The Next Best Thing

A Novel

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Olivia Thirlby

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Weiner returns with an irresistible story about a young woman trying to make it in Hollywood....

At 23, Ruth Saunders headed west with her 70-year-old grandma in tow, hoping to be hired as a television writer. Four years later, she's hit the jackpot when she gets The Call: the sitcom she wrote, The Next Big Thing, has gotten the green light, and Ruthie's going to be the show-runner. But her dreams of Hollywood happiness are threatened by demanding actors, number-crunching executives, an unrequited crush on a boss, and her grandmother's impending nuptials.

Set against the fascinating backdrop of Los Angeles show-business culture, with an insider's ear and eye for writer's rooms, bad behavior backstage, and set politics, Jennifer Weiner's new novel is a rollicking ride on the Hollywood rollercoaster and a heartfelt story about what it's like for a young woman to love, and lose, in the land where dreams come true.

©2012 Jennifer Weiner, Inc. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A writer of innate brilliance." ( The Philadelphia Inquirer)

"Jennifer Weiner's best-selling novels twist humor and topical issues into can't-put-down stories." ( Houston Chronicle)

"Hilarious, heartbreaking, and insightful, Weiner shows she can write with exquisite tenderness as well as humor." ( The Miami Herald)

One of my favorite audiobooks

One of my favorite audiobooks to date. The main character is lovable and relatable. An easy listen but with substance. Highly recommend.

Clever Thing

If you could sum up The Next Best Thing in three words, what would they be?

This was well written and I fell in love with Ruthie and her grandma. The author's descriptions of the world of tv production sound very realistic and put me in the moment. I strongly recommend.

I love this book!

I've read Good in Bed years ago and I noticed that Jennifer Weiner had a book coming up next month so I decided to purchase this one. I am so glad I did. I loved this book soo much! The narration was fantastic, the story was fast paced and I love the characters. Ruthie, her boyfriend Dave and the grandma are such great characters. I was so sad when it ended. I really wished this book was longer. I'm purchasing another JW book and I hope it's as good as The Next Best Thing. I highly recommend this book.

Cliche.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Make it not so cliche. I can't stand main characters who don't think like a normal person would. I get that your own life gets in the way and your past experiences influence you but I think the average person would be more grateful for their grandmother in this situation and a lot less ridiculous when it comes to a love life. The main character acts like she was hurt by this person who was a boss on one of her shows because he got married, but they were never in a relationship so its really just adding to the idea that all girls are PSYCHO

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Made the main character less desperate for affection. she was like a puppy chasing after these guys. and made her care about her grandma more

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't know. probably scenes when she wasn't complaining and was just learning how to make her TV show. the stuff that seemed more real

Do you think The Next Best Thing needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

NO please. because there wasn't much depth as it was

Any additional comments?

I wouldn't recommend unless you really like the process of getting your own TV show and what goes into it because the rest of the story is boring.

Loved it!!

It feels like a true story or at least you hope so! Well written and inspiring.

Loved Olivia Thirlby

What a wonderful narrator — she made Ruthie lovable and sympathetic when I think that, I’m the hands of someone less talented, she may very well have been insufferable. Nice job!

Disappointed

I’ve been a Jennifer Weiner fan for over 20 years and normally laugh and cry with her books but this one just didn’t do it for me.

Holy bitterness!

Any additional comments?

I quite honestly may have read my last Jennifer Weiner book. I've read everything she's written so far, and I have to say that each book is more bitter than the last and this one is by far the worst.

I'm so sick of the soapbox/look-down-your-nose approach all her books take. She depicted every character in her Hollywood setting as a complete and utter sterotype, then basically took the approach that she, Ruth, was not like that because she wasn't skinny and had scars on her face. Gimme a break. It's like this with all Weiner's books lately. All the skinny people are evil; all the fat girls are intelligent and saintly.

I think Weiner thinks she is writing for this stupid "real women" genre (which is basically women who think it is okay to be fat) but she just comes across as bitter to me, and, before anyone goes thinking I'm probably beautiful and a size 2, I'm not. I'm a 5'4", and a size 10. AND, you'd even think I'd relate to Ruth more, because I have an unsusual and resistant case of psoriasis in which I have plaques all over my face.

What I've learned from my "plight" as a "real woman" is that no one is going to give me a prize for being chunky and having a disease on my face. It doesn't give me any right to look down my nose at others who have it better. The character of Ruth assumes things about others as much as she thinks they are assuming things about her.

Frankly, i'm starting to think that Weiner should put down the cheeseburger and drop a few so she is inspired to write more than stories about bitter fat people mixed with cheap political plugs.

Easy Read

What made the experience of listening to The Next Best Thing the most enjoyable?

Performer is pleasant to listen to. I can read in the car while I'm driving and walking into work, doing my chores and exercising. Her books are easy reads. That is not bad. When I feel like a complicated book with multiple characters, I'll go to a different author.

Would you recommend The Next Best Thing to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, and I have recommended it and her other books.

Which character – as performed by Olivia Thirlby – was your favorite?

The main character.

If you could rename The Next Best Thing, what would you call it?

Don't know, but it is a confusing title. Someone could have done a better job. That doesn't make the book less enjoyable, though.

Always entertaining

Sometimes Jennifer Weiner's characters pick on themselves a little too much but they are SO real. This story got to me emotionally and had even my husband laughing when he heard snipets of it. Listening to stories like these have my work day flying by.
Olivia Thirlby's narration was great. She seemed to really get how the characters were feeling.