Mrs. Everything follows two sisters from childhood to adulthood, Bethie and Jo Kaufmann. They grew up in a Jewish household and community and have always voiced their opinion on social injustices and inequalities. This story peaks in on them as they grow, experience tragedies, discover new identities, and try to navigate through society.

This was a beautiful book and I was impressed with Jennifer Weiner's story telling as this veers from what we have seen previously.

EEEEEEEE!!! I adore Jennifer Weiner so very much. Her books always speak to me in some way, and this one was no different. Her writing style is unmatched, and her characters are always spot on.

LOVED this book. So very much.

So this was the first book I've ever read by Jennifer Weiner. I don't know what I expected, to be sure.
The book charts the lives of 2 sisters, Jo and Bethie ( and the first thing I thought about was LIttle Women with the names!) from their childhood in the 1950's onward. Told moving back and forth between the two sister's POV's their stories are long explorations of where they fit into the changing and turbulent times they lived in.
Issues such as eating disorders, homosexuality, rape, childhood molestation, cancer, and infidelity are just a few topics hit upon, and sometimes they came at me so fast, I had to take a break and put the book down. and distance myself from it. This book took me longer to read than any other I've attempted recently.

In the end the relationship between the two is what drove the story to its conclusion.
I hate spoilers so I'll leave the story end there and talk about the writing.
I'm not a big fan of page after page of exposition and thought meanderings from the characters, and this book sure had its share of both of those points.
Having said that, though, the writing is full and descriptive, the characters are completely realistic and fully developed, and the circumstances they are put under fit the timeframe the story was told in,

All in all, a difficult book for me to get through but one that is well deserving of praise - and I'm sure fans of Ms Weiner's and critics will heap on plenty.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for allowing me a sneak peak at this soon to be released work. 4 stars from me.

When I learned the premise of Jennifer Weiner's latest novel, I was intrigued, but also skeptical as to whether this would be a good fit for me. However, as soon as I started it, I knew I would love it. And I was right! Mrs. Everything is a powerful story that I think women (and possibly even men) of all ages will appreciate.

I liked the nostalgic feel of this novel and it gave me insight to what it was like for my mom growing up. Jo and Bethie were relatable, even when we had nothing in common aside from being Jewish. I couldn't help but feel what they were feeling. (Side note: I loved all the Jewish references, especially the Purim shpiel.) There were times I felt I could identify more with Jo, but I appreciated reading Bethie's perspective. Sometimes they reminded me of myself and my sister, but for different reasons. Both women brought up some interesting issues about women's roles over time and those went along with what they were experiencing.

For those who have survived sexual abuse and assault, there are some trigger warnings in this novel. Some parts are hard to read even having not experienced that. Since I was reading an ARC, I shouldn't complain about dates and ages not syncing correctly, as I'm hoping they will be fixed in the final print. However, it's hard for a "time nerd" such as myself to read ARCs. That was the only issue I had and it will probably become a non-issue soon enough.

I definitely recommend Mrs. Everything and look forward to discussing it with others who have read it. I'm already hoping Jennifer won't make us wait as long for her next novel.

The other minor gripe was that it was really hard for a "movie casting nerd" such as myself since it spans so much time and people have specific looks that I can't seem to find on IMDb. However, I did come up with these two choices:
Jo (30s and 40s): Daniela Ruah
Bethie (30s and 40s): Aidy Bryant

Great story! Very engrossing, I finished it quickly, did not want to put it down. Found myself liking all the characters and rooting for them.

I really like that the story talked about different roles women have and how they can’t “have it all.”

I’m glad to see a new book by Jennifer Weiner. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am absolutely loved this book! It follows a Jewish family from the 1950s to present day, particularly 2 sisters, Jo and Bethie. Their relationship really resonated with me, such a true depiction of sisterhood. These years were such an interesting time in American history and I especially loved seeing the trajectory of feminism and the women's movement, as well as civil rights. The book includes tough topics such as drug abuse, abortion, rape and molestation and these situations are handled sensitively. She really captures what it is to be a woman, a mother, a sister, a wife. I fell in love with these characters and miss them already. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing novel!

Fast and easy read which spans decades and explores women in society and their roles, in addition to family dynamics, social issues such as homosexuality, race and sexual assault.

I liked this latest book by Jennifer Weiner. The story of two sisters was very full and vivid. It is a very “woman impowering “ book and the theme of choice is prevalent. Everyone should have choices about their own lives. This book won’t be for everyone,, strong, sensitive subjects are throughout the story but I felt they were necessary to the storyline and not gratuitous.

I really enjoy all of her books and this one did not disappoint! Jo and Bethie are two sisters that take you on a wonderful journey. Definitely a must read!

Jo and Bethie are two sisters growing up in Detroit, Michigan during the 1950’s. A typical Jewish middle class family living in the suburbs; mom cleans and cooks, dinner on the table at 5 every night. Jello for dessert. The American dream. Jo and Bethie are nothing alike as youngsters and even more different as adults but their sisterly bond is deep and true. Exploring race, sexual identity and the women’s liberation movement throughout the sixties and seventies, best selling author Jennifer Weiner takes us on Bethie and Jo’s journey for equality in the work place, abortion rights and the racial divide in America. The decades pass too quickly and while triumphs are slowly made, many still remain out of reach even today. Though this was a very different tone for Jennifer Weiner - no romantic comedies here - I thoroughly enjoyed her exploration of family dynamics and the consequences of choices we make every day. Emotional at times, Mrs. Everything touches on many tough issues and would be an excellent book club discussion. Highly recommend this solid summer read. Pub date June 11th 2019. #stockupforsummer This one is a winner.

I haven't finished this yet, and I will write a full review on Goodreads when I do. I just want to make sure that my nomination for Library Reads goes through before 5/1. I think this is Weiner's best yet.

I read MRS. EVERYTHING right after I read Susan Rebecca White's WE ARE ALL GOOD PEOPLE HERE. Both are excellent books but elements of them were so similar that I would not recommend that they be read close in time to one another. Both books cover girls who come of age during the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement. In MRS EVERYTHING, we meet sisters Jo and Bethie. Jo likes pants and sports, Bethie likes everything pretty and just so. But both young women are deeply changed by the chaotic world around them and end up living lives quite different from what they imagined for themselves. This book eloquently captures the constrictions placed on women and the constrictions we place on ourselves. And Weiner does a great job of showing us how politics and social norms shape our destiny far more than we would like to believe. Good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This book can be summed up quite simply. It is the story that follows two sisters through their lives and relationships. It is told in alternating chapters each from one sister’s perspective chronologically through their lives. The sisters are interesting characters but their stories lacked drama for me. I felt that just when the events of their lives became interesting, the author would gloss over the details or end the chapter. After a few episodes of this I began to lower my expectations, which is never a good thing.

In the end, I still found myself enjoying the overarching storyline of these two sisters but couldn’t help but feel that it could have been much more.

Spanning from the 1950s to present day, Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner explores two sisters lives as they struggle to reconcile their true selves and desires with what societies expectations of women are. Full of commentary on marriage, sexuality, politics and more as we see cultural realities changing overtime, Mrs. Everything is an ambitious novel.

I appreciated the scope of this novel and the way we saw the sisters get knocked down and grow over time as their worlds constantly change. There were so many relatable moments about what women used to, and still do, face with the pressure to be "Mrs. Everything".

Some of the pacing of the story was a bit slow for me, and the time jumps ended up meaning that the beginning of each new chapter was spent playing "catch up" on the past years which made the flow a bit choppy.

3.5/5 stars

I’m pretty bummed to say it but this one just isn’t working for me. I’ve read and enjoyed many of Ms Weiner’s novels and was highly anticipating this one, but the format of covering many years and MANY issues in the lives of these two sisters started to feel more like a play-by-play rather than a cohesive story. I think it will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy big, epic stories, and the writing is definitely good. I’m sure it will be a hit for lots of readers and many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read.

(As per my review policy, I won’t post a review on my Instagram if I can’t enthusiastically review it.)

I am struggling to understand my reaction to this book and think I can distill it down to two things that prohibited me from truly appreciating Weiner's story:
#1 . . . I am of the same generation as the two sisters featured in the story: perhaps it was too close to home to either feel like a revelation, or to relish the reading experience of reliving my own cultural history:
#2. . . I spent most of my life in the suburban Detroit that Weiner's characters grew up in and her descriptions of the neighborhoods, the clubs, and the life there just didn't feel right to me. They didn't have enough texture to feel life-like.

What I did appreciate about Weiner's novel was the long, slow, development of the two sisters relationships with each other and their extended family. The women really came to life for me and, rather than feeling that they were characters in a book, I did feel that they were people I knew---and, knew well. I fully identified with the ups and downs of the sibling relationship and enjoyed how each character developed in a way that I didn't anticipate.

This was a book that I looked forward to reading; I can't say that I particularly enjoyed the reading experience, but I know that I would enjoy discussing the characters and the story with other women. And, that is a gift in itself. This will be a great book club selection for all kinds of reading groups.

NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars The story of two sister, Jo and Bethie- from childhood to adulthood. Really loved the way that Weiner told the sister's stories- I felt like I lived their lives with them. Definitely recommend.

This ambitious family saga begins in 1951 and stretches across more than 60 years, encompassing many if not all of the social issues of that time span. It struck me as almost Forest Gump-like in that regard. I was impressed as one issue after another presented, almost like a roll call of defining moments, but she effortlessly folded them into the batter and baked us a delicious and satisfying cake, I mean book!

The beginning was slow for me as the author tried to set up her two main characters, Jo and Bethie. I felt it was like a heavily loaded airplane, struggling to get off the ground. The pages developing Jo’s relationship with her parents seemed to be in Jo’s eight-year-old voice, didn’t feel like Weiner at all and didn’t read easily, but once I got past the introduction, her voice emerged and it sang all the way to the end.

The place of women in contemporary American society is at the root of this story; it’s not in your face, but it unfurls for you to discover as you read along. As she notes in conclusion, there has been progress but it’s still not there for all women, especially not for a white woman married to a black man and especially not for a gay woman. Book club fodder for sure.

Jennifer Weiner does it again! Little Earthquakes, In Her Shoes, GOOD IN BED...have all been some of my favorite novels of all time. When Who Do You Love came out four years ago, of course I immediately bought it. And now...Mrs. Everything. My heart hurts, there are tears in my eyes, and I wish I could go back to the beginning and read this book all over again. An epic story of family, love, motherhood and the incredible bond between sisters - it’s all here. I wish I could rate this more than five stars. If you’ve never read a JW book - go do that now, and when this book hits the shelves next month, PICK. IT. UP.

*I received an ARC of Mrs. Everything from Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book. it is a very sensitive look at women's sexual orientation in the 1960s - 1980s through the eyes of Jo Kaufman, her sister Bethie and friends and family. As usual, Ms. Weiner's book is a page turner as well as providing a tender, insightful look at women's sexual awakening and changing societal mores.