Customer Reviews

Good Luck (Bantam Discovery)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lucy Parker thought this day couldn't get any worse. After losing her job as a high school teacher due to allegations of an affair with student, her put upon car breaks downs, and she arrives home early to find her fiance in bed with another woman. When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers that she holds the winning lottery ticket worth $87 million. She'd prefer to keep the whole thing quiet, but a reporter out for a torrid story breaks the silence and her life his torn upside down, particularly when the ugly allegations about her job come to light and she is dubbed the "lottery seductress" by the press. People start coming out of the woodwork and she doesn't know who to trust. At the insistence of college pal Hayden, she heads to Palm Beach and changes her appearance to live down the infamy of her newfound fame. Back on the dating scene, she soon discovers that you have to be careful who you trust and that appearances and pre-conceptions can be deceiving.

Gaskell's lottery drama was such a fun story. The writing is so engaging that I read it in a single day. Interweaving secondary characters like proud best friend Maisie, two potential suitors, and a horrid bridezilla sister into the story, Gaskell makes it more than a one note plot.

© Tracy Vest, December 2008

I think I have seriously had it with chick lit. I am so sick of the stories with the four women: one's having an affair, one is juggling a new baby, one doesn't want kids, husband does, etc, etc. Every single book I pick up is like that now!!!!!

But this one is a winner. It's chick lit with a good plot and some twists that keep you entertained. I've liked Gaskell's previous novels. I like her writing style and her books are always humorous and full of realistic characters. I know this is short but I'm kind of a bad reviewer, I just wanted to say that this one is a keeper!

I loved this book! I started it on Sunday and couldn't put it down until I finished it.

I thought it was a fun, entertaining story and I wanted to keep reading about Lucy Parker. What starts out as her worst day (being fired) turns out to be her best day (winning the lottery). She heads to Palm Beach with an old friend to escape it all. The many unforseen events are both heartful and funny which makes this a fun read.

I've read Whitney Gaskell's other books (also good), but this one is my favorite. I look forward to reading her future books.

Good Luck by Whitney Gaskell

Lucy Parker is having the worst day ever. First, she is fired from her teaching job because of false accusations from a male student. Then she comes home to find her boyfriend Elliot in bed with another woman. She spends the rest of her day sulking in her PJs.

The next day, Lucy checks her lottery ticket to find that she won a 64 million dollar jackpot. However, she also finds dozens of reporters and TV crews on her front lawn, wanting to interview the disgraced former teacher. Lucy makes her escape and claims her money, but now, with no job and no boyfriend, she doesn't know what to do.

Good Luck is a fun chick-lit novel with lots of laughs and some serious soul searching parts as well. It is somewhat predictable, but the story is fun and the ending wraps it up well. For fans of Sophie Kinsella and Janet Evanovich.

This is the second novel I've read by Whitney Gaskell, the first being "Mommy Tracked", and I loved it just as much as the first. She is a fun, easy-to-read author. As a mom to four young children, I love to read but have a hard time squeezing it in to my busy schedule. Gaskell's novels are the perfect because they are page turners. I couldn't put this book down. Her characters are fun and real. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick fun escape from reality. Gaskell's "Good Luck" simply put is a great read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick and fun read! I highly recommend it!!!

Great book with great characters. I couldn't see the twists and bends coming, but still loved the story.

The only thing is, I wish it had've ended with more explanation as to what happened with her and Mal.

In Florida Andrews Prep Principal Dr. Johnson fires her because lazy student Matt Forrester accused her of sexual harassment misconduct. Angry at the false charges that her boss accepts without investigating, Lucy Parker explodes. She has taught literature there for a decade and was teacher of the year two years ago. Her only crime was failing a student who deserved the poor grade. A revelation occurs that Matt's wealthy parents threatened legal action against the school if Lucy is not fired.

Lucy needs to escape her troubles as she knows the accusation will follow her to any school she applies for employment even as her dilapidated Volvo dies. However, she buys a lottery ticket only to come home to see her husband Elliot in bed with a blonde. The media exposes the Forrester charge so a depressed Lucy, after winning $87 million in the Florida lottery, decides to escape so she heads to Palm Beach where her college buddy Hayden lives. He allows her to stay and gives her a makeover that everyone says makes her gorgeous and glamorous; everyone except Mal, who insists her previous wholesome look, was prettier.

Talk about a negative streak even with the lottery win (more than Melvin and the Bluenotes' Bad Luck or Short in Pure Luck), Lucy assumes she is bottomed out each time until the next fall from grace occurs. The money enables her to have some flexibility but even she wonders whether she it will change her along the lines of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? The school incident has already done that as she is cynical instead of idealistic. Lucy makes the tale intriguing.

Harriet Klausner

Once again, a great book from Whitney Gaskell. It made me want to jump inside the book and be a part of the story. She has a knack for making her characters so real. The saddest part is when one of her books ends and I have to wait another year for a new one.

Admittedly, I love chick lit... even though it is typically lacking literary merit and significance. Having made my disclaimer, I would say character development s pretty good for chick lit. I like Lucy and identify with her. This is a fun, fast-paced read with a delightfully predictable ending. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys Sophie Kinsella, Emily Griffin, and other such authors.