Best Friends Forever: A Novel

Valerie Violet Adler is a bitch who doesn't deserve to have any friends at all... how in the hell am I supposed to believe that Addie would drop everything and welcome Val back into her life, especially under those circumstances, like that? Am I supposed to be celebrating the fact that apparently

Show More

even 15 years after she is screwed over by Val, Addie delights in the knowledge that Val "needs" her now?

Books like this that paint pathetic pictures of single, fat, lonely women really piss me off. Especially when the plot is actually a relatively good idea that could have been written much better!

Show Less

Now that I'm reading everyone's reviews, I wonder if I should re-read this? Maybe my hopes were up too high? I couldn't put down GOOD IN BED, was content with IN HER SHOES, and ok with CERTAIN GIRLS. But this book I could NOT relate to. I couldn't follow the storyline, I had no compassion for or

Show More

interest in the characters, and I just wanted to stop reading before I grew to dislike Jennifer Weiner (who I imagine I would love to have drinks with at a fancy hotel some day).

Maybe I'll try again in the fall...

Show Less

There were several aspects of this book that irked me and I think the biggest was how Jennifer Weiner gave Addie, her main character, binge eating disorder, and then did not address it at all. Valerie, her only friend, though one might argue not best, was shallow at best. The book seemed to be

Show More

mostly about Addie's tragic family life and how she soothed herself with food and Valerie was a welcome distraction. A rift occurred when the girls were in high school and they parted. Addie stayed in the town, the house, where she grew up and gained more and more weight until she hit bottom and decided to loose weight. We really don't know what happened with Valerie in the intervening years, but we know she decided to attend her high school reunion, where one thing leads to another and she and Addie reunite and end up on the run.

A lot of the story is told in flashback - some better than others...Addie and Valerie's trip to Cape Cod stands out as a highlight, but there isn't much as far as depth. The other main character, the police office Jordan serves more as a plot device than actual character and many aspects of his character make him unlikable so when the inevitable happens, we wonder if he was really needed at all or if the story would have been fine focusing on the two women.

Show Less

Definitely the worst Jennifer Weiner book I have ever read, for its flat, uninspiring characters and ridiculous plot. Poorly written, Weiner's latest lacks pretty much everything that makes her books great: a sassy, not-skinny-but-mostly-proud-of-it heroine, a developed romance, great dialogue,

Show More

true friendships. Pass this one by.

Show Less

Jennifer Weiner's new novel Best Friends Forever tells the story of two women who were inseparable childhood friends. In amongst some difficult high school events their friendship gets broken by betrayal. Years later, on the night of their high school reunion, a crime is committed that brings the

Show More

two friends back together. Thus begins the outrageous adventure of Addie and Valerie running from the cops and restoring their lost friendship. The chapters skip between past and present to tell the story from the girls childhood, through to their present predicament.

The story delves into a lot of the emotions that women experience as they interact with others, both good and bad. It explores the pain of jealousy, betrayal, loss and rejection. It also portrays the strength that comes when you have someone to belong to. Best Friends Forever is set in a small town in Illinois. Addie paints pictures for greeting cards and Val works as a weather girl on TV. Addie struggled with a weight problem for her teenage and 20's that leaves her lacking in self confidence and unable to find love. Val appears to have it all together but actually feels jealous of Addie's family and stability. It is while working through the crime problem together that Addie and Val come to a deeper understanding of each other and learn to forgive each others shortcomings.

I found this book to be a mildly entertaining light read. The characters were easy to relate to and the crime aspect of the plot was far-fetched enough to provide a comic tone to the novel. Jennifer Weiner writes in a very straight-forward style that makes it easy to engage with the story. The story opens with the crime scene. It sets the stage for the plot that ties all the parts of the story together. The author aptly portrays modern American family life, the pain involved in growing up and the troubles of finding self-identity. It was not a book that I would read more than once but is an insightful light read that achieves an interesting mix of comedy as well as serious themes.

Show Less

Jennifer Weiner's books always tend to provide a nice escape and this was no exception. It reminded me a bit of an earlier read this year, Firefly Lane, by Kirsten Hannah, with the hippie girl with a deadbeat mother moving in and befriending the slightly nerdy girl. Addie Downs, the slightly nerdy

Show More

girl, is a sympathetic figure. The novel covers her relationship with Valerie Adler, the popular and pretty, neighbor. The story features both flashbacks and current time while covering all the ups and downs of friendship. A good read, but probably not Weiner's best.

Show Less

As a girl, Addie is overweight and friendless...until Valerie moves in next door. Valerie is everything Addie is not; skinny, confident, and indifferent to what others think of her. They soon become great friends. In high school, Val becomes popular and they grow apart. An incident at a party

Show More

during their senior year irrevocably breaks their friendship and they don't see each other until fifteen years later after a high school reunion.

I enjoyed the character of Addie and felt for her. I found her to be quite believable. I also enjoyed Val who was the complete opposite from Addie. I just didn't find the story that interesting. I also felt the big search for Dan, Val, and Addie very strange considering there was never a dead body. What law enforcement member begins a murder investigation without a body, only with a belt and a little blood? Not my favorite Jennifer Weiner book.

Show Less

I love Jennifer Weiner and gravitate towards everything she writes with eager hands. Best Friends Forever was no different. I loved Addie and Val’s friendship and understand their separation. It reminded me of old friendships and lost relationships. For some reason and I wonder if this was case

Show More

for others, I thought of Rose and Maggie Feller when thinking about Addie and Val.

Addie is a strong character, even though she doesn’t see that in herself. She is the self-sacrificing one, the one that everyone relies on to be strong, to make good decisions and to help. I understood her decision to help her best friend, because that is just what she does. I loved and respected her for that. I understood Val’s background and could accept her behavior and decisions. Her life wasn’t easy, but she covered that up with her beauty and behavior. I am so happy to have met these characters and will treasure this story for a long time. This truly fits my favorite type of book, the heroine escaping a little bit scathed, but better and stronger for it.

Show Less

Jennifer Weiner's 7th novel "Best Friends Forever" is set in a suburban town outside of Chicago. Addie Downs has been an outsider her whole life, and now in her early 30s she is single and friendless. That is until Addie's old best friend Val shows up one night on Addie's steps. Val quickly pulls

Show More

Addie into her world, which forces Addie to reflect on why their friendship had dissolved 15 years earlier. As the two women come back together Addie is forced to examine her own life and wonders if her best friend might just help her find what she's been searching for.

I'm a big Jennifer Weiner fan, and I was worried that Ms. Weiner might have lost some of her trademark wit and human touch after her last novel, Certain Girls. Well, I'm happy to report that Ms. Weiner is back in full force with Best Friends Forever! The novel's central heroine is a classic Weiner girl, but she's far enough away from her previous characters that you don't feel like you're reading the same story you've already read. There are parts of the novel that are among the most touching things I've read in Chick Lit--Addie caring for her dying mom, and her handicapped brother, to name a few.

This is a super quick read with it's pseudo crime and chase plot, but it's a fun summer read. If you're looking for a carbon copy of Ms. Weiner's previous books, this isn't it. But if you're looking for something a little bit different that still has Ms. Weiner's signature flair, I would recommend this book.

Show Less

Addie Downs, like the protagonists in Weiner's other novels, is an overweight, 30 something brunette with a beautiful sidekick. While Addie has lost a good deal of weight when the book opens, she still struggles to reconcile her new body with the fat girl inside.

Addie's high school BFF, Valerie,

Show More

turns up on her doorstep after a violent incident outside their 15th high school reunion. Addie and Val then go on the lam while we learn about how Addie wished she was skinny and cute with a cool mom growing up and Val wished she had a functional family even though Addie and her mom were fat.

I have read at least 4 of Weiner's books and I don't know why I keep reading them. I did quite enjoy Good in Bed back in 2003 but my enjoyment has diminished with each new release. The thing that I love most in Weiner's books is the Philadelphia setting and I would have squeaked out another half star to recognize my favorite Philly locations in this book.

Show Less

I enjoy reading novels about women’s friendships. When I read the synopsis for Best Friends Forever, prior to its release, I immediately added my name to the wait list at my library. I’ve never read any of Ms. Weiner’s previous novels, and thought this would be a good place to start.

Val and

Show More

Addie were best friends growing up. One summer day, Val and her mother moved in the house across from Addie and her family. Val immediately introduced herself to Addie and like they say, the rest was history. They remained close throughout high school until an event tore their friendship apart. Years later, and past hurts buried, but not yet forgotten, Val returns to Addie’s door step asking her for help.

The history of their friendship is narrated by Addie. Here’s where the book fell flat for me. I would have preferred to read Val’s back story in Val’s own voice instead of Addie’s perspective. Throughout the novel, Val mentioned her jealousy towards Addie and her sadness about her parents’ divorce which resulted in her mother becoming more of friend and less of a parent. Also, Val was an awkward child growing up. As an adult, she turned into a beautiful, successful woman, while still carrying her childhood insecurities. Because I felt the story was one-sided, I didn’t feel connected to Val and questioned her motive regarding her friendship with Addie. Often times, I questioned their “BFF” status.

I expected more from this book and was somewhat disappointed. The tragic event during high school is predictable as well as the man Addie eventually falls for. Despite feeling letdown, I will read another of Ms. Weiner’s books.

Show Less

Addie Downs is down but not out

At the age of 33, Addie Downs has survived more than her share of sadness and tragedy. But she's come through it stronger. While she lives a largely solitary life, she's made the most of the gifts she's been given and is taking positive steps to improve her lot in

Show More

life.

Then the doorbell rings.

Addie is almost not surprised to see Valerie Adler, her childhood best (and only) friend, whom she hasn't seen in more than a decade. It was as if she'd always known this day would come: Valerie needs her help. It's the night of their high school reunion. A plan for casual revenge gets a little out of control, and Valerie may have hit an old nemesis with her car. She needs Addie to come with her for moral support as she returns to the scene of the crime.

So begins an odyssey into the past and into a new future for these two best friends forever. It's a Thelma and Louise-esqe road trip of laughter and discovery, and I defy you not to smile as you read it. Author Jennifer Weiner has struggled with the "chick lit" label for her entire career. Such dismissiveness doesn't acknowledge the way she brings her characters to life. Within pages, she's created wonderful, sympathetic, relatable characters. Sure the plot's a little outlandish, but Weiner's humor (infused in her creations) is irrepressible. At the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with reading something that simply makes you feel good.

Show Less

A light and entertaining read with an underlay of something more substantial that never quite emerges. Well written, as all of Weiner's books are, with memorably drawn characters.

Though this was not my favorite of Jennifer Weiner's books, it delivers that same tender, yet sometime funny, coming of age tale within the larger picture of a present day dilemma. The story of how two women lives reconnect after years of leftover drama and trauma starts with a crime, hooking the

Show More

reader at the first page even when the "crime" slowly dissolves into just that, a beginning hook and not much more. Though Val's character is very 2 dimensional and their friendship frustrating, Addie is painted perfectly, I wish I could meet her in real life and have coffee. Her story is impeccably told and I wanted to know so much more about her life. Another hit for Weiner, I can't wait to see what she does next. (if she did a follow up to Addie a la Certain Girls style, I would be first in line!)

Show Less

Weiner's latest novel is about two friends, Addie and Valerie, who grew up together but have had a falling out over a betrayal in their teenage years. Fifteen years later Valerie shows up on Addie's doorstep with fear in her eyes and blood on her coat. "Something horrible has happened," Valerie

Show More

tells Addie, "and you're the only one who can help."

This was my first Weiner novel. I had trouble getting into it at first, but after about 75 or so pages I was interested to see where the story went. I admit I did not think it needed as much back story as there was. I skipped a few chapters that were just on Addie and Valerie's relationship growing up. I understood they were friends, how they became friends, and skipped until I got to the part of the betrayal. The back story was in about every other chapter for half the book, so I read every other chapter for a while.

The story of the betrayal and the modern story were entertaining. I liked the way it was wrapped up in the end. I liked the character of Jordan, who was a cop involved in the story and who falls for Addie. Sometimes though his thoughts and comments seem unrealistic, but maybe that's my cynicism talking. I liked Addie. I thought she was a very well-developed character.

Overall, it wasn't one of my favorite books, but I thought for chick lit it was an adventurous and entertaining story.

Show Less

Addie and Valerie were best friends since they were little girls living next door to eachother. Though their home lives were radically different, they were loyal friends until an event in high school tore them apart. Now, years later, Valerie shows up unexpectedly on Addie's doorstep asking for

Show More

help. As the two engage in an impromptu flee from the law, the girls revisit their past and rekindle their friendship. This book was funny and heartwarming, but also painful at times, as the girls' relationship and the troubled experiences of high school were revisited. As with all of Jennifer Weiner's books, I really enjoyed this one. I think the girls' friendship was honest and the characters were well-developed. I was sad to leave them behind and would love to revisit them in a future book!

Show Less

Chick-lit. Novel is best when the story looks back at a shy girls first best friend. Author captures high school angst and family tradegy with humor and poignant moments. However, the present day storyline is rather silly. This story may be not be Weiner's best, but it is still a fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, light and quirky. This book has it all, mystery, family and most of all friendship. All the twist and turns all three take kept me reading almost nonstop. In the very beginning a crime is committed and it drew me in. I had to know why it happened and who did

Show More

it. Then Jennifer tells us the history of Valerie and Addie's friendship, first as young girls, then as teenagers and now as adults. Boy the high school years sure brought back memories. I felt like I was right there again but this time I was with Addie and Valerie. Now as adults after a high school reunion Valerie shows up on Addie's doorstep in trouble. The two go on the lam even though they have been estranged since high school. The book takes on a very Thelma and Louise feel but in a fun way. I really hated Valerie at times. She seemed like trouble to me. Then I would feel sorry for her because I don't think she could really help it due to her strange upbringing. I felt much compassion for Addie who overcame so much in her life. She grew from a shy, weak girl to a strong woman. This was a great story of friendship and the bumps it takes along the way. I will be looking to read more of Jennifer Weiner's books.

Show Less

I really connected with this story. Having just passed 10 years out of high school I find myself thinking about people I haven't seen in years and what they are doing now. So reading a story about two friends who had lost touch and have been reconnected was something that really resonated with me.

Show More

I connected with Addie, the main character. Even though she has made some changes to her life since high school, she is still pretty much the same person she was. She's shy and she lives her life without trying to cause too many ripples. Given the circumstances that surrounded her path to where she is in life at this point, I think that I would have made some of the very same decisions. I didn't like Valerie at the beginning of the story, but as the story progressed she kind of grew on me, as I've known people in similar positions and I almost felt sympathy for her. Even though the story is told from Addie's perspective Valerie is very much the catalyst that keeps the story going.

The writing was pretty good. The story jumps between the past and the present and also jumps between a few different locations. While this jumping can sometimes lead to a very disconnected story it was very well executed in this book. The flashbacks help to explain the time gaps between high school and the present. They also help build the story behind Val and Addie. The characters were very believable. The plot was a bit on the crazy side, but after I got to know Valerie I started to think that she's the kind of person that really could get herself into something like this.

This one really played with my emotions, as I really wanted to dislike Val but ended up feeling kind of sorry for her. Plus as we learn about Addie I really could let myself become her as I was reading. I even pictured her to be almost like me. The other characters were kind of two-dimensional, but because their importance to the story was limited I think they didn't need to be well-rounded.

I really liked this one.

Show Less

When I started this book, I loved it. In particular, I loved the childhood sections, seeing these two very different girls with very different lives, who became such close friends.Even when the book was dealing with the pain of their high school years, the book rang true to me. I liked how this

Show More

storyline unfolded, and pieces were filled in for us about what really happened.At the beginning, I liked Addie's story. I found her Internet dating story hilarious. Seeing her relationship with her brother, hearing about her parents-- all of these built her up into a character I found interesting and wanted to know more about.Then adult Valerie appeared on the scene. I could understand her desire for revenge, but that's about all. Perhaps I'm taking this book too seriously, but I don't understand how she thought she'd get away with any of her actions. I really don't understand how she'd have the nerve to turn to Addie. I REALLY, REALLY don't understand why Addie was willing to go along with Valerie.The love interest didn't quite work for me, although it was a near miss.I did enjoy the end of the book, as well as the beginning. I found the middle interesting, even as I didn't understand the character's behavior. But maybe that's more about me.

Show Less

This book is actually quite good. It's about two friends. I felt i could somehow connect to this book even though the main characters are adults. But it was good.

I'm not doing a spoiler when I say that promo copy for this book is way dishonest. What's her name--the cool, skinny girlhood friend--didn't accidentally kill anyone; you learn that in the first few pages. If this were a screenplay, you'd leave out this guy's boring trajectory and totally

Show More

unbelievable Christian savior (Jennifer, fundamental Protestants, probably no Protestants, use rosary beads. They're not big on images either.). Leave out the disabled brother side story, throw in a little more about online dates. Maybe there would then a modicum of suspense, momentum.

The tone is off with the pretty reckless friend, Val, though. Val thinks robbing a bank is a nifty idea? She's stupid enough to use credit cards? Aren't they supposed to be sharing, evolving or having fun on a road trip? The crazy character can work, if not hold a respectable job, but all the other characters and situations have to out-of-kilter tone too.

Sigh. I'm interested in this genre because I think it would be easy to write this type of book (Yeah, yeah, I know but Weiner started off as a journalist as well). But how do you find the good ones? I've picked up some others and barely glanced because the sentence construction and stereotyping was so offensive. Also, acknowledgements and forewords are often riddled with punctuation errors. Weiner's grammar and punctuation are fine and sometimes she even gets a joke off.

Show Less

A heart warming story of quiet, beautiful Addie Downs and her best friend, pretty and popular Valerie Adler. This book illustrates a wonderful tale of friendships, love, betrayal, forgiveness, and life. It will make you laugh, make you cry, and revive your soul. You have to read it!

Timid Addie

Show More

Downs was a fat girl, always teased and harassed by her classmates. Her only friend was skinny and outgoing Valerie Adler who's friends with almost everyone. They were best friends, doing everything together, until a horrifying event one night at a typical high school party. The two girls stopped talking to each other, each wallowing in their own self pity. So they grew older, and Addie became a stay-at-home greeting card artist, while Valerie went on and got the job as the local weather girl. Things were fine for both of them, until Valerie came knocking at Addie's door one night after committing a horrible crime. After Valerie confesses what she did, they both decided to put their complicated past aside and run away together. So what will happen if shy Addie Downs and her ex-best friend, wild Valerie Adler, come together once again to go on an adventure of their lifetime? Will their old, rusted friendship evolve into a new one?

Show Less

A story of loss, grief, friendship and hope. Addie and Val have been friends since they were little girls. In senior year their friendship ended. Years later after an accident they were reunited and discovered that they needed eachother all along.
A great book to pack along on vaction this summer.