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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
This book fell flat for me. I really liked Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner and I actually bought Certain girls first. However, I felt like Good in Bed didn't need this to be added to the end of the story. Most of the book seemed to drag on and talk about the same issues over and over again.
The narrators switch between Cannie and Joy told from their own point of view. In my opinion the book went on for too long with Joy and Cannie arguing.
However, all in all the ending of this book was a good one. I truly never expected what happened. I gave the book a 2 just for the ending.
The narrators switch between Cannie and Joy told from their own point of view. In my opinion the book went on for too long with Joy and Cannie arguing.
However, all in all the ending of this book was a good one. I truly never expected what happened. I gave the book a 2 just for the ending.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I guess people wanted to know whatever happened to Cannie and Joy Shapiro? Well you find out! Joy is now 13 and Cannie is married to Peter Kruvksdfjhsfhsdkjfhsdklsky. Cannie is still Cannie, only a lot more high strung. The majority of the book is about Joy's upcoming bat-mitvah and all the issues it's bringing up. The broken family, Joy wanting to be more grown up, etc. Then Joy reads the semi-biographical book Cannie wrote right after her birth and she goes on a mission to find out what parts are true... was Joy really not wanted?? On top of all of it, Peter wants to get a surrogate so they can have a baby.
I wanted to love this book. But I just didnt. Joy was entirely too bratty... if my kid ever does stuff like that at 12 there will be no shopping spree, there will be hell to pay. She's lying and stealing her way through the majority of the book and Cannie is the one who is begging Joy to forgive her?? I don't get it.
I wont ruin the ending but it completely didn't make sense. It's like there was one ending where practically everything was wrapped up, all there was left to do was go to the damn mitzvah... and then the author was like nope n/m I'm going to write another ending on top of this one. Totally weird. And Blah!
I wanted to love this book. But I just didnt. Joy was entirely too bratty... if my kid ever does stuff like that at 12 there will be no shopping spree, there will be hell to pay. She's lying and stealing her way through the majority of the book and Cannie is the one who is begging Joy to forgive her?? I don't get it.
I wont ruin the ending but it completely didn't make sense. It's like there was one ending where practically everything was wrapped up, all there was left to do was go to the damn mitzvah... and then the author was like nope n/m I'm going to write another ending on top of this one. Totally weird. And Blah!
I've always enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's books, but it has been awhile since I have read one. "Good In Bed" was the first book I read by her and it was around 2002, but it was easy to catch up with Cannie again. The story had Weiner's usual wit and some touching moments, but I never expected the emotional turn it would take. Weiner did a great job of making you feel Cannie's frustration of trying to communicate with her teenage daughter and also feel Joy's frustration of dealing with her conflicted emotions and feelings for her mother. Throughout the story there are friends and family bar and bat mitzvahs. By the time Joy's bat mitzvah arrives, she has truly become an adult through what she has had to experience in her life.
I have many of Weiner's other books still on my shelf to read. This book reminded me why I have enjoyed reading this author and I am not going to wait as long until I pick up another of her books to read.
I have many of Weiner's other books still on my shelf to read. This book reminded me why I have enjoyed reading this author and I am not going to wait as long until I pick up another of her books to read.
emotional
medium-paced
I read Good in Bed many years ago, and was eager to read this when I found out it was sort of a sequel. I enjoyed the different perspective from each character (chapters alternate between the mom's and daughter's), and found that I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I do have to say though, I was a little disappointed in the ending. I'm afraid if I say more, it'll ruin it for those who haven't read it yet...
Not as good as her other books, but still a great read.
I picked this up for something new and it was just an "eh" book. It teeters on teh verge of a time waster imo.
I 4-star, really-liked some things about this book, and I thought some things were 2-star, okay. So, 3 stars to you, Certain Girls. I like what Jennifer Weiner did with In Her Shoes so much more, but to be fair, I haven't read Good in Bed, the book to which Certain Girls is the sequel. And I can't decide if I will do that eventually or not. (KO, do you have that one? I think you told me, but I forgot. If you do, maybe bring it down here in June? <3)