Lucky Us

Two young half-sisters meet in 1939 when Eva's mother abandons her on their father Edgar's doorstep in Ohio. Eva and Iris form an unlikely alliance as they navigate their father's schemes and their own dreams of escape during the uncertainty of wartime America. The sisters' journey takes them from small-town Ohio to Hollywood and later to New York City, where they encounter fortune-tellers, makeup artists, con men, and a cast of characters living on society's fringes. Through their travels, they piece together unconventional ideas of family and belonging while pursuing their individual ambitions. The narrative spans the 1940s, moving through the realities of World War II America - the film industry, jazz clubs, beauty parlors, and the mansions of Long Island. Eva and Iris's story intertwines with historical events and social changes of the era. At its core, Lucky Us examines the meaning of family bonds - both chosen and inherited - and explores how people construct their identities through the stories they tell themselves and others.

Readers found the writing style lyrical but noted the fragmentary, disjointed narrative made the story hard to follow. Multiple reviews praised Bloom's sharp dialogue and period details of 1940s America. Likes: - Complex female relationships and LGBTQ representation - Vivid historical atmosphere - Dark humor throughout - Strong opening chapters Dislikes: - Abrupt plot shifts and time jumps - Underdeveloped secondary characters - Rushed ending - Lack of emotional depth between characters Many readers commented that the book felt like separate short stories rather than a cohesive novel. Several noted they struggled to connect with or care about the protagonists. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.2/5 (13,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.3/5 (500+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.3/5 (300+ ratings) "Beautiful sentences but ultimately unsatisfying," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "The story never quite delivers on its early promise," noted another on Amazon.

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🌟 Amy Bloom wrote much of Lucky Us while serving as Writer-in-Residence at Yale University 📚 The novel spans a fascinating period in American history, from the Great Depression through World War II and into the early 1950s 🎭 The book's portrayal of makeup artists in the 1940s Hollywood film industry is based on extensive research into the pioneering work of Max Factor and the Westmore family 🌈 The character of Gus was inspired by real-life stories of German-Americans who were interned in the U.S. during World War II, a little-known aspect of American history ✍️ Before becoming a novelist, Amy Bloom worked as a psychotherapist, which influenced her nuanced exploration of family dynamics and relationships in Lucky Us