Barnes & NobleLuckiest Girl Alive: A Novel by Jessica Knoll

Book Review

Genre Women’s Fiction/Mystery/Thriller Title Luckiest Girl Alive Author Jessica Knoll Publisher’s Summary HER PERFECT LIFE IS A PERFECT LIE. As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve. But Ani has a secret. There’s something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy everything. With a singular voice and twists you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Alive explores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it all” and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than it first appears. The question remains: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for—or, will it at long last, set Ani free? My Rating Categories 1. Characters 4/5 2. Pacing 3/5 3. Plot 3/5 4. Enjoyment 3/5 5. Stars I would give immediate after reading 3.5/5 Overall Rating 3.3/5 (rounded to 3) My Review I picked up this book on sale because I thought if I read it then maybe I could talk my husband into watching the movie with me on Netflix. It took me awhile to get into it but, once I did, the ending was a wild ride. I’m not sure I would ever be able to think a story like this up, but it will definitely make for an intriguing movie. I found all the characters to be pretty frustrating, but I think if I were “in” their situation, I’d be frustrating too. This book calls up the issue of rape vs. two people who are both super drunk with neither technically consenting, which can be pretty dark to think about. I think Nell was the most unapologetic and believable character of the entire story. I think the school scenes could’ve been a little less gory (but I’ll be interested to see how this transfers in the movie). Now I’m left wondering which I’ll like more — the book or the movie? I’ll keep you updated!