A review by onemorepagecrew
Lucky Girl by Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu

4.5

Lucky Girl by Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu was such a captivating read, I was in Soila’s corner from the start and felt like she was my friend until the end.  If you enjoy coming-of-age stories that weave in familial and cultural expectations balanced against personal desires, then this is an excellent choice.

The story follows Soila, born and raised in Kenya, as she embarks on college in New York City.  She navigates friendships, romantic relationships, and her career while trying to heal from the loss of her father and uncovering new information about her family.  It’s her journey of personal identity and how she sees herself, and how others see her, in both Kenya and the U.S. 

I found myself attached to Soila and her best friend from NYC, Leticia, feeling very into their journeys.  I got mildly attached to her romantic interests and her family, but never fully sank into those characters.  For me, part four (the last part) was a little rushed compared to the first three parts, but overall the story and where it landed felt good.

If you enjoy coming-of-age and immigration stories that weave in cross-cultural relationships and navigating parental expectations, this should be on your TBR.  

Thank you so much to Dial Press and NetGalley, I was so thankful for the advanced copy - I appreciate you!

Content warnings: grief, racism, dementia, September 11th (first-hand perspective)
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