Just My Luck

A new hilarious and heartfelt essay collection from bestselling author Danny Pellegrino, tracing his messy, expensive, and unexpectedly magical journey to fatherhood as a gay man

Danny Pellegrino—bestselling author, pop-culture expert, and host of the hit podcast Everything Iconic—chronicles his journey to fatherhood as a gay man, from IVF acronyms that sound like drag names to the surreal moment when JC Chasez of NSYNC broke the news that Pellegrino’s surrogate was pregnant. Along the way, Pellegrino blends sharp humor, millennial nostalgia, and candid vulnerability to demystify surrogacy, money stress, fear, hope, and the emotional whiplash of wanting something this badly.

Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply human, Just My Luck is a love story—about chosen family, biological family, and the quiet bravery required to imagine a future that doesn’t come easily. Whether you’re a parent, hoping to be one, or simply someone who enjoys finding meaning (and humor) in life’s chaos, this book offers empathy, escapism, and plenty of giggles for late-night feedings and beyond.