Lucky

In 1982 New York, a baby is left on the steps of a nunnery. Margaret Jean , a woman hiding as a nun, witnesses a man named John Armstrong claim the child as his own, spinning a story about his wife's postpartum struggles. Margaret Jean, herself a con artist, gives up her gold crucifix to help, feeling a rare moment of virtue. The baby, Luciana , is taken by John, setting in motion a life shaped by deception, survival, and the search for belonging. Growing up, Luciana—now called Lucky —travels the country with John , learning the art of the con. She's told she's the luckiest girl in the world,

Theme 1: Abandoned on Church Steps

This thread running through Lucky gives the story its emotional weight. Marissa Stapley weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 2: Becoming Lucky Armstrong

This thread running through Lucky gives the story its emotional weight. Marissa Stapley weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: Lessons in Deception

This thread running through Lucky gives the story its emotional weight. Marissa Stapley weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Lucky

Lucky has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Marissa Stapley's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Abandoned on Church Steps" — Marissa Stapley, Lucky

About the Author

Marissa Stapley is the author of Lucky. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.