First of all let me start by saying this review was always going to be slightly biased. I am a massive Dawn O'Porter fan. I've followed her on Instagram for ages and she is so funny. I watched her stories whilst she was writing this book and as soon as she started promoting it ahead of its release in October I knew I had to have a copy!

I wanted to love this book, I had such high expectations for it.

I wasn't disappointed!

The book follows 3 female main characters, Ruby, Beth and Lauren. There is also a fourth character, Beth's assistant Risky.

The tagline for the book is "don't judge a woman by its cover" and the whole premise is that we think everyone else is living the perfect life, has the perfect marriage based on our assumptions or what we see on social media.

Laurens part in the book for the first 3 quarters is written in the form of Instagram posts. She is an influencer about to marry a rich business man. She appears to have the perfect figure, perfect man and perfect life.

Beth has the perfect marriage and a beautiful 5 month old son. Her assistant Risky thinks she is so lucky to be living the dream with the perfect husband at home looking after the baby while Beth goes back to work full time.

And then there's Ruby. Ruby was probably my favourite character in the book. From the opening page she comes across as blunt, hard faced and a bit cold if I'm honest, especially towards her 3 year old Bonnie. But she has a condition and a past that affects her ability to form relationships and makes her want to keep herself hidden away from others.

I loved all the female characters but the male characters seemed to be sort of there as an after thought. One character in particular seemed like he was purely used to tie the women together and I thought that was quite obvious throughout.

None of the male characters really come across as very likeable in this book, apart from Ruby's ex husband Liam, and we don't really learn much about them despite them being at the centre of many of the women's issues. In particular I'd like to have learnt more about Beth's husband Michael and why he behaved the way he did.

I also felt like there was more to explore between Ruby and her mother, without saying too much I thought their part felt quite rushed and also not that realistic.

All in all this was a good book. It was an easy enjoyable read and the lead characters were interesting enough to keep you reading. I liked the whole sisterhood vibe towards the end and would love to read a second book featuring these characters and what they get up to in the future.

This tells the story of Ruby and Beth. Ruby is struggling with a failed marriage, a recalcitrant three year old and her own self-loathing. Beth is trying to juggle new motherhood, a successful career as a wedding planner and a husband who just doesn't seem interested in her. We follow their journeys to independence and the ability to nurture themselves in a romp through the complexities of how to find yourself again after motherhood and marriage. Sexually frank with moments of tenderness and despair, this will delight fans of The Cows.

Now I usually love Dawn O'Porters style of writing. She is naturally witty and her social media stories are hilarious but this just didnt shine through in this book.

I was expecting lots of laugh out loud moments but they just didnt come., it was just.... lacking.

I didnt click with any of the characters and the one character that was quirky and a bit risque (funnily enough her name is Risky) just didnt pull through with the hilarity i was expecting.

The Male characters were flat, one dimensional and their places within the storyline were very predictable.

BUT even though I may have not overly enjoyed the book it does have its positives by covering such issues of body image, marriage issues, 'the grass is always greener' belief and self esteem.

2.5* from me.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This was an unexpectedly funny and enjoyable novel. The author has perfectly captured the complexities of women and how their outward persona fails to reflect the person within. Brilliantly written characters and a contemporary story-line which I thoroughly enjoyed .
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyable book from the author of The Cows, I was initially unsure about the characters but found myself growing to like them and empathise with their perspectives/.struggles as the book continued, WIll definitely be sharing this recommendation with my friends.

A book which will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to juggle kids, family, work and finding a moment to be themselves. So many moments when you find yourself nodding along and thinking 'yes, this!'. Insightful and clever.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dawn O'Porter's last book, The Cows, so was really looking forward to trying this new offering.
The story is told through 2 central characters: Firstly, Ruby, who is struggling to raise her young daughter whilst confronting issues with both her own body and her mum's acerbic tongue. Then there's Beth, who is finding it difficult to care for a newborn alongside running a successful business. In the background, there's also Lauren, a very famous and seemingly very confident Instagrammer, who is about to get married and seems to have it all.
The beauty of O'Porter's writing is that these characters are presented to us fully formed. They are three-dimensional, modern women who have complexities in their lives which they just have to get on with. Although the cards they have been dealt are sometimes harsh, there is little time for moping, and their vibrant spirits are their best qualities. They are easy to relate to, and also easy to root for.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and although it was slightly more 'frothy' than The Cows, O'Porter has a real gift for telling stories which wouldn't ordinarily be picked up by other people.
I wholeheartedly recommend this lovely, uplifting book and I hope there's a film on the way.

Having enjoyed reading Cows by Dawn O’Porter I hoped this new book would live up to my expectations, I’m glad to report that it did. It followed the lives of 3 women, all insecure in their own way. An influencer, Lauren, who was about to be married. A wedding planner, Beth, with a young baby Tommy, married to Michael. Ruby, who retouched photos for the famous, with a daughter Bonnie and ex husband Liam. It was funny, poignant, well observed and clever the way it drew all 3 stories together for a satisfying conclusion.

3 women who on the outside appear to have it all but as we all know, it’s not always the case. Brilliantly honest & laugh out loud funny, this is another fantastic read from Dawn O’Porter. I read it in one sitting! 5*****

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & Dawn O’Porter for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

À difficult but necessary read... I found it hard to get into the head of Ruby but I flew through the book.

A modern parable about the dangers of believing the grass is always greener somewhere else, So Lucky is a compelling, emotional and engrossing book that I could barely put down and read in less than one day! A timely reminder that appearances nearly always conceal a darker, painful truth lurking beneath and that social media only shows a tiny window into a person's real life. Despite dealing with very serious subject matter, it is also quite hilarious in parts. And refreshingly different for how often it mentions female masturbation ;) If you enjoyed Dawn O'Porter's "The Cows" you'll enjoy this one too.

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

I’ve heard loads about Dawn O’Porters books but never read them until now. I’m glad I took a chance on this one.

The characters are real, relatable and at times uncomfortable. They aren’t always likeable but I think that’s important, they’re human. The ending is fantastic and this book is well worth a read.

I really struggled to finish this.
As much as I appreciate Dawns writing style, the story just wasn’t there for me.

A delicious read a book women will relate to enjoy every page.The women are like all of us full of insecurities and strength.Each character multi layered each came alive.Grab this book relax enjoy,#;netgalley #harpercollinsuk.

This was actually a hard book to read. The two main characters, Ruby and Beth, are living difficult lives. Ruby especially is such a self contained woman, she is difficult to like. Yet by the end of the book I found myself feeling proud of her, like she was a friend you are rooting for. Beth too, finds strength and clarity.
A novel about finding your truth.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an early copy of So Lucky.

A great read for this time of year, I read the book in one sitting on a rainy (but warm) Sunday afternoon.

So Lucky focusses the lives of four very different women and is told through the eyes of two of those women, Ruby and Beth.

Ruby is a seemingly unlikeable character with an array of personality flaws that are borne of a physical trait that has caused her to harden her heart and her personality. I spent 70% of the book really disliking Ruby and it almost stopped me from reading but I wanted to know how her character arc would play out and I am glad that I did continue.

Beth is a more relatable and likeable character but has issues of her own to overcome. Her narration allows for a realistic look in to motherhood, working life and the negative side of social media.

This was my first O’Porter read and I will definitely be picking up her debut novel very soon.

I do not like the term “beach read” but this is the perfect book if you have time to sit and enjoy it for a couple of hours.
4/5

After reading, and loving “The Cows” , I really wasn’t sure that Dawn would be able to top the warm fuzzy feeling that comes with not love, but friendship, solidarity and most importantly acceptance but she REALLY has.
This book is like no other love story but that’s what it is. Not just romantic love, although it’s there, weaved gently through the other storylines, but woman love and self love. I dare anybody to read this and not finish with a huge grin (and possibly a few tears)

A page turner, I couldn’t put it down. This book is a perfect example of heavy themes done lightly but never patronisingly.

I like Dawn O'Porter's journalism and her unflinching way of looking at modern society, especially regarding women's issues. I'll admit to struggling with her last book a little, but was keen to give her another chance and I am glad I did.

This book is written from the perspectives of two women and interspersed with Instagram posts from a third. The structure works well as it allows you to engage with the women and the problems that they have in their seemingly perfect lives. O'Porter's point is that everyone has their (often hidden) struggles and her protagonists embody that: Ruby has a medical condition and finds motherhood hard, Beth has a lovely baby but a sexless marriage and Lauren is projecting an Instagram image that doesn't reflect her reality. When the organisation of a celebrity wedding brings these women into each others orbits, things are going to change.

I really enjoyed the way that the strands of the book came together. The women are all engaging and relatable and their stories are by turns sad and funny and uplifting. I especially loved Beth's rather frank assistant, Risky, who made me laugh out loud. There were a few bits of the book that I found a bit over the top, but overall this is a lively and entertaining read. It touches on important issues such as the pernicious influence of social media and the female quest for physical perfection, but it never feels preachy.

I would recommend this as a thought-provoking summer read. It will keep you reading and leave you with some uplifting messages about female relationships and challenging society's unrealistic expectations.

I really enjoyed this book. A tale of women and how a sometimes seemingly perfect life is in fact the opposite. We all face battles we do not necessarily share with the world but we find solutions and we are stronger than we know!