Aren't We Lucky

by Sarah Forbes Stewart, Nicola Coughlan (Narrator)

Abby and Hetty are best friends. Aren't they?

A deliciously dark novel about the unravelling of a friendship, for fans of Liane Moriarty, Taylor Jenkins Reid and Donna Tartt. Narrated by Nicola Coughlan ( Derry Girls , Bridgerton ).

Life’s not going well for forty-year-old Abby. When her beautiful and charismatic best friend dies suddenly, she’s left reeling. Hetty’s always been such a dominant force in her life; now Abby must figure out who she is – and who she wants to be – without Hetty by her side. Abby has always been the odd one out in Hetty’s wealthy, privileged friendship group.

Despite their differences, Abby has managed to carve out a place for herself. But Hetty isn’t an easy friend to have. She blows hot and cold, alternating between fierce loyalty and unwarranted cruelty. Abby accepts both versions of Hetty, just grateful for the attention … until she’s not. From divorces and weddings, via awkward dinner parties and dead-end relationships, to soul-sucking first jobs and dubious flatshares, Abby recounts the story of her great friendship with Hetty in reverse.

Finally, we meet Abby and Hetty when they first meet each as fresh-faced eighteen-year-olds with their whole lives ahead of them…and no idea of the tragedy that lies ahead.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Friendship, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Published March 31, 2025

Reviews

[Janah Rehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ I enjoyed this, I really liked some of the characters. Nichola Coughlan is an excellent narrator and really immersed you in the story. Fuck Hetty.

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh ye of little faith. I downloaded this audible original with my usual low expectations thinking at least Nicola Coughlan would be nice to listen to for a while. I’m usually prone to saying these are all production and little substance of story so you could knock me over with a feather right now, it wasn’t just ok, it was bloody great.

From the opening with a lovely cover of Joy Division’s Love Will Tear Us Apart (and closes out with the same) to the fantastic narration by Nicola but also the story was brilliant. I was captivated by the story almost immediately. I was absolutely positive that I’d sussed the twist until the very last few chapters!

Loved it.

3.75 🌟

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy to follow story, essentially dealing with a group of longstanding friends, the funeral of one of the friends, and a great twist.

The main character is Irish, as is the lovely narrator (Nicola Coughlan of Bridgerton fame), but the variety of other accents are all expertly performed - even their diverse personalities come through.

Thank you Nicola, you added to my enjoyment immensely! This is also why it gets four stars, but specifically for the audio version.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Something to really get my teeth into

It would have been 4 stars except I was really irritated by a couple of subtle political points of view slipped in. Someone was described as having nasty views on immigration and climate change. Why do this and risk alienating readers? if I want politics I read newspapers, but books are escapism and shouldn't lecture, even in the tiniest of ways.

[Julia Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-written tale of a young, naive girl who befriends a rich girl at college and is thrown into her privileged friend group. Twenty years later, one of them is dead (Not a spoiler, but revealed on the first page).

I found the whole book compelling, though I did find some of the characters rather stereotypical.

[Poppy Duggan · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok for an audible original. the narration by the wee lesbian from Derry Girls is what makes it

[Jack Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an earlier version of this for Sarah and I loved it. I haven't listened to the published version but I assume it's better, which means it will be great!

[Jennifer E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is quite good, Nicola Coughlan reading it is fantastic!

[G Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Firstly, I really liked the narrator’s voice. But other than that, I found this book was a bit unhappy, a little predictable, and a bit dull. The pattern of ‘now’ and ‘past’ was sometimes confusing, too.

[Ava Blandford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Downloaded for my commute because it was free on Audible but actually very fun! Although honestly Nicola Coughlan could say anything and I would eat it up.

[Laura-Tuesday · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Aren’t We Lucky had some really lovely writing and a few emotional punches that hit just right, but overall, I didn’t quite connect with it as much as I hoped. I really empathised with the main character, always a little bit on the outside, not quite getting it right, which felt very real and relatable. But I just couldn’t connect with her meekness around Hetty, who was honestly awful. I kept wanting her to stand up for herself or at least push back a little, but it never really happened in a satisfying way. The themes were interesting and there were glimmers of brilliance, but the pacing dragged at times and I was left feeling a bit flat by the end. Glad I read it, just not one that will really stick with me.

[Lynnsey Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing remarkable about this one except Nicola Coughlan's narration! I loved her accent and how she embodied the various characters by changing her voice. Her Hetty voice was so distinctive. She truly sounded like a different person! As for the story itself, it was mostly entertaining. The relationship between Hetty and Abby reminded me of the one between the two friends in Something Borrowed. The twist was pretty predictable, but it was still good!

[Amber Chatwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Amanda Hyland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narration was perfect - Nicola did a great job!

Story though - nothing particularly original or unique. Hettie has to be one of the most unlikeable characters I've read about in a while - I shouldn't advocate for violence, but I was honestly hoping the worst things ever to happen to this awful excuse of a narcissist, throughout the story. Abby is lovely as a protagonist, but I felt like screaming at her, every single time she just put up with her narcissist friend.

[Daniela Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrator made this book interesting, her accent is beautiful and really enjoyed listening to her. I gave this an extra star for her.

I found the novel somewhat slow, but the twist at the end for was a surprise. Sometimes I was frustrated with Abby for not seeing how awful Hetty was towards her.

[Jess Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending took me by surprise! I liked how it went back and forth between the now and the past so that it slowly built up your perception of the characters and then went in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Definitely worth the listen if you appreciate reverse storytelling and light suspense/mystery.

[Hannah Foley-Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was instantly invested and frustrated with Abby. I thought she was a bit of a doormat tbh, very afraid of confrontation and standing up for herself but the people she surrounded herself with allowed that behavior also. I did not see the twist coming at all and I usually do. Nicola Coughlands narration is perfect.

[Brenda Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on Audible and found it very enjoyable. I liked the timeline which jumped around rather than being chronological . Some aspects of the friendship between the two central characters really rang true. I found Hetty’s swings from acts of kindness to her friend to, at times, insensitive and even cruel acts towards her especially poignant.
Liked the twists in the last few chapters too.

[Erica Behnke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice twist at the end

[kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this . completely accidental find (thought it was something else) but within a few chapters found myself hooked. relaxing and completely relatable characters . Nice relaxed pace for a chill summer read or listen and Nicola Coughlan narrated perfectly on audible.

[Jennifer Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not everyone is your friend...People tend to show you their true colors but how many of us actually listen to the little voice in our heads. Good read.

[Lucy Platt · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story, wasn't the ending I expected

[Jo Jestico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully narrated

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicola Coughlans narration carried this but other than that this book was really lacking.

[Rubes J Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew there was a twist coming, however, it didn’t come until the last chapter. You won’t say it was complete predictable but it wasn’t shocking either. I found the ending somewhat satisfying. There was a good range in characters who felt real. Rated it 3.5 on Fable

[Wanda Hynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audible listen. Narrated very well, written well, engaging. Screw you Hetty!

[Corey Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid easy story about navigating relationships with long term friends but okay plot twist?! 3 stars but extra star for Nicola as narrator, made it that much more enjoyable

[Freya Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started listening to this on Audible on a whim when was feeling uninspired about next listen as included in membership. Narrated by Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls) who is an excellent narrator.
A 'floaty Irish fiction' with fleshed out characters but also enough plot to keep you interested. Worth a listen. 4 🌟

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abby, who has no self-esteem, befriends a selfish, egotistical narcissist. Said friend is horrible and selfish for the 20 years Abby has known her. Abby is shocked when she does something selfish and horrible yet again. It's incredibly boring.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storyline, I enjoyed it. Nicola Coughlan was an amazing choice for Narrator.