One of the year’s most celebrated debuts is now available in paperback. This bittersweet book follows plus-sized pop-culture journalist Cannie Shapiro as she comes to terms with the fact that her ex-boyfriend has been chronicling their sex life in a women’s magazine. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.
I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this book. I have had a copy for well over 10 years so it has been quite the wait. I must say that I really enjoyed it and cannot believe that it took me so long to finally read this author! I liked Cannie right away and could empathize with all the things that she goes through over the course of this story. I found this to be entertaining and funny at times but emotional at others.
Cannie has recently broken up with her boyfriend of 3 years, Bruce, when she learns that she is the subject of his new article. Bruce has written an article about loving a larger woman which becomes rather popular to Cannie’s horror. We get to see how Cannie’s weight has impacted her over the years including her current quest to lose weight in what she refers to as fat class. She starts to have second thoughts about her decision to break up with Bruce but she has a wonderful group of friends around her to support her as she works through everything.
I was somewhat surprised by just how many things happened to Cannie over the course of this story. It really was a bit of a roller coaster. I felt like she grew a lot as a character and I was happy that her support system stuck with her. I really loved the fact that even when the book was dealing with some really tough issues some humor would often pop up keeping everything from feeling too heavy.
I decided to listen to the unabridged audiobook and thought that Laura Hicks did an amazing job with this story. I think that it takes a special narrator to successfully deliver both the humor and the heartache that were a part of this story. I thought that she was able to bring this story to life and I loved the voices that she used for the various characters.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a wonderful story that was rather hard to put down. I hope to check out more of Jennifer Weiner’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library.
This was so well written. I couldn’t put it down. From page one you are in it. Cannie is a witty, smart, strong women. I don’t want to say too much. Its a must read.
This is the kind of book I strive to write. That is all.
Different, one could relate to the main character!
I’ll be honest. This book was more of a two for me, for a lot of reasons. What bumped it up to a three was the last hundred pages, which went from whiny and somewhat pathetic to something a bit more raw and vulnerable. It was primarily fluffy chick lit, which I do enjoy on its own merit, but I hated wanting to tell the main character to knock off the pity party for two-thirds of the book. The ending was perfect though — satisfying and hopeful. There’s a sequel, but I think I’ll skip it. I read just enough of the reviews to get the pointed hint that it would undo my pleasant feelings for the way this story concluded, and with so many (many) other books on my to-read shelf, I think I’m content to let this story stand where it is right here.
Not at all what I was expecting but a really good read. Although being a bbw myself I did get sick of her mentioning it but loved when the light bulb went off. Cannie was oblivious to any man who wasn’t Bruce and had other issued that kept her locked in a world that kept her down but once she woke up she was wondrous. This author gives us a great wake up story for women who aren’t happy with some part of themselves and does it so we laugh, cry and heal. Well written with characters that help (Dr K) and love and support her when she remembers to ask while reminding us at the same time. I haven’t read this author before but I truly had a blast getting to know her style.
What a great book! This was the first book I read of Jennifer’s. It got me hooked. She is a very talented writer.