Certain Girls: A Novel by Jennifer Weiner
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Book Reviews of Certain Girls: A Novel
Book Review: Doesn't quite measure up to it's Prequel
Summary: 3 Stars
"Good in Bed" is one of my favorite books; when asked for book recommendations, it's always up there on my list. So I was more than excited to find that Jennifer Weiner had written a sequel. What a disappointment. This character that I so loved - Cannie - I found her annoying, unlikeable, and a far cry from the character I fell in love with the first go-around. She's flawed...we can relate...I get that, but instead of empathizing with her with her struggles with her daughter, I found myself rolling my eyes and cringing at her every word.
And maybe I've read too many Jodi Picoult books lately...but I'm so tired of these depressing endings. So many books I read lately I feel make a point of NOT having a happy ending.
I did not hate this book, but it was definitely disappointing. I won't be recommending this to anyone.
Book Review: SO-SO
Summary: 3 Stars
I normally love Jennifer Weiner's books and was so looking forward to reading the follow up to Good in Bed. But this book did not live up to my expectations. The chapters switching from Cannie to her daughter got really annoying and there was SO much bat mizvah stuff. It was sort of like, enough already! The book is still funny in places and it is not a bad book by any means. Just don't expect Good in Bed part 2.Book Review: Skip it...
Summary: 2 Stars
First off, let me start off by saying I'm a big Jennifer Weiner fan. Her books are the perfect in-between books. You know, those books that are light and fluffy reads and that are perfect to read in-between serious books? That's what describes Jennifer Weiner's books.
Now, "Certain Girls" is a sequel to Weiner's hit novel "Good in Bed". In my opinion, there are three types of sequels. The first type are those certain sequels that are great. They are even better than the original novel and it tends to make them look better. The second type are those that don't really make much of a difference to the original novel. These are loose sequels. They have some of the original novel's backstory, but not so much where it's absolutely necessary to read the first novel. They can be read as stand-alone novels. Lastly, there are those sequels that are better in theory. The ones that make the original novel worse. "Certain Girls", unfortunately, falls under the third category.
I loved "Good In Bed". I thought it was a gem. "Certain Girls"...not so much. First off, Cannie Shapiro (the heroine of the first novel) did a complete 180. It seemed like she went from three steps forward (in the first novel) and two steps back (in the second). She became this smothering, obsessive, character. What happened to the witty, sharp-tounged heroine from the first novel? And Joy, her daughter, was obnoxious and bratty. I know she's only twelve, but she was overly bratty. It went to the point where I wanted to skip the chapters she narrated (I didn't, but boy, did I ever want to!). And don't even get me started on the ending. I'm not going to say it, so that I don't spoil the book. But the ending was majorly depressing and completely unnecessary.
So, if you loved "Good In Bed", do not read "Certain Girls". It will change you perceptions of the first novel and not in a good way. "Good In Bed" should not have been messed with in this way. Which is why I rate this two stars.
Book Review: Do Yourself a Favor: Skip Certain Girls
Summary: 2 Stars
Our book club featured this book and when it was selected, I didn't care one way or the other, so went along with it. After reading it though, I HATED it. If you DO read it, don't read the ending. It's lazy and a terrible shame that the author did what she did, the conclusion adds nothing to the story and drags the events out for "dramatic effect." If it were a movie, the audience would say a collective, "oh come on." What I felt was a C- book used an F ending.
To be sure: skip the ending. BUT - I would recommend not reading the book at all. The story flip-flops point of view between two protagonists: the mother and the teenage daughter. The daught's point of view is so rude and disrepectful that I wonder what the author thinks of teenagers in general. It comes across as contrived and forced. There's a passage where the daughter describes her mother, who is sitting cross-legged, as having her "boobs in her lap" and it's comments like these throughout the book that would make the most normal of women self-conscious about weight, with her constant retorts about her fat mother. It's also very heavy with jewish coming-of-age procedures - which was a little weird for me as a non-jewish person, because a lot of the language was foreign and not explained and I didn't understand the relevance of the events. Probably cool for a jewish reader, but for those not familiar with these things, it's one more thing that makes the book difficult to become engaged in. All in all, I found the hype to be undeserved, and I wish I had spent my time reading something else.
Book Review: not what I expected at all
Summary: 2 Stars
Having borrowed "Good in Bed" from my local library, and especially reading these reader reviews warning about a sad ending, I just had to read the book. I must say that the ending what horrific and didn't go along with the feel of this book at all. Even though I was warned to stop at page 342, I started the book reading page 342. Why? Good question. Just curiousity I guess. It was like being cautioned against not looking at an accident scene and you just have to look at it anyway.
This book had redeeming qualities. I liked the whole surrogate mom thing a lot. I found Joy to be typical of any 13 year old girl.
I cried through the entire ending of the book complete with real tears pouring down my face. I'm not sure why Jennifer Weiner had to end it this way. What's wrong with a real happy ending. It would've tied it up nicely to end on a happy note like Bruce and Emily filing for divorce. I wouldn't liked to read about that happening. I don't think I've ever encountered a more dislikeable character than Bruce's Emily in quite a while. No need whatsoever to end it like the author did. It makes me want to never read another one of her books again.