Lucky by Toronto author Marissa Stapley is latest Reese Witherspoon's book club pick
'I loved all the twists and turns of this adventure,' said the American actor/producer and book tastemaker
Lucky, an action-packed thriller by Toronto writer Marissa Stapley, is the latest book to be anointed by producer, actor and book lover Reese Witherspoon.
Lucky is the December pick for Reese's Book Club, a monthly program where Witherspoon highlights a book that centres female characters.
Lucky follows a jilted con artist named Lucky Armstrong who is on the lam after a heist goes wrong. She's got a winning lottery ticket that could set her up for life — but no way to cash it in without the authorities tracking her down.
"This is such an electric story about an unconventional heroine," said Witherspoon in a press release.
"I loved all the twists and turns of this adventure, not knowing where Lucky was going to end up next."
In an interview on CBC's The Next Chapter, Stapley said she was inspired to write the book after hearing radio personalities speculate over an unclaimed lottery ticket.
"One of the announcers said sometimes people don't come forward because they need to stay anonymous for various reasons, or because they are wanted by police," said Stapley.
"I just couldn't get that out of my head. I'm always on the hunt for a good story."
The TV rights for Lucky were picked up by ABC Disney Studios and Carlton Cuse in March.
Stapley's also the author of romance, thrillers and romantic comedies, like the books Mating for Life, Things To Do When It's Raining, The Last Resort and, most recently, The Holiday Swap, which was co-written by Karma Brown under the pen-name Maggie Knox.
LISTEN | Marissa Stapley discusses Lucky on The Next Chapter:
Witherspoon's reputation as a books taste-maker has grown with each of her successful film and TV adaptations, producing Gone Girl from Gillian Flynn's novel, and then producing and starring in an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's memoir Wild. Her performance in Wild was nominated for an Oscar.
She followed it up with two acclaimed series, adapted from Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies and Celeste Ng's Little Fires Everywhere.
Previous books featured on Reese's Book Club include The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak, Sankofa by Chibundu Onuzo, Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley and Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Lucky's publisher, Simon & Schuster, says the book is the first Canadian title to be selected for Reese's Book Club.
Reese's Book Club has been selecting books on a regular basis since May 2017. Witherspoon has previously recommended The Wonder by London, Ont.'s Emma Donoguhe, but it was not an official club pick.
