This was an incredible read that I couldn’t put down- darkly funny and the characters had so much dimension to them.

A very charming little book that makes a great beach read for a long afternoon. It was a bit predictable in so many ways but still enjoyed it. Good luck with the book and thanks for the early read.

Lucky Girl is an incredibly ambitious debut, a bildungsroman about a childrens-dance-reality-show star, Lucy. As Lucy becomes more deeply embroiled in the Hollywood social world, her life spirals out of control.

This book had a lot of sympathy for all its characters - even the "villains" are afforded a human portrayal. This sympathetic lens is integral to the themes of the book which muse on the cycle of fall and redemption. I enjoyed the use of a clearly classical structure in a contemporary novel as Lucy made her way through her hero's journey.

A novel for fans of "I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy

Thank you Tin House and NetGalley for the ARC!

Lucy Gardiner was only eight when she knew: she was born to dance. From that moment, her life unfurled like a modern fairy tale—contest wins, reality TV fame, movie deals. But every fairy tale has its villain, and Lucy’s is Bruise: a one-named pop star whose glory days are long gone… until Lucy’s talent revives her. And what begins as admiration curdles into obsession.

Lucky Girl is a mesmerizing debut that captures the surreal edges of childhood fame, the fragmentation of family, and the strange intimacy of mentorship gone wrong. With a cast of unforgettable supporting characters, Allie Tagle Dokus crafts a story that’s both dazzling and devastating. Lucy’s rise is thrilling—but what happens when your dream starts watching you back?

A coming-of-age story drenched in sequins, shadows, and the cost of brilliance, this novel will leave you breathless—and a little haunted.

#tinhouse #luckygirl #allietagledokus

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. A thoroughly entertaining read that shows the chaos of fame as a kid while Lucy, the main character navigates her family issues. I was captivated as I read and saw how things from Lucy’s past came back to haunt her as her life went on. The characters in this book were so interesting the more I read and got to know them. This is a great coming of age book and the beginning started out so well that it really set the stage for what was to come, no pun intended.