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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
What began as a bright, interesting sequel to Weiner's massive hit debut Good In Bed wandered wildly off track for me after 3/4 of the way through. What began as an engaging look at a mother and her daughter attempting to approach the fact that the daughter was not a little girl anymore took a completely incomprehensible turn in the end when the author (for seemingly no reason whatsoever) killed off Cannie's loving and patient husband. The book had plenty of dramatic juice to go on, and it would have made much more sense to leave Joy's unexpected trip to L.A. as the major moment of drama at the end that brings all of the families together. What's more, Peter's death deserved either its own entire book or at least more than the 15 pages devoted to it. I don't believe that the characters would have bounced back as easily as they did from his death, either. Joy seemed completely unaffected by it, and the cheap, weak "montage" of Cannie spending months at the kitchen table in her bathrobe or sobbing in the appliance store? Boring. What Weiner had started writing was far more original and interesting than what she ended off with. I was disappointed, but everything up to that chapter was great.
Jennifer Weiner does no wrong! I loved her other books that I have read from her: Good in Bed and In her Shoes. I thought I knew where the story was going to go but then...Bam! Surprise twist! I loved the adventure of this story even though it is a similar storyline to many families. I learned a lot about Judiasm which I am thankful.
Great story!
Great story!
I struggled with this book, as a book itself it wasn't bad. But as a sequel it was terrible. Cannie isn't even sort of the same character I fell in love with in Good in Bed. The spunky, lovable character turned into a pathetic mess whose only concern was smothering her daughter and pretending she doesn't exist. Her daughter was also insufferable, clearly written as more of an idea of a 13 year old and not realistic to any actual 13 year old. Hating her mother solely because she had big boobs or said I love you, I understand teen angst (we've all been there) but this went to an unrealistic level. The book was slow, and almost impossible to get through. I only finished it out of curiosity if it would get better, spoiler it didn't. The end is needlessly depressing and makes no sense, just give Cannie a happy ending.
I really enjoyed this book. I'm still not sure how I feel about the different points of view --one chapter is from the mother's perspective, then next from the daughter's. I guess I just didn't really enjoy the daughter's perspective. She came off as an incredibly spoiled 12 year old. But I love "Cannie" the same character from Good in Bed, and I was glad to see her again. I liked how it jumped in many years later, but then went back and filled you in on what happened between the two books. A big surprise at the ending...but I won't give it away...I certainly didn't see it coming, but then again, I was dupped by Sixth Sense too (okay, it's not nearly that big of a shocker). I wanted more depth, I wanted to hear more form Cannie, but overall a very enjoyable read.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As I was reading this book, I remembered that I didn't like the first book in the series, particularly because the characters were all whiny pains. Turns out that when people like that have a kid, their kid is also a rude. whiny, pain in the butt. I cannot imagine things ending well for me if I ever acted like Joy - but I was also not set up for (a lack of) success like her. Cannie continued to be flaky and just waited for someone she could blame for her problems/solve her problems for her.
Anyways, while I generally like Weiner as an author, I'm not sorry to see the back of Cannie and her host of problems.
Anyways, while I generally like Weiner as an author, I'm not sorry to see the back of Cannie and her host of problems.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Death of parent
If you liked Good in Bed, and Jennifer Weiner in general, you'll LOVE this one. Shockingly funny, as only Weiner can do, and full of twists and turns that will leave you page-turning until the very end. Satisfying like nothing else I've ever read, really. Very cute.
I'm thinking Certain Girls would be better if I'd re-read Good In Bed. I remember thinking my friend Jake was the best friend ever for introducing me to GiB and then I went on to read more of Jennifer Weiner's books. For that, I will always be grateful.
That said, CG is one of those books that really needs a half-star option. It's not merely good, and it's not quite up to "save it from a burning building!" status either. It's somewhere in between. It might exist soley in the between places were it not for Peter's death, which comes out of nowhere. Looking back, you realize that there are hints that it's coming, from jokes to how Peter wants his funeral to Peter being the one to push for another child, but it's still a surprise when the call comes. And if you're like me, you would give anything for that to never have happened. For the book to have remained simply good, and not gone for more... But with that death, the book becomes unforgettable.
That said, CG is one of those books that really needs a half-star option. It's not merely good, and it's not quite up to "save it from a burning building!" status either. It's somewhere in between. It might exist soley in the between places were it not for Peter's death, which comes out of nowhere. Looking back, you realize that there are hints that it's coming, from jokes to how Peter wants his funeral to Peter being the one to push for another child, but it's still a surprise when the call comes. And if you're like me, you would give anything for that to never have happened. For the book to have remained simply good, and not gone for more... But with that death, the book becomes unforgettable.
