Allen&Unwin for this ARC of Better Luck Next Time by Kate Hilton to read and review.
This is my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it. It is written from many different characters point of views from a diverse family. Once I got my head around all the characters I found it funny and easy to read. At many points I found myself having a little giggle. You find yourself attached to the characters throughout and really want to know where they are going next.
This book consists of a year in this families lives, through heartbreak, divorce, teenage tantrums, death, marriage, secrets but most importantly love and relationships and how everyone must accept each other and what life throws at them. Every person is different and has many choices and I think this book shines a light on this topic well.
This is my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it. It is written from many different characters point of views from a diverse family. Once I got my head around all the characters I found it funny and easy to read. At many points I found myself having a little giggle. You find yourself attached to the characters throughout and really want to know where they are going next.
This book consists of a year in this families lives, through heartbreak, divorce, teenage tantrums, death, marriage, secrets but most importantly love and relationships and how everyone must accept each other and what life throws at them. Every person is different and has many choices and I think this book shines a light on this topic well.
November 10, 2020
The wait is finally over! Happy Nov 24 pub day to this gem of a book.
Another winner from Kate Hilton. A deep dive into family dynamics that feels fresh and sharp. Hilton is at her witty and incisive best. Few writers capture the taut tensions between siblings and the push pull adult children have with their parents as well as Hilton. The novel manages to be both topical yet timeless.
Highly recommended for my fiction reading friends.
Another winner from Kate Hilton. A deep dive into family dynamics that feels fresh and sharp. Hilton is at her witty and incisive best. Few writers capture the taut tensions between siblings and the push pull adult children have with their parents as well as Hilton. The novel manages to be both topical yet timeless.
Highly recommended for my fiction reading friends.
June 18, 2020
Families, relationships/divorces and a bit of "mature coming of age" - a light, engaging read.
March 22, 2024
Snarky and funny.
November 30, 2020
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperAvenue for providing me with this eBook to read and review.
I am a sucker for a good generational comedy. Hilton describes this one as a “divorce comedy” and that is aptly put. Mariana Hennessey’s marriage has ended, and her career as a journalist at a local news room is on thin ice as well. Beata’s teenaged son Oscar has just found his never-before-known father (thus discrediting the whole sperm bank story he and the family had been told Oscar’s entire life). Nina has just returned from working as a doctor in a war-torn country. Their mother and feminist icon Lydia is preparing for one of the biggest moments of her career as an activist – and she wants everything to be just perfect. Throw in cousins Zoe and Zack, who are navigating a messy divorce and recovering from addiction and a fall from fame, respectively, and you have a recipe for a comedy of errors.
This book is beguiling. There’s no other way to put it. Once you get a sense of the trajectories of each character, and their motivations and internal conflicts, you truly want to race to the end of the novel to see how things turn out. The story is at times fun and light, but there are serious themes that creep in, making it a relatable piece of domestic fiction. The characters are carefully wrought; they are believable and likeable (even when they are unlikeable), and the central themes of familial and romantic love and identity are explored in a way that has the reader turning the pages for more.
To top it off, Hilton is a smart, excellent writer. Her feminist lens is evident, and she treats her readers as though they are intelligent.
Better Luck Next Time has been compared to This Is Where I Leave You, The Next, and even the TV show This Is Us – I think those comparisons are accurate. This is a must read for lovers of contemporary romances or fans of domestic fiction.
I am a sucker for a good generational comedy. Hilton describes this one as a “divorce comedy” and that is aptly put. Mariana Hennessey’s marriage has ended, and her career as a journalist at a local news room is on thin ice as well. Beata’s teenaged son Oscar has just found his never-before-known father (thus discrediting the whole sperm bank story he and the family had been told Oscar’s entire life). Nina has just returned from working as a doctor in a war-torn country. Their mother and feminist icon Lydia is preparing for one of the biggest moments of her career as an activist – and she wants everything to be just perfect. Throw in cousins Zoe and Zack, who are navigating a messy divorce and recovering from addiction and a fall from fame, respectively, and you have a recipe for a comedy of errors.
This book is beguiling. There’s no other way to put it. Once you get a sense of the trajectories of each character, and their motivations and internal conflicts, you truly want to race to the end of the novel to see how things turn out. The story is at times fun and light, but there are serious themes that creep in, making it a relatable piece of domestic fiction. The characters are carefully wrought; they are believable and likeable (even when they are unlikeable), and the central themes of familial and romantic love and identity are explored in a way that has the reader turning the pages for more.
To top it off, Hilton is a smart, excellent writer. Her feminist lens is evident, and she treats her readers as though they are intelligent.
Better Luck Next Time has been compared to This Is Where I Leave You, The Next, and even the TV show This Is Us – I think those comparisons are accurate. This is a must read for lovers of contemporary romances or fans of domestic fiction.
July 14, 2020
A wonderful quirky book about love, life and family. I absolutely loved it!!
July 4, 2021
Идеально для пляжа или летнего отдыха. Может раздражать количество персонажей, но под конец становится попроще. Напомнило фильм 2017 года The Party
July 1, 2020
Better Luck Next Time is an entertaining and engaging contemporary family dramedy from Kate Hilton.
The story primarily features the women of the Hennessy family -feminist icon Lydia, daughters Mariana, Beata, and Nina, and cousins Zoe and Zack. It begins on Christmas Day as the family gathers to celebrate revealing its own special brand of chaos. Lydia is frantically preparing the perfect Christmas dinner, Zoe is reluctant to admit her marriage is over, Mariana is furious with her husband, Beata is exasperated with her teenage son, Nina is uncharacteristically quiet, and newly sober Zach is looking to make amends.
Unfolding from multiple perspectives, each family member negotiates a series of disappointments, surprises, joys, secrets, and mistakes over a period of a year. The characters have distinct personalities and are easy to relate to as Hilton explores a variety of issues common to midlife including marriage, divorce, motherhood, addiction, and dating.
Hilton’s observations are often incisive, sometimes witty and occasionally poignant. The story moves at a good pace and I liked the balance between the humour and serious themes.
A fabulously funny, feel-good novel.
The story primarily features the women of the Hennessy family -feminist icon Lydia, daughters Mariana, Beata, and Nina, and cousins Zoe and Zack. It begins on Christmas Day as the family gathers to celebrate revealing its own special brand of chaos. Lydia is frantically preparing the perfect Christmas dinner, Zoe is reluctant to admit her marriage is over, Mariana is furious with her husband, Beata is exasperated with her teenage son, Nina is uncharacteristically quiet, and newly sober Zach is looking to make amends.
Unfolding from multiple perspectives, each family member negotiates a series of disappointments, surprises, joys, secrets, and mistakes over a period of a year. The characters have distinct personalities and are easy to relate to as Hilton explores a variety of issues common to midlife including marriage, divorce, motherhood, addiction, and dating.
Hilton’s observations are often incisive, sometimes witty and occasionally poignant. The story moves at a good pace and I liked the balance between the humour and serious themes.
A fabulously funny, feel-good novel.
August 27, 2020
This was certainly a quick and easy read but some of it felt a bit incestuous.
September 5, 2020
Fun easy book to read. It’s a boon to read when you want to read but not to take in to much. It’s enjoyable but it’s not going to test your brain.
Read
June 20, 2020Story 📖
This story is full of different female protagonists who are all related to Lydia Hennessey, feminist icon.
She has a large and raucous family and we get to meet her relatives (either children and nieces and nephews) through experiencing their different points of view.
We have Zoe who is having a relationship breakdown, Mariana who is unhappily married with twin daughters, Beata who is having a secret relationship and is starting to have a difficult relationship with her teenage son, Oscar and Zack who is Zoe’s loveable younger brother.
This story is enjoyable as it shows that even after a relationship breakdown you can still find love in the family and friends around you.
Summary 📖
I saw that the author had called this a divorce comedy and I think she is so right. I really liked the flow of the book and the way all the protagonists stories collide together in multiple point of views across the book.
Suggestion 📖
For anyone that enjoys light hearted books about real life, you will enjoy this book! This book shows you that there is always a positive way to look at situations.
This story is full of different female protagonists who are all related to Lydia Hennessey, feminist icon.
She has a large and raucous family and we get to meet her relatives (either children and nieces and nephews) through experiencing their different points of view.
We have Zoe who is having a relationship breakdown, Mariana who is unhappily married with twin daughters, Beata who is having a secret relationship and is starting to have a difficult relationship with her teenage son, Oscar and Zack who is Zoe’s loveable younger brother.
This story is enjoyable as it shows that even after a relationship breakdown you can still find love in the family and friends around you.
Summary 📖
I saw that the author had called this a divorce comedy and I think she is so right. I really liked the flow of the book and the way all the protagonists stories collide together in multiple point of views across the book.
Suggestion 📖
For anyone that enjoys light hearted books about real life, you will enjoy this book! This book shows you that there is always a positive way to look at situations.
July 16, 2020
Lydia Hennessey is a well known feminist icon but her adult children are failing at life - divorce, secrets and lies!
This book made me laugh out loud. It's witty, easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable although at times it is a bit predictable and some of the characters could've been explored a little bit further. However I would recommend! Lovers of Holly Wainwright will definitely enjoy this one!
This book made me laugh out loud. It's witty, easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable although at times it is a bit predictable and some of the characters could've been explored a little bit further. However I would recommend! Lovers of Holly Wainwright will definitely enjoy this one!
November 15, 2020
I really enjoyed Better Luck Next Time! I borrowed it from work on a whim and was pleasantly surprised at how much I found myself wishing I had more time to be reading it. I love an engaging and surprising yet satisfying family story, and Kate Hilton certainly delivered. I laughed out loud, I felt emotional for the characters and I cheered when things worked in their favour. Better Luck Next Time is a story of strong women and those who surround and support them. A truly delightful read.
August 24, 2025
I really enjoyed the story lines and once I figured out who was who (that was confusing I wish that was explained more at the beginning) it was a book I couldn’t put down. I needed to finish it before I could do anything else in my day. Written by a childhood friend of mine Kate (Katie) Hilton.
May 7, 2021
This was a sweet, sometimes emotional story that left me wanting more.
February 26, 2021
Read for a book challenge under the humour category.
November 18, 2020
I have been slightly obsessed with family stories lately, the kind that tell sweet stories and have amazing characters. With promises of a generational family comedy for fans of Eligible, This Is Where I Leave You, Heartburn and television’s This Is, I thought Better Luck Next Time would be a home run for me. I did enjoy most of the characters and the feelings of girl power however the layout was a bit messy.
We are introduced to the family on during Christmas and then follow them through out the year with big jumps between months/seasons leaving lots of gaps in the story. I found this a little difficult to follow piled on with the large group of family members, siblings, cousins, aunts, mothers, ex's, lots of interlacing in stories and it gets a bit confusing and some of the characters are lost and feel superficial.
I will note that I listened to the audiobook and the narration was wonderful and I did enjoy listening. I have a hard time giving this one a rating, the characters I saw more of were great and I loved the narration. Overall it was an interesting book and I quite liked a lot of story lines but I think the hype had me hoping for a little more. I would read another book by this author hoping for a story that flows a little better.
We are introduced to the family on during Christmas and then follow them through out the year with big jumps between months/seasons leaving lots of gaps in the story. I found this a little difficult to follow piled on with the large group of family members, siblings, cousins, aunts, mothers, ex's, lots of interlacing in stories and it gets a bit confusing and some of the characters are lost and feel superficial.
I will note that I listened to the audiobook and the narration was wonderful and I did enjoy listening. I have a hard time giving this one a rating, the characters I saw more of were great and I loved the narration. Overall it was an interesting book and I quite liked a lot of story lines but I think the hype had me hoping for a little more. I would read another book by this author hoping for a story that flows a little better.
July 24, 2020
I always find that when a book gives you a family tree description in the beginning, it’s probably going to be a bit confusing. And even though this isn’t a cast of thousands, for the first few chapters, it was very hard to keep everyone straight – who was siblings with who, who were their cousins, who were the parents of each set of siblings. Then add in partners and some of them having children of their own and the first scene in particular, was a chaotic mess. Which I think was deliberate, as it’s a family Christmas and many family Christmas’ feel like a chaotic noisy mess.
Each of the siblings and cousins are going through quite a bit in this story – Mariana is struggling in her job and then discovers something about her personal life and she is also raising rambunctious twins girls. Nina is close-mouthed about her decision to return from working in the medical field in a problematic area but when she finally confesses, it’s not what anyone could’ve imagined. Beata has raised her son singlehandedly from a young age but now he wants to find his father and that brings about a lot of uncertainty for her. And their cousins – Zoe is going through an acrimonious divorce, discovering just how much it’ll cost her to sever the connection with her wastrel husband and Zack is putting his life back together. No one is having an easy time of it, even their parents.
For me, there’s just a lot going on in this book and some of it didn’t feel like it was given the time and exploration it deserved. For example, Nina – she is barely in the story, drops a bombshell towards the end and then there’s a scene that links people together and it honestly just felt like it probably didn’t even need to be there. There’s also Zack, who is basically a nothing character other than to annoy Zoe at every opportunity. Half the family is somewhat miffed at him because he wrote a television series quite loosely based on the family and took some liberties with some of the characters. It’s since been cancelled and he’s had some problems since then but you could probably have removed him from the story and it would’ve made pretty much zero difference.
There wasn’t a lot of humour in this for me personally, although I did enjoy the way it was told, which was in sections, one for each month. But I think a lot of this just felt quite surface – separations, divorces, raising children, parental issues, a lot of the conversations didn’t feel particularly in depth (perhaps because it was supposed to be a lighter, more humorous take on serious issues, but for me that just felt like a lot things were left out).
Unfortunately, this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really get invested in any of the characters (except actually, for Nina, towards the end of the book, despite her having been pretty much a complete non-entity until that point. I suddenly wanted to know more about her and what had happened, but it didn’t really get delivered) or what was happening to them. The Christmas dinner sounded like an actual nightmare and I don’t know how most of them hadn’t noped out of it years ago. No wonder Zoe’s ex-husband Richard never wanted to go. I wouldn’t either. Also I found the whole section about the march at the ending quite disjointed it really seemed like the author needed something dramatic to happen that involved quite a few of the characters so that loose plot threads could be tied up neatly.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
Each of the siblings and cousins are going through quite a bit in this story – Mariana is struggling in her job and then discovers something about her personal life and she is also raising rambunctious twins girls. Nina is close-mouthed about her decision to return from working in the medical field in a problematic area but when she finally confesses, it’s not what anyone could’ve imagined. Beata has raised her son singlehandedly from a young age but now he wants to find his father and that brings about a lot of uncertainty for her. And their cousins – Zoe is going through an acrimonious divorce, discovering just how much it’ll cost her to sever the connection with her wastrel husband and Zack is putting his life back together. No one is having an easy time of it, even their parents.
For me, there’s just a lot going on in this book and some of it didn’t feel like it was given the time and exploration it deserved. For example, Nina – she is barely in the story, drops a bombshell towards the end and then there’s a scene that links people together and it honestly just felt like it probably didn’t even need to be there. There’s also Zack, who is basically a nothing character other than to annoy Zoe at every opportunity. Half the family is somewhat miffed at him because he wrote a television series quite loosely based on the family and took some liberties with some of the characters. It’s since been cancelled and he’s had some problems since then but you could probably have removed him from the story and it would’ve made pretty much zero difference.
There wasn’t a lot of humour in this for me personally, although I did enjoy the way it was told, which was in sections, one for each month. But I think a lot of this just felt quite surface – separations, divorces, raising children, parental issues, a lot of the conversations didn’t feel particularly in depth (perhaps because it was supposed to be a lighter, more humorous take on serious issues, but for me that just felt like a lot things were left out).
Unfortunately, this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really get invested in any of the characters (except actually, for Nina, towards the end of the book, despite her having been pretty much a complete non-entity until that point. I suddenly wanted to know more about her and what had happened, but it didn’t really get delivered) or what was happening to them. The Christmas dinner sounded like an actual nightmare and I don’t know how most of them hadn’t noped out of it years ago. No wonder Zoe’s ex-husband Richard never wanted to go. I wouldn’t either. Also I found the whole section about the march at the ending quite disjointed it really seemed like the author needed something dramatic to happen that involved quite a few of the characters so that loose plot threads could be tied up neatly.
***A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review***
May 16, 2021
I did not get off to a good start with this title, but in the end I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.
A book that needs a cast of characters at the start does not bode well… especially one that is so unnecessary and unenlightening. For the first couple of chapters all I got was a whole lot of whining millennial angst, which was a total turn-off. After that, it started to get better… exploring family dynamics, marital relationships, work and friendship. But in as much as I use the word ‘explore’ - it was all pretty superficial.
My main issues with the book were that there was altogether too much going on and as a result there were characters who were neither fully developed nor explored; there were way too many coincidental relationships; and, the ‘big drama’ at the end felt like little more than a contrivance because something had to happen for way too many things to get resolved.
Notwithstanding the above, it was a quick read and brought a smile to my face a couple of times… but I certainly wouldn’t bill it as either ‘very funny’ or ‘hilarious’... If you have an afternoon to while away, and want something quick and light to read, then by all means this will fill the bill.
A book that needs a cast of characters at the start does not bode well… especially one that is so unnecessary and unenlightening. For the first couple of chapters all I got was a whole lot of whining millennial angst, which was a total turn-off. After that, it started to get better… exploring family dynamics, marital relationships, work and friendship. But in as much as I use the word ‘explore’ - it was all pretty superficial.
My main issues with the book were that there was altogether too much going on and as a result there were characters who were neither fully developed nor explored; there were way too many coincidental relationships; and, the ‘big drama’ at the end felt like little more than a contrivance because something had to happen for way too many things to get resolved.
Notwithstanding the above, it was a quick read and brought a smile to my face a couple of times… but I certainly wouldn’t bill it as either ‘very funny’ or ‘hilarious’... If you have an afternoon to while away, and want something quick and light to read, then by all means this will fill the bill.
July 14, 2020
3.5 Stars
This book was a nice quick and easy read. We follow a year in the life of the Hennessy women, through divorce, new love and shocking revelations. The book is set month by month and from different characters POV.... normally this is something I struggle to follow but it was very easy to follow from character to character.
With some characters I felt like we just scratched the surface, I would have like more character development.
If you’re looking for a light hearted easy read, with family drama, comedy and romance I’d give this book a go
This book was a nice quick and easy read. We follow a year in the life of the Hennessy women, through divorce, new love and shocking revelations. The book is set month by month and from different characters POV.... normally this is something I struggle to follow but it was very easy to follow from character to character.
With some characters I felt like we just scratched the surface, I would have like more character development.
If you’re looking for a light hearted easy read, with family drama, comedy and romance I’d give this book a go
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews