Not at all what I had expected, but still a fun read. I ended up really enjoying the characters and loved their friendship and the lessons they learned throughout life.

Bestselling author, Kristan Higgins' new novel, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT (Berkley) is a story of compassion and insight. Higgins' tackles issues every woman faces: body image and self-acceptance.

Emerson, Georgia, and Marley have been best friends ever 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.

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT is an emotional roller coaster worth the ride. Grab your BFF and share some Merlot.

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?

I loved this book. A serious subject matter presented in a humorous and heartbreaking way. Following the journey of three friends and fat camp survivors, Higgins share a story of self discovery, friendship, self love.

A fun read, the characters were quite believable and the story flowed. Marley and Georgia’s issue with weight are a timely topic as women everywhere struggle with self-image. A good book for book discussions.

I struggled a bit with this review. That's unusual for me. Perhaps it's because the subject matter of Good Luck with That is a bit personal with me. I've always been a "curvy" girl, which allowed me to feel the pain Emerson, Marley and Georgia delt with. Too much pain. The kind that made me put this book down numerous times.

Kristan Higgins brought to light the numerous emotional as well as physical problems associated with body image, and the struggles each of the ladies delt with.

Emerson, Marley and Georgia met at a weight loss summer camp as young teenagers, but their friendshiip and comraderie continued throughout their adult lives. Each of them had their own demons to battle regarding their weight, and although Emerson lost her battle, she left a note to Marley and Georgia after her death that contained a list the girls had written many years ago. A list of things they would accomplish once they were skinny.Things like holding hands with a boy in public, buying clothes at a regular store, or have a stranger buy you a drink. It was up to Marley and Georgia to complete the list.

Although quite emotional at times, you know, that gut wrenching "emotional", this story was very well written and brought out so many issues that overweight individuals must endure. And the humor! I found myself laughing out loud at times! That's why trying to rate this book is so difficult. For the character development, storyline and writing, I would give it 5 out of 5 stars. But because I had a difficult time staying with the story and had to put it down so many times, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars. So to be fair, let's say 4 1/2.

I loved this story of two women learning to accept and love their bodies and themselves and learning to be happy in a world that always seemed to go against them due to their weight. Despite the chick lit cover, this story had a lot of depth and I fell for the characters, insecurities and all. I routed for them from start to finish.

3.5 stars
Good Luck With That is Kristan Higgins first crossover book from her best-selling contemporary romances to woman’s fiction. It was my first Higgin’s book.

Taking on obesity, body image, friendship, death, survival guilt, society’s view on weight, parenting and budding relationships was tackled in a raw and real way. That is what I liked about this book. It made the reader consider judgments we carry about others and those we carry every time we look in our own mirror. It’s so easy for a person to give me a compliment and immediately I’ll follow up with something that’s negative about me. Sadly, we’ve been conditioned to accept society’s expectations of beauty. This has been ingrained since early childhood.

There are a lot controversial issues brought up in this book. Most will pull at your heartstrings and cause a plethora of emotions to bubble to the surface. I enjoyed most of them. In my opinion however, there were just too many subplots and hot button topics woven through that left some unfinished and others wrapped up too quickly. This novel could’ve been pared down a ton. Honestly, I skimmed Emerson’s pages and her purported version of herself. Finally, I thought the cover art was well done as it in no way influenced what the story would be about. I did see a cover of another version (shown below) that has three women walking; all of them thin to average size. I hope that one gets canned. The authenticity and sincerity of this book must be transferred to the cover if the cover has a representation of three friends.

I’m willing to try another book by Higgins that falls into women’s fiction, with hopes of a more succinct storyline.

This is a wonderful story about body positivity, obesity, and friendship. I can see how this will be a controversial book, and may be triggering for some, but Higgins weaves stories centered around deep rooted body issues with messages of strength and self-worth. I'm glad that this book exists to show a different perspective, that of plus sized women.

Another winner from women’s fiction author Kristan Higgins. Here she examines the lives of three women who met years ago at fat camp. When one of the women dies from complications from being morbidly obese, the other two examine the impact of their weight on their lives and vow to make positive changes.

Three girls, Emerson, Georgia, and Marley, meet and develop a lifelong friendship while attending a weight loss camp in their teens. Now in their thirties, Emerson passes away due to complications from obesity and leaves behind a “to do” list for her friends. Many ideas for the list were created years ago at camp and they contain inspirational goals to accomplish after they become skinny.

Neither Georgia or Marley have ever been thin but they want to honor their friend’s memory. Georgia lives with regret over her behavior during a failed marriage. She has always lived with the notion that her size is something that makes her unlovable. Marley had a twin sister who passed away when she was four years old. She carries the burden of guilt over her sister who was the weaker, frailer twin. As both work through the list, they end up addressing their past and the type of relationships that they will accept in the future.

“Good Luck With That” is a glimpse into how body image can play a role in one’s outlook. It can weaken confidence and handicap relationships if friends and family can't provide support. This story was a unique way of addressing a common issue for women.

Wow. Just wow! Ms Higgins has written a book about obesity and self-love that every woman should read. Sure it is about the world and how being overweight is viewed but the focus is on how you view yourself. Self-love or self-loathing, it’s your pick.

Georgia and Marley are wonderful characters who every one can identify with. They each have issues but they deal with them in very different ways.

This book isn’t easy to read at times. It can be a bit self-reflective and make you pause examining your own insecurities and issues with food.

Ms. Higgins was very careful with this subject matter but she was honest but not brutal.

Trust me and grab this one; immediately!

This book was really hard to get through, as someone who is sensitive to the topic of weight and weight loss. Basically every page mentions weight or losing weight in some way, and that's a lot to take in! That said, it is very well-written and a very moving story.

Wow. Wow wow wow. Kristan Higgins does it and does it again, but this might be her most honest, powerful, real book yet. The story of three overweight girls—who range from chunky to morbidly obese—and their relationships with themselves, each other, and the world is just so raw and heartwrenching and painfully authentic and beautiful and sad and inspiring and just everything. Each character is well-drawn and realistic, and it's impossible not to care about them and root for them; Higgins really has a special gift for writing an engaging story. The three women also speak for every woman, in a way. If you're a woman, especially an overweight woman, you will definitely feel this book. If you're a man or don't struggle with your weight, you might find some empathy for those who do or be reminded of another issue that makes you feel the same. No matter who you are though, this book is for you. It reminds us that every person is a person, no matter what they look like on the outside and no matter how they're projecting their internal scars to the world. Going to go ahead and say this might be the best book of the year.

Kristen Higgins is hit or miss and this was a hit! It’s the story of three friends who met at fat camp and how their lives have changed through the years. Tragedy after tragedy hits and everyone has to learn how to cope and let go of the past. There is a story inside of a story and it’s a true coming of age story about how to be comfortable in your own skin.

I've been MIA lately. I haven't blogged in over a month. What have I been doing with my time? Oh, nothing big. Just examining my life. NBD.
This has been quite a year. Many blessings have come my way. Things that I have prayed for have come to pass. But all change, even the most exciting, positive change, is change. And sometimes it makes you re-examine your life and who you thought you were.

So, in this middle of my own soul searching, I began reading Good Luck With That by Kristan Higgins. Emerson, Georgia and Marley became friends during a yearly fat camp. Marley and Georgia have stayed close, even becoming roommates, Emerson has stayed in her family home, even after her mother died.

Emerson has a weigh problem. A true problem, and she copes by staying in her house, even employing a sour faced cousin that doesn't treat her very well. But she is excited to suddenly find herself a boyfriend, even if her cousin doesn't approve.

Emerson's physical health becomes impacted by her new boyfriend - I won't give any spoilers. Marley and Georgia are struggling with the guilt that they may not have made enough time for Emerson, along with worrying about what is missing in their own lives. Although they have both been professionally successful, they are still struggling with self esteem and the impact that it has on their romantic lives.

I've read several Kristan Higgins books, and they've all been good, but this one was a little more serious than I expected. But it was eye opening, and made me look closer at my own life.

Current Goodreads Rating 4.22

I was enormously moved by the three main characters in this book -- women who met at a camp for overweight teens and continue to struggle with their weight, in different ways, as they move into adulthood. There's Georgia, a lawyer-turned-preschool-teacher who still  sees herself as fat despite having lost weight; Marley, a chef and business owner who remains overweight despite her healthy lifestyle; and Emerson, who -- having been abused as a child and manipulated by a cruel boyfriend -- finds so much comfort in food that she becomes morbidly obese. Lurking in the shadows is Other Emerson, a fictional alter-ego who represents everything the real Emerson wishes she can someday be. I will admit that sometimes the book frustrated me, particularly when the author seemed to offer simplistic explanations to tie the characters' overeating to childhood traumas. That seemed a little too "pat" to me, as did the ending, which I thought wrapped everything up a little too neatly. But still, what I was mostly left with after reading this book was a profound, new, and very affecting understanding of what it feels like to be a fat person in our society -- judged, shamed and disregarded. I'm very grateful to the author for writing this book. It truly changed me -- and isn't that one of the most wonderful things that a work of literature can do?

This is my second Kristan Higgins novel. While I didn't like it as much as Now That You Mention It, it was still a solid read. I had previously thought Kristan Higgins was chick lit, but her last book proved me wrong. There was depth in this novel as well. There's some romance but heavier subject matter well. I love Higgins' humor that she brings to this novel as well. The book centers on the lives of three friends who met at weight loss camp as teenagers; Grace, Marley, and Emerson. Marley and Grace live in the same town so naturally they become close, while Emerson lives far away so they lose touch. Later as they reunite as adults, it is shock to find out that Emerson has became morbidly obese, and she is dying. I have heard some controversy surrounding this book labeling it as fat-shaming. I did not feel this way at all. I felt Higgins handled this subject matter in a delicate matter, and I believe this is something she has struggled with. I would definitely recommend this book as well as any of Kristan Higgins' other books.

Ahh, why did I wait so long to read this! I should have known I'd end up loving this book. The way Georgia and Marley felt about their bodies resonates so much with how I feel about myself. The letters from Emerson pretty much ripped my heart out but they also gave me insight on what it feels like to have such a severe addiction. I loved this book and I can't wait to recommend it to my library patrons.

I had to sit with this review for a bit after reading Good Luck With That, and the more I thought about the novel, the more my appreciation and understanding grew. I am a fan of Kristan Higgins' romances and especially like the humor with which she writes. Good Luck With That is concentrated on 3 very complex characters. The three central characters are deeply layered in so many ways, including physically. Yes, GLWT addresses the issue of weight and body image gently and with respect. There is romance, but it is definitely a side plot not the main focus. GLWT was a slow read for me, as Ms. Higgins uncovered more and more of the characters and made me care more about each, the pace seemed to pick up. Is there humor, yes there is, however I never felt I was laughing at the characters rather with them. Kristan's book didnt make me cry, it allowed me to cry, and I thank her for the opportunity. It's a book about friendship as much as it is overcoming obstacles, and I am really glad I read it. While Good Luck With That is not typical Higgins fare, I would place it in the category of Women's Literary Fiction and as such, would recommend it to readers and to book discussion groups.