"You're so lucky" we hear it and say it all the time, but people only show the life they want to portray.
Ruby, Lauren and Beth all have their issues and we get to see the real them, Ruby is so sad as she hides her body from the world and her low self esteem effects her relationship with her little girl Bonnie, Beth is lovely and vivacious she really made me laugh, but things aren't perfect for her as her husband constantly rejects her body. Both women face their lives at the same time coming together for Lauren's wedding, Lauren is an Instagram star who everyone thinks has a perfect life, but Lauren is very sad. Ruby, Beth Lauren and Risky Beth's assistance are thrown together in a wedding day trauma, but it makes each one of them take a good look at their lives and take back control and happiness.

Dawn O’Porter has quickly established herself as a fantastic storyteller. Her characters are always brutally flawed and honest, and that’s what makes them so relatable.

There are 3 main characters in the book, however the chapters are split between Ruth and Beth’s POV. Lauren is very different, as she is a social media influencer. Rather than hear her voice, we have quotes from her Instagram posts and a few of the comments from followers below each. Other than her interactions with the other characters, this is our only insight into Lauren’s life. I really loved this as it shows the contrast between the manufactured lives shown on social media, and what live are really like.

There are some very humorous moments (Beth’s assistant Risky adds a lot of those!), and there are also some dark moments. My view of the characters changed a number of times as they made mistakes, but ultimately learned from them.

Yet another phenomenal book by Dawn!

Another brilliant book by Dawn O’Porter! Once I started reading I could not stop as it’s more applicable now than ever in the world of social media and how everyone is perceived or thinks they're perceived. Beth, Ruby and Lauren are the main characters with each character having issues that are hidden from the outside world. This book made me think about how much of social media is actually real vs fake ! Highly recommend!

This book is brilliant!

It reminds me a lot of The Cows – and that’s not a bad thing at all. It tells the story of 3 women – Ruby, Beth and Lauren – and initially you don’t know how they’re all going to interact – but you just know that the stories are going to intertwine in a really clever way – and that’s exactly what happens.

Whilst the story is based on the 3 lead characters – it deals massively with their interactions with other people – as wives / lovers / mothers / colleagues / daughters / daughters in law / friends – and is brilliantly portrayed. Particularly the parental relationships are very raw / sad / emotional / beautiful – but all very different.

None of the characters is perfect – each has their own issues and things they’re dealing with, which isn’t what they project out to the world – which is kind of the point of the whole book.

Now I do need to issue a disclaimer at this point! One of the characters suffers from horrible piles for a very specific reason. I need to point out that my horrible piles, which I have blogged about before, are definitely not caused by the same thing……

The use of social media posts for one of the characters is very clever – and the comments by her followers underneath (and their Insta handles) are fabulous.

There are unusual topics covered in it – but that added to the quirkiness of it – and Dawn is never going to write a ‘vanilla’ book (I make that sound like I’m her mate, rather than just a stalker of her Instagram stories…….)

I really enjoyed how the book ended – it wasn’t predictable at all for any of the characters, which I thought was great. It’s witty, funny, clever and all wrapped up in some #girlpower – a fabulous combo.

It’s out on 31 October 2019 – which, let’s face it, could be an incredibly difficult day (don’t mention the B word) – so I would suggest pre-ordering this so you have something to distract you for a few hours, you won’t regret it – in fact you’ll be #SoLucky.

(I appreciate that I am an utter knob with that last line………)

I’m a massive Dawn fan, loved her television presenting and now her writing. This book made me smile from the first page, the content at times was very risqué, but I loved the 3 female characters who lead very different lives and had their own problems. A fantastic book with a heart warming ending. Well done!!

Beth shows that women really can have it all. Ruby lives life by her own rules. Then there’s Lauren, living the dream. As perfect as it looks? Beth's marriage is struggling. Ruby feels like she’s failing. Lauren’s happiness is fake news. It just takes one shocking event to make the truth come tumbling out.

'So Lucky' is such a fun and addictive book to read. I was hooked with O'Porter's characters instantly and quite happily took them in as friends and enjoyed following their ride throughout this book. At first glance, they appear to have perfect lives but the truth is bubbling underneath and is desperate to get out. I adored how O'Porter teases the truth about the characters and takes her time to reveal the truth. It meant I was turning pages desperately trying to get to the reveal, whilst having fun guessing what they could be of course!

This is a fun, entertaining read but O'Porter tackles difficult, important subjects as well, I will not be specific as you too need to guess the truth, but despite the hilarity and frolics that were going on, I appreciated the serious subjects underneath and it helped bring a sense of realness to the read.

The characters are of course splendid, I loved getting to know them and following them during this book and it was great to read a book about women supporting women and being there for each other. It sounds like a cliché but this book really is a journey for the characters as they learn to accept who they really are and reveal their truth to the world.

'So Lucky' is a highly entertaining read that had me laughing along with it, do not be fooled there are serious subjects aplenty throughout and O'Porter strikes the balance perfectly. This is hilarious and very addictive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an advance copy.

After not gelling with the book I read previously, I was a bit exasperated with reading and hoped for something I’d enjoy more. ‘So lucky’ came to the rescue!

Written from the perspective of two central female characters, with a third Instagram famous celebrity in the background, this book explores self-esteem, judging people by first looks, self-confidence and relationships to name a few topics! Tough subjects but Dawn O Porter tackled them with the humour and sheer poignancy you would expect from her - there were moments I laughed out loud and moments I had tears in my eyes. The story was predictable and corny at times but an absolute joy to read, I loved the characters (even the ones I thought I’d hate, hello Ruby and Risky!) and fell in to the story so easily.

It tied up really nicely at the end and left me thinking about what was important - some could say thinking about how I was “So Lucky.” (Now who’s corny!) Would love to see this made in to a film :)

Thanks to #netgalley and #harpercollins for giving me a copy of this to read.

#solucky

This was the second book I have read by this author and I absolutely loved it as much as the first one. It dealt with and highlighted real issues in a funny relatable way. It had me laughing out loud quite a lot but was also quite emotional as well. Fantastic read and would definitely recommend this. One of my favourite books this year so far.

This is not a book I would usually read, and I hadn’t read anything of this author before. I found it hard going to start with, and at times wanted to give up, but having been allowed to read this by the publishers, read on. I’m glad I did. It’s a very well written book, and although not my cup of tea, I’m really glad I read it. I got to like the characters, with their faults and insecurities, and really enjoyed the ending.

A great book about three woman all with their own issues that they try to hide. Ruby is struggling with body image issues whilst trying to be a good mother. Beth is in a failing marriage and trying to run a business as well as bringing up a baby. Lauren is hiding her sadness by posting fake news on social media. Their lives coincide and they become supportive friends to each other. Don't judge anyone from the outside, it's what is inside that matters.

Funny, well written, and well observed .This writer writes excellent books, I am a fan.Not my usual genre,but they make a nice change. Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC.

Beth is a new mum in a marriage that is starting to feel claustrophobic and not even remotely rewarding, why doesn’t her husband want to have sex with her?! Ruby is struggling with a secret that has ruined not only her marriage but is also going a long way to taking her relationship with her daughter and her sanity. Another fun feminist all female empowerment book from Dawn O’Porter. I devoured this in 24 hours as with The Cows. I respect O’Porter for discussing the ‘taboo’ subjects in a public format, for screaming the words many others have considered but sat quietly and let life go by. She also holds a torch to the damage that social media is doing to young girls but also the development of humanity as we judge ourselves against others. As always I’m left wondering, when is the next one?!

I've been dying to get a copy of this book & just thrilled when Netgalley sent me it, it did not disappoint.
I found I related to all of the characters in one way or another, some more than others. One character in particular I really disliked at the beginning but by the end was rooting for her.
Cleverly written. I've laughed, I've cried, I finished it in a day. Dawn o Porter can do no wrong!!

I am so lucky to have been gifted this book by the publisher - thank you Harper Collins UK! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, which is told from the perspective of two women, disillusioned with their lives and appearance, who find themselves linked by an Instagram model who seems to have the perfect life ... but surprise, surprise, she’s got issues too! This book made me smile a lot, and I would describe it as chick lit with a bit of a twist (and it gives Fifty Shades a run for its money in a couple of places too! 🤣).

Nice and easy read. I am reading this on holiday and it was perfect to read in the sun as it didn’t require too much thought. The plot surrounds three main strong female characters and how their lives end up connected. I enjoyed it.

‘So Lucky’ is Dawn O’Porter’s second adult novel and promises to build on the success of ‘The Cows’ So Lucky is based around the individual lives of three unique women, each living through their own personal difficulties, and introduces us to Beth, Lauren and Ruby.

Beth is a wedding planner with a brand new baby. Married to Michael, she has reluctantly gone back to work a few weeks after giving birth as she’s been booked to arrange a big-time celebrity wedding that once complete, in a few weeks, will give her a comfortable enough financial cushion to allow her to take maternity leave for a lot longer than originally planned. Just a bit later than she’d like. Michael has empathetic employers who have allowed him to take extended paternity for the first few months, and they are both finding it difficult to adapt to their new situation. Add to this that Michael and Beth have not had sex for a year, and now her hormones are soaring post-pregnancy, he doesn’t seem to find her at all attractive anymore. It doesn’t make for a comfortable time at home. Work is a lot more fun, with Beth’s assistant Risky (named by her old siblings) who is very liberal and vocal when it comes to sex and relationships.

Ruby has a medical condition that affects her self-confidence has led to her being introverted, shy and rather grumpy and antisocial. She takes commissions to digitally retouch photographs for magazines, usually creating ‘the perfect woman’ which doesn’t make her feel any better about herself. She has a little girl Bonnie and is separated from her husband after a disastrous wedding day where she feels he betrayed her and let her down. Ruby had a bad relationship with her mother and doesn’t really know how to be a good Mum to Bonnie, not least because Bonnie is always playing up and never does what Ruby tells her to.

Lauren is an Instagram influencer, and bride-to-be of an ex-exec turned business TV personality. Constantly showcasing her perfect body in slinky lingerie and showing off her perfect house, she is #livingherbestlife which is very obviously perfect. Isn’t it?

Dawn really has a way of getting raw, honest feelings out of characters heads and onto the written page. Her writing is laugh out loud funny, thoughtful and at times, downright filthy – but always entertaining and engaging. The more I learned about these women and their lives, the more I empathised with them. They don’t always do the right thing; more what they think is the right thing to do at the time, which very often isn’t. It’s touching and makes you want to grab hold of them, hug them and tell them that it’s ok, they’re doing just fine.

I read this book on holiday, in one day – I found it genuinely ‘unputdownable’.

Thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins and the author for sending me an ARC of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

“So Lucky” is released on 31/10/19.

You know, I put down a copy of 'The Cows' because I couldn't quite get into it, but this one is really something.

A story of sisterhood, female friendship, anxiety and the image in the modern world, O'Porter tackles a huge number of issues affecting four different women. Burrowing under the skin to explore motherhood and body image- and how all of that is impacted by external and internal sources, she turns the 'women's fiction' genre on its head by bringing it firmly into the 21st century. It's difficult to put into words just how I felt about this book, but what I can say ultimately is I felt heard. Of women who hate their bodies for miniscule reasons and yet often parrot about 'self-love' as they go. Of women concerned about what men think even though it isn't viewed as 'feminist'. Plus- though it's not part of the main story, the subplot about the Instagram influencer terrified of the world whilst showing something hypersexualised and done for #AD was utterly brilliant. The ending is a wonderful moment of vindication for anyone who ever wanted closure through revenge, with pump-your-fist-in-the-air-in-triumph feels. What a book.

I might just give 'The Cows' another go.

I was desperately hopeful to be approved for an ARC of this book, I absolutely love Dawn O'Porter in all her guises, from TV presenter to author, I follow her hilarious stories on Instagram and have read her previous books, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. It definitely lived up to all I thought it would be - and more. What a simple concept; women believing everyone else has it better than them, that appearances truly are what they seem and that everyone else except you is "So Lucky". In this world of social media (and media in general) it's so easy to get caught up in the jealousy factor of it all. Yet Dawn makes you take a step back and think with this book, which follows three women, who all seem to have it all. Ruby is slightly weird from the offset, I can imagine how she would appear to anyone who doesn't know her story, and I loved how she grew throughout the book, and became a better version of herself, both for her and her daughter, Bonnie. Ruth also seems to have the whole package; a doting husband, newborn baby, and successful business. But again, all is not what it seems (Risky the PA is hilarious too!). And then there's Lauren, the epitome of glamour, constantly updating her social media, engaged to a rich handsome business man and has it all, surely? The way the women lives' link together is clever and thought provoking. There's some pretty hilarious scenes and some shocking ones too - but what else would we expect from Dawn O'Porter?!?? I loved this book; it makes you think and definitely leaves the characters in your head for a very long time after. A must read!

Loved this book from start to finish
Dawn is an amazing writer who always manages to bring humour into her writing
An excellent read

Thank you Netgalley for my review copy of this book.

It's not often that I walk away from a book seething and feeling frustrated but this book caused that reaction. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't towards the author or the characters but just from the state of society today that means that women have to pander to men's needs before their own. That stuck with me throughout the book along side the feeling that women together are stronger and a frustration that most women do not come together due to a societal 'norm' that fellow women are the enemy.
If you believe that men running the world is unfair, if you believe that women are too obsessed with looking good for men, if you believe that women should be more militant about what they want from their own lives, if you believe that the perfect home life does not exist and should not be strived for, if you believe that women should come together more often, if you want to laugh out loud - this is the book for you.
Female power rocks through this book - thank you Dawn O'Porter, another triumph.