The Fortunate Ones is a standalone romantic comedy by R.S. Grey. This review will be spoiler-free.

At Twin Oaks Country Club, there are the fortunate ones, and then there are the rest of us: the waiters, the caddies, the valets, and in my case, the cabana girls. Most days, I’m poolside in a pleated skirt, dishing out margaritas to tycoons and titans. It’s not exactly my dream job, but it does come with one perk…

James Ashwood.

He’s my silver lining in a custom black suit. Besides being a legacy member at the club, he’s a tech mogul and Austin’s most eligible bachelor. Oh, and those dimples? Yeah, they make my stomach dip too.

On good days, I catch his sleek Porsche winding down the tree-lined drive. On better days, I steal a glimpse of his handsome profile as we pass in the hall. And on the absolute best day, I find him alone at the bar, looking for company.

Four little words set me down a path I never could have imagined. Private planes, penthouse suites, and temptations around every corner make it impossible to keep my distance. His world feels decadent and wild—but overindulgence comes with a cost. Every kiss comes with strings. Every erotic encounter is a promise I’m not ready to keep.

When I pump the brakes, he hits the gas. James doesn’t want to go slow—he wants a commitment. And the thing about the fortunate ones? They’re used to getting what they want. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

Cute and funny. A sweet, fairytale romance. But even fairytales have their problems. 

This wasn’t one of my favorite novels by R.S. Grey, but it was still a sweet read. There are several aspects of this book that I do not agree with and really wish Grey had thought through a bit more.

Let’s start with the characters. Brooke and James. Brooke is a determined, intelligent girl who dreams of freedom. James is a successful yet down to earth man, who just wants to help people. They seem like they would make a great team, but I just didn’t feel it. Everything between them fell flat. I didn’t feel the tension or chemistry I have grown to expect from the leading lady and the love interest in a romance novel.

James was also a bit too forceful for my taste. There were several moments when I thought he should have backed off and his actions were unacceptable. I also think he took advantage of the fact that she worked at the country club and had to serve him. I never fell for him. I wasn’t able to get over the way he acted in those moments.

However, I loved the concept of this novel. I can usually look beyond the writing and see the story for what it is. I can see the idea behind everything else. I love the situation that pulls these two together and how the rest falls into place.

I also love that Brooke put herself first. One of my biggest complaints with romance novels is that the heroine always gives in too easily. The leading ladies always seem to apologize, even when they aren’t the ones in the wrong. They sacrifice themselves for the man and it makes me so angry. That did not happen in this book. I was really proud of Brooke.

This book was set in Austin, Texas. I have never been to Austin, but I can say that when I realized this book was set in Texas I had certain expectations. Those expectations were not met. But I actually like that! This book showed a different side to Texas life and I loved that it wasn’t just cowboys and country.

Overall, this book had some serious issues, but it was still an easy read. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

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