What a powerful book. I very much appreciated the opportunity to take this one in. Our book's heroine faces the dynamics of what it is like to come to America and how to navigate those processes. In doing so she has to overcome yet remember who she is and how she got here. I enjoyed this book. Thank you for allowing me access.

A wise woman tells us a story and it’s up to us to learn from it.

It’s through the eyes of Soila who came to NYC from Kenya to pursue a business career. She left behind a protected life and for the first time, she stepped into a world where her controlling mother was absent.

However, her invisible mother was still constantly inside her ear feeding her thoughts of religion, relationships and her career path. Soila’s passion was photography but her mother said she was given this opportunity in America to get a serious education in finance from the university. Her mother wanted her to make six figures. What a lucky girl, right?

Soila observed Wall Street as a drab place filled with a multitude of dialects, grey suits and heads down. She worked hard to please her mother with her choices: a roommate, boyfriends and classes. With her observations, Soila questioned poverty, wealth and being Black in America.

The story revolves around Soila’s love for her mother and feels the pain of guilt when she has conflicting thoughts. It is written well and moves along quickly with the girl who approaches life with bold conversations. The beauty is how she presented the characters. There is a lot of realism in this story – one that would be a great conversation for book clubs.

My thanks to Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu, The Dial Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this advanced book with an expected release date of May 2, 2023.

By all standards, Soila is a lucky girl. Raised by the women in her family in Kenya, she's watched as her mother took on the role of head of household, elevating their family's financial and societal position. Soila has never needed anything, but nonetheless, she can't help but feel constrained and burdened by the expectations and pressures placed on her, especially by her religious mother. Her only chance at escape comes with the chance to attend university abroad, and she's finally able to convince her mother to allow her to attend Barnard College in New York City, albeit a few years later than intended.

It's in NYC that Soila feels like she can finally breathe. She meets Leticia, a classmate who becomes her closest friend and roommate, and falls in love for the first. She also gets the chance to delve into her interest in photography, immersing herself in the art available to her across the city. Nonetheless, Soila knows there's a path that she's supposed to follow, and begins working for an investment bank on Wall Street. It's only after the events of 9/11 that she's able gain perspective on her life, her relationship with her mother, and her own future - and take the risks she's been too scared to take.

I loved "Lucky Girl" for so many reasons. On a personal level, I connected with Soila given my own experience attending a competitive school and working in finance in NYC. It's clear Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu is familiar with the city, and the pitfalls of working on Wall Street. Her struggles with finding her own voice and identity, juggling the different friendships and relationships, and ultimately making the decisions that are tough and scary are ones that many readers, especially minority women, will also understand. I appreciated as well the thought-provoking discussions on privilege and race, poverty and wealth, identity when one doesn't feel "African" but also not "African American" - topics that are especially important in this day and age. The writing is beautiful and emotional, and crafts a multi-layered protagonist determined to carve her own path in life.

Very much a recommended read when it's published in May 2023!

Lucky Girl gives an insight into the life of a young woman from Kenya and shows readers some fundamental cultural differences between Black people living in Africa and in the United States. The relationships between Soila and her mother and aunts are interesting; the love interest is a little "too good to be true." But overall, I enjoyed spending time with these characters and seeing New York in the 90s through Soilas's eyes.

A priviledged young woman from Kenya navigates life and relationships in the US as a woman of color.

I really enjoyed this book. It opened my eyes in so many ways. I love learning about new cultures and people.

A wonderful coming of age story of a woman from Kenya. Very thought provoking and complex. Very well written. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read.

Soila is a girl raised in a fully female home in Kenya- it is her mother's home & her grandmother & her 3 aunts all live there. But Soila's mom rules the home, her sisters & of course Soila. They live a privileged life, and have a strong work ethic & own a family business. As Soila became an adolescent she knew this was not the life she wanted for her future. Her mother was overbearing, strongly opinionated & Soila felt no true love from her, no hugs, no tender moments.

Soila decides to apply to colleges in the US, unbeknownst to her mother & after much back & forth, her mother agrees to allow her to go to school in the states.

Once Soila gets the the US, finds her way at school & makes a few friends, we see struggles she has with being an African, vs what she sees or thinks of African Americans. She has never seen racism, doesn't grasp some of the issues that Black Americans have, especially young black men & people living in poverty.

She takes a job she doesn't like, can't share what her life is with her mom, has relationship issues. Most of Soila''s struggles come from trying to please her mom- her mom wants total control- job, church, men, & as Soila gets older she gets hurt & angry with her mom.

There's relationships, friendships, guilt & some life events along the way.

Through it all, Soila tries to be the dutiful daughter, until she always can't.
I really felt for her- guilt placed on anyone is an awful thing.

I really enjoyed this book!

A lengthy read but well worth it! Soila leaves Kenya to come to New York to obtain her education. She is an only child who has a dominating Mother and an absent Father. Soila has been raised in a multi-generational family home with many family secrets. I enjoyed her connection with her Grandmother and Aunts, at least she has someone to talk to who is not so critical and harsh. Once Soila gets to New York she becomes educated about American ways and the historical issues with black America, she realizes how naive she really is. I enjoyed the information on how Blacks feel in this country, gave me some new perspectives. I skimmed over the World Trade Centers information as it is still hard to take. (Sorry about her friend). I also skimmed over some of her conversations with her Mother, seemed repetitive and already discussed in previous chapters. I was very happy for Soila and Akhenaten to stick it out!! Overall, a well written (somewhat wordy) story about love, race and cultures. Thank you for a good read.

What an incredible coming of age story of a young woman from Kenya, Soila. We see Soila through trauma, grief, heartache, loss, and love. Muchemi-Ndiritu tackles some big topics throughout the book: from abortion, molestation, and suicide, to racism in America and cultural differences in Africa, to Alzheimer’s, the aftermath of 9/11, and what it means to follow your passion—- there is not much this story doesn’t weave into the plot line.

Perhaps what I found most captivating was the characterization of Soila. Her strength, passion, and zeal will inspire any reader, and kept me unable to put this down. In fact, the last several chapters I read aloud to my kiddos because I simply couldn’t stop reading it. It’s top of my list for fictions reads in the last few years.

Thank you to the author Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu, publishers Dial Press Trade Paperback, and Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an Advance Review Copy of Lucky Girl.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Still has lived a nice quiet life. When she was a adult, she decides to go to college in New York. Whike their, she befriended a girl who a girl who is like her. She later meets a man she knows her catholic mother would never approve of. She is at a crossroads in her life and is unsure of what direction she wants to go. I liked the many characters in this story

Ndiritu’s concise writing adds to the voice of Soila.

As Soila navigates life you feel for her in every way. Dealing with the disparity between Kenya and the US especially in the way of racism and the treatment of Blacks. Her tug of war between her mother and her yearning to have the life SHE wants is heartbreaking. You understand her dilemmas as her story continues as her culture has high demands and expectations while wrestling with her wants and needs. Soila is strong, quietly sensitive, and resilient. A woman who opens herself to learn more about herself and her one-dimensional beliefs while making tough life-changing decisions.

A very well-crafted story with a character whose struggles I found relatable in many ways. Palpable, eye-opening, and a quite provoking narrative. I look forward to more from Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu.

Muchemi-Ndiritu explores the difference between the experiences of African Americans vs a privileged Kenyan woman, particularly when it comes to the experience of racism. Soila grew up witnessing extreme poverty and suffering in Kenya, and doesn't understand the experience of her African American friends who grew up in a white dominated society where they were always treated as a threat. While educational to read, it felt like there was a lot of tokenism in terms of the experiences (a dash of gentrification, a moment of hair as identity) where there could have been greater depth. The pacing of the book was slow, but then there would be these dramatic moments that seem to come out of left field. While some moved the plot forward, they left the reader with whip-lash trying to consolidate everything. Soila was a rather unlikable character, being both naïve and self-righteous at the same time. It wasn't until the second half of the book, where we got more detail about the characters and relationships, that I began to feel any connection at all. There is a lot of potential here, I just worry the important messages are lost due to the way things were executed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu for an ARC of this book.

A complex coming of age story involving a young woman and her mother. Due to a family tragedy the mother desperately holds on to her daughter while she is trying to become her own person. I enjoyed the book and felt that the characters were well developed. I look forward to more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

This was a thought provoking coming of age story. Soila has lived a very sheltered and privileged life ands moves to New York where she has to learn the nuances of what being black means in different cultures. This book examined race, culture, identity, religion in such thoughtful ways.

Kenya is Soila’s homeland. When she decides to attend Columbia University, she leaves behind a strong matriarchal family who has raised her strictly. Unprepared for the world she meets, she spends her college and early career years learning about life, her family in Africa, her friends in America and mostly the marked differences of the black experience in both countries. She loves deeply the friends she makes in her new life, especially her half sister; at the same time her love for family, especially her damaged mother, grows deeper. Irene Muchemi-Ndiritu presents in her novel a unique perspective, a view of 9/11 New York through the eyes of a young woman from another country. Soila is an intriguing character who is loving, loyal, and dutiful. She deserves happiness; she deserves to be a lucky girl.

Soila lives a sheltered and privileged life in Kenya. When she comes to New York City for college, she lives her home town for the first time. It’s not what she expected, as she encounters racism and close relationships with dissonance.

This was a really interesting and thought-provoking read. You really get immersed into the character; she feels like a best friend now. It seemed like such an accurate portrayal of adapting to a new culture and country. While it is only around 350 pages, it seemed very long to me. While a lot happens, there are also many mundane moments too.. just like life! It’s not really a book to speed through. You’ll want to take your time and think with this one.

“I was lucky. I had a mother whose life revolved around me since I could remember.”

Lucky Girl comes out 5/2.

The story starts with Solia as a child and takes place over a large part of her life. Growing up surrounded by confident woman has embolden Solia to leave Kenya for university in the United States. Here she finds friends, experiences love, and discovers more about herself than she thought possible.

Muchemi-Ndiritu writes beautiful prose and invokes a range of emotions as the Solia feels the push and pull between what her mom wants her to do and where her heart might lead her.

This was an extremely enjoyable read and I wanted to keep reading about Solia's life!

What a brilliant debut novel! I really enjoyed this book.
This is the coming of age story of Solia, a Kenyan girl raised in a privileged matriarchal household in Nairobi. We meet her grandmother , her mother and her aunts. Solia's mother is very controlling of everyone in the family and gradually we learn the backstory/tragedy behind her behavior.
Solia goes to America to attend college and more wonderful characters enter the story, notably Leticia , Alex and Akhenaten. The characters were all beautifully drawn and seemed very real to me.
I was interested in how racism in America was seen through Solia's eyes and how this differed from the perceptions of African Americans.
So much happened in the story and many important issues were dealt with - sensitively and meaningfully. There were moments of great heartache but overall I found the book uplifting. I found it hard to put this one down.
Overall this is a beautiful story, beautifully written that I'm sure will be a bit hit with readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the chance to read this book and review honestly. It's a winner!

What an incredible book from this debut author. I cannot wait to read more of her work, Lucky Girl did feel as long as it was, but I still really enjoyed it. It also feels extremely topical, to the point that I hope it gets released early!