Sep 26, 2009

Best Friends Forever- Jennifer Weiner

Best Friends Forever- Jennifer Weiner

From Goodreads-
Some bonds can never be broken...

Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That's what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they're both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school's scapegoat.

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents' house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She's just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. "Something horrible has happened," Val tells Addie, "and you're the only one who can help."

I've always enjoyed books about friendships, and though this book wasn't fantastic, it was still okay enough to hold my interest.

Several things about this book worked for me. I loved the character of Addie Downs, she was just someone you really wanted to root for. I felt bad for her, I was elated for her, I wanted to be friends with her. Valerie on the other hand was a narcissistic, selfish, human being, that had a rough childhood. The girls were opposites, and it worked great for the story, because she was able to clearly define the differences in the girls with how they reacted toward each other. I also enjoyed how it was written. The story starts off in the present, but throughout the book there are flashbacks, so we can understand the scope of their friendship, and ultimately, the falling out.

The one major thing I disliked about the book, was the tendency to get weird, and outlandish. The cops turning all CSI mode was hilarious, and totally unwarranted. I felt like I was watching Barney Fife.

Best Friends Forever is a okay book with a slightly over the top story, nonetheless it is entertaining.

Rating: 3/5

3 comments:

  1. Hmm. I have been considering reading her books. Have you read Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah? That was a great friendship book.

    I love your new layout!!

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  2. OH and I'm really looking forward to your review of South of Broad... I'm on a long library wait list for that one!

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  3. I haven't read Firefly Lane yet, but I have it on my TBR. I've heard good things about it. I like books about friendships, Best Friends Forever had a dark undertone to it. It wasn't really what I was expecting.

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