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Read Rio #1
No Such Luck
NO SUCH LUCK follows Read Rio, a man who has everything, but has lost so much. Five years ago he was at the top, he won the largest lottery jackpot in history, and his future was bright.
Fast forward. His wife, his friends, and his family have left him. Only his various vices keep him afloat. After the foggy memory of a chance encounter resurfaces, he sets out on a mission to offer a job to a girl he knew for a total of four hours back in college.
When she accepts, he grapples with thoughts of love and self-destruction, something he has perfected.
Fast forward. His wife, his friends, and his family have left him. Only his various vices keep him afloat. After the foggy memory of a chance encounter resurfaces, he sets out on a mission to offer a job to a girl he knew for a total of four hours back in college.
When she accepts, he grapples with thoughts of love and self-destruction, something he has perfected.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2019
About the author
Ian Cahill
5 books35 followersIan Cahill currently lives in the Midwest, where he makes his home near Kansas City with his beautiful wife and three children. He writes self-proclaimed "slice of life" fiction as well as exploring a variety of genres from sci-fi to romance. You can find him enjoying the simple pleasures of life: reading, writing, baseball and libations.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 4, 2018
What is it like to win the lottery? This book does a great job painting the highs and lows that come with such a life altering event. I loved the characters from the start, it made me want to keep reading to see how everything was going to fit together. This is the second book I have read by Ian Cahill, and I highly recommend it!
September 14, 2018
You’ve always wondered what it would be like to win the lottery. Would you save the world or squander it all away? When you meet Read in No Such Luck, he’s well on the way to the latter. But when a memory pops into his head, something tells him he knows just the person to save him.
Author Ian Cahill does a fantastic job of introducing you to the lonely, confusing world of a lottery winner without love. In his second published novel, he navigates the twists and turns of money, feelings, and the messiness of tangling the two.
No Such Luck draws you in from the beginning, using a clever second-person narrative to make you feel like you are the protagonist: agonizing over his decisions, feeling his confusion, and desperately hoping he can avoid the pitfalls of wealth and make sense of a world that’s more than money.
Author Ian Cahill does a fantastic job of introducing you to the lonely, confusing world of a lottery winner without love. In his second published novel, he navigates the twists and turns of money, feelings, and the messiness of tangling the two.
No Such Luck draws you in from the beginning, using a clever second-person narrative to make you feel like you are the protagonist: agonizing over his decisions, feeling his confusion, and desperately hoping he can avoid the pitfalls of wealth and make sense of a world that’s more than money.
September 25, 2018
I LOVED Ian Cahill’s first book “Twelve and a Half Hearts,” so I knew I needed to read this one as soon as it was available... I wasn’t wrong! “No Such Luck” has kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well described, and the story line flows so well that I can visually see it all in my head while I read, like a movie! I love how the main character, Read, stands out, yet is also someone I could run into on the street. I can really relate to all the characters, and love how they continue to come to life even more as I progress through the book. I’m just over halfway through and it is getting really interesting now, so I’ll update this review once I finish the book.
August 26, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed No Such Luck. The premise immediately caught my attention, a man who wins the biggest lottery jackpot in history, only to lose nearly everything that actually mattered to him. Rio is a complicated character, and watching him struggle with his choices, regrets, and self-destructive tendencies made the story surprisingly compelling.
I especially enjoyed the unexpected direction the story takes when Rio decides to track down a woman he met for only a few hours years earlier. It adds an interesting mix of mystery, emotion, and complicated relationships that kept me listening to see where things would go.
The audiobook was made even better by Sean Rhead’s narration. His delivery fit the story really well and made the characters easy to follow. There were definitely some twists and emotional moments I wasn't expecting.
Overall, this was one of those audiobooks I started without knowing quite what to expect and ended up enjoying much more than I anticipated. If you like character-driven stories with a little mystery, romance, and self-discovery mixed in, this one is worth giving a listen.
I especially enjoyed the unexpected direction the story takes when Rio decides to track down a woman he met for only a few hours years earlier. It adds an interesting mix of mystery, emotion, and complicated relationships that kept me listening to see where things would go.
The audiobook was made even better by Sean Rhead’s narration. His delivery fit the story really well and made the characters easy to follow. There were definitely some twists and emotional moments I wasn't expecting.
Overall, this was one of those audiobooks I started without knowing quite what to expect and ended up enjoying much more than I anticipated. If you like character-driven stories with a little mystery, romance, and self-discovery mixed in, this one is worth giving a listen.
August 6, 2026
The blurb seemed to have such promise … and several of the author’s other books looked good as well. However, this was all ‘telling’ style, and my brain just doesn’t jive with this writing style. I need ‘showing’ or I get really bored.
Past tense.
Second-person POV.
It sounded intriguing, and I tried so hard to get into it, unfortunately, it was just dull. Not terrible by any means, just not good either.
The second-person POV took some getting used to. I don’t see it often and I commend the author for being bold enough to take it on. This definitely kept me on my toes.
Overall:
2-3 stars or ‘it’s okay’. If this were re-written to encompass ‘showing’ rather than so much telling, I think it’d be a lot smoother.
🎙️ Audiobook:
This was okay … the narrator chose more dictation than voice-acting, so it sounded rather robotic. Overall sound quality was decent—not the crisp, clear sound quality I expect from a professional production, but not bad. 3 stars on this front.
Past tense.
Second-person POV.
It sounded intriguing, and I tried so hard to get into it, unfortunately, it was just dull. Not terrible by any means, just not good either.
The second-person POV took some getting used to. I don’t see it often and I commend the author for being bold enough to take it on. This definitely kept me on my toes.
Overall:
2-3 stars or ‘it’s okay’. If this were re-written to encompass ‘showing’ rather than so much telling, I think it’d be a lot smoother.
🎙️ Audiobook:
This was okay … the narrator chose more dictation than voice-acting, so it sounded rather robotic. Overall sound quality was decent—not the crisp, clear sound quality I expect from a professional production, but not bad. 3 stars on this front.
August 23, 2026
A witty story of a man who wins the lottery and his life turns to crap. Can money buy happiness. Not in Read's case.
I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. I was put off at first with it being told in 2nd person. It was just creepy to me. But I got use to it and went on to really enjoy this book and it's witt.
I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. I was put off at first with it being told in 2nd person. It was just creepy to me. But I got use to it and went on to really enjoy this book and it's witt.
October 10, 2018
Funny, witty and endearing story with characters you'll fall in love with. Excellent story line and character development. The story is told from second person point of view which made it feel like it was a story about me. I didn't want the story to end and my fingers are crossed for a sequel.
February 19, 2019
Loved it. I have never read an entire book written in 2nd person POV before this. I like it!
This really is a great book that left me wanting more. I hope there is a sequel because I have some questions that I need answered about what happens next.
This really is a great book that left me wanting more. I hope there is a sequel because I have some questions that I need answered about what happens next.
January 3, 2019
Absolutely LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down. I loved all of the characters and couldn’t wait to see what happened in the end.
September 13, 2018
Read Rio should be living the dream. He has won the largest lottery jackpot in history, lives and parties in New York, and doesn’t have to work another day in his life. And yet. In gaining everything, he has lost everything. Wife, family, friends, sense of purpose- all gone. And it has turned him into a bit of a mess.
Ian Cahill takes the reader through the highs and lows and introduces us to a variety of refreshingly and frustratingly flawed characters whose proximity to Read puts his own flaws and failings into perspective. We are reminded that we do not have to be filthy rich or in a position of privilege and power to hurt another person or toy with their lives, and that everyone could use a little empathy from time to time.
A truly enjoyable (sometimes vicarious, sometimes cathartic) read. If you liked Twelve and a Half Hearts, you’ll love this.
Ian Cahill takes the reader through the highs and lows and introduces us to a variety of refreshingly and frustratingly flawed characters whose proximity to Read puts his own flaws and failings into perspective. We are reminded that we do not have to be filthy rich or in a position of privilege and power to hurt another person or toy with their lives, and that everyone could use a little empathy from time to time.
A truly enjoyable (sometimes vicarious, sometimes cathartic) read. If you liked Twelve and a Half Hearts, you’ll love this.
November 4, 2018
I think that this book was great! I felt like a change and wanted to read something that isn’t a Young Adult Novel and was not disappointed. When reading the blurb, I must admit that I was a little bit apprehensive. It sounded a bit odd, but I was determined to read it. I have no regrets, the plot was great and I felt that my apprehensions were thrown straight out the window.
I did feel in the initial stages of reading that Read Rio tended to start to rely on Emma, and started grow using her as a crutch, which I was worried about, considering the message it sent. And then it hit me, and I felt extremely naive for not thinking of it earlier.
read full review at: https://afewchapterstillove.wixsite.c...
I did feel in the initial stages of reading that Read Rio tended to start to rely on Emma, and started grow using her as a crutch, which I was worried about, considering the message it sent. And then it hit me, and I felt extremely naive for not thinking of it earlier.
read full review at: https://afewchapterstillove.wixsite.c...
October 21, 2018
Another great book from Ian Cahill. The story is so engaging I could not stop reading. This is a light hearted book that left me wanting more! I am ready for the sequel NOW. I also love how this book was written in 2nd person. That feature really made me feel like I was apart of the story! I can’t wait to read Ian’s next book!
October 26, 2019
Fun book someone should make a romcom from!
The story kept me scrolling (reading on Kindle) and, though a ridiculous, selfish idiot, I was really rooting for Read. Rock Hudson and Doris Day would’ve been perfect in the movie version.
The story kept me scrolling (reading on Kindle) and, though a ridiculous, selfish idiot, I was really rooting for Read. Rock Hudson and Doris Day would’ve been perfect in the movie version.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews