Title: Louisiana Lucky
Author: Julie Pennell
Published: August 2020, Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Format: ARC E-copy, 320 pages
Source: Netgalley via Publisher
Summary:
From the critically acclaimed author of The Young Wives Club, a “heartwarming story about friendship, heartache, and self-discovery” (Karen White, New York Times
bestselling author), comes a charming novel reminiscent of the works of
Mary Alice Monroe and Kristy Woodson Harvey, about three sisters who
win a huge lottery prize and learn what it truly means to be lucky.
Lexi,
Callie, and Hanna Breaux grew up in small-town Louisiana, and have
always struggled to make ends meet. For years, they’ve been playing the
lottery, fantasizing about how much better life would be if they had the
money.
For Lexi, it means the perfect wedding; for Callie, it
means having the courage to go after her career dreams; and for Hanna,
it means buying a house that isn’t falling apart and sending her bullied
son to private school. When the incredible happens and the Breaux
sisters hit it big—$204 million dollars big—all their dreams come true.
Or so they think. Because it’s actually not a cliché—money isn’t the
answer to everything, and it often comes with problems of its own.
Heartfelt, engaging, and featuring characters you’ll root for from the first moment you meet them, Louisiana Lucky is a satisfying page-turner from a rising star in women’s fiction.
My thoughts: This is the first book I’ve read by Julie Pennell but it certainly will not be the last. Sometimes it’s nice to read a lighter book inbetween all the darker thrillers that I tend to gravitate towards and this was just the palate cleanser I needed!
I love reading books about families, especially sisters as I have two myself, so this one definitely called to me. And while I thought this was going to be a light, easy-breezy story, I loved that there was some depth to it. The book alternates between the three sisters’ points of view and I loved getting to know all three sisters. I’m not quite sure which sister I loved the most, but I do know that of all the men in the sisters’ lives, Hanna’s husband win’s my heart. In every scene, he was the good guy all the way through. I can’t really say that about the other two guys.
I’m always hyper-critical about the way the bonds between sisters are portrayed and I definitely think Julie Pennell got it right here. I loved how these sisters had their monthly girls night and did something just for themselves. I also appreciated how each sister had their own lives…there were things they kept to themselves. I can absolutely say with 100% certainty that I do this and I’m sure others can attest that this is real life.
I also loved how this book was set in a small town. I’ve lived in small towns all my life and this book had that feeling in spades. While it was set in the south and I live in the north, that small town is so universal. Everybody knows everybody and that doesn’t change no matter the geography.
I really enjoyed this book and while I have never won the lottery, it was fun living vicariously through these sisters as they got to live their dreams out after they did. Of course, in the end, the one lesson they learned is the one we all know only too well…money doesn’t buy happiness. I cannot recommend this charming book enough.
