How do you change your luck? Katherine Center’s marvelously entertaining and poignant new novel is about choosing to look for happiness—and maybe getting lucky enough to find it.

About The Book

Sarah Harper isn’t sure if the stupid decisions she sometimes makes are good choices in disguise—or if they’re really just stupid. But either way, after forwarding an inappropriate email to her entire company, she suddenly finds herself out of a job.

So she goes home to Houston—and her sister, Mackie—for Thanksgiving. But before Sarah can share her troubles with her sister, she learns that Mackie has some woes of her own: After years of trying, Mackie’s given up on having a baby—and plans to sell on eBay the entire nursery she’s set up. Which gives Sarah a brilliant idea—an idea that could fix everyone’s problems. An idea that gives Sarah the chance to take care of her big sister for once—instead of the other way around.

But nothing worthwhile is ever easy. After a decade away, Sarah is forced to confront one ghost from her past after another: the father she’s lost touch with, the memories of her mother, the sweet guy she dumped horribly in high school. Soon everything that matters is on the line—and Sarah can only hope that by changing her life she has changed her luck, too.

  • the houston press

    "Center's prose is charming and funny."

    on GET LUCKY

  • Booklist

    “Center delivers an original, engaging, and touching novel populated with quirky and lovable characters.”

    on GET LUCKY

  • bestselling author Julie buxbaum

    "A hilarious and touching take on what it means to be a grown-up . . . You can't help but root for Sarah right until the end, and will no doubt laugh and cry with her along the way.  A must-read."

    on GET LUCKY

  • books & movies

    “There are a few authors who are able to find the perfect balance of humor and authenticity when writing fiction for women, and Katherine Center is one of them.”

    on GET LUCKY

  • Library Journal

    “A thoroughly enjoyable girlish romp.”

    on GET LUCKY

 

Praise for Get Lucky

 

“A hilarious and touching take on what it means to be a grown-up, Get Lucky asks the quintessential question of whether we can ever go home again. You can’t help but root for Sarah right until the end, and will no doubt laugh and cry with her along the way.  A must-read.”

 Julie Buxbaum, author of The Opposite of Love and After You

 

“[A] thoroughly enjoyable girlish romp.”

– Library Journal

 

“Center delivers an original, engaging, and touching novel populated with quirky and lovable characters, and ripe for discovery by readers looking for a cheering read.”

– Booklist

 

“A hilarious and touching take on what it means to be a grown-up, Get Lucky asks the quintessential question of whether we can ever go home again. You can’t help but root for Sarah right until the end, and will no doubt laugh and cry with her along the way. A must-read.”

– Julie Buxbaum, author of The Opposite of Love and After You

 

“Center’s prose is charming and funny.”

-The Houston Press

 

“There are a few authors who are able to find the perfect balance of humor and authenticity when writing fiction for women, and Katherine Center is one of them.”

– Books & Movies

 

“Center has hit a home run with Get Lucky . . . There is no other author out there who does women’s fiction better.”

Wendy Robards

 

“Center is a master of creating modern hero(ine) journeys, and this is one of her best.”

Book Club Classics

 

“Her characters stay with you long after you read that last page.”

– Always With A Book

 

“Center presents a fresh take on the bond between sisters with this engaging and colorful family drama.”

Cincinnati Public Library

 

“. . .  honest, frank, silly and utterly hilarious.”


- Pop Culture Junkie

READER REVIEW

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MARCY

"I couldn't put the book down and was sad when it was over."

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READER REVIEW

LINSEY

"Every book Katherine Center writes is witty, honest, approachable and IMPOSSIBLE to put down. 'Get Lucky' is no exception. A great summer read, vacation read, anytime read."

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READER REVIEW

CHARLOTTE

"Get Lucky was a fast, emotionally charged read. I was chuckling one second and wiping tears the next."

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READER REVIEW

LAUREL-RAIN

"I enjoyed this story so much that I was laughing all the way through, except for the parts that reminded me of feelings of rejection and envy and loss. Those feelings connected me to the characters so deeply that I wanted to learn more about them—even after the last page. What these characters brought to my life was how real they felt . . . This tale, like every other Katherine Center novel I've read, earned five big stars from me.

READER REVIEW

READER REVIEW

JENNIFER

"Get Lucky was a powerful and endearing story about the love between sisters and the love of one's self. I've been a fan of Katherine Center's work from the start and this book just solidifies my love of her writing. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll get angry; it's definitely a book that packs a punch and stays with you long after you've turned the last page."

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TRISH

"I absolutely love Katherine Center! She is one of my favorites and she did not disappoint with this new release."

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TAWNYA

"One of those one-day reads where the stars align, and the book is fun, poignant, a touch crazy, and thoroughly enjoyable."

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NANCY

"I loved this book and all of her other ones as well. Her stories are extremely unique."

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CATHERINE

"Katherine Center just keeps getting better and better. I LOVED this book!!!!"

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EMILY

"I read this in 2 days because it was the first story that had really captured me in quite some time. This was my first read by Center, and definitely won't be my last! Her writing is so real and it dug its nails into me; I felt myself examining my own life within this novel, which is always a good thing to find in a book! I recommend 100%!"

READER REVIEW

READER REVIEW

JILL

"Katherine Center is a brilliant writer. She really has a gift for language."

READER REVIEWS:

 

So touching! I love this author. She creates wonderful characters and stories. This book made me laugh and cry. The heroine is just so believable. Wonderful!”

—CARLA

 

As usual, Katherine Center tackles real life situation with humor and grace.”

—STEPHANIE

 

I just love this author. I think she is wonderfully uplifting.”

—MARIANNE

 

Katherine Center has the ability to write books that are so fun, so relaxing, so enjoyable—but also deal with all the heaviness of life.”

—LAUREN

 

If you don’t feel better after reading a Katherine Center novel, you may just have to reread it.”

—RUTH

 

I just love Katherine Center’s writing. I was putting off reading this book because it was the last one of her works that I haven’t read. But since she’s coming out with another book later this year, I thought I could read this one and have that one in the wings. And the book did not disappoint. I just love her characters and the world she creates. Whenever I end one of her books, though, it’s always a let-down because it’s over and I want it to keep going.”

—JENNY

 

“Get Lucky” drew me in immediately, I mean how could it not? It is eye popping and extremely funny to boot and the characters are as real as can be. I adored the character of Sarah and felt like I was her (though thankfully I have never been in her shoes!). What I love about Katherine Center’s novels is how invested you become and how realistic and they are. These are moments that happen in everyday life and they are written to perfection.”

—SUZANNE

 

“Highly recommended. Katherine Center has a way to draw you in and you just don’t want to stop reading her books.”

—NICOLA

 

“Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by her, and this is no exception. Sarah is such a complex, intriguing, and abundantly real character. I loved getting inside her head. The trajectory of the story, the colorful supporting characters, and Sarah’s personal journey were all so well done. Special shout out to Dixie – she’s one of the best characters I’ve ever read. I loved everything she stood for and how generous and loving she was. Katherine Center is just so. good. at writing fun, yet emotionally touching and vulnerable, stories about real and relatable people.”

—MEGAN

 

This is my favorite Katherine Center novel. I thought I’d read them all and then had the unexpected surprise of finding two backlist books I’d missed. This one was a delight. Sisters, libraries, lost loves? Sign.me.up. I went in totally blind and it was perfect.”

—SARAH

 

The thing I loved most about this book was that it was messy—-complicated relationships, missteps and misunderstandings and mistakes happening all over the place—but it was also hopeful and loving. The characters in this book felt like friends, felt like family, foibles and all! The story was moving and uplifting, funny as hell in parts, poignant and touching—a lot like real life!”

—SUE

 

“Ms. Center weaves a great story about women finding their strengths.”

—DESI

 

“I’ve read a few Katherine Center books and she never disappoints. This one is about sisters, change, and accepting that you have to appreciate what you have and not get hung up on what you didn’t get. A light read. A good story with a bit of an unusual main plot line (one sister becoming a surrogate for the other and carrying her sister’s twin babies) with some really quirky and funny characters–specially Dixie and Howard whom we meet well after the 1/2 way point of the book. I really appreciated the relationship between Mackie and Sarah (sisters). A fantastic sister-bond story.”

—LAURA

 

I’m feeling happy, yet sad that it’s over. Listening to Katherine Center’s books are a joyful experience and I highly recommend not only this one but ALL of them!”

—DIANN

 

Another great Katherine Center book.”

—JENN

 

I’m a huge Katherine Center fan and I found this book to be a delight. What I enjoyed most is that it kept surprising me. A wonderful look at relationships and the struggles encountered while striving to live one’s best life. Well developed characters and interesting interactions kept me engaged and smiling from the first page. Highly recommend this thoughtful tale.”

—SHERI

 

Amo sus libros! Todos me dejan pensando. Todos me dejan una leccion.”

—CYNTHIA

 

KC’s books are so raw and full of emotion. You will be in your feelings the entire time. That’s what I love about her books. The ability to make my heart hurt, but also feel hope, is a sign of a well written book! This may be one of her earlier books, but it’s still a good one! I recommend this one if you have loved any of KC’s books!”

—MELANIE

 

I just love Katherine Center’s style of writing.”

—WENDY

 

“Katherine Center really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author. I have many of her older books to read and that makes me so happy. GET LUCKY is all about letting go of the past and learning how to move on. It is filled with likable and relatable characters that will find their way into the reader’s heart. If you are looking for a book about a less than perfect family, GET LUCKY is the story for you. Spend the afternoon on your beach chair or on your couch devouring this beautiful story. You will love every minute of it!”

—SUSAN

 

“This woman is awesome.”

—CATHY

 

I enjoyed this immensely. From the surrogacy to the relationships (most especially the sisters) to the Save the Library. A really fun read. As always, a great expanded moral at the end.

—SHERI

 

Mesmerizing! Wow! What a selfless act of love between 2 sisters. This book is heart warming. It reminds you to be grateful for what you have and who you are! Great book!!”

—TINA

 

“I loved this one almost as much as Happiness for Beginners, and that’s saying a lot. I don’t know how I missed it when I looked for Center’s older books, but I was delighted to have it to read this week! Her books are fun with a dash of painful reality and occasionally beautiful insights. What more do you need?”

—CINDY

 

Lovely & sweet. I love the way she writes.”

—JESSICA

 

“Mackie was my favorite character….on second thought, Dixie was my favorite. Oh my, I really liked getting to know Clive, Howard and April. All the characters are wonderful. I always put a Katherine Center book down with a smile!”

—DONNISE

 

I love all of Katherine Center’s books!”

—JILL

 

I really love the way this author writes! This is the 4th book I’ve read by her and I’ve loved them all. She creates characters that are believable and relatable; she gives them a voice that sounds like your own sub-conscious talking. With this book, I was right there with Sarah, feeling her feelings and hoping that everything worked out for her. She went thru a roller-coaster of emotions that made me evaluate my own feelings and wonder how I would tackle what she was going through.

—CAREY

 

“Delightful. Katherine Center writes uplifting stories. While there are elements of love stories there’s also fun to the characters. They feel real and like people you’d like to meet.”

—MARCIA

 

“Loved this book so much that I bought everything she has written. Just finished “Happiness for Beginners”—couldn’t put it down. I love Katherine Center—check out her web page—she is amazing & inspirational & so very cool & real!”

—ABBEY

 

“I enjoyed this story so much that I was laughing all the way through, except for the parts that reminded me of feelings of rejection and envy and loss. Those feelings connected me to the characters so deeply that I wanted to learn more about them–even after the last page. What these characters brought to my life was how real they felt, and how, despite the somewhat unusual circumstances of the story, they could have been people I knew. This tale, like every other Katherine Center novel I’ve read, earned five big stars from me.”

—LAUREL-RAIN

 

“I loved this book and all of her other ones as well. I think any woman would enjoy this book. Her stories are extremely unique.”

—NANCY

 

“‘Heartbreaks and joys in life are all tangled up together.’ I think that quote from the book perfectly describes the events in this book. I think the fact that everything did not turn out perfectly made me like it even more, and the characters I absolutely loved! This author has yet to disappoint me and I look forward to reading more of her books!”

—RYANNE

 

A fun and heartwarming book that is everything you could hope for. The characters are all vibrant and relatable, and the twists and turns throughout made it so I didn’t want to put the book down.

—JULIE

 

After devouring Things You Save In A Fire, How To Walk Away, The Lost Husband and Happiness For Beginners, I knew I needed to read everything else by Katherine Center I could find. I absolutely love her writing style, wit and humor and poignant stories. I really enjoyed Get Lucky – it was filled with themes of loss, belonging, friendship, love, the bonds of sisterhood – with laugh-out-loud scenes woven throughout. I highly recommend Get Lucky. And I’m so looking forward to Katherine’s new book, What You Wish For.”

—KIM

 

Another winner from Katherine Center. Not as much romance as in her other books, but what there is is super swoony!”

—ROBIN

 

“You might think that since Katherine Center’s books are such a quick read that they lack substance. Not the case. Sure, they lack run on sentences, convoluted plots, and historic significance. But they make up for that in joy, tenderness, and lessons in happiness and comfort–all of which I need more of right now. Get Lucky is another one of her wonderful, easy breezy, sweet novels that I just can’t get enough of.”

—LISA

 

This is the oldest Center book I’ve read, and I wasn’t sure how it would compare to the other more recent ones that I’ve loved. Turns out this was different, but I also loved it ❤️”

—MOLLIE

 

“Get Lucky by Katherine Center is exactly what I’ve come to expect and enjoy about her books—it’s serious, funny, sassy and just a plain good read. As in the first novel of Katherine’s that I read, Everyone is Beautiful, she again creates a lead character that is spunky yet vulnerable—one that manages to screw everything up and then look for some way to make things even better than they were—in other words, get lucky in her life in a good way.”

—DARLENE

 

“I love everything about Katherine Center books and I’m glad i rounded out this shitastic year with this one.”

—SARAH

 

“Get Lucky was a powerful and endearing story about the love between sisters and the love of one’s self. I’ve been a fan of Katherine Center’s work from the start and this book just solidifies my love of her writing. Her characters are dynamic and multi-faceted. The reader gets to delve inside the mind and heart of each of the main characters.”

—JENNIFER

 

Feeling impossibly lucky after reading this book – very uplifting :)”

—JAMIE

 

“The best blend of Persuasion and a coming of age story that had me in tears at 11 am on a Monday morning. Center has this way with words where she tells straight from the narrator’s heart every relevant detail so that all your emotions are rocked, your heart is wrenched, but at the end is hope. She takes her characters through lows and upheaval but in the end, the greatest lesson I’ve learned from her stories are that change truly is okay. I love, love, love this book.”

—Korinne

 

“I loved all the characters — especially a few of the minor ones and all-in-all this book made for a well-told, colorful story. I couldn’t put the book down and was sad when it was over.”

—MARCY

 

Love, love, love this author. Get Lucky was another fabulous women’s fic novel with just enough romance, wit, and character transformation to keep me turning pages. I loved the main protagonist. I saw a little of my impulsiveness and irrationality in Sarah and could laugh at myself through her antics. I’ve honestly never been disappointed with a Katherine Center story.

—T.R.

 

Super loved it, there were so many times that it took turns to where it wasn’t what I expected to happen! I love that! Excellent read!”

—KENDRA

 

Laughter, anguish, and lots of goings on will keep you rooted to the pages of ‘Get Lucky’ and will leave you wanting to know more about its cast of characters when you read the last page. This one was lighter than some of Center’s more recent novels, but a joy, nonetheless. She can do no wrong in my opinion.”

—DANA

 

“Looking for a story about people changing their lives? Trying to find love? In the search for happiness? Pick up this little novel and watch the time fly. You’ll come out a little richer on the other side.”

—A.S.

 

“Center writes with amazing attention to detail and creates vivid, sympathetic and charming characters I can actually see and hear. Our narrator Sarah is far from perfect, but that’s what makes her authentic. And believable. And someone I could root for, having felt like I’d gone on a messy, chaotic and exciting adventure with her. Based on her novel EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL and this most recent offering, Center can do no wrong in my eyes. Read her for her amazing insights into female relationships, motherhood, family and friendship. Or? Just read her because she crafts a fast-paced, well-written and engrossing story. One that’ll stick with me for quite a while.”

—MEGAN

 

Exactly the right read when you need something to evoke and comfort all the feels. This will be my go-to for a long time.”

—KIMBERLEY

 

“Katherine Center does a wonderful job portraying the relationship between Sarah and her sister. It’s easy to understand why Sarah would want to change her life for her sister. The supporting characters are quirky and provide for comic relief at times. This book is the perfect read for a rainy afternoon.”

—COLLEEN

 

It was a fun read with a lot of great quotes. Katherine is an amazing writer—and this novel is no different. Can’t wait for the next one, it’s all lined up in my queue!

—KATIE

 

“I know it’s fiction but there are so many elements of truth in how big cities, especially Houston, treat historic landmarks. Characters have so much depth. I could feel the excitement of getting caught up in trying to save the library.”

—W. CAIN

 

“A fast read because of the witty dialogue and compelling story, this is perfect for reading after the kids are in bed, or for reading on the beach, or pretty much any time you want to laugh, cry, and feel a little bit lucky that there are writers like Katherine out there.”

—LAUREN

 

“I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it.”

—JENNY

 

“Very entertaining read – I laughed out loud MANY times while listening to the audiobook version. The narrator was fantastic and so was the writing.”

—DEBORAH

 

“Katherine Center has an absolute gift for writing wonderful characters that you can’t step away from. Our heroine Sarah is not perfect but she’s very real and you want to see where she is going. This book is really about her and not the big thing she’s doing in her life which is pretty obvious from the blurb. We get to come along while she figures it out and enjoy every minute of it. I’m really enjoying that Katherine Center writes these books that are so much about enjoying the journey with her characters and not racing to the end. I’m not in a hurry to find out what’s going to happen next but very happily enjoying the ride. I wasn’t sure about this book from the description but I’m very happy I took a chance on it.”

—KATHERINE

 

“Entertaining and very readable – this book was a great read that I couldn’t put down. I would recommend it to anyone.”

—LINDSEY

 

“I read a lot! I know a good book when i have hard time putting it down and look forward to getting back to it. This book did that for me. I feel better for having read it!”

—H.B.

 

“I absolutely love Katherine Center books and very much looked forward to Get Lucky. I hate to say this would be my favorite of her books as I love them all but it leaves you thinking on so many levels. What does judgement and anger really do for anyone of us unless we give ourselves a chance to change how we’d do something to make a situation better.”

—JULIE

 

I love the characters that Katherine Center creates. They are always so relatable and likable and you find yourself routing for them. I am on a quest to read all of her books and I am more than halfway there and haven’t been disappointed yet!”

—JILL

 

“Apparently there is something about Katherine Center’s books that grab me at a visceral level and refuse to let me go until I have slurped up every last touching word (and cried a little while doing so).”

—LIBBY

 

This book takes you through a bunch of different themes with sister relationships through job loss and surrogacy, high school angst, romance, hormonal crushes on inappropriate people, loss of a parent, step-parent relationships, marketing careers, saving libraries, and it’s a love story as well. I think only Katherine Center can pull this off and still make it a book I’d read again.”

—AMANDA

 

“I was not sure about this novel, but once I started reading . . . I just kept going. Interesting, entertaining, and altogether an enjoyable read, the story made me smile—and think. It made me think about relationships and choices and life and love. Great summer read!”

—R.D.

 

“Katherine Center has a fantastic imagination and fully creates the everyday world in which the central character lives. Her conversations, both inner and outer, are so natural and witty! It’s a fun, low stress ride! I recommend this book.”

—POTTRESS

 

“Get Lucky reads like the voice of a friend telling a story. The interaction between the sisters is so real that I many times thought I would have said the same thing to my sister. It is a warm, funny and delightful book to read. Time went quickly while I was reading, though I have to admit stretching it over a few evenings to have something to look forward to. It’s that good!”

—TX ART GIRL

 

“Highly recommend Katherine Center’s books. Two years in a row I’ve downloaded her novels to read on holiday because while entertaining, they are intelligent and observational – I come away having highlighted a few paragraphs on my Kindle. Love her writing. She deserves five stars.”

—LUCI

 

I ‘got lucky’ (haha, pun intended!) to find a book by Katherine Center that I hadn’t read yet! She is, without a doubt, my very favorite author! I love the author’s writing style, and I can tell that it reflects her precious personality!”

—BARBARA

 

“Every book Katherine Center writes is witty, honest, approachable and IMPOSSIBLE to put down. ‘Get Lucky’ is no exception. A great summer read, vacation read, anytime read. If you haven’t read her first two novels, buy them, too. Each one has its own set of endearing characters you’d want to know in real life. Keep writing, K. Center! You’re SO good at it!”

—LINSEY

 

“Katherine Center just keeps getting better and better. I LOVED this book!!!! If you’ve ever had a sister or even a best friend, you’ll recognize these people and their relationships. I love that Katherine writes such real characters. I feel like I know these people and can relate to their lives, even though they’re nothing like mine. This is definitely a book to read and share.”

—CARRIE

 

“The author, again, has woven a masterpiece with characters so real that they could be the girl next door. I’m amazed at how well the author understands people and has the ability to convey these simplistic, minor details in her books.”

—J.B.

 

I think I only have one more Katherine Center book to read. Love her style, characters, and realism. This book only took me 3 days to finish and I find the joy in reading her books. Hope she has more in the works!”

—PAM