So Lucky

You’ve probably seen So Lucky on your bookstagram feed (if you have one) and praise for this novel seems to have been singing from every reviewer. I’ll be joining that noise, this is a great book, a quick and enjoyable read. 

The irony that this novel has been so widely advertised on social media cannot be lost on anyone!

In So Lucky Dawn O’Porter seeks to show us that the lives which people present – either in person or through filtered and curated social media posts – are never a proper reflection of their real lives. This is a much needed message from a novel aimed at women – because we know that social media is making people unhappier. It is next to impossible not to compare yourself with the seemingly perfect lives of your peers, or worse celebrities and influencers. And it seems to be younger women who are affected most by this. 

As more young women are diagnosed with anxiety and depression, or lacking confidence or wracking up debt in pursuit of the instagram perfect pout, outfit, body, home or holiday along comes So Lucky to say “actually is that all you want? And those people you aspire to be like, are they really showing you their authentic self (or #authenticself)?”

Probably not.  

Don’t get me wrong, O’Porter is not preachy, far from it, instead all the honesty (and hilariousness) of her own social media accounts can be found in this story. 

So Lucky follows three women – Ruth, Beth and Lauren. Each of whom have very different lives. Lauren’s story is told through a series of social media posts and the viewpoint of other characters, a neat narrative conceit. Ruby, who lives in shame of a medical condition which leaves her covered in hair. Ruby is struggling to allow her daughter any closeness and is at risk of pushing her away as she has done everyone else. And finally Beth, a new mum with a dream job and marriage – but she hasn’t had sex in a year and feels trapped in her relationship.  

There are some genuine laugh out loud moments – Ruby being kicked in the face by her toddler moments after she celebrates their bonding, for example. 

There is also a sense of female solidarity and the importance of female friendships – the former is something which sometimes feels like it is lacking in the online world – where it is all too easy to tear women down out of jealousy and spite. There are moments (the conversations between Beth and her assistant spring to mind) which are not only funny but true to real female interactions. 

I was lucky enough to have been gifted a copy of the book by Harper Collins and I’m very grateful to them for sending me this genuine delight of a novel!