Monday, August 3, 2009

Review-Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

From Simon & Shuster:

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That's what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they're both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school's scapegoat.

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents' house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She's just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. "Something horrible has happened," Val tells Addie, "and you're the only one who can help."

Best Friends Forever is a grand, hilarious, edge-of-your-seat adventure; a story about betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets. It's about living through tragedy, finding love where you least expect it, and the ties that keep best friends together.

When I read Jennifer Weiner's first book, Good In Bed, I was so happy. I found an author who could make me laugh, cry and shout for joy when her characters found love. I stayed up all night to finish Good In Bed. But I didn't find the same kind of feeling with In Her Shoes, Little Earthquakes, Certain Girls or Goodnight Nobody. I sadly was about to give up on Jennifer's books.

But I decided to give this book a try and I'm happy to report that I've fallen in love with Jennifer's writing all over again. I indentified with Addie, who was teased as teen by her classmates, with Valerie, who wanted to be popular even if meant betraying her best friend, and Jordan, who lost love once and thought that he missed his only chance. The character were well written; You felt like you knew them, even from page one.

I hope that Jennifer Weiner's got some more books like this up her sleeve. I'll be looking forward to her next book with high expectations.

Other reviews can be found at Bibliotica, The Loud Librarian, and Julie's Jewels.

11 comments:

  1. This book sounds great! Thanks for the review. I am reading Good In Bed now and loving it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love Jennifer Weiner! I too adored Good in Bed but have only read "Little Earthquakes" which I really liked. I never read In Her Shoes but I love the movie!! :) Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've never read one of her books. Will definitely put this and Good in Bed on my list!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great review! I really liked Good In Bed and Little Earthquakes. I'm definitely going to chekc this one out!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just finished this book as well. Totally agree. Great story with great characters.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So happy to hear that you fell in love with her writing all over again!! Yay!! I got this book in the mail last week so I'm pretty excited myself to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just in time! I am going to pick up some books for my upcoming beach vacation tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  8. You sure kept reading her other books even thought you didn't like them. Good for you, since you in the end found this one :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh that sounds really good! I'll have to add it to my list!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've read the Guy Not Taken and her short stories are very enjoyable! Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have never read anything by Jennifer Weiner but I really want to. This book sounds something that I will love.

    ReplyDelete

Shiny! I love comments.