The Next Best Thing

A Novel

De: Jennifer Weiner

Narrado por: Olivia Thirlby

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, an “utterly engaging story” (Time) about a young woman trying to make it as a writer in Hollywood.

At three years old, Ruth Saunders miraculously survives the car crash that takes her parents’ lives on the icy Massachusetts Turnpike. Her eccentric grandmother nurtures her through years of surgeries, feeding her home-cooked meals, dispensing irreverent wisdom, and telling Ruth she’s beautiful, even though her scars will stay with her forever.

After college, Ruth pursues her dream of writing to Hollywood, heading west with her grandmother in tow, hoping to make it big in the world of TV. After years of failure and a badly broken heart, Ruth gets The Call—her show has been green-lit.

But Ruth’s happy ending is only the beginning, as she struggles with how television gets made: terrified (and terrifying) executives and actresses with their eyes on bigger prizes than Ruthie’s show. Add in an unrequited crush on the man who has been her mentor. Add to that her grandmother’s impending nuptials, and Ruth’s big break might just break her.

A rollicking ride on the Hollywood roller coaster, The Next Best Thing is a heartfelt story about a young woman searching for her own happily-ever-after in the land where dreams come true.

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.

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.