Good In Bed - Or Not So Much?

Have you ever read a book that, well as much as you liked it you just didn’t? That’s what I unfortunately had occur when I cracked opened a copy of ‘Good In Bed’ by Jennifer Weiner.

The lead character Candace “Cannie” Shapiro is a successful entertainment journalist living in Philadelphia. She’s intelligent, smart, quick with a comeback and yet still very insecure about her figure, as well as what others may think of her family’s drama as it were. I was under the impression that this book featured this late twenties plus sized character, coming into her own skin. Pushing those insecurities aside and learning to let go of what other people think of her. Now as cliché as this sounds, that actually caught my interest. Being an overweight woman in my late twenties, I felt intrigued to read the story that has so many raved reviews surrounding it.

Unfortunately, as I begun to read I found myself both feeling for and yet kind of disliking the main character in question. She was definitely amusing when she wanted to be, mostly confident in her work – and hey, how could I not appreciate a writer for a lead character? Cannie Shapiro however, to me at least, came across rather whiney and a little too hung up over her ex-boyfriend. I could get past the obsession of losing weight and getting fit. I however felt I had to push myself to continue to read, as she seemed unhealthily hooked on her ex-boyfriend. A man named Bruce, who’s also a journalist. He works for a women’s magazine (Moxie) and writes a rather personal article, divulging their past sex life and relationship details for thousands of readers to enjoy.

Total jerk type, right? Yes. Yet our heroine seems to only turn around after article one and become rather obsessive on getting back together with the man who humiliates her. Perhaps again, I just can’t relate to the situation in the main character’s storyline. Or maybe I feel as if I was a friend to this character I would shake her until she came to her senses. Either way, it made Cannie lose compassion points with me. Don’t get me wrong though, because I didn’t find this novel to be a total flop. As mentioned after all, I felt as much as I didn’t like it – I did like it. I did like that she really did come into her own skin in due time. Accepted herself as she was and despite a very traumatic experience (that I’ll leave out of this, as to not spoil it for those who haven’t read yet), found herself. I did like how she interacted with her friends and how realistic her feelings in ways did come off. I enjoyed the way the author wrote for the most part – though a couple pages I found myself re-reading, as there is a bit of present day to history switch ups that didn’t quite transition smoothly.

Now I have to say, I was both pleased where the story ended and yet…felt the way it was worded, made it seem a bit flat. I personally feel it could have used a little more depth and detail. It just seemed to abruptly stop as if the author was only allotted so many words and had hit her max. Jennifer Wiener does however; seem to overall be a good writer. I have to say, this book’s downfalls (that I felt I found) don’t stop me from wanting to read more books from the author. I keep in mind this was the author’s first book and clearly the woman is talented. I just have to honestly admit, I don’t quite agree with all the raved reviews I read on this one.

--XOXO, Jane