First of all a shoutout to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager, and the author for the opportunity read and review this ARC!
I really liked this book and it is a perfect summer read.
It was light, it was quick, and it was cozy.
A few trigger warnings - the book does discuss grief, cheating, addiction, and some fertility struggles.
I love a small town story, lately, they have been my favorite. Summer makes me feel like I need to read small town tropes and this was a cute one! Bonus points that the setting is on a lake! eek!
The supporting characters in this town, ADORABLE.
The main character, Eliza, relatable. She is new in town and trying to figure out about the previous owners of the house that she now owns.
We also get disability representation and books need so much more of this! Among all other things I read in books, I feel this is the least represented thing in my books.
One of my favorite characters - Potato, Eliza's dog. I am a dog Momma, so I loved this being a part of the book.
There was great character development. Again - relatable characters that feel so homey.
While I think this leads the reader to think this is a small-town romance mystery, it did not come across that way to me. There was some romance, but it came across to me as more of a fun mystery.
The plot is well structured and I enjoyed the pace of the book.
Again, add this to your summer TBR. This is a perfect palette cleanser read.
Happy Reading!

Thank you to the publisher, Avon & Harper Voyager for E-ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for a honest review*


Heartwarming.

It's official: small towns have become one of my favorite tropes. Something about small towns appeals to me, and I find myself picking up books set in small towns. I adored the setting in Lucky Break ; Juneberry Lake, and that’s one of the things that grabbed my attention when I was reading the summary. Books set in a lake or beach house are my favorites. Lucky Break reminded me of a Hallmark movie, and I think this book would make a cute Hallmark movie. I loved almost all the characters in the book; there were only a few that I didn't like. I adored how welcoming everyone was to Eliza when she arrived at Junberry Lake. There was one person who wasn't as friendly, but I suspected he had a reason for it. Despite how welcoming everyone was upon Eliza's arrival; I had a suspicion that they were hiding something. Like Eliza, I was curious about what they were hiding.

The characters were extremely realistic, and I found it easy to relate to them. I loved that the book had both LGBTQIAP and Disability representation, and both of those were represented beautifully. I loved the names of the dogs, and I adored Eliza's instant bond with her dog, Potato. Everyone seemed to love that dog, and I couldn't blame them. I lost my dog last month, and reading a book about animals touched me in many ways. I liked the character development, especially Eliza's; I felt like she had matured significantly since arriving in Juneberry Lake.
I occasionally wished Juneberry Lake existed so I could go there to escape while reading. It seemed real to me. The mystery aspect was what I expected, but I enjoyed all of the clues leading up to the reveal and found myself guessing several times throughout the book. Lucky Break was my first book by Jaclyn Westlake, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I'm eager to check out her other works now.

Lucky Break by Jaclyn Westlake is a sweet, uplifting story that reminds you that life sometimes falls apart even if you had planned for something else. I love the Midwestern feels this book gives. I grew up in a small midwest town so this gave the book extra charm. With cozy settings, endearing characters, this novel is a gentle reminder that fresh starts can lead to the happiness we didn’t know we needed.

Eliza Anderson is the type of woman who has seven color-coded spreadsheets for her five-year plan and once cried in a Container Store out of joy. She’s locked in, loaded with ambition, and engaged to the man who was supposed to help her build her San Francisco dream life. Until he shows his true colors and promptly sublets their apartment without blinking. Cue Eliza absolutely losing it and then, like any reasonable adult in a life spiral, buying a lake house in Minnesota off the internet, sight unseen.

She ends up in Juneberry Lake, a town so aggressively charming it feels like it should come with a flannel-wrapped warning label. Her neighbors are suspiciously tight-lipped about the woman who used to own her new house. There’s a rescue dog named Potato who’s about to become the emotional MVP of the story. And Joel, the guy she keeps running into at the local coffee shop, is either the nicest man alive or secretly growing his own sourdough starter of trauma.

This isn’t a romance, not really. It’s a story about unplanned unraveling. About realizing you’ve built your whole identity on what you thought your life should be and then watching it collapse, only to discover you’re still here. Eliza’s arc isn’t spicy, it’s slow-burn therapy. She unpacks trauma, gets herself to therapy, confronts the expectations she’s internalized, and learns how to exist without performance metrics. Joel is nice and all, but he’s not the point. The real glow-up here is Eliza remembering how to be a person when the timeline gets nuked.

The mystery plot? Low-key and mostly there to justify the small-town secrets vibe. No dead bodies, no jump scares, just a soft drizzle of secrets about the woman who sold Eliza her house. The reveal is less “gasp!” and more “oh… huh,” which fits the cozy energy but won’t set your pulse racing. It’s giving “Gentle Gossip: Midwest Edition.”

What does land hard is the emotional whiplash of watching Eliza realize that her old life didn’t make space for who she actually is. Her moments with her brother Enzo (autistic rep and total gem), her complicated love for her nosy Italian family, her grief for the best friend she lost in high school, and her decision to choose herself first... it’s all tender and real.

And listen, Potato the three-legged dachshund? Deserves his own novella. I would go to war for that dog.

So no, it’s not a big swoony romance. And yes, some of the mystery threads fizzle instead of pop. But if you’re here for a story that’s more about finding the nerve to start over than about finding a boyfriend, “Lucky Break” is your jam. It’s 3.5 stars of small-town mess, soft revelations, hot dish, and one deeply relatable meltdown in a Minnesota driveway.

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC. Y’all handed me a breakup book with therapy, secrets, and emotional validation, and I devoured it like a basket of cheese curds. Which are delicious.

There were things that I liked about this book. The writing was great and the setting was beautiful. However, I had a hard time with this one and to be honest, it was a struggle to finish. I could. not relate to Eliza at all and I felt that the development of her character was very slow. I also thought this was going to have romance in it based on the marketing and the cover, but that is not the case. As a Midwesterner, I also questioned if Westlake had actually spent time here, which seems really mean, but the city scape seemed more of an accurate representation. I'm finding with a lot of the new books that are meant to be more lighthearted, that they are seeming forced. I get that writers are on deadlines, but it would be great if publishers could be more critical in editing and allow more time for creativity and not the same story line on repeat.

Lucky Break is one of those books that feels like a breath of fresh air, equal parts cozy, funny, and quietly empowering. When Eliza’s perfect life suddenly unravels, she does something completely unexpected: she buys a lake house in a Midwestern town she’s never been to. What follows is a heartfelt story about starting over, rediscovering yourself, and learning that sometimes, the best things in life come after everything falls apart.
Juneberry Lake is the kind of place you’ll wish were real, full of quirky neighbors, peaceful mornings, and one very charming coffee shop coworker. There’s also a gentle thread of mystery woven through the story that adds just the right touch of intrigue.
And yes, the cover is stunning. Bright, summery, and totally irresistible, just like the story inside.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishing house for the chance to read this book in advance.

Cute story by a new to me author. Great setting, well written and nicely paced.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy of this book.

That cover pulled me in—and the story had heart.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✩✩

Lucky Break starts with a great setup: Eliza’s perfectly planned life falls apart, and she finds herself starting over in a small Minnesota town full of charm, quirks, and a touch of mystery. It’s not a romance, exactly—more about self-discovery, healing, and letting go of expectations—which was a refreshing shift from the usual.

I loved the premise and appreciated the exploration of deeper themes like infertility and reinvention in your 30s. The town felt cozy, the pacing gentle, and there were moments that really landed.

That said, there were a lot of side plots, and I sometimes wished the story focused more tightly on Eliza’s journey. Still, the cozy tone, relatable main character, and hopeful message make this a nice read for fans of character-driven fiction with a bit of mystery woven in.

Perfect for: a slow afternoon, a comfy chair, and anyone in their “rebuilding era.” I wish this was around when I was getting a divorce lol.

This was such a great read for me. Eliza, the MFC, has her entire life planned out. But when life throws a curveball, her fiance breaks up with her and kicks her out of her apartment, she scrambles to figure out her next move.

That move was to move to a small Minnesota town and that town has a little secret.
There she meets new friends, and a certain dog, and discovers a new life just waiting for her. Romance was not the main focus on the story line, there was a little bit of romance, and that was quite refreshing. Even though I love a good romance, this was a perfect summer read about finding yourself, coming out of your comfort zone and discovering what life has to offer.

Plus, there is a little mystery thrown in there that really kept me on edge to figure out.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC! Bookstagram post coming soon!

3.5/5⭐️

“Lucky Break” by Jaclyn Westlake is a light, cozy read that fits well with a slow summer afternoon. After her engagement falls apart and her life in San Francisco doesn’t go as planned, Eliza takes a chance on a remote work relocation program and moves to the small town of Juneberry Lake. The town is as charming as it sounds, with friendly neighbors, an adorable coffee shop, and just enough mystery to keep things interesting as Eliza begins to piece her life back together.

The story touches on a few heavier topics, like infertility, starting over in your thirties, and finding peace when things don’t turn out the way you expected, but it handles them with a gentle, steady hand. There’s also thoughtful queer representation, and those characters felt like real parts of the community, not just added in for the sake of it. I appreciated how naturally all of that was woven into the story.

My only real struggle with the book was how many side plots there were. A few felt like distractions, and I wished we’d spent more time on Eliza’s personal journey instead. That said, everything does come together by the end, and I closed the book feeling like it delivered what it promised.

If you like books with heart, low-stakes mystery, and a strong sense of place, this might be one to add to your list. It wasn’t a standout for me, but it had enough warmth and charm to make it worth the read.

This was a fun story about finding yourself, with a little mystery and romance mixed in! If you are looking for a book with it all, this is the one!

Lucky Break is a nice story that I was invested in from the start. Eliza grew up in San Francisco in a loving and supportive family. Her engagement to Marco has just ended and she needs a change in life. She responds to a random ad about an incentive to move to a small town in Minnesota. The MidWest is a whole new life for Eliza. There are plenty of nice small-town characters, and - of course - a love interest.
The story develops with various plot lines and is a good Summer read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Thanks for the review copy. I love found family and cozy small towns. I know others are going to love this one.

This cover makes you feel like you are for a quick summer romance read however the romance is more secondary to the plot. While Eliza was the main character her the book, her character felt almost secondary as well with everything going on. And I may be more critical the others with this being mostly set in Mn, I feel like the author did the basic mn research (mn vikings, packer riveraly, hot dish, etc) This honestly could of been lake town anywhere usa.
3 stars

I struggled big time with Lucky Break. It started out fast-paced in a city and quickly went the opposite way and downhill. The pace was not right for me and honestly, it was very boring at times. I enjoyed the depiction of the Midwest (MN), and I do feel like this was a cozy, small-town feel that would be good for a beach/lake day read.

3.6⭐️ This one was a very cute summer read, however did not feel like a romance to me. The Romance was very secondary to the story. I did enjoy the mystery aspect of the story and the character growth. I am a sucker for character growth. However, romance is my favorite genre so of course I personally would have loved more of that. That's just me. The story itself was very well written and Eliza was so sweet. I think this one just wasn't for me.

Unfortunately I wasn’t the biggest fan of this one. I was originally intrigued by the small town mystery but the felt very low stakes and fell flat. Our main character was sweet enough and I enjoyed her seeing her growth.

Solid 3 star book, although I wouldn't really call it a romance; while there were romantic elements, that part of the story felt secondary to the overall themes of growth, acceptance and figuring out what your heart's true desires are.

To-do-list loving Eliza is at a crossroads in life; her meticulous life plans come crashing down when she and her fiancé break up, causing her to re-think her entire life. Broken hearted and looking for an escape from her hometown, her meddling Italian family and her more-distant-by-the-day friends, she impulsively buys a house in Juneberry Lake, a picturesque Midwest town about as far from her hometown of San Francisco as she can get. Excited to experience four actual seasons and desperate for a change of pace, she moves with the hopes of making new friends and a fresh start.

But, getting close to her new neighbors is harder than she anticipated, especially when she starts asking questions about the woman she bought her house from. Soon, with the help of fellow newcomer Joel, she is searching to uncover the truths about why the other woman moved so suddenly, threatening to ruin her budding friendships with her new neighbors who seem to be hiding something from her. Still reeling from the disintegration of her relationship along with the life she had always planned for, Eliza must learn to deal with life's unexpected twists and turns and come to terms with the unpredictability of life.

I loved the character of Eliza; as a fellow Virgo, I totally identified with her list-loving, label-making, perfectionist attitude to life. She was goal-oriented and focused on the future, but at the expense of enjoying the present; it took making a drastic life change to show her the beauty of actually experiencing life instead of trying to force it into a predefined list of goals and accomplishments. I really liked how the story truly centered around Eliza's experience of living on her own and how her past shaped her into who she was becoming. It was much less of a romance, but I kind of liked that Eliza grew because of Eliza, not because of a new love interest; Joel was just like a cherry on the top for Eliza's character.

I enjoyed how the author told the story of Eliza and Marco's relationship in flashback chapters; it allowed the reader to stay in the present with Eliza but still get to understand who she was and why she was that way. It made her character growth more obvious when we got glimpses into where she was coming from. And the back story of why she and Marco broke up was devastating and heart breaking; I won't give it away, but the author's discussion of Eliza's feelings about the way Marco and her friends dealt with her new reality were spot on and so sad to read. And when she told Joel, and his reaction was EXACTLY what Eliza needed to hear (and, frankly, what I would want and expect my partner to say/feel!), it was so validating - both for Eliza and me as a reader!

The mystery element - what the neighbors were hiding about the woman who Eliza bought her house from - was less enjoyable for me. I felt that the author was trying too hard to play up the mystery aspects, and the eventual reveal was fairly mundane and underwhelming. I think the book would have been better served by only focusing on Eliza's growth and her coming to terms with the unpredictability of life, along with the slow reveal of what caused Eliza and Marco to break up, than with the addition of the mystery storyline. I feel like the mystery overshadowed the more important themes of learning how to pivot when life throws you a curveball, the value society places on women of a certain age, the importance of mental health and therapy to deal with life's challenges, and the power of embracing your heart's true desires - especially when they're different from the ones you always thought you wanted.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a story about taking a leap into a new life, the challenges with letting go of the past, and being open to the unexpected.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon for providing this book for review consideration; all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Love, love, love. Full of energy and charm plus fun to read. The perfect balance of friendship and self-discovery with a sweet side of romance. I couldn’t put down this clever book and I’m a bit sad it’s over! I think Lucky Break is a must read and I wish I could read it again for the first time.

Advanced reader copy provided by Avon and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This book is perfect if you like small town romance, no spice, found family, dogs, secrets, adoption, feel good book.