You don’t find many love stories that center around people winning the lottery, probably because the chances of winning the lottery are so slim that too many stories of this nature would feel unrealistic. However, when executed well, it’s a premise that’s enjoyable and almost believable.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One-Sentence Synopsis
Two grocery store employees trying to make ends meet decide to buy a lottery ticket together, never thinking they’d win or expecting the ways in which it would change their lives. For a full synopsis, see this book’s Goodreads page.
The Good Stuff
I’m so happy I requested this book. It had so much going for it and ended up being one of those books that I really didn’t want to put down.
Ray is great. He’s just a nice guy, a total beta male, and he has the sweetest crush on Holly, even though he doesn’t act on it right away. He’s not exactly happy, still mourning the death of his mother and dragging his feet when it comes to going to culinary school, but he’s hopeful and he takes pleasure in the little things, like being nice to people. He even makes a Pee Wee’s Big Adventure reference. Classic!
I also enjoyed that the story didn’t take the angle that winning the lottery would make everything awesome, because even though it’s something we all fantasize about, it’s also a complete game changer. Holly and Ray’s problems weren’t miraculously solved by money. In fact, the money caused them more problems. So while the plot wasn’t necessarily common, approaching it this way made it realistic.
Things That Made Me Go Hmmm
I liked Holly and I understood why she made the choices she did, but I wanted her to be stronger in the sense that she wasn’t so passive. The thing is, I felt like the way she acted was probably true to someone who had been emotionally abused, as her ex-husband did to her. The fact that she’d gotten out of the marriage was good, but it was sad that she continued to take his abuse, even though she was doing it out of fear of losing her son. I really wanted to see her stand up to her ex…or beat him with a tire iron. That would have been okay too.
The Romance Factor
The romance felt intense in this one, but in a good way. It was believable that they would become closer after this event, and they felt like real people. Their relationship was well paced and made my heart a bit fluttery. 4/5
The Steam Factor
I was actually surprised at how steamy the sex scenes were. The plot felt very innocent for some reason, and I expected it to be very closed door. I was surprised when things got down and dirty, but happy that these moments only enhanced the romance. 4/5
Final Thoughts
Though this book was more of a novella, it was still well paced. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but it was a good happily ever after. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
The Romance Factor 