Sweet, funny chick lit. Why are we always surprised when siblings are so different? Rose is the steady, responsible lawyer, and Maggie is beautiful, stylish, and struggling with a learning disability. The movie is cute too. ( )

The book takes such a personal look at the depth of two people that society fits into two typecasts: the older heavyweight, responsible woman in Rose versus the beautiful, spontaneous child-like qualities in Maggie. The themes can be recognized in every woman's life. We all know the girl who gets everything because she's beautiful but has deep rooted fears, or the woman who doesn't recognize her own spirit and beauty because she's grown up with poor self-esteem.

Weiner writes of more than the sisters' latest sibling rivalry -- Maggie and Rose must sort out the childhood vulnerabilities and family mysteries that still linger two decades after their mother's death. I think Maggie's transformation is too easy and unrealistic. It wasn't well-explained why the characters are the way they are. Probably the only part of the book which Weiner has written that I've appreciated was Rose's bestfriend's philosophy of dealing with failed relationships.

Given such a serious topic and with all the good reviews I've checked up on regarding this book, I must say I'm quite disappointed. There have been a couple of times when I just wanted to chuck this book into the bin, but then to be fair to all my books, I try always my best to finish what I've started. The writing was absolutely dry and boring during the entire first half of this book and more often than not, I've skipped altogether reading the parts of life in a retirement home. It wasn't until the last half of this book did it even try to look promising.

Book Details:

Title In Her Shoes
Author Jennifer Weiner
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

This was a book I saved for vacation - meaning I expected it to be an easy read and entertaining but not too thought-provoking. And for the most part, I was right. It was thoroughly enjoyable, especially since I could relate to many of the sisterly situations. Not a 'deep in thought' type of book, more like a literary cupcake. ( )

There's something about Jennifer Weiner's books that makes them compulsively readable (at least, that's what a lot of the blurbs say)... I don't know what it is - good writing, believable (and usually sympathetic) characters, story lines that aren't too over the top - but once I start I really can't stop until the book is finished. In Her Shoes was no different, except I must say that this is my least favourite of the three books I've read so far. Maybe it's because I had seen bits of the movie version (against my own will, I must add. Really dislike Cameron Diaz most of the time. Ick.), which I didn't like much, or maybe it's because of the character Maggie. She's supposed to be one of those messed up, damaged, stealing, misbehaving, lost girls that we're supposed to love in spite of it all because she's so endearing, and deep down she must be a good person. Well, I didn't like her. At all. In pretty much no part of the book. I guess I liked this book in spite of her.

So, quick summary - the aforementioned Maggie is a freeloader who can't get her life together, and in the process really hurts her sister, the character who largely has it together (except for men). Maggie runs away to live with her grandmother, leaving Rose (the older sister) to pick up the pieces of her life. And along the way... of course... they both find love, and become a big (mostly) happy family again.

That sounds a little dismissive of a book that I really did like, and there is definitely more to it than that, (in particular, I love Weiner's exploration of body image, and the fact that her protagonists are usually bigger than size zero), but if you want more you should pick up the book. ( )

Rose, a successful attorney, seems to have very little in common with her drop-dead gorgeous, but irresponsible sister, Maggie. Regardless of their differences, Rose has always bailed Maggie out of trouble - until Maggie crosses the line and breaks the biggest rule of sisterhood. Now it will take their long-lost grandmother to remind them all of the importance of family. ( )