A few weeks ago I told you about my new book store discovery, Commonwealth Books in Downtown Crossing. During my visit I purchased a book called "The Guy Not Taken" by Jennifer Weiner, who is also the author of "Good In Bed" and "In Her Shoes."
"The Guy Not Taken" is a collection of eleven short stories. Though the characters in each story are incredibly different, they all share the authenticity I've come expect and really enjoy from Weiner's writing.
Of all eleven, my favorite story was called "Buyer's Market." The story is about a twentysomething girl who grew up visiting her glamorous aunt in New York City and always considered her aunt's Manhattan condo her own personal sanctuary. When her aunt passed away, she inherited the place and got spend her post-college years in what felt like heaven. Fast forward to the day she meets a handsome young man. A man who is a real estate agent and can't seem to get any listings or make any sales. In the ultimate demonstration of love, she lets him list her aunt's condo, the one place in the world she has always felt safe, at peace and most herself. I don't want to spoil it for you, so please read the book to see what happens!
When I was half way through the book I was telling a friend that she absolutely must read it. I said, "It's like Sex and the City, but with girls who don't have limitless funds," to which she replied, "So . . . it's about real girls! Girls just like us." Well, I couldn't have said it better myself.
I finished the book last night and just when I thought the stories were over, there was an entire section at the back where Weiner tells the "behind the scenes" stories of each tale - how she thought of the characters and the story lines, what the editors encouraged her to change, and in many cases, the magazine that was the first to publish the story (the list includes Glamour, Redbook and Seventeen).
Reading Jennifer Weiner's writing feels like talking to your best friend. I can't wait to catch up with her again.
*Image courtesy of OpenLibrary.org.
