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The Luckiest: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Motherhood, and the Pursuit of Self
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USA Today
bestselling author Kelly Cervantes, this deeply personal memoir explores the growth and perspective gained while navigating life’s unexpected asteroids and the craters they leave behind.
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.
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 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 reconcile? 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 allows her to reflect on the role luck has played in her life, both good and bad. It is one woman’s ongoing quest for self-discovery that is beautiful and complicated, and hopefully always becoming the next spectacularly painted wooden doll in the series of her life.
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.
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 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 reconcile? 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 allows her to reflect on the role luck has played in her life, both good and bad. It is one woman’s ongoing quest for self-discovery that is beautiful and complicated, and hopefully always becoming the next spectacularly painted wooden doll in the series of her life.
Audible Audio
Published November 4, 2025
3 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Cervantes
2 books9 followersKelly Cervantes is a writer, speaker, and advocate best known for her blog “Inchstones” and her work with the non-profit CURE Epilepsy. She has been published in The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Cosmopolitan, as well as quoted in the New York Times, CNN, and People. Born and raised in the Midwest, Kelly currently resides in Maplewood, NJ, with her family and two dogs, Tabasco and Sriracha
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 20, 2025
This is an amazing memoir by Kelly Cervantes chronicling when and how she met her Broadway star husband #MiguelCervantes and most importantly their struggles with one of their babies who was born with epilepsy. It is a heartfelt story as you can imagine and it was so well done that I feel like shouting about it. It’s intimate and raw, and tender and Kelly has to be super human, along with her husband and family.
The best part is that Kelly narrates her audiobook memoir and who could do it better? She is spunky and snarky at all the right moments, and so down to earth that you can imagine her as a friend or neighbor. She is REAL. It is full of passion and gut-wrenching sadness. She is simply a rockstar.
I believe it will be released in early November.
A big thank you and shout out to the following for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review:
#KellyCervantes #author #BrillianceAudio #NetGalley
The best part is that Kelly narrates her audiobook memoir and who could do it better? She is spunky and snarky at all the right moments, and so down to earth that you can imagine her as a friend or neighbor. She is REAL. It is full of passion and gut-wrenching sadness. She is simply a rockstar.
I believe it will be released in early November.
A big thank you and shout out to the following for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review:
#KellyCervantes #author #BrillianceAudio #NetGalley
January 2, 2026
Being a huge fan of Hamilton and Miguel Cervantes, I knew I had to attend Kelly Cervantes’s book signing of The Luckiest. I finally got the opportunity to read it and it’s fantastic! Kelly is only in her 40s, but what a life she’s led so far. From Omaha, to college in Boston, to New York (Broadway), and then to Chicago! She meets the love of her life, Miguel, in NYC, and has a healthy son. Her daughter, Adelaide, has epilepsy and Kelly’s devotion to curing her daughter is amazing. This was a beautiful, heartwarming, emotional journey. Loved it.
November 16, 2025
The Luckiest by Kelly Cervantes
Audio
Writing: B
Story:B+
Narration: B+
Best Aspect: Very personal story with some heartfelt moments.
Worst Aspect: So much sadness with her daughter’s illness, it became what the entire book was and it was a lot to take.
Recommend: Yes. Thank you NetGalley the book is available now.
Audio
Writing: B
Story:B+
Narration: B+
Best Aspect: Very personal story with some heartfelt moments.
Worst Aspect: So much sadness with her daughter’s illness, it became what the entire book was and it was a lot to take.
Recommend: Yes. Thank you NetGalley the book is available now.
January 6, 2026
Five stars for this beautifully written and powerful memoir. Kelly Cervantes shares her story with such grace. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kelly a few times and being a guest on her podcast. It’s a joy to see her compassion and wisdom shine so clearly on the page.
October 19, 2025
I went to high school with Kelly, but unfortunately, we barely knew each other. I wish we would have been friends. I have a feeling many who read her memoir will also feel like she is a friend. Her honest, descriptive and often poetic writing style draws you into her warmth. I admit I bought Kelly’s first book a couple years ago to show support, but I’ve been too much of a coward to read it. As a mother, I cannot fathom losing a child, so I was scared to read Kelly’s story of losing her precious daughter. After reading this memoir, I know I should.
As a family medicine physician in the trenches fighting for my patients every day, Kelly’s experience fighting insurance and drug companies for her daughter’s health is heartbreaking, but unfortunately not surprising. I’m so inspired by Kelly’s ability to find beauty after tragedy and I recommend this book to all parents, but especially to parents of children with health problems.
Kelly also did a great job narrating her audiobook with such authentic emotion. Loved ❤️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.
As a family medicine physician in the trenches fighting for my patients every day, Kelly’s experience fighting insurance and drug companies for her daughter’s health is heartbreaking, but unfortunately not surprising. I’m so inspired by Kelly’s ability to find beauty after tragedy and I recommend this book to all parents, but especially to parents of children with health problems.
Kelly also did a great job narrating her audiobook with such authentic emotion. Loved ❤️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.
November 7, 2025
The Luckiest, felt a bit like sitting down with a friend over coffee — the kind of conversation where someone finally stops pretending they have it all together and just tells the truth. It’s a story about ambition, motherhood, marriage, loss, and the long, slow work of rediscovering who you are after life knocks you sideways.
Kelly opens up about the many versions of herself — the young woman chasing Broadway dreams in New York, the wife of a rising star, the mother caring for a medically fragile child, the woman grieving an unimaginable loss, and, eventually, the person learning how to live again. What struck me most wasn’t just her honesty, but her ability to find meaning and even humor in the middle of heartbreak. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but she also doesn’t wallow. There’s this grounded resilience in her voice — a kind of steady, lived-in wisdom that comes from someone who’s been through the fire and made peace with the scars.
The theme of luck runs through the whole book, and it’s fascinating how Kelly plays with it. She doesn’t treat luck as something shiny or simple. Instead, it’s messy — sometimes cruel, sometimes kind, often both at once.
What I loved most was her reflection on identity. As a reader, I felt seen in her wrestling with all the different versions of herself — the performer, the caregiver, the woman trying to be more than her labels. The “nesting doll” metaphor — that we carry all our earlier selves inside us — really stayed with me. It’s such a gentle reminder that growth doesn’t mean erasing who we were, just learning to hold all those versions with compassion.
This isn’t a light read. There are moments that are heartbreaking, especially when she writes about her daughter, Adelaide. But there’s also an incredible tenderness to it — not just sorrow, but love, humor, and gratitude threaded through every chapter. By the end, I didn’t feel sad so much as grounded.
If you’ve ever had to start over, if you’ve ever wondered how to rebuild after loss or redefine what “lucky” even means, this book will speak to you. The Luckiest doesn’t promise easy answers — instead, it gives you a companion for the hard questions.
Kelly opens up about the many versions of herself — the young woman chasing Broadway dreams in New York, the wife of a rising star, the mother caring for a medically fragile child, the woman grieving an unimaginable loss, and, eventually, the person learning how to live again. What struck me most wasn’t just her honesty, but her ability to find meaning and even humor in the middle of heartbreak. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but she also doesn’t wallow. There’s this grounded resilience in her voice — a kind of steady, lived-in wisdom that comes from someone who’s been through the fire and made peace with the scars.
The theme of luck runs through the whole book, and it’s fascinating how Kelly plays with it. She doesn’t treat luck as something shiny or simple. Instead, it’s messy — sometimes cruel, sometimes kind, often both at once.
What I loved most was her reflection on identity. As a reader, I felt seen in her wrestling with all the different versions of herself — the performer, the caregiver, the woman trying to be more than her labels. The “nesting doll” metaphor — that we carry all our earlier selves inside us — really stayed with me. It’s such a gentle reminder that growth doesn’t mean erasing who we were, just learning to hold all those versions with compassion.
This isn’t a light read. There are moments that are heartbreaking, especially when she writes about her daughter, Adelaide. But there’s also an incredible tenderness to it — not just sorrow, but love, humor, and gratitude threaded through every chapter. By the end, I didn’t feel sad so much as grounded.
If you’ve ever had to start over, if you’ve ever wondered how to rebuild after loss or redefine what “lucky” even means, this book will speak to you. The Luckiest doesn’t promise easy answers — instead, it gives you a companion for the hard questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2025
This book is the second memoir I’ve read by Kelly Cervantes, and this one truly blew me away. The way she told her story through different eras (Omaha Kelly, Boston Kelly, etc), while weaving together a beautiful portrait of her early life, her relationship with her husband, Hamilton star Miguel Cervantes, their experiences of courtship, marriage, parenthood, the devastating and beautifully told journey of love and loss of their daughter Adelaide who had a rare form of epilepsy and more. She shares the intimate details of the layers of trauma that she has endured while never making this book feel even remotely like a pity party, but she also doesn’t gloss over anything in attempts to make you feel like she is #blessed or, as she says it, the luckiest. Instead she examines her life and the highs and lows and all of the nuances moments in between, and will leave you laughing, tearing up (ok, maybe full on crying in some parts), and moved.
Kelly Cervantes is a true talent - I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to receive an Advance Listening Copy of the book from Brilliance Audio and NetGalley in exchange for my review.
Kelly Cervantes is a true talent - I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to receive an Advance Listening Copy of the book from Brilliance Audio and NetGalley in exchange for my review.
October 20, 2025
This memoir starts with Kelly Cervantes’ childhood and young adulthood, but the heart of the story is really about being a mom of a child with severe illness and then losing her - but also about she can still try to feel lucky for the good things in her life despite what she has been through.
Needless to say this is a sad one - if child illness or loss of a child is a trigger for you, take note. However, it also is inspiring. I had the pleasure to hear Kelly speak and then meet her at a Zibby Books petite retreat earlier this month, and one thing she said which she also says in the book really stuck with me - that she doesn’t believe that things happen for a reason, BUT that you can make a reason out of things that happen.
Kelly, thank you for sharing your story, and for so beautifully sharing Adelaide’s story with the world.
Thanks to the publisher for my e-book and audiobook copies from NetGalley (out 11/4/25); all opinions are my own. I went back and forth between the two though mostly did it on audio, Kelly has a warm and lovely voice and so beautifully narrates her own story.
Needless to say this is a sad one - if child illness or loss of a child is a trigger for you, take note. However, it also is inspiring. I had the pleasure to hear Kelly speak and then meet her at a Zibby Books petite retreat earlier this month, and one thing she said which she also says in the book really stuck with me - that she doesn’t believe that things happen for a reason, BUT that you can make a reason out of things that happen.
Kelly, thank you for sharing your story, and for so beautifully sharing Adelaide’s story with the world.
Thanks to the publisher for my e-book and audiobook copies from NetGalley (out 11/4/25); all opinions are my own. I went back and forth between the two though mostly did it on audio, Kelly has a warm and lovely voice and so beautifully narrates her own story.
October 29, 2025
5 stars
Thank you NetGalley, Kelly Cervantes, and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for this ALC.
To say this book was incredibly touching is an understatement. Kelly Cervantes has a remarkable way of drawing readers in, allowing them to truly feel what she experienced during those difficult years with Adelaide.
As a mother of a neurodivergent child, I found so many moments in this book deeply relatable. Kelly’s honesty and vulnerability made me feel seen, understood, and far less alone in my own journey.
There’s such a wealth of empathy, perspective, and reflection throughout these pages. It made me pause and think about my own struggles, the way I talk to myself, and how I view my role as a parent.
This was a truly beautiful read. While it almost feels unfair to assign a rating to something so personal and raw, I’m giving it five stars for its grace, honesty, and beautiful writing.
Thank you NetGalley, Kelly Cervantes, and Brilliance Publishing/Audio for this ALC.
To say this book was incredibly touching is an understatement. Kelly Cervantes has a remarkable way of drawing readers in, allowing them to truly feel what she experienced during those difficult years with Adelaide.
As a mother of a neurodivergent child, I found so many moments in this book deeply relatable. Kelly’s honesty and vulnerability made me feel seen, understood, and far less alone in my own journey.
There’s such a wealth of empathy, perspective, and reflection throughout these pages. It made me pause and think about my own struggles, the way I talk to myself, and how I view my role as a parent.
This was a truly beautiful read. While it almost feels unfair to assign a rating to something so personal and raw, I’m giving it five stars for its grace, honesty, and beautiful writing.
November 14, 2025
I received this book 3 days ago at the author’s Chicago book tour stop. I could not put it down. Kelly tells her story with humor, sarcasm, wit, bravery, and heart breaking honesty that anyone who has lived, breathed, and experienced pain can relate to. I too have lost a child to an undiagnosed disease and the way she weaves Adelaide’s story into her own journey and the aftermath is beautiful, relatable, and healing. Everyone should read this incredible piece of art because even if you haven’t experienced this exact loss, if you are alive, you have experienced pain. Kelly’s perspective on life and its difficulty is refreshing. No toxic positivity here, just real acknowledgment of the extreme horrific nature of life’s trials woven with moments of light, joy, and a chance to look at how we can grow and even live from our struggles. I highly, highly recommend this to anyone!
November 7, 2025
This book will stay with me for a long time. Kelly Cervantes is an exceptionally talented writer, and I can honestly say it’s the first time I’ve finished a memoir of this length in under 48 hours. Her story, from middle school to college in Boston, to New York City, and ultimately to meeting her husband, Miguel Cervantes, shows how she became the woman strong enough to advocate for and fight for her ill child.
She invites readers into her world with honesty and grace, sharing her pain, vulnerability, grief, and courage. Her writing is powerful, deeply moving, and full of heart.
I’ll be recommending this book to all my friends and family, who I know will feel as moved and inspired by it as I was.
She invites readers into her world with honesty and grace, sharing her pain, vulnerability, grief, and courage. Her writing is powerful, deeply moving, and full of heart.
I’ll be recommending this book to all my friends and family, who I know will feel as moved and inspired by it as I was.
October 19, 2025
I like memoirs. I'm not sure what exactly makes a good memoir for me, but this one did. I think it's the vulnerability. I like it when an author admits that they don't always show up as their best selves, or they make decisions they regret and own them. I like it when they share weird thoughts that are probably unpopular or what "a bad person" would think, and I know I have had those same thoughts. The second half of this memoir is way better than the first half, but I think the first half is a necessary foundation. I'm wondering if I should read her other memoir, or if it's going to be the same story.
October 12, 2025
As the description says, The Luckiest is a story about love, loss, grief, and the strength it takes to live again. It’s about hope, and the unimaginable lengths we go for the people we love.
Knowing it’s an autobiography makes every page hit even harder, because it’s real. This book broke my heart over and over, leaving me choked with tears.
But beyond the heartbreak, it made me reflect deeply, it reminded me how lucky I am, and how much more grateful I should be for every ordinary, beautiful moment of life.
Knowing it’s an autobiography makes every page hit even harder, because it’s real. This book broke my heart over and over, leaving me choked with tears.
But beyond the heartbreak, it made me reflect deeply, it reminded me how lucky I am, and how much more grateful I should be for every ordinary, beautiful moment of life.
December 5, 2025
I loved The Luckiest! It is so beautifully written and so incredibly raw, honest and vulnerable. Cervantes opens up her head and heart to readers as she and her husband, her friends and family navigate the incredibly challenging and frustrating world of epilepsy and rare disease. There were so many times when I could picture the scenes she describes with vivid detail, which in many cases resulted in lots of tears. This book is a beautiful tribute to her daughter Adelaide and should be required reading for anyone navigating a life changing event.
November 24, 2025
Reading this book is like getting to know your best friend and following their journey thru all the places they lived and the heartache and healing that’s happened along the way. The description of time permanence and the way kids see things on one plane is the in between we all search for forever. Beautifully written and engaging. You will love Kelly and gain strength from her perseverance. Go get this book!
November 15, 2025
Listened to it on audiobook in Kelly’s voice.
Introspective, vulnerable, heartbreaking, and deeply visceral. Kelly is a gifted storyteller, both in her writing and in her narration.
If you like memoirs/human-interest, I highly recommend this read.
Introspective, vulnerable, heartbreaking, and deeply visceral. Kelly is a gifted storyteller, both in her writing and in her narration.
If you like memoirs/human-interest, I highly recommend this read.
November 29, 2025
What a gorgeous and moving memoir. You will resonate with Kelly even though your journey is vastly different from hers. The themes she tackles are universal and are written with authenticity and compassion. Highly recommend.
December 17, 2025
A powerful and tender memoir about love, caregiving, and loss. Kelly shares her journey with grace, honesty, and even moments of humor. This book is heartbreaking and a true testament to a mother’s love.
November 9, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early read. Honest and raw account of love and loss. I could see this book being too much for someone that has lost someone in their family due to illness, so I appreciate the content warning included. Cervantes is a great storyteller and shares her life and experiences in a way that I didn’t want to put it down. The audiobook was very well recorded!
October 30, 2025
The Luckiest by Kelly Cervantes is a book that will stay with me for a long time. As a mother of a child with special needs, I felt such a deep connection to Kelly’s story and her words. She writes with incredible honesty about love, loss, and what it means to find light even in the darkest places. Her journey through her daughter’s illness and passing is heartbreaking, yet she somehow manages to weave in moments of grace, humor, and hope that remind us that joy and grief can coexist.
What I appreciated most was Kelly’s ability to be real—to show the raw pain, the messy emotions, and the small victories that only parents in similar situations truly understand. Her message is one of resilience, compassion, and gratitude, even when life doesn’t go as planned. It’s not just a story about loss—it’s a story about living fully and loving deeply.
I’m so grateful to have read this book and to Kelly for sharing her family’s story so openly. It’s a reminder that we are never alone in our struggles, and that there is always meaning to be found, even in heartbreak.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What I appreciated most was Kelly’s ability to be real—to show the raw pain, the messy emotions, and the small victories that only parents in similar situations truly understand. Her message is one of resilience, compassion, and gratitude, even when life doesn’t go as planned. It’s not just a story about loss—it’s a story about living fully and loving deeply.
I’m so grateful to have read this book and to Kelly for sharing her family’s story so openly. It’s a reminder that we are never alone in our struggles, and that there is always meaning to be found, even in heartbreak.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 9, 2025
I devoured Kelly’s book because the writing was excellent, the subject matter relatable, and her exploration and telling of her stories authentic and brave.
December 20, 2025
I had no knowledge of who this author was. I chose this memoir based on the short synopsis. I thought it was a story that was deserving to be shared and found myself eager to listen to the author's soothing voice and story told in her own words. While I have no experience with epilepsy, or child loss, I still felt that I could relate to her as a woman, wife, and mom. I was impressed by her tenacity, and I found the medical journey although daunting, to be somewhat uplifting as well. I feel like her journey was a raw, real depiction of traveling through diagnosis and all that unravels your world because of that.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews