One of Purewow’s “Best Beach Reads of Summer 2018”Winner for Best Book of 2018 of the Fresh Fiction Awards!New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins is beloved for her heartfelt novels filled with humor and wisdom. Now, she tackles an issue every woman deals with: body image and self-acceptance.Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever since they met at a weight-loss camp … since they met at a weight-loss camp as teens. When Emerson tragically passes away, she leaves one final wish for her best friends: to conquer the fears they still carry as adults.
For each of them, that means something different. For Marley, it’s coming to terms with the survivor’s guilt she’s carried around since her twin sister’s death, which has left her blind to the real chance for romance in her life. For Georgia, it’s about learning to stop trying to live up to her mother’s and brother’s ridiculous standards, and learning to accept the love her ex-husband has tried to give her.
But as Marley and Georgia grow stronger, the real meaning of Emerson’s dying wish becomes truly clear: more than anything, she wanted her friends to love themselves.
A novel of compassion and insight, Good Luck With That tells the story of two women who learn to embrace themselves just the way they are.
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Good Luck With That is not Kristan Higgins’ usual happily ever after story with a man and a woman clumsily finding their way to love. It is the story of three woman struggling with life, family, and a life long struggle with their weight.
They met in their teens at a weight loss camp and kept in touch as we all do when life interferes with living. They come together as one of the three is hospitalized because of her weight and rekindle the closeness that they had let go over the years.
Good Luck With That is a heart wrenching view of what people go through because of weight issues. The author’s depiction is so on-the-mark that I listened (audio book) with a lump in my throat through about half of the book.
The book is inspiring and heartbreaking and not this author’s usual subject matter. But it is an amazing depiction of what many women deal with on a daily basis. Very well done.
It was different not my normal read. Made me want to rethink how I eat and emotional eat food.
Kristan Higgins’ “Good Luck with That” is 1 of 2 very thought-provoking, impactful books that I have read in the past decade. (The other is Katherine Center’s “How to Walk Away”.) This book is the story of 3 women who met as teen-agers at a weight-loss camp. 1 of the women has died, but we get to read her diary entries. The other 2 characters alternate chapters with their perspectives, describing their lives, families, careers, and relationships. It is very inspirational, how the 2 living characters achieve self-acceptance and find love. A must-read!!!!
I bought multiple copies to share with friends – that’s how much I loved it!
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I could identify with the 3 main characters. I have never read anything that addressed issues with weight in such a real and insightful manor. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins
August 2018
Berkeley Publishing
I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
Three teenage girls bond during summers spent at Camp Copperbrook, a weight loss camp for teens. Emerson, Marley, and Georgia find it exhausting trying to be invisible. Life as a fat woman isn’t easy, in fact, it is down right cruel. Over the years, the trio manage their weight issues very differently in their quest for “thinness.” A major theme in this book revolves around bullying and judging people based on their appearance or practices. While fat shaming is the most prominent issue, it gradually becomes apparent that other characters experience the same feelings of shame and guilt.
After a tragedy occurs, the women begin to reevaluate their past which revolved around their weight. They begin a road to self discovery that empowers them to make changes they only dreamed possible.
This book felt like the author delved into the minds of those struggling with weight issues and scooped out their thoughts before serving them up on the pages of this novel. I loved it. It left me feeling both raw and stronger. I’d very much recommend this novel to those who have experienced weight struggles, and those who don’t understand them.
Some language. It also was a bit of a slow start, took me a chapter or two to get into it, but then it was absolutely beautiful.
A must read.
Heartfelt, intense story that really resonates.
This book is one that stuck with–is still sticking with me–long after I read the last page. But never fear–it’s not some heavy, godawful read. It is definitely entertaining. Identifiable. There’s romance, female friendships, and a truly fascinating look into the reality behind our morbid fascination with shows like “My 600-lb. Life.” This book will make you laugh and tear up, both, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out how one plotline was going to work out, anticipating the need to murder the author if it didn’t turn out “right.” (Joking! I don’t actually murder authors.) Warning: once you start reading, it’s hard to put down. Here’s what I stopped reading long enough to write to a friend:
I was saving the book for later, after a project was turned in, but then I thought I’d just read a few pages. Oh! A prologue. Perfect. I’ll just read that. Hmm…that diary entry was interesting. Okay, I’ll just read Chapter 1. Anyhow….I’m at page 41 now, and just read this: “I’d be the type [of mother] with a messy house and a mega-sized box of pinot grigio in the fridge and who’d shoo the kids out of the room so I could look at pictures of Channing Tatum online.” It’s me!
This book is a don’t miss. Two thumbs up. Five stars. Gold medal.
As someone who has serious body image issues, I didn’t want to like this book, but it is hands down. one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Sensitive, honest and emotional, it’s an important treatment of a tough subject. You will not regret reading it. This is Kristan’s best book, and it’s one many women could benefit from reading.
Such a beautiful read. This is the first book in a long time that made me cry so hard, I had to put it down and find a tissue.
This is not a usual Kristan Higgins Romance. Three “fat” girls become BFF at a “fat” camp, Camp Copperbrook . Once they aged out at 18, they kept in touch, Georgia and Marley more so, since they both lived in New York, while Emerson lived in Deleware. As life continued, all three continued to have weight problems and body image issues. Things come to a head when Georgia and Marley receive a call they Emerson is in the ER and most likely will not leave alive. She had hidden from her friends that she had become morbidly obese. She leaves them as her heirs, with missions what to do with the inheritance, but most important, she handed them a list that they had made at camp, “Things We’ll Do When We’re Skinny” and had them make a death bed promise to do the things on the list.
The author explores the whys of how food became an escape and comfort. How young children are effected by the words and actions of those around them, particularly those why are supposed to love, cherish and protect them. The 3 women aren’t the only ones who have issues and recognizing toxic friends and family is something that everyone needs to deal with. The appealing characters are expertly developed and the narrative artfully written.
I thought it was very informative concerning the problems and difficulties the overweight face in this nation where a person’s value and future often depends not on their god given abilities but instead on the size and conformation of their bodies.
I love everything Kristan writes.
So many emotions with this book.
At different points in the book, I both sobbed and laughed out loud! Loved the friendship between Georgia, Marley and Emerson. A great story of friendship but more importantly of self image and loving yourself for who you are now.
Emerson, Marley and Georgia met at weight camp when they were teenagers. All struggle with their weight, but are determined to be skinny some day.
Emerson is the most overweight of the three friends. Her mother’s way of supporting her daughter is to continue to overfeed her.
Georgia’s perpetually dieting, plastic surgery-sculpted mother is not supportive. Instead of trying to understand her daughter’s problems she continues to find fault and criticize her for her weight.
Georgia’s brother, Hunter spends his time planning ways to be cruel to his sister. He never misses a chance to insult and embarrass her. His teenage son, Mason, is another victim of Hunter’s constant criticism. They make most dysfunctional families look like ideal families.
When she meets and marries the man of her dreams, Georgia cannot get past her feelings of unworthiness. How could anyone love somebody who looks like her?
Marley had a twin sister who suffered from “failure to thrive” and lost her battle for life at age four. Her mother and father have never stopped grieving. Marley feels guilty for having been the twin who lived.
All three women try to compensate for their feelings of inadequacy by eating.
Good Luck With That is a book that touched my heart. Ms. Higgins has managed to run the gamut of emotions with this book. I found myself laughing one moment and crying the next. If you only read one Women’s Fiction book this year, Good Luck With That should be the one.
Love the humor in this authors writing.
This was an awesome read and hit home in so many ways! Kirsten Higgins never disappoints.
An emotional journey of friendship, self-awareness and finding the ideal way to just be YOU! Through a roller coaster of emotions, Kristan Higgins takes us on a journey of three women who met and became the best of friends just before they all embarked on that all encompassing journey of starting college and starting a life on their own. They stayed in touch through the years and even as life’s ups and downs took them further apart, they all held the others dear to their heart and knew one day they’d do that dream get together again. Only the end comes way too soon for one of them, and it leaves the other two reeling and finding comfort in the friendship they shared. The story brings forth a beautiful message of not judging a book by it’s cover, and to truly attempt to see people for who they really are, not through an obscured view of what’s acceptable … even yourself!
Emerson, Georgia and Marley met and instantly clicked at weight-loss camp the summer before they were starting college. Georgia and Marley settled closer together, so they stayed in better contact, but Emerson was further away and brought into the loop when possible. Now in their thirties, Georgia and Marley are saddened to be called to Emerson’s side as she wanted to secure a promise from them on her deathbed … she wanted them to complete the list of dreams they compiled as teens.
Georgia loved and lost early in life because she failed to see the worth she gave to life and her relationships. An ever unpleasant family dynamic between an impossible to please mother and a judgement brother made for a warped view of love, family and self-worth. When a second chance at happiness crosses her path, will she be able to see a brighter future for herself in time to jump out and hold on?
Marley has spent her life living on the edge of guilt because she still has a life that she feels like the twin sister she lost at the age of four just might have deserved more than her. She comes across as the most confident of the three, but part of her doesn’t live for herself, and doesn’t allow herself to be treated the way she deserves. When faced with the possibility of love, will she be able to overcome her demons and believe she deserves it?
A poignant, heart-warming read about loving oneself and coming to grips with your body image. Truly loved the friendships and the growth of each of the characters.