3.5⭐️

Sisters Lexi, Callie, and Hanna Breaux have been playing the lottery for years, fantasizing about how much better life would be with more money. When the incredible happens and the Breaux sisters win $204 million dollars, it seems like all their dreams come true. But it turns out, money isn’t the answer to everything, and it comes with problems of its own. ⁣
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This was a light and easy read! I thought basing the plot on winning the lottery was so fun and I couldn’t help but think about what I would do if I won that much money! I really liked the sister dynamic and seeing how each of them adapted and spent their winnings. The storyline was fairly predictable but I still enjoyed it! This is the perfect book for in between heavy reads, or for anyone looking for a feel-good story. ⁣
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Read if you like:⁣
📖 Three Wishes⁣
📖 All Adults Here ⁣
📖 The Staycation⁣
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Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my review. Pub day is 8/4/20! ⁣

Who hasn’t fantasized about winning the lottery? Would you quit your job? Buy a new house? Give yourself a makeover? Plan yourself the most over the top wedding the town has ever seen? For sisters Hanna, Callie, and Lexi, these fantasies becomes reality when they win a $204 million jackpot. The story follows the three sisters as they deal with the joys and the pitfalls of receiving a windfall of cash. Each chapter switches between POVs and I really enjoyed all of them. Though I often found myself frustrated with them, I thought all of the main characters were likable and I was rooting for them to make smart choices.

Despite meeting with a financial planner who warns them not to spend too much too fast, only one of the sisters takes the advice. Callie keeps her job as a journalist for the local paper, where she’s worked with her best friend/long time crush since she graduated college. It’s only after the handsome, charming local tv news anchor takes an interest in her that she uses her new found wealth to give herself a makeover so she can be the type of woman she thinks will keep his attention. He also encourages her to get out of print media and join him on tv. He seems a little too good to be true and while he didn’t really do anything that hinted he was after her money, it did seem a little suspicious that it was at the press conference where she was announced as a millionaire that he approached her.

Hanna and Callie both went a little more crazy with the money than Callie did. Lexi was planning a small and intimate wedding with her fiance, but now she can afford the best of everything. When Seth’s mother, who Lexi has never felt accepted by, joins the wedding planning, things get even more over the top and Seth isn’t thrilled about it. Hanna is tired of all the repairs her husband’s old family home needs and she has her eye on a million dollar listing, instead. And a new car and wardrobe that will help her fit in with the snooty mothers at her children’s new private school.

All three sisters continue to throw money at their problems, but they come to realize that money may not solve everything quite as easily as they expected. Even though the direction of the plot seemed a little obvious, I felt invested in all of the sisters and wanted to see how they handled things. The story is very character-driven and because of that, the pace could feel a little slow at times. However, I was completely addicted to the book and never wanted to put it down. There was one aspect I have a bit of a complaint about, though. While there was a lot of character development for the sisters, I would’ve liked to see more development for the other people in their lives. There are quick mentions of Hanna’s son being bullied, her husband, Tom, having abandonment issues, Lexi’s fiance’s dysfunctional relationship with his parents, Callie’s close friendship with Garrett, and the growing relationship between Callie and her new boyfriend, Wynn. I wanted to know more about all of these things and get to know all the characters surrounding the sisters a little better.

Overall, I really enjoyed Louisiana Lucky. Lately I find myself struggling with books that fall under the Women’s Fiction umbrella, but I did not have that problem at all while reading this book. I was drawn in by that beautiful cover, but it was the character-driven, addictive writing that kept me hooked. I was a fan of Pennell’s debut book, The Young Wives Club, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting her follow up. With Louisiana Lucky, she’s proven she definitely deserves a spot on my author auto-read list.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 4 Stars

I always love reading contemporary novels taking place in the South. This was definitely a page-turner as I fell into the lives of these characters so quickly. A great summer read!

(Received copy from the publisher for my honest review).

Louisiana Lucky is the story of three sisters, who definitely did not have it all, winning the lottery and using their winnings to try to have it all. The youngest sister Lexi is getting married and can now plan the wedding of her dreams, the middle sister Callie feels stuck in a rut in work and love, and the oldest, Hanna, can send her kids to private school and buy the life that goes along with it. As you can imagine, none of their foolproof plans work as expected. There's wedding drama, family drama, school drama, love drama and chaos all around and it seems the more they spend, the less their goals are coming true.

The characters, especially Lexi and Hanna can be a bit shallow at times, but as someone that's not had the luck to win millions, it's hard to judge them or know how I'd act in a similar situation. I think we all hope we won't become bridezillas, blind in love or someone trying to keep up with appearances, but money changes people, just like it changes the Breaux sisters. I loved the characters of Seth (fiance) and Lynn (mother) and the grounding that they provided. I loved watching everything turn to chaos and then come back with that life lesson moment. I loved that the story had a resolution.

This is a quick read, perfect for an escape and it gets you thinking what you'd do and who you'd be if you won the lottery.

As a Louisiana native living far from home, I'm probably partial to books with settings in Louisiana and, of course, I loved this book. The three sisters, the lives they lived, their dreams and aspirations, all felt like "home" to me. Even though this is a fiction book, I felt like it could have been a true story about three sisters in quite a few homes - not just in Louisiana.

The girls get lucky, and as many of us find out, money doesn't always solve all our issues.

This was a book I couldn't put down and highly recommend as a light, happy read!

When I requested this book I had no idea how much I was going to love it! Louisiana Lucky tells the story of the Breaux sisters. They grew up poor and continued to just squeak by as adults. Money seems to be the answer to all of their problems, but will it really fix everything?

A fun, light, and breezy read that was a perfect break from my usual dark thrillers. ⁣This was a quick and enjoyable read. It makes you think about what you would do if you won the lottery. It was fun to see how each sister adapted to becoming millionaires overnight - shopping sprees at Lululemon, new cars, new houses, and new lives....it’s dreamy! Sometimes I wanted to shake them for spending the money so fast (a $26K wedding dress!) but that was the fun of it. ⁣⁣⠀

Gosh this was such a fun read!! 3 sisters from small-town Louisiana play the lottery every Friday, dreaming about what they would do if they actually won. And when one Friday they find out they win the $204 million dollar jackpot, they can’t believe it!

Each sister has something different planned for her winnings. Hanna wants to upgrade her never-finished-renovating home and send her children to a better school. Callie wants to… And newly-engaged Lexi wants to have her dream wedding. But can money really buy happiness?

I loved the relationship between all of the sisters, and seeing their transformations throughout the book. This was super cute, super funny, and a perfect book to escape into! PLUS THE COVER IS SO ME like I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by its cover but I did here and I loved it so... chalking that up to a win!

Read if you like:
🧁Southern livin y’all!
🧁Sisterhood
🧁Rags to riches
🧁 Weddings!

The writing style for this novel was fun. I struggled with the overall plot because it felt somewhat predictable. That didn't stop me from liking the characters, but I wasn't surprised by anything that happened or the resolution.

Since no one is going to wedding these Covid Days... This is a fun, sweet, charming, truly what a fiction book is meant to do, make you forget everything around you and immerse you into a world filled with characters that feel like friends.
I did not want this book to end.
Thank you for the opportunity to read it. It will be at the top of my suggestion list!

I needed a light, fun read after having a few heavier books on my list, and this was perfect. It’s a cautionary tale of newfound money and the headaches and drama that come with it but at the core, it’s also a story of sisterly love. I knew this book wouldn’t take me down unknown roads but I wanted—no needed—to take the ride with these sisters, Lexi, Callie, and Hanna. With the same escapism you’d expect from a Hallmark movie this book explores being rich, poor, and in between while focusing on the laughter and love you need regardless of money.

The characters were wonderful although a bit cookie-cutter. The pacing never fell off like a well-timed movie of the week. And I loved the lavish wedding Lexi planned that you knew would get out of hand. There were a few stereotypes that bothered me, like the pat on the backs towards men who “tolerate” the female craziness, and some superficial attitudes that I didn’t connect with but other than those old-world ideas, this was a fun, quick read worth your time.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this sweet read first.

The Breaux sisters played the lottery every month. They let the computer pick two tickets, and the third ticket always had their special numbers.

Years went by using the same numbers and the same routine, but they never won until one evening all the numbers came up. They were instant millionaires.

They couldn't contain their excitement because now they could have whatever they wanted, help their parents, and give some to charity.

I enjoyed this lighthearted read and enjoyed hearing about the life of each sister both before and after winning the lottery.

Having that much money has its good points and its bad, but the characters were delightful, and you were able to share in their joy and their lives.

LOUISIANA LUCKY is for those readers who need a change of pace and some wishing and hoping that they might be the next lottery winner.

A charming, sweet read. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

A light and easy read which is what I was hoping for when I picked it up. And of course because the storyline involved the sisters winning the lottery, I couldn’t help but fantasize while reading what I would do if I won millions of dollars. And I feel like dreaming big put me in a good mood which was much needed.

Sisters Lexi, Callie and Hanna Breaux all live in the small Louisiana town they grew up in. Lexi is a hair stylist and engaged to be married. Callie puts her heart and soul into her job as a reporter at a local newspaper and doesn't have much of a dating life. Hanna is happily married with two kids. While the sisters might not have a lot of money between them, they sure have an abundance of love for one another. After years of playing the lottery, they actually win the jackpot. And they win big, 204 million dollars type of big. They say money can change people. Will it change each sister?

I don't always need a story to take me on an unexpected journey. Sometimes I'm fine going down a familiar path. And I feel like having a general idea of where the story was headed is why it was a nice, pleasant read. The story might not be mind blowing but who cares as long as you are enjoying it.

Callie was my favorite out of the three sisters. I thought she was a well-developed character compared to her siblings. Hanna's story arc could have used a bit more fine tuning as it was the weakest of the bunch. Towards the end I almost forgot she was a character.

Like I said, nothing earth shattering here, but if you want to pick up a book to sit down and relax with, this is a decent selection.

Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Ohhhh this book. LOUISIANA LUCKY by Julie Pennell is so good.⁠ Let’s start with the premise: three down-on-their-luck sisters win the lottery. I mean, who doesn’t fantasize about winning the lottery (even if you don’t play, like me, which makes it even more of a fantasy, haha). But this book double downs on great premise with equally great characters and writing. I enjoyed reading it immensely.

Lexi, Callie, and Hanna Breaux grew up in Louisiana and have always struggled to make ends meet. For years, they’ve been playing the same numbers in the lottery, fantasizing about their lives. Then one day the Breaux sisters hit the big $204 million dollars jackpot! One planned her dream wedding, while the other bought her dream house and sent her kids to a fancy school, and the other gained the courage to go after her career dreams. But, is winning the lottery all glitz and glam? They end up seeing what having new money is like, a.k.a, the lottery curse.

Louisiana Lucky was a fun read! I really liked the writing style - I feel like it really drew me in. This was a light read and a bit predictable just because it has the lottery involved. But, I still really enjoyed it. There wasn't too much drama throughout, until the very end when everything just turned into a predictable disaster. I really enjoyed the close knit relationship of the sisters - two of them really let the money go to their heads even when they tried to not let that happen.

I would recommend it if you're looking for a light read 😊 ⭐⭐⭐ 3 /5 Stars!

Thank you Julie Pennell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Release Date August 4, 2020
Atria Books
Women's Fiction

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this eARC!

I really enjoyed this book. This is the story of 3 sisters who play the lottery once a month. Each month they buy 2 tickets that are randomly chosen and then one with numbers that are special to them. Every month they come together for their girls night and watch the lottery, expecting not to win, but then one day they do win and they're MILLIONS richer! All 3 have been somewhat irresponsible with money in the past, but I didn't think it was over done.
Hannah is the oldest sister. She has a husband, 2 kids, and a house thats falling down around her. They're barely getting by. Callie is the middle sister. She is a journalist for a failing newspaper but she is scared to strive for more. Lexi is the youngest sister and she is about to get married to a guy who comes from a lot of money, but he doesn't want anything to do with that life. As you can see, all 3 have areas where money would be very helpful.
As many people do, they immediately went on spending sprees. The whole time you have a feeling that things aren't going to end well, but its a fun ride. I loved the southern charm in this book and the relationship between sisters was delightful. Highly recommend!!

SPOILERS AHEAD:
Hannah spends her money on a new house and sends her kids to private school. However, she realizes how catty the private school moms are and what a superficial and unaccepting environment it is. The house also gets damaged in a storm and has HUGE issues, so they end up moving back into their old house and her husband fixes it up.
Callie has been in love with her coworker at the paper forever but they never talk about it. So then a news anchor hits on her (after she's won the money- RED FLAG) and they become an item and eventually get engaged. She also moves over to on air reporting where she's actually making good money. She's the only one who didn't quit her job, but she hates the on air reporting. She also finds out the anchor was just using her so she goes back to her job just in time to be told the paper is going under. She saves the day and ends up with her coworker.
Lexi throws all of her money into the wedding and starts planning with her fiance's super high maintenance mom. She turns into a superficial bridezilla who completely loses sight of the marriage to focus on the wedding. Her finace says he doesn't like who she has become and he calls off the wedding. After some time apart, they come back together and all is well.

This was a nice book. A little soft, for what I thought it was going to be, but it's still a nice story. There's good character development.

A sweet "careful what you wish for" story. Perfect for book clubs and lazy summer afternoon reading.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Julie Pennell for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
As a woman with six sisters, I was instantly drawn to this book! I loved that each sister had clear differences and their own stories. I have to admit I didn’t completely connect to any of the sisters at first. They came off very negative and whiney. While I know we need to see that part to see the growth, sometimes it’s hard to get into a book when it starts like that. By the end I just decided that maybe I just didn’t like the sisters. They just felt very superficial and predictable. None of this is to say this is a bad book, just too shallow for my liking!

As a fellow Louisiana girl, I was VERY excited to read this book!
I really appreciated the author's attention to detail and felt it accurately portrayed small-town Louisiana life.
Each sister took a different path with their lotto winnings but they soon learned that with more money comes more problems. This was a wonderful story of southern sisterhood and a great summer read. Very well written, I can't wait for more from Julie Pennell.
After finishing Louisiana Lucky, I went to my library and got Julie Pennell's other novel: The Young Wives Club.