Teenager Excel struggles to come of age in California, navigating life as an undocumented immigrant and the only child of a mother who can’t let go of her glory days as a B-movie action star in her native Philippines. Excel has spent years treading a careful path hoping to meet his mother’s expectations while also remaining as anonymous as possible in order to protect their secret. Tired of feeling stuck, he travels south with his girlfriend to Hello City, a shabby desert enclave of hippies and artists living slightly off-grid. But can the move bring him the answers and sense of belonging he so desperately seeks?

The Son of Good Fortune is character driven, especially by the push and pull between Excel and his mother, Maxima. Their struggles to understand and care for one another are the force behind the narrative. A shifting timeline provides readers with a deeper understand of Excel’s growth and journey he and Maxima take both together and apart.

The Son of Good Fortune ⠀
💜💜💜💫/5⠀
⠀
The Son of Good Fortune follows a young undocumented Filipino man and his mother as they are juggling their own struggles and successes while hiding in America. I’ve had a few days to think about this book and I do believe I enjoyed it! I’m not sure what it is, but I feel as though the book was missing something- maybe it could use a bit more excitement, but I grew fond of the characters and empathized with their many struggles being undocumented in America. One of the things I loved most about this book is how much I learned while reading it. I have no experience being an undocumented citizen in America so it was interesting to take a walk in someone else’s shoes. This novel was insightful and I’d recommend it to you all when it releases in July!

The Son of Good Fortune is filled with flawed but lovable characters. 3.5 stars, an easy enjoyable read.

The Son of Good Fortune is the story of an undocumented Filipina and once popular b-movie action star, Maxima, and her teenage son Excel, as they navigate their struggles and relationship in small town California.

The characters in this book! If you like a character driven novel, this is for you! Maxima and Excel do not always come off as likable on paper, and yet they were two of the most real and engaging characters I’ve read all year. I couldn’t help but be drawn to their story. This has a lot to do with Tenorio’s writing and I’m interested in reading more from this author.

I would compare the “vibe” of this book to Tell the Wolves I’m Home. Completely different type of story, but I couldn’t get the connection out of my head the entire time I was reading. Flawed but lovable characters abound.

Thank you NetGalley and Ecco for the free review copy.

The Son of Good Fortune follows Excel, a young undocumented Filipino (or TNT) man, and his mother, Maxima. Maxima came to the US nineteen years ago, just as Excel was being born. She raised him alongside a family friend, and the story begins as Excel returns home after almost a year of being away. We follow two timelines—one past, as Excel leaves his mother to go live with his girlfriend in a small desert community, and one present, after Excel returns and is in need of $10,000.

This is a story about family, sacrifice, hope, and figuring out who you are and what defines you. Because of his family's undocumented status, Excel has always felt like a ghost and never wanted to bring attention to himself (or his mother). He has never excelled, as his name suggests, because he doesn't want to be in the spotlight. He is very loyal, introspective, patient, and protective. I found these same traits in Tenorio's writing—it is very languid, calm, and self-reflective. While Excel might not share his thoughts often, we are treated to his thought process, and learn how he guides himself and his behavior. His frustration and strength lay bubbling beneath his calm exterior, and I loved how Tenorio reflected that in the way he wrote. It forms a very solid structure to help the reader understand how being undocumented has affected Excel's life.

I also loved Maxima, Excel's mother. She is such a unique and STRONG woman—literally! She is a martial arts expert, and starred in Filipino action moves back when she lived in Manila. So cool! She is so dedicated to Excel, and is willing to help him, whatever it may take, which ends up forming a large part of the narrative.

I think that a really interesting part of this narrative, besides Tenorio's evocative representation of what it means to be undocumented in the Filipino community, was the vision of family, and what it could mean. Maxima and Excel work together to trick an America, and in that process, they pretend to be a struggling family in the Philippines that is religious, earnest, and goal-oriented, to fit into this person's idea of what the "proper" poor, but upwards-striving, family should be. This person thinks that if you work hard and get an education, you can improve your situation. Yet if this person had known their real struggles, he would not pity or help them, even though their hardship is just as valid. This whole situation shows the thin line between what is viewed as “right” and “wrong” by some, and the ignorance of the idea that if you work hard enough, you’ll succeed.

There is a lot to examine in this book, and many different ideas to unpack. I think it would make for a good classroom read in high school, or even college. Yet what shines through is a story of family—the one we have and the ones we hope for, and all that we’ll do to protect them. I would highly recommend this book!

The Son of Good Fortune tells the story of Excel and Maxima, a Filipino boy and his mother who are living in California and who are both undocumented. It illustrates how difficult it is to live a life in hiding. Mother and s0n face financial hardship and live in fear of being discovered and sent out of the country. Wthout documentation they can not qualify for normal jobs or get a driver's license and are forced to hide the truth from other people they meet. The situations that arise in the book show how the characters meet these challenges and the actions they take which are sometimes of a questionable nature. Hiding leads to more hiding and honesty becomes a dangerous luxury.

Just finished this book. I enjoyed reading it. Excel is a young Filipino man living in California with his mother, Maxima. He had found out at age 10 he is illegally in the country. This fact is always with him, he tries to avoid standing out, doesn't drive. He meets a girl, Sab, and leaves with her to a commune like place. The story was interesting. The characters were interesting. His mother was an actress in a few B rated movies in the Philippines, she was a martial arts performer. She has an interesting way of making money in the USA.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the writing, the characters, and the heartwarming ending. It really got me out of my reading slump. It's a little bit offbeat and delightfully unique. I thought the strained mother and son relationship was strong from the start. Excel and Maxima really felt like family. This story follows Excel who's an illegal immigrant living in California with his con-artist mom. I liked how the story flips from present day to Excel's difficult childhood. Excel tries to make a life for himself which isn't easy since he's terrified him of being deported at the drop of a hat. I found him relatable. He's a good egg. This book was a like a big hug. It will definitely put a smile on your face.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Collins for the digital ARC.

Release date: July 7, 2020

Son of a Good Fortune is a coming-of-age story about Excel, a nineteen-year old undocumented American with Filipino heritage. Set in Colma, CA and Hello City, CA, Excel’s story reveals what it means to be undocumented or in the Filipinx community, TNT (“tago ng tago” or “always hiding”).

What price are you willing to pay to have the American Dream? Living in the Philippines, it’s common to think of a family member who lives in the States as someone who’s made it. Someone who’s subtly expected to take on the responsibility of caring for family members back home because they’re able to earn US dollars. This someone is usually the Ate. This someone is Maxima, Excel’s mother.

No one talks about the struggles of being undocumented or TNT- the struggle of finding a reliable job with a steady income, the lack of healthcare, the risk of losing everything at any given notice. And what about internally? We’re all familiar with teen angst and the pull to find a sense of identity and belonging. How does an undocumented teen handle all of this when they are taught that they need to stay hidden? This novel was a slow-burn but halfway through and on, I deeply appreciated how Lysley Tenorio develops this perspective.

Though I was really eager to read more complex Tagalog words/phrases, especially from characters who are fluent like Maxima, I guessed Lysley Tenorio intentionally wrote it this way because these phrases are the ones that just stood out more to Excel’s untrained ear for Tagalog. Phrases like, “Ano ba?” (“What?” / “What is it?”) and “Di ba?” (“Isn’t it?”), are commonly used throughout the novel.

I find that there’s a tendency to automatically picture Filipinas/os as overly happy people, with big families who sing and dance a lot. As immigrants, we’re expected to assimilate well as long as we go to school and work hard. Lysely Tenorio shatters that stereotype well. Highly recommend to everyone, especially if you’ve just read the Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio.

Special thanks to @netgalley for this digital ARC. Son of Good Fortune comes out on July 7, 2020.

A middle of the road novel about being illegal in the US. The issues raised were interesting, but the narrative wasn't as propelling as I would have liked.

Hello. I'm reading this copy to hopefully write a full-length review on it for a journal. I'm not done reading the book yet. So far I give it 3 stars. After reading the book, I'd like to interview the author.

Excel and his mother, Maxima, live in the shadows in Colma outside San Francisco. Undocumented, constantly watching their backs lest they be found out and returned to the Philippines, well, returned in the case of Maxima, sent for the first time in the case of Excel as the circumstances of his birth won't survive scrutiny. Whatever can be said of Maxima, she has raised a prize in Excel. A young man of 19 who can pass for much younger, but who has a strong moral compass. She notes that she had been housed, not raised, But for better or worse, she raised Excel. Although an easy read, this book grabbed me from page one.

I thought the overall story was good. I always enjoy reading a book that raises awareness about issues of living in America through experiences that are different than my own. I thought that Maxima's character was really well-developed. She had great lines, an interesting story, and wit. On the other hand, I thought that Excel's character and the whole story surrounding Hello City (I found the name to be very cheesy) fell pretty flat for me. I would still consider reading some of Lysley Tenorio's other books.

Very good novel. Well written and an interesting story. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The story of Excel, an undocumented Filipino young adult, captured my heart from the beginning. The topic of immigration is timely and at the forefront of my mind, and the heartbreaking account of one family negotiating life in the United States with no documents was eye opening.

The characters, with their interesting back stories, kept me engaged throughout the story. Excel was in many ways a typical, aimless teenager, yet he faced unique challenges that came from both his status as a TNT and the unfortunate turn of events in Hello City. Maxima, with her martial arts history to her money-making scams, was a flawed but realistic mother trying to negotiate life with very few resources in a new country. My favorite, though, was Roxy, their brutally honest, fiercely loyal transgender friend. I found myself laughing aloud when Roxy was around!

I had not read anything by Tenorio previously, but now I’m a fan! Looking forward to reading more of his work.

My thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in any way.

As a huge fan of Tenorio’s previous collection of short stories, I was so excited to read his first full-length novel. It did not disappoint.

Like his short stories, this narrative is full of life. Each character seemed like someone I could meet and have a conversation with since their backstories and descriptions were so specific and detailed. I liked each character and rooted for them even when they were at their worst. I admit that the plot was a little slow at times, but my interest in the characters’ lives and their decisions made the story really compelling for me.

I also loved the quirky details in the story that would make me chuckle. Excel’s job at a Chuck E. Cheese wannabe restaurant was particularly interesting as was Maxima’s lifestyle, including a life-size dummy that she practices her martial arts moves on while surrounded by posters of her the films she starred in as an action hero back in the Philippines..

These moments of levity always balanced out the grimmer aspects, leaving me feel like I truly was getting a slice of life from this family portrayed in the story. There were some heartbreaking realizations, tragic decisions, moments of lost hope, scams, but there were also some instances of real connection, generosity, and compassion.. The author cleverly weaves in the theme of identity or lack of identity. With references to costumes, Internet scams of people pretending to be someone else, and a city that doesn’t really seem like a city, Tenorio explores Excel’s sense of being adrift as an undocumented immigrant.

The best thing I can say about this book is that I will miss Maxima, Excel, Joker, Z, and Roxy. Even after finishing the book, I can’t help but think what they are all up to.

The Son of Good Fortune tracks the life of Excel, a 19-year-old coming home to Colma (a small city famous for having within its limits more dead people than living) after nearly a year away in a desert town with his girlfriend. A life-altering thing happened in this desert town, and now he’s home to make ten thousand dollars to send back to his girlfriend. It’s a tough task made more difficult by the fact that he’s undocumented.

This was an excellent novel that really sunk into the normal aimlessness of any 19-year-old, the desire to be better than our circumstances, and the desperation and frustration of being undocumented. Neither Excel nor his mother, Maxima — a professional scammer, are perfect, but it’s easy to be sympathetic to their plight. They do what they can and will put up with what they have to to get by.

Reading this as a Filipino American who grew up around Tagalog, I really loved how Tenorio handled the language in this book. A lot was left untranslated but could be understood through context. It felt true to the Taglish our families actually speak, and while this book is timely and I feel it should be read by all young people, it felt like a book written for us and not something trying to cater to a wider audience.

This was heartbreaking at a few turns, but not melodramatic. The characters felt like real people and this was a very realistic look at the life of undocumented teens. It also pairs well with Jose Antonio Vargas’s Dear America.

In his debut novel, Tenorio handles the poverty and hardships of United States immigrants with an even hand - getting around without a car (because you don't have your license), eating lots of fast food (it's fast and cheap and there always seem to be more pressing matters than nutrition), finding work (no social security number), and the constant worry: "the banality of poverty." Neat, articulate prose. I'm wondering where the title came from, whether there was something in the novel I missed (probably) or it's something Tagalog woven within the narrative. I like it. It's not a comfort read, but there's something consoling about a character like Excel who is insanely uncomfortable but assimilates to his circumstances with a sort of dis-ease.