that precedes the novel The Next Best Thing
both by Jennifer Weiner, another one of our all-time favorite authors. No waiting around for the book release after reading the eShort story this time around!So let's take a peek at what other readers/reviewers are saying about these books:
“I've read a couple of Jennifer Weiner's books, 'Good in Bed' and 'In Her Shoes.' I really enjoyed both of those books so when Amazon was offering "Swim" for free on the Kindle I jumped at the chance to read a short story about a character in her upcoming book, 'The Next Best Thing.' After finishing this short story I can't wait to get my hands on it! "
4 out of 5 stars, August 20,2012 by goodreads reader Angie
“The Next Best Thing is simply delightful! It’s the only word I can use to describe it accurately. It tickled my funny bones, tugged at my heartstrings and made me root for Ruthie from the first sentence. All of the main characters seem so real to me that I wish they existed in real life. Ruthie needs a girlfriend, and I want to be that for her."Sold. Let's read.
5 out of 5 stars,June 23, 2012by goodreads reader Lexxie
I finished this book.
ReplyDeleteI want to say I really liked it.
I have such an issue with the real or perceived insecurities and how she plays into them. Should she have had a counselor? That got old for me about 1/2way through the book.
And how about a backbone? I wish that she had found it before the end of the book. And the miscommunication with Dave? If he wanted her to know he could have spoken up. She should have known from that one encounter?
I love the author. I give this 4 stars.
Hope I make sense. :-)
Great review! Makes sense to me. :-)
DeleteI liked this book, too. However, I had trouble getting through due to the slow-moving content. There were times when reading it felt like walking through quicksand. (Sorry, Jennifer Weiner!) But the characters were likeable enough to keep me reading and I was glad to finish.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "real or perceived insecurities" - YES, that got so old for me, too. How many times/ways can the main character (Ruth) remind us of her accident and subsequent disfigurements. We know, already. Counseling definitely needed there.
And backbone? There were times when I thought she had strength, but then... nope. The insecurities always got the best of her. Dave could easily have been career suicide attempt #2 and I just couldn't root for that relationship so quickly and easily.
Overall though, Jennifer Weiner's "voice" is always what draws me into her novels, just as it did with "Swim" and "The Next Best Thing". Given a little more excitement and faster pace, I would have rated "The Next Best Thing" more than 3 out of 5 stars. Good but not her best book ever.