Falling In Luck

by Mary Ann Marlowe

Mallory Pech believes she’s cursed. Injuries, accidents, and misunderstandings follow her wherever she goes. Even her name (first and last!) means bad luck. Her best friend, Benji Chance, insists Mallory’s fortune is hers to control. Heeding his advice, Mallory pursues her dream man, the wealthy and debonair Jean-Luc Chevalier, son of her company’s CEO, visiting her NY office from Paris. He’s never noticed Mallory on his previous twelve trips, but maybe thirteen’s her lucky number.

But everything goes awry from the start. Mallory’s attempts to charm and allure Jean-Luc end in twisted ankles, house fires, and misspelled tattoos. Yet somehow, she draws Jean-Luc closer. When one mishap after another leads to a marriage proposal, Mallory believes her luck’s finally changing—despite Benji’s increasingly desperate warnings.

By marrying Jean-Luc, Mallory could have everything she’s always wanted: financial security, family, and a flat in France. Fixated on her dream guy, she fails to notice her best friend’s jealousy and heartbreak. But as she navigates a world of secrets, lies, and culture shock, she begins to fear her fairytale engagement to Jean-Luc may cost her the one thing money can’t buy—the one person who’s loved her all along. And losing Benji would be her worst luck yet.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary

330 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

Mary Ann Marlowe is a romance junkie with wanderlust. She’s lived in twelve states and three countries, but she’s called the Charlottesville, Virginia area home for nearly twenty years. She’s held dozens of jobs from university-level French teacher to Wall Street computer programmer, got her black belt in karate, and beat Zelda Breath of the Wild. She loves to pull from her experiences when creating her fictional worlds. When she isn’t writing, she day jobs as a developer, hangs with her two amazing kids, and dreams of travel. She also writes under the name Lorelei Parker.

No AI used in the writing, audio, or cover art of any of my books.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Falling in Luck by Mary Ann Marlow in exchange for an honest review.

Mallory Pech thinks she constantly has bad luck, everything seem to happen to her. She thinks her luck has finally changed when Jean-Luc, the son of the head of the company she works at and has had a crush on for a while, finally notices her in a big way that ends in a proposal. Her best friend Benji (that you just know she should be with) tries to talk some sense into her but she ignores him and moves to Paris to get to know Jean-Luc better. Jean-Luc is also trying to get citizenship so he can take over his father's NYC office, which he's honest with Mallory about but he also thinks they have enough chemistry to have a real marriage. I really enjoyed (without giving too much away) seeing how the author had Mallory end up with the best guy and tied up all the loose ends and everyone ended up happy. Mallory grew and finally realized luck is what you make of it at the end.

[Anoon Nishit Chinmayatri · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You are not my soul-mate, but rather a part of my soul. I could easier have lived without my heart than live without you”.

Mallory Pech says she has a spell on her. Injuries, mishaps, and miscommunications accompany her everywhere she travels. And her name (both first and last!) denotes poor luck. Benji Chance, Mallory's best friend, asserts that she has complete influence of her fortune. Following his advice, Mallory pursues her dream man, the rich and dashing Jean-Luc Chevalier, son of her company's CEO, who is visiting her New York office from Paris. He hadn't noticed Mallory on his previous twelve visits, so thirteen could be her lucky number.

But everything goes wrong from the outset. Mallory's efforts to enchant and allure Jean-Luc result in twisted ankles, house burns, and misspelt tattoos. Nonetheless, she pulls Jean-Luc closer. When a series of mishaps leads to an engagement proposal, Mallory assumes her luck has finally turned—despite Benji's increasingly dire warnings.

Mallory will have everything she's always desired by marrying Jean-Luc: financial stability, family, and a flat in France. She is so focused on her dream man that she misses her best friend's jealousy and heartbreak. Still, as she navigates a world of surprises, lies, and cultural shock, she starts to worry that her fairy-tale marriage to Jean-Luc will cost her the one thing money can't buy—the one guy who has always loved her. And losing Benji would be the worst piece of bad luck she's ever had.

Falling in Luck is a light-hearted, endearing romantic comedy. For Mallory and Benji, I enjoyed the best-friend chemistry. They gave it another go. They were aware of their sexual attraction but decided not to act on it. My heart goes out to Jean-Luc, who is such a gentleman; Marie, who is lovely and kind; and Remy, who is friendly and warm. However, the relational dynamics and character complexity could have been better. I couldn't make out dynamics between Mallory and Jean. I'd have liked to see the spectrum of emotions there. Mallory's emotional transition for Benji falls short. It's delivered in bits and pieces.

Well… If you are looking for a quick, fun, entertaining read, this is the book for you.

[Elly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! All the heart eyes! I laughed so hard and also screamed internally a lot as I was dying to figure out what was really going on. The relationships and dynamics were so vibrant and nuanced and I adored both Benji AND Jean Luc.

I LOVED IT.

[pageswithpayten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Mary Ann Marlowe for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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What’s your go-to way to get out of a reading slump? Slumps suck and I’m guessing we’ve ALL experienced them as readers. I found myself reading a few eh books recently and I could feel myself starting to lose a little interest. I needed a good book, ASAP! Enter Falling In Luck by Mary Ann Marlowe.
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I binged this book all evening/late into the night. I finished around 1am exhausted but completely in love with this story! If you’ve been a friend of mine on Booksta for a bit you may already know the story of how my fiance and I fell in love. I related SO SO much to Benji and Mallory. The chemistry, the witty banter, the line drawn, the lingering what-if’s, the hidden feelings, the sacrifices made. I got it all. Going from best friends to lovers is not as easy as you’d expect. It’s a lot scarier than meeting someone the ‘traditional’ way IMO! There’s so much at stake and at first it’s hard to tell, do I love you or am I IN love with you? And then you cross that line and you either find out you’re better as friends or you’re soul mates! So obviously I was REALLY rooting for Benji and Mallory, but then there’s dreamy Jean-Luc. While the chemistry was never there for me and I knew the twist was coming, I still wanted the best for him. I just didn’t want his best to be with Mallory. #TEAMBENJI Mallory’s story is a good reminder that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and what you think you want and what you need can be two very different things! As you may know, I only buy physical copies of books if I’ve read them and loved them, and this is a must buy for me! I was smiling cheesily before I even hit 20% and legit almost cried happy tears when I finished because I just loved these characters. It could’ve had something to do with how deliriously tired I was, but I say it’s the book! Because it was THAT good.
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Mallory Pech has the worst bad luck. Even her name means bad luck. If things can go wrong, they will. If there’s something to trip over, she will. If there’s something to spill, break, lose, etc... Mallory will. Her best friend, Benji, believes there is no such thing as luck and to prove him right, Mallory decides to go after the guy she’s pined after for forever. Too bad it’s her company’s CEO who had barely ever noticed her. Between passing out, d a drunken karaoke night, and an apartment fire, Mallory brings Jean-Luc in. And when he proposes marriage? Mallory can’t help but consider her luck has changed. But marrying Jean-Luc means leaving New York and moving to Paris, and it also means losing Benji, something Mallory soon realizes means more to her than anything else.

[Ashley Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, author Mary Ann Marlowe, and publisher for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars

This book was a very enjoyable read. I found myself really connection to the characters, the setting, and the storyline that had me finishing this book in less than one day. This book has the feelings of some of my favorite bingeable romantic comedies such as My Best Friend's Wedding and Man-of Honor. I am a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers troupe and this story hit all the best notes!
Mallory has terrible luck. She always manages to harm herself or ruin things by accident. Her best friend Benji is always there to take care of her. Her boss' son, a Frenchman, Jean-Luc is always there (in a picture on her fridge) to distract her. Mallory has always had a thing for Jean-Luc and when he offers her an engagement to please his father, she decides to take him up on his offer. But is her relationship with Jean-Luc what she really needs or just what she thinks she wants?
I loved Mallory as a character! She had such a relatable personality that I could imagine her as a person I might meet in the real world. She had a very interesting life that would make me want to be her friend just to see what happens to her next. The friendship between Benji and Mallory was so sweet yet heartbreaking. The reader could tell there were more than friends feelings on both sides, but neither was willing to make the move over the line of friendship to romance. The angst and chemistry was off the chart between Mallory and Benji.
Benji was the best! I could not get over how cute, funny, and witty, but most of all he took care of Mallory, which really showed the true depths of his feelings for her.
Jean-Luc was also a well developed character! He really came to care of Mallory and was willing to give her what she needed to make her happy! I loved how much he wanted to rise to his father's expectations even at the expense of his own happiness.
The majority of the book was set in Paris. The author did a wonderful job transporting the reader to one of the most romantic cities on earth. The added details of the language, food, and site seeing really brought the story to life.
The pacing was a little slow at times, but overall, the author did a great job wrapping all the plotlines for a very satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to those who love the friends-to-lovers troupe. I can't wait to read more by this author in the future!

[Niki Skopelos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a young woman who believes that fate has dealt her the hand of bad luck, and that bad luck follows her everywhere. And as a reader, you might start to believe that Mallory truly is cursed with bad luck. After all, even her name means bad luck! But to me, it seems like most of her bad luck is just because she's clumsy, and perhaps sometimes because she's impetuous

But then her luck appears to change, when handsome and wealthy Jean Luc Chevalier begins to notice her. She's had a crush on Jean Luc since the first time he appeared at her job. He's the son of the owner of the company where she works, and occasionally visits from the Paris office to handle special projects. Anyway, she's thrilled because he begins paying attention to her. They begin to build a friendship of sorts, and eventually Jean Luc tells her that his father is demanding that he get married. She's thrilled when he proposes a marriage of convenience. He suggests she live with him for 30 days in Paris before they marry, to see if the relationship could work before committing. Mallory truly believes her luck has changed, and jumps at the chance to spend 30 days in Paris, and possibly a lifetime married to the handsome Jean Luc.

But Benji Chance, her best friend, tries to talk her out of her impetuous decision. Yet she shares her experiences in Paris with him, and some of the disappointments and heartache when she realizes that her relationship with Jean Luc would never go beyond friendship, even after they are married. Benji is always there for her, but she doesn't recognize his feelings for her as anything other than friendship.

Although Mallory seemed a bit young and naive at times, I enjoyed reading this book and following her growth and understanding of herself and what she really needed and wanted in a relationship. I must admit I was a bit heartbroken when it didn't work out with Jean Luc. He was so thoughtful, considerate and generous; the perfect dream guy! I was really rooting for their relationship to work and was disappointed to learn that he had other 'preferences.' But it still came out with a happily-ever-after, and that's all that matters, right?

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for a fair and unbiased review.

[Mark taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got Falling in Luck by Mary Anne Marlow, for free from BookSirens for a fair and honest review.

Falling in Luck tells the story of Mallory Peach, who believes she is cursed with bad luck because, anything that could go wrong does go wrong and even her first and last names are mean bad luck.
With a job where she feels that she does not get the opportunities she deserves. The only joy in her life is her friendship with Benji a person who has been in the friend zone since they did not kiss on the first date.
Another high lite in her life is when the handsome Jean-Luc the son of the boss comes over from Paris to New York, as she can see in person who she follows on the internet and the press as he seems her ideal partner.
Then one day he asks her to Marry him.
Falling in Luck is a novel that allows the reader to escape into the world of a young American woman who works in a job which she feels is below her capabilities, with her best friend named Benji, is a man she once dated in college but did not kiss at the end of that date.
Her only thing she looks forward to is seeing Jean-Luc, the handsome son of the owner of the firm who lives in Prais when he comes over, as she as a huge crush on him. Following him on social media and reading any news article about him.
So when Jean-Luc asks her to marry him and move to Paris she decides to go.
This is a book which gives the reader a chance to disappear into the world of romantic comedy, while not expecting the reader to have to think about to many subplots and forget about problems for a while.
As I said Falling in Luck is a romantic comedy, which in my mind is very light romance and not much comedy. Having said that there was the odd seen which were slightly amusing, which if I get in this genre and the romance is not over the top, them I am ok with it.
What I did like about the novel was the characters, Benji, Jean-Luc, and Mallory, while ore not the most developed characters in literature, they have just enough depth to them that they had enough depth for a novel in this genre.
In addition to this the book did not step away from the standard things in the romantic comedy genre, with the way that this novel is a very comforting read. Which means I would recommend Falling in Luck by Mary Anne Marlow if you love reading Romcom novels.

[L. Skyford · Rating 4 out of 5]

FALLING IN LUCK RELEASES MAY 4, 2021

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Firstly, HUGE THANKS to the author, Mary Ann Marlowe for sending us the signed ARC and bookmark! THANK YOU!!!

This book is so deliciously cozy. It reminds me of the comfort of eating a warm beignet for breakfast. Or people-watching in a cafe, sipping a delicious tea.

Mallory has terrible luck. She always manages to harm herself or ruin things by accident. Her best friend Benji is always there to take care of her and her quasi-boss, Frenchman, Jean-Luc is always there (in a picture on her fridge) to distract her. Mallory has a thing for Jean-Luc and when he offers her an engagement to please his father, she jumps at the opportunity. But is her relationship with Jean-Luc what she really needs or just what she thinks she wants?

Most of this book is set in Paris and I’m a SUCKER for anything set in France, where I can test my educational French and dream about going to see all the Monet’s at the Musee d’Orsay, eating so many carbs, and late dinners. I. Want. To. Go. To. Paris. (Je veux aller a Paris!) This book also has my favorite trope OF ALL TIME: Friends to Lovers. But really it’s a Friends to Love(rs) Triangle. Other tropes to look out for: Father ultimatums. Fish out of Water. Billionaire/Working Woman.

Mary Ann Marlowe, who seems cool as fuck from her bio, did this really fun thing where Mallory would talk about “when Jean-Luc came to NYC the first time,” “when Jean-Luc came to NYC the second time,” and so on, which I thought was very subtle, clever, et charmante. I also loved that the first time I heard about Mary Ann Marlowe was when we pitched for Pitch Wars and then in the Afterward of this book, we learn that this was the book she got into Pitch Wars with years prior! Just delightful.

IMPORTANT NOTE: this book has one open-door-ish sex scene. It’s not explicit, but it’s not vaseline on the lens either. So, don’t pick up this book thinking it’s going to be Paris sex-capades. It’s about building relationships and the difference between a crush and reality.

I hope you pick up this book. It’s delightful. It’s quiet. It’s oh so very French. C’est un joli livre.

Au Revoir et A Bientot! -Ford

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I don’t usually talk to fictional characters, but Mallory, we need to have a word!

Firstly, girl, stop being so hard on yourself. We all have frizzy hair days. It’s OK. There are two (sometimes three) men drooling over you. You can feel yourself a little.

Second, don’t let your luck define you, what you are failing to notice is how adaptable you are in a surprising number of unusual circumstances. Just stay open to the possibilities and everything will be fine.

Lastly, opening your heart to others will sometimes lead to heartache, except you’re already doing it, we all are, we can’t help it, now you just have to be honest with yourself about your feelings.

All joking aside, this book is firmly a rom-com, the number of crazy, funny things that happen to Mallory is far beyond the norm, but so are the number of thoughtful and meaningful experiences. I would watch this as a movie in a heartbeat. (Netflix get at this!)

I wished for a more thorough examination of Jean-Luc, especially as we came to love him towards the end. I wanted so much more Remy in our lives. I feel like Marie-Laure needs her own book. (Is that on the horizon?)

If you are a fan of Paris, bakeries, family intrigue, and slightly-clueless-about-how-good-she’s-got-it leading ladies, then this is the book to get lost in. -Sky

[Katya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book for free from BookSirens in exchange for a fair and honest review

Reading this book I thought of a movie with Lindsay Lohan "Just my luck" where she was the luckiest girl until she kissed a total loser and lost all of it. That is what Mallory is like. Everywhere she goes something disastrous happens to her. And according to Mallory, it's because her last name - Pech means "bad luck" in German.

So when the man of her dreams suddenly notices her AND (can you imagine) makes her an intriguing proposition, she sees this as her luck finally turning around and accepts the offer. But, as they say, there is always a fly in the ointment - and that is her best friend Benji, who is very vocal in voicing his concerns about such a rushed decision. However, we all know how it is when we desire something really bad - Mallory flies to Paris with the love of her life Jean-Luc. And how does it go from there?

Well, that was quite a journey. Mallory does have a lot happen to her, something good, something bad, but that really depends on how one looks at it.

What I liked:

1. the characters. All the characters are described well and the author gives enough information about them to form an opinion. Some of them invoke positive emotions, some negative - but not one of them is out of place - each adds something to the story and makes it more interesting.

2. the dynamics. The story moved quickly and intensely, there were no slacks in the plot, which made the book gripping and entertaining.

3. the story. Mallory's story could have been that of Cinderella. But of course, that would be too simple. And real life is never like that. On her way to happiness, Mallory goes through a lot, and it was so captivating to follow her on this journey. To be frank, when I started the book, I thought it would have a usual kind of ending like I had it all figured out. But the author said "watch this" and threw in several plot twists for me to gasp about.

So, overall, I enjoyed the story, Mallory is really likable and a fun-to-follow character. Although, that ending was a bit overly too sweet for me. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book to everyone who likes a well-written book about finding love and peace with oneself.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory Pech thinks she’s cursed by bad luck. Her best friend Benji Chance thinks there is no such thing as bad luck, you make your own. When Jean-Luc Chevalier, the very charming and gorgeous son of her company’s CEO comes to New York on a business trip Mallory crushes hard and is determined to catch his eye. Surprisingly this time she does! When he proposes a marriage of convenience Mallory decides to seize the day and joins him back in Paris for a 30 day trial run. The only problem is that she misses her best friend dreadfully, and Jean-Luc’s family is not like she imagined from their picture on Instagram. Could it be that she was never unlucky at love and her hearts desire was in front of her the whole time?

Despite knowing where this story was going right from the get-go I thought Falling in Luck was a lot of fun. Mallory was funny and sweet, if not a little naivé about a few things, but I over-looked them because I love a good redemption romance and she and Benji were just too cute for words and I wanted their HEA . The only down-side is that Benji spent a lot of the novel on the other side of the pond while Mallory was in over her head in Paris.

It would have been so easy to write this novel so the reader would hate Jean-Luc, but he was French, good looking, and charming and obviously had a soft spot for the terminally klutzy Mallory. I mean I’m surprised this girl didn’t walk in front of a bus in Paris while looking the wrong way! Jean-Luc, while having a lot of his own problems stuck by her and was her savior so I, of course, couldn’t hate him. However, their coupledom was doomed from the start and I’ll admit I was a little antzy to get to the real romance. When was Benji going to come after Mallory? Ultimately he arrived, but I would’ve been a little happier if it had happened sooner.

Ms. Marlowe has always written great characters and I loved Mallory, Benji, and Jean-Luc as well as the other cast of characters in the book. Like I said previously, they were all so easy to like but it was apparent from the start who the hero was going to be in this story despite the two charming men vying for our obtuse, sweet, Mallory. I’m all for self-discovery novels (and boy did Mallory need to find herself) but I was in the mood for romance and there’s no place like Paris for taking that next step towards love. Ah Amour! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this ARC from the author for my honest review and it was honest!

[Aisha Rowbottom-Isaacs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say that this book was the best thing I've ever read. But I do love myself a good Romance and it managed to deliver in certain aspects.

I won't lie, this book did not get me in my feelings. It had all the bones to lead up to an emotional explosion but I just wasn't moved in any way. I spent majority of the book annoying myself with Mallory - first with her clumsiness, honestly, no person falls this much. I'm a big klutz but seriously, this chick kept falling as if the Earth shook anytime she decided to breathe. Secondly, her obliviousness and just the lack of observation skills qmade her a terribly annoying main character. She would either keep seeing things that clearly weren't there or would be blind to the things that were as clear as day.

That said, I did enjoy her and Benji's banter. The humor and the wit was really on point and I really love a good ha-ha moment in a book and this book forked it out occasionally. So kudos for that.

The happy ending did come, as is the premise of romance novels, but for me it just took so long. And what bothered me the most was that Mallory was supposed to be so taken with Jean-Luc, its why she agreed to his preposition in the first place, but then she spends all her time with him mulling over her potential feelings for Benji. She was confused, that much is clear, but that spark of her finally discovering that Benji is actually the one she wanted, didn't really hit like it was meant to, because she already spent most of the book antagonising over who to choose, Jean-Luc or Benji. It was meant to be this scenario where she finally realises that what she needed was right under her nose all this time but long before she even left with Jean-Luc she wanted Benji to kiss her, so it really just didn't hit like it was supposed to.

Falling in Luck is a decent enough read. Its well written and gave me proper Emily in Paris feels. I'd recommend if friends to lovers is your go to romance trope. This is a slow burn, though.

[Vaishnavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the city of love ends up offering you a lot of heartwarming friendships!

Thank you BookSirens for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Overall Rating: 3/5
- Set in Paris!
- Friends to lovers
- Fake engagement
- Slow burn

TW: Parental death (past)

Premise: 3/5
Characterization: 2.5/5
Dialogue: 4/5
Chemistry: 3.5/5
Secondary characters: 3/5
Unique quotient: 2.5/5
Steam quotient: 2/5

What I liked

This is a perfect flight-read for me! It had me hooked for the duration of my flight, and I enjoyed all the experiences in Paris. I enjoyed the banter between Mallory and Benji. The dialogues were pretty fun in many parts, and I enjoyed the slow burn progression of the story as well. The secondary characters really came alive for me! Yes, there's a lot that happens in the book that is over the top, but I thought it was quite well written and gave me the rom-com feels! With all of the Paris references peppered in, I truly felt this is one of those books that should be made into a movie! There was definitely a lot of drama and *gasp*plot-twists that unraveled along the way which made me eager to see where this was headed! The whole luck-by-chance theme this has going on, the play with Mallory's and Benji's names, it was all really cute!

What did not work for me

I really struggled to understand the motivation behind the fake engagement from Mallory's perspective. The author did explore the different thought processes that Mallory was going through, but it felt a bit flat for me. Plus, Mallory's whole crush was probably taken way to seriously than it should have been.

[Come_read_with_me_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5Stars
Mary Ann Marlowe has to be one of my favourite writers and this book did not let me down.

First off can we take a moment to appreciate the cover! Yes!!
The story itself is just as sweet. Mallory believes she is bad luck, Benji her best friend believes they make their own luck and Jean Luc is their boss. The thing is Mallory loves Jean Luc, well an infatuation with him more so. He is sexy and sweet and when he asks Mallory to marry him and move to Paris, how could she say no, right? Even if it is only a fake relationship. There has always been chemistry between Benji and Mallory however for the sake of their friendship they decide to stay friends.

I loved Benji, he is literally the best! He is funny, cute and so sweet. He really cares about Mallory.
If I'm honest I wanted a little more from Benji, I wanted to scream "do something, you love her" but I can completely understand why things happened the way it did happen.
Jean Luc was sexy and a little mysterious. He brought great dimensions to the storyline. The culture was breathtaking, the way he interacted at work and with Mallory was so sweet. I loved how he treated his friends. I was really cheering him on.
Mallory had some tough decisions to make and I did not envy her at all.

I loved this book and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good fake relationship, friends to lovers and an office romance book

Thank you to Mary Ann Marlowe for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Matteja LV · Rating 4 out of 5]

"So yeah, I grabbed on. Because I only had one moment to say yes, but a full month to say no."

Mallory Puck had no luck in life. Disaster, after disaster, and life full of accidents. But she has an amazing friend Benji. And a crush on her boss from France, Jean- Luc. After three years of occasional hello's in office, he finally sees her. And ask her to marry him... What? Is Mallory dreaming? Did she got lucky? She jumps on the offer and flies to France. She has 30 days to decide.
But there's a catch, of course. :) Living in France without Benji isn't so fun. What now?Did she already had luck with him? Is it too late? Will she marry Jean-Luc?
Read and find out!
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I liked this story- It was funny and laughable. Mallory and Benji had a great friend chemistry and lots of fun in their life. Bunch of Mallory's accidents were written so great, you had to laugh along - contact lenses, lost phone, locked in hallway in briefs...

I liked the people in the strory, they were portrayed well that you had to like them. I had a feeling that Jean-Luc is hiding something and I was pleased it was all sorted in the end. Paris was described so good, it made me wish I could be there.

Storyplot was great and well displayed. I just missed the ending epilogue between Jean-Luc and father. But I read between the lines.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Yelena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very solid 3 Stars.

I don’t usually talk to fictional characters, but Mallory, we need to have a word!

Firstly, girl, stop being so hard on yourself. We all have frizzy hair days. It’s OK. There are two (sometimes three) men drooling over you. You can feel yourself a little.

Second, don’t let your luck define you, what you are failing to notice is how adaptable you are in a surprising number of unusual circumstances. Just stay open to the possibilities and everything will be fine.

Lastly, opening your heart to others will sometimes lead to heartache, except you’re already doing it, we all are, we can’t help it, now you just have to be honest with yourself about your feelings.

All joking aside, this book is firmly a rom-com, the number of crazy, funny things that happen to Mallory is far beyond the norm, but so are the number of thoughtful and meaningful experiences. I would watch this as a movie in a heartbeat. (Netflix get at this!)

I wished for a more thorough examination of Jean-Luc, especially as we came to love him towards the end. I wanted so much more Remy in our lives. I feel like Marie-Laure needs her own book. (Is that on the horizon?)

If you are a fan of Paris, bakeries, family intrigue, and slightly-clueless-about-how-good-she’s-got-it leading ladies, then this is the book to get lost in.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

👥🗼Good luck, bad luck: all depends on your point of view!

4.5🌟 stars
The cover of this book caught my eye; I can't resist romance and Paris when they come wrapped together in a story!

Mallory is the main character, an American office worker who fixates on the big boss's handsome son Jean-Luc. She's a bit naive and impulsive but complex, sometimes sunnily optimistic and others terribly self conscious, clumsy and convinced she's shadowed by bad luck. I loved her easy, kidding relationship with her BFF Benji. Their story arc was pretty predictable but good, as was the root of Jean-Luc's difficulty in living up to his father's plans.

There's nothing wrong with a predictable story as long as it provides an occasional surprise, fun and emotion along the way. The tone is romantic rather than steamy, though it does provide a touch of passion near the end. With the bulk of this easy-to-read novel set in gorgeous, romantic Paris, I found the journey delicious; the food, the sights and the cafe lifestyle contributed a good bit to my enjoyment of Mallory's dilemma which, it must be said, works out swimmingly in the end.😊

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Sukaina Majeed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives a new perspective on the concept of luck and how sometimes someone is in front of you the entire time, and you miss that person and do not see them as you truly want to see them. The book had engrossed me from the word go. I still remember the first few lines of the book, which talk about luck and where does the luck factor fit it. I had a big laugh out loud moment when I read that and oui the romanticization of Paris stops here because Mallory shows you the beauty and at some places I did get the Emily in Paris vibes but that didn't stop me from rooting for Benji throughout. This book is fun,full of love and french which I had absolutely no clue about. Mallory's character development was something that I could relate to A LOT at this age and this moment of my life. I look forward to more books by the author. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Lucille · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of Falling in Luck by Mary Ann Marlow in exchange for an honest review from Book Sirens. This is the first book by this author that I’ve read.

Mallory Pech was born unlucky, even her name means poor luck. Her best friend, Benji, doesn’t agree with her, he thinks there is no such thing as bad or poor luck. To prove him wrong, Mallory goes after the man she’s had a crush on forever, her company’s CEO who has never noticed her before. When he notices her and proposes, that means she has to move an ocean away and lose Benji.

I enjoyed the well-developed characters and the storyline. The book was a little slow here and there, but all in all, it was a very nice read.

Pity I can’t give the book 3.5 stars. I hesitated for a long time between 3 and 4 and finally decided on 3 stars.

[Simone Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main character Mallory has a cloud of bad luck over her. When Jean-Luc, an heir to the company where she works and whom she had developed a deep infatuation, offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, her luck begins to change or so she thinks. Over time, things get complicated, causing her to question everything that is happening and her friendship with her best friend Benji is also put to the test.

I definitely took my time reading this, with so much interesting stuff happening in the storyline. I enjoyed seeing the character development play out and was rooting for Mallory to have a happy outcome.

I received an advanced copy of the novel from Mary Ann Marlowe in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity!

[Charlene VanWinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlucky is how Mallory has always seen herself - broken bones, sprains, accidents, misunderstandings; the only constant luck in her life is best friend Benji. That changes, she thinks, when offered a deal to marry her boss’s son - French, handsome, and rich Jean-Luc - who has long been her dream man. And a brief move to Paris sweetens the deal. The reader can’t help but feel for Mallory as she works to develop this new relationship and struggles to find a place for Benji who insists she, not luck, controls her destiny. Witty banter, great locales, and wonderful characters make Marlowe’s book an entertaining escape easily read in a day or two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory Pech believes she’s cursed. Her best friend, Benji Chance, insists Mallory’s fortune is hers to control. Heeding his advice, Mallory pursues her dream man, the wealthy and debonair Jean-Luc Chevalier, son of her company’s CEO. Jean-Luc finally notices her and by marrying Jean-Luc, Mallory could have everything she’s always wanted: financial security, family, and a flat in France. Fixated on her dream guy, she fails to notice her best friend’s jealousy and heartbreak... What should Mallory do? A fun rom-com. Definitely for fans who love fun romances, Paris and friends to lovers tropes.... :)

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC.

[Pearly Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mallory thinks she's cursed with bad luck, her best friend, Benji however doesn't believe in bad luck. This book is a quick enjoyable read, dotted with humor, charm, and romance.

Marrying Jean-Luc will provide Mallory with everything she's always wanted, financial freedom, family, and an apartment in France, so caught up in her dream she misses seeing Benji's jealousy and heartbreak. Is it possible that she was never unlucky in love and the person she loves was right in front of her all the while?

If you are in search of a cozy, comfort read which is fun and entertaining, look no further...

I would like to thank Mary Ann Marlowe and BookSirens for the opportunity to read this book.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you BookSirens and Mary Ann Marlowe for giving me a copy of this book. I am leaving a review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Mallory as a protagonist and I was dying to see who she would end up with. I liked the setting of Paris. I would love a book about Marie-Laure. She seemed so lovely and I would love to revisit her. Jean-Luc was a bit boring at first but I felt so bad for him as we learned about his story.

[Lisa Benison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Friends to Lovers Rom-Com set in Paris!

This book has a bit of everything....friends to lovers, klutzy heroine trying to find her way around Paris and its fabulous scenery and sites while trying to learn French, her swoony French "fiancé of convenience" and his horrible family, villains all around, and finally her wonderful best friend and their witty dialog. It was a page-turning fun read and I can't wait for more from this author!

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! love Benji !! liked Mallory and Jean-Luc.. this is their story… a fast paced rom/com drama… Mallory has the worst luck.. believes she's cursed… what can go wrong does and more… she's been in love with Jean-Luc forever… he boss's son… Benji is her best friend… when she gets engaged to Jean-Luc.. she has everything she has ever wanted.. or does she ? so loved Benji…. and Jean -Luc… a good story
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I loved that it was a light, breezy rom com. The main character was so likable and the secondhand embarrassment for her was so real! This is a nice, refreshing book for anyone looking to lose themselves in a story for a few hours.

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling in Luck is a light, sweet HEA with a few plot twists. It’s a little angsty and the story line is a little improbable but all in all delightful read! And it was nice to “travel” to New York and Paris!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good, and enjoyable funny charming sweet romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Manisha Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a sweet story and funny . This is my first time read from this author and won't be my last . To friends to lovers Benji is Mallory best good luck charm and more .

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reader03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good charming read with romance, sweetness, and humor with an interesting heroine who has bad luck or good, depending on what life brings to her. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.