Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner
I really loved Jennifer Weiner‘s first two books Good in Bed and In Her Shoes, so I was beyond excited to get an email asking if I’d like a review copy of her latest effort, Best Friends Forever.
Here is a quick plot summary from the book jacket:
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.”
I dove into this book with excitement and was still excited through the first few chapters as I got to know Addie and Val . . . but then I lost excitement as I, well, got to know Addie and Val.
I just didn’t connect with these characters or care what happened to them. I found them both to be rather pathetic in their own ways and cliché at that; needless to say, I didn’t find myself rooting for either one of them.
I also found the plot contrived and strange (unbelievable might be the word I’m looking for here), and I *really* wasn’t feeling the continual back story via flashbacks (I was always taught this was a huge no-no in storytelling and now I see why). When it comes down to it, the actual action in this book would probably fill 50 pages or so–and unfortunately that particular action seemed absurd at times.
All that said, I didn’t have any trouble picking the book back up again once I put it down or even finishing it, which I must attribute to Weiner’s writing; I love her conversational style and storytelling–I just didn’t particularly like *this* story or its characters.
Overall, this is still an OK book for the beach or to pass a weekend afternoon or two, but I’m sorry to say I did expect more from Weiner. If you’re looking to pick up her writing for the first time, be sure to go with one of her first two efforts and leave this one for later down the line, if at all.
I give this three espresso cups out of five, and do look forward to Weiner’s next book.
10 Beans of Wisdom to “Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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From the book jacket summary, this sounds like a book I would’ve snatched off the shelf, like you, excited to start reading. Thank you for this review, since it sounds as though we have similar tastes, & I would hate to miss out on a good author because of one luke-warm offering.
If you haven’t, definitely check out the earlier books, Beth! They’re *wonderful* 🙂
I have to agree with you on this book. I don’t buy books that often and instead get them from the library. But I was at Target and saw this book with its new book discount. Now it’s setting on the shelf and I wonder what to do with it because I know I won’t read it again. Maybe I’ll give it away for my birthday next week. Oh, you can’t regift a book that doesn’t have a great recommendation!
I wouldn’t give this as a gift either; maybe you can donate it to the library?
.-= Paulita´s last blog ..Expectations =-.
It’s always disappointed to read a book and afterwards feel sort of empty. You kind of get that dog eared question mark look and say, hey, was that worth it? Nonetheless, I think we can ALWAYS find something to learn from the books we read.
Julie
I’m afraid this one was a good guide in how not to develop a plot….
I have not heard about this author so thanks for that but I think I will skip this particular book. I might try one of the first two. As for what to do with books you don’t want-join Paperback Swap and swap for other books. If you do join, use me as a referral- micinoh is my name there. Just passing along some info.
Thanks for the info, Michelle; this is actually a hardcover I have, but anyway, shipping books around Italy/Europe gets rather expensive (and risky as the postal service isn’t the most reliable). We had a swap going a few years ago (including people in the US), but it will definitely be cheaper for me to get e-books–which is another reason I love e-books. English books are *really* hard to find here–and very expensive when you do find them. Hopefully someone in the US can use your info!
.-= Michelle @ Italian Mama Chef´s last blog ..Making bread at church… =-.
I SO agree~ this book leaves a lot to be desired. I was so happy to pick it up because I really enjoy her books, but then disappointment ensued. I guess you can’t win them all……
Indeed…hopefully the next one will be better 🙂
I actually just finished this book a few days ago and felt the same way you did. I’ve read almost all of Weiner’s other books and enjoy her writing style. In fact, I read this book in a couple of days. But this one really didn’t do it for me…I felt so sorry for Addie and so annoyed with Val. Plus – and maybe I just missed this – but did they ever actually confront each other about what happened? So much happens between them and then they just pick up right where they left off? In Her Shoes was probably the best of the bunch.
Yes, I felt the same–sorry for Addie and *so* annoyed with Val. I just do *not* like annoying characters 🙁
Oh how disappointing. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it!
Eh you win some, you lose some. You’re welcome to my copy 🙂
.-= Cherrye at My Bella Vita´s last blog ..Asked and Answered: Top Five Italian Curse Words and Flirty Terms of the Week =-.
Have you read Certain Girls? It’s the sequel to Good In Bed, and I liked reading about Cannie’s new adventures. The Guy Not Taken is enjoyable too.
I haven’t Rebekah, but I will check them out; I’ve generally heard they were better than this latest effort. Thanks for coming by!
.-= Rebekah Jacobs´s last blog ..Lava Table =-.
I loved her first two books and found Cannie easy to like. I picked up “Certain Girls” at the airport in New York, intending to read it on the plane back to California. But when I realized it was the second of a two-part series, I tucked it away until I’d read “Good in Bed.” (In fact, while I was reading that one, various people would ask if it was a book about lovemaking techniques!) I was looking forward to another book by Jennifer. I’ll have to read “In Her Shoes” as my next diversion.
Actually In Her Shoes was the second book; the sequel to Good in Bed didn’t come until later…I’m happy to know you enjoyed it! I will certainly give Certain Girls a try at some point 🙂
I just finished this book and started looking around the internet to see if anyone else felt the same way. Glad to see I am not alone.
Val comes across like a complete idiot and it is hard to understand why (the new and improved) Addie so readily reconciles with her. The storyline and the plot – particularly when the two of them go “on the run” and “rob a bank,” etc. – is completely implausible and ridiculous. I was very disappointed, particularly because I enjoyed In her Shoes and Good in Bed so much and had higher expectations.
Yeah, the bank robbing was really what did it (or didn’t do it, I suppose) for me too….