Good Luck with That

From the more than snarky title – since everyone understands the “that” adds a level of ‘you can’t do it” to the sentence, Higgins puts us into the lives of these three friends: Georgia, Marley, and Emerson. Told in 3 perspectives, the girls met and bonded at camp, after years of weight issues and the not so subtle put-downs of friends, family and society. But the loss of Emerson from this trio, brings up huge piles of guilt in their disconnect over the years since camp, as well as a set of challenges made from a ‘what to do when we’re thin” list composed in their teens. There is Georgia – brainy, beautiful and beaten down by her plastic surgery addicted mother, and brother with huge personality defects, to Emerson, shy and withdrawn, who finds a boyfriend after years of alone, only to see him control her with food and isolation, to Marley, one half of a set of twins, her sister failed to thrive and died at four, leaving Marley alone and ‘making up’ for the loss. These women have issues, sure, and the never-ending interior monologues about their weight, and how being thinner will change everything, allowing them to find boyfriends, success at work, more friends, etc… that is the battle they face every day: apologizing for being who they are, and wanting the same things as everyone else in the world. Surprisingly upbeat, despite the serious and often heartbreaking issues, these are characters that you want to have as friends, cheering on their successes, every little step should see them more confident, more in charge. Yet, with issues so deeply rooted, the task to not listen to the voices of discouragement, the judgy looks and shaming from other women, and the constant barrage of “ideal” thrown at us every day in media, they are all simply trying to survive and thrive, moving forward despite the fears, shame and failures. Marley and Georgia are wonderful characters, and they have issues that in a broader sense, speak to us all. Acceptance, being ‘good” enough, ignoring and stuffing down the ‘difficult topics’ with family to ‘get along’, even second guessing (and going through everything in your closet) before a date or gathering. We ALL do that. Those voices that question, nag, discourage or even demean us, FROM us, are often reflections of what we’ve heard (or felt) at different points. The trick, I think, is to use those to fuel forward motion and to discuss and unearth those difficult topics, before it takes the loss of a friend to set you on the path. Oh there are plenty of people who will bemoan this book and find it’s not ‘positive’ imagery to all sizes, making much of the near-constant rewind of the voices in Marley’s and Georgia’s heads. Or take offense to Emerson’s diary entries and her “OE” persona, as she reveals her own struggles. It’s not a jab – it’s actually quite clever: almost brutally honest in the scenes and secrets revealed, all of the ‘deepest darks” that we hear only in our own heads when feeling particularly down or discouraged: perhaps even on constant refrain, as these three had. It’s connections and similarities that bind us all, and with Marley, Georgia and Emerson, Higgins has given us three new friends who perhaps are more like us than different, at least in terms of hopes, dreams and wishes. I received an eArc copy of this title from the pubisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

another great novel! there isn't one I haven't enjoyed. Higgins since of humor and carefree writing makes it easy to fall in love with the characters. It makes happy to know they got their happy ending. I was heavy as a child so I could relate to the main characters on many levels. Thank you for being such an amazing author! I truly love all your novels!

I was emotionally moved while reading Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins. While reading this story I felt the story not only told the story of her characters but also described a scenario that affects most girls and women, of all ages, as they obsess with their appearance and the pressure of unrealistic expectations by societal, and possibly family, expectations. I was cheering on these friends who were supportive of each other, accepted each other flaws and all, and compassionate about each other’s struggle. Technology, air brushing, and the media have altered how one can or should appear, along with the expectation of what body image is normal. Women need to take back the fight, embrace themselves, and love themselves for who they are. It shouldn’t matter what others think but what they think of themselves. This book is a reminder that we need to love ourselves, just the way we are. Ms. Higgins wrote an amazing and emotional story that is not to be missed. In typical Higgins fashion, mixed with the teary emotional portion are humorous situations that brought out laughs and smiles. I struggled putting this book down, turning page after page, not letting go until I turned the last page. I highly recommend this amazing book t