Since reading her breakout hit "Good In Bed" in high school I have read all of Jennifer Weiner's books. Unfortunately for me and many other women, none of her subsequent eight books have quite lived up to her first. As I write this I wonder to myself why have been such a loyal reader for the last ten years? It is because regardless if the story falls a little short or feels unrealistic, Weiner always writes remarkably well. Her books are witty and fast paced. The reader feels as though they are sitting down with a good friend. There is no getting in to the story, you immediately are intrigued by the characters and their lives.
What I think Weiner has done well in her books following "Good In Bed," is develop very different female characters. Her first book certainly seemed to be very autobiographical. The main character, Cannie Shapiro, was a slightly overweight woman in her early thirties, who was a Princeton graduate, Philly native, daughter of a lesbian, and whose trusty sidekick was a sassy rat terrier, all of which fit Weiner herself. While it does fit Weiner, so many other women can connect with Cannie. Her next book "In Her Shoes," had a similar plain Jane character with an over the top beautiful sister (played by Cameron Diaz in the poor movie). "Certain Girls" followed a couple novels after and revisited Cannie, later in life and explored her relationship with her pre-teen daughter. Most every book seems to also contain a wise much older woman (grandmother, aunt, friend) who perfectly embodies all of the positive attributes of each "Golden Girl" character. While these have been great introductions to Weiner and wonderful reads, it was refreshing to read her other books with new and different characters.
While this book could be her most unrealistic story she has written to date, she managed to develop strong female characters from drastically different walks of life. The story follows surrogate pregnancy using an egg donor. The egg donor is a young, smart, and stunning (the descriptions of her beauty seems endless) Princeton college student, who is solely providing the "donation" for the money. The surrogate is a young, struggling, army wife and mother, whose self professed only accomplishment to date is two successful pregancies, so she sees this as a way to use her skills to provide for her family. The mother is a incredibly wealthy trophy wife, who due to her age cannot get pregnant on her own, but also seems happy to be able to delegate the task out to others. Weiner rounds out this female cast of characters, by also illustrating the trophy wife's privileged stepdaughter. While each character is quite extreme and unique, most readers will identify with qualities or backgrounds of each character. One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is that the surrogate and the trophy wife, strike up an unlikely bond. Each woman is envious of the other for what they have (real or perceived), but have an extreme gratitude to each other for the service provided, that they lean on one another during difficult times. Another very interesting relationship is that of the egg donor and her love interest, which is both surprising and heartwarming. The downside to the larger cast of characters, no one woman seemed fully developed in the story. It certainly would not be surprising if a character or characters make a reprise in a central role in a future novel.
If you are a Weiner fan, you will enjoy this quick and captivating read. You will laugh and maybe even shed a tear or two while enjoying another jaunt with an old friend. If you have never read Jennifer Weiner before please start with "Good In Bed!" Do not let the title fool you, it is a far cry from "50 Shades of Grey." Anyhow is the age of the Kindles and Nooks, you can privately enjoy it even in a crowded coffee shop or airport. Of her others my favorites are "Little Earthquakes," "Fly Away Home," and "Goodnight Nobody." Also look for my upcoming post on her most recent novel "The Next Best Thing."
Happy reading, y'all!
