Mrs. Everything

A Novel

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Ari Graynor, Beth Malone

In this instant New York Times bestseller and “multigenerational narrative that’s nothing short of brilliant” (People), two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present are explored as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner.

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 sprawling and intensely personal novel to date” (Entertainment Weekly), Jennifer Weiner tells a “simply unputdownable” (Good Housekeeping) 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?

A little over the top at times

Reader very good, great development of characters, and really a good story. I just wish I had been warned about rape and abortion scenes, vivid details about lebian sexual experimentation, etc. For personal reasons, I would have avoided it like a plague.

Uneven saga

Portions of this book were engrossing and emotionally involving; portions seemed to belong to a clunky soap opera. I enjoyed the beginning of the book much more than the final chapters, when the characters seemed to have deteriorated to caricatures. I particularly disliked the preachy parts. Overall rating: 3.5 stars rounded up

amazing

went through it in 4 days, never stopped listening. a wonderfully written and told story.

Terrific book

One of the best I have listened to in a while! The narrators were fantastic.

All the Feels

What an amazing book. Jo and Bethie were both strong characters & I absolutely fell in love with their stories. I laughed, I cried, I didn't want this story to end.