Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

Luckiest Girl Alive
by Jessica Knoll
Narrator: Madeleine Maby
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date May 12th 2015
Source: Library
Genres: General Fiction
Goodreads

HER PERFECT LIFE IS A PERFECT LIE.

Ani FaNelli seems to have it all: a glamorous job at a glossy magazine; an enviable figure with the wardrobe to match; and a handsome fiancé from a distinguished blue blood family. But Ani FaNelli is an invention, that veneer of perfection carefully assembled in an attempt to distance herself from a shocking, sordid past.

As her wedding draws near, a documentary producer invites Ani to speak about the chilling incident that took place when she was a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School. Determined once and for all to silence the whispers of suspicion and blame, Ani must weigh her options carefully, when telling the whole truth could destroy the picture-perfect life she’s worked so hard to create.

With a singular voice and a twist you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Alive explores the deep-seated desire to fit in and the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it all.” Ani FaNelli is a complex and vulnerable heroine—one whose sharp edges protect a truth that will move, scandalize, and surprise you.

First Impressions

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll has been compare to Gone Girl but I thought it is more along the lines of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.

Impressions While Reading

At first, I thought the novel would focus on Ani’s rape and how it affected her life “after”. Although, the novel takes another turn towards bullies the “cool kids” and those hanging on the fringe. In other words, it is about cliques in high school and two kids who woke up on the wrong side of bed with a gun in their hand. That was the problem with Luckiest Girl Alive. Jessica Knoll, chose too many plot themes and instead of focusing her attention on one, she stretched herself too thin and created watered-down versions. The climax of both the rape and school shooting held my interest. However, upon the scenes conclusion my attention quickly waned. In its place lay a disinterest in TifAni. I was ready to move on and wasn’t particularly enthused by the ending. Luckiest Girl Alive was ho-hum and didn’t met its potential.

Impressions on Narration

Madeleine Maby made Luckiest Girl Alive a very readable novel and was impressed by her narration. Unfortunately, the recording was horrible. There was television snow in the background and sounded as if it were played on a Victrola. It was a little distracting. Regardless, I would listen to something narrated by her again.

Final Impressions

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll was not a mystery as described but was a good literary novel. Knoll’s book was a little predictable and there are probably books are the same subject that were better executed; although overall I would classify it as a good summer read.