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loriluo's review
4.0
By all standards, Soila is a lucky girl. Raised by the women in her family in Kenya, she's watched as her mother took on the role of head of household, elevating their family's financial and societal position. Soila has never needed anything, but nonetheless, she can't help but feel constrained and burdened by the expectations and pressures placed on her, especially by her religious mother. Her only chance at escape comes with the chance to attend university abroad, and she's finally able to convince her mother to allow her to attend Barnard College in New York City, albeit a few years later than intended.
It's in NYC that Soila feels like she can finally breathe. She meets Leticia, a classmate who becomes her closest friend and roommate, and falls in love for the first time. She also gets the chance to delve into her interest in photography, immersing herself in the art available to her across the city. Nonetheless, Soila knows there's a path that she's supposed to follow, and begins working for an investment bank on Wall Street. It's only after the events of 9/11 that she's able gain perspective on her life, her relationship with her mother, and her own future - and take the risks she's been too scared to take.
I loved "Lucky Girl" for so many reasons. On a personal level, I connected with Soila given my own experience attending a competitive school and working in finance in NYC. It's clear Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu is familiar with the city, and the pitfalls of working on Wall Street. Her struggles with finding her own voice and identity, juggling the different friendships and relationships, and ultimately making the decisions that are tough and scary are ones that many readers, especially minority women, will also understand. I appreciated as well the thought-provoking discussions on privilege and race, poverty and wealth, identity when one doesn't feel "African" but also not "African American" - topics that are especially important in this day and age. The writing is beautiful and emotional, and crafts a multi-layered protagonist determined to carve her own path in life.
Very much a recommended read when it's published in May 2023!
Thank you Random House Publishing for the advance copy of this novel!
It's in NYC that Soila feels like she can finally breathe. She meets Leticia, a classmate who becomes her closest friend and roommate, and falls in love for the first time. She also gets the chance to delve into her interest in photography, immersing herself in the art available to her across the city. Nonetheless, Soila knows there's a path that she's supposed to follow, and begins working for an investment bank on Wall Street. It's only after the events of 9/11 that she's able gain perspective on her life, her relationship with her mother, and her own future - and take the risks she's been too scared to take.
I loved "Lucky Girl" for so many reasons. On a personal level, I connected with Soila given my own experience attending a competitive school and working in finance in NYC. It's clear Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu is familiar with the city, and the pitfalls of working on Wall Street. Her struggles with finding her own voice and identity, juggling the different friendships and relationships, and ultimately making the decisions that are tough and scary are ones that many readers, especially minority women, will also understand. I appreciated as well the thought-provoking discussions on privilege and race, poverty and wealth, identity when one doesn't feel "African" but also not "African American" - topics that are especially important in this day and age. The writing is beautiful and emotional, and crafts a multi-layered protagonist determined to carve her own path in life.
Very much a recommended read when it's published in May 2023!
Thank you Random House Publishing for the advance copy of this novel!
coco1922's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
john3945's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are two main reasons I think that this book is great:
1. The manner in which it explores, accurately, what the typical Kenyan parent-child relationship tends to look like.
2. The kindness and love with which the author treats the lead character, Soila, (and, by extension, all the other characters) even as she goes through her rough patches. For me, this wasn’t so much a matter of digestability (though it’s still important) and more just a reminder that she’s human.
1. The manner in which it explores, accurately, what the typical Kenyan parent-child relationship tends to look like.
2. The kindness and love with which the author treats the lead character, Soila, (and, by extension, all the other characters) even as she goes through her rough patches. For me, this wasn’t so much a matter of digestability (though it’s still important) and more just a reminder that she’s human.
saliwali's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Bullying, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Colonisation, Classism, Suicide, Police brutality, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Slavery
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Classism, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, and Infertility
marymacb's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sallie_ees's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
areaderintransit's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tracyksmith_reads's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
mbkarapcik's review
5.0
For years, Soila has lived under her imperious mother's rule, but she breaks out in spectacular fashion in Lucky Girl by Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu. After a disturbing incident occurs, she decides to leave her homeland and go to college in New York City, Although it sounds like a dream come true, the Land of the Free is anything but a dream or free. She learns what it's like to live as a Black American in 1990s America and evolves from her experiences during this time away from home.
I really loved this book because Soila is a thoughtful and relatable character. I could relate, especially, to the overbearing mother who means well but many times oversteps her bounds and makes impossible demands on her daughter. It made me think of my own mother. Soila goes to college for business, but her heart belongs to photography. She struggles to come to terms with what she should do with her life.
The relationships within the book, whether between Soila and her mother, her friends in NYC, her relationships with men and colleagues, all felt authentic. I felt the frustration that she feels with her mom. In becoming friends with Americans, she learns about racism and prejudice from a unique perspective. Her view coming from another country differs from her friends and her future boyfriends. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition of the perspective of Black Americans and Africans and how Soila forms some new opinions and understanding.
Many of the events that arise in the book ring true. I felt the emotions and felt the author captured some major events very well and in a thoughtful, respectful manner. The life events in Soila's life also rang true and really made you feel for her and root for her. Her life takes many turns--some good, some bad--but in the end, you want her to find happiness and get frustrated when she lets other things like her overwhelmingly frustrating mother disrupt her life path toward happiness.
If you're part of a book club, there are so many things that can be discussed. Racism, family relationships, cultural differences, and so much more. All the topics come off seamlessly in the book and the perspectives all come from different places. You can see where everyone is coming from even her mother who aggravated me throughout the book.
I was so impressed by this book and how well it was written. There are so many layers to the story without feeling bogged down with unnecessary details. The prose and storylines run so smoothly, and I hope this writer continues to put out thought-provoking stories that look at the human condition.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I really loved this book because Soila is a thoughtful and relatable character. I could relate, especially, to the overbearing mother who means well but many times oversteps her bounds and makes impossible demands on her daughter. It made me think of my own mother. Soila goes to college for business, but her heart belongs to photography. She struggles to come to terms with what she should do with her life.
The relationships within the book, whether between Soila and her mother, her friends in NYC, her relationships with men and colleagues, all felt authentic. I felt the frustration that she feels with her mom. In becoming friends with Americans, she learns about racism and prejudice from a unique perspective. Her view coming from another country differs from her friends and her future boyfriends. It was interesting to see the juxtaposition of the perspective of Black Americans and Africans and how Soila forms some new opinions and understanding.
Many of the events that arise in the book ring true. I felt the emotions and felt the author captured some major events very well and in a thoughtful, respectful manner. The life events in Soila's life also rang true and really made you feel for her and root for her. Her life takes many turns--some good, some bad--but in the end, you want her to find happiness and get frustrated when she lets other things like her overwhelmingly frustrating mother disrupt her life path toward happiness.
If you're part of a book club, there are so many things that can be discussed. Racism, family relationships, cultural differences, and so much more. All the topics come off seamlessly in the book and the perspectives all come from different places. You can see where everyone is coming from even her mother who aggravated me throughout the book.
I was so impressed by this book and how well it was written. There are so many layers to the story without feeling bogged down with unnecessary details. The prose and storylines run so smoothly, and I hope this writer continues to put out thought-provoking stories that look at the human condition.
Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
tlaynejones's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Dementia, Colonisation, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence