The Jacobson family has reunited to pack up their family beach house on Long Beach Island following the death of their mother. However, each of the adult children, Noah, Laura, Sophie, and Matthew, find it hard to say goodbye to their summer home as their father Leo has sold it to fund his Florida retirement. The process brings back fond memories and emphasizes how much their mother is missed. On a whim, Noah buys lottery tickets for himself and his sisters. They are astonished when they win, and the family dynamic is rocked by this financial windfall.
Jackpot Summer brings truth to the adage “money doesn’t buy happiness.” In fact, for the Jacobson family, it brings loneliness, sibling rivalry, and poor decision-making! I enjoyed the multi-POV format of the book. Each character was hard to root for at times, yet the events validated the psychological impact of one’s financial situation changing overnight. The focus on grief and how each Jacobson handled the loss of matriarch Sylvia was touching. I loved how Leo became more vulnerable toward his children as the story unfolded. Although parts of the book were over the top, I enjoyed this novel.
