Good Luck with That
Book Review - Good Luck with That
Excuse me for just a moment while I wipe away the tears streaming down my face after I finished reading Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins. When the publicist first reached out to me about this book, she said this about it, "Kristan offers readers an issues-driven, poignant, and heartwarming piece of women’s fiction that is perfect for fans of the novels of Jodi Picoult (Click here for my list of Best Jodi Picoult Books) and Jane Green. Her beautifully written storytelling has already captivated the entire Berkley team. We know readers will be as deeply touched by the novel’s brave characters, message of self-acceptance, and the enduring power of female friendships as we are!" I had just seen Amy Schumer's new movie I Feel Pretty and the similarities were strong. I was in.
The original plan was to take this book with me to read in Hawaii, I was going to get started on it the week before I left and finish it on the plane. But once I read the first couple of chapters I could not put it down. I read for 3-4 hours a day just because I wanted to hang out with the characters just a little it longer. By the end, I felt like I was friends with Georgia and Marley, the two main characters in this book. I could see myself hanging out in Marley's kitchen chatting over a glass of wine while she made dinner. I could relate to Georgia's hatred of working out but going on a fun run anyway. I loved these two and wanted them to be their best selves even when they were struggling with past demons.
Good Luck with That is about a group of three girls who met at summer camp - a camp known as being a "fat camp." All three girls were overweight, to varying degrees. That last summer they made a list together of things they wanted to do once they were skinny...but life took them separate ways. Marley and Georgia lived near each other and kept in touch regularly, eventually moving in together. But Emerson lived in another town, further away, and struggled with an eating addiction. They weren't reunited again until Emerson was on her death bed. Her last wish was for Marley and Emerson to go through the list they made so many years ago and finally check them off, one by one.
This book was so well written. In a time where I can barely turn on the tv or scroll through Facebook without being disappointed in humanity, this book reminded me that there are really good, kind, amazing people in this world.