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Susan May
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Best Seller Paperback – March 10, 2018

by Susan May (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 1,769 ratings
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ALL THE LUCK IN THE WORLD WON'T SAVE YOU


A girl with unique power over luck. A desperate man driven by envy. A mind-bending story of betrayal and fate!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It’s now 6:36 am and I’m amazed! I loved the story, the characters and most of all the ending. I never saw it coming!"

Ten-year-old Nem has just witnessed her mother's brutal murder and her life appears destined for tragedy. Until, that is, she finds her mother‘s old green journal which holds an incredible secret.

This innocent looking book seems to contain the power over luck. As she uses it, Nem discovers the diary keeps a strange kind of karmic balance, that in gifting someone good fortune she must steal another's first. All it takes is a simple entry. There's dangers though, and not just for others but also for Nem.

Decades later, the literary world hails William Barnes’ debut novel as a masterpiece. For some inexplicable reason though, his best seller success doesn’t survive his next two books. What frustrates and infuriates William even more, is that while he loses everything his undeserving protégé Orelia Mason enjoys a meteoric rise up the charts. And this triumph of hers coincides suspiciously with his fall from grace.

So, William embarks on a plan, several actually, to take back the life he’s certain she has somehow stolen. If people get hurt along the way, well, tough luck for them. What he'll discover though is that battling fate when luck is not on your side can be a dangerous game.

This is A Star is Born meets The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the consequences are not pretty. In fact, they’re darn well ugly.

From Susan May, the international best selling author readers are calling the new Stephen King, comes a dark and twisted tale of jealousy, revenge and an extraordinary, unique power.

You won't know who to hate and who to cheer on, and the ending will surprise, maybe even shock you.

What readers say...


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "As a fan of Stephen King's, I can honestly say I enjoyed this story as much as any of his."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "What an insane read! Unputdownable!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Wow! I loved listening to this through Audible. So many twists... and the ending... wow!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It's Hitchcock meets the Twilight Zone."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I thought I had it all worked out... about five times... turns out I didn't. An incredible read."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Best suspense novel I've read in a year."
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Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    466 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 10, 2018
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 1.17 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1980522065
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1980522065
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"Layla" by Colleen Hoover for $7.19
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover comes a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love. | Learn more

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 10, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 466 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1980522065
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1980522065
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.49 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.17 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 1,769 ratings

About the author

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Susan May

Susan May

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Susan May's writing style and story concepts have been likened by her army of fans to Stephen King and early Dean Koontz. She's sold more than 250,000 books.

She was four when the idea of writing stories settled upon her. Yes, she was an odd kid jotting down tales in her lunch breaks instead of playing ball. In her twenties, though, life-gets-in-the-way-osis side-tracked her from her first love. Cured in 2010, she spends her days now creating page-turning stories in the genres she loves to read: horror, science fiction, thriller and suspense, including the occasional psychopath. Well, a lot of psychopaths, actually.

She's also a short story fan and has written dozens of stories and novellas, many published award winners in Australia, U.S.A., and UK.

Most days Susan May is your average soccer mom and wife enjoying life in Perth, Western Australia with her husband and two sons, where the neighbors have no idea some may have slipped into the crevices of her dark imagination. As Susan often remarks, "Life is good, unless you're one of my characters. Then you're in trouble. Big, scary trouble."

Receive a Susan May starter library of free books plus insider info, contests, prizes, and much more. Visit susanmaywriter.net/free-books

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
1,769 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an awesome page-turner with well-developed characters and engaging plot twists. The concept receives positive feedback for being well-thought-out, and customers appreciate how it draws readers in from the first pages. The writing style and pacing receive mixed reactions - while some praise the fantastic writing, others find it wordy, and while some say it could be read faster, others say it drags on a bit. The empathy aspect also gets mixed reviews, with some appreciating the emotional depth while others find it repetitive.

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ReadabilitySuspenseful storyCharacter developmentAttention retentionConceptWriting stylePacingEmpathy
125 customers mention "Readability"101 positive24 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an awesome page turner that's well worth the time. One customer mentions it was so engaging that they kept reading even when tired.

"Thanks Ms May for this wonderful read! Great storytelling-loved it!..." Read more

"...Loved Nem, it wasnt her fault yall. It was the BOOK! The BOOK had its own power!!!! Thats what got me!..." Read more

"...I couldn't put the book down. Was a great read. Looking forward to read my NEW Susan May book. Troubles Keeper." Read more

"...Definitely not a waste of time or money. Love" Read more

121 customers mention "Suspenseful story"101 positive20 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful and engaging, enjoying its premise and plot twists, with one customer noting how the narratives become intertwined throughout the story.

"...characters that grow and change over the years, a creepy and interesting story, and a weird ending to leave you wondering...." Read more

"...you reading into the wee hours of the morning, with a surprise Hitchcock-like ending...." Read more

"...It was a good way to while away the weekend, and plus I finished in about two days, and I can't wait to read more of her books." Read more

"...The ending is clever and satisfying. May's writing style is reminiscent of Joe Hill and his father Stephen King...." Read more

44 customers mention "Character development"36 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, with one mentioning that chapters alternate between two perspectives.

"...The backstory of the characters are superbly written. The whole book flows so easy, that you may read way past your bedtime and not even know it...." Read more

"...Interesting characters that grow and change over the years, a creepy and interesting story, and a weird ending to leave you wondering...." Read more

"...Her character development is outstanding and they feel like people you know well by the time you finish the book...." Read more

"...Great story with characters to love/hate and a backdrop that brings to life actual bookstores and busy city streets." Read more

14 customers mention "Attention retention"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning how it draws readers in from the first pages, while another notes how it puts readers right in the world of the story.

"...This would make a great film as well. Held my attention as the suspense of what would happen next kept me reading...." Read more

"...myself through it and finally at the very end it picked up and held my attention...." Read more

"...Character development was good. It held your attention throughout. I would recommend it. I enjoyed it." Read more

"...She has a true gift for keeping the reader engaged, and describing the characters and scenes thoroughly...." Read more

13 customers mention "Concept"13 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the concept of the book, finding it well thought out, with one customer noting it is utterly believable.

"...She is smart, and interesting. She shows empathy, sympathy, love and kindness when she wants to. She may not look at herself the way we see her...." Read more

"Nicely done! A thriller about writers and writing. Who knew? Well thought out. I didn't get even a hint of predictability...." Read more

"...The characters have depth, are utterly believable and are all too human. If this is the kind of story you enjoy, you will not be disappointed." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Never read a book with this very great concept...." Read more

41 customers mention "Writing style"20 positive21 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some praising its fantastic and unique approach, while others find it wordy and tedious to read.

"I felt it was hard to get through. I couldn't connect the two stories until well into the book. Once I did, it was good." Read more

"...Well-written, and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next...." Read more

"...It was very wordy but for the most part I enjoyed it but kept checking to see how close I was to the end." Read more

"...Best Seller” is a well written novel told from the POV of the two protagonists...." Read more

27 customers mention "Pacing"14 positive13 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several finding it slow and dragging, while one customer notes that the stories are fast-paced.

"...The backstory of the characters are superbly written. The whole book flows so easy, that you may read way past your bedtime and not even know it...." Read more

"...Honestly it got draggy after awhile and I had to force myself to continue reading...." Read more

"...to be honest I prefer Koontz over King because his stories are MUCH faster paced & don’t go on & on with unnecessary words that convey nothing......." Read more

"...Good read, lost momentum towards the end, kinda got ridiculous...." Read more

10 customers mention "Empathy"4 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's portrayal of human nature, with some appreciating its empathetic approach while others find it repetitive.

"...with this tale is neither character is very likable so it’s difficult to empathize or connect with either of them...." Read more

"...She is smart, and interesting. She shows empathy, sympathy, love and kindness when she wants to. She may not look at herself the way we see her...." Read more

"...Unfortunately, this was a tough read. Too much repetition of feelings in between the next move forward...." Read more

"...The author developed the story in the way I like most, allowing the reader to feel empathy for these seemingly soul-less characters." Read more

Captivating from start to finish!!
5 out of 5 stars
Captivating from start to finish!!
I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book in the pre release stage. This is an amazing read...I'm not giving spoilers here...sorry folks. I will however tell you that I'm a fairly recent (but now permanent) fan of Susan May and her art of story telling. She captivates you almost instantly and doesn't let you go until the ride is over! I didn't want to put this book down! I just kept wanting (and getting) more and more and to find out how it all ends. Very impressed! I'm sure this book will definitely live up to it's name. If you have never read any of Susan May's novels or short stories you are truly missing out I can assure you that!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Shannon L. Gardner
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a dark and brooding coming of age story, mixed with a touch of evil and mystery.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a dark and brooding coming of age story, mixed with a touch of evil and mystery. The young “heroine” is a strong, charming and astute young woman. But she hides a blackness on her life and soul, that blackness taints her future. She is smart, and interesting. She shows empathy, sympathy, love and kindness when she wants to. She may not look at herself the way we see her. Her true self is arrogant, spiteful, mean and manipulative. Her past is the reason she is what she is and does what she does. Family secrets come to her when she is too young to understand them and no one is left to explain them to her. She has a fantastic transformation during this story that many readers may not be excepting, because what she changes into is so wrong. This transformation is most definitely not for the better. The male protagonist is a unhappy, unsatisfied, cruel and desperate man. He wasn’t always this way, his luck turned on him. It leaves him vulnerable, sad, and isolated. He is focused on one thing, and one thing only. He had a fantastic writing career. It came with a moderate income, and success. But after his first book made it to the New York Times Bestseller list, his other books bombed. Along the way he tries in vain to get back out there, start writing again, start living again. He is extremely motivated to fix this one item in his life. As these two main characters cross paths, the fireworks start, and what a ride that is. There are some amazing twists and turns. You kinda might know what’s going to happen next, but then the story goes a little off center. The backstory of the characters are superbly written. The whole book flows so easy, that you may read way past your bedtime and not even know it. Pick this book up, you are going to love it. I know I did.
    84 people found this helpful
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  • lindaluane
    4.0 out of 5 stars a magic book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Nem finds a book that has been passed down through her family. How will she use this book? Will she use it for good? Makes you think about what you - the reader - would do
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  • Jenn Williams
    3.0 out of 5 stars It was an okay read, interesting idea
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I was excited for this book and the beginning was intriguing. I was interested until about chapter 35, though, starting out the book, I found it annoying at first how the chapters were back and forth equally between William and Nem. It was almost like reading two books simultaneously. Once I figured out how the stories intertwined, I thought it was clever and then I got excited again. However, my excitement was misplaced since the book seemed to drag on from that point and I found myself less and less interested and even rather bored. I did want to find out what happened after investing the time, so I finished the book. The ending wasn't anything special either. I'm giving it 3 stars because it was an interesting idea. It just could have been much better.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Alan Mizell
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read, well worth your time
    Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this story quite a lot in and of itself, but also the look into what must run through the mind of any author. The ego, the anxiety, trying to balance art and success.

    Interesting characters that grow and change over the years, a creepy and interesting story, and a weird ending to leave you wondering. I've been reading a bit lately about Buddhist concepts of ego, desire, and the inner voice. This novel really dug into the extremes of where our minds can take us.

    I found the parts about writing, criticism, and reviews very interesting. Especially enemies leaving bad reviews to sabotage other writers. I see reviews on Amazon where people say they didn't even read the book. And this book has a few one-star reviews that make me wonder. Used the word "serendipity" too much. Really? I missed that. Someone "read every other chapter." Well reader, perhaps you should watch TV, that's not how books are read...

    If you are looking for a good story that will leave you satisfied, give this one a read.
    39 people found this helpful
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  • Catharine Smith-Gividen
    5.0 out of 5 stars She starts with providing her adopted parents with good luck (a plus) but learns that every plus must ...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Nem is given a box containing her mother's possessions some years after witnessing her murder as a young child. The box includes a mysterious green book. Once Nem determines the meaning of the contents in the book (which contains only names and pluses and minuses) she begins to use the unique power of the book to her advantage. She starts with providing her adopted parents with good luck (a plus) but learns that every plus must be balanced by a minus (bad luck). As an adult working in a book store she meets author William Barnes whose first book was a best seller. He takes her under his wing when she decides to write her own book. His next two books are complete failures while her career blossoms.
    This is a gripping tale of misuse of unexpected power that keeps you reading into the wee hours of the morning, with a surprise Hitchcock-like ending. I spent my book allowance in 2017 on Susan May books instead of my usual Stephen King/Dean Koontz books - and will continue to do so.
    78 people found this helpful
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  • Sandra J. Welch
    4.0 out of 5 stars Confusing until 50 percent through
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I felt it was hard to get through. I couldn't connect the two stories until well into the book. Once I did, it was good.
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  • Somersales
    2.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, it was W...A....Y too wordy for me!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I am an avid reader of King and Koontz, and have been since they started writing...to be honest I prefer Koontz over King because his stories are MUCH faster paced & don’t go on & on with unnecessary words that convey nothing....that’s kinda of how I felt about this novel...I was completely bored out of my mind at 25% & almost quit reading but I continued only to satisfy my curiosity about all the great reviews....while I admit I see the comparison with King in the last part of the story, by that time, I just wanted to be through with the book....and if I ever hear the word ‘serendipity’ again, I think I’ll be sick! Advice to author, with so much talent, it’s not necessary to minutely describe every little thought & gesture of someone. I did finally like William in the end but never liked Nem at all. Again, I like to read about people I can empathize with....couldn’t with either of these....this book is just not for me... but kudos to the author for her efforts.
    22 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Stephanie J Boyce
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s got the ‘gotta’ !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I saw an ad on Facebook for this book. The first few times I ignored it, but then I thought why not? And I’m so glad I clicked the link. The story follows our two main characters, and there is quite a lot of detail. It took me a while to get into the flow, but it was definitely worth persevering, as once I got to the ‘gotta’ I couldn’t put it down! My colleagues at work kept telling me how tired I looked, mostly because I favoured reading over sleep 😂. For those that don’t know (and I forget who said it) the ‘gotta’ is when you get to that part of a book where you just have to know what happens next, at all costs. For me this book has it in spades!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • wanda
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Best Seller" will be a best seller.
    Reviewed in Australia on October 11, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    After a slow start, this book quickly became unputdownable. A great read
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  • Walter Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars The poison pen is mightier than the sword
    Reviewed in Canada on March 19, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    What a fun and fulfilling read!
    Nem is a young woman who can assign bad luck to one person and can balance that by assigning good luck to another. That would include Nem, herself.
    William is the author of a best seller, who has mentored Nem in her attempt to become a professional writer, and as his subsequent books and his credibility take a major downturn, while Nem rises to the top of America’s Best Seller lists, he becomes suspicious. From that, we get a fascinating game of cat and mouse, except you will not be able to tell which one – Nem or William – would turn out to be the cat, and which one would be its victim.
    The story starts starts with a visceral description of a child’s nightmare experience, and shifts smoothly into a blunt description of devastating domestic violence.
    The depiction of writers and the publication process for “Best Seller” books is fascinating, and likely represents some of Susan May’s own experiences from her career as a writer of “Best Sellers”. By times it is a cut-throat contest, and a dangerous game, and war is waged by some of the participants who have made an art of trashing the work of others, using clever statements, innuendo, and “fake news”.
    The story of Nem and William finds its conclusion in a graveyard during a brutal assault of wind and rain and lightening and thunder.
    You can try and anticipate where the story is going and what should happen next, and the ending is better than you can imagine.
    “Best Seller” should become a Best Seller.
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  • CindyMDM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A page turner!
    Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I read all 671 pages over a weekend and loved it! It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that I didn’t want to put down. From beginning to end it kept me interested and wanting to know what comes next. Definitely worth the time. Looking forward to reading another Susan May novel.
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  • AllyC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting plot. Kept changing my mind about the main character, which I feel is what the author wanted. Not the ending I expected. Not quite up to Stephen King standards but certainly worth a read.
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