The four Jacobson siblings—Matthew, Laura, Sophie, and Noah—have gathered at their parents’ house on the New Jersey shoreline to celebrate July 4^th for as long as they can remember. But this year, instead of hosting a festive annual cook-out, the Jacobsons must pack up their family home following the loss of their mother. Despondent and grieving, and with some long-held tensions simmering under the surface as they all reflect on their shared history and losses, the siblings try to put their best foot forward for the sake of their mourning father and each other.

 When the Jacobsons learn about an upcoming Powerball drawing with a massive prize at stake, three out of four siblings decide to go in together on a ticket. Dreams of winning the lottery offer a smidgeon of hope in dark times: while all the siblings must manage their grief, Laura is also dealing with her crumbling marriage and an empty nest, Sophie is battling a failing career, and Noah finds himself lost, overall lacking direction. Matthew, a no-nonsense lawyer, believes the lottery is a waste of money—of which he has plenty to spare, anyways. And such frivolity won’t bring their mother back.

The Jacobsons can never anticipate what happens next.

Suddenly, three siblings have become multi-millionaires overnight. Laura, Sophie, and Noah’s problems seem to disappear as they distract themselves with shiny new toys and lifestyle upgrades. But money can’t fix all their predicaments—including what to do about their brother, who has been left out of the winnings. Matthew has earned his own wealth—is it necessary to offer him a cut of their fortune?

With or without the money, all the Jacobson children must also contend with how to care for their newly widowed father, who wants nothing to do with their riches, but has found his own escape from grief at a senior center in South Florida. Can the Jacobsons ever recreate the happiness they found along the Jersey Shore?  It’s not long before the Jacobsons start to realize that they’ll never feel rich unless they can pull their family back together.

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About the Author

Elyssa Friedland attended Yale University, where she served as managing editor of the Yale Daily News. She is a graduate of Columbia Law School and subsequently worked as an associate at a major firm. Prior to law school, Elyssa wrote for several publications, including Modern Bride, New York magazine, Columbia Journalism Review, CBS MarketWatch.com, Yale Alumni Magazine, and Your Prom. She grew up in New Jersey and currently lives in New York City with her husband and three young children.