Certain Girls

Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner


What was this book about?

Told from the perspective of Cannie (from her previous book Good in Bed) and Cannie’s daughter Joy this book covers a lot of ground. Cannie is dealing with the beginning’s of the classic teenage daughter – not a bad daughter, just one who is concerned with what other people think, that her mother doesn’t fit in like she wishes she does, and just wants to rebel. Cannie and her husband Peter also want to have another child. This is especially difficult because after Joy’s birth she had to have a hysterectomy. Which means while she may have viable eggs she cannot actually have the child herself.

Then there is Joy. An average 13 year old who is looking forward to her bat mitzvah. Then she finds out from some kids at school that the book her mother wrote 10 years ago tells the story of her mother’s life (which it really doesn’t exactly do). Joy has always known about the book but been told it was too adult for her. When she does read it she finds out all sorts of things that throw her world topsy-turvey. In an effort to find the truth she does investigative work to see what it is that her mother’s past really is.

What did you like/dislike about the book?

This book was great. I thought at first it was all about the mother/daughter dynamic. But truly it was a book about growing up. Realizing things aren’t always what they seem to be, but then again there is more depth to them then most people realize. There are reasons for what people do, there are thoughts and feelings behind history, some emotions can change over time to be better or wose.

What genre would you consider this?

Fiction

Overall: A-

If I was to nominate this book for an award it would be: Book I would need a box of Kleenex to read.