The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington

Release: October 05, 2021
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Source: AlgonquinTours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon , Books-A-Million ,Bookshop ,IndieBound

When Charlie Boykin was young, he thought his life with his single mother on the working-class side was perfectly fine. But his mother arranges for him for admission as a scholarship student to an elite private school. Then his sudden introduction to what the world can feel like to someone with lots of money. That world, he discovers, is an almost irresistible place where one can bend and break rules. And he gains friendship with a charismatic upperclassman, Archer Creigh, and an affluent family .

He treats him like an adopted son. Charlie quickly adapts to life in the upper echelons of Nashville society. Under their charming and alcohol-soaked spell, he relaxes and enjoy it all. There is no anxiety over money. And easy summers are spent poolside at perfectly appointed mansions. There are lavish parties and freedom to make mistakes knowing that everything can be glossed.

But over time, Charlie is increasingly pulled into covering for Archer’s constant deceits and his casual bigotry. At what point will the attraction of wealth and prestige wear off enough for Charlie to take a stand , and will he?

For readers of Wiley Cash, Ann Patchett, and Pat Conroy, The Fortunate Ones is an immersive, elegantly written story that conveys both the seducing world and the corruption of the people who see their ascent to the top as their birthright.

About the Author:

Ed Tarkington’s debut novel Only Love Can Break Your Heart was an ABA Indies Introduce selection. It was an Indie Next pick, a Book of the Month Club Main Selection, and a Southern Independent Booksellers Association bestseller. A regular contributor to Chapter16.org, his articles, essays, and stories have appeared in a variety of publications including the Nashville Scene, Memphis Commercial Appeal, Knoxville News-Sentinel, and Lit Hub. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

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The Fortunate Ones Review:

“The Fortunate Ones” is a smooth yet gripping, coming-of-age story with compelling characters, and I liked reading this one!

Do you ever feel how your life would be like if you wished you were in a person’s shoes who lived a more prestigious and lavish life than you? “The Fortunate Ones” immediately drew me in because of how the author narrates the striking differences between societies and eat each of them have their own set of problems.

Charlie and Archer stand out in the story. In the beginning, my heart went out to Charlie as he experienced rags to riches lifestyle when Archer came into his life. However, as the story progresses, I realize that Charlie is not as strong as I had hoped and tends to make a few bad decisions. Yet, I was still rooting for him because of his situation and how people sometimes play with his life. One memorable moment that stood out for me was Charlie’s regrets when he met his mother towards the end of his relationship with Vanessa. Similarly, Archer is also riveting, and it was interesting to see how Charlie’s perception of him and Vanessa changes throughout the tale.

Most of the characters you meet in this tale are realistic because they are either good or bad. They all have flaws and make mistakes, so you don’t know how they react to situations.

However, while I loved everything about the story, I felt it meandered in a few places and went from an angle from what I expected. The climax especially felt a tad flat because it was not an ending that I had anticipated.

Nevertheless, I feel “The Fortunate Ones” is worth reading, especially if you love coming-of-age stories with some larger-than-life characters.