Eliza’s got it all figured out … until it all falls apart. At 32, with her engagement gone and dreams shifting, she bolts for Juneberry Lake—a tiny town with big mysteries, a cute coffee shop, and a lake house sight unseen. 🌅

What feels like bad luck becomes the chance to start fresh. With new friends, unexpected romance, and a neighbors’ secret or two, Eliza might just discover her future is nowhere near what she planned—and maybe, that’s a good thing. 💫

Eliza had a plan for her life. When it all blew up, she took a look around and decided maybe it was time for a change. The opportunity came when she discovered Juneberry Lake, a quaint little town in Minnesota looking to breath new life into their population. Without giving herself a chance to question the decision, Eliza heads east to Minnesota and a fresh start.

More than a romance, this is a story about self discovery. Eliza comes to Juneberry wanting a fresh start, but old habits die hard. To get people to like her, she's still trying to be what she thinks others want her to be. Yet, she still feels left out. Except at the coffee shop, the place she found where she's comfortable and where she stakes out a table to work at each day. When she relaxed enough, or was engaged with her work, she was more herself and she found herself forming real friendships. She finds a good friend in Trish, the owner of the coffee shop. And in Joel, a very handsome, outgoing fellow new resident of Juneberry Lake.

As a semi introverted person who is somewhat awkward in social situations, I was able to empathize with Eliza. In some ways, I was jealous of her courage in traveling half way across the country to start over in a new place where she didn't know anyone. And I enjoyed watching her come into her own as she crawled out of her self imposed shell and learned to enjoy herself as herself.

This was a fun book to read, with a little bit of romance, a little bit of mystery, and a lot of warm, positive feelings.

Thank you @avonbooks and @jaclyn_writing for my gifted ebook. Lucky Break is out now!

This was such a fun novel! Two of my best book friends both raved about it and they were so right.

Eliza is trying to move on from her broken engagement from Marco when she see an advertisement to enticing remote workers to buy a lake house in Minnesota. She needs a break from her daily life and decides to take a big risk. She moves away from her close Italian family and buys a house in Juneberry Lake. It’s fun to see Eliza as a fish out of water in this quirky small town. She meets Joel, a handsome guy also new to Juneberry Lake; they bond quickly. Her neighbors are so nice and friendly, but she can’t get the elusive invite to the neighborhood barbecue. There’s also something secretive about the prior owner of her house. Something’s up in this town…

I really feel like Eliza and I could be friends. She was funny and interesting and I could relate to her in many ways. I loved that she decided on a second act after life isn’t going as she planned. Joel was so refreshing as a guy who just tells Eliza straight that he’s interested in her. No games to play! The rest of the side characters are also wonderful and add a lot of charisma to the book.

CW: Eliza and Marco struggle with infertility. They try IVF, but even that doesn’t work. My heart absolutely broke for Eliza.

This was a fun book, a great summer read!

Eliza's life has always been planned and orderly, until it implodes. She sees an advert from Juneberry Lake, MN for discounted housing for people willing to move to the small, midwestern lake town and jumps on the chance to shake up her life. She moves into a cul de sac area and it's fun watching her get to know the neighbors and their secrets. And she's trying to find out the mystery behind Erika, her new house's previous owner and where she is now.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Based on the cover, I thought this was a romance, and while it is, that’s basically a subplot. This was so stinking cute!! Fresh start, found family, mystery, grief, a little romance. Such a fun story and a love note to the Midwest, which I really loved being a transplant to the Midwest.

For some reason i just couldn’t get into this book. Sadly i didn’t finish it and it just wasn’t holding my attention

The perfect summer read! I really enjoyed this book, the setting, and the characters. It was a really quick and enjoyable read, while also still having depth of characters and a really nice plot arc. I definitely recommend this book!

I have opened up this book to read so many times, but I just end up closing it after a few minutes. It is just not working out for me. I am not vibing with the fmc's voice.

This book kept me engaged the whole way through. It makes you think about how past experiences effect your life and the way you are living it. It was lighthearted, humorous and fun to read.

This is Jaclyn’s second book and it was so good!! Love how we started in SF then moved to the Midwest to a small town. This had all my favorite elements in it. The breakup, the move to a very different place, getting into everyone’s business, and starting over. There was even a small town mystery on this street that she moved to.

Just like the authors mentioned above the care and time spent crafting these characters that made up Juneberry Lake was apparent. Enjoyed all of their relationships and her relationship with her parents and brother.

There is discussion of infertility and an unsupportive partner. So take care but I love this kind of representation in romance novels. The romance that happens is very early days in ways of dating and it’s not physical yet. This story was more about the human connections and finding yourself when everything falls apart.

Also anxiety and grief are a part of the fmcs everyday.

✨I remember asking someone who just had gotten married when they were going to have kids and she said they weren’t. I try not to ask those questions unless I really know the person cause I felt bad that I added to the pile of that question I’m sure they never stopped getting. Also for other friends who are trying or have stopped cause it’s too hard I try to not ask why they never had kids. You never know someone else’s journey and story. I try to be a sounding board and a witness for those who need it.

The author did a great job at fleshing out the main character and her neighbors. The book was well-written and I really enjoyed reading the side plots and how they all came together.

Lucky Break was a hug in a book. Everything about it just made me happy to keep reading on. I loved the setting, the cast of characters and the addition of pets again in this book too! It was a wonderful story and satisfying ending!

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me the e-ARC of this book in return for an honest exchange.

Lucky Break is a charming novel that shows friendship, found family, mild romance, and chaos in a light read. It follows our FMC who falls upon some back luck and moves to a Midwestern lake town. It turns out that not everything in the town is as it appears and there are secrets everywhere.

What Worked
I enjoyed the portrayal of the FMC and her real-life struggles with the run of bad luck moving in order to start a new life somewhere else. Unfortunately that is where the what worked ends 😬

What Didn’t Work
The pacing was too slow. There were times that I felt like it drug on and on. I listened to the audio and, if I’m being perfectly honest, just let it run at times because I knew that I wasn’t going to miss anything important. I went into the story thinking it was going to be a romance. However, it was not. It ended up being a mystery and it was a very, VERY low stakes mystery at that. At the end of the book, I was confused by the point of the story. I think that if she had leaned more into the romance part of the story, there may have been more investment into the overall plot.

Overall, this would be a good book for someone who likes a feel-good read with not a lot of action. If you Iike low stakes contemporary fiction, this one would be for you.

Review posted to GoodReads on 8/26/25

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy!

Lucky Break is a charming small-town, friends-to-lovers romance layered with a touch of mystery. It’s not your typical swoony rom-com - it carries a slightly suspenseful undertone that keeps you guessing, even as the romance unfolds.

This was actually my first time reading a romance with a “mysterious twist,” and I’m still deciding how much I liked that element. I found myself wishing for a bit more romance and a bit less suspicion, but the mix will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy both cozy mysteries and sweet love stories.

The supporting cast really stood out for me: messy, dramatic, and at times giving total Desperate Housewives energy, which added plenty of flavor to the story.

Overall, this was a light and fun read that’s perfect for tossing in your bag for a weekend at the lake or a quick escape from everyday life.

#LuckyBreak #JaclynWestlake #NetGalley #Bookstagram #RomanceReaders #FriendsToLovers #SmallTownRomance #CozyMystery #BookReview #RomanceReview #WeekendReads #Bookish #CurrentlyReading #RomanceBooks #BookCommunity #BookLovers #EscapeWithABook #LakeWeekendReads

Thanks to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Lucky Break is a wholesome and charming story about fresh starts, settling into a new community, and navigating the emotional messiness of moving on. It’s perfect for anyone in the mood for a feel-good read with heart, humor, and a touch of mystery in a cozy small-town setting. Though the cover and premise suggest a rom-com, this leans more toward women’s fiction with a romantic subplot, focusing primarily on personal growth, healing, and connection.

The story follows Eliza, who moves to the picturesque town of Juneberry Lake after a painful breakup, hoping for a fresh start. But fitting into her new neighborhood proves harder than she expected. She’s surrounded by quirky neighbors, a surprisingly tight-lipped community, and the lingering mystery of the woman who lived in her house before her. Eliza becomes increasingly curious about the previous tenant, whose sudden disappearance adds a gentle layer of intrigue to the story.

Eliza is a flawed but likable lead. I appreciated the flashback chapters that gave insight into her past, highlighting how far she’s come. Her relationship with her brother was one of my favorite parts—it brought warmth and emotional depth. I also loved the inclusive cast and the Hallmark-esque charm of the town.

That said, the book’s tone occasionally felt uneven. It wavers between small-town romcom and light mystery without fully committing to either. The romance between Eliza and Joel lacked spark, and Joel never quite clicked as a love interest—their connection felt more like friendship than chemistry. The mystery, while intriguing at first, ultimately didn’t deliver a satisfying payoff. A few moments felt drawn out or unnecessary. I also found Eliza a bit frustrating at times—her insistence on uncovering others’ secrets made her seem entitled, especially given how new she was to the community.

While the mystery fizzled out a bit by the end, I still enjoyed the journey. The neighbor dynamics and the themes of self-discovery, starting over, and finding connection in unexpected places were handled with care. The writing is warm and engaging, and the emotional beats land with sincerity.

Overall this is a cozy, feel-good story that explores reinvention, healing, and the importance of community. It’s perfect for fans of small-town fiction or anyone looking for something sweet, introspective, and not too heavy.

I struggled to get into this book. The premise was interested but I didn't love the pacing on the mystery. Not leaving reviews elsewhere.

First off as a Minnesotan myself the Midwest representation was spot on and I loved seeing Minnesota at the center of a novel!! Didn’t totally know what to expect with this book but was completely won over by Eliza and the family she found along the way. This book had the perfect balance of self-discovery, romance, and of course mystery!! I couldn’t wait to see where we were going next and it was definitely a page turner! The epilogue had me bawling after rooting for everyone to find happiness it was such a satisfying end!

The very last line of this book was so touching I have just found myself going back to it and feeling like I am getting a warm hug. Loved the character growth we got from Eliza and the fun banter that Joel brought! Definitely need to visit a small lake town in Minnesota asap!!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I have never read a book by Jaclyn Westlake, so I had no idea what to expect. This did not disappoint.

I do want to note that, though Goodreads has Romance as the first tag for this book, NetGalley has it listed as General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction, and New Adult. This is an important distinction!!! If you go into this book expecting the romance to be the main plot line, I think you will be disappointed, because it’s definitely more of a subplot.

Okay, now to get into the book!

Our FMC, Eliza, has her whole life figured out, down to the age that each event will happen. That plan is going well…until it isn’t anymore, and she finds herself single, houseless, and unsure of what’s next. Enter Juneberry Lake, a quaint Midwestern town nestled around a lake. The town is incentivizing young, remote workers to live there, and Eliza decides to take a chance on it, which is totally out of character for her. Upon moving to Juneberry Lake, Eliza realizes these people may be harboring secrets about her home’s previous owner, and she wants to get to the bottom of it. With the help of Joel, a younger man who is also new to the area, she starts to uncover the truth about some of Juneberry Lake’s residents that could change all of their lives if she isn’t careful.

I resonated with Eliza a lot. The reason for planning her life down to the T is a coping mechanism and way to protect herself. It’s a heartbreaking reveal, but it makes her character make so much sense. I enjoyed seeing her navigate that experience, process her feelings, and move forward through the book.

The townspeople of Juneberry Lake could be akin to those of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. You have your gaggle of neighbors who orbit each other in this small town, and some are skeptical of the outsider that’s getting cozy in their neighborhood. Learning more about them was just as enjoyable as learning more about Eliza herself. There was a diverse cast of characters, but it didn’t feel forced at all. Each person had a unique personality, but they all made Juneberry Lake what it was.

I liked the mystery aspect of this book as well. It was more of a cozy mystery than something suspenseful. It kept me intrigued to learn the truth and curious about how the community would protect those involved. I think, though a low-probability situation, it wasn’t unrealistic, so it still felt true to the book.

Watching Eliza and Joel’s relationship develop was also really cute. Friends to lovers will do it for me, and this was no exception. Their forced proximity wasn’t “forced” in a writing sense, and there was a natural progression in their relationship. I can always do without the third-act breakup, but I know that’s typical for a romance plot these days.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book! Remember, go into it with a General/Women’s Fiction mindset, not romance, and I think that will make a difference for the reading experience.

I really enjoyed this book! It made me realize that small town fiction is my thing, which is weird for a city girl like me!

It had the perfect small town vibe, found family, the characters were all interesting and it was a great feel-good escape story. I went into it expecting a run-of-the-mill contemporary romance about a woman moving to a small town, which it initially started as, but I was pleasantly surprised by the major mystery that was at the center of most of the story. I was so invested in uncovering the mystery! The "secret" that the neighbors were hiding was a bit silly and far-fetched, but I was so invested in the story I went with it. I enjoyed the story of Eliza in her new home and getting to know the neighbors and their secrets so much, that I actually wasn't really invested in the romance with Joel. It felt forced and the "third act breakup" was unnecessary. I would have enjoyed it more without the forced romance, but that didn't stop me from devouring this book! I'm excited to read more of Jaclyn Westlake!

3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the advanced reader copy of Lucky Break by Jaclyn Westlake.

It took me a little while to get into this one, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. The story follows Natalie, a woman whose carefully laid life plans start to unravel after an unexpected turn of events. In an effort to rebuild, she heads to a small town where she crosses paths with old friends, new opportunities, and a few surprises that might just change her perspective on what “success” really looks like.

This is more of a lighthearted read than my usual heavy thrillers or mysteries. While it does have touches of mystery and personal drama, it’s not intense or dark—it’s more about self-discovery, second chances, and finding joy in the unexpected. Once I connected with the characters, I wanted to keep turning the pages to figure out where things were headed.

Overall, I liked it and would recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something with a charming, hopeful vibe and just a dash of intrigue.