This charming rom-com is filled with Chinese traditions, second chances, and a luck-changing love story that will appeal to readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Sarah Adams.
"Deeply romantic, real, funny, and heartfelt." —Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners
A stroke of luck.
Hazel Yen would love to be that person who doesn’t believe in bad luck. But having lost her job, her mom, her optimism, and even her dim-sum leftovers, she’s sitting in a fortune teller’s booth, desperate for a sign—any sign—that her luck might change. Which is when fate crashes into her, disguised as Logan Wells and his utterly chaotic cat. Except after one spontaneous and mind-melting kiss, Hazel’s terrible misfortune starts taking a turn for the miraculous. Money problems vanish. A new job lands in her lap. And she’s crushing—hard—on the guy who started it all.
Only there’s a Logan’s luck has taken a turn for the worse. A shared lottery ticket could be just the answer they’re seeking or a disaster waiting to happen. Has Hazel’s fortune truly changed? And if so, could winning at life mean losing at love?
Lauren Kung Jessen is the critically acclaimed author of Lunar Love, Red String Theory, Yin Yang Love Song, and The Fortune Flip. Her rom-coms are filled with big feelings and lots of food. Lauren’s books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, People, NPR, The Seattle Times, Cosmopolitan, Forbes, and New York Post. She writes the Substack Important Nothings and lives in New York City.
4.25 ★— A lottery win, a fortune told, and two people who couldn’t have more opposite attitudes towards life.
This story follows Hazel Yen, a woman who has lived very diligently, more focused on putting her family first than letting any of her own dreams flourish, and Logan Wells, an incredibly positive man with none of those constraints and whose life has somehow always worked out.
And as opposite as their lives have been, their chemistry really was through the roof as I followed them through this. Hazel is characterised in a way that shows the more typical immigrant daughter tendency to put oneself second to one’s parents, always helping as a way to “pay back” for raising her, and those struggles within her familial relationships between her, her father, and her brother were achingly well portrayed.
Refreshingly, any of the angst in this book (though there isn’t much) didn’t come from Logan's and Hazel's relationship, but from outside forces and Hazel’s aforementioned family drama. Logan is a sweet, generous cinnamon roll of a man, and his attitude worked well in balancing out Hazel’s more skeptical, questioning nature.
I also loved how this story, taking place in New York, really showcased the setting through the dates and outings these two had! At times, the city almost felt like a third character in the story.
The slight supernatural events were handled in very inventive, fun ways, and I really liked getting a glimpse into some of the Chinese superstitions and cultural touchstones that were woven into Hazel's beliefs regarding luck and fortunes.
The ending felt very cathartic and actually quite real in how some of Hazel’s familial issues were handled, making me appreciate the direction the author took with it. This is a perfect little love story with a little pep through its creative setting, and I cannot recommend it enough!
🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎙️ Narration Style: Duet ⭐ Listener Rating: 4.5/5 I really enjoyed the female narrator, while the male narrator took a few chapters for me to really get into. But once he clicked for me, he really did. Logan is such a sweetheart and has such a sunny disposition, which only becomes more obvious as the story goes along, and I think the narrator really managed to embody those characteristics well!
The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen Contemporary diverse romance. Own voices. Alternating 1st person POV. Hazel Yen is having a bad day. The dinner picked up on the way home is spilled on the ground. Her father and brother are both asking her for money. Using the last money in her wallet, she tries to have her fortune told but ends up getting a mixed reading when a man stumbles into the same tent to get out of the rain. Logan Wells wouldn’t usually consider a fortune teller but anything to get to know Hazel a little better. Something changed that night for both of them. Now the question is: what do they do about it?
🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook. The narration is performed by Katherine Chin and Austin Rising with select pages by the author. Dual performances have the alternating POV chapters for Hazel and Logan. Each narrator had specific voices for characters and it was easy to follows whose POV we were in because of the male / female actors. Both brought the characters and situations to life with clear emotions. The story was easy to follow and get pulled into due to the seamless playback and transition. I did speed this up to keep up with my reading along on the ecopy and make it closer to regional conversations.
Good luck, bad luck or make your own. Hazel and Logan have worked hard all their lives but when they meet, their perceived luck and situations couldn’t have been more different. Yet there was something there that has them both ready for more. I instantly felt connected to Hazel and Logan and wanted to see these two happy. Beautiful and tender with many cultural references shared in a casual way that was non-obtrusive. A jubilant read I will remember. Loved the Easter Egg to one of the author’s previous books!
Entertaining, and joyful. This author is able to draw me in and I’m so grateful.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.
3.25 / 5 Stars This one wasn’t exactly for me but if you like sweet, low-angst romances (no “Will they? Won’t they?” They will and do) that also touches on heavier topics.
You will probably like this book if you like: 🌟 Black cat FMC x Golden retriever MMC 🌟 Broadway carpenter x data analyst 🌟 They’re trying to figure out what luck means to them 🌟 Complicated family dynamics 🌟 Low-angst romances 🌟 Fade to black spice
I think this book handled the heavier topics (gambling addiction, parental death, drunk driving, toxic positivity) really well. When the characters were dealing with moments of real gravity, the book really shined. And when Hazel and Logan were learning how to support each other, their romance felt like it really worked. For me, what didn’t work were the moments that were zanier: falling into water, wearing prosthetic disguises, the meet disaster. They didn’t feel grounded to me and didn’t feel tonally matched with the heavier topics. It was almost like a slapstick comedy which just felt off to me. And there were other moments that felt kind of skipped over like Hazel’s recent divorce. Yes, it was briefly mentioned but perhaps it should have been a bigger deal?
I did appreciate all of the discussions of Chinese traditions. That was a great, fun addition and fit really well within the story.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own. Publication Date: March 17, 2026 ___________________ Pre-Read Thoughts: I just need something light and fun. And he’s a Broadway carpenter and I was a production staff theatre kid in college. PSTAFF UNITE
I adore a romcom where the romance is pretty instantly connected and the conflict is outside of the couple. These two were SOLID and I loved them so much! This book reminded me of the Lindsey Lohan movie Just My Luck because the two main characters may or may not have switched luck. I’m not usually on the edge of my seat with romance, but I was with this one bc I needed to know what would happen with the money and their luck and their jobs and their pasts and their families! There was great characterization, plot, and lesson moments in this book. The MCs are relationship goals. I enjoyed every minute of reading this!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an earc in exchange for my honest review!
honestly i feel like this book sends out so many positive messages and it was so sweet to read! both of our main characters experienced big hardships in their past and current lives
Our FMC Hazel is a youngest daughter who is forced to take care of her family after her mothers death - looking after people before herself is all shes known since being a child and this is so deeply ingrained into her by her adult life that it carries through into everything she does. That is, until she meets our MMC Logan! Together they fit side by side so perfectly that they dont even notice it and help to balance each other out, even after a suspected flip in their fortunes and luck takes place and they're thrown into disarray.
The way they both helped each other unravel was honestly really fun, i see myself in Hazel a lot so seeing her begin to learn that its okay to do things for herself and know that she doesnt always need to be the one to fix things was really heartwarming to read. Both of them figuring out that they're exactly where to be in life, not having to worry about what to do next and instead living in the present was really sweet.
The narrators were so amazing too! The person who Narrates Logan genuinely sounds like a golden retriever boy (iykyk) and Hazels narrator gave very much black cat vibes which i absolutely loved. They both portrayed emotions perfect and made this book even more enjoyable!
The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen Audiobook narrated by Katharine Chin and Austin Rising
Hazel – pessimist - decides to get her fortune read. Logan – optimist – being in the right place at the right time causes their fortunes appear to be mixed up – this leads to their lives entwining.
The romance is very much in the background. The primarily story explores the MCs backgrounds and what changes they need to make going forward.
This story explores fortune, luck and fate and ultimately how we oversee our own futures.
Narrators delivered an enjoyable performance and the story flowed well.
I listened to the audiobook of The Fortune Flip and it ended up being such a delightful surprise. Narrated by Katharine Chin and Austin Rising, this dual narration setup worked beautifully for Hazel and Logan’s story. Both narrators were new to me, which honestly made it even more fun because it’s always a treat to discover not just one but two narrators you want to add to your regular audiobook rotation. Their performances brought so much personality to the banter and really captured the charm and warmth of the story.
On the surface, this is a super cute rom com built around a fun premise—what happens when luck literally flips between two people after a chance meeting. But beneath the lighthearted setup there’s actually a lot of emotional depth. Hazel is navigating grief after losing her mom, complicated family dynamics, and the ripple effects of addiction within her family. I thought the author did a great job balancing those heavier topics while still keeping the overall tone hopeful and uplifting. I also really loved the exploration of Chinese culture and traditions, especially the elements around fortune telling and luck, it added such a unique layer to the story.
The romance between Hazel and Logan is refreshingly low angst and grounded. Much of the conflict comes from external circumstances; family struggles, the whole “luck swap” situation, and life complications, rather than unnecessary relationship drama. Their banter is still playful and the connection between them feels genuine and sweet, even if the romance isn’t the sole focus of the plot. As the weather starts warming up and people are getting back into audiobook walks, this would be such a perfect listen to take along on a sunny afternoon.
A cute, clean, fun story with elements of the dangers of gambling and gambling addictions in one's family. This story is really enjoyable with life lessons sprinkled in showing us that we can and do make our own luck with the choices we make everyday. I loved this couple and thought they were so endearing. I loved her skeptical personality and his happy go lucky charm. The narrators did a fantastic job portraying their characters and added so much depth to them. Truly an enjoyable read with so many lovable characters and a humorous way to win a lottery!
⋆˙⟡ tropes ⟡˙⋆ 🐈⬛unlucky black cat 🥠lucky golden retriever 🍀fortune telling 🕊️no third act breakup 🍭lots of candy and the lottery 🛠️broadway carpenter mmc 📊data analyst fmc ⚡️complicated family 🍂autumn in nyc
⋆˙⟡ thoughts ⟡˙⋆ the premise immediately had me drawn in and wanting to pick this up asap. i loved the blend of Chinese culture and the symbolism of luck and fortunes. i really enjoyed that this had deeper layers with the main characters overcoming obstacles and growth in their personal lives/experiences. the romance was also super sweet and hazel and logan fit well together. the way they both showed up for each other 🙂↕️
⋆˙⟡ synopsis ⟡��⋆ hazel would like to not believe in bad luck but having lost her job, her mom, and her optimism, she decides to see a fortune teller for any sign her luck could change. fate crashes into her, aka logan and his chaotic cat. after one spontaneous kiss, her misfortune takes a turn for the better. while her luck is looking up, logan’s has suddenly taken a turn for the worse. a shared lottery ticket may be the answer they are looking for. do check content warnings
🎧audio: the narrators did a great job bringing hazel and logan to life. the pacing was great and i enjoyed it especially because it was a duet narration!!!
Thank you Forever & Hachette for the ARC & ALC, all opinions are my own.
this was so very cute, I could see it playing out like a romcom movie in my mind!
I loved Hazel & Logan’s meet disaster, and how they explored their “luck,” what that truly means.
Both had their own baggage, leading to different needs, and they were able to show one another how they could actually be themselves, and be appreciated for it.
it broke my heart to read how Hazel’s family treated her, to see how she became the person she is - always needing to be needed, and putting everyone above her own needs, no matter what.
Logan really saw her, was able to bring out the best in her, and supported her in finding her path. It was so incredibly sweet how he truly LISTENED to her, and remembered all the little things 🥹
They both showed up for one another, and were each others’ safe spaces 🥰
🎧narrated in duet, both Katharine Chin & Austin Rising were the perfect match for their characters! They are both new to me narrators, and I really enjoyed how they voiced Hazel & Logan, and brought the story to life.
✦ tropes & stuff: 💥 meet disaster w/ instant connection 🍀 luck, superstition & fortune telling 🐈⬛ black cat x golden retriever 🛠 broadway carpenter 📊 data analyst fmc 💰 winning the lottery together 🍭 candy + 80s movies 🏙 set in NYC in the fall 💞 dual 1st person pov/duet narration
🎧 audio + ebook | ⭐️: 4.5 | 🌶️: fade to black |
📖 The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen 💜: contemporary romance (mf)
"Isn't that really what luck is? Invisible, often unacknowledged work that we put in to make things happen for ourselves? Day after day after day."
Oh my GOODNESS, Lauren Kung Jessen has done it again! I adored Hazel and Logan's story!
In an unexpected twist of fate, Logan crashes into Hazel's fortune reading - literally - and somehow their fates slip. Logan was previously a happy-go-lucky guy who things always seemed to work out for. Now, he's working hard to excel in this promotion at work and things just keep going wrong. Hazel was freshly divorced and laid off when she was having her fortune read - and now she stumbles into a job she loves at her favorite candy store, wins the lottery and as someone with previously terrible luck - things just keep going right. Together, Hazel and Logan work to unflip their fortunes, trying new perspectives and spending more time together that makes their chemistry undeniable.
I absolutely loved the perspectives in this book - the journey Hazel and Logan go on to shift their mindsets, to appreciate hard work and to weather the highs and lows of life. They also both grew to stand up for themselves - managing complex family dynamics, job transitions, and letting go of control enough to fall in love.
HIGHLY recommend this delightful adventure, especially if you're looking for: - Delightful banter - Delicious sounding foods that will make your mouth water (I'm still hungry!) - A fun range of Chinese fortune telling methods - A refreshing perspective on luck, mindset and hard work
Thank you to Forever for this ARC! My opinions are my own. The Fortune Flip is on shelves March 17, 2026.
Thank you @hachetteaudio for the advanced copy to review!
I consider myself lucky to have met @laurenkjessen - she is an absolute ray of sunshine and to read her words? We are *blessed.* I was so fortunate to grab an early copy of her latest and she is a romance superstar.
Hazel and Logan were so so so easy for me to root for. Hazel’s struggles as she headed into her thirties felt so relatable to me. I felt like I could get into her headspace quickly. I loved Logan’s cheery affect and how he pushed Hazel out of her comfort zone. Their meet cute was amazing and honestly, I couldn’t wait to get in the car to keep reading once I started. Their relationship growth was sweet and sexy, their dates are you joking??? And their banter made me laugh. Their vulnerability made me tear up, and the strength Hazel displays at the end of the book made me feel so proud.
One thing I love about Lauren’s stories is little Easter eggs that pop in from her other books and in this one, my favorite was Logan’s bracelet. 🥹
The duet narration is flawless and I felt every single emotion these two characters did. Our narrators @austinrisingofficial and @katharinechinactor were incredible!
This is my new favorite book by Lauren and I am so happy to support her and her work. She’s an incredible human so buy this one, request from your library, or share your love! She deserves it.
Thank you so much to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of The Fortune Flip! I fell for Logan immediately and I saw so much of myself in Hazel. This was such a cute, flirty story that I could not keep pausing. It touches on some heavier themes but the author handles them with care, all while weaving in the fun, whimsical quest to reclaim lost luck.
I loved the superstitions and Chinese traditions threaded throughout, they added so much richness to the story. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing everything to life and making the audiobook experience even better.
I’m so excited to read more from Lauren Kung Jessen!
I had the privilege of being an early reader of Lauren's upcoming fourth novel and I can say with confidence that you're in for a treat when this releases in March 2026. I don't know how she does it, but Lauren manages to outdo herself with every book she writes—and The Fortune Flip is no exception.
This is easily Lauren's deepest, most emotionally gripping novel yet. She didn't shy away from tackling difficult, sensitive topics, such as job loss, parental gambling addiction, and references to drunk driving (in the past, off page), and handled them with such care and consideration. I think there's something to be said for romance authors who can handle writing a story that is perfectly balanced between heavy and light, between wins and failures, because at the end of the day...that's life. I want to see the characters I'm rooting for get their win, yes, but I also want to see them grow, and you can't grow without hardships. Maybe it's an unpopular opinion, but some of my favorite romance novels deal with REAL shit that shape the characters into people who feel...real, who are relatable and messy and complicated and imperfect. On this front, Lauren delivered, and The Fortune Flip will forever be one of my favorite books as a result.
To say I adore Hazel and Logan would be an understatement. I love them together, I love them individually, and I love the way they love each other. One of my favorite things about Lauren's writing is how intimate it is despite it being a 'closed door' romance. People often forget that intimacy is not synonymous with sex, that some of the most intimate moments you can have with a person don't even take place in the bedroom. It's reaching over and holding your partner's hand for reassurance, it's confiding in them and feeling HEARD, it's showing them what you feel are your worst parts and being told that you are enough, full stop. Hazel and Logan are the epitome of this quote from The Fault In Our Stars: "I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."
There is something so special about being with someone who is your safe space, especially when you've never felt like you had a space to truly be yourself—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hazel and Logan go through A LOT together, especially given the short amount of time they've known each other, and yet they navigate it beautifully. These two were meant to be, and I LOVED that their relationship was healing for them both. They learned how to communicate effectively, to stand up for themselves, and to lean into their emotions in a way they couldn't before. THAT is the magic of finding and being with your person.
As always, Lauren made me swoon, giggle and kick my feet, cry, scream, and laugh out loud. She made me think about the way we look at luck, how we deal with toxic positivity, and the importance of feeling your emotions...ALL of your emotions. I always end Lauren's books feeling full, taken care of, and seen. And I think that's the true mark of an excellent writer.
If you're looking for a book filled with humor, flirtatious, witty dialogue, a MMC who is fiercely protective over his girl, a FMC who is fiercely protective over her guy, beautiful scenery (who can pass up a book set in NYC?), animals (WE LOVE A STORY WITH A CUTIE CAT), and a lot of heart, you're going to LOVE The Fortune Flip.
It has been an honor to support Lauren since her debut novel. As long as she keeps writing books, I'll keep reading them.
If this book taught me anything, it's this: You will NEVER be too much for the right people.
somehow lauren kung jessen knows what i need and when i need it 😭🥹
hazel and logan meet because of toffee, a cat who causes their fortunes to get mixed up when hazel spontaneously decides to get a fortune telling. and it seems like after their fortunes are told by doc and marty, their lucks flip. logan, who usually has everything go right for him is now experiencing everything going wrong and hazel, who experiences bad luck at every turn is now experiencing good luck.
i would like to give hazel the biggest hug and protect her from the bad things in this world because she was carrying so much on her shoulders. she felt like she HAD to step up and be responsible for the (childish imo) men in her family because they proved to be incapable of doing anything for themselves. winning the lottery is a pretty big f-ing deal yet she wanted nothing to do with the winnings because she knew it would only cause more problems for her. my heart broke when she tried to talk to her dad and he immediately started to deflect and sometimes even compare traumas. hazel just wanted someone to listen and she found that someone in logan.
i really liked logan as well and found him so determined to carve (pun intended) out his own path. he has his own demons too but he’s not letting it stop him from doing the thing he loves. i know his positive outlooks to every single situation is a result of his environment but i enjoyed the depth it brought to his character.
i loved the way hazel and logan matched. logan helped hazel to not be so afraid of hope and even trust that feeling again, while hazel helped logan realize that he’s allowed to have negative thoughts/emotions/feelings and he doesn’t need to be in a toxic positivity state of mind all the time.
The Fortune Flip follows Hazel Yen, who’s been enduring a serious streak of bad luck—divorced, laid off, and struggling to keep her family’s beloved lake house. When she meets Logan and they each receive mysterious fortunes that seem to flip their luck in opposite directions, their lives (and hearts) start to intertwine in unexpected ways. The story explores themes of luck, second chances, and romance with a touch of Chinese traditions.
I’ve loved every previous novel by Lauren Kung Jessen, so I was really excited to dive into this one. Unfortunately, it just didn’t hit the right notes for me.The dual points of view between Hazel and Logan never quite clicked. I think the story would have worked much better with a single female protagonist perspective—almost like a diary or personal journal. That intimate style would have suited the fortune-telling premise so much more.I also struggled to connect with either main character. Hazel and Logan both felt a bit flat to me, and I never really rooted for them or became invested in their journeys.
The inclusion of pets in the fortune-telling scenarios was another element that felt out of place for me. It pulled me out of the story more than once.While the writing is still smooth and the concept had potential, this book just didn’t land the way her earlier ones did. I’ll definitely keep reading Lauren Kung Jessen’s future releases, but Fortune Flip was a miss for me. Two okay stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from Forever (GCP) through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
With low angst, a black cat & golden retriever, and a memorable meet cute, The Fortune Flip was such an easy book to adore! I listened to the audio, and it was fabulously done, especially since I’m a sucker for dual POV! With fortune telling and luck woven through this story, this story kept me so entertained. There were also heavier topics, but with thoughtful presents, winning the lottery, and an adorable epilogue that ties in to the beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I definitely will be checking out Lauren Kung Jessen’s backlist!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
The audiobook features duet narration by Katharine Chin and Austin Rising.
This is a romantic comedy with Chinese Rep set in New York City.
The book features dual POV (Hazel and Logan). He works as a carpenter on Broadway. She is a data analyst. They meet at a fortune teller.
Hazel has always had bad luck. Meanwhile Logan has always had good luck. When their fortunes flip they each have to deal with the consequences.
I really like the author’s books. I love that her books are full of Chinese Rep. Hazel is Chinese. I really enjoyed seeing her culture.
This book features a lottery win, a naughty cat, and lots of family drama. The romance features: black cat/golden retriever and opposites attract. This is a Closed Door romance.
This is such a cute fun story. I love Logan and Hazel together so much! I love how supportive Hazel and Logan are for each other. I loved the candy store so much! And I absolutely hated how Hazel’s family takes advantage of her.
I love duet narration so much for romance books! Having the audiobook with duet narration makes this audiobook so special. Katharine Chin is amazing as Hazel. And Austin Rising is really good as Logan.
This romantic comedy is such an enjoyable read. I highly recommend the audiobook.
What is a black cat/ golden retriever: ➡️A black cat is someone who is introverted and more reserved.
➡️A golden retriever is someone who is extroverted, friendly, bubbly and energetic.
Thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the ALC!
The dual narration of this book is spectacular! They both kept me engaged and excited throughout the whole book.
This story follows a down on her luck FMC, Hazel, who meets a nothing but luck MMC, Logan. Together they change each other's luck sometimes for the worse, but ultimately for the better.
I enjoyed Hazel's journey throughout this story. I really needed her to break free from her family and set some boundaries, and with Logan's help, she is finally able to set into her full potential.
I enjoyed the themes of family obligations and what it means to stay true to yourself. It took Hazel some time to figure it out on her end, but I was happy for her in the end.
Logan's journey was fun to see as well. His journey is less about family obligations (while there are still some) but more of a personal journey. Can you really create your own luck? Or has Logan just been extremely lucky his whole life?
This is a sweet, slow burn, romance that explores luck, timing, and finally standing up to your family. Hazel and Logan are so sweet and kind to each other and help to bring out the best possible versions of each other. The character growth for both was wonderful to experience.
This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last!
Thank you Forever Publishing for the gifted copy of this book!
What a fun, romantic and unique story this was! I adored every bit of it.
Hazel is always unlucky. Logan is always lucky. When a disastrous meet-cute leads to a reversal of luck, the two spend time together trying to get Logan his luck back before his whole life goes off course.
Wow, Logan is a true golden retriever and a new favorite MMC. This man was incredibly sweet, thoughtful, charming and truly the kindest person. He worked hard and wanted to make everyone around him happy. The way he treated Hazel made me swoon and it was a joy to see them spend time together. Hazel was very guarded (rightfully so due to her family circumstances) but seeing her open up and trust Logan warmed my heart. These two had such a beautiful love story!
I was incredibly frustrated and angry with the way Hazel's family treated her, but the way that plot wrapped up made me happy.
As for the fortune and luck aspect of the story, I honestly wasn't sure how it would play out. But it was perfect! I had such a good time reading and will definitely go back to read the author's backlist.
I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a sweet, low-stakes romance with tons of heart and the sweetest MMC ever.
Do I dare say Lauren Kung Jessen ruined my ranking by writing this one because IT IS NOW FIRST PLACE?!!!
I loved Hazel and Logan so much. Their chemistry just flowed so beautifully from the very beginning and I felt like I was on a carousel of their story and never wanted to get off! Logan was one of the most sweetest golden retriever characters I've read in a while and the tie die shirts?! I mean WHAT!!!
The "life lessons" LKJ wrote into this book just spoke to me in so many ways. The superstitious aspects and the fear of not being needed? I was a mess by the end of this book with tears streaming down my face. I love and appreciate her writing so much and this one is definitely not an exception.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an early advanced reader copy of this book!
This was a cute rom com. Hazel and Logan have a fun meet cute in which Hazel is getting her fortune read. She's been struck with bad luck and Logan's pet sitting a cat who disrupts it. They both sit for a reading where their fortunes flip. Hazel gets lucky and Logan ends up with bad luck. Hazel helps Logan try to be lucky again.
Throughout the process they find each other and help each other overcome issues from their past. They both become stronger and just are a great couple.
Thank hachetteaudio and forever for the gifted copies.
All I can say is WOW! The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen absolutely blew me away. I was completely locked in from the very first page and couldn’t put it down. What makes this story so special is just how relatable it is. Anyone who has ever struggled to set boundaries with family or felt like life is just a series of unfortunate events will see themselves reflected in these pages. It captures that feeling of being stuck in a cycle of bad luck so authentically—but it doesn’t stay there. Instead, it beautifully shows how easy it is to fall into “why me” thinking, and then gently guides us toward something more empowering. At its heart, this is a story about taking control—about realizing that while we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can shape our own happiness and redefine what “luck” really means. Watching these two characters fall in love while navigating both the highs and lows of life was incredibly moving and inspiring. And the emotions? I felt everything. I was so frustrated and angry at Hazel’s family, completely swooning as the romance unfolded, and absolutely giddy by the time I reached the ending. The emotional journey was so well done—it kept me fully invested every step of the way. I truly fell in love with these characters and their story. This is one of those books that sticks with you long after you’ve finished, and I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I will 100% be recommending The Fortune Flip to everyone I know. If you’re looking for a heartfelt, emotional, and uplifting romance with real depth, this one is a must-read. 💛 #arc #netgalley #thefortuneflip
I was lucky to be part of the ALC team for this and it was just so darn cute. I loved everything about it from the lucky and unlucky superstitions, lore and narrative to the Chinese culture and the love story. It’s simply adorable! The duet narration was so well done and I was so drawn to both Hazel and Logan. It’s closed door, which is pretty rare for me to read, but it didn’t detract at all from the romance. I love all the ways of finding and creating good fortune. I loved that it dealt with gambling, grief and loss very respectfully but managed to still keep the overall book lighthearted. It’s almost perfect, there was a small section near the middle that eas a little slow but I would absolutely recommend ✅
Here’s an emoji for every time I smiled like the Cheshire Cat.
⏳🪜✈️🐈⬛🧧🍀🤞🔮🎱🥠🥟🎭🪚📊💕🛶🍵🐞💫🥨🏗️✋🍕🌕🏡🍭🍳🥓
“Everything I’ve wanted before, it’s not what I want anymore. And that’s okay. I can give myself permission. I can dream new dreams. ”
Contemporary Rom-Com | Golden Retriever x Black Cat | Lucky Lore | Chinese Culture enriched story | Found Family | Closed Door | Duet Narration | Standalone | HEA | 🗓️ 17 March 2026 | 🎧10hr20
Thank you to Lauren Kung Jessen, Hachette Audio, NetGalley for the ALC. I had a blast learning about luck 🍀 and all thoughts expressed in my review are true to me.
Hazel has always felt luck has never been on her side. After being let go from her job Hazel spontaneously decides to visit a fortune teller on her way home, when her tarot card reading gets interrupted by Toffee the cat. Logan, who looking after Toffee, offers to have their fortunes read together to make it up to Hazel. Since the tarot cards got mixed up their fortunes end up intertwined. When Logan asks for Hazel’s help picking numbers for the lottery and they end up with the winning ticket, things begin to change. Logan, who has always seemed to have luck on his side, ends up having a string of situations go awry. Meanwhile Hazel has been offered a new job at the candy shop she adores and visits frequently. When Logan convinces Hazel their luck seems to have been swapped, the two go around New York trying to get their fortunes rectified. Along the way they begin to develop feelings for each other. But is luck truly on their side?
Once again Lauren Kung Jessen delivers a delightfully original romance. Hazel may be pessimist and Logan the optimist, but that’s why they work. Also the very prevalent issue of monetarily supporting family members is a main theme in the book, which I connected with personally. And as always I loved learning about another culture and its customs. What a fun read for the beginning of the year!
What you may ask, fellow reader, does that have to do with this read ?
On a tall person, they fall mid calf but if you take that "exact" pair of pants and a petite person dons them, they fall right at ankle length. Same pants, different look. That's how this reader felt about this book. Perhaps it will 'fit' with others but it just did not resonate with this one.
Unpopular opinion this may be but viewed it as an oddly flat spin on "It Could Happen to You".
Hazel and Logan's insta kiss is not unusual in the romance genre. However, how the author builds out the plot from that encounter was odd. Their luck has indeed flipped. (Spot on title for the read, as an aside) Yet, their later interactions even those billed as romantic at the firehouse, on the lake, seemed dull. Even the toxicity of Hazel's immediate family was not enough to have this reader root for her and this is despite her candy fetish. Logan's story also didn't pull any heartstrings for this reader. So, while the endorsements from seem leading authors in the industry came out for this book, it felt tepid. Again, not too cold or hot, just present.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Firstly, a huge thank you to Forever for sending me this eARC!
I loved meeting Hazel and Logan, they have become one of my favorite couples.
Right from their first meeting, I just knew that these MCs would be special! Hazel is down on her luck and decides to give a fortune teller a try. Wildly enough, her fortune reading is interrupted by Toffee (a cat) and Logan, who is walking him through the street festival and incidentally right through her reading, scattering her cards everywhere. Both of them end up getting a reading, but things feel a bit flipped for the two. On a whim, Logan decides that they will try their luck at the Power Ball, and surprise surprise....THEY WIN!
What follows is a wonderful story of learning to trust other people, loving another person, recognizing dreams, and setting boundaries.
I truly love this story and am looking forward to reading more from this author.
What a delightful novel! It felt very nostalgic and real while also having the unlikely elements of the lottery and luck.
For anyone who likes the movie Just My Luck! Hazel and Logan meet by chance when Hazel impulsively decides to get her fortune read. Hazel has always been unlucky and Logan has always felt lucky. After hitting it off from their first meeting they start to notice that maybe their luck has swapped.
What comes next is a beautiful exploration of luck, choices, love, outlook, hard work, addiction (gambling ) and so much more. Logan and Hazel become a very solid couple but face a lot of external challenges after winning the lottery together and I loved watching them navigate them together and grow and change throughout the novel.
The audio is dual pov, dual narration and it’s so interesting see both their personalities and perspectives play out! The audio makes it a fast, wholesome, and fun read!
Hazel Yen is definitely having a rough patch: recently divorced, job hunting, and dealing with her gambling father. Everything changes after a trip to a Chinatown fortune teller, where a bizarre encounter with Logan leads them to believe their fortunes have been magically swapped. Hazel is suddenly riding a wave of good luck, while Logan is plunged into chaos. This was such a charming book; I was instantly hooked! I particularly loved the organic way their relationship developed and how they supported each other through the reversal of fortune. Best of all, this is a romance that avoids the typical third-act breakup! It features refreshing, healthy communication and explores the idea that true success isn't about luck, but hard work, boundaries, and genuine connection.