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 … 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.
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Louisiana Lucky is a breezy read with an exciting premise, a what-if scenario that we’ve all thought about: what would you do if you won the lottery? In this case, it’s three sisters who win and the aftermath of how they spend their money and the good and bad things it brings them. You can read my full review here:
https://laurasbooksandblogs.com/louisiana-lucky-julie-pennell-book-review/
Louisiana Lucky
By Julie Pennell
What happens when your dreams of winning the lottery comes true?
This is a story about the three Breaux sisters Lexi, Callie and Hanna from a small town in Louisiana where their struggle for money can mean the answer to all their troubles or so it seems when they hit a 204 million dollar lottery jackpot.
The writing by Julie Pennell was light, engaging and truly heartwarming. She wrote wonderfully relatable characters that were fun to read about and kept me engaged throughout the book. There is always that sweet charm in the writing and why I love reading Southern Fiction so much!
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy southern women’s fiction that is light and heartwarming, do not miss this book!
Louisiana Lucky by Julie Pennell is a delightful, lightweight read. The Mary Poppins’ song, “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”, applies to Louisiana Lucky in that there are so strong messages about money not buying happiness and being careful about you wish for that are easily consumed given the sweetness of the Breaux sisters.
Breaux sisters Lexi, Callie and Hanna are each delightful and their sibling attachment and support is sweet. They and their family are just scraping by. Sometimes their monthly investment in three lottery tickets required scraping together the coins at the bottom of their purse and forgoing a full tank of gas. Their banter is infectious and the dialogue is authentic. So, when the girls get lucky one Thursday evening, I couldn’t help but be swept up in their excitement.
However, as soon as the girls get their check, the pitfalls of quickly and publicly becoming very wealthy become apparent. Whether it is about being caught up in buying up what they think they need to be like the people whose lives they covet or being romantically pursued solely for their new wealth, all three sisters learn just how wealthy they were before winning the lottery.
Yes, the plot might be somewhat predictable, but the characters make Louisiana Lucky a fun read.
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.
Song/s the book brought to mind: I Could Get Used to This by The Veronicas
Louisiana Lucky by Julie Pennell is one of the sweetest, family-focused novels I have read in a long time. The book alternates viewpoints through all three sisters: Lexi, Callie, and Hanna, and I can’t even decide which one is my favorite. I loved their sisterly bond plus their relationship with their parents and it made for a really heartwarming and heartfelt read. I have to be honest; this book will definitely make you wish you had won the lottery! It was fun reading about what the sisters were doing with their money, some of which I would do as well and some not, and it was a really quick read.
Louisiana Lucky is set in a small town in Louisiana and I really enjoyed all the Southern vibes this book had to offer. I could tell that Pennell was familiar with the setting, and she really brought it to life for me. I also grew up in what would be considered a small town, and even though it wasn’t down South it still made the book more relatable for me. It would definitely make for a perfect summer/beach read and while being a bit of a tearjerker for me at the end, overall it was light and sweet as sugar.
I forgot that Pennell is also the author of The Young Wives Club: A Novel, and I am for sure going to go back and read that (which is her debut) now. Her writing really sucked me into the story, and even though there isn’t anything too surprising here, Louisiana Lucky is going to be perfect for fans of lighter reads, southern fiction, and women’s fiction. I can’t wait to read more from Pennell, and I will be hoping this book makes it to the big screen because it would make for a great movie!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
What would you do if you won the lottery? How do you think your life will change?
Lexi, Callie and Hanna Breaux have been playing the same special numbers for years on their sisterly girl’s night. When each one seems to be at their breaking point they win 204 million dollars. This novel takes a fun look into not just how their lives change but how they each personally change too.
The characters were wonderful. Hanna is a mother of two hoping to give her little ones everything they need to succeed. She has a need many of us all know to just be accepted. Callie just wants to have the career of her dreams and she hit home for me. Many times you love what you’re currently doing but jump on an opportunity for more. Is it always the right decision? Is more always needed? Lastly, Lexi just wants the wedding of her dreams. Her flawed character also made connecting with her easy. We all know what it’s like to push aside our wants for other people. Each of the characters touch base on some truly human emotions and traits that you just can’t help but love these girls and their story.
I also loved this being set in Louisiana and the mention of LSU and Alabama rivalries. Be still my college football heart. I just adored this read. It was fast paced, frustrating and adorable all at once. Pennell did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. Of course this is fiction so some of the catastrophes seem a little much but the drama kept me riveted wanting to know how it ends.
Definitely recommend this to anyone who fantasizes about winning that big grand prize and anyone needing a cute summer read. Heck, anytime read. Thank you Atria Books and Julie Pennell for the opportunity review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion.
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.