Title:
Author: Jennifer Weiner (narrated by Nicole Poole and James Colby)
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 9780743294300
Pages: 384(12.5 hrs audio)
Year: 2009
Source: Library
Rating: 3/5
Summary (from IndieBound):
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.”
My Thoughts:
First of all, can I just say that I think any title would have been better than Best Friends Forever. Except maybe the texting version of it. I will absolutely not read a book called simply BFF, ok?
I’ve read most of Jennifer Weiner’s other books. And I’ve enjoyed them all. I find them to be pretty smart “chick lit” – well-written with interesting plots and complicated characters. But this one fell a little flat for me. Perhaps it was a little unrealistic. Or maybe I just really didn’t care for one of the main characters (Valerie). I found myself enjoying the flashbacks to their childhood together but not really getting into the current story. So I didn’t necessarily dislike it, it just didn’t live up to my expectations. The narration in the audio was another highlight – I thought Nicole Poole especially did an excellent job.
I would recommend many other Jennifer Weiner books before I recommended this one, but it was a nice, light read if you’re in the mood for it. (Sorry, folks. Not that much else to say).
Note: if you are looking for this on audio, it is rather difficult to find the unabridged version online. But libraries appear to have it, so check there.
Other Reviews:
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my books. my life. 
Thanks for linking to my review. I liked this one better than her most recent books but not more than Good In Bed.
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Jennifer Poole was good but, honestly, I hated James Colby’s narration. I agree that the story fell sort of flat. This was actually my first Jennifer Weiner book, so I’m glad to hear that you felt the same way that I did, but that you also like her other books better.
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I didn’t care for the parts of the story that Colby narrated. I didn’t think it was necessary – I liked Addie’s story better.
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I just wanted to say thank you for your review and I’m glad you enjoyed my narration. I’m a fairly new narrator, and I learn a great deal from my readers’ comments, both positive and negative. (You are, after all, the reason we do this!) Have a great day!
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You’re welcome. I’m looking forward to hearing more of your narration in the future.
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