Reviews

Summer of My Amazing Luck by Miriam Toews

gilly22's review

emotional informative sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

ameliec's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

siobhanward's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Toews has a gift for writing complex women who are overcoming challenges without ever making them seem like victims. Every one of her books has at least one moment that makes my heart soar and this was no exception - it was really hovering around a 3* read for me until the conclusion, but the conclusion was so well-written that it bumped the rating up.

I really enjoy Toews' writing and will happily read endless road trip books by her. 

cawleen's review against another edition

3.0

A very slow read. You don’t even really know what it’s REALLY about until the last 30 pages, which went really quick.

crabbygirl's review against another edition

4.0

this was a surprising good read. I've gotten used to Toews always writing the same themes but this felt fresh and was so much funnier than I remember her other stuff being. I think it's because she was much younger when she wrote it - the main character is young too, a teenager who falls pregnant and moves into subsidized housing with her baby and makes spectacularly bad decisions (like a teen would do) but just goes with it. It was innocent and naïve and impetuous and wildly charming. I loved it.

kimbop's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

razzle97's review against another edition

4.0

Oh Miriam Toews, you write great books. I want to buy them all. This one is especially enjoyable, with deeply flawed characters and tons of humor. It is basically like the movie Little Miss Sunshine if the main characters were single moms on welfare. These two, Lish and Lucy, are very quirky and likable, don't always show good judgment, and maintain a remarkably optimistic outlook for most of the book. They are barely holding things together, but still trying to take care of their kids and live well. I think [b:A Complicated Kindness|13374|A Complicated Kindness|Miriam Toews|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421555859s/13374.jpg|970518] packed more of an emotional punch, but this one had its moments too, particularly regarding the death of Lucy's mother and its continuing impact on her life. The portrait Toews paints of living on public assistance, particularly for single moms, is a bit rosy in places, but she definitely highlighted some of the problems as well, and her characters are varied and memorable. Definitely recommendable.

savannalope's review against another edition

3.0

I would probably actually be closer to a 3.5 star, if Goodreads gave me that option, as I did find the book enjoyable, but didn't punch me in the gut the same way the other books I have read by Miriam Toews have. It was well written and full of dynamic female characters (which seems to be a trend for Toews). I didn't have as strong an emotional connection to these characters as I wanted, I was happy to witness their lives for the duration of the book, but I did not feel like I was actively in the story, which I would have liked to be.

erinmcentegart's review

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

erinnz's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death of parent