Every woman should read this book. The common experience in this world is staggering. ( )

4.5 stars

Either Jennifer Weiner's writing has evolved, or I have a very faulty recollection of the impressiveness of her earlier work.

I read a few of Weiner's books year ago, and in my mind I had lumped them into the "chick lit" category -- enjoyable, but not necessarily profound or memorable. "Mrs. Everything" delivers a thoughtful and emotional punch as it shares the stories of several women -- and in particular, two sisters -- over the course of several decades. Weiner's characters have depth and are believable as she uses them to explore what it means to be a woman -- the love, the heartbreak, the compromises, the disappointment, and the redemption.

If you're looking for a page-turner with substance, look no further.

Thank you to Atria Books for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I love many of Jennifer Weiner's books, but this one is truly a tour de force. Told through the perspectives of two sisters, the narrative spans 50 years and lets us experience the lifetimes of joys, sorrows, good and bad decisions, and family dynamics of Jo and Bethie. ( )

A family saga based on the lives of 2 sisters, Jo and Bethie. (In reading reviews, I realized these are names of 2 of the sisters in Little Women!) They cannot be more different as children, or growing up. Chapters focus alternately on each sister. It's interesting how they weave in and out of each others' lives, and also how at different times they each seem to be leading the kind of life you would expect the other sister to live. What I really enjoyed was that the focus is on women. The men in the story are secondary characters, almost props. I also like the significance of the title, that the woman who tries to please everyone "misses everything."
What I didn't love is the way some years in their lives are covered in great, meticulous detail, while other years, particularly toward the end, are rushed over, almost like the author was in a hurry to finish the book. ( )

I guess I’m more of a prude than I’d thought. Sex as the motivation of life adventures doesn’t resonate with me. ( )