Publication Date: April 2016
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Where to Buy:
Here's the Summary:
HER PERFECT LIFE IS A PERFECT LIE.
As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve.
But Ani has a secret.
There’s something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy everything.
With a singular voice and twists you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Alive explores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it all” and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than it first appears.
The question remains: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for—or, will it at long last, set Ani free?
My Thoughts:
I have to admit, the book was hard for me to get into at first. Ani isn't a character you instantly warm to. She's materialistic, judgmental, and has a perpetual chip on her shoulder. There wasn't a single part of her personality I could relate to. HOWEVER, the deeper you delve into the story, the more you realize why she is the was she is. It was because of the tragedy and humiliation she had to overcome. She wanted to reinvent herself. And really, who could blame her!
What I WILL say about Mrs. Knoll's writing is that it's richly textured and razor-sharp. It's something to be admired! Her knack for descriptions and character development are what kept me hooked. And when you get to the scene that everything builds to (and believe me, you'll know what scene I'm talking about), you'll be glued to the pages until the end. Not to mention, even though the flashbacks in the book were set in the 90's, there are several relevant life lessons that every teenager needs to hear. Well done, Ms. Knoll!
Favorite quote:
“Moving on doesn’t mean you don’t talk about it. Or hurt about it. It’s always going to hurt.”
About the Author:
Jessica Knoll has been a senior editor at Cosmopolitan, and the articles editor at SELF. She grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and graduated from The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She lives in New York City with her husband.
