Reviews

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

bettys2day's review

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3.0

It was a long drawn out book

victoriagraupp's review

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5.0

Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I loved it so much.

ediegirl's review

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3.0

this was ok - not great at all. characters kind of 'stock', very little character development. It felt more like a forrest gump-like romp through the latter half of the 20th century.

helensadler55's review

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4.0

Another fine book from Weiner, this one that delves into the lives of women in America from the fifties until current day. As others have noted, some of the details aren’t quite right (Kennedy assassination was not in 1962!). It bogs down a bit in the middle, but ends strong. I think all women can find at least one situation here they can relate to.

kbowman132's review

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4.0

Excellent Message * Slow Delivery * Emotional

andibz's review

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4.0

Beautiful story, love how it was told from each sister's perspective in alternating chapters.

linzgaff's review

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4.0

3.5 stars. I’m still working out how I feel about this book, honestly. But for those of you thinking of reading this book, be aware that sexual assault/rape and disordered eating are fairly prominent throughout.

jennitarheelreader's review

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5.0

5 stars and a high-five to quite possibly the most memorable book I’ve read this year! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Jennifer Weiner…I’ve been reading her books for close to twenty years. I first read Little Earthquakes, but it was In Her Shoes that I fell for most and had to read all of her backlist. And that movie? Loved it!

In my mind, Jennifer Weiner gets better and better, and this book? Mrs. Everything? It’s right at the pinnacle, tippy-top of what she’s accomplished! And that said? I’m already ready for her top herself next time because I know she can.

Regardless of me already dreaming of her next book, Mrs. Everything is an enormous treasure of a read. It’s technically historical fiction, taking place in 1950s Detroit. Two sisters with differing personalities grow up in the same family and experience many of the same traumas and unique family dynamics only to have vastly different experiences (isn’t that the way so often with families?).

Bethie and Jo’s personalities could not be more different. Jo, the older sister, lives her early life without abandon while Bethie plays it safe with paper dolls. Then, later, they switch roles, and Bethie becomes the wild child during the 60s, while Jo takes the safer route to a traditional life in Connecticut as a young mom. Neither sister is happy, and each is seeking the happy life.

The storytelling in Mrs. Everything is so rich, so all enveloping, it’s like a warm hug when you fall into this story of these two sisters. There’s some darkness here, too, and traumas these sisters live through. The way it’s written with honesty makes it all so relatable.

Mrs. Everything is epic in proportions, too, as it follows Bethie and Jo throughout their lives. Everything they experience is something any reader could have experienced. I can’t stress enough how innately human these characters are.

Mrs. Everything accomplishes much more than the average book. It felt me feeling affirmed and hopeful. In other words, it left me feeling understood.

Thank you, Jennifer Weiner, for this masterfully drawn warm hug (and a big high five, too).

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com

cyndibecker's review

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5.0

I am about 7 months overdue with writing this review. But that's okay because this is amongst a small group of reads that have stayed with me. While reading and certainly at the end, I wondered what Jennifer Weiner would be able to do next, because this was the pinnacle of her writing career.

This story is so stunning! The sisters Kaufman, Jo and Bethie, go through so much in the young lives. As we follow them through their teens, their twenties and beyond, as they experience grief, the joy at falling in love, heartbreak at betrayal and falling out of love, and they come full circle - back to each other. Finding strength in their bond.

Its a thoroughly engrossing read and I was so invested in these characters. As much as I wanted to race through it, to not put it down, I read this slowly and with contemplation. This was named 2019 best of books, and it belongs there and as an example of the power of a book. As a woman, I felt changed by this story and equally excited to read Ms. Weiner's next book. It's a rare 6 star and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it!

amarek's review

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4.0

A long one but a good one! Didn’t suck me in at first, but overall happy I finished it. Good message overall