Thought-provoking, terrorizing at times and heart pounding during others.

The paths of two women on opposite ends of a high-profile sexual abuse scandal set them on a devastating collision course.

On a sultry summer night in Paris, two women meet on line at an ice cream kiosk in the Ile de la Cité. One is tall, fair, striking, with an indeterminate accent. The other, a troubled American TV star, is hiding her beauty and identity under a shapeless sweatshirt, wearing sunglasses even in the darkness. When two leering male tourists hassle the pair, the blonde pulls out a knife and a sisterhood is born. Both women have been victims of male violence, and both are warriors--one trained and calculating, one instinctually ferocious. They each think they know who they are dealing with. But both are very, very wrong.

In a story that unfolds with unexpected humor and the pace of a thriller, acclaimed novelist Helen Schulman lays bare what happens to women--no matter how fortunate they may appear to be on the surface--whose lives have been warped by brutality and misogyny. The issues are universal, but the core of the story is intimate: a passionate exploration of love, betrayal and survival. Lucky Dogs asks and answers a shattering question: How could one woman so utterly betray another?

Lucky Dogs is a blistering, provocative look at power, betrayal, and the impossible choices women face in a world built to protect predators. Meredith’s spiral after assault and Nina’s ruthless pragmatism make for a gripping, if at times disjointed, narrative. The story is intense, raw, and often uncomfortable, but Schulman’s sharp writing ensures it lingers long after the final page. While the dual perspectives don’t always weave seamlessly, the novel still delivers a thought-provoking and deeply enraging exploration of complicity and survival.

I found the perspective of the actress interesting at first and then was over it. I didn't care at all about the other perspective. I'd rather just read the Ronan Farrow book.

This was a great concept but poor execution. The writing was frantic and hard to keep up with, and while I don’t shy away from hard material, this was a strange way to portray the horrors of Hollywood and Weinstein.

This book was heavy but sooo good! It is a bit political which isn’t my fave in novels, but the subject base and message was so well done.

Lucky Dogs is told through a particular voice; for fans of stream-of-consciousness style and those interested in Me Too and Weinstein.

Lucky Dogs
I read the description of this book and was intrigued by it, but then as I started to read it I realized it wasn’t what I had expected - but looking back I’m not really sure what I did expect.

Meredith and Nina find themselves brought together by an uncomfortable incident in Paris, and from there we’re launched into an exploration of their lives, backgrounds, and circumstances that have led them to where they are and drive their decisions.

This book wasn’t for me. I found it to be heavier-handed than I wanted, and I wasn’t as absorbed by the characters as I wish I would have been. Had I connected more to the characters I don’t think this would have taken me so long to read.

Thanks to Helen Schulman, Knopf, and NetGalley for providing a digital Advance Reader Copy of #LuckyDogs to read and review.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.*

I don't know how books fall to my second page and when I go to read one on my kindle, they seem to disappear. I downloaded this book nearly a year ago and am so glad I found it because it was definitely worth the read.

I confess I chose this one from a list of upcoming books last spring and I didn't remember why I was interested. So when I dug in, I had no preconceptions. When I got to the end of the first part, I actually thought I might be reading a collection of short stories. There was NO connection I could find between the characters in the first part (a young Hollywood starlet - a la Rose Gowan- dealing with the fallout of being raped by the director who made her ascent into the circles of movers and shakers possible, and then her complete downfall when he comes after her so that he can discredit her before her claims take him down.

The second section tells the story of a young Bosnian family fleeing for Israel during the war, their struggles and resilience.

I didn't see the timelines for what they were and so I didn't predict how the characters would come together.

If you were embroiled or fascinated by the NY Times takedown of Harvey Weinstein and the journalists who had the balls to take on the issue, this is sort of a side story. I enjoyed it.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that delves into the dark corners of power, betrayal, and survival. Set against the backdrop of a high-profile sexual abuse scandal, this book weaves together the lives of two women whose paths intersect in unexpected and devastating ways.

The story begins on a sultry summer night in Paris, where two women meet at an ice cream kiosk on the Ile de la Cité. One is a tall, fair stranger with an indeterminate accent, while the other is a troubled American TV star hiding her identity under a shapeless sweatshirt and sunglasses. When faced with leering male tourists, the blonde woman pulls out a knife, and a sisterhood is born. Both women have been victims of male violence, and both are warriors—one trained and calculating, the other instinctually ferocious.

As the narrative unfolds, Schulman masterfully explores the complexities of trauma, self-preservation, and the bonds that form between survivors. The issues at play are universal, but the heart of the story lies in the intimate exploration of love, betrayal, and the lengths to which one woman can utterly betray another.

Schulman's prose is sharp, evocative, and unflinching. She peels back the layers of her characters, revealing their vulnerabilities, fears, and hidden strengths. The pacing is relentless, akin to a thriller, as we follow these women across continents and decades. The novel's unexpected humor provides moments of relief, but the underlying tension never wavers.

Lucky Dogs is more than a mere page-turner; it's a searing examination of the human condition. Schulman's portrayal of the tangled web of power dynamics, secrets, and the choices we make when faced with unimaginable circumstances is both haunting and unforgettable.

In this fictional re-telling inspired by real-world events, Schulman captures the essence of resilience and the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be silenced. As readers, we are left pondering the shattering question: How could one woman betray another so utterly?

This novel is a tour de force—a raw, unapologetic exploration of survival, sisterhood, and the lengths we'll go to protect ourselves and those we love. Lucky Dogs is a must-read for anyone seeking a powerful and unflinching look at the human psyche in the face of adversity.

Lucky Dogs was thought-provoking, thrilling, and sometimes funny novel of how different women are impacted by misogyny and violence that men inflict on women.

My only con is that the first half really flows and is intriguing, but the second half of the book, when the POV switched, was a real struggle to get through. And it also was the important part of the book, so it was disappointing that I had such a struggle with.

Definitely an important subject matter, though.

As much as I wanted to continue this book, I just can’t force myself to. One, forcing myself to complete something I do for fun seems redundant. And two, I refuse to let a book that doesn’t work for me put me into a slump.

I had a lot of high hopes for this book. Not for nothing, I adore the cover. I was curious to read about this fictionalization of a #MeToo story and I love stories based on famous people. I loved the idea that Meredith befriends Nina while in Paris because together they were able to defend themselves from some gross, entitled men.

The writing style is not something I can mesh with, however, and no matter how much more I read, I find myself losing interest. I’ve seen mostly good reviews for this, so I’m hoping it will find its audience, I am just not part of it.

Unfortunately I am just really burnt out on the #metoo books and I just find them depressing at this point. Couldn't get through this one.

I liked the writing style, even though sometimes I got confuse about what was going on in a conversation (sometimes was to chaotic). The development of the plot was slow, I usually don't mind that, but added to the confusing topics on the conversations, sometimes I lost interest in reading.

I think that change once I was 50% into the book, but was a hard begining. The ending and charachter development was worth it.

The anger I feel for Harvey Weinstein will never fade, especially now that I've read "Lucky Dogs," Helen Schulman's fictionalized account of Weinstein's crimes against the actress, Rose McGowan. To think that he actually hired Israeli spies to undermine his accusers -- McGowan included -- is unthinkable and unforgiveable. In fact, all that Weinstein did is unthinkable and unforgiveable.

Schulman's take on the Weinstein affair is riveting from start to finish. Meredith, the actress, and Nina, the spy, are complicated characters, both unsympathetic at times, though Nina by far is the most off-putting. Even her harrowing childhood in Sarajevo isn't enough for us to forgive her actions. And Meredith makes poor choice after poor choice, including becoming weirdly obsessed with Nina. She can be tiring.

Still, "Lucky Dogs" is some good reading. I was engrossed in the lives of these two women, and I loved the ending. Schulman leaves us with a final image of Meredith that is beyond perfect.


My sincerest appreciation to Helen Schulman, Knopf, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All thoughts and opinions herein are my own.

This was a heavy read. At times, I found myself confused by the characters and narrative. I knew it was inspired by Rose McGowan & Harvey Weinstein, so it was sometimes difficult to separate facts from fiction. Lucky Dogs was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm glad I read it.

Ooooof.

I did take a looky look at this opening line of Lucky Dogs’ synopsis which was the driving force behind me accepting an advanced copy:

The paths of two women on opposite ends of a high-profile sexual abuse scandal set them on a devastating collision course.

And when I was finished I actually took a gander at the author’s notes as well, which is another thing I hardly do. Unless you have lived under a rock for the past five years, you will automatically recognize this story right down to the shaved head . . . .

What I didn’t realize was this was LITERALLY ripped from the headlines and based the “Black Cube Chronicles” piece in The New Yorker by Ronan Farrow.

I was struggling with the heavy-handed writing throughout (this took me a full five days to read and if you know me you know that never happens), but the fact that this was a story already told (and told and retold) in recent past and yet felt sooooooo disjointed and a slog to get through when dealing with such titillating subject matter is just not something that can be ignored.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this blind. At first I was confused because the first part reads like short stories and then we get the larger narrative in the second half. I loved it, I feel like the characters were developed while still mysterious enough that they kept me wanting more and more of them and the story. The story is so sad surrounding the survivors of war.

Overwritten story ripped from the headlines and oversaturated as it is. This one feels like an imprint wanted a story to satisfy a certain demand and this is what they ran to press with. DNF

The novel Lucky Dogs, authored by Helen Schulman, is an engaging and thought-provoking read, suitable for academic and business settings. Schulman presents a compelling portrayal of the challenges women face in their personal lives and the wider society, particularly with regard to misogyny and violence. The narrative follows two female protagonists who, despite their differences, forge a strong bond based on their shared experiences of male violence. Through the characters' experiences, Schulman offers a nuanced exploration of love, betrayal, and survival, leaving the reader questioning the complex realities of the world we live in. The characters are skillfully crafted, and the plot moves at a brisk pace, making the novel difficult to put down. Schulman's writing style is both witty and suspenseful, contributing to an enjoyable and contemplative read. Overall, Lucky Dogs is a poignant and powerful novel that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Immersive, engaging, and very timely. A recommended purchase for collections where thrillers are popular.