Mrs. Everything - By Jennifer Weiner ( Hardcover )

About the Book

An "exploration of two sisters' lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places--and be true to themselves--in a rapidly evolving world"--

Book Synopsis

A NEW YORK TIMES 100 NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2019 SELECTION
ONE OF NPR'S BEST BOOKS OF 2019
THE WASHINGTON POST'S 50 NOTABLE WORKS OF FICTION IN 2019
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'S 50 BEST BOOKS OF 2019

An instant New York Times bestseller

"A multigenerational narrative that's nothing short of brilliant." --People
"Simply unputdownable." --Good Housekeeping
"The perfect book club pick." --SheReads

Named a Best Book of Summer by Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, PopSugar, HelloGiggles, and Refinery29

From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters' lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places--and be true to themselves--in a rapidly evolving world.

Do we change or does the world change us?

Jo and Bethie Kaufman were born into a world full of promise.

Growing up in 1950s Detroit, they live in a perfect "Dick and Jane" house, where their roles in the family are clearly defined. Jo is the tomboy, the bookish rebel with a passion to make the world more fair; Bethie is the pretty, feminine good girl, a would-be star who enjoys the power her beauty confers and dreams of a traditional life.

But the truth ends up looking different from what the girls imagined. Jo and Bethie survive traumas and tragedies. As their lives unfold against the background of free love and Vietnam, Woodstock and women's lib, Bethie becomes an adventure-loving wild child who dives headlong into the counterculture and is up for anything (except settling down). Meanwhile, Jo becomes a proper young mother in Connecticut, a witness to the changing world instead of a participant. Neither woman inhabits the world she dreams of, nor has a life that feels authentic or brings her joy. Is it too late for the women to finally stake a claim on happily ever after?

In her most ambitious novel yet, Jennifer Weiner tells a story of two sisters who, with their different dreams and different paths, offer answers to the question: How should a woman be in the world?

Review Quotes

"Mrs. Everything is like "Beaches" but with mothers and daughters and sisters. I may never recover."--Jill Grunenwald, author of RUNNING WITH A POLICE ESCORT and READING BEHIND BARS

"A great book club pick that will give you plenty to talk about late into the night."-- "Mind Body Green"

"A sweeping story about sisters Jo and Bethie . . . This novel is both heartwrenching and funny, and readers will cry and laugh with them along the journey."-- "Library Reads"

"MRS EVERYTHING is heartbreakingly familiar, the struggles and trauma . . . feel as real as the entries of a secret diary. Jennifer Weiner misses nothing crafting the story of two women who could be any woman--weighted down by gender roles and patriarchal expectations, learning to navigate a world where women continue to carry burdens passed on to us from generations past. To read the truth of Jo and Bethie's lives is enough to inspire anyone to live more honestly."-- "The Missourian"

"MRS. EVERYTHING's flawed but approachable female characters, well-examined friendships and romantic relationships, and often-joyful sex scenes make this vintage Weiner. This is a warm, readable novel about figuring out what it means for a woman to be true to herself, and then figuring out how to act on that knowledge."-- "Bookpage"

"One of those smart summer hardcovers that makes a sunny day on the beach fly by."-- "AM New York"

"A big sweeping novel . . . MRS. EVERYTHING will be great for a book group discussion."-- "Bookreporter.com"

"A complex, captivating look at the many different roles women play: daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, friends, and beyond."-- "Hello Giggles"

"A heartfelt and super-relatable story."-- "Woman's Day"

"A multigenerational narrative that's nothing short of brilliant."-- "People"

"A sprawling story about two sisters growing up, apart, and back together . . . A poignant reminder of both the strides women have amde since the 1950s and teh barriers taht still hold them back. An ambitious look at how women's roles have changed--and stayed the same--over the last 70 years."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"A topical novel about sisterhood, heartache, hope, and womanhood that takes readers through the 'herstory' of the second half of the 20th century."-- "Bustle"

"A touching story of sisterhood."-- "Working Mother"

"EVERYTHING you want in a novel."-- "Good Life Family Magazine"

"From the writer behind IN HER SHOES--your favorite movie about sisters--comes another story about sisters. But intsead of being in a competitive relationship fueled by mutual envy, these two are sibling goals as they try to figure out if their generation is really so much freer than their mother's."-- "Cosmopolitan"

"Her most sprawling and intensely personal novel to date."-- "Entertainment Weekly"

"It is her most ambitious and serious book to date, exchanging the witty tone and one-liners of earlier work for a more earnest approach to social issues. MRS. EVERYTHING is sure to delight Weiner's legions of fans and win new ones."-- "Newsday"

"Jennifer Weiner has created a novel for the ages in Mrs. Everything, which is as impressive as it is ambitious... a skillfully rendered and emotionally rich family saga... an unapologetic feminist novel, fully fleshing out the pernicious effects of patriarchy... Weiner shows that big, expansive social novels are not only still possible in our fragmented society but perhaps necessary. Mrs. Everything is a great American novel, full of heart and hope."-- "Shelf Awareness"

"Jennifer Weiner is the master of richly told page-turners about complicated and likable women."-- "Refinery 29"

"MRS. EVERYTHING is Weiner's biggest and arguably boldest book, the story of two very different sisters who endure personal tragedy and painful compromise in an often hostile but morphing world as they try to find their place in it."-- "Goodreads"

"Readers will flock to this ambitious, nearly flawless novel . . . Weiner asks big questions about how society treats women in this slyly funny, absolutely engrossing novel that is simultaneously epic and intimate."-- "Booklist (starred review)"

"Simply unputdownable."-- "Good Housekeeping"

"The perfect book club pick of summer. MRS. EVERYTHING is an acute, sharp and eclectic story about real women facing problems we can all relate to and social obstacles that need to be talked about."-- "SheReads"

"The Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2019"-- "Parade"

"Weiner brilliantly crafts ths heartwrenching multigenerational tale of love, loss, and family . . . Weiner's talent for characterization, tight pacing, and detail will thrill her fans and easily draw new ones into her orbit. Her expert handling of difficult subjects will force readers to examine their own beliefs and consider unexpected nuances. Weiner tugs every heartstring with this vivid tale."-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

"Weiner brings us another winner, maybe even her best book yet. A wonderful, absorbing novel skillfully woven with social critique, it's comparable to books by her more heralded male contemporaries (yes, Jonathan Franzen)."-- "AARP Summer Book Preview"

"Weiner has always been a gifted novelist and a powerful essayist. In 'Mrs. Everything, ' she brings the best of both worlds to the page, holding up the prism of choice and letting the light shine through from every angle.... If you have time for only one book this summer, pick this one."-- "New York Times Book Review"

"What really makes this book a summer sensation is Weiner's female characters that capture your attention and make you feel lots of feels."-- "Women's Health"

"You won't want this book to end as you laugh, cry, and root for these characters as if they were a part of your own family. MRS. EVERYTHING is Weiner's best book yet."-- "PopSugar, The 34 Best New Books to Put in Your Beach Bag This Summer"

About The Author

Jennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, That Summer, and an essay collection, Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing. A graduate of Princeton University and contributor to the New York Times Opinion section, Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.