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Windfall
Three friends’ lives terrifyingly unravel when they win a billion-dollar lottery jackpot—and one goes missing.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d never forget.
J.J., Molly, and Leila had once been inseparable, but it’s been a long time since college, and life—not to mention distance—have disrupted the former roommates’ friendship. When the three reunite for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas, the lottery ticket they buy on a whim has the winning numbers—giving them a billion-dollar windfall. Shell-shocked, they turn to Shea Daniels, a “sudden wealth manager,” who promises to guide them through the pitfalls of having more money than they’d ever imagined.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d live to regret.
The trio travels to a secluded California mansion, where Shea and her staff cater to their every whim, promising to teach them to navigate their newfound wealthy lifestyles with ease. The house is luxurious beyond their wildest dreams—and purportedly cursed, the last place a missing movie star was seen alive. Their weekend turns to terror when they discover they are trapped—roads blocked and communication disrupted by the wildfires raging around them. And when history repeats itself and one of them disappears—the one who’s holding the billion-dollar ticket—the others must face the fact that either their friend has betrayed them…or a predator is lurking.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d never forget.
J.J., Molly, and Leila had once been inseparable, but it’s been a long time since college, and life—not to mention distance—have disrupted the former roommates’ friendship. When the three reunite for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas, the lottery ticket they buy on a whim has the winning numbers—giving them a billion-dollar windfall. Shell-shocked, they turn to Shea Daniels, a “sudden wealth manager,” who promises to guide them through the pitfalls of having more money than they’d ever imagined.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d live to regret.
The trio travels to a secluded California mansion, where Shea and her staff cater to their every whim, promising to teach them to navigate their newfound wealthy lifestyles with ease. The house is luxurious beyond their wildest dreams—and purportedly cursed, the last place a missing movie star was seen alive. Their weekend turns to terror when they discover they are trapped—roads blocked and communication disrupted by the wildfires raging around them. And when history repeats itself and one of them disappears—the one who’s holding the billion-dollar ticket—the others must face the fact that either their friend has betrayed them…or a predator is lurking.
314 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
130 people are currently reading
9418 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Corsi Staub
82 books1,914 followersNew York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than ninety novels, best known for the single title psychological suspense novels she writes under her own name. Those books and the women’s fiction written under the pseudonym Wendy Markham have also appeared on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookscan bestseller lists.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
Her current standalone suspense novel, THE OTHER FAMILY, is about a picture-perfect family that that moves into a picture-perfect house. But not everything is as it seems, and the page-turner concludes “with a wallop of a twist,” according to #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben.
Her critically acclaimed Lily Dale traditional mystery series centers around a widowed single mom—and skeptic—who moves to a town populated by spiritualists who talk to the dead. Titles include NINE LIVES; SOMETHING BURIED, SOMETHING BLUE; DEAD OF WINTER; and PROSE AND CONS, with a fifth book under contract.
Wendy has written five suspense trilogies for HarperCollins/William Morrow. The most recent, The Foundlings (LITTLE GIRL LOST, DEAD SILENCE, and THE BUTCHER’S DAUGHTER), spans fifty years in the life of a woman left as a newborn in a Harlem church, now an investigative genealogist helping others uncover their biological roots while still searching for her own.
Written as Wendy Markham, Wendy’s novel HELLO, IT’S ME was a recent Hallmark television movie starring Kellie Martin. Her short story “Cat Got Your Tongue” appeared in R.L. Stine’s MWA middle grade anthology SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN and her short story “The Elephant in the Room” is included in the Anthony Award-nominated inaugural anthology SHATTERING GLASS.
A three-time finalist for the Simon and Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award, she’s won an RWA Rita Award, an RT Award for Career Achievement in Suspense, the 2007 RWA-NYC Golden Apple Award for Lifetime Achievement, and five WLA Washington Irving Prizes for Fiction.
She previously published a dozen adult suspense novels with Kensington Books and the critically-acclaimed young adult paranormal series “Lily Dale” (Walker/Bloomsbury). Earlier in her career, she published a broad range of genres under her own name and pseudonyms, and was a co-author/ghostwriter for several celebrities.
Raised in Dunkirk, NY, Wendy graduated from SUNY Fredonia and launched a publishing career in New York City. She was Associate Editor at Silhouette Books before selling her first novel in 1992. Married with two sons, she lives in the NYC suburbs. An active supporter of the American Cancer Society, she was a featured speaker at Northern Westchester’s 2015 Relay for Life and 2012 National Spokesperson for the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. She has fostered for various animal rescue organizations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
February 24, 2023
Leila, Molly and JJ are three friends who haven’t seen each other in years. They reunite and buy a winning billion dollar lottery ticket.
They go to sudden wealth manager, Shea Daniels mansion, Windfall where movie star Chantal Charbonneau disappeared 20 years ago. The California wild fires are raging and one of them disappears. Devastating secrets are revealed as they fight for their lives.
This story had jaw dropping twists that kept me reading long into the night.
Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC that will be released July 11, 2023!
They go to sudden wealth manager, Shea Daniels mansion, Windfall where movie star Chantal Charbonneau disappeared 20 years ago. The California wild fires are raging and one of them disappears. Devastating secrets are revealed as they fight for their lives.
This story had jaw dropping twists that kept me reading long into the night.
Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC that will be released July 11, 2023!
September 2, 2023
It's a story about three friends winning a billion-dollar lottery. Maybe I can convince these ladies that I'm a long -lost friend:) Leila, Molly, and JJ, were once the best of friends. They were all the same age, and all born in the month of September. They haven’t seen much of each other since college, but they decide it’s been long enough and make plans to celebrate their 40th Birthdays together in Las Vegas. The three friends buy a lottery ticket carefully picking numbers that mean things to each of them. Lightning strikes and their winning numbers are pulled and WOW...they have won a BILLION dollars. They then make a decision to contact a wealth management agency. The Los Angeles agency has the cute name... "Windfall". "Windfall" is run by Shea Daniels who promises to make the transition easier for all of them. They meet Shea at her property in Los Angeles. "Windfall" is a beautiful place with a huge waterfront mansion and terrific views. However, the ladies hear that many people say the property is haunted by a famous actress who mysteriously disappeared, and no one knows what happened to her...and now it seems like it may just happen again. I have read this author's many other books and always found them more than engaging. This story about three old friends, an unexpected windfall, a haunted mansion was right up there with the rest of her books. I was impressed with how Ms. Staub juggled two very key questions at the heart of this story. How would a sudden windfall change your life, and how well do you really know your friends? These women are hiding huge secrets that have a significant impact once they are unveiled. I hope the trend of this book and her. many others continue for many more years.
January 14, 2024
This started out pretty slow for I almost DNF’d it. Around the halfway point it started to pick up for me. The Chantal storyline with the podcast just wasn’t needed. It added nothing to the plot and there no real resolution to it anyway. There seemed to be a few unanswered questions towards the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2023
I don’t even know where to begin. This was so chaotic. Great idea for a story, execution just did not deliver. The plot twist seemed to come out of left field - but from the next town over, too far fetched, loose threads, no real closure. It felt like the author just decided to slam on the breaks and end the book abruptly.
June 27, 2023
No. This book and plot had so much potential but it just didn't connect with me. YMMV.
October 24, 2023
Review coming soon.
June 30, 2023
I liked how this started but didn’t like how it was executed.
August 6, 2023
I wrote a review and it disappeared.
I don’t know why this happens. It’s frustrating.
Speaking of frustrating, this book was frustrating.
Three best friends. Really? Didn’t seem
like it to me.
Two dogs were included in the book, but they didn’t add anything to the story (& I love dogs).
I didn’t care for any of the characters.
I did want to find out the ending. I read this
entire boring book.
Please read the other reviews. Some people loved this novel and others couldn’t stand it.
You can make up your mind.
I don’t know why this happens. It’s frustrating.
Speaking of frustrating, this book was frustrating.
Three best friends. Really? Didn’t seem
like it to me.
Two dogs were included in the book, but they didn’t add anything to the story (& I love dogs).
I didn’t care for any of the characters.
I did want to find out the ending. I read this
entire boring book.
Please read the other reviews. Some people loved this novel and others couldn’t stand it.
You can make up your mind.
December 2, 2023
3.5 stars. This is the first book by this author that I've read in many, many years. An easy read, but it got off to a very slow and repetitive start. The action picked up in the last third of the book, but I had already guessed the major twist early on, so there were few surprises left. I did like the setting, and the encroaching wildfires added to the overall drama.
August 18, 2023
Thank you to my "FRIEND" for sending this to me saying I "MUST READ IT" to torture me. This book was so boring, repetitive, and anticlimactic. Honestly, I wish everyone was pushed off the cliff in the end. Maybe they did? I probably fell asleep.
September 1, 2023
This book had potential but ended up being so boring. The characters did not have much depth and for being “best friends,” they barely knew each other.
July 10, 2023
This is my 800th review on Netgalley, and I knew I had to make it a good one! So, hold onto your panties folks, I saved this special review for a really special author, Ms. Wendy Corsi Staub.
I was first introduced to Staub, when I had requested The Other Family, last year. I fell in love with Staub's writing style and had to read every single one of her publications, which I did, back to back in one month . I loved each and every one of them and I was completely and totally obsessed.
I thought I did a pretty good job stalking this author via social media to see if she was working on anything new but I was surprised when I saw Windfall pop up on Netgalley. You little rascal, Staub, you kept a great secret!
Windfall, has blown any book I have read thus far out of the water. This is an all consuming, edge of your seat, nail biting thriller, that will have you holding your breath until the very last page.
I think I might need a couple of days to recover from this one! Windfall, is released TOMORROW and you do not want to miss it. I can say with 100 percent certainty that this book will break the internet.
Here is a little teaser :
In this newest suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub, three friends’ lives terrifyingly unravel when they win a billion-dollar lottery jackpot—and one goes missing. Perfect for fans of novels like Taylor Adams’ No Exit and The Club by Ellery Lloyd.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d never forget.
J.J., Molly, and Leila had once been inseparable, but it’s been a long time since college, and life—not to mention distance—have disrupted the former roommates’ friendship. When the three reunite for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas, the lottery ticket they buy on a whim has the winning numbers—giving them a billion-dollar windfall. Shell-shocked, they turn to Shea Daniels, a “sudden wealth manager,” who promises to guide them through the pitfalls of having more money than they’d ever imagined.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d live to regret.
The trio travels to a secluded California mansion, where Shea and her staff cater to their every whim, promising to teach them to navigate their newfound wealthy lifestyles with ease. The house is luxurious beyond their wildest dreams—and purportedly cursed, the last place a missing movie star was seen alive. Their weekend turns to terror when they discover they are trapped—roads blocked and communication disrupted by the wildfires raging around them. And when history repeats itself and one of them disappears—the one who’s holding the billion-dollar ticket—the others must face the fact that either their friend has betrayed them…or a predator is lurking.
I was first introduced to Staub, when I had requested The Other Family, last year. I fell in love with Staub's writing style and had to read every single one of her publications, which I did, back to back in one month . I loved each and every one of them and I was completely and totally obsessed.
I thought I did a pretty good job stalking this author via social media to see if she was working on anything new but I was surprised when I saw Windfall pop up on Netgalley. You little rascal, Staub, you kept a great secret!
Windfall, has blown any book I have read thus far out of the water. This is an all consuming, edge of your seat, nail biting thriller, that will have you holding your breath until the very last page.
I think I might need a couple of days to recover from this one! Windfall, is released TOMORROW and you do not want to miss it. I can say with 100 percent certainty that this book will break the internet.
Here is a little teaser :
In this newest suspense novel from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub, three friends’ lives terrifyingly unravel when they win a billion-dollar lottery jackpot—and one goes missing. Perfect for fans of novels like Taylor Adams’ No Exit and The Club by Ellery Lloyd.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d never forget.
J.J., Molly, and Leila had once been inseparable, but it’s been a long time since college, and life—not to mention distance—have disrupted the former roommates’ friendship. When the three reunite for a birthday weekend in Las Vegas, the lottery ticket they buy on a whim has the winning numbers—giving them a billion-dollar windfall. Shell-shocked, they turn to Shea Daniels, a “sudden wealth manager,” who promises to guide them through the pitfalls of having more money than they’d ever imagined.
It was the girls’ weekend they’d live to regret.
The trio travels to a secluded California mansion, where Shea and her staff cater to their every whim, promising to teach them to navigate their newfound wealthy lifestyles with ease. The house is luxurious beyond their wildest dreams—and purportedly cursed, the last place a missing movie star was seen alive. Their weekend turns to terror when they discover they are trapped—roads blocked and communication disrupted by the wildfires raging around them. And when history repeats itself and one of them disappears—the one who’s holding the billion-dollar ticket—the others must face the fact that either their friend has betrayed them…or a predator is lurking.
November 24, 2023
Money changes people. Premise of longtime “friends” , however there’s a twist! They’re lottery winners.
Then it all goes wrong; Leila goes missing - she was murdered by JJ but not bc of the money. This murder was because Leila gave the advice JJ to silence her phone; JJ had trouble sleeping after her son died. JJ then misses a call that her husband was in a fire & dies asking for her. JJ, in her sleepless, drugged state, takes revenge, but probably wasn’t fully cognizant.
Molly is the nice one who gets to go home. The framing device of the ladies being at the mansion of a missing star didn’t really add anything to this.
Then it all goes wrong; Leila goes missing - she was murdered by JJ but not bc of the money. This murder was because Leila gave the advice JJ to silence her phone; JJ had trouble sleeping after her son died. JJ then misses a call that her husband was in a fire & dies asking for her. JJ, in her sleepless, drugged state, takes revenge, but probably wasn’t fully cognizant.
Molly is the nice one who gets to go home. The framing device of the ladies being at the mansion of a missing star didn’t really add anything to this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
3.5 Stars
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Windfall: a piece of unexpected good fortune, typically one that involves receiving a large amount of money
When three best friends from college win a one billion dollar lottery jackpot, Leila decides to hire Windfall, a company that specializes in helping people adjust to their new lives after coming into a vast sum of money. Leila, Molly and JJ travel to Windfall to meet with its owner, Shea, at the reportedly cursed mansion with the same name. Excitement surrounds the trip not just because of the lottery win but also because of Windfall's lore, especially the high-profile disappearance of actress Chantal Charbonneau. The excitement quickly fades when wildfires spread, phone signal is lost, one member of the trio goes missing, and the others realize they are trapped.
This is the first book I have seen that follows lottery winners and the dangers that come with their newfound fortunes, and this idea and its uniqueness drew me in. The complexity of the characters and their relationships with one another added an extra layer to the mystery, especially given that each one is holding onto secrets but wants to keep up the illusion of a perfect friendship. By far my favorite part of the book, however, is its setting. A potentially haunted mansion that is completely isolated and surrounded by wildfires? I'm intrigued and a little afraid. The setting drove the tension and added to the fear the characters were experiencing, explaining a lot of their perhaps otherwise questionable actions.
I did struggle to get into this book, which is always disappointing with a thriller. The pace of the first half was more of a slow burn, and then the ending was rapid and full of excitement and surprise. The slowness of the beginning is definitely why this book was a 3.5 star rather than 4 for me. The multiple points of view were also a little difficult for me to follow, even though I usually love this style of narrative. Interweaving the podcast covering Chantal's disappearance also didn't add much to the story for me.
That said, I really enjoyed the ending. I didn't see it coming, but once it happened, it made perfect sense. It's tricky for a mystery to do that, so seeing it so successfully done felt like a treat.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Windfall: a piece of unexpected good fortune, typically one that involves receiving a large amount of money
When three best friends from college win a one billion dollar lottery jackpot, Leila decides to hire Windfall, a company that specializes in helping people adjust to their new lives after coming into a vast sum of money. Leila, Molly and JJ travel to Windfall to meet with its owner, Shea, at the reportedly cursed mansion with the same name. Excitement surrounds the trip not just because of the lottery win but also because of Windfall's lore, especially the high-profile disappearance of actress Chantal Charbonneau. The excitement quickly fades when wildfires spread, phone signal is lost, one member of the trio goes missing, and the others realize they are trapped.
This is the first book I have seen that follows lottery winners and the dangers that come with their newfound fortunes, and this idea and its uniqueness drew me in. The complexity of the characters and their relationships with one another added an extra layer to the mystery, especially given that each one is holding onto secrets but wants to keep up the illusion of a perfect friendship. By far my favorite part of the book, however, is its setting. A potentially haunted mansion that is completely isolated and surrounded by wildfires? I'm intrigued and a little afraid. The setting drove the tension and added to the fear the characters were experiencing, explaining a lot of their perhaps otherwise questionable actions.
I did struggle to get into this book, which is always disappointing with a thriller. The pace of the first half was more of a slow burn, and then the ending was rapid and full of excitement and surprise. The slowness of the beginning is definitely why this book was a 3.5 star rather than 4 for me. The multiple points of view were also a little difficult for me to follow, even though I usually love this style of narrative. Interweaving the podcast covering Chantal's disappearance also didn't add much to the story for me.
That said, I really enjoyed the ending. I didn't see it coming, but once it happened, it made perfect sense. It's tricky for a mystery to do that, so seeing it so successfully done felt like a treat.
February 11, 2023
I’d like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been a fan of Wendy’s for many years, and this book did not disappoint. When Molly, Leila, and JJ each chip in on a lottery ticket and win big, you’d think all their problems would be solved, but when they September Girls (as they are known) come to Windfall where a missing movie star lived to go over things with wealth consultants, things start to change. Are these three really as friendly as they once were and who is keeping the biggest secret. Things come to a head while California wildfires are closing in. An interesting read from start to finish.
May 2, 2024
Friendship, years gone by, a lottery ticket, WINNERS! The plot was interesting-maybe just not delivered…Then a “haunted” house, wildfires and missing people…Very dissatisfied with the abrupt ending. Enjoyj
June 15, 2023
3.5 Stars
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Windfall: a piece of unexpected good fortune, typically one that involves receiving a large amount of money
When three best friends from college win a one billion dollar lottery jackpot, Leila decides to hire Windfall, a company that specializes in helping people adjust to their new lives after coming into a vast sum of money. Leila, Molly and JJ travel to Windfall to meet with its owner, Shea, at the reportedly cursed mansion with the same name. Excitement surrounds the trip not just because of the lottery win but also because of Windfall's lore, especially the high-profile disappearance of actress Chantal Charbonneau. The excitement quickly fades when wildfires spread, phone signal is lost, one member of the trio goes missing, and the others realize they are trapped.
This is the first book I have seen that follows lottery winners and the dangers that come with their newfound fortunes, and this idea and its uniqueness drew me in. The complexity of the characters and their relationships with one another added an extra layer to the mystery, especially given that each one is holding onto secrets but wants to keep up the illusion of a perfect friendship. By far my favorite part of the book, however, is its setting. A potentially haunted mansion that is completely isolated and surrounded by wildfires? I'm intrigued and a little afraid. The setting drove the tension and added to the fear the characters were experiencing, explaining a lot of their perhaps otherwise questionable actions.
I did struggle to get into this book, which is always disappointing with a thriller. The pace of the first half was more of a slow burn, and then the ending was rapid and full of excitement and surprise. The slowness of the beginning is definitely why this book was a 3.5 star rather than 4 for me. The multiple points of view were also a little difficult for me to follow, even though I usually love this style of narrative. Interweaving the podcast covering Chantal's disappearance also didn't add much to the story for me.
That said, I really enjoyed the ending. I didn't see it coming, but once it happened, it made perfect sense. It's tricky for a mystery to do that, so seeing it so successfully done felt like a treat.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Windfall: a piece of unexpected good fortune, typically one that involves receiving a large amount of money
When three best friends from college win a one billion dollar lottery jackpot, Leila decides to hire Windfall, a company that specializes in helping people adjust to their new lives after coming into a vast sum of money. Leila, Molly and JJ travel to Windfall to meet with its owner, Shea, at the reportedly cursed mansion with the same name. Excitement surrounds the trip not just because of the lottery win but also because of Windfall's lore, especially the high-profile disappearance of actress Chantal Charbonneau. The excitement quickly fades when wildfires spread, phone signal is lost, one member of the trio goes missing, and the others realize they are trapped.
This is the first book I have seen that follows lottery winners and the dangers that come with their newfound fortunes, and this idea and its uniqueness drew me in. The complexity of the characters and their relationships with one another added an extra layer to the mystery, especially given that each one is holding onto secrets but wants to keep up the illusion of a perfect friendship. By far my favorite part of the book, however, is its setting. A potentially haunted mansion that is completely isolated and surrounded by wildfires? I'm intrigued and a little afraid. The setting drove the tension and added to the fear the characters were experiencing, explaining a lot of their perhaps otherwise questionable actions.
I did struggle to get into this book, which is always disappointing with a thriller. The pace of the first half was more of a slow burn, and then the ending was rapid and full of excitement and surprise. The slowness of the beginning is definitely why this book was a 3.5 star rather than 4 for me. The multiple points of view were also a little difficult for me to follow, even though I usually love this style of narrative. Interweaving the podcast covering Chantal's disappearance also didn't add much to the story for me.
That said, I really enjoyed the ending. I didn't see it coming, but once it happened, it made perfect sense. It's tricky for a mystery to do that, so seeing it so successfully done felt like a treat.
December 11, 2024
This book was just meh for me. 3 friends win big, and enlist the help of someone to help them manage it. When the 3 friends show up to the house, some secrets are spilled, a friend goes missing, and chaos ensues.
There were multiple POV's to keep track of, and unreliable narrator, and a couple shocking revelations. I thought it was a solid book, but sort of predictable for me. It's a so-so if i would recommend or not.
There were multiple POV's to keep track of, and unreliable narrator, and a couple shocking revelations. I thought it was a solid book, but sort of predictable for me. It's a so-so if i would recommend or not.
August 9, 2023
The story was definitely suspenseful, but tied everything up in an unsatisfying way. I felt as though there was more potential for spookiness! Also the audiobook annoyed me in that a few times the narrator would pronounce someone's name completely differently than they had the whole time.
August 15, 2023
It was a great read with tons of twists a must read
September 21, 2023
An entertaining thriller. Wasn’t quite the book I expected, which left me a little disappointed. But the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Will have to check out more from this author.
September 26, 2023
Keeping it real? Just boring. Possibly the most boring "thriller" I've ever read (most boring book accolade still is held by The Merchant of Venice in 10th grade).
Onward.
Onward.
December 19, 2025
So slow. Over 100 pages in and I still have no idea what the point is
July 25, 2023
Wendy Corsi Staub can never go wrong with her thrilling books and this one was no exception. Three friends winning the lottery just spells disaster but wow, I wasn't ready for all of the plot twists and the paranormal aspects, which are some of my favorites in thrillers. Another thing I loved about this book was the setting, creepy mansion on a secluded cliffside, yes please! I love when authors go into such detail about the setting and atmosphere and it almost feels like I'm in the book with the characters. Speaking of characters, I loved how each of the chapters were told by a different perspective and all of them were a little unreliable in their own ways. That's another aspect I love in thrillers is unreliable characters as the confusion adds so much to the twists. My only complaint is the book ended a little open-ended for a couple of characters. I understand that was part of the story and a roundabout mystery that was purposefully done but the questions it left me with have bugged me since I finished.
Thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for my review!
Thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy for my review!
January 14, 2025
Windfall by Wendy Corsi Staub offers an intriguing premise with its blend of sudden wealth, friendship, and suspense. The story of three friends—J.J., Molly, and Leila—who win a billion-dollar lottery jackpot and then find themselves trapped in a secluded mansion with a mysterious history, holds promise. The tension builds as one of them goes missing and the others must grapple with the dark side of their newfound fortune.
While the plot had potential and I appreciated the high-stakes atmosphere, I found the pacing a bit slow, which made it difficult to fully connect with the characters or feel fully invested in the mystery. The narrative did capture the unease of their situation, but overall, the execution didn't quite live up to the suspense I had hoped for.
While the plot had potential and I appreciated the high-stakes atmosphere, I found the pacing a bit slow, which made it difficult to fully connect with the characters or feel fully invested in the mystery. The narrative did capture the unease of their situation, but overall, the execution didn't quite live up to the suspense I had hoped for.
December 15, 2023
Listened to audiobook edition.
Unhinged. I found the characters to be annoying, one-dimensional, and inconsistent. The performance of the narrator enhanced the annoying aspects of the characters!
I think the underlying podcast framework is a good device, but not used very successfully here. For example, to have the podcast host just show up at the Windfall mansion was just weird and unnecessary.
The plot is a pretty interesting concept, but the improbable twists made the story go off the rails.
Unhinged. I found the characters to be annoying, one-dimensional, and inconsistent. The performance of the narrator enhanced the annoying aspects of the characters!
I think the underlying podcast framework is a good device, but not used very successfully here. For example, to have the podcast host just show up at the Windfall mansion was just weird and unnecessary.
The plot is a pretty interesting concept, but the improbable twists made the story go off the rails.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2023
Unfortunately….no. This one didn’t do anything for me. And I hate that. I really do.
The circumstances were way over the top implausible. The dialogue between three “best friends”…idk it just wasn’t authentic. Best friends do not speak to each other this way. Stiff, petty and so parochial, it felt like they were more strangers than friends.
Thanks to netgally and William Morrow for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 7.11.23
The circumstances were way over the top implausible. The dialogue between three “best friends”…idk it just wasn’t authentic. Best friends do not speak to each other this way. Stiff, petty and so parochial, it felt like they were more strangers than friends.
Thanks to netgally and William Morrow for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 7.11.23
October 8, 2023
This book felt... far-fetched. Three "best friends" win big and spend a suspenseful weekend at a UHNWI (ultra high net worth individual - who came up with that?) expert's haunted house. I'd hardly call the women friends, the haunted house aspect felt like it was just added to create depth to an otherwise 2D book, and I found the whole thing to be a somewhat tedious spiral into madness. It wasn't a terrible read, but it wasn't a good one either.
March 1, 2023
Why would you sleep with your windows open during fire season in California? Especially with a baby?
Also if you won the lottery how long would you wait to turn in your ticket?
I never got attached to any of the characters.. It was fun and I liked the different perspectives. I loved the setting.
I just never got attached.
Also if you won the lottery how long would you wait to turn in your ticket?
I never got attached to any of the characters.. It was fun and I liked the different perspectives. I loved the setting.
I just never got attached.
July 17, 2023
In Wendi Corsi Staub’s Windfall we explore the idea that having your wildest dreams come true might not be quite as wonderful as you hoped.
They call themselves the September girls. Three college friends, all born in the same month, who are close as sisters. They may have graduated from the university where their friendship was formed, but over a decade later, J.J., Molly, and Leila still get together as often as they can; which, given failing relationships, tough financial situations, and difficult children, hasn’t been as often as they’d like. Still, this trip to Vegas to celebrate their fortieth birthdays is meant to be a fun, relaxing, break from the disappointment their everyday lives have become, and the ladies plan to make the most of it.
They don’t win anything at the tables but agree to try their luck one final time by pooling their last few dollars to buy a lottery ticket. Then they head home, back to reality and monotony.
When Leila checks the lottery numbers the next day after the drawing is done, she’s in for a shock. They’ve won a billion dollars. Being a ruthlessly organized person she quickly finds out what should come next, and after contacting her friends to get their agreement, hires Windfall, an agency that specializes in helping people deal with sudden wealth. Shea Daniels, the company owner and president takes their case personally. She flies them out to California, to the estate from which her company draws its name, to teach them all about managing their money.
Leila is the first to arrive. She is ecstatic about her burgeoning bank account, seeing it as a solution to her present problems. Estranged from her adoptive family, living with a man she doesn’t love but who is all that stands between her and homelessness, and the mother of two moody teenage daughters, Leila views this fortune as her ticket to escape. Her on-again off-again married lover of many years has made it clear he has no desire to keep their relationship going but Leila thinks her new financial status might just make him change his mind.
Having a baby solidifies some relationships and implodes others. Molly’s husband warned her it would be over if they ever had a child and true to his word, once Dawson was born, he moved out and filed for divorce. Fortunately, Molly has a kind, loving, supportive family who is helping her through it all, but it doesn’t change the fact that she and her baby were facing abject poverty before the news about the winning ticket. Still, Molly has her concerns about Windfall, the agency that will supposedly help them, and especially about Windfall, the house. The mansion has a dark history, the most recent victim being a beloved movie star who disappeared from the premises leaving not a single trace as to where they might have gone or what might have happened to them.
J.J. feels her whole life has been a tragedy. Her problems aren’t going to be fixed by money but her intuition tells her she needs to be at Windfall, be a part of whatever is going to occur surrounding the fortune she and her friends are about to gain. Her instincts have been wrong a lot lately, though, and J.J. is torn as to whether the California coast is really the best place for her to be.
When the denizens of the house discover they’re trapped by the wildfires raging throughout the local area and no amount of money can save them, they become terrified and desperate. Then one of them, who has the lottery ticket in her possession, suddenly goes missing. Has the house claimed another victim? Has their good luck turned bad? Or in the face of new riches, did temptation prove to be too much for one of the September Girls? See the rest of my review https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
They call themselves the September girls. Three college friends, all born in the same month, who are close as sisters. They may have graduated from the university where their friendship was formed, but over a decade later, J.J., Molly, and Leila still get together as often as they can; which, given failing relationships, tough financial situations, and difficult children, hasn’t been as often as they’d like. Still, this trip to Vegas to celebrate their fortieth birthdays is meant to be a fun, relaxing, break from the disappointment their everyday lives have become, and the ladies plan to make the most of it.
They don’t win anything at the tables but agree to try their luck one final time by pooling their last few dollars to buy a lottery ticket. Then they head home, back to reality and monotony.
When Leila checks the lottery numbers the next day after the drawing is done, she’s in for a shock. They’ve won a billion dollars. Being a ruthlessly organized person she quickly finds out what should come next, and after contacting her friends to get their agreement, hires Windfall, an agency that specializes in helping people deal with sudden wealth. Shea Daniels, the company owner and president takes their case personally. She flies them out to California, to the estate from which her company draws its name, to teach them all about managing their money.
Leila is the first to arrive. She is ecstatic about her burgeoning bank account, seeing it as a solution to her present problems. Estranged from her adoptive family, living with a man she doesn’t love but who is all that stands between her and homelessness, and the mother of two moody teenage daughters, Leila views this fortune as her ticket to escape. Her on-again off-again married lover of many years has made it clear he has no desire to keep their relationship going but Leila thinks her new financial status might just make him change his mind.
Having a baby solidifies some relationships and implodes others. Molly’s husband warned her it would be over if they ever had a child and true to his word, once Dawson was born, he moved out and filed for divorce. Fortunately, Molly has a kind, loving, supportive family who is helping her through it all, but it doesn’t change the fact that she and her baby were facing abject poverty before the news about the winning ticket. Still, Molly has her concerns about Windfall, the agency that will supposedly help them, and especially about Windfall, the house. The mansion has a dark history, the most recent victim being a beloved movie star who disappeared from the premises leaving not a single trace as to where they might have gone or what might have happened to them.
J.J. feels her whole life has been a tragedy. Her problems aren’t going to be fixed by money but her intuition tells her she needs to be at Windfall, be a part of whatever is going to occur surrounding the fortune she and her friends are about to gain. Her instincts have been wrong a lot lately, though, and J.J. is torn as to whether the California coast is really the best place for her to be.
When the denizens of the house discover they’re trapped by the wildfires raging throughout the local area and no amount of money can save them, they become terrified and desperate. Then one of them, who has the lottery ticket in her possession, suddenly goes missing. Has the house claimed another victim? Has their good luck turned bad? Or in the face of new riches, did temptation prove to be too much for one of the September Girls? See the rest of my review https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
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