Helpful Score: 6
I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner, and find her books very entertaining. That said, I must admit this book was a disappointment.
First to the outline of the book. Kate Klein is a suburban mother of three children under five. Her husband is a workaholic, and she feels left out of the clique of women that she has somewhat befriended in her neighborhood. When Kate finds the body of one of these moms after arriving for a play date, she sees it as an opportunity to break out of her rut. It also leads her to cross paths with a first love and begin to question her marriage.
My problems with the book start with Kate, the heroine/protagonist of the book. Although at times I identified with some of her plight, having lived in the suburbs most of my life and recognizing some of the Stepford wives she contends with, I also found her irritating. She claims not to fit in with her group of friends, but at times she seems rather condescending of their choices in life. She also seems to be rather offhand about her kids, and seems to enjoy herself only when they arent around. I dont think everyone needs to be a perfect mom 24/7, but cook them a meal once in a while, and do some laundry for crying out loud. It was as if trying to distance the character of Kate from the other moms Weiner went a little to far to the other side. The character of Janie, Kates best friend was more of a caricature than a real person. Ben and Evan the two men in Kates life seemed more like props. The mystery of the book was interesting enough, and had a satisfying enough conclusion; although Kates story did not. It seemed deliberately open ended, as if setting up for a sequel. I have come to expect more from Ms Weiners books, and hope her next book brings back her more winning style.
First to the outline of the book. Kate Klein is a suburban mother of three children under five. Her husband is a workaholic, and she feels left out of the clique of women that she has somewhat befriended in her neighborhood. When Kate finds the body of one of these moms after arriving for a play date, she sees it as an opportunity to break out of her rut. It also leads her to cross paths with a first love and begin to question her marriage.
My problems with the book start with Kate, the heroine/protagonist of the book. Although at times I identified with some of her plight, having lived in the suburbs most of my life and recognizing some of the Stepford wives she contends with, I also found her irritating. She claims not to fit in with her group of friends, but at times she seems rather condescending of their choices in life. She also seems to be rather offhand about her kids, and seems to enjoy herself only when they arent around. I dont think everyone needs to be a perfect mom 24/7, but cook them a meal once in a while, and do some laundry for crying out loud. It was as if trying to distance the character of Kate from the other moms Weiner went a little to far to the other side. The character of Janie, Kates best friend was more of a caricature than a real person. Ben and Evan the two men in Kates life seemed more like props. The mystery of the book was interesting enough, and had a satisfying enough conclusion; although Kates story did not. It seemed deliberately open ended, as if setting up for a sequel. I have come to expect more from Ms Weiners books, and hope her next book brings back her more winning style.
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