Book: Buy Good in Bed Online

Average Rating:

It must be said that Jennifer Weiner is a very gifted writer. Through her characters we learn that she's funny and smart, and her witty banter keeps you reading. Her Cannie is well drawn and likable and it's what gets the reader through most of the rather contrived plot.

I loved the first half, where we meet a "large woman" and experience her coming-of-age metamorphosis; however, I found her friendship with the Hollywood starlet, as well as other plot diversions, to be (again) contrived and even juvenile. Nevertheless . . . the author is clearly a talent worth watching and because of this, I highly recommend Good In Bed as a fun-and mindless read.

The paperback version, which I picked up at a Target store (when I was supposed to be buying socks for my kids), labeled it a "beach book." Now I know why.

Touching, sweet, warm, often-hysterically funny, Jennifer Weiner's debut novel is the kind of book you try to pace yourself on because you know you want to parcel out the joy, but find yourself staying up until 2 am finishing because you can't put it down.

Cannie Shapiro is a remarkable heroine with a true voice, wise yet still learning, embattled yet still fighting. This isn't one of those book where unhappy girl finds happiness by losing weight and finding a man. This is a book where happiness comes from self-acceptance and the realization that one is not alone, and if there happens to be a guy around, well, all the better.

Cannie is great. The office stuff rings true. So does that evil publicist in NYC. But it's more than the truth of how things feel -- it's Cannie/Jennifer's voice in describing her universe, so funny and warm, like a friend you wish you had. I even liked Nifkin!

Guys, ignore the pink stuff on the cover, and hide the title if it embarrasses you to read in public -- this one's for us too. Everyone should read this book, read it now, then buy another copy for a friend.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Read it: you'll see. It deserves to be a movie, and it will be a great movie.

Whatever Weiner has in store for us next, I'll be first in line.

As with many first novels it's obvious that huge chunks of 28-year-old, somewhat overweight struggling journalist "Candace Shapiro" are taken straight from Weiner's own life. And the personal touch shows in the all-too-true writing, which draws you in and will make just about any woman sympathize with the often hapless "Cannie," as her friends and former lovers know her.

Cannie's already shaky world is turned upside when former slacker flame Bruce turns up as a the newest columnist for trendy magazine "Moxie," a "Cosmopolitan" clone. Not only does Bruce's sudden success shock Cannie, a second-tier entertainment reporter at a Philly newspaper, but the fact that he's writing about their sex life, and Cannie's struggles with her weight, is far from helpful. I mean, wasn't her missing missing-in-action louse of a father and the fairly recent discovery that her mother is in love with someone named "Tanya" enough to deal with?

As Weiner takes us into Cannie's life she makes everything from meeting (and befriending) a major movie star to dealing with the aftereffects of a misguided reunion, of sorts, with Bruce, eminently real and totally believable. Anyone who has ever struggled with weight, relationships, career and family--and that's everyone, isn't it?--will see pieces of themselves in Cannie.

Totally fun and deeply touching, Weiner is winner. I can't wait to read more!