"In Her Shoes" Book Review

   Jennifer Weiner gained popularity with her first novel, "Good in Bed". So many fans were happy to see "In Her Shoes" published as well. This second book was such a hit, it was made into a movie starring Cameron Diaz. Do yourself a favor though -- take the time to read this fun, insightful story before you head to the video store for the film version.

   Rose Feller is a no-nonsense 30-year-old lawyer in Philadelphia. She has a nice apartment and an expensive, if somewhat frumpy, wardrobe. Underneath her put-together exterior however, Rose feels insecure about herself and her relationships with others.

   Enter her little sister Maggie. Pretty and petite, she always gets the guy, she always gets the attention (and eats it right up). But she always seems to be in some sort of trouble, which is just when she looks up her big sis to rescue her, which Rose inevitably does!

   Yes, these sisters have their differences. In fact, the only thing they seem to have in common is a childhood marred by the early death of their mother, the emotional withdrawal of their father, and Sydelle the Stepmonster, who made their adolescence miserable, always comparing them to "My Marcia", her so-called perfect older daughter. Oh yes, and the girls also share the same shoe size, causing Maggie to constantly raid Rose's expensive footwear collection!

   Weiner gently tugs the reader along, keeping you interested, tempting you to learn more about these estranged sisters and a few secrets from their past, including a long-lost grandmother, Ella.

   One night, the self-centered Maggie does something so cruel that Rose has had enough, and this becomes a central turning point in the story for both sisters. Before you're through this well-crafted novel, you'll journey with the young ladies to meet a snooty pug named Petunia, visit Princeton, and meet a handful of spunky retirees in sunny Florida.

   This particular story touches readers, I believe, not only because it is well-written, but also because we can relate to the characters' life experiences in some way. Perhaps our sister drove us crazy sometimes, or our parents let us down at times, or the "right guy" turned out to be oh so very wrong in the end! Seasoned with just the right amount of wit, this is a great choice.