Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner (Book Review by Melissa A. Bartell)
Certain Girls
Jennifer Weiner
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Jennifer Weiner always writes satisfying, funny novels about plucky, independent women who are not perfect size sixes, and in most cases, not even size eights, and with her latest offering Certain Girls, a sort of sequel to her very first novel Good In Bed, she has done so once more.
In this novel, we are re-introduced to Cannie Shapiro, now married to a bariatric surgeon and the successful author of not only the book based on her experiences, but also of a series of girl-power science fiction novels, though the latter is under a pseudonym.
We are also introduced to her almost-thirteen-year-old daughter, Joy, who is rebelling against her over-protective mother by reading the novel she wrote.
Cannie’s voice remains strong, while Joy’s is distinct, and might even merit a sequel of its own in ten or fifteen years. With the planning and execution of Joy’s upcoming Bat Mitzvah forming the main plot connection, we are treated to a mother-daughter experience that reflects a real life mother-daughter relationship, albeit with much funnier commentary, and Weiner’s signature wry observations.
Certain Girls will likely appeal to any girl or woman who has ever had a fight with her mother, been dumped by a boyfriend, or found true love in an unexpected place. In short: all of us.
Melissa A. Bartell likes strong coffee, red wine, and dark chocolate. She earns her living writing web-copy for an Internet marketing firm & dabbles in fiction on the side. She lives near Dallas, TX with her husband, two dogs, and more computers than anyone really needs. She is the Managing Editor here at All Things Girl. Find out more about her on our About Page, or check out her blog at MissMeliss.com
