Lucky Break

Lucky Break by Jaclyn Westlake (2025) 340 pages

Eliza, who's a renowned list-maker and planner, makes a huge move without much planning: she leaves her family and beloved city (San Francisco) within weeks after realizing that she and her fiancé weren't going to work out. She is accepted into a program to receive a stipend to help buy a cottage on a lake in Minnesota. 

She wants so much to find new friends. The other residents who live near her seem nice enough, except for Bob, who's an old curmudgeon, but they haven't started inviting her to their Sunday barbeques even after several weeks. There seems to be something about the woman who used to live in Eliza's house that makes the neighbors clam up. Eliza's tempted to go through some tubs filled with old mail that were left behind, to see if she can find out what happened to her.

The novel follows Eliza as she tries to fit in and have her questions answered. There are some memorable characters, and a few big reveals, but the book doesn't quite make it on my recommended list.