The Son of Good Fortune

by Lysley Tenorio
The Son of Good Fortune cover
Good Books rating 4.27
Contemporary Fiction
Buy online
Amazon
Format/Price Check
Technical
  • ID: 7545
  • Added: 2025-12-14
  • Updated: 2025-12-14
  • ISBN: 9780062059611
  • Publisher: HarperCollins
  • Published: 2020-07-07
  • Reviews: 3

The Son of Good Fortune follows Excel, an undocumented Filipino teenager, as he tries to blend in as an ordinary American while hiding his family's secrets. His mother, Maxima, is a former Filipina B-movie action star who now scams men online, and their lives are further complicated by the presence of Maxima's martial arts trainer. Excel's world is turned upside down when he joins his girlfriend Sab on a journey to a desert town called Hello City, where he begins to question his identity and future. /n/n This novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complex relationships between mothers and sons. It is a story of hope and resilience, as Excel navigates the challenges of being an outsider in a country he calls home. The Son of Good Fortune is a luminous and big-hearted debut that will resonate with readers who have ever felt like they don't quite fit in.

Reviews
Amazon · 2025-12-14
enjoyable 4.40

The book is imaginative, humorous, and serious, addressing the challenges of being undocumented. It is well-written and engaging.

The reviewer enjoyed the book tremendously, praising its imaginative and humorous approach to a serious subject. They found the portrayal of the challenges faced by undocumented individuals to be both compelling and well-executed. The reviewer appreciated the balance between humor and seriousness, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    I enjoyed this book tremendously. It is imaginative, humorous, and serious at the same time it addresses the challenges of being undocumented.

    It is well-written and engaging.

    The reviewer appreciated the balance between humor and seriousness, making it an engaging and thought-provoking read.

The New York Times · 2020-07-07
affecting 4.00

The novel is a poignant exploration of a mother's influence on her child's expectations. It highlights the deep emotional bonds and struggles within immigrant families.

The reviewer found the novel deeply affecting, particularly in its portrayal of the complex relationship between a mother and her son. The story is a powerful reminder of how a parent's love and expectations can shape a child's life, especially in the face of adversity. The reviewer appreciated the emotional depth and the nuanced portrayal of the immigrant experience, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    Lysley Tenorio's novel is an affecting portrayal of just how powerfully a parent can shape the expectations of her child.

    The story is a powerful reminder of how a parent's love and expectations can shape a child's life, especially in the face of adversity.

    The novel highlights the deep emotional bonds and struggles within immigrant families.

BookBrowse · 2020-07-07
poignant 4.40

The characters are humorous and loving despite the exclusion they face. The novel is a poignant exploration of the immigrant experience.

The reviewer found the characters to be both humorous and loving, which added depth to the story. They appreciated how the novel portrays the immigrant experience with compassion and accuracy. The reviewer noted that the characters' struggles and resilience make the story both poignant and relatable, highlighting the universal themes of love and perseverance.

Quick quotes

    Tenorio's characters are humorous and loving, in spite of the exclusion overshadowing their very existence.

    The novel is a poignant exploration of the immigrant experience.

    The characters' struggles and resilience make the story both poignant and relatable.

Appears in Lists