Luckiest Girl Alive
| Author | Jessica Knoll |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Mystery |
| Published | 2015 |
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster (US) Macmillan Publishers (Australia) |
| Publication place | United States |
Luckiest Girl Alive is a 2015 New York Times Bestselling mystery novel written by American author Jessica Knoll and is her debut work.[1] It was first published on May 12, 2015, through Simon & Schuster in the United States and Pan Macmillan in Australia, and is written in the first person narrative.[2] The work follows a young woman who has sought to reinvent herself in her adult life after a series of horrifying events during her teen years. During the book the lead character, Ani Fanelli, is referred to by several different names, TifAni FaNelli, Tif, and Finny.
In April 2015 Lions Gate announced that they had optioned the film rights to Luckiest Girl Alive, with Reese Witherspoon's Pacific Standard set to produce.[3]
Synopsis
At first glance the 28-year-old Ani appears to have a perfect life: She works as an editor at a glamorous women's magazine and has a loving fiance from a good family. However Ani also hides a secret - as a teenager she underwent a series of horrifying and emotionally crippling events, including a school shooting, that have continued to impact her well into her adult years. During the course of the novel, it is revealed that Ani was gang raped when she was 14. She tries reaching out for help after the rape, but she is instead subjected to cruel bullying and taunts by her peers, who do not believe that she was assaulted. As the story progresses Ani begins to question whether or not she is truly happy with who she has become and whether or not this life is truly the one she wants and needs.
Development
While writing the novel Knoll drew upon her own experiences of being gang raped as a teenager and being bullied by classmates.[4] Knoll did not initially make this public knowledge while promoting the book and told fans that she based the rape and aftermath on stories she had heard from others.[5] In March 2016 Knoll wrote an essay for the online feminist newsletter Lenny Letter, where she wrote about her experiences as a rape survivor.[5] She further stated that she came forward after interacting with several fellow rape survivors at book signings, as it
. . . really killed me to see the looks on these women's faces when I would say, 'Oh no, you know, I just made it up,' and I just never wanted to see that look on anyone's face again".[6]
Knoll later stated in an interview that she "was so conditioned not to talk about it that it didn't even occur to [her] to be forthcoming".[4]
Reception
Critical reception has been positive. Luckiest Girl Alive has been compared to Gillian Flynn's 2012 novel Gone Girl and Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train.[1][7][8] The book received praise from Entertainment Weekly and USA Today, the latter of which wrote that "Recent newsworthy topics create a backdrop that can, at times, make the reader uncomfortable. Yet the visceral tension Knoll creates actually complements the reading experience."[9][10]
References
- ^ a b Cowles, Gregory (2015-05-22). "Inside the List". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
- ^ Jessica Knoll (14 May 2015). Luckiest Girl Alive. Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-4472-8622-6.
- ^ McNary, Dave. "Lionsgate Sets Drama 'Luckiest Girl Alive' with Reese Witherspoon". Variety. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ a b Alter, Alexandra (2016-03-29). "Jessica Knoll Reveals the Rape Behind Her Novel, 'Luckiest Girl Alive'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ a b Knoll, Jessica (2016-03-29). "What I Know". Lenny Letter. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ Kim, Eun Kyung. "Author Jessica Knoll: My rape at 15 inspired 'Luckiest Girl Alive'". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ "A Guide to Millennial Femininity". The Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ "Book review: 'Luckiest Girl Alive'". Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
- ^ Busis, Hillary (2015-04-30). "Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
- ^ Cadden, Mary (2015-07-16). "Thrilling 'Luckiest Girl' asks: Is she?". USA Today. Retrieved 2016-02-28.