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    Certain Girls
    Certain Girls
    Certain Girls
    Audiobook14 hours

    Certain Girls

    Written by Jennifer Weiner

    Narrated by Julie Dretzin and Rachel Botchan

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Readers fell in love with Cannie Shapiro, the smart, sharp-tongued, bighearted heroine of Good in Bed who found her happy ending after her mother came out of the closet, her father fell out of her life, and her ex-boyfriend started chronicling their ex-sex life in the pages of a national magazine.

    Now Cannie's back. After her debut novel -- a fictionalized (and highly sexualized) version of her life -- became an overnight bestseller, she dropped out of the public eye and turned to writing science fiction under a pseudonym. She's happily married to the tall, charming diet doctor Peter Krushelevansky and has settled into a life that she finds wonderfully predictable -- knitting in the front row of her daughter Joy's drama rehearsals, volunteering at the library, and taking over-forty yoga classes with her best friend Samantha.

    As preparations for Joy's bat mitzvah begin, everything seems right in Cannie's world. Then Joy discovers the novel Cannie wrote years before and suddenly finds herself faced with what she thinks is the truth about her own conception -- the story her mother hid from her all her life. When Peter surprises his wife by saying he wants to have a baby, the family is forced to reconsider its history, its future, and what it means to be truly happy.

    Radiantly funny and disarmingly tender, with Weiner's whip-smart dialogue and sharp observations of modern life, Certain Girls is an unforgettable story about love, loss, and the enduring bonds of family.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateMar 8, 2011
    ISBN9781442342422
    Author

    Jennifer Weiner

    Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-one books, including The Summer Place, That Summer, Big Summer, Mrs. Everything, In Her Shoes, Good in Bed, and a memoir in essays, Hungry Heart. She has appeared on many national television programs, including Today and Good Morning America, and her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, among other newspapers and magazines. Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.

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    Reviews for Certain Girls

    3.5/5

    611 ratings43 reviews

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    • 3/5
      didnt enjoy the sequel as much as the first book Good In Bed but I did enjoy it.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this book! So heartwarming! Wish there was a sequel!
    • 4/5
      Certain Girls by Jennifer WeinerHave enjoyed the author's other works and I bought the paperback and will listen to this on tape.Alternating chapters of a Philadelphia housewife and her daughter's point of view in her own chapters.Canny writes of her life, fantasies and knits at her daughters Joy dance lessons. She finds the story of her life from her mother.Peter, her husband wants more kids. Such a diversified set of characters between the age groups and life styles.Teen years are hard for the new generation and new rules. I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
    • 3/5
      Thirteen years have passed since Cannie Shapiro was the victim of a nasty article in GOOD IN BED. Her daughter is a teenager. She has finally found love. Things are looking good. But if you are familiar with Cannie, things are never easy ... this light read was very enjoyable with a few surprises.
    • 3/5
      This book made me cringe at just how awful I probably was in middle school. The daughter in the story isn't a bad kid, she's just your typical adolescent, and she was a total brat. I can definitely empathize with my mom a little more after this book.
    • 3/5
      "Jennifer always keeps you laughing! You must read all her books!"
    • 2/5
      I read this in one day, but that doesn't necessarily mean I loved this book. I didn't find out until I went to post this review that this book is the second in a series. That being said I had no idea and had no problem following the storyline.The story follows Cannie and her daughter, Joy, as they try to come to terms with Joy growing up. The alternating chapters really help illustrate the gap between mother and daughter. As Joy prepares for adulthood (she's thirteen), her mom wants to put her life on hold and keep her young forever. Witty, funny, this story emphasizes the complexities of mother and daughter relationships and the strength and understanding needed to stay sane.Overall, this was alright but not earth shattering. Good read for those that like chick lit.
    • 3/5
      I found the author's style of switching back and forth from the mother's perspective to the daughter's perspective, without warning, just a little bit confusing. I enjoyed, and could relate to, the struggle between mother and daughter. The confusion of a family that is not "normal".

      My problem with this book, is that I try to avoid books that make me sad. I read for "escapism". Having the otherwise healthy husband die without warning in his 40s at the end of the book ruined it for me. I realize this kind of thing happens in real life too, but had I expected something like this I may not have read this book, at this time. I nearly lost my husband a few months ago. This brought back all those fears for me. Too painfully real.
    • 2/5
      As I mentioned in my comments while reading this book was a big disappointment to me. While in the other book there was an upbeat feeling going on and the book was funny, (Good in Bed) this book was the opposite. I've been thinking why I did not like this book, Well like for instance with Shopaholic where the main character keeps on spending her money and appears she does not learn until maybe at the end of the book, it is the same thing with this book. I guess I just don't like books where I am constantly annoyed. where the main characters just keep on doing stupid things you just want to toss the book away.
      That was what happened with Certain Girls.
    • 3/5
      I sobbed through the last quarter of this book. I was NOT expecting the happy-go-lucky story to take such a turn! Be prepared for a tear jerker if you read it!
    • 4/5
      Since I loved "Good in Bed," I was glad when I heard Weiner was writing a sequel. This novel starts 12 or 13 years after the events of the first novel, and the chapters alternate from the perspectives of Cannie and her about to be bat-mitzvahed daughter. Weiner did a great job of getting into a 13-year old's head, and it was interesting to see how Cannie had both changed and not changed. I also loved how near the end of the book, she used the Yom Kippur prayer to help express Cannie's emotions.
    • 5/5
      A nice surprise.I borrowed an abridged copy of this audiobook to listen to while driving, expecting a fairly fluffy chick-lit story. I was very surprised to find that this was an excellent listen and I was left thinking that at some point in the future I might well read the full book.I haven't read Good in Bed, the first book, where Cannie Shapiro was introduced to readers, but it didn't seem to matter as the back story was explained where necessary. In this sequel, Cannie is married to Peter and raising her daughter, Joy, (from a previous relationship) with him. Joy is in the midst of the difficult teenage years and approaching her bar mitzvah, when Peter decides he'd like a baby of his own. Cannie is unable to bear children following a hysterectomy, so a surrogate is needed. (I noticed in the precis of the book, that it mentions that Cannie's younger sister is approached as a possible surrogate mother for Cannie and Peter's baby - this was not in my version, what else did I miss??).Joy is now old enough to read the book her mother wrote thirteen years ago and it seems awfully close to the truth. Is this a book about her mother's life and her own conception, or has it been elaborated? An awkward question when you're not even talking to your mother.An excellent blend of humour and trauma, teenage angst and mother/daughter stress. This book has it all.
    • 4/5
      This eagerly awaited sequel to "Good in Bed" was a bit disappointing, though I'll keep it in my collection. Daughter Joy, born at the end of the first book, is now approaching her bat mitzvah and is one of the more annoying tweens on the planet. A wrenching plot twist near the end added to my discomfort. Still, I'll read anything Jennifer Weiner writes.
    • 3/5
      I loved "Good In Bed" and I was hoping for an update on Cannie's life and I did enjoy Certain girls but admit to being dissappointed that Cannie had lost so much of her hard earned self respect thirteen years later. Joy with deafness, a "smother mother" and a wicked stepmother to contend with at least inherited some of Cannies spunk as she tries to establish her identity and place in her family. Cannies head in the sand approach towards her daughter is annoying though I do get that desire to protect her. The book is really more about Joy than Cannie and I was actually hoping that there would be something about Joy having weight issues and how Cannie deals with that.However its a good read - can stand alone if you have not read Good In Bed and I like dit.
    • 4/5
      This book, for most of it, didn't work quite as well for me as Good In Bed. Or maybe it just worked in a different way. And the ending was kind of bullshit.
    • 4/5
      "Certain Girls" by Jennifer Weiner is told from two vastly different points of view. One being that of Candace Shapiro Kreshelevansky, a 40 something, Jewish, overweight, wife of a diet doctor, and mother of 13 year old Joy; and Joy herself, a thirteen year old jewish girl on the verge of her bat mitzfa and trying to figure out who she is and who she came from.This book really tells the story of how hard it is to be a mom. Ms. Weiner is a wonderful story teller that really gets to the nitty gritty of everyday life and manages to entertain at the same time!
    • 5/5
      There is nothing like getting attached to the voices in an audio---I feel as if I KNOW and love these people. I heard this audio just a few days after listening to Good in Bed. Continuing with the same characters years later in their lives is a special gift from an author.
    • 2/5
      Disappointing. I enjoyed the prequel "Good in Bed," but this one has so much whining and self-pity that I became irritated by midway. The only redeeming character is disposed of which leaves an indulgent, insecure mother and her self-absorbed, bratty daughter. Weiner has a nice way with humor, but the plot and character are not up to her usual. And her ending was just plain maddening--I hated it! Both Cannie and Joy need a good kick in the pants and a scolding to grow up!!
    • 4/5
      Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner is the sequel to Good in Bed. In this book, we meet up with Canny Shapiro when her daughter, Joy, is getting ready for her bat mitzvah. Joy is growing up and is arguing with her mother while also trying to find her place in the world. Joy reads her mother's book and begins to question everything that she held true from her childhood. Does her mom even want her? Was her grandfather such a bad man? Did Bruce care about her, or was she totally unwanted by both parents? As Joy struggles with her identity, Canny and Peter have tough decisions to make as well. Canny's publisher wants her to do another book as herself. The public wants to have another Candace Shapiro best seller. Peter also wants to have a baby. Should the two of them go through the process of getting a surrogate mother because Canny can not have any more children?I really enjoy Jennifer Weiner. I started out reading her books with a bit of hesitation, but each story seems to catch my interest and her characters are always endearing. Joy reminds me of my students. She is questioning everything that adults tell her and finding her own way. She goes through some extremes, but she is constantly learning and reevaluating life. Her character is written beautifully. Weiner has captured the adolescent spirit perfectly. Canny is as sharp-witted as she is in the first novel, but she does not shine as brightly in this novel. She seems to be more subdued as a mother. The only part that I did not like is the ending. As things were starting to get better in the novel and I was preparing myself for a happy ending, Weiner through in a twist that shattered my heart. It was an extremely shocking ending and I can't really say that I liked it. That could just be because I like happy endings, but it through a wrench in what I expected. I'm not used to being surprised in books. I am sure that a lot of people enjoy this type of thing, it just didn't work for me.4/5 stars
    • 2/5
      I have really enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's books, but not this one. I just had to put it down after the first chapter. I had an Elizabeth Berg waiting for me and had no time for Certain girls.
    • 4/5
      Chick Lit . Sometimes laugh out loud funny - sometimes far too predictable.
    • 3/5
      This was my least favorite Jennifer Weiner book. It was a more tedious read, and I have previously flown through the pages of her books. Still, not a waste of time. I appreciate Weiner's take on the evolution of family dynamics and how you truly learn to accept and love where unusual circumstances land you in life.
    • 5/5
      An absolutely wonderful read by Jennifer Weiner. Cannie Shapiro is back, this time with her 13 year old daughter Joy, and the rest of the family and friends--just in time for Joy's bat mitzvah and the entry into the most difficult time in relationships between mothers and daughters. Told from both Cannie's and Joy's points of view, it is a rich view of the layers within this family dynamic. Weiner's characters are so real, and have such amazing voices, that it is impossible to stay above the emotions of all of the characters. The book ended up being pretty emotionally draining, and Weiner's plot twist gave me a good cry (like 6 chapters worth!) This book sealed Weiner as a favorite author for me.
    • 1/5
      Maybe I'm not cut out for chick lit. Or Weiner was on auto-pilot. Probably a mistake to return to old characters.I knew this was what I call an airport book, what others call a beach book (but beaches are for hard books!). That's when I read them--when I know I'll be killing time. But flipping through this I realized it wouldn't last long enough. While better written than that Hollywood Wives writer, I read it in the same way: Will Cannie and cookie-cutter perfect husband get a surrogate child? Will the bratty teenager--oh, who cares? The chapters are told in alternate voices: the mother's, then the kid's. It's not working when the reader skips a chapter or three to keep with the mother narrator. The kid isn't convincing. I don't have much sympathy for a 12-year-old that wants a $300 dress that will only be worn for a single event or for their parents that ultimately shrug and buy it.Weiner's grammar, punctuation and writing are fine. Often they're pretty bad in chick lit books, or what I think is chick lit. I have read one of Weiner's previous books. In comparison, this one seems lazy: stereotypes in lieu of description. The return of Weiner's/Cannie's fugitive father--ouch. Cameo appearance by movie star friend who doesn't get a line or a character.Perhaps this book wasn't chick lit because there wasn't a romance? I don't think the Samantha friend counted because she was like a male author's caricature of a 40-something single woman. This is the kind of woman more likely to hire a surrogate or visit a sperm bank.I think, tho, if you're a well-maintained lawyer of that age, it's really not so difficult to find male compansionship. Women like that often have much younger partners. Don't men vastly outnumber women on these dating sites, just as in the heyday of newspaper personal ads? Marriage, yes, may be more difficult. I also found it dubious that a beautiful lawyer just looking for a date to a wedding to would be sticking to a Jewish singles dating site. And the bratty kid doesn't have any non-Jewish schoolmates or friends? But I digress.So (spoiler alert!) with no warning (well, I'm not going to flip back), the adoring diet doctor husband (who doesn't have a problem with 2 quarts of ice cream in the fridge, though his wife is fat) drops dead in one of the final chapters. Readers seem upset by this but I think the reasoning is obvious: we're going to see another sequel with Cannie character as single middle-aged mother seeking love while (one hopes) her bratty kid is off at college.
    • 4/5
      Fun, quick read.
    • 5/5
      Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner is a sequel to her popular book Good in Bed. We get a return of heroine Cannie Shapiro, who is now married (to the lovely doctor from the first book), has a bestselling novel (based loosely on her own life), and a teenage daughter, Joy.I was pumped up to read this sequel ever since I read Good in Bed and was able to find it at my public library after trying a few times. I was sucked right back in to the story, which was easy because I had just read the first of the series not too long ago. The book has a lot of flashbacks to describe things that had happened in Good in Bed, and also developed Cannie's character. At first I was disappointed that the gap between the books was so large (more than ten years), but it ended up filling in enough information that I was satisfied in the end. For having such high expectations about a book, I wasn't let down, and feel closer about the series. (I still wouldn't mind reading another book about Joy or Cannie if one happens to be written, though.) There was one event in the book that I could have done without, but I won't mention it here in case you are planning on reading it - it is possible you will feel the same after you finish.
    • 4/5
      A lot of people told me they didn't like this book compared to "Good In Bed" because it was a more serious tone. I think that helped me go into it with the knowledge of what to expect. Yes it was more of a serious book than a "chic lit" book but I think it was a very very good story. The story was easy to read, even though it did change back and forth from Joy and Cannie. The ending was bittersweet, definitely didnt see that coming. But I loved this book and I definitely think anyone who read "Good In Bed" should read it to find out what happens but just go into it knowing that its a serious read so you're not disappointed with the style.
    • 4/5
      From the outset, I was put outside of my comfort zone by the style in this book. Each chapter changes perspective, from mother to daughter and back again. While it became clear very early on in each chapter whose perspective I was reading. That was one of my main complaints about the story, however: it was easy to forget that the perspective was going to change, and I spent the first few sentences of most of the chapters slightly puzzled until I remembered the style.Otherwise, I really enjoyed the story. It flowed well, and I liked the amount of description throughout. The characters were interesting, and I really got a sense that Cannie had moved on from the part of her life that Good in Bed had described.My only other complaint about the story was that Joy's inner monologue was incredibly well-spoken, and that it was so similar in style to her mother's. Obviously, since both characters were written by the same person, this is something to expect, but I felt that some of Joy's vocabulary was perhaps beyond her years, particularly for someone who is said to be much better at math than at English. This minor complaint aside, I found the book touching and emotional, and it has definitely earned a permanent spot on my shelf.
    • 4/5
      Thankfully, Weiner wrote a good story again! (I did not much like her collection of short stories much. I was a tad disappointed by Goodnight Nobody, too.)I like it that she wrote a sequel to Good in Bed, because I actually did wonder what would happen next.I finished the book in the train, a crowded one at that, but that didn't keep me from crying a lot. I loved this book. It was warm, funny, realistic and frustrating - in a good way.Again, I wonder, what will happen next?
    • 5/5
      I agree with a previous review, I'd read nearly anything Jennifer Weiner wrote. This novel's ending came out of nowhere and I also cried and felt genuine feelings of sadness for Cannie and Joy. It is amazing sometimes how much a character can impact you and I feel this way about all of Weiner's characters. Great story!