I had such high expectations for this book and I just never got into it. This is terribly disappointing to me because I am such a Jennifer Weiner fan. I knew that this book was different from her previous novels so I was prepared with an open mind. I had also just finished Elin Hildebrand’s Summer of ‘69, also very different from her typical style of writing and LOVED it. Mrs. Everything just fell flat for me.

One of the best books I've read in a long time. Long after I've finished reading, I'm still thinking about Jo, Bethie, and their journeys. A fantastic read that I'll be recommending all summer long!

I've enjoyed the previous books I've read by this author, and would probably put them in the "chick lit" category if pressed to pick a genre. This book is a bit of a diversion for her, and I think definitely crosses into the more mainstream fiction realm. While still maintaining her style of writing about women, Mrs. Everything ends up being so much more of a commentary on all sorts of women's issues that are front and center newsworthy. The story of two sisters that spans multiple decades, this one explores issues of sexuality, societal norms, the Me Too movement, communes, and much more. How these issues effect the two sisters and their relationship, is at the core of this one, and I thoroughly liked what I read. I was completely invested in both sister's stories, and despite a few slow spots, I thought the flow and pacing was great. There was a lot going on, and a lot to think about with this one. Upon reading interviews with Ms. Weiner and finding out that the book was loosely based on the life of her mother, I was even more impressed with the content. I was born in the late 50's, so a lot of the newsworthy events discussed were things that I lived through, making it a bit of a trip down memory lane.

I really liked this one (although All Fall Down still remains my favorite of Weiner's works). I though it was a great multi-generational story about the expectations put on women, and their ability to adapt and survive despite obstacles put in their way. Well done!

I have been waiting what seems like forever for this book. The wait is over and the wait was SO WORTH IT! Mrs. Everything is about two sisters. I love stories about sisters. This novel tells the story of Bethie and Jo and spans their entire life. These sisters are so different from each other, but also very close. This book blew me away with themes of relations, love , friendship and finding yourself. I highly recommend this book and BRAVO to the author for such a finely crafted complex story with characters that I absolutely fell in love with.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher!!

Paris....pickpocket...I'm just in time to review lol

I would highly recommend this as a book club book...and I have to mine at the library!

Title....medium.....cover...high.

I enjoyed this multi generational story . Alternating POV and beginning in the 50s. Some parts did drag or not that important and over detailed. But it's also a longer book and I can look past that

Strong story

Sometimes a book hits me so hard in my feelings and I love it SO much that I struggle putting said feelings into words that can properly convey my true thoughts and emotions. This is one of those kind of books, I both want to share all the minute details and gush about different quotes and stories that touched a part of my soul, but I also want any future readers to experience this incredible journey all on their own. When I struggle like this, I’m aware that the book must be one that’s truly special for me, I don’t have a hard time discussing a book that was just a standard read for me, or even one that I really didn’t like, but when one is as powerful as this one was for me, I find myself grasping for the right words because it becomes vitally important for me to do the author and the story justice.

This is a multigenerational tale told in alternating points of view, it begins in the 1950s and follows a young Jo and Bethie and I’m such a sucker for stories about sisters, so I was already invested from the start. It spans the years through 2016 and is on the longer side, so this really allowed the author to do a deep dive into the characterization and man, did she do a phenomenal job developing these two women. They truly felt like family to me by the end, there is nothing hidden in terms of the lives of these two, you follow them through all the highs and lows of their lives, the happy and sad, the ugly and the beautiful and there is absolutely no holding back. This really bonded me to them and made them the type of characters that I’ll never forget.

If you’re in a book club and searching for your next read, consider it done because this book will provide a group (especially a group of women) with countless hours of discussion. Following Jo and Bethie’s lives shows the constant struggle women both faced in the past and still face today, whether that’s in their home life and the decisions we make to either have children or not, to work or stay at home, to follow our dreams or to do what is expected of us, it is a constant struggle and as women, we all second guess our choices daily. In broader terms (I don’t want to spoil a thing) it explores sexuality, religion, racism, sexism, and so many more vitally important topics. In a nutshell, Mrs. Everything is everything, and yes it is ambitious as the blurb states, but it’s incredibly well written and hands down, the authors best book yet. And I have read them all!

If you can’t tell yet, this is highly recommended by me, but especially to every woman. Whether you’re a mom, grandma, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, friend or none of those things I really thing everyone can relate to at least a piece of this one.

Mrs. Everything in three words: Powerful, Timely and Moving.

“This life,” Cal said. “You have to give up a lot, I have family who won’t see me. It’s hard. It’s not for everyone.”

In the beginning, it is older sister Jo “tall and gangly and everything she did was wrong” and little sister Bethie ” chubbie and cute” a child who “always said exactly the right thing” that complete the makeup of the Kaufman family. Where Jo is closer to her father, Bethie is Mommie’s perfect darling, a child who doesn’t behave in the unnatural manner her older ‘tom boy’ sister Jo does. It is 1950’s Detroit and their new home is surrounded by families just like them, “birds of a feather” all perfectly flocking together in rhythm and God forbid you are “different.” No one tests their mother more than Josette, who doesn’t mean to be so difficult and really cannot explain why things that come easy to others is so hard for her. She can’t help but be herself, even when she tries to be the good girl her mother desires, catastrophe follows and boy does her mother make sure she knows just how much she fails to be the daughter she wants.

It isn’t only within her family that her nature brushes against societal norms. Friendships with other girls mean more than they should, her wants and desires for her future are thwarted by the times Jo lives in, and will chip away at her dreams of freedom. An athlete, a writer, liberal minded coming of age in a conservative world will whip her into an acceptable shape. Through betrayal of those she loves most, and of course responsibility to her little sister and impossible to please mother, Jo (like countless women before her) will forget herself in order to fit in. Marriage, children… she is finally a good girl, right? The world isn’t ready to accept a woman like her, to let her live freely. It’s not safe to be her true self.

Bethie’s beauty should make her world a tasty confection and guarantee her most fevered dreams come true. Her mother knows she’s meant to be something special one day! A girl who everyone loves immediately, the perfect lil’ helper, people pleaser, someone whose very nature charms everyone in her orbit, why… what could possibly derail her future? Sometimes, a girl with so much appeal attracts nothing but danger, through no fault of her own. Bethie learns nothing stays sweet in an ugly world, and before long becomes the subversive daughter that Jo once was, refusing to settle in one place nor with a man. There is so much to taste in the forbidden elsewhere! If Josette wants to spend her life being content, tied to convention… well bully for her. No one is going to tame Bethie. Let Jo pretend!

This is a book about women, their options, the opportunities and lack thereof. The shaming when a daughter, mother, sister dares to look beyond the plans other’s have made for her. The disapproval she will encounter when she strikes out on her own, against the will of her mother/father or husband. The ever looming threat of losing your family if you chose anything for yourself that isn’t ‘approved’. The lessening that is expected when one becomes a wife, mother. Before long, you’ve lost yourself. Too it is about the abuse that girls welcome (according to the world, at least) or have to accept for the sake of survival.

The sisters who once had to support each other drift apart, each denying themselves their true natures. Life happens, it brutalizes and punishes in unequal measure. From an early loss both find themselves sacrificing their dreams and even innocence. It is a story about sisterhood, motherhood and in a sense, self-hood and how every choice or the transgressions of others, and the demands the world puts on us makes us who we are, for better or worse. The question is, can we come back to the self we once buried in order to be accepted?

What is more heartbreaking than thinking about the deaths we suffer, internally, of our many selves? The times Josette and Bethie came of age in were full of strife and civil unrest. Children who questioned their parents ways, be it a mild irritation such as why the fuss of dressing like some cookie cutter family, or the heavy, senseless, shameful weight of their parents racism weren’t exactly the ideal child. Children didn’t question the ways of the adult world, period. Step out of line, and you will be tarred and feathered. You were not free to love where you wanted, with so many constraints, this is why free love (social, sexual movement) was born. Many people bucked convention. Yet children eventually want to please, to have their mother/father’s love, sadly at the expense of their real selves. Other little boys and girls, they get too much unwanted love from some adults. It’s hard to write about this novel without giving away everything that happens, but it truly is a novel full of heartbreak and hope. When it’s your turn to be a parent, despite promising yourself you will do better than your mother/father, you can bet a child will introduce you to your weaker self. Life happens, and comes full circle and at heart it is a tale of two sisters that find their way back to each other.

Publication Date: June 11, 2019 Out Tomorrow!

Atria Books

A sweeping tale of two sisters, from growing up in 1950 through present day. Mrs. Everything carries us through all of their struggles and triumphs through the decades. This is an emotional, beautifully written book. Rich in history through the time periods and showcasing an exquisitely portrayed sibling relationship. This is an intricately written, engaging book and what I believe to be Jennifer Weiner’s best work yet. Why not 5 stars? Well- it got a little long in my opinion and I could have done without the graphic sex scenes, which felt a bit gratuitous. This is an ambitious story but I was completely drawn in from the beginning and Jennifer wove it together seamlessly. This book covers a wide range of topics but in a subtle, classy way.

I think I will have a hard time expressing how much I loved this book.
The layers to each character were so deep and so well developed that I found myself wanting to read slower in order to soak them all in and not miss one piece of a character which could mean so much.
The issues addressed in this book were huge! Sexuality, eating disorders, drug abuse, neglect, broken homes, this book had them all. And yet, Weiner was able to write in such a way that it didn’t feel heavy or unrealistic. Like how could one family go through all those things? You didn’t question it, you just completely buy it and then go along for the ride.
I am so happy that Weiner decided to write something that was out of her wheelhouse. She’s a genius at it!

When I accepted the ARC offering of Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner (releasing June 11, 2019 from Atria Books) I was second-guessing myself because I’ve read a couple of Weiner’s previous releases and they were hit or miss for me. In her “Dear Readers” letter at the beginning of the book Weiner states that in addition to being the longest book she has ever written it is also the most ambitious work she has ever attempted. I love that she “went big” and succeeded. Spanning decades in the lives of two sisters, Mrs. Everything is a masterpiece of her-storical fiction.

I will start by saying that I so wanted to love this book. It’s different from my usual thriller/lovey dovey romance books. Something about it just wasn’t working for me. The writing itself is good, but I have to agree with the reviews saying it’s a “three star read with five star content”. I couldn’t get myself to the end however, hence my 2 stars. I think this book hits such important topics,however it spent so much time describing certain unimportant things, then speeding through the important events. I wish I had loved it more.

Thank you netgally for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Jennifer Weiner is a wonderful storyteller, and I generally enjoy her novels. Mrs. Everything was no exception, and I was completely drawn into the lives and characters of the two sisters. Relationships between sisters can be complicated and beautiful at the same time, and Weiner truly captures that in this book.

Mrs. Everything is, in a word, ambitious. Jennifer Weiner pulls in every imaginable part of life, and family and national drama, in the course of this sweeping narrative of two sisters through turbulent years. It is an examination of what it means to be a woman in a nation that so often vindicates one idea of what that can mean to the exclusion of all else. These are not perfect people- they make poor choices, they are limited by their surroundings and their pasts, and just as any sisters they both support and hurt each other. Weiner doesn't limit herself just to family drama in Mrs. Everything- it truly encompasses everything, with race, sex, violence, and politics all playing a role. We can't help but root for these two women and their families and friends to succeed, and to come to a place of freedom and joy in their lives, but there are no easy answers for either of them. Just as there aren't any for any woman. Is it overly ambitious? Perhaps. But I cried to leave them at the end- which in my mind is a five star read.

This is a story of two sisters growing up in a time where it wasn’t ok to be who you really are - gay, biracial couple, etc - and follows them through time as their lives develop.

I will buy anything Jennifer Weiner writes because I adore her and her books. I have read everything she’s written. For me, this book was just ok. I’m glad I read it, though, and I think others will really love it. I’ll be anxiously awaiting her next book!

Thank you #MrsEverything #NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I really liked this book a lot. Definitely not what I expected when I started reading, I was thinking I was getting a nice chick-lit beach read, more along the lines of Jennifer Weiner's previous books. This book is a lot more weighty but no less interesting for it. Once I'd adjusted my expectations and got into the life stories of sisters Jo and Beth, I couldn't put it down.

I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this b review.ook in exchange for an honest

This could be anyone’s story. Anyone who has a sister or brother, who they love, dislike, hate, miss interminably depending on the moment, week, month, decade. I am sure many readers will relate to the family dynamics and dysfunction. It speaks to the issues of all times. As I was reading I kept thinking whether this was enough to sustain my interest, to care about the characters and their successes and failures. Probably not, but yet I continued reading and when I flipped the last page I sat back and thought it was definitely worth the time.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy..

I was honored to receive an ARC from the publisher - thank you!
Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors, and this book did not disappoint. It did, however, surprise. The story of Bethie and Jo told the story of two sisters throughout their lives. It explored being a lesbian in the 70's, racism, free spirits and equal rights. It explored two women and their families finding themselves, drifting away from each other, and finding their way back to each other.
This is the author's longest books, but also her most important. I often think about equal rights today and advocate for them, but I had not really thought about what it was like to not have equal rights 40-50 years ago. Countless people lived the stories of the characters in this book, and it was an important story to tell. Thank you, Jennifer Weiner, for bringing this family into our lives.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is full of girl power moments. It also illustrates that although things might not go in the direction that we've planned (or hoped), there is always a reason for the deviation and a lesson to be learned. We all have a Mrs. Everything in our lives -- we need to thank her for the sacrifices she has made to allow us to thrive. Finally, we should be willing to give her our everything if there ever comes a time when she might need it.

I am a huge Jennifer Weiner fan so this has been my most anticipated new release of the year and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint. Mrs. Everything dives into historical fiction telling the life story of Jo and Bethie. These two women experience so many painful factors that unfortunately come as being a woman such as sexual assault, rape, and being expected to get married and have children. Both women break against the norms of what they're expected for at least part of their lives. Jo, through her sexuality, and Bethie, who travels the world, lives in a commune for her part of her life and eventually has a biracial marriage. There were so many times that I wanted to reach out and hug the characters and let them know it would be alright and that they were doing the best they could. I loved the book, but absolutely adored the ending set while Hillary Clinton is becoming the first official female candidate for President. This was such an incredible book that I highly recommend for every woman to read.
My review will be published on Goodreads and on Instagram on June 12th.

Mrs. Everything is a tour de force. From the very beginning I was hooked. I lived and breathed within the pages of their story, experiencing a melting pot of emotions. This novel is amazing, heart breaking, life altering, absolutely relevant, and a must read for every woman. Relationships shape us, within the struggle there is growth. We were told we can have everything. But can we and at what cost? Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, first loves, first losses, soul crushing missteps and triumphant recoveries line the pages. Jo and Bethie share a lifetime of courage, strength, and vulnerability and I am better for having read Mrs. Everything.