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Goodnight Nobody
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner’s unforgettable story of adjusting to suburbia—and all the surprises hidden behind its doors.
For Kate Klein, a semi-accidental mother of three, suburbia has been full of unpleasant surprises. Her once-loving husband is hardly ever home. The supermommies on the playground routinely snub her. Her days are spent carpooling and enduring endless games of Candy Land, and at night, most of her orgasms are of the do-it-yourself variety.
When a fellow mother is murdered, Kate finds that the unsolved mystery is the most exciting thing to happen in Upchurch, Connecticut, since her neighbors broke ground for a guesthouse and cracked their septic tank. Even though the local police chief warns her that crime-fighting's a job best left to the professionals, Kate launches an unofficial investigation -- from 8:45 to 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when her kids are in nursery school.
As Kate is drawn deeper into the murdered woman's past, she begins to uncover the secrets and lies behind Upchurch's picket-fence facade -- and considers the choices and compromises all modern women make as they navigate between marriage and independence, small towns and big cities, being a mother and having a life of one's own.
For Kate Klein, a semi-accidental mother of three, suburbia has been full of unpleasant surprises. Her once-loving husband is hardly ever home. The supermommies on the playground routinely snub her. Her days are spent carpooling and enduring endless games of Candy Land, and at night, most of her orgasms are of the do-it-yourself variety.
When a fellow mother is murdered, Kate finds that the unsolved mystery is the most exciting thing to happen in Upchurch, Connecticut, since her neighbors broke ground for a guesthouse and cracked their septic tank. Even though the local police chief warns her that crime-fighting's a job best left to the professionals, Kate launches an unofficial investigation -- from 8:45 to 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when her kids are in nursery school.
As Kate is drawn deeper into the murdered woman's past, she begins to uncover the secrets and lies behind Upchurch's picket-fence facade -- and considers the choices and compromises all modern women make as they navigate between marriage and independence, small towns and big cities, being a mother and having a life of one's own.
387 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2005
1120 people are currently reading
33442 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Weiner
70 books24.7k followersJennifer Weiner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of eighteen books, including Good in Bed, In Her Shoes, and, most recently, That Summer. A graduate of Princeton University, she lives with her family in Philadelphia. Visit her online at JenniferWeiner.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,288 reviews
July 21, 2008
I liked Goodnight Nobody. It's an easy, fun read.
Having said that, however, I am going to critique Jennifer Weiner's works in general. I have read three of them: Good in Bed, In Her Shoes and Goodnight Nobody. There are similarities between the three of them that are starting to make Weiner's work seem formulaic.
1. Each of the books features a protagonist who is very conscious of her own non-stick figure body shape.
GIB: Cannie
IHS: Rose
GN: Kate
2. Each protagonist has a friend/cohort who is the opposite of the protagonist: shapely, well connected, rich, vivacious or some combination of the mentioned.
GIB: Samantha and later Maxi
IHS:Maggie (not well connected or rich, but definitely shapely and vivacious)
GN: Janie
3. A mention of how the protagonist and/or her family is afraid that they will have to face an attempt to convert her/them to Christianity.
GIB: when Cannie is walking around and gets lost, she is "for one sick, terrifying moment...absolutely certain he [the man helping her] was going to start talking to me about Jesus."
IHS: the stepmother is very upset that her daughter has joined Jews for Jesus.
GN: Kate thinks her neighbor "for one giddy moment...was going to say Jesus, and I'd have to be stuck listening to a soliloquy about her personal relationship with the Savior and how I needed one myself."
4. The protagonist's initial obsession about the past and an inability see or appreciate what she has in front of her.
GIB: loser boyfriend/doctor in love with her
IHS: past relationships with men and her sister and sister's betrayal/how to get along with sister and a good relationship
GN: man she wanted to be her boyfriend/family
Don't get me wrong: any of these books stands by itself as fun and entertaining. I especially like GIB. However, after reading three of Weiner's books and noticing these trends, I'm tiring of the formula. (To be fair, it does work for her, given the success of her writing.) I'm just not sure that I want to venture to read another Weiner novel, if it doesn't present something new or different from these three.
Having said that, however, I am going to critique Jennifer Weiner's works in general. I have read three of them: Good in Bed, In Her Shoes and Goodnight Nobody. There are similarities between the three of them that are starting to make Weiner's work seem formulaic.
1. Each of the books features a protagonist who is very conscious of her own non-stick figure body shape.
GIB: Cannie
IHS: Rose
GN: Kate
2. Each protagonist has a friend/cohort who is the opposite of the protagonist: shapely, well connected, rich, vivacious or some combination of the mentioned.
GIB: Samantha and later Maxi
IHS:Maggie (not well connected or rich, but definitely shapely and vivacious)
GN: Janie
3. A mention of how the protagonist and/or her family is afraid that they will have to face an attempt to convert her/them to Christianity.
GIB: when Cannie is walking around and gets lost, she is "for one sick, terrifying moment...absolutely certain he [the man helping her] was going to start talking to me about Jesus."
IHS: the stepmother is very upset that her daughter has joined Jews for Jesus.
GN: Kate thinks her neighbor "for one giddy moment...was going to say Jesus, and I'd have to be stuck listening to a soliloquy about her personal relationship with the Savior and how I needed one myself."
4. The protagonist's initial obsession about the past and an inability see or appreciate what she has in front of her.
GIB: loser boyfriend/doctor in love with her
IHS: past relationships with men and her sister and sister's betrayal/how to get along with sister and a good relationship
GN: man she wanted to be her boyfriend/family
Don't get me wrong: any of these books stands by itself as fun and entertaining. I especially like GIB. However, after reading three of Weiner's books and noticing these trends, I'm tiring of the formula. (To be fair, it does work for her, given the success of her writing.) I'm just not sure that I want to venture to read another Weiner novel, if it doesn't present something new or different from these three.
September 8, 2007
When I saw this in the bargain bin at Barnes & Noble - I thought I struck gold! I had really liked Good in Bed and In Her Shoes and was excited to pick up another book by Jennifer Weiner. Unfortunately, this fell flat. It was stale and I wasn't involved with the characters at all. Her protagonist was annoying (i.e. mother dealing with a crush she had years ago and now is hemming and hawing about the what-could-have-been) all the while her husband makes attempts (small though they may be) to rekindle their marriage. The ending left me wanting and I felt as though there were still unresolved issues.
July 7, 2008
I have to admit - I was disappointed by this book. I felt the heroine, whose name I have already forgotten, was not, in fact, someone I would want championing for me if I was murdered! Why does this woman have to be such a bumbling doofus? Just because she is a stay-at-home mom? The scene at the memorial service was just one example of her embarassment. She's telling everyone she is going to speak at the service, and then she is surprised when she is pushed to speak! I do like how the author incorporated having to work with dealing with small children while she is trying to do her "investigating."
Also, I just about LOL when she told her husband she is good at this investigating thing! First of all, she was only doing it because she was bored and lonely. Secondly, how many people did she accuse of killing Kitty? And I'm talking about directly, to their face! And, in the end, she truly had no clue until the very end! Every theory she had turned out to be nothing at all. As a matter of fact, because she decided to dig into the situation and did it with so little ability, her children could have ended up hurt, or worse.
By the way, why was her fabulous friend from the City (excuse me, but I've forgotten her name as well) her best friend? Their initial meeting was rather ridiculous - I mean, I believe the friend did what she did, but not our heroine. And then what, neither of them had friends before each other, or did they just drop them all in favor of each other? I don't know, I don't really question that they were friends, I felt that could have been set up differently.
I did like a couple of points in the book. The super-moms and feeling left out because she was not one. I have never been a super-mom and have never tried to be - it's just not me. I would have been completely intimidated by them as well and probably wouldn't have been included by them either. Those super-moms seemed to treat their children as a kind of career, as if they were being reviewed and up for more benefits the better they were as moms!
I also like how she handled Evan. Nice guy, but an idiot. Really. Or, maybe not an idiot, but bad news. If he truly had feelings for our heroine, why didn't he ever try to get her back, at least once he and the super-model broke up? It's not like he had any trouble finding her once all hell broke loose with Kitty. I agree with the Friend, Evan is all about the chase. Our heroine should not leave her husband for this dude, as much as she may want to. I honestly think if she had just gotten the chance to sleep with him when she was single, she could have gotten him out of her system a little easier.
As for the husband, should she stay with him? That is a very tough question and I don't believe either answer is competely right. Either way, there is going to be unhappiness for her and for others. I think that is why the author ended the book without an answer to that question. Whichever road she chose, it would not be a satisfying end to the book. Maybe she has a sequel in mind. I don't think I'll read it, though.
Also, I just about LOL when she told her husband she is good at this investigating thing! First of all, she was only doing it because she was bored and lonely. Secondly, how many people did she accuse of killing Kitty? And I'm talking about directly, to their face! And, in the end, she truly had no clue until the very end! Every theory she had turned out to be nothing at all. As a matter of fact, because she decided to dig into the situation and did it with so little ability, her children could have ended up hurt, or worse.
By the way, why was her fabulous friend from the City (excuse me, but I've forgotten her name as well) her best friend? Their initial meeting was rather ridiculous - I mean, I believe the friend did what she did, but not our heroine. And then what, neither of them had friends before each other, or did they just drop them all in favor of each other? I don't know, I don't really question that they were friends, I felt that could have been set up differently.
I did like a couple of points in the book. The super-moms and feeling left out because she was not one. I have never been a super-mom and have never tried to be - it's just not me. I would have been completely intimidated by them as well and probably wouldn't have been included by them either. Those super-moms seemed to treat their children as a kind of career, as if they were being reviewed and up for more benefits the better they were as moms!
I also like how she handled Evan. Nice guy, but an idiot. Really. Or, maybe not an idiot, but bad news. If he truly had feelings for our heroine, why didn't he ever try to get her back, at least once he and the super-model broke up? It's not like he had any trouble finding her once all hell broke loose with Kitty. I agree with the Friend, Evan is all about the chase. Our heroine should not leave her husband for this dude, as much as she may want to. I honestly think if she had just gotten the chance to sleep with him when she was single, she could have gotten him out of her system a little easier.
As for the husband, should she stay with him? That is a very tough question and I don't believe either answer is competely right. Either way, there is going to be unhappiness for her and for others. I think that is why the author ended the book without an answer to that question. Whichever road she chose, it would not be a satisfying end to the book. Maybe she has a sequel in mind. I don't think I'll read it, though.
July 20, 2011
I have to say that I pretty much hated this book. I only gave it that extra star because the actual writing is pretty good. She spins a good tale, and pretty much the only person you like in the book is Janie, her best friend. Kate, the main character, is pretty much one of the most selfish people I have ever read as a main character. You just feel sorry for her husband, whom she doesn't really love, but thought was suitable to marry because he was "nice", and you really feel sorry for her kids. She does love them, but she tends to drop them off at day care and other people's houses for playdates a lot (never actually hosting one herself). She complains constantly about not having time to take care of herself - I'm not saying she needs to be impeccably groomed like the other Moms at the playground - but at least clean clothes would be a step in the right direction. She also compares constantly that everyone else is wearing or using much more expensive clothing than her and her children have - but it's from choice, really. The author states how much money her husband makes, and with the neighborhood they chose to live in, if she wanted to care enough to dress more nicely, or have her kids in better clothes, or even have them eat better food, she could. She complains about not having time to do any of those things, yet she makes time to do all this investigating. It just shows that while she is resentful of the other moms because they take time to make snacks for their kids instead of feeding them processed food, and because they dress better and look better - she has no desire to apply any change like that into her own life. She has the money, the means, and apparently the time that she thinks she doesn't have (until she makes time to do investigative work, that is). She just likes to complain and feel sorry for herself more. And that bugs the crap out of me.
On a personal level, she made it sound like the moms who tried to do alternative or green parenting were robots or aliens at best. That normal people just couldn't or wouldn't want to try to make their kids eat healthily (or at the very least, not prepared, processed, or frozen food all the time). I mean, her kids all got the stomach flu, and the first thing she gives them when they're better is freaking Rice Krispie Treats! And then she feels a mixture of guilt, but also defiance that she is not like those other moms. Excuse me, I work up to 4 jobs at a time, and don't make a lot of money. We live very simply, and I take care of my appearance, as well as my daughter's - even if she is in second hand clothes, at least they're clean most of the time - and we cloth diapered and she eats mostly a diet of organic food. It's not rocket science. It's a desire to keep your kids healthy, and to take care of yourself. Not that hard to do.
***************SPOILER ALERT******************
So, why did I read this book when I hated the main character so much? Well, like I said, that extra star up there is for plot development. You may not like the characters, but the plot does keep it moving. You want to find out who did it, and why. You also want to find out what happens with her relationships. Is she doing to leave her nice husband and go back to her old flame, the only man she ever really loved? Even though it was unrequited until she became unavailable - which seems to be his thing. Only wants what he can't have. And for her? It was frustrating because the story kept jumping back and forth between the past and present, and you're wondering how she loved this other man so intensely and ended up where she is now. About halfway through the book, you finally find out what caused the big rift and falling out between her and Evan, the man she really loved. And it was lame. He got drunk, they made out, he felt guilty because he had a fiance, and did she stay and fight for him? Bare her soul? Tell him how she felt? Other than a whisper of love when he was passed out - NO. She didn't. She ran away. Then she met her husband, decided he was nice and suitable, and married him. Even did nothing really to deserve her mirth. He acted with honor by NOT cheating on his (cheating) fiance. You think for a while that Kate is going to go ahead and cheat on her husband with Evan, and other than a couple of kisses and heavy groping, she doesn't. Because that would have been the last straw in trying to find anything likable about her character. But she constantly lies to her husband, and goes behind his back, even to a point of almost getting him fired. He puts up with her, genuinely loves her, and really makes an effort to salvage their relationship. So, you're wondering, how is this going to end? What will become of this intense desire within her to investigate? Will she open her own PI Business? Become a cop? (doubtful). What is going to happen with her and her husband? With Evan? Will she finally run away from her life and take off with Evan, leaving 3 kids and a devastated husband behind? I wouldn't put it past her. She's utterly selfish. But, you don't even get the satisfaction of finding out. She does solve the mystery - of who murdered Kitty, that is (not who fathered Kitty, which is what it was more about it seemed) - she almost gets her kids killed in the process, even. But then what does she do? Runs away. Again. Leaves her husband, moves her kids and mother into a house in Cape Cod, and ignores the rest of the world. Her husband sells their old house and rents a condo nearby, coming out every weekend to play with the kids and try to save their marriage. After he did nothing wrong in the first place. Even still calls her, trying to get her to run away with him. She lies in the ocean and ignores everyone. The End. How unsatisfying is THAT?!
On a personal level, she made it sound like the moms who tried to do alternative or green parenting were robots or aliens at best. That normal people just couldn't or wouldn't want to try to make their kids eat healthily (or at the very least, not prepared, processed, or frozen food all the time). I mean, her kids all got the stomach flu, and the first thing she gives them when they're better is freaking Rice Krispie Treats! And then she feels a mixture of guilt, but also defiance that she is not like those other moms. Excuse me, I work up to 4 jobs at a time, and don't make a lot of money. We live very simply, and I take care of my appearance, as well as my daughter's - even if she is in second hand clothes, at least they're clean most of the time - and we cloth diapered and she eats mostly a diet of organic food. It's not rocket science. It's a desire to keep your kids healthy, and to take care of yourself. Not that hard to do.
***************SPOILER ALERT******************
So, why did I read this book when I hated the main character so much? Well, like I said, that extra star up there is for plot development. You may not like the characters, but the plot does keep it moving. You want to find out who did it, and why. You also want to find out what happens with her relationships. Is she doing to leave her nice husband and go back to her old flame, the only man she ever really loved? Even though it was unrequited until she became unavailable - which seems to be his thing. Only wants what he can't have. And for her? It was frustrating because the story kept jumping back and forth between the past and present, and you're wondering how she loved this other man so intensely and ended up where she is now. About halfway through the book, you finally find out what caused the big rift and falling out between her and Evan, the man she really loved. And it was lame. He got drunk, they made out, he felt guilty because he had a fiance, and did she stay and fight for him? Bare her soul? Tell him how she felt? Other than a whisper of love when he was passed out - NO. She didn't. She ran away. Then she met her husband, decided he was nice and suitable, and married him. Even did nothing really to deserve her mirth. He acted with honor by NOT cheating on his (cheating) fiance. You think for a while that Kate is going to go ahead and cheat on her husband with Evan, and other than a couple of kisses and heavy groping, she doesn't. Because that would have been the last straw in trying to find anything likable about her character. But she constantly lies to her husband, and goes behind his back, even to a point of almost getting him fired. He puts up with her, genuinely loves her, and really makes an effort to salvage their relationship. So, you're wondering, how is this going to end? What will become of this intense desire within her to investigate? Will she open her own PI Business? Become a cop? (doubtful). What is going to happen with her and her husband? With Evan? Will she finally run away from her life and take off with Evan, leaving 3 kids and a devastated husband behind? I wouldn't put it past her. She's utterly selfish. But, you don't even get the satisfaction of finding out. She does solve the mystery - of who murdered Kitty, that is (not who fathered Kitty, which is what it was more about it seemed) - she almost gets her kids killed in the process, even. But then what does she do? Runs away. Again. Leaves her husband, moves her kids and mother into a house in Cape Cod, and ignores the rest of the world. Her husband sells their old house and rents a condo nearby, coming out every weekend to play with the kids and try to save their marriage. After he did nothing wrong in the first place. Even still calls her, trying to get her to run away with him. She lies in the ocean and ignores everyone. The End. How unsatisfying is THAT?!
December 28, 2023
3.5⭐️
Lengva, vietomis šmaikšti, kitomis- verčianti vartyti akis, bet tobulai tinkanti tokiems rudeniškiems žiemos vakarams, kai norisi šiltai susisukti ir praleisti gerai laiką su knyga. Taigi, Keitė - namų šeimininkė, kuri įsitraukia į žmogžudystės tyrimą. Patiko jos personažas, jos ryžtas besimaišantis su dvejonėmis, jos draugystė su Džeine. Tačiau tuo pačiu ir trikdė, kaip lengvai visi kalbinti žmonės jai patikėdavo reikalingą informaciją. Ir pabaiga palieka labai daug vietos vaizduotei🙂
Lengva, vietomis šmaikšti, kitomis- verčianti vartyti akis, bet tobulai tinkanti tokiems rudeniškiems žiemos vakarams, kai norisi šiltai susisukti ir praleisti gerai laiką su knyga. Taigi, Keitė - namų šeimininkė, kuri įsitraukia į žmogžudystės tyrimą. Patiko jos personažas, jos ryžtas besimaišantis su dvejonėmis, jos draugystė su Džeine. Tačiau tuo pačiu ir trikdė, kaip lengvai visi kalbinti žmonės jai patikėdavo reikalingą informaciją. Ir pabaiga palieka labai daug vietos vaizduotei🙂
May 8, 2020
I've read this book multiple times (I've lost count) and I just adore it. I was craving the familiar and after giving this book as a recommendation to folks looking for a mystery without darkness/violence I suddenly felt the need to read it. I snagged the audiobook from my library and I think it made me love it even more.
Kate Klein is a mom of three who is living in the picture perfect suburban town of Upchurch, Connecticut and she's struggling - to fit in with the mom crowd, to be a full time mom and to basically figure out who she is. Her husband moved them up from NYC in a very 'keeping up with the Jonses' move, but Kate is not totally jazzed about it. When Kate brings her kids on a play date to fellow-mom, Kitty's, house she is shocked to find her dead on the kitchen floor. The upside is that Kate now has a project and decides to take it upon herself to solve Kitty's murder.
This is definitely women's fiction with a side of mystery, so if you're looking for a thriller this isn't that, but it's great fun. Kate's best friend Janie is the best (the audio narrator KILLS it!). We get to go back in time to when Janie and Kate met in their early 20s and there lives as single ladies in the city.
In typical Jennifer Weiner fashion this book is funny, honest, heartwarming, a little heartbreaking, smart, witty and just great fun. I really enjoy her writing style and her characters. There are some great one-liners and relatable moments.
Highly recommend this book and am so happy I went the audio route!
Kate Klein is a mom of three who is living in the picture perfect suburban town of Upchurch, Connecticut and she's struggling - to fit in with the mom crowd, to be a full time mom and to basically figure out who she is. Her husband moved them up from NYC in a very 'keeping up with the Jonses' move, but Kate is not totally jazzed about it. When Kate brings her kids on a play date to fellow-mom, Kitty's, house she is shocked to find her dead on the kitchen floor. The upside is that Kate now has a project and decides to take it upon herself to solve Kitty's murder.
This is definitely women's fiction with a side of mystery, so if you're looking for a thriller this isn't that, but it's great fun. Kate's best friend Janie is the best (the audio narrator KILLS it!). We get to go back in time to when Janie and Kate met in their early 20s and there lives as single ladies in the city.
In typical Jennifer Weiner fashion this book is funny, honest, heartwarming, a little heartbreaking, smart, witty and just great fun. I really enjoy her writing style and her characters. There are some great one-liners and relatable moments.
Highly recommend this book and am so happy I went the audio route!
July 7, 2011
It took me 3 months to finish this book. I liked the first third of the book. The second third lost me. I did like the fish out of water angle, but the contrast was too extreme. She was portrayed a a bumbling idiot. When she kept using the Hello Kitty notebook throughout her entire "investigation" I wanted to scream and ended up feeling very disconnected from her. There were so many interviews and suspects I got lost. While the last third of the book was paced more quickly and a little intriguing, the connections to her ultimate revelation were confusing. The ending (the last 12 pages) was unbelievable. Her mother was suddenly devoted and caring after 30 years of neglect. She ended up alone at a beach house apparently happily caring for her children appropriately, a thing that could have been accomplished at her Connecticut home. Overall I was disappointed. This book does not measure up to her previous novels. I say, "Don't waste your time."
May 16, 2007
If Kate Klein, the protagonist of GOODNIGHT NOBODY, were real, we'd be best friends. Kate struggles with her life as a stay-at-home mom in suburbia. When she finds her neighbor stabbed to death in her kitchen, Kate launches her own investigation to find the killer. The investigation gives her life purpose again.
Author Jennifer Weiner is right-on with the desperation stay-at-home moms feel, as we put our skills aside and our lives on hold to change diapers and clean up spilled Kool-Aid. Kate Klein is a voice for women everywhere. Weiner's style is another strength. Parts of this book are laugh out loud funny. In one part, Kate Klein says "son of a bitch" in front of her kids. She feels guilty because one of the other suburban mommy's husband backed over her foot with a car and all she said was, "Fudge." - Love it. Love it. Love it.
Author Jennifer Weiner is right-on with the desperation stay-at-home moms feel, as we put our skills aside and our lives on hold to change diapers and clean up spilled Kool-Aid. Kate Klein is a voice for women everywhere. Weiner's style is another strength. Parts of this book are laugh out loud funny. In one part, Kate Klein says "son of a bitch" in front of her kids. She feels guilty because one of the other suburban mommy's husband backed over her foot with a car and all she said was, "Fudge." - Love it. Love it. Love it.
March 2, 2010
This story is about a desperate housewife who doesn't seem to fit in. After a surprise invite to the meanest of the "in" mom's home, Kate arrives to find her hostess dead on the floor with a knife poking out of her back. It's time to run, methinks.
She instead decides to spice up her boring life by investigating the murder. It reads to me like a very dull episode of Desperate Housewives with some flashbacks to the past thrown in for added tedium. I don't know if I'll finish this because, as the book goes on and on, I'm finding myself liking Kate less and less. Her longing for a past almost-lover because her current life is so boring isn't exactly sympathy inducing stuff. Poor, poor Kate. She's married to a guy who works so hard to pay for their mini-mansion (while Kate stays home with the kiddies) that he falls asleep before satisfying her. The nerve of the rotten guy!
Another thing bugging me are the constant jabs at healthy eating and the people who promote it, like it's a snobbish thing to eat veggies, fruit and nuts! Note to author: it's actually cheaper to eat the good healthy stuff in the long run and the short run if you know how to shop and can be bothered to learn how to cook. All of that packaged junk is overpriced. The author thinks it funny to stuff her fictional kids with Cheetos and sugared crap while making fun of the "organic crowd". Really, how hard is it to do 20 seconds of planning and stick some fruit or carrots in your bag before going to the park so your kids won't annoy you with whines of "I'm hungry" driving you to raid the nearest convenience store because you can't stand the whining one freaking minute more? This just makes the heroine appear like a thoughtless, disorganized person. As someone with a very busy life (and a job) and with a child allergic to most of that processed crapola and as someone who finds the childhood obesity epidemic quite sad, I find these jabs offensive and ignorant. It looks like I just talked myself out of finishing this one!
She instead decides to spice up her boring life by investigating the murder. It reads to me like a very dull episode of Desperate Housewives with some flashbacks to the past thrown in for added tedium. I don't know if I'll finish this because, as the book goes on and on, I'm finding myself liking Kate less and less. Her longing for a past almost-lover because her current life is so boring isn't exactly sympathy inducing stuff. Poor, poor Kate. She's married to a guy who works so hard to pay for their mini-mansion (while Kate stays home with the kiddies) that he falls asleep before satisfying her. The nerve of the rotten guy!
Another thing bugging me are the constant jabs at healthy eating and the people who promote it, like it's a snobbish thing to eat veggies, fruit and nuts! Note to author: it's actually cheaper to eat the good healthy stuff in the long run and the short run if you know how to shop and can be bothered to learn how to cook. All of that packaged junk is overpriced. The author thinks it funny to stuff her fictional kids with Cheetos and sugared crap while making fun of the "organic crowd". Really, how hard is it to do 20 seconds of planning and stick some fruit or carrots in your bag before going to the park so your kids won't annoy you with whines of "I'm hungry" driving you to raid the nearest convenience store because you can't stand the whining one freaking minute more? This just makes the heroine appear like a thoughtless, disorganized person. As someone with a very busy life (and a job) and with a child allergic to most of that processed crapola and as someone who finds the childhood obesity epidemic quite sad, I find these jabs offensive and ignorant. It looks like I just talked myself out of finishing this one!
December 1, 2007
I am a little confused as to why Weiner, one of the hottest writers today, felt it necessary to try her hand at a mystery. After the raucous success of "In Her Shoes," "Good In Bed," and "Little Earthquakes," I expected her to keep moving on the same vein -- and I was excited about it.
But this book doesn't make the grade set by her previous three best-sellers. The mystery is clunky, the characters annoying, and the plot disjointed. This was a strange attempt at a new genre. Let's hope Weiner returns to her familiar -- and lush -- territory and leaves the mystery writing to others.
But this book doesn't make the grade set by her previous three best-sellers. The mystery is clunky, the characters annoying, and the plot disjointed. This was a strange attempt at a new genre. Let's hope Weiner returns to her familiar -- and lush -- territory and leaves the mystery writing to others.
October 21, 2010
I am starting to see a theme in Jennifer Weiner's books...heart-broken girls that immediately meet a guy that they dont really like but dont find completely repulsive that can financially support them and they end up marrying the guy, not being extremely happy, regretting not being with the guy they were passionate with...makes me wonder about Jennifer Weiner's husband. Also-I feel like there are two types of parents...well that's debatable-but two types of GOOD parents...the kind that TRULY TRULY enjoy being parents and the kind that love their children but struggle with adjusting to the lifestyle parenting demands...every main character in Jennifer Weiner's book seems to be the later. Oh-and now i am COMPLETELY freaked out if Mike and I ever do have kids..Jennifer Weiner frequently states that the husbands in the book lost the desire for their wife by witnessing childbirth...I think my new position on it is that I will bear the kids alone and let Mike know when its over. But what I do love about Jennifer Weiner's book is that her characters are not perfect but feel like they have to appear perfect...that is often how i feel.
This book started out cheesey. The end of the mystery was also cheesey. Ok...the investigation of the murder(s) were cheesey...but I still could not put this book down. I started it out still in my list pre-30's crisis where I felt very lonely....I actually felt jealous that Kate had a best friend...like the one I had in high school...that does crazy things without question...that is always game for whatever...but then..about halfway through the book I got over it...i realized that in the last two books by Jennifer Weiner, the main characters had best friends...but they didnt have good marriages...This book got me over my crisis...because I can talk to my husband about...most things...and he is ALWAYS game for whatever...I know-without a doubt-he would have investigated with me the way Janie investigated with Kate.
This book started out cheesey. The end of the mystery was also cheesey. Ok...the investigation of the murder(s) were cheesey...but I still could not put this book down. I started it out still in my list pre-30's crisis where I felt very lonely....I actually felt jealous that Kate had a best friend...like the one I had in high school...that does crazy things without question...that is always game for whatever...but then..about halfway through the book I got over it...i realized that in the last two books by Jennifer Weiner, the main characters had best friends...but they didnt have good marriages...This book got me over my crisis...because I can talk to my husband about...most things...and he is ALWAYS game for whatever...I know-without a doubt-he would have investigated with me the way Janie investigated with Kate.
August 25, 2012
This is not the type of book I normally read. It's not the right genre, style or character. So I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it.
Kate Klein is an accidental mother of three. She fell in "like" with her husband after a bad rebound, married him because it was sensible to do so, accidently fell pregnant and had a baby girl, then accidently fell pregnant with twin boys some two months later. Suddenly, she's gone from being a free-spirited (if slightly self-conscious) fashion and tabloid reporter in NYC, to a stay at home Mom of three preschool children in a ritzy estate. She spends her days being patronised by the Perfect Mommy Brigade, playing Candyland, and wishing that once, just once, her husband would help her with the children instead of leaving early for work and coming home late from work "for the good of the family".
Basically, her life kinda sucks. And, as a stay at home Mum who was once a succesful career woman, I found her life very easy to relate to.
But all of this is just the backdrop for a murder.
When one of the Perfect Mommies is murdered, Kate finds herself investigating -- not because she has any real skills. She's just... bored. And nosy. And then she discovers that her ex-boyfriend, the "bad rebound" who is indirectly responsible for the direction her life has taken, is somehow involved.
This book mixes crime, romance, chick lit, and the feeling of despair and fulfilment that comes with giving up your entire world and identity and replacing it with the unconditional love of children.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Kate Klein is an accidental mother of three. She fell in "like" with her husband after a bad rebound, married him because it was sensible to do so, accidently fell pregnant and had a baby girl, then accidently fell pregnant with twin boys some two months later. Suddenly, she's gone from being a free-spirited (if slightly self-conscious) fashion and tabloid reporter in NYC, to a stay at home Mom of three preschool children in a ritzy estate. She spends her days being patronised by the Perfect Mommy Brigade, playing Candyland, and wishing that once, just once, her husband would help her with the children instead of leaving early for work and coming home late from work "for the good of the family".
Basically, her life kinda sucks. And, as a stay at home Mum who was once a succesful career woman, I found her life very easy to relate to.
But all of this is just the backdrop for a murder.
When one of the Perfect Mommies is murdered, Kate finds herself investigating -- not because she has any real skills. She's just... bored. And nosy. And then she discovers that her ex-boyfriend, the "bad rebound" who is indirectly responsible for the direction her life has taken, is somehow involved.
This book mixes crime, romance, chick lit, and the feeling of despair and fulfilment that comes with giving up your entire world and identity and replacing it with the unconditional love of children.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
April 29, 2015
Jennifer Weiner tries her hand at mystery in this book. But she is more skilled at writing her usual self-deprecating comedies like Little Earthquakes, Good in Bed and In Her Shoes. Like all her protagonists, Kate Klein is overweight and a writer. She is stuck in suburbia and bored out of her mind. Then a neighbor gets murdered and she takes it upon herself to investigate. The book is well-written, funny, and entertaining, but compared to her other books I am forced to give it a 3. There's just too much going on and so much of it pointless that the ending leaves you a little deflated. Also, Kate is unhappy and has a bit of a self-destructive streak that was difficult for me to understand. She puts herself and her family at a huge risk just because she is feeling bored, instead of getting a job, or talking to her husband about moving back to the city, or asking him to go to counseling with her. In classic Weiner style, she has an impossibly rich and thin best friend who is a little nutty, and can always be counted on to come through with money and power in situations that a normal person would be forced to solve more creatively.
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July 24, 2020DNF @ 20%. I’ve enjoyed others of Weiner’s- just wasn’t feeling this one. I found myself wandering away from it and thinking about other things. Too much fluff and not enough substance for me.
August 29, 2021
This book was a light hearted murder mystery. Kate Klein lives in a ritzy Connecticut community with her three young children and workaholic husband. Kate never feels like she fits in with the other Moms. One day Kate goes to visit Kitty Cavanagh and finds her murdered on the kitchen floor.
From this point on Kate devotes her time to finding out who killed Kitty Cavanagh, and in doing so, unearths a lot of dirty laundry in her upscale community. Overall, an enjoyable story but the last couple of pages where they make a huge revelation, was a let down.
From this point on Kate devotes her time to finding out who killed Kitty Cavanagh, and in doing so, unearths a lot of dirty laundry in her upscale community. Overall, an enjoyable story but the last couple of pages where they make a huge revelation, was a let down.
February 5, 2014
I've read other Jennifer Weiner books and really enjoyed them, but this was terrible. I couldn't stand the protagonist--she was an awkward, bumbling fool with a massive inferiority complex and judgment about everyone she met and barely knew. She kept apologizing to her neglectful, borderline emotionally abusive husband, and we're supposed to hate Evan, her crush, because they drunkenly kissed and then he didn't break up with his fiancée. Kate had childish expectations, which we're supposed to empathize with and reward.
The writing in this book is trite and boring--rather unlike Good In Bed and Little Earthquakes, which had fresh humor and rounder characters. Many questions in the book remain unanswered and the big question surrounding Kitty's motivations is dismissed in a couple sentences at the very end, as if an afterthought, with no connection to the rest of the story. It's as if the author forgot to write an ending.
Jennifer Weiner has long championed the "chick lit" genre as a credible category of literature, but she's not doing the genre any favors with vapid, shallow, superficial heroines who hate their bodies and are stuck in a horrible marriage masquerading as a normal relationship.
The writing in this book is trite and boring--rather unlike Good In Bed and Little Earthquakes, which had fresh humor and rounder characters. Many questions in the book remain unanswered and the big question surrounding Kitty's motivations is dismissed in a couple sentences at the very end, as if an afterthought, with no connection to the rest of the story. It's as if the author forgot to write an ending.
Jennifer Weiner has long championed the "chick lit" genre as a credible category of literature, but she's not doing the genre any favors with vapid, shallow, superficial heroines who hate their bodies and are stuck in a horrible marriage masquerading as a normal relationship.
October 24, 2009
I LOVE Jennifer Weiner's Good in Bed and enjoyed In Her Shoes and Little Earthquakes, but Goodnight Nobody just doesn't measure up. Maybe it is just slow to start, but I kept trying and couldn't finish it. In the other books, Weiner's characters aren't perfect and you love them that way, but the main character of GN is downright negative to the point of being extremely annoying. If I met her at the park, I would not befriend her either. (If you have read the book, you know what I mean by this.) I guess we're supposed to feel sorry for her - a stay-home mom living in a wealthy suburb raising three beautiful children - because she had to give up her career and life in the city. But she didn't HAVE to, she chose to, so why would I feel sorry for again??? I just felt like she was a whiner (no pun intended.) I just kept thinking, "What's wrong with her? Her life isn't THAT bad!" The mystery was a little intriguing but not strong enough to make me want to continue reading this book.
October 3, 2014
I really didn't like this book. Kate was extremely unlikeable. She bumbled through the whole mystery, making false accusations at every turn. It's a wonder she didn't end up sued for slander. She was also wishy washy about which man she wanted in her life. But last I checked one of them was actually making an effort and is father to her three kids. And let's talk about her kids. Kate whined constantly about being such a busy mom of three but more often than not she was dropping them off somewhere or leaving them with someone else. What a rough gig! Mainly I think she had a severe case of the grass is greener. Frankly she needs to get a job, and a therapist, and deal. As far as the mysteries went they were anti-climactic to the point of being laughable.
November 7, 2022
I was disappointed in this book. I had read reviews by others and they weren't very good, but the premise still sounded interesting to me. I got to the end and felt like much was left unresolved.
August 13, 2021
The storyline is probably a 3 but the Janie character warrants an extra star for sure ⭐️
September 5, 2022
I will admit that a murder mystery was not the book I was expecting when I picked this book up. I have read several other books by Jennifer Weiner and I always enjoy how relatable they are. I did enjoy the mystery aspect and really had no clue who could have done it. I did relate to the main character struggling to find acceptance of herself and being a mother. Overall, I definitely enjoyed this one I just felt that there were a few things that I wanted resolved at the end.
July 9, 2021
This was a fun one! A murder mystery in suburban CT with a harried mom at the center, trying to solve it with her bestie. Intrigue abounds, along with self-doubt and a good cast of characters.
September 16, 2025
Blah from start to finish
December 16, 2010
The ending was really unsatisfying, though I am glad to say that the book didn't meet my predictions and Kate didn't leave her husband for Evan. Though I might have been rooting for that. Or not. I'm not sure now.
The story starts out as pretty predictable chic lit. Overweight, less than fabulous girl ends up with less than fabulous guy. She has a fabulous friend and a fabulous guy who got away/or who she wasn't good enough for. In this case, less than fabulous girl has a famous mother, a house in the 'burbs and three kids (Irish twins and...um...twins. Don't have sex before your eight week check up girls!)
Kate is bored in the 'burbs. She's a slacker mommy (canned soup, happy meals, late to preschool pick up, bored out of her mind by crafts and Candyland) and she's surrounded by the mommy elite. Well polished, well heeled, well educated, organic feeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, fit and perfectly coiffed goddess. Kate feels inadequate.
When one of the mommy elite reaches out to Kate, she's initially thrilled, but when she finds Kitty dead of a stab wound on her model home kitchen floor, things start to get dicey.
Kate fights with her work-a-holic husband and deals with abandonment issues regarding her fabulous mother. She hasn't gotten over the guy who got away, and prefaces everything with "but I'm a mother".
IDK. Kate was likable enough and I loved her bff Janie. Kate's relationship with Ben was predictable and very stagnant and their marital problems were no surprise, considering Kate settled and married Ben because he was safe.
The book ends without giving any real resolution to Kate's story. Things are up in the air with Ben. She seems to be squatting in Cape Cod. What now?
The story starts out as pretty predictable chic lit. Overweight, less than fabulous girl ends up with less than fabulous guy. She has a fabulous friend and a fabulous guy who got away/or who she wasn't good enough for. In this case, less than fabulous girl has a famous mother, a house in the 'burbs and three kids (Irish twins and...um...twins. Don't have sex before your eight week check up girls!)
Kate is bored in the 'burbs. She's a slacker mommy (canned soup, happy meals, late to preschool pick up, bored out of her mind by crafts and Candyland) and she's surrounded by the mommy elite. Well polished, well heeled, well educated, organic feeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, fit and perfectly coiffed goddess. Kate feels inadequate.
When one of the mommy elite reaches out to Kate, she's initially thrilled, but when she finds Kitty dead of a stab wound on her model home kitchen floor, things start to get dicey.
Kate fights with her work-a-holic husband and deals with abandonment issues regarding her fabulous mother. She hasn't gotten over the guy who got away, and prefaces everything with "but I'm a mother".
IDK. Kate was likable enough and I loved her bff Janie. Kate's relationship with Ben was predictable and very stagnant and their marital problems were no surprise, considering Kate settled and married Ben because he was safe.
The book ends without giving any real resolution to Kate's story. Things are up in the air with Ben. She seems to be squatting in Cape Cod. What now?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2007
i didn't have a book to take on the bus/train for labor day weekend...a co-worker loaned me this...i was semi-interested b/c the author has another book i've wanted to read...anyhow, _goodnight nobody_ is a bit hackneyed. trite writing about the thin, beautiful, seemingly successful types...and i'm afraid the author didn't make me very empathetic to the more "realistic" narrator...she's supposed to be smart and not thin...looking for more stimulation than she's getting from being a stay-at-home mom. but yet she supposedly fiercely loves her kids...i didn't really buy that b/c the relationship w/ the kids was not talked about...i also didn't buy the relationship w/ the former love...who moons over a guy for something like 7 years when there was no emotional confirmation of "love", no consummation of the relationship (just kissing one night)? no verification of how he felt towards you? that attachment seemed really shallow...and then it seemed unfair not to describe as much her relationship w/ her husband...who seemed genuinely loving and was trying to save a marriage w/ a woman who was full of complaints. how did the husband ever come to love her? no idea. and why, if she nearly cheated and others around were cheating and she talked about how sexless her marriage was, no consideration that her own hsuband might be cheating? oh well, now i'm the one full of complaints!
September 15, 2012
What can I say? Jennifer Weiner is my hero. She writes these delicious stories with the quirkiest and most loveable characters and they always happen to fall into my lap at just the right time. Her stories and writing are always very similar, but different enough to make each read unique and fun. And praise to her for adding a little mystery to her novels. I thought she did a great job of it, despite everyone elses critiques. That being said, if Kate Klein were a real person, we would be best friends.
Goodnight Nobody is a story about Kate, 'just a housewife' who is bored with her life of children, cooking, cleaning, and satisfying her husband with quickies in bed. When she finds her neighbor murdered in the kitchen, she decides to play detective to spice up her life and try to find the killer. Kate is the typical character we all come to love from Weiner; sarcastic, witty, slightly overweight, and an overall hot mess (in the normal kind of way that we can all relate to).
The only gripe I had about this book was who she chose in the end: Ben or Evan? But it really didn't matter too much to me. I challenge anyone who says that they don't like chick-lit to read just one of Weiner's novels and your life will be forever changed like mine was. I just love her!
Goodnight Nobody is a story about Kate, 'just a housewife' who is bored with her life of children, cooking, cleaning, and satisfying her husband with quickies in bed. When she finds her neighbor murdered in the kitchen, she decides to play detective to spice up her life and try to find the killer. Kate is the typical character we all come to love from Weiner; sarcastic, witty, slightly overweight, and an overall hot mess (in the normal kind of way that we can all relate to).
The only gripe I had about this book was who she chose in the end: Ben or Evan? But it really didn't matter too much to me. I challenge anyone who says that they don't like chick-lit to read just one of Weiner's novels and your life will be forever changed like mine was. I just love her!
May 22, 2020
I have never read any books by Jennifer Weiner but I was watching Chapter and Converse on YouTube rave about this book. Based upon her stellar review of it I picked it up. Unfortunately, it was disappointing for me. We follow stay at home mom Kate Klein, who stumbles upon the body of another mom in her small knit community. This discovery reignites something in her and she begins to investigate who could be the murderer. Something that was very well done was the depiction of the characters. I enjoyed their banter with one another, Kate's inner monologue and I especially liked her best friend Janie. The beginning was strong but then it just started to drag on and on. If this book was about 50-100 pages shorter I think that it would have been a much more reading experience. However, that isn't the case and as a result it is just an okay read for me.
March 24, 2019
The plot was good, however the heroine was a self deprecating complainer. After a while, every other line of her putting herself down or complaining about her wealthy lifestyle got old. It was hard to finish. Her lead characters are unusually not very likeable, but they have a redemptive moment and this book never had one.
February 13, 2023
Why was this protagonist so dumb? Why did she have a notebook where she just kept writing random words and then decide she was a good detective? I kind of wanted her to get murdered at the end she was that annoying.
October 27, 2009
Love her books! Always fun reads!
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