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In Her Shoes
Rose Feller is thirty; a successful lawyer with high hopes of a relationship with Jim, Mr Not-Quite-Right, a senior partner in her firm. The last thing she needs is her messed-up, only occasionally employed sister Maggie moving in: drinking, smoking, stealing her money - and her shoes - and spoiling her chance of romance. If only Maggie would grow up and settle down with a nice guy and a steady job.
Maggie is drop dead gorgeous and irresistible to men. She's going to make it big as a TV presenter, or a singer...or an actress. All she needs is a lucky break. What she doesn't need is her uptight sister Rose interfering in her life. If only Rose would lighten-up, have some fun - and learn how to use a pair of tweezers. Rose and Maggie think they have nothing in common but a childhood tragedy, shared DNA and the same size feet, but they are about to find out that they're more alike than they'd ever believe.
Maggie is drop dead gorgeous and irresistible to men. She's going to make it big as a TV presenter, or a singer...or an actress. All she needs is a lucky break. What she doesn't need is her uptight sister Rose interfering in her life. If only Rose would lighten-up, have some fun - and learn how to use a pair of tweezers. Rose and Maggie think they have nothing in common but a childhood tragedy, shared DNA and the same size feet, but they are about to find out that they're more alike than they'd ever believe.
537 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2002
About the author
Jennifer Weiner
61 books23.6k followersJennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,970 reviews
July 25, 2013
***Some mild spoilers ahead***
Typically, this isn't my kind of book and, if the rating system allowed for half stars, I would have more accurately given it a 2 1/2. This is one of those it was the right book for the right time scenarios. I had just finished reading Nineteen Eighty-Four and Fahrenheit 451 and, suffering a dystopian hangover, needed something light that didn't involve too much thinking. This certainly fit the bill.
From the get-go we have a stereotypical plot: two sisters (one pretty but dumb and the other smart but plain) who are insanely jealous of one another despite their bond. However, this stereotype exists because there is a component of jealousy in many same-gender sibling relationships. No matter how much the two love one another, siblings often feel as though they are being compared to one another by parents, family, friends, society at large, and examined for deficiencies that become obvious when compared against their genetic foil. The smart one always wants to be pretty; the pretty one always wants to be smart. The athletic one secretly wants to be a book nerd; the book nerd always wants to be able to dunk a basketball. The one with curly hair always wants straight hair; the one with straight hair longs for curly locks. We end up envying precisely what the other hates or loathes in himself or herself. Maggie and Rose are no exception. There's some rich material to work with here, and Weiner does realistically portray the root causes of the sisters' envy for one another. She also takes some chances: further complicating their relationship is their mother, whose mental illness leads to her death while the girls are still young; the beautiful Maggie suffers from a debilitating learning disability that effectively limits her chances at success in the entertainment industry (she can't read the teleprompter during an MTV audition that she would have otherwise had in the bag); Maggie betrays Rose's trust to such a magnitude that their relationship may be beyond repair (no one can hurt you like a sister and Weiner takes advantage of the opportunity to challenge the sisters' relationship). Oh, and thank heavens she didn't take the route of making the overweight Rose thin by the end.
Having said all of that, there were certainly some things I did not love. There's a subplot involving the long-lost maternal grandmother that slowed down the narrative for me. Also, Maggie and Rose just weren't likable characters. These are not two women I would ever want to know in real life. They're self-involved and often petty. I'm also not buying that Rose quit her job to become a dog walker, nor that Maggie lives in the Princeton library and miraculously becomes a literary genius (by the novel's end, Maggie's reading every great literary classic she can get her hands on and spouting poetry like a water fountain). I'm not saying that someone with a learning disability is incapable of doing this, only that Weiner never plausibly made me believe Maggie was capable of doing this. If there was one perk of the inclusion of Maggie's reading of One Art by Elizabeth Bishop, i carry your heart with me(i carry it in by E. E. Cummings, and several classic literary texts, it's that it reminded me that there are certainly better books out there and, even though Weiner's work was somewhat humorous and mildly entertaining, maybe my time would be better served reading some of those.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
Typically, this isn't my kind of book and, if the rating system allowed for half stars, I would have more accurately given it a 2 1/2. This is one of those it was the right book for the right time scenarios. I had just finished reading Nineteen Eighty-Four and Fahrenheit 451 and, suffering a dystopian hangover, needed something light that didn't involve too much thinking. This certainly fit the bill.
From the get-go we have a stereotypical plot: two sisters (one pretty but dumb and the other smart but plain) who are insanely jealous of one another despite their bond. However, this stereotype exists because there is a component of jealousy in many same-gender sibling relationships. No matter how much the two love one another, siblings often feel as though they are being compared to one another by parents, family, friends, society at large, and examined for deficiencies that become obvious when compared against their genetic foil. The smart one always wants to be pretty; the pretty one always wants to be smart. The athletic one secretly wants to be a book nerd; the book nerd always wants to be able to dunk a basketball. The one with curly hair always wants straight hair; the one with straight hair longs for curly locks. We end up envying precisely what the other hates or loathes in himself or herself. Maggie and Rose are no exception. There's some rich material to work with here, and Weiner does realistically portray the root causes of the sisters' envy for one another. She also takes some chances: further complicating their relationship is their mother, whose mental illness leads to her death while the girls are still young; the beautiful Maggie suffers from a debilitating learning disability that effectively limits her chances at success in the entertainment industry (she can't read the teleprompter during an MTV audition that she would have otherwise had in the bag); Maggie betrays Rose's trust to such a magnitude that their relationship may be beyond repair (no one can hurt you like a sister and Weiner takes advantage of the opportunity to challenge the sisters' relationship). Oh, and thank heavens she didn't take the route of making the overweight Rose thin by the end.
Having said all of that, there were certainly some things I did not love. There's a subplot involving the long-lost maternal grandmother that slowed down the narrative for me. Also, Maggie and Rose just weren't likable characters. These are not two women I would ever want to know in real life. They're self-involved and often petty. I'm also not buying that Rose quit her job to become a dog walker, nor that Maggie lives in the Princeton library and miraculously becomes a literary genius (by the novel's end, Maggie's reading every great literary classic she can get her hands on and spouting poetry like a water fountain). I'm not saying that someone with a learning disability is incapable of doing this, only that Weiner never plausibly made me believe Maggie was capable of doing this. If there was one perk of the inclusion of Maggie's reading of One Art by Elizabeth Bishop, i carry your heart with me(i carry it in by E. E. Cummings, and several classic literary texts, it's that it reminded me that there are certainly better books out there and, even though Weiner's work was somewhat humorous and mildly entertaining, maybe my time would be better served reading some of those.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder
December 24, 2022
This book is not the genre or type of book I typically read. I have not seen the movie.
So I was very surprised that this became a page-turning book for me.
At it's core, it is a book about family love and dysfunction due to tragedy, second marriages, betrayal between sisters, body-shaming, job changes, and restlessness while determining your passion and pursuit of life.
It's also about a grandmother who hasn't seen her granddaughters for about twenty years and how they reunite.
Today is Christmas Eve and my daughter and I have been at my mom's house for nine days. Our flights were delayed for 48 hours due to winter storm Elliott, so my daughter and her grandmother (my mom) have been getting lots of time together for "girl talk." Maybe that's why this story resonated so deeply with me.
So I was very surprised that this became a page-turning book for me.
At it's core, it is a book about family love and dysfunction due to tragedy, second marriages, betrayal between sisters, body-shaming, job changes, and restlessness while determining your passion and pursuit of life.
It's also about a grandmother who hasn't seen her granddaughters for about twenty years and how they reunite.
Today is Christmas Eve and my daughter and I have been at my mom's house for nine days. Our flights were delayed for 48 hours due to winter storm Elliott, so my daughter and her grandmother (my mom) have been getting lots of time together for "girl talk." Maybe that's why this story resonated so deeply with me.
January 21, 2009
This book was surprisingly enjoyable - a lot better than some of the other chick lit shit I've read. I would have given it another star, but the movie (which I've seen many more times than I should probably admit) did a much better job of building a story arc and tying up the various plot lines. To the point where it's like, that's so perfect and obvious, how did Jennifer Weiner not think of doing that herself? But still, thumbs up for the book.
January 27, 2018
Pretty sure I didn't even like the movie so I'm kind of wondering why I wanted to read the book? Maybe I thought the book was going to be better? I have no idea why I did though because I didn't like either of them!
Okay, In Her Shoes has one dumb sister and one smart sister. A pretty common theme for some writers but not my favorite. I couldn't really connect to either sister, Maggie or Rose, because it just didn't seem that realistic to me.
Before I get any hate comments or rants from people who loved this book - let me explain! I'm the youngest in my family out of three children. I have an older brother and sister - we are about 4-5 years apart. My sister and I have never really been compared against one another. I mean, we both played soccer and piano. We both went to school. We both have hazel eyes. However, we have different hair colors (her's is a lighter brown while mine is darker) and we have different personalities. My parents (or relatives) never compared us against each other while we were growing up and still don't to this day. Our friends never compared us because we ran in different groups while growing up but now we all kind of merged. It's like all on big giant crazy family friendship kind of thing.
Now I'm not saying it isn't realistic to someone else because everyone grows up in different ways and deals with different situations. I'm also not saying you were loved less or more than me - because I honestly have no idea.
I just didn't like this book because I couldn't relate to either character. Or the story line. Pretty much the entire book did not agree with me.
I also didn't have any wine available near me and I was kind of lazy to go out and buy some while I was reading this book. If I had wine, I might have liked this book a lot more but I can't change the past nor can I predict the future.
I wish I liked it but I didn't.
Okay, In Her Shoes has one dumb sister and one smart sister. A pretty common theme for some writers but not my favorite. I couldn't really connect to either sister, Maggie or Rose, because it just didn't seem that realistic to me.
Before I get any hate comments or rants from people who loved this book - let me explain! I'm the youngest in my family out of three children. I have an older brother and sister - we are about 4-5 years apart. My sister and I have never really been compared against one another. I mean, we both played soccer and piano. We both went to school. We both have hazel eyes. However, we have different hair colors (her's is a lighter brown while mine is darker) and we have different personalities. My parents (or relatives) never compared us against each other while we were growing up and still don't to this day. Our friends never compared us because we ran in different groups while growing up but now we all kind of merged. It's like all on big giant crazy family friendship kind of thing.
Now I'm not saying it isn't realistic to someone else because everyone grows up in different ways and deals with different situations. I'm also not saying you were loved less or more than me - because I honestly have no idea.
I just didn't like this book because I couldn't relate to either character. Or the story line. Pretty much the entire book did not agree with me.
I also didn't have any wine available near me and I was kind of lazy to go out and buy some while I was reading this book. If I had wine, I might have liked this book a lot more but I can't change the past nor can I predict the future.
I wish I liked it but I didn't.
February 22, 2008
Jennifer Weiner can write funny passages. There's the 80-something woman who uses her new computer to print fake parking permits. The fussy pug that prefers more elegant surroundings. Maggie's attempt to get into the MTV VJ auditions. I did grin a few times while reading this book.
But glimmers of situational humor aren't enough to overcome the bigger problems with this novel. It's formulaic, even for chick lit. Two sisters don't get along - one's chubby and bookish, the other a wild party girl. They live together for awhile, then have a big falling out, then go through a period of personal growth, then once they've learned important life lessons, they live happily ever after.
So it's exactly what you'd expect. 500+ pages seems like a long march towards the inevitable.
But glimmers of situational humor aren't enough to overcome the bigger problems with this novel. It's formulaic, even for chick lit. Two sisters don't get along - one's chubby and bookish, the other a wild party girl. They live together for awhile, then have a big falling out, then go through a period of personal growth, then once they've learned important life lessons, they live happily ever after.
So it's exactly what you'd expect. 500+ pages seems like a long march towards the inevitable.
December 28, 2016
This is another fun novel from Jennifer Weiner. I was curious to read it because I had seen the movie version (starring Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette) and I liked the story about two sisters who were total opposites, and yet still found ways to love and help each other. It was a pleasant, enjoyable read.
March 23, 2023
I rarely say this, but maybe I should have just watched the movie.
I tried to ignore the fact that this book didn’t age that well, and focus on the general things I liked. The writing style worked well enough for me, and the premise seemed catchy. Unfortunately all of the characters were awful, which doesn’t work well since we need to be invested in this family dynamic and a book of this length. The sisters were clearly supposed to be sympathetic, but were both pretty vicious and judgmental. Rose is supposed to the more relatable one I think, but she is unpleasant, all the way through. She seemed slightly bitter even at the end. Simon deserves better!
And Maggie actually had character growth, but said and did some truly heinous things so I could never bring myself to fully root for her. And wtf with Maggie taking these jobs working for people she could have had real growth from, but she just bails on the grooming and the blind woman who was so kind to her and it’s just…forgotten. There’s no confrontation or reckoning so it just feels like a waste of pages. Nothing ever happens. That was just a big issue in general though, things were brought up and then nothing much was done with the ideas.
I also couldn’t figure out the point of the parents involvement in the story, they could have just been a reference. The mother had potential to be a bigger storyline, but we just got bare minimum “it’s no one’s fault, too bad we couldn’t help her more.” The awful father and stepmother just keep being exactly how they are (even though the more we learn, the less their relationship makes sense). The grandmother felt like literary device manipulation. Clearly we were supposed to feel bad for her but she was a bit too melodramatic and overwrought all the time. She was a very flat character, so it’s hard to actually care about her being sad when she has no depth.
*the fat phobia and narrative about dyslexia was..not great. The way the sisters comment on these things about each other are pretty offensive for characters that are not supposed to be truly villainous. Even considering the year that this was written, it was kind of hard to read at times. That and the sketchy situations Maggie gets into with men. At the end I couldn’t figure out if the takeaway was just, oh men are mostly trash? And the Jim thing really ended with a whimper, not a bang. Having a chapter in his POV was kind of pointless and misleading.
Anyway, this one wasn’t for me. I’m glad other people seemed to enjoy it more than me though.
I tried to ignore the fact that this book didn’t age that well, and focus on the general things I liked. The writing style worked well enough for me, and the premise seemed catchy. Unfortunately all of the characters were awful, which doesn’t work well since we need to be invested in this family dynamic and a book of this length. The sisters were clearly supposed to be sympathetic, but were both pretty vicious and judgmental. Rose is supposed to the more relatable one I think, but she is unpleasant, all the way through. She seemed slightly bitter even at the end. Simon deserves better!
And Maggie actually had character growth, but said and did some truly heinous things so I could never bring myself to fully root for her. And wtf with Maggie taking these jobs working for people she could have had real growth from, but she just bails on the grooming and the blind woman who was so kind to her and it’s just…forgotten. There’s no confrontation or reckoning so it just feels like a waste of pages. Nothing ever happens. That was just a big issue in general though, things were brought up and then nothing much was done with the ideas.
I also couldn’t figure out the point of the parents involvement in the story, they could have just been a reference. The mother had potential to be a bigger storyline, but we just got bare minimum “it’s no one’s fault, too bad we couldn’t help her more.” The awful father and stepmother just keep being exactly how they are (even though the more we learn, the less their relationship makes sense). The grandmother felt like literary device manipulation. Clearly we were supposed to feel bad for her but she was a bit too melodramatic and overwrought all the time. She was a very flat character, so it’s hard to actually care about her being sad when she has no depth.
*the fat phobia and narrative about dyslexia was..not great. The way the sisters comment on these things about each other are pretty offensive for characters that are not supposed to be truly villainous. Even considering the year that this was written, it was kind of hard to read at times. That and the sketchy situations Maggie gets into with men. At the end I couldn’t figure out if the takeaway was just, oh men are mostly trash? And the Jim thing really ended with a whimper, not a bang. Having a chapter in his POV was kind of pointless and misleading.
Anyway, this one wasn’t for me. I’m glad other people seemed to enjoy it more than me though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2007
It's hard to believe that Rose and Maggie are sisters - it seems the only thing they have in common is their shoe size. Rose is the responsible sister; at age thirty, she's a lawyer at a successful firm, and she's finally found herself a good boyfriend. Maggie is twenty-eight; she is the attractive sister. Despite her looks, she has not held a job for very long at all. Flighty and irresponsible, she detests Rose's approach to life.
Unfortunately for the sisters, Maggie is forced to move in with Rose due to financial circumstances. Angry with Rose for nagging at her so much, Maggie decides to get even when Rose's boyfriend shows up at their door. Rose is heartbroken when she walks in on her boyfriend having sex with Maggie...and Maggie wearing her shoes. Rose kicks man and Maggie out of her apartment, yelling that she never wants to see either again.
So begins Maggie's journey to find herself, first at Princeton, and then on a mission to find the girls' maternal grandmother. Tired of living in Rose's shadow, she is determined to find her niche - and subsequently forgive herself for what she did to her sister.
Rose has a journey of her own - as her now-ex was one of her coworkers, she finds herself taking a leave from her job to follow her heart and decide what she really wants to do.
Weiner has intertwined the stories of two very different women into a novel that is both humorous and dramatic. Readers will enjoy In Her Shoes and will be able to identify with both Maggie and Rose by the end of the book.
Unfortunately for the sisters, Maggie is forced to move in with Rose due to financial circumstances. Angry with Rose for nagging at her so much, Maggie decides to get even when Rose's boyfriend shows up at their door. Rose is heartbroken when she walks in on her boyfriend having sex with Maggie...and Maggie wearing her shoes. Rose kicks man and Maggie out of her apartment, yelling that she never wants to see either again.
So begins Maggie's journey to find herself, first at Princeton, and then on a mission to find the girls' maternal grandmother. Tired of living in Rose's shadow, she is determined to find her niche - and subsequently forgive herself for what she did to her sister.
Rose has a journey of her own - as her now-ex was one of her coworkers, she finds herself taking a leave from her job to follow her heart and decide what she really wants to do.
Weiner has intertwined the stories of two very different women into a novel that is both humorous and dramatic. Readers will enjoy In Her Shoes and will be able to identify with both Maggie and Rose by the end of the book.
December 29, 2008
It seems Weiner must have had a terrible jerk for a father and stuck up leech for a sister, because all her books seem to dance around this.
I read Weiner hoping to find a new stronger "Good In Bed" but never do. This book was entertaining but not good. I refused to watch the movie because the main character should be at lest a tad fat. Instead, in typical Hollywood fashiong, they just made a thin girl homely.
I read Weiner hoping to find a new stronger "Good In Bed" but never do. This book was entertaining but not good. I refused to watch the movie because the main character should be at lest a tad fat. Instead, in typical Hollywood fashiong, they just made a thin girl homely.
January 18, 2008
Maybe there was too much sex or scandal, but I didn't find myself endeared to the characters. The story and writing are alright, about appreciating your sisters, but the inconsistencies of character, plot holes, and shock value ruined it for me. It did have good perspectives into the mind of the smart "fat" girl and the attractive "stupid" girl and how they clash. Plus, Weiner's formula for plot seem to follow to same consistent lines: fat girl who is funny and smart, incredulous twist of fate, way too nice guy who loves the fat girl, and happy love ending. I didn't dislike the story, it just wasn't my favorite.
February 14, 2016
Bad. Just bad. Resisting the urge to burn it, but only to avoid accruing overdue library book fees.
November 23, 2009
This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I'm gonna be honest, I was a little skeptical of it. I am not one to really get into girly books: books about shopping, and dating, and partying. I usually like the more dramatic fiction, but I fell in love with this one!
The story is ultimately about two sisters: the free spirit, partying, beautiful sister, and the uptight, chunky, plain sister. The only thing these sisters have in common is the death of their mother and shoes. So begins the story. Maggie and Rose are characters that anyone with a sister can relate to. After Maggie does something horrible to her sister, they each try to go their separate ways, and walking in the other sister's shoes (hence the title).
In the end, the sisters end up happily back together, in the most adorable ways possible, and each come out better for it. The poem that Maggie read at the end was heartbreaking, and really shows how tight the bonds of sisterhood can be. A definate tear-jerker (but in a happy way), and one of my new favorite books. Can't wait to read Good in Bed!
September 17, 2008
This book was about 400 pages too long. They could have made it cute and fun. It never went anywhere ... it was totally predictable and I kept waiting for some twist. BORING.
I love girl books but this one took way to long and the book ended about half way through.
I love girl books but this one took way to long and the book ended about half way through.
April 9, 2023
I watched the movie awhile back and really enjoyed it. I can't really say whether the book or the movie was better. It's been awhile since I saw the movie. But regardless, I enjoyed this even though it's not the genre I'm typically into.
July 19, 2012
Against my better judgement, I actually read and enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's "In Her Shoes". I realize it's "chick lit" (a term that I am not fond of due to its rather sexist implications but that I find myself using quite often involuntarily because 'feminist lit' just doesn't sound right, aesthetically. Sorry...), but when I picked it up and started reading it, I actually had a hard time putting it down. Weiner happens to be a decent writer and a good storyteller and also writes about real women, not the photo-shopped Barbie doll women one sees in much of the genre. She can be both funny and moving at the same time, and the book is nowhere near as cheesy and melodramatic as other "chick lit" authors I have read. There's also a pretty decent film adaptation of this book starring Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz.
April 17, 2018
I think I’m coming to the realization that fluffy chick lit is just not for me.
February 17, 2023
This book just really had everything I love in books. A messy sibling dynamic between Maggie and Rose. A messy family dynamic in general and drama and cheating and dogs..and basically this book was just a really good time.
September 15, 2021
[3.5] I have to admit, I watched the movie adaptation more times than I should... The movie, starring Cameron Diaz as Maggie, Toni Collette as Rose, and Shirley MacLaine as their estranged Grandma Ella, gets me every time! It's about sisters, and those who know me know what my sisters mean to me, being the eldest myself.
So when I decided to finally read the book, I was expecting everything I saw in the movie... But I was wrong. There was far more depth, more storyline, more focus on each of the main characters, and a lot of character development.
I don't get why this is flagged as a Chick Lit / Romance. Although there was a bit of romance, the whole book was about the relationship between the two sisters and their grandmother.
I resonated a lot with Rose, with her watching over her younger sister Maggie, wanting the best for her, worrying about her and her life choices, and just wanted to be a sister & a mother to her. Yeah, same.
There were a lot of anger, betrayal, and emotions; yet there was forgiveness, love, and change.
A lot of reviews have addressed body image and stereotypes: a fat, smart girl who is a bookworm and career-oriented; and a hot, dumb girl who makes shit choices in life and has learning difficulties. It might hit you at first, but the character development as the story progresses, and the changes that happen without someone having to go thin to be accepted is refreshing for a change. If that still offends you, then you are probably missing the point of this book.
Well-written and enjoyable. I was able to finish it quickly as it was easy to follow and had funny moments. I won't say it's the best book in town, but it's worth picking up if you want something light to read. Watch out for the stepmother tho... She is horrendous!
And if you love poetry, there is a lot of material here for you... especially the last poem by E E Cummings... It's the reason why the book & the movie makes me cry. Just this poem!
PS 19 - A book that discusses body positivity.
PS 47 - A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing.
So when I decided to finally read the book, I was expecting everything I saw in the movie... But I was wrong. There was far more depth, more storyline, more focus on each of the main characters, and a lot of character development.
I don't get why this is flagged as a Chick Lit / Romance. Although there was a bit of romance, the whole book was about the relationship between the two sisters and their grandmother.
I resonated a lot with Rose, with her watching over her younger sister Maggie, wanting the best for her, worrying about her and her life choices, and just wanted to be a sister & a mother to her. Yeah, same.
There were a lot of anger, betrayal, and emotions; yet there was forgiveness, love, and change.
A lot of reviews have addressed body image and stereotypes: a fat, smart girl who is a bookworm and career-oriented; and a hot, dumb girl who makes shit choices in life and has learning difficulties. It might hit you at first, but the character development as the story progresses, and the changes that happen without someone having to go thin to be accepted is refreshing for a change. If that still offends you, then you are probably missing the point of this book.
Well-written and enjoyable. I was able to finish it quickly as it was easy to follow and had funny moments. I won't say it's the best book in town, but it's worth picking up if you want something light to read. Watch out for the stepmother tho... She is horrendous!
And if you love poetry, there is a lot of material here for you... especially the last poem by E E Cummings... It's the reason why the book & the movie makes me cry. Just this poem!
PS 19 - A book that discusses body positivity.
PS 47 - A book from your TBR list you associate with a favorite person, place, or thing.
May 30, 2020
RATING: 4 STARS
I picked up this novel while browsing at the library. Often I would just stroll down the aisles and if a cover or title spoke to me, I would take it home. What I love about the library is that you can take a book home for any reason - cover, title, author, hype etc and not worry about the expense. If the book doesn't work for you, you can just return it. I probably take out 5-15 books at one time, and maybe only read eight. It allows me to try new genres and authors I may not normally try. When you are spending money on books, or at least when I am, I stick to favourites.
As I started this novel, the humour of the story, and specifically Rose and Maggie just struck a cord with me. I related to both characters in some ways, but it was Rose who I was rooting for. Rose who is the responsible sister, was also the sister longing to find that special person who would love her back. Maggie lives day to day, and knows her sister will be there to help her out. I started to become really invested in the both characters as well as their grandmother (and senior village). I loved the way Weiner portrayed both Maggie and Rose with compassion and humour. The way the two sisters started out in the novel to where they ended up, there was a lot of growth in the journey.
I saw the movie when it came out in theatres, and while there were differences, it did capture Maggie and Rose well. Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz brought those characters to life. I did reread the novel after seeing the movie, and it's still a favourite read.
I picked up this novel while browsing at the library. Often I would just stroll down the aisles and if a cover or title spoke to me, I would take it home. What I love about the library is that you can take a book home for any reason - cover, title, author, hype etc and not worry about the expense. If the book doesn't work for you, you can just return it. I probably take out 5-15 books at one time, and maybe only read eight. It allows me to try new genres and authors I may not normally try. When you are spending money on books, or at least when I am, I stick to favourites.
As I started this novel, the humour of the story, and specifically Rose and Maggie just struck a cord with me. I related to both characters in some ways, but it was Rose who I was rooting for. Rose who is the responsible sister, was also the sister longing to find that special person who would love her back. Maggie lives day to day, and knows her sister will be there to help her out. I started to become really invested in the both characters as well as their grandmother (and senior village). I loved the way Weiner portrayed both Maggie and Rose with compassion and humour. The way the two sisters started out in the novel to where they ended up, there was a lot of growth in the journey.
I saw the movie when it came out in theatres, and while there were differences, it did capture Maggie and Rose well. Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz brought those characters to life. I did reread the novel after seeing the movie, and it's still a favourite read.
July 18, 2022
olvidé agregarlo, pero esta buenísimo 😫
April 23, 2021
Actually really enjoyed the writing style- nice and light read with witty humour. Loved Rose and her character- development was good and her romantic progression was sweet. The only issue is the relationship with these sisters- Maggie is unbelievably selfish and toxic from the beginning and treats her sister so poorly when she gives/does so much for her. Although the undergoes this “character development” and “changes” I don’t find this character development believable- shes trash and nobody who would so purposely hurt her sister by sleeping with her boyfriend deserves to be forgiven. She had the intention to hurt her sister and honestly even more disappointed that Rose forgives her. Would have liked this book better if Rose dropped her sister and never talked to her again and learned to live without her and her constant hurt and disappointment!!! And that’s on night shift thoughts!!! Stay tuned on movie review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2018
This was my first time reading a Jennifer Weiner novel, and I think I will read more in the future. I chose this book because it met the requirements for a reading challenge- book with unlikable character. This book delivered on that! I liked the dynamic relationship of the sisters, and I really enjoyed that the story was told through different points of view. I am interested in watching the movie to see how it will portray the characters.
Want to read
July 12, 2015Clearance book sales are my enemy. I am the proud owner of 9 more paperbacks that I have zero room for (but at a total bargain!) I loved the movie version of this. Toni Collette is amazing in everything ever and I think I love her a little bit? Like she may have been 90% of the reason I bought this.
Long story short I have it so I suppose I'll read it at some point.
Long story short I have it so I suppose I'll read it at some point.
July 21, 2020
This was a fun, funny read. Not much substance but really fun nonetheless 😄
June 21, 2019
A solid 3.5 stars from me! A story that will connect with you for sure if you have a sister. I definitely saw a lot of myself in Rose and a lot of similarities in our lives. Rose & Maggie had my tears flowing by the end! I’m excited to watch the movie.
October 21, 2020
This was my first book by this author. Excellent read, very heartwarming.
April 12, 2022
Atpalaiduojanti, įtraukianti, lengva. Tokia kasdieniška ir paprasta, pasaldinta puikiu humoru ir ironija.
May 8, 2020
Jennifer gets my crown for queen of the Quar read. Plus, reading this made me feel like I was visiting all my usual spots in Philly. She got me with the Book Trader reference ❤️👏
October 6, 2009
I absolutely loved this book! With every word that I read from the figurative pen of Miss Jennifer Weiner the closer I feel I become to her. In Her Shoes is, in my opinion, her best literary work, with perhaps the exception of Good In Bed.....Eh, all right, it's a tie.
In Her Shoes is the totally relate-able tale of two sisters whom don't realize that they have as much in common as they really do. On one side is Rose --- responsible, dependable, kind of vanilla Rose whose only great passion is shoes and ice cream and who makes the mistake of dipping her pen in the company inkwell (if ya know what I'm saying --- and on the other side is Maggie ---- beautiful, vivacious, troubled, misunderstood Maggie whom has never gotten a real chance out of life and struggles to prove herself more intelligent than everyone has ever told her she was. These two sisters rarely get along, barely tolerate each other, and know exactly how to push each others buttons --- in other words, they're completely believable characters --- and when Maggie pushes Rose for the last and final time, Rose is ready to throw her only sister out of her life forever. It's during the time that they're separated, however, and forced to move through the slow-moving tides of their equally difficult lives without the familial support of a sisterly shoulder that they realize how important they have always been to each other.
Don't let the thickness of this book scare you. YOU HAVE TO READ IT! It's only one of the best contributions to the chick-lit genre since Rebecca Wells took a break from churning out Ya-Ya stories. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll call up your sister and apologize for pulling her hair twenty-something years ago, you'll go out and buy a new pair of ridiculously expensive yet oh-so-worth-it shoes, and more than likely, run out and buy every other word that Jennifer Weiner has ever thought, much less written.
Oh, and *spoiler alert* I have to talk about this certain part in the book, because it is perhaps my most favorite thing ever to be written. About halfway through the book, after Maggie and Rose get into it, Maggie runs off to the train station and decides to hop the track over the Princeton University, where she proceeds to spend the next three or four months living in the basement of the library! How friggin awesome is that! I mean, maybe I'm just that kind of person, one who would love the opportunity to just sit around and read books all day and night, but that was just, like, the neatest thing that I've ever heard of in my life. If I thought I could get away with it, I would totally be hopping a train to Princeton right about now.
In Her Shoes is the totally relate-able tale of two sisters whom don't realize that they have as much in common as they really do. On one side is Rose --- responsible, dependable, kind of vanilla Rose whose only great passion is shoes and ice cream and who makes the mistake of dipping her pen in the company inkwell (if ya know what I'm saying --- and on the other side is Maggie ---- beautiful, vivacious, troubled, misunderstood Maggie whom has never gotten a real chance out of life and struggles to prove herself more intelligent than everyone has ever told her she was. These two sisters rarely get along, barely tolerate each other, and know exactly how to push each others buttons --- in other words, they're completely believable characters --- and when Maggie pushes Rose for the last and final time, Rose is ready to throw her only sister out of her life forever. It's during the time that they're separated, however, and forced to move through the slow-moving tides of their equally difficult lives without the familial support of a sisterly shoulder that they realize how important they have always been to each other.
Don't let the thickness of this book scare you. YOU HAVE TO READ IT! It's only one of the best contributions to the chick-lit genre since Rebecca Wells took a break from churning out Ya-Ya stories. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll call up your sister and apologize for pulling her hair twenty-something years ago, you'll go out and buy a new pair of ridiculously expensive yet oh-so-worth-it shoes, and more than likely, run out and buy every other word that Jennifer Weiner has ever thought, much less written.
Oh, and *spoiler alert* I have to talk about this certain part in the book, because it is perhaps my most favorite thing ever to be written. About halfway through the book, after Maggie and Rose get into it, Maggie runs off to the train station and decides to hop the track over the Princeton University, where she proceeds to spend the next three or four months living in the basement of the library! How friggin awesome is that! I mean, maybe I'm just that kind of person, one who would love the opportunity to just sit around and read books all day and night, but that was just, like, the neatest thing that I've ever heard of in my life. If I thought I could get away with it, I would totally be hopping a train to Princeton right about now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2011
I read GOOD IN BED, which I think is an earlier novel by this author, and I enjoyed it, so I expected this to be even better. Alas, it took a small step back.
Like GOOD IN BED Weiner has a plump protagonist, which I approve of. This, perhaps, is why her work is denigrated as "women's fiction." Rose is a lawyer who has the misfortune of falling in love with one of her firm's partners. Her messed-up sister Maggie comes to visit and basically throws a hand-grenade into Rose's life. Maggie moves out, and the novel follows her, alternating between what Maggie does with her life and what happens to the sister she left behind.
The novel is basically a story of change, growth, and reconciliation. Of the two, Maggie's story is more elaborate. She grows the most because she has the farthest to come. However, I found some of her choices hard to comprehend; they seemed out of character for her. The person she is at the end of the book seems completely different from the one at the first of the book. Great arc, but I think she needed to have more pages to make such a drastic change.
Rose changes her life too. She takes a leave of absence from work, and then immediately starts a job as a dog walker, of all things. I'm sure that was meant to be a metaphor, but it seemed like a really dumb thing to do, like leaving a medical practice to serve coffee at a kiosk. Especially baffling was that she didn't seem to have any problem with her job prior to the event that made her want to leave. Why not just switch firms?
I think the weakness of this book is that it spends nearly equal time with Rose and Maggie, when Maggie is the only one who really needs to change. All of Rose's "changes" seemed like a step in the wrong direction. She moves from a man she adores to one she's ambivalent about. She moves from a career that challenges her intellectually to one that doesn't pay a living wage.
I'm not going to get into specifics, but I felt the conclusion, where Maggie figures out how to make it up to her sister, a little forced. There was another scene, as well, that introduced tension that didn't get resolved.
I'm not going to say this book isn't worth reading. I did like the characters, and some of their adventures amused me (Maggie at Princeton). However, this isn't Weiner's best work.
Like GOOD IN BED Weiner has a plump protagonist, which I approve of. This, perhaps, is why her work is denigrated as "women's fiction." Rose is a lawyer who has the misfortune of falling in love with one of her firm's partners. Her messed-up sister Maggie comes to visit and basically throws a hand-grenade into Rose's life. Maggie moves out, and the novel follows her, alternating between what Maggie does with her life and what happens to the sister she left behind.
The novel is basically a story of change, growth, and reconciliation. Of the two, Maggie's story is more elaborate. She grows the most because she has the farthest to come. However, I found some of her choices hard to comprehend; they seemed out of character for her. The person she is at the end of the book seems completely different from the one at the first of the book. Great arc, but I think she needed to have more pages to make such a drastic change.
Rose changes her life too. She takes a leave of absence from work, and then immediately starts a job as a dog walker, of all things. I'm sure that was meant to be a metaphor, but it seemed like a really dumb thing to do, like leaving a medical practice to serve coffee at a kiosk. Especially baffling was that she didn't seem to have any problem with her job prior to the event that made her want to leave. Why not just switch firms?
I think the weakness of this book is that it spends nearly equal time with Rose and Maggie, when Maggie is the only one who really needs to change. All of Rose's "changes" seemed like a step in the wrong direction. She moves from a man she adores to one she's ambivalent about. She moves from a career that challenges her intellectually to one that doesn't pay a living wage.
I'm not going to get into specifics, but I felt the conclusion, where Maggie figures out how to make it up to her sister, a little forced. There was another scene, as well, that introduced tension that didn't get resolved.
I'm not going to say this book isn't worth reading. I did like the characters, and some of their adventures amused me (Maggie at Princeton). However, this isn't Weiner's best work.
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