53rd out of 1,229 books
—
3,050 voters
Certain Girls (Cannie Shapiro #2)
by
Jennifer Weiner (Goodreads Author)
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 sexual...more
Now Cannie's back. After her debut novel - a fictionalized (and highly sexual...more
Hardcover, 386 pages
Published
April 8th 2008
by Atria Books
(first published April 28th 2000)
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May 05, 2008
Rebecca
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
mothers and daughters everywhere, anyone with a heart
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I procured an advanced reader copy of this title in a couple of days, being so excited for the sequel to one of my favorite books ever. Cannie is a great heroine and I couldn't wait to revisit her 13 years after the birth of her daughter, Joy.
While initially I was a bit disappointed, "Certain Girls" is a fast read, and anyone looking for a continuing story of Cannie, Joy, Peter and the rest won't be sorry. While I don't want to give up any spoilers, I sobbed like crazy through my last half hour...more
While initially I was a bit disappointed, "Certain Girls" is a fast read, and anyone looking for a continuing story of Cannie, Joy, Peter and the rest won't be sorry. While I don't want to give up any spoilers, I sobbed like crazy through my last half hour...more
First off, let me start off by saying I'm a big Jennifer Weiner fan. Her books are the perfect in-between books. You know, those books that are light and fluffy reads and that are perfect to read in-between serious books? That's what describes Jennifer Weiner's books.
Now, "Certain Girls" is a sequel to Weiner's hit novel "Good in Bed". In my opinion, there are three types of sequels. The first type are those certain sequels that are great. They are even better than the original novel and it tend...more
Now, "Certain Girls" is a sequel to Weiner's hit novel "Good in Bed". In my opinion, there are three types of sequels. The first type are those certain sequels that are great. They are even better than the original novel and it tend...more
I was excited about this book since it was a return to Cannie Shapiro's world. We met Cannie in Good In Bed, where Cannie (like author Weiner) lives in Philadelphia. This book picked up twelve years after where GiB left off.
Joy is preparing for her bat mitzvah, and Cannie is figuring out how to navigate being a wife, a mother of an adolescent, and a good Jewish mother all at once. The last she needs is for Joy to read the semi-autobiographical book Cannie wrote right after Joy's birth detailing...more
Joy is preparing for her bat mitzvah, and Cannie is figuring out how to navigate being a wife, a mother of an adolescent, and a good Jewish mother all at once. The last she needs is for Joy to read the semi-autobiographical book Cannie wrote right after Joy's birth detailing...more
"Good in Bed" was such a toothsome piece of chick lit that I was very much looking forward to reading more about Cannie. However, Certain Girls is quite pallid by comparison. Much of the earthy energy of the first book is missing, and instead this is an almost mediocre mom-and-teenage-daughter story. I say "almost" because Weiner is an entertaining writer who often throws a surprising insight or a fabulous one-liner into the mix just as things are getting tiresome.
Actually, the fabulous one-line...more
Actually, the fabulous one-line...more
“Good in Bed” is one of my Top Ten Favorite Books of All Time. It’s funny, it’s all about various relationships and there are even lesbians in it. Over the years, I’ve wondered whatever happened to Cannie Shapiro and Joy?
Well, Cannie turned into a scaredy cat housewife/closet writer and Joy turned into a typical teenager.
“Certain Girls” takes place 13 years after the end of “Good in Bed.” Cannie is married to Dr. K and Joy is in middle school, preparing for her bat mitzvah. We find out in flas...more
Well, Cannie turned into a scaredy cat housewife/closet writer and Joy turned into a typical teenager.
“Certain Girls” takes place 13 years after the end of “Good in Bed.” Cannie is married to Dr. K and Joy is in middle school, preparing for her bat mitzvah. We find out in flas...more
I, of course, loved this book because I think I would love anything Jennifer Weiner writes. I am a little surprised that people disliked the book because of the overwhelmingly sad occurance at the end of the book. Did you all think Good in Bed was light hearted and breezy? Because, compared to this, I would say it was much less fantasy. The reason her books touch so many of us profoundly is because she writes about things that many of us endure, but aren't necessarily socially acceptable to disc...more
Well...what's to say about this book; it's no different than any other book Jennifer Weiner has written. Fat chick whining about being fat.
The first Jennifer book I read was "In Her Shoes". I read it because I saw the movie adaption because I love the actress who plays the older sister. Being an only child I was totally enthralled by the relationship between the sisters in the book and the grandmother they didn't know. I loved watching how both sisters transformed and became different women. An...more
The first Jennifer book I read was "In Her Shoes". I read it because I saw the movie adaption because I love the actress who plays the older sister. Being an only child I was totally enthralled by the relationship between the sisters in the book and the grandmother they didn't know. I loved watching how both sisters transformed and became different women. An...more
There is just something about Jennifer Weiner that I love. It could be that she is less than skinny, sort of Jewish, and from Philly (remind you of anyone?). Maybe I am vain, but I like books that I can relate to (at least a little bit) and that remind me of things that I know...like growing up Jewish, struggling with weight and then learning to love yourself, crazy hair, and of course all of the wonders of Philadelphia. And then of course there are things that I can't relate to in this book...l...more
I thought this was a good sequel, and found it interesting that so much time in Cannie's life had passed between book 1 and 2. It was not quite as good as Good in Bed to me, but still thoroughly enjoyable. My only criticism: I thought Cannie's daughter was written with a little too much mature insight for a 7th grader—but other than that, just a fun read.
I really wish that I could have given this book 3.5 stars. Like all of Weiner's books, it was very well written and engaging. A follow up to her first book Good In Bed, this story shoots us ahead 13 years as Cannie prepares for her daughter Joy's bat mitzvah. I had a few problems with the book... First, in this book Cannie has written a story about a portion of her life and is dealing with the repercussions of this. This gets a bit confusing when she starts talking about the things that she wrot...more
I actually did not finish this book. I have been reading it for 5 days now and should be finished with it by now but am only on page 71. It is so slow, that I cant even get excited about reading it.
I will read the last couple of chapters to see how it ends. Even if it is a book that I like, I can read the end and then go back and finish it.
I have read other Jennifer Weiner books and really liked them, but I cant recommend this one.
Okay I tried to read the last few chapters. Then I came to the t...more
I will read the last couple of chapters to see how it ends. Even if it is a book that I like, I can read the end and then go back and finish it.
I have read other Jennifer Weiner books and really liked them, but I cant recommend this one.
Okay I tried to read the last few chapters. Then I came to the t...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I couldn't decide whether to re-read Jennifer Weiner's debut novel, Good in Bed, before reading the long-awaited follow-up, Certain Girls, but in the end I chose not to. I thought I could remember enough about Good in Bed that it wouldn't be necessary and, at the same time, I wanted to see if Certain Girls could stand on its own.
Well, it turns out that I didn't remember Good In Bed as well as I thought, but Certain Girls certainly stands on its own. I think (but, you know, I can't be sure) that...more
Well, it turns out that I didn't remember Good In Bed as well as I thought, but Certain Girls certainly stands on its own. I think (but, you know, I can't be sure) that...more
I went ahead and bought the book for our trip to Maine. I really wished I had reread "good in bed" prior....although it was easy to remember parts of it--especially the younger sister!
this sequel was wonderfully written, I love Cannie's character, how her husband adores her, how she is obsessed about her teenage daughter. I like how the daughter was experiencing growing pains and how Cannie had to deal with them.
I got a potential parenting phrase from the book too "you get what you get and you d...more
this sequel was wonderfully written, I love Cannie's character, how her husband adores her, how she is obsessed about her teenage daughter. I like how the daughter was experiencing growing pains and how Cannie had to deal with them.
I got a potential parenting phrase from the book too "you get what you get and you d...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I have this feeling that I like Jennifer Weiner. Not necessarily her books, but her. And so I keep reading her books, and sort of enjoy them, and am always sort of disappointed. She has promise on which she doesn't completely deliver. Her plots are fairly conventional. I nearly gave up reading this, as I began to find the format (switching chapter between and mother and a really annoying daughter) to be tedious. For some reason I persevered and found that it improved. And yet... still, I apparen...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This was the first of Jennifer Weiner's books that I've read. I first heard of this author on a morning news show, can't remember if it was Good Morning America, Today, or CBS Early Show.
Anyway, a while later, a friend of mine mentions reading her book "In Her Shoes." I didn't think much of it until the movie of the same title came out and was showing on cable.
I saw it and loved it. So, when I saw this book at the library where I go to school, I picked it up right away, deciding to devour it d...more
Anyway, a while later, a friend of mine mentions reading her book "In Her Shoes." I didn't think much of it until the movie of the same title came out and was showing on cable.
I saw it and loved it. So, when I saw this book at the library where I go to school, I picked it up right away, deciding to devour it d...more
Our book club featured this book and when it was selected, I didn't care one way or the other, so went along with it. After reading it though, I HATED it. If you DO read it, don't read the ending. It's lazy and a terrible shame that the author did what she did, the conclusion adds nothing to the story and drags the events out for "dramatic effect." If it were a movie, the audience would say a collective, "oh come on." What I felt was a C- book used an F ending.
To be sure: skip the ending. BUT -...more
To be sure: skip the ending. BUT -...more
13 years after Cannie’s debut in Good In Bed, she is back in full size humor and still working on her weight, her Physician husband Peter’s sudden desire to have another baby, and planning her daughter Joy’s bar Mitzvah (without the spaghetti strapped “way too adult” looking dress Joy has chosen for herself.) Oh yes, there is also that writing career she is supposed to be working on…. well, lets put a pin in that….
When Joy discovers her mothers highly verbal and descriptive novel she wrote years...more
When Joy discovers her mothers highly verbal and descriptive novel she wrote years...more
Nov 22, 2012
Cláudia
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2008,
cosy-chick-lit
This book follows the life of Cannie Shapiro, 13 years later than the last time we heard from her. It hasn’t been so long since I read the 1st book, but I have to admit that I didn’t remember most of the things. I did a little browsing in the 1st book but then just decided to read this one and find out what happens ;)
Cannie has married the "diet doctor", Peter, and is now living happily with him and watching her daughter grow up and prepare her bat mitzvah. Obviously, Joy, being 13, is going thr...more
Cannie has married the "diet doctor", Peter, and is now living happily with him and watching her daughter grow up and prepare her bat mitzvah. Obviously, Joy, being 13, is going thr...more
Set thirteen years after Good in Bed, Certain Girls finds Cannie Shapiro-Krushelevansky settled and content – happily married, secretly penning a popular sci-fi book series under a pseudonym, and mothering her perfect girl, her Joy. Having left the flash and notoriety of her un-filmed screenplay and her sensational bestseller behind, to the outside observer, Cannie's life would seem staid and pedestrian, but Cannie has never been more at peace with herself or her body. But that's before her daug...more
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner was definitely a roller-coaster. I disliked the first half of the book because I just couldn't fathom ever being 13 and hating my mom, and disrespecting her like Joy did, but I mean that was 8 years ago.. and I've heard I was the queen of attitudes, so I'm sure I was exactly like her.. maybe that's why I didn't enjoy reading about Joy. I have to admit though, the last half of the book definitely made me laugh, cry, and eventually smile.
"As the days piled up into...more
"As the days piled up into...more
Jennifer Weiner's fifth novel revisits her first. Good in Bed put Weiner on the map as a "chick-lit" superstar, but her books are something more than that, which is one of the reasons I really like her. Certain Girls picks up the story of Candace "Cannie" Shapiro and her daughter Joy, whose unexpected conception and premature birth were pivotal events in Good in Bed, twelve years later.
Twelve years later, Joy is on the cusp of her teens, preparing for her bat mitzvah, and deep in the throes of "...more
Twelve years later, Joy is on the cusp of her teens, preparing for her bat mitzvah, and deep in the throes of "...more
Personally I liked "Good in Bed" better than the sequel, Certain Girls, but it was still a good book. I like when series books like this flash forward so you know what happened to the character. And here is Cannie, with Joy already 13 yrs. old and she is married to Peter as well.
Things start getting crazy when trying to plan Joy's bat mitzvah. Joy is being a typical 13 yr. old girl. She is just hating her parents, as her mom is just embarrassing to her and she wants to be able to do what she wan...more
Things start getting crazy when trying to plan Joy's bat mitzvah. Joy is being a typical 13 yr. old girl. She is just hating her parents, as her mom is just embarrassing to her and she wants to be able to do what she wan...more
Jul 26, 2011
Patti from Charlotte
added it
Though Jennifer Weiner in undoubtedly a fine writer, certainly in touch with the feelings of girls from preteen-age through older adult, I did not enjoy this tale as much as I had hoped. The problem for me was the manner in which she bounced back and forth from the main protagonist Cannie's voice to that of her young daughter, Joy. When chapters alternate from speaker to speaker, I find them to be quite interesting as a rule, but in this instance the 'voices' of the mother/daughter pair were so...more
A long coming sequel to another Weiner book, whose name is escaping me at this moment, which I read years ago and I liked, even if parts of it were a little far-fetched. Anyway, this book is about the Girl and her Daughter and told from their points of view, alternating chapters. The Daughter is in her bat mitzvah year and some of the ways she was written, just seemed a little old. Now if the Daughter was like 16, this book would have made more sense, but as a 12/13 year old? The dialogue was wr...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win a Free Signed Copy of Certain Girls! | 1 | 15 | Apr 12, 2009 12:24pm | |
| Another good one! | 1 | 31 | Apr 23, 2008 05:26pm |
Jennifer Weiner was born in 1970 on an army base in Louisiana. She grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Princeton University. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Central Pennsylvania, Lexington, Kentucky, and Philadelphia, before the publication of her first novel, GOOD IN BED, in 2001. She is the author of the novels IN HER SHOES (2002), which was turned into a major motion picture; LITTLE...more
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“The truth is, what I learned this year is that life is hard...Good people die for no reason. Little kids get sick. The people that are supposed to love you end up leaving.”
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Jul 14, 2009 02:22pm
Jun 16, 2012 09:30am