Just My Luck

by Emily Wood

For fans of Jen DeLuca and K.A. Tucker, a contemporary rom-com set on a small-town farm where a social media brand manager discovers love, family secrets, and the courage to show her true self.

Sloan Sanders’ perfectly curated online life is in shambles. Dumped the same day her dream business collapses and rocked by a shocking DNA test, she escapes to her aunt’s farm to regroup.

Instead of peace, Sloan finds herself knee-deep in manure and butting heads with Parker, the annoyingly hot stable hand who seems determined to make her life difficult. She thinks he’s shady. He thinks she’s an entitled princess. But as sparks fly and secrets come out, Sloan realizes the line between enemies and something more is getting blurry.

When a chance comes to prove herself and reinvent her future, Sloan needs Parker’s help. Transforming a dusty hayloft into an Instagram-worthy event space might just change everything—if she’s willing to show the world her unfiltered self.

Perfect for fans of Jen DeLuca’s Well Met and K.A. Tucker’s The Simple Wild, JUST MY LUCK is a heartwarming rom-com about identity, family secrets, and finding love where you least expect it.

Genres: Romance

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 10, 2026

Reviews

[beaandherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’re telling me we get a book full of characters complicated backgrounds, enemies to lovers, a grumpy/moody ranch hand, a lost fleeing creator, AND a steamy budding romance?!!!
I’M IN!!!!

With an amazing setting and the BEST Aunt ever, we find our two main characters in Salem Stables where we see both Sloan and Parker grow!
The TENSION between these two grows and grows!

I was hooked from page one, read this book in one sitting, and could not put it down!!

I wish I had a Salem Stables to run away to!

I will sit here waiting we get books for all the characters, need to see Tibby and Jim again, as well as need a story for Cass!

[Kelly]

It’s finally here!! 😍 picked up my pre-ordered copy!

[Maria P · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

Wow! An incredible debut romance!

I felt like there was so much depth to all of the characters involved, not just the main pairing, and lots of different sub plots that wove tightly together all the way through. The story felt whole and realistic, while still holding an element of novelty that doesn't cross the line into kitsch.

Sloan's on the brink of something special when the rug gets pulled out from beneath her in every direction. Her reaction to all of these things feels very authentic, including her meet-cute with Parker (her Aunt's stable hand). It's very hard to get enemies to lovers right without falling into pantomime, but Emily Wood knocks it out of the park.

Both Sloan and Parker have their flaws, as well as their own unique storylines that overlap at her Aunt's farm where they're forced to not only co-exist but work together (at the whims of her meddling Aunt). Their relationship grows slowly in a way that feels true to the characters, and when it gets to the intimacy... Well. I had no complaints! 👀

My only disappointment was that there was a slight bit of miscommunication trope towards the end that I personally don't always enjoy - the story felt much stronger to me up until that point. I also wish that Parker's friend got more book-time! He gave another dimension to Parker but was also just funny and interesting to get to know through the page.

However, I still loved this book and devoured it in two days! This story felt like a fresh take for the Romance genre with a family conflict that I'd not read before and with such a large focus on horses. I'd love to read more from Emily whether in this universe or in another (hopefully horsey) standalone!

Thank you to Emily Wood and Rising Action Publishing Co for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-paced narrative balance of descriptive detail and plot with likeable characters.

With so many plot points that you don’t know what to expect next, the book delves into the meaning of family. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll run the gamut of emotions along with the main characters.

Aside from a few continuity errors, the book was so engrossing that I read it in one day. Since this is an excellent debut novel, I look forward to her future works!

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thx Netgalley for the arc.

This book wasn’t for me.

This small-town romance features popular tropes like enemies to lovers, family secrets, and following your dreams. the premise initially caught my interest. Unfortunately, the execution fell short. I was all hyped up about tropes but I didn’t get them.

I struggled to stay engaged and almost DNF the book. The story relied mainly on Sloan’s inner thoughts (which was a little… annoying), with minimal dialogue or meaningful interaction between her and other characters. This made the pacing feel slow and boring and I often found myself skimming in search of plot progression. I was just bored most of the time.

While this writing style may appeal to some readers, it wasn’t for me. And yes, I know this is the author’s debut - I would gladly see how her writing develops in future books. But for now I have to pass.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Wood, and Rising Action Publishing for the eARC.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect since this was my first book by Emily Wood, but I can say with certainty that it did not disappoint.

Summary:
When Sloan’s dream business falls apart and she’s hit with some life-altering news, she escapes to her aunt’s farm to regroup. There, she meets Parker, the stable hand, and begins a journey of self-discovery, healing, and unexpected attraction.

I absolutely loved how Emily Wood wrote Sloan’s character. Sloan’s determination to push through her struggles felt authentic and inspiring, and I appreciated how her insecurities and doubts were portrayed with honesty. The people around her lift her up and encourage her growth, creating a wonderful balance of vulnerability and strength.

Another thing I really enjoyed was how the story didn’t drag out conflicts unnecessarily. The characters actually communicated—something that feels refreshingly rare in romance novels.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book if you're looking for a change of pace.

[Sam Metcalfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc copy of this book before publication on 10 Feb. I love a small town romance, loved how Sloane grew throughout this book did wanna slap Parker at times for his stroppy grumpiness and quick to judge without hearing full story but he sounded like such a hottie I could over look this. Great Debut novel for Emily Wood well done! Will defo read more from this author. 3.5 ⭐️

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeehaw! A whip cracking debut from Emily Wood.

When Sloan’s life implodes, business, boyfriend and identity, she escapes to her aunts farm, Salem stables and life doesn’t get any better when she steps off the bus, and is met by Parker the surly farm hand. Her life is “like a Jenga tower that will topple completely with one more wrong move”.

*quote may be subject to change or removal in the final

Parker and Sloan “hate” each other at first sight and fight the sparks that fly between them as neither needs to add complications to their already messy lives.

This is very much the enemies to lovers/ forced proximity tropes, and Emily Wood has done a great job of keeping them fresh.

I had a few giggles while reading, especially the flirty banter during the bachelorette party and was rooting for them to sort out the inevitable misunderstanding that forces them apart.

Not sure why all the books I’m reading at the moment have epilogues, I would have been happier without it as I felt like the story ended perfectly before this was added.

There were a few inconsistencies in the book, but hopefully they will be fixed before publication, but nothing that detracts from the overall story.

Can’t wait to read what Emily Wood writes next.

Thank you Netgallery and Rising Action. publishing Co for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Yesenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok talk about a cute book! I went into this book with some hesitation, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it. BUT I was pleasantly surprised! Sloan and Parker had me in all the feels! What more can you hope for in a book; a broody ranch hand and a lost girl! Like come on this has all the fixings for a good cute romance. Parker is the man with a past but is the best. Sloan is the girl who has it all figured out until life gets jumbled. And there’s nothing like the backdrop of a beautiful farm/ranch to set the mood! We all need an escape and that’s exactly what Emily Wood does for us. This is the type of book that I can see a movie being g made out of. Good story, good character, good plot with just enough mystery, and a very sexy man 🤤. But this book also had depth and so much emotion. These character go through so much in life but also together. I wanted to shake both of them and tell them to get their crap together 😆.



I got this as an ARC read and would recommend it!

[Jen Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Sloan is down on her luck from a series of major life twists, she retreats to her Aunt's farm for a reset. Aunt Tabitha is lovely and an Aunt who lives at a setting everyone needs, however, a new farm hand is going to spice up her adventure. Parker has a lot of trust issues from a traumatic upbringing and feels threatened by Sloan's arrival and possibly her travel tracksuit! LOL

The banter between Parker and Sloan is top notch, but when Sloan finds herself needing help Parker is always there to help. The fine line between love and hate blurs and soon these two find themselves opening up, trusting, and falling for each other.

Sloan shows so much growth throughout the book. She also starts reframing how she sees the situations she is in to see the positive and how it can benefit her and others. The third act conflict is a bit frustrating, but leads to such a thoughtful grand gesture.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an early read of Just My Luck. I really enjoyed this read and definitely recommend.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wait is almost over. I’m really looking forward to reading this!

[Annie Mae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just My Luck by Emily Wood - 2.5 out of 5 ⭐️

‘Just My Luck’ promises a contemporary small-town rom-com that follows the FMC, Sloan Sanders, a social media brand manager in desperate need of a fresh start, and the MMC, Parker, a farm stable hand who prefers the simplicity of a country lifestyle, navigate their clashing personalities as they’re forced to learn how to co-exist while living together on the farm property owned by Sloan’s aunt.

This small-town romance includes elements such as enemies to lovers, family secrets, the journey of following your dreams, and finding love with the person you least expected it with. Overall, this sounded like a fun read, one that drew my interest beyond the pretty cover art and into the premise of the story itself.

Unfortunately, it failed to deliver these elements in an engaging way, resulting in a read that ultimately missed the mark.

Not only did I struggle to stay engaged with this book, but I ultimately ended up DNF’ing it. The further I read, the more my interest faded, until I found myself skimming the pages in search of any plot points and dialogue that might capture my attention or re-spark that initial interest.

I felt the writing style mainly consisted of Sloan’s thoughts and lacked actual dialogue between the characters. The chapters seemed to consist of one or two pages of her thoughts before anyone actually spoke, relying heavily on her inner dialogue to tell the story instead of readers experiencing it with the characters.

This caused the read to not only be disengaging but slow and repetitive due to having to read her thoughts over-and-over just to get to some type of movement for the story, which usually didn’t seem to be anything that required the amount of inner dialogue that was written.

This made the reading experience not only disengaging, but also slow and repetitive, as readers have to sift through Sloan’s thoughts each chapter just to reach any movement in the story, movement that most of the time didn’t seem to need the amount of internal monologue provided. However, this heavy inner dialogue style is something I know appeals to some so it may just be a style that isn’t for me.

I also wasn’t aware at the time of reading that this is Wood’s debut novel. Although this book wasn’t for me, I’m curious to see what her next novel will bring and how her writing style and approach to different genres/character tropes will develop!

Overall, this just wasn’t a read that I was interested in, but I can see the appeal that this book would have for other readers, so this may still be the book for you!

Tropes and themes:
⁃ Rom-Com
⁃ Small town
⁃ Forced proximity
⁃ Family Secrets
⁃ Unexpected love

*Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Wood, and Rising Action Publishing Co for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

In premise, this book shows so much promise! Enemies to lovers, grumpy MMC, and forced-proximity. All the makings of a really fun debut romance from Emily Wood. I was engaged from the beginning, but hit a wall pretty much 70% through, which IMO is when the narrative started to lose momentum. The big conflict occurs 80% through and is a tough sell.

Sloan is in social media marketing for multiple brands, but her dream is to open her own shop for social events that feature her calligraphy and other instructive classes. I think this changes a lot through the story and kind of loses focus a lot. The opening scenes feature Sloan and her best friend Lyla engaging in this dream together. Lyla will be the event coordinator and baker. The dialogue between characters is stilted and confusing at times. We see that here with Lyla having split focus without much explanation to the reader.

After a stream of bad luck, Sloan wants to visit her Aunt Tabitha at their family farm, Salem Stables. Here we have the introduction to Parker, the grumpy farmhand. He and Sloan are both very strong characters. They could exist in another narrative and it would work, which is how you know that they are well-developed. I think the secondary characters: Lyla, Sam, Cass, and Tabitha, etc are all incredibly weak and one dimensional, which hinders the overall momentum of the story. When Sloan and Parker unravel in the end, there’s no one else to balance out the narrative and recenter the story. Additionally, I think the big conflict came too late and therefore, impacts the pacing of the book. The scenes building the tension between the MCs needed tighter editing or we needed 50 more pages to come down from the climb of the conflict. The resolution is troubling because it makes Sloan’s character do something outside of her nature. Throughout the entire book she worries about her career and reputation just to act outside of that for a “grand romantic gesture” that would in fact sacrifice all of that. Let’s be honest, no bride is going to be “okay” with the venue host giving a speech at their reception… From the scene with Ray to the wedding—You lost me. I like the chemistry between the two MCs! It made for a propulsive introduction to the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing Co for this ARC!

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, the cover art is absolutely adorable. This is exactly the kind of book you want if you want to shut your brain off for a couple of hours and pretend you live in a small Hallmark-like town where people come to escape from life only to really start living, and then add on a hot farm hand for good measure you can’t stop baiting because getting under his skin is weirdly fun.

This, in a nutshell, is what happens to Sloan Sanders. And the farmhand in question is Parker, who works at her aunt’s farm. They immediately dislike each other and somehow know exactly what it takes to push each other’s buttons. Sloan’s aunt Tabitha, who she is staying with, sees the potential right away and keeps finding ways to push them together.

Sloan and Parker have really fun chemistry. Their constant bickering back and forth and their insults to each other often made me laugh. I had a great time seeing the progression of their relationship. They both have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, and quickly become each other’s safe space. They’re evenly matched, which I always like to see.

I really, really liked Sloan as a main character. She’s quick and witty and gives as good as she gets with Parker’s quips. I love that calligraphy is her passion, you don’t usually see that in romance novels, and it was a welcome change. Her relationship with Tabitha is so sweet, there is a huge secret she’s keeping from her for a lot of the book, but you absolutely get why she’s doing it, as she’s afraid their relationship will change because of it.

Just My Luck is told solely from Sloan’s POV, but I wish we got Parker’s also, I think that would have added a lot, particularly with the backstory with his family. What we did get was really interesting, I just wish there was more! I also really liked him as well- a rough exterior with a whole bunch of walls put up but just a really good, genuine heart underneath.

I absolutely flew through this one, it’s a very quick read and it’s very easy to get lost in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look forward to reading Emily Wood’s next!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Just My Luck
✍🏻Emily Wood
Blurb:
For fans of Jen DeLuca and K.A. Tucker, a contemporary rom-com set on a small-town farm where a social media brand manager discovers love, family secrets, and the courage to show her true self.

Sloan Sanders’ perfectly curated online life is in shambles. Dumped the same day her dream business collapses and rocked by a shocking DNA test, she escapes to her aunt’s farm to regroup.

Instead of peace, Sloan finds herself knee-deep in manure and butting heads with Parker, the annoyingly hot stable hand who seems determined to make her life difficult. She thinks he’s shady. He thinks she’s an entitled princess. But as sparks fly and secrets come out, Sloan realizes the line between enemies and something more is getting blurry.

When a chance comes to prove herself and reinvent her future, Sloan needs Parker’s help. Transforming a dusty hayloft into an Instagram-worthy event space might just change everything—if she’s willing to show the world her unfiltered self.

Perfect for fans of Jen DeLuca’s Well Met and K.A. Tucker’s The Simple Wild, JUST MY LUCK is a heartwarming rom-com about identity, family secrets, and finding love where you least expect it.
My Thoughts:
When Sloan’s dream business falls apart and she’s hit with some life-altering news, she escapes to her aunt’s farm to regroup. There, she meets Parker, the stable hand, and begins a journey of self-discovery, healing, and unexpected attraction.
Parker is the man with a past but is the best. Sloan is the girl who has it all figured out until life gets jumbled Sloan shows so much growth throughout the book. She also starts reframing how she sees the situations she is in to see the positive and how it can benefit her and others.
Thanks NetGalley, Rising Action Publisher and Author Emily Wood for the advanced copy of "Just My Luck" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#RisingActionPublisher
#EmilyWood
#JustMyLuck
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Addiction, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship

[Heidi Lengenfelder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just My Luck is a warm, grounded rom-com that balances flirty banter with an emotionally satisfying journey of self-discovery. Set on a small-town farm far removed from perfectly filtered feeds, this story asks a thoughtful question: who are you when the carefully curated version of your life falls apart?

Sloan Sanders has built her identity around control—her brand, her image, her future. So when everything implodes at once, from her relationship to her business to a shocking DNA revelation, her retreat to her aunt’s farm feels less like a reset and more like surrender. Watching Sloan adjust from polished social media manager to manure-covered farm helper is equal parts funny, humbling, and deeply relatable.

Enter Parker, the gruff, annoyingly attractive stable hand who sees right through Sloan’s glossy exterior. Their dynamic is classic enemies-to-lovers done right: sharp banter, clashing assumptions, and simmering tension that slowly gives way to trust. Parker isn’t interested in who Sloan pretends to be—and that challenge becomes the catalyst for her growth.

What elevates this story is how seamlessly romance intertwines with personal reinvention. The hayloft renovation project is more than a plot device—it’s a metaphor for Sloan herself. As she transforms something dusty and overlooked into a meaningful space, she’s also learning how to rebuild her life on her own terms, without hiding behind filters or expectations.

Just My Luck is heartfelt without being heavy, romantic without being over-the-top, and emotionally honest in a way that lingers. It’s a story about choosing authenticity, embracing imperfection, and finding love in the most unexpected places—sometimes right in the mess you were trying to escape.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marine Bresse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very curious about this book. The cover & pitch grabbed my attention. It is a debut novel. Which I very much enjoyed & lead me to wanting to see more or Emily Wood’s writing & how her craft will unfold.

The story is almost a grumpy/grumpy one. One people-pleaser sunshine only grumpy —& honest— with him, Sloan meets a moody grumpy Parker.
They both have pre-conveyed notions of who the other is. It takes a while for them to actually open their mind to changing their view of the other. I would have minded if there wasn’t any background stories there. But it does make sense. Although they could have been more mature, but it’s a book, we want banter, so we’re getting it eheh.
Sloan letting her grumpy out by breaking her people-pleaser mold is refreshing & is the reason why I let her extra grumpiness with Parker slide.
She is hitting a rough patch in her life, family secrets are revealed & she is finally letting herself BE herself. So yeah let the steam out girl, let, it, out.
Parker & Sloan soften each other’s edges. They help the other grow, make peace with accepting support & help from others & learn to trust —themselves & the other.

It’s an enjoyable read & the characters are both interesting & lovable.
There are some spicy scenes & the book is in single pov (Sloan’s).




What I didn’t enjoy (WARNING SPOILER):



The 3rd act break up. Without giving the other a chance to explain themselves. I don’t like the miscommunication, misunderstanding, too stubborn to hear the other out, too proud to show what they really feel. I do not like it. & then waiting for a certain someone to be convinced to try again. Not a fan of that.

[Meagen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain mild spoilers

This was a 3-star read for me.

Anything with a horse on the cover is going to catch my attention as a horse girlie! I love reading debut authors, definitely looking forward to more books from Emily Wood.

There were so many emotions in this book I felt like I was feeling them right along with the characters. The plot has some deeper themes and I loved that this was more than a fluffy romance. There was so much character development that I admired in this story. It had me rooting for both Sloan and Parker, they had a lot to work through and I admired their perseverance.

The banter was so flirty and fun and I was loved every second of it. Parker was such a growly, protective, caring black cat and I loved him so much! Sloan had her issues but I loved that she rose to the occasion on her own and got her life on track how she wanted to, such an inspiration! There was some spice, it was a slow burn and it was so worth it!

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a enemies to lovers, small-town romance with more substance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #justmyluck #NetGalley

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Net galley, Emily Wood, and Rising Action for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Sloan seems to have nothing but bad luck. Her new business venture with a friend falls apart due to financial setbacks, her promoter boyfriend chooses his career over her when she needs him most, and unexpected family news turns her world upside down. Hoping for a reset, Sloan plans a weeklong trip with her favorite aunt—only to be surprised by the arrival of a new stable hand, Parker. Unlike the others her aunt has hired, Parker is dependable, hardworking, and clearly here to stay. He’s carrying his own share of bad luck as he navigates complicated family issues. As Sloan and Parker spend more time together, they begin to see past their initial assumptions and discover a deeper connection. Working side by side to support Sloan’s aunt and prepare for a major event, they also find themselves learning how to navigate their growing feelings for one another.

Overall, this was a light and enjoyable read. It took me a little while to fully get into the story, as Sloan’s dialogue occasionally dragged and made it harder to stay engaged. That said, the plot itself was very sweet. I especially appreciated the cozy, comforting atmosphere among the characters and the meaningful self-discovery that unfolds between Sloan and Parker.

[NariaS · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to help you escape from your own problems!

Sloan's business plan crumbles, she gets dumped and gets unexpected DNA results all at the same time. She runs to the place she feels safest, her aunts, only to meet Parker. Parker's first impression is that Sloan is a princess, while she thinks he's the same kind of degenerate her aunt usually hires as a ranch hand. Being stuck in close quarters forces them to get to know each other better. There's attraction there, is there also something more?

This is a quick, easy to read romance. I liked all the characters, and the main characters had depth and family issues to work on, which made the whole book more engaging and real. They definitely do some growing through their story. Parker's issues with his dad were well done. Sloan's character seemed younger than the thirty year old she was supposed to be to me, but a pretty relatable personality.

This is an open-door romance, and the characters have good chemistry and tension.

I recommend this book if you're in the mood for a solid romance read!

I received this book from Rising Action Publishing Co. via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Tm · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Small Town Romance
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Enemies to Lovers

This book is about Sloan, who has it all. She has a boyfriend and she’s about to open a business with her best friend. Life is going well.

Unfortunately the boyfriend dumps her and the business plan goes on an indefinite hold.
And the worst part? Finding out that fun DNA test you took to see if you were related to a celebrity? Turns out there’s something your parents never told you…
So Sloan is now questioning her place in her family. She has the worst luck ever.

She goes to visit her aunts ranch and take some time to figure everything out. Her aunts stable hand, Parker, and her immediately clash. They have very different personalities.
This was a fun read and it was packed full of emotional moments.

I really loved Sloans 5 minute rule. You get 5 minutes to breakdown. To feel bad for yourself and be dramatic with your feelings. But after 5 minutes, it’s time to get back up and keep going.
I feel like that’s a good life lesson and something that stuck with me after finishing this book.

[Steph Kreuzburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just My Luck follows Sloan as she is dealing with some very personal things at home. A boyfriend breaking up with her and a friend not opening a business with her as well as finding out her dad is not her dad. She was already planning a trip to go see her Aunt Tabitha at Salem Stables. Parker the grumpy farmhand is the one to pick her up at the airport instead of Tabitha. From there you just follow Parker and Sloan trying to get along and Sloan trying to understand what all of this means for her life now.

I thought it was an okay book. I was not convinced of why Parker and Sloan immediately dislike each other and it made it hard for me to become invested in their relationship as a whole. You spend a lot of time with Sloan's thoughts which led me to think she was whiny and not near as strong as everybody kept telling her. I thought Parker seemed like a not bad guy most of the time other than his immediate dislike of Sloan based on a five second impression.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action for the ARC of this book

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book overall is well written, has some good twists and a few great spicy scenes.

There are some things that just feel a bit out of place. For example, it’s very strange that Parker is so rude to Sloan right away. This is his bosses favorite niece and this type of attitude seems over the top, especially since he really likes his boss. The manure in her shoes is also a step too far for a prank, it’s weird and gross behavior.

At the end, the fact that Sloan never just told him she wasn’t going to leave..there were multiple opportunities to tell him he heard the call wrong… instead she said other things. Speaking at the wedding, so odd, so inappropriate, like getting engaged at someone else’s wedding. Then she never even tells him she wasn’t always staying and he jumped to a conclusion and BAM back together? It’s just felt rushed and odd after all this froth for both characters, especially Sloan.

[Reham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received as an ARC through Netgalley. The plot sounded great and while I enjoyed the story, about halfway into the book I started to lose interest. It seemed like the writing was 75% Sloan’s thoughts and 25% actual dialogue. It would be a good page or page and a half of inner dialogue before a character would speak out loud. Every confused look on Parker’s face she was able to decipher what it meant which threw me off because how was she confused but also able to know what he was thinking? There was just so much going on at the same time that it started to bleed into each other. The third act argument had me rolling my eyes a little because it was sort of unnecessary after already getting through so much. I would’ve given this 3 stars but the last third/fourth of the book really had me struggling (my actual rating is 2.5 stars)

[LP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

2.5 stars: 3 for the middle part, 2 for everything else
This was slow to start and didn't hold my interest until Sloan got to the farm. I still don't understand Parker's immediate dislike of Sloan - he talks throughout the story about how Tabitha talks about Sloan all the time and how much she loves her niece, yet when he's asked to pick up Sloan from the bus station as a favor to Tabitha, there's instant hatred? There was no explanation for that. The break up towards the end and the encounters with Ray were so over the top ridiculous, they brought down my rating. The middle was my favorite part of the book before it went downhill. Not a bad effort for a first time author and I applaud her for getting published, but I don't think I'd recommend this one.

[MichelleAriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Sloan, a witty, independent social media manager, and Parker, a brooding, grumpy stable hand, who are forced to work closely together. Initially clashing at every turn, their shared experiences and deep conversations slowly chip away at their initial judgments, revealing a profound connection beneath the surface. 


The relationship between Sloan and Parker is built through small gestures like lingering glances, accidental touches, witty banter and almost-kisses, creating a palpable sense of longing.


If you're looking for a story where the emotional connection is the priority, then this book is a must-read.


A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Just My Luck. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to lose myself in this book because the premise is so creative and the characters are truly a delight. The author has a wonderful knack for creating a fun, engaging cast that you can’t help but cheer for.
However, I did find it a bit difficult to stay fully immersed in the world due to some technical errors throughout the text. While the heart of the story is definitely there, the frequency of the typos became a bit distracting for me and interrupted the flow of the narrative.

There is so much potential here, and the storytelling itself is very promising! I think with a bit more fine-tuning and editing, this story could really shine. I enjoyed the characters enough that I’d be interested to see what this author does next as they continue to grow and refine their craft.

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down on her luck, Sloan goes to her aunts from to get away from all of her mishaps and to lick her wounds. She didn’t have falling for the moody closed off farm hand on her agenda.
As a debut novel I thought it was okay, I felt like the pacing was a little off, Sloan would mention needing to do something and you wouldn’t find out until days later if she brought it up again. Sloan was also too “understanding”.
Let’s be real too her friend was a flake, she would never tell her a straight answer about starting a business for most of the book. When Sloan was finally told Lyla she was doing something for herself, Lyla practically begged her not to and to come home because she needed her.

Thank you Rising Action Publishing Co. and NetGalley for letting me read a free copy of this book in exchange for a review

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just My Luck was a quick read with some wild plot developments. The scheming (both Sloan and her aunt) and banter had me cackling and there were so many other funny moment. But there were also heavier conversations between them and a dreaded miscommunication. When Sloan stops people pleasing, she grows so much and it's so much fun to cheer her on in this book. Especially when she starts getting some professional and romantic action 👀

*ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Robin ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just my luck by Emily Wood
Pub date January 13, 2026

You do NOT want to miss this!
A fast paced rom com full of giggles, tears and growth.
I absolutely adored this book from start to finish.
I feel as if Emily’s writing is like butter, it flows so easily. Reminding me a bit of Emily Henry in the best way possible.
4.5/5 ⭐️
One of my favorite romances of the year!
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for offering me the chance to read and review Just My Luck by Emily Wood.