Scan barcode
frombethanysbookshelf's review
4.0
Genre: Adult Fiction | Mystery
Release Date: Expected 24th June 2021
Etta wants nothing more to marry her boyfriend, Ola. And while he says he does too, he's always focused on the next step and insists they need to save enough for a house before they even think of walking down the aisle. Etta is a sensible woman, working a steady office job, volunteering for a charity helping people facing deportation and injustice - but they still don't quite have enough.
So she tries something new - online gambling. And she likes it. Pretty soon she's playing all the time and lying to Ola about it - but she's sure the win is coming soon, even if there's a few losses along the way. And her new friend on the site, StChristopher75 seems to be supportive. He's won big recently ... and he thinks she's hot. Etta knows she's going to get lucky soon. She has to.
Lucky took me totally by surprise - this was so much more than it appeared to be. It was a an enthralling, tense story about the terrifying decent into addiction, as we watched Etta succumb to the temptation of gambling and trying to convince herself she's okay. It delved into the world of scam artists and conners and just how devastating they really can be.
Brimming with betrayal, deception and desperation - this story felt almost like being inside Etta's head and feeling every twisty emotion she did. While not much happened in the story until the end, the journey of the characters was where the spotlight was through the whole thing.
Alongside the very real dangers of gambling addiction, this gave a very real insight into the terrifying truth of deportation and racism that just isn't given enough gravity.
Lucky is Edwards second ever release, and I definitely can't wait to see what literary gold she brings next.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Rachael Edwards, Fourth Estate and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Release Date: Expected 24th June 2021
Etta wants nothing more to marry her boyfriend, Ola. And while he says he does too, he's always focused on the next step and insists they need to save enough for a house before they even think of walking down the aisle. Etta is a sensible woman, working a steady office job, volunteering for a charity helping people facing deportation and injustice - but they still don't quite have enough.
So she tries something new - online gambling. And she likes it. Pretty soon she's playing all the time and lying to Ola about it - but she's sure the win is coming soon, even if there's a few losses along the way. And her new friend on the site, StChristopher75 seems to be supportive. He's won big recently ... and he thinks she's hot. Etta knows she's going to get lucky soon. She has to.
Lucky took me totally by surprise - this was so much more than it appeared to be. It was a an enthralling, tense story about the terrifying decent into addiction, as we watched Etta succumb to the temptation of gambling and trying to convince herself she's okay. It delved into the world of scam artists and conners and just how devastating they really can be.
Brimming with betrayal, deception and desperation - this story felt almost like being inside Etta's head and feeling every twisty emotion she did. While not much happened in the story until the end, the journey of the characters was where the spotlight was through the whole thing.
Alongside the very real dangers of gambling addiction, this gave a very real insight into the terrifying truth of deportation and racism that just isn't given enough gravity.
Lucky is Edwards second ever release, and I definitely can't wait to see what literary gold she brings next.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Rachael Edwards, Fourth Estate and Netgalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.
angiegreads's review
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Etta has stumbled upon a gambling site. She wins a small amount, and that makes her want to win more. Etta keeps gambling in hopes to be able to have money for a wedding and a home, but soon, Etta is losing more than she is winning, forcing her to go to drastic lengths to recoup her money. In the process, she begins lying to her boyfriend and she lets her relationship with her best friend slide. There were a few well placed twists that I did not see coming, but overall, it fell flat for me. It was very draw out. It felt like there were several other stories going on, and I didn't get a proper eding to all of them. It wasn't very cohesive. I like Rachel Edward's novels, but this one didn't do her justice.
Etta has stumbled upon a gambling site. She wins a small amount, and that makes her want to win more. Etta keeps gambling in hopes to be able to have money for a wedding and a home, but soon, Etta is losing more than she is winning, forcing her to go to drastic lengths to recoup her money. In the process, she begins lying to her boyfriend and she lets her relationship with her best friend slide. There were a few well placed twists that I did not see coming, but overall, it fell flat for me. It was very draw out. It felt like there were several other stories going on, and I didn't get a proper eding to all of them. It wasn't very cohesive. I like Rachel Edward's novels, but this one didn't do her justice.
maryqueenofbooks's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
coldcoffeebookbrain's review
3.0
I was confused a lot during this book. The writer is very poetic at times in her words, which confuses me in books.
I also felt like a lot of ends were left loosened.
I did find myself into the story line around 55% of the book. Definitely some moments where I found myself wanting answers & to keep reading it.
what_heather_loves's review
3.0
"Unbearable: the rotting smell still hung in the kitchen, and the hall. She fought down a tremor of nausea... She suspected it emanated from the spare room. Above the stench, a screaming from within: You deserve this, skank! It was not OK to help herself to their joint money as if it were all hers for the taking. This was bad."
In the fictional town of Rilton, Etta Oladipo, in her mid-thirties is bright and ambitious; she wants to marry boyfriend, beloved but set-in-his-ways, Ola. He wants this too, but wants them to save for a house deposit first. Etta despairs this will never change, so finds a secret way to make extra money - online gambling with 'Cozee Bingo' in the spare room. She's lucky, she happens to be good at it, but keeps it a secret. Until she isn't and finds herself in a fix. Her online bingo buddy, StChristopher75 has just won big, and thinks Etta is 'hot', so he'll help her, won't he?
Etta's plight is oh-so relatable as she wants to settle down and have a family with the man she loves. The author portrays the lure of online gambling with what feels like accuracy (I have no experience of online gambling, but imagine this is how it can be). There is a parallel storyline with an event for Ola in Zagreb, that I didn't take to. However the storyline with Etta's friend, Joyce and her mum's threatened deportation, is heartbreaking, but enables the reader to understand the context of Etta's life, along with her generous nature. Tense and secretive, this is pacey, as we experience Etta's slide into further difficulties, as her online bingo habit and bad decisions get out of hand. I was rooting for Etta all the way because this was more character than plot based. I liked it it, but didn't love it.
In the fictional town of Rilton, Etta Oladipo, in her mid-thirties is bright and ambitious; she wants to marry boyfriend, beloved but set-in-his-ways, Ola. He wants this too, but wants them to save for a house deposit first. Etta despairs this will never change, so finds a secret way to make extra money - online gambling with 'Cozee Bingo' in the spare room. She's lucky, she happens to be good at it, but keeps it a secret. Until she isn't and finds herself in a fix. Her online bingo buddy, StChristopher75 has just won big, and thinks Etta is 'hot', so he'll help her, won't he?
Etta's plight is oh-so relatable as she wants to settle down and have a family with the man she loves. The author portrays the lure of online gambling with what feels like accuracy (I have no experience of online gambling, but imagine this is how it can be). There is a parallel storyline with an event for Ola in Zagreb, that I didn't take to. However the storyline with Etta's friend, Joyce and her mum's threatened deportation, is heartbreaking, but enables the reader to understand the context of Etta's life, along with her generous nature. Tense and secretive, this is pacey, as we experience Etta's slide into further difficulties, as her online bingo habit and bad decisions get out of hand. I was rooting for Etta all the way because this was more character than plot based. I liked it it, but didn't love it.
charlslibrary_'s review
5.0
Easily a 5 star read for me. Lucky was such an good portrayal of gambling addiction, mixed with some tense thriller aspects. It also explored issues of race and money, against a backdrop of the Windrush scandal in the United Kingdom.
Etta and her partner Ola have been living together and saving money for a house. After constant arguments over scrimping and saving, she decides to join a Bingo site to try and raise the money quicker. However she soon begins to spiral into the world of online gambling, the more she plays, she wins but more often loses. During the midst of this, she meets a shady character online, and deceit and betrayal ensues!
Gambling additions are not often brought to the forefront in fiction and I loved how much Rachel Edwards portrayed this. In fact the scariest thing about this thriller was how is captured how much gambling can consume someone and isolate them. I was constantly hoping for Etta to just stop before it had tragic consequences.
This is Rachel Edwards 2nd novel. Lucky was suspenseful, gripping and devastating in many ways. Her style of writing was wonderful to read, and I cannot wait to explore more from her.
Thank you so much to @NetGalley and @4thEstate for providing me with a copy to read in exchange for a review.
Etta and her partner Ola have been living together and saving money for a house. After constant arguments over scrimping and saving, she decides to join a Bingo site to try and raise the money quicker. However she soon begins to spiral into the world of online gambling, the more she plays, she wins but more often loses. During the midst of this, she meets a shady character online, and deceit and betrayal ensues!
Gambling additions are not often brought to the forefront in fiction and I loved how much Rachel Edwards portrayed this. In fact the scariest thing about this thriller was how is captured how much gambling can consume someone and isolate them. I was constantly hoping for Etta to just stop before it had tragic consequences.
This is Rachel Edwards 2nd novel. Lucky was suspenseful, gripping and devastating in many ways. Her style of writing was wonderful to read, and I cannot wait to explore more from her.
Thank you so much to @NetGalley and @4thEstate for providing me with a copy to read in exchange for a review.
librariangeorgia's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Miscarriage