The Luckiest - by Kelly Cervantes (Hardcover)

About the Book

"After moving from a conservative Midwestern suburb to New York City to pursue an acting career, Kelly never could have imagined what life had in store for her-or how much she would fundamentally change along the way. The Luckiest is her emotional journey through the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband's Broadway spotlight, fighting for her child's life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and marriage"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

USA Today Bestseller

From bestselling author Kelly Cervantes, a deeply personal memoir exploring the growth and perspective gained while navigating life's unexpected asteroids and the craters they leave behind.

When moving from a conservative Midwestern suburb to New York City to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her--or how much she would fundamentally change along the way. The Luckiest is her emotional journey through the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband's Broadway spotlight, fighting for her child's life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and marriage.

Inspired by author and poet Maggie Smith's quote, "We are all nesting dolls, carrying the earlier iterations of ourselves inside," Kelly shares the many layers that have shaped who she is today. But how many of those layers were shaped through the control she desperately sought versus the luck she struggled to accept? Are we lucky if we escape life with soft skin and minimal layers? Or are we lucky to have the battle scars that show a life of survival--of fullness and meaning?

The Luckiest is a tale of motherhood in all its heartbreak, joy, fits, and false starts. It follows Kelly's wildly unpredictable journey and the role luck has played in her life, both good and bad. It is one woman's beautiful, complicated, and ongoing quest for self-discovery.

Review Quotes

"Kelly Cervantes is a truth-teller, full stop . . . She doesn't flinch from grief--instead, she invites her reader into the messy, beautiful reality of becoming. Rebuilding identity, love, and purpose when life doesn't go as planned . . . In these pages, Kelly isn't just offering a story--she's offering a hand in solidarity."

--Mary Katherine Backstrom, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Holy Hot Mess and Crazy Joy

"It's rare to find a companion who is raw, real, vulnerable, nonjudgmental, inspiring, and truthful all at once. In Kelly's The Luckiest, I found this companion. As a mother, daughter, partner, sister, and person trying to navigate what it means to live a full life amidst heartbreak, I turned to The Luckiest for wisdom and reassurance, and I'm so much better for it."

--Myra Sack, award-winning author of Fifty-seven Fridays: Losing Our Daughter, Finding Our Way

"The Luckiest is a beautifully layered memoir that captures what it means to live through love, loss, and reinvention . . . Kelly Cervantes reminds us that our scars--visible and invisible--can shape a life of meaning, resilience, and grace. Her story is a powerful reflection on the tenderness and tenacity it takes to keep going, even when the path forward is uncertain."

--Shoshana Ungerleider, MD, founder of End Well

"This stunning memoir lays bare the raw truth of becoming a mother, losing a child, and coming to terms with the fact that control is an illusion. It's a fearless, deeply human story about the power of hope, how grief reshapes us, and what it takes to find ourselves over and over again."

--Jessica Fein, author of Breath Taking

"Once again, Cervantes offers the reader the gift of insight that comes only through holding great pain . . . Though we know that heartbreak of various kinds is inevitable in a full life, Kelly reminds us that it's worth it to do it all anyway."

--Meghan Riordan Jarvis, LICSW, author of Can Anyone Tell Me?: Essential Questions About Grief and Loss

"The Luckiest is heartfelt, brilliant, and revelatory. Kelly's writing has this rare, extraordinary quality of making you feel completely seen while simultaneously offering a glimpse into a world drastically different from your own . . . Her comedic timing is flawless and her insights hit home. Kelly's story will leave you with a renewed appreciation for life and for the people who make it so meaningful."

--Amy Shoenthal, USA Today bestselling author of The Setback Cycle

About the Author

Kelly Cervantes is an award-winning writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog Inchstones and USA Today bestselling book, Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It's Time to Heal But You're Not Sure You Want To. She has been published in the Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, and Fortune as well as featured by MSNBC, New York Times, and CNN. She sits on the boards of CURE Epilepsy and The Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation and hosts CURE Epilepsy's podcast, Seizing Life. Born and raised in the Midwest, Kelly resides in Maplewood, NJ, with her family.