Book Review: Fortunate Friends by Louise Guy

Book Review: Fortunate Friends by Louise Guy

Title: Fortunate Friends fortunate friends small

Author:  Louise Guy

Published: November 21st 2017

Publisher: Go Direct Publishing

Pages: 324

Genres:  Fiction, Contemporary, Australian

RRP: $23.90

Rating: 4.5 stars

Three women in their thirties. Different backgrounds, different beliefs, different aspirations; same good fortune. 

For Shauna, celebrations surrounding an unexpected windfall are short-lived. Facing a lawsuit, her mother’s unpredictable behaviour, and the sudden appearance of a long-lost relative, the shine of good fortune is quick to fade.

Frankie loves her life. Even living with difficult circumstances her glass is always half-full — she wouldn’t change a thing. When good fortune falls at Frankie’s feet, she is loath to embrace it, terrified of the potential disaster it could bring.

Bec’s good fortune pales into insignificance when compared to her husband’s indiscretion. The lawyer in her is quick to see the situation in black and white. He’s at fault; the marriage needs to end. Bec’s haste to move on, coupled with her decision to hide her recent luck, has devastating consequences.

Good fortune helps form unlikely friendships when the lives of these three women are brought together. Will their combined strength be enough to help solve the problems of their already complicated lives? Or will it further fuel them?

My review:

I was first introduced to Australian author Louise Guy when I read her women’s contemporary fiction novel, Everyday Lies earlier this year. I was delighted when I saw the cover and premise of Guy’s second novel, Fortunate Friends. Again, Guy tackles the life lit genre head on, with a superb offering. Fortunate Friends intersects the lives of three different women, who find themselves bound together by an unexpected money windfall. The impact of this change in fortune is covered in a comprehensive and entertaining way by competent writer, Louise Guy.

At the heart of Fortunate Friends are three women, from contrasting backgrounds in life. Thrust together by a lottery win which is divided three ways, together the women find solace in each other’s situations. Bec is a married mother of two, who has recently discovered that her husband has strayed from their marriage. With her background as a lawyer informing her decisions, Bec decides divorce is the one and only option, not reconciliation. Bec also chooses to withhold her lottery win from her husband, which has quite an impact on their lives. The second woman to receive a substantial fortune is Frankie. Poor Frankie is a woman who has always struggled to make ends meet and the good fortune that has come her way seems perfect. However, Frankie struggles to adjust to her change in circumstances. The third and final recipient of the lottery win is Shauna. It does not take long before Shauna realises what a curse her unexpected windfall has caused her. With a lawsuit and money hungry relatives on her case, Shauna wishes life would go back to how it was before the money came along. Louise Guy explores how friendship plays a crucial part in assisting these three women to adjust to their changed lives, in the wake of this lottery win.

It was an absolute pleasure to be immersed once again in the writing of talented Australian author Louise Guy. As with her first novel, Everyday Lies, I was soon drawn into the unfolding story of three fortunate women in their thirties that receive the gift of money, through a lottery win. Guy writes about a scenario we have all considered at some point in our lives, especially when times are tough. A lottery win would help to solve all our problems, or does it simply create new issues and headaches to deal with?

The approach Guy has to her writing easily allows us to slip into the shoes of her characters and their ensuing situations. Guy’s characters are believable, relatable and fascinating. As a woman in my thirties, the same age as the three lead protagonists in the story, it was very easy for me to garner sympathy for each of these three ladies. In fact, I did feel by the close of the book  that I was the fourth friend in this circle of women, assisted by the comfortable mode of storytelling of Louise Guy.

Readers will find the pace of Fortunate Friends set at an ideal rate. My attention never waned once through reading this book. Although I consider myself a fast reader, I read this book in just two sittings and in less than 24 hours. I believe this is an indication of how great a story Fortunate Friends truly is. What I liked most about Fortunate Friends was that Guy took an interesting situation and considered all aspects that an unexpected windfall could bring, warts and all. In fact, the pitfalls of a win such as this was covered in the book very well. It made me see that perhaps the reality of this situation does not quite match the dream of having an endless supply of money at our disposal. The most positive aspect to come out of the experience highlighted in Fortunate Friends is the unexpected friendship gains. It was heart-warming to read and helped to restore my faith in society!

So it’s another winning read from Louise Guy in her second powerful women’s fiction novel, Fortunate Friends. I’m keen to see what 2018 brings for Louise and I eagerly await her next piece of writing.

Fortunate Friends by Louise Guy was published on November 21st 2017 by Go Direct Publishing. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.

Learn more about the author of Fortunate Friends, Louise Guy here

 

 

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