Best Friends Forever: A Novel

by: Jennifer Weiner

Published by: Simon and Schuster

Reviewed by Lauren Segelbaum

It is no coincidence that Jennifer Weiner’s latest novel was published in July. Best Friends Forever is the typical beach read, fluffy, light and a quick read. You spend three days on a beach and you can finish her latest novel. If you are planning a longer vacation you will need to have a second novel to dive into.

Jennifer Weiner is the author of the novels Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, which was turned into a major motion picture starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine; Little Earthquakes, Goodnight Nobody and Certain Girls. I have read them all so I would categorize myself as a fan. I always look forward to her next book– she is my Facebook friend for gosh sake. We have to support our friends until they write a book that you liked but didn’t love. Jennifer, will you still talk to me on Facebook?

Best Friends Forever is the story of Addie Downs and Valerie Adler, who were best friends as girls and teenagers, then had a terrible friend break-up. They reunite on the eve of their fifteenth high-school reunion, after Val shows up at Addie’s door with a terrified look on her face and blood on the hem of her coat, saying that something terrible has happened–and that Addie’s the only one who can help. Thus begins their Thelma and Louise adventure that takes them to Florida and mends the misunderstanding that drove them apart as teens.

Jennifer Weiner’s books have become very predictable and very formula. There is always the mousy friend or ugly duckling sister and the beautiful, successful or pathetic friend. When the male enters the story and someone speaks the line, “He was handsome” you know there is a potential relationship about to form and one of the females is going to fall for him. What happens is when you read many books by the same author you get bored after a while and wish for a new plot line. It happened with Jodi Picoult–how many books about childhood disease can you read in a lifetime?

I will say Jennifer has a great sense of humor. When asked on her website “Where do you get your ideas?” She replies, “Target. They have everything at Target.”

Armchair Interviews says: An enjoyable read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.JenniferWeiner.com