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The Guy Not Taken
Jennifer Weiner's talent shines like never before in this collection of short stories, following the tender, and often hilarious, progress of love and relationships over the course of a lifetime. From a teenager coming to terms with her father's disappearance to a widow accepting two young women into her home, Weiner's eleven stories explore those transformative moments in our every day.
We meet Marlie Davidow, home alone with her new baby late one Friday night, when she wanders onto her ex's online wedding registry and wonders what if she had wound up with the guy not taken. We stumble on Good in Bed's Bruce Guberman, liquored-up and ready for anything on the night of his best friend's bachelor party, until stealing his girlfriend's tiny rat terrier becomes more complicated than he'd planned. We find Jessica Norton listing her beloved New York City apartment in the hope of winning her broker's heart. And we follow an unlikely friendship between two very different new mothers, and the choices that bring them together -- and pull them apart.
The Guy Not Taken demonstrates Weiner's amazing ability to create characters who "feel like they could be your best friend" (Janet Maslin) and to find hope and humor, longing and love in the hidden corners of our common experiences.
282 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2006
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13600 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Weiner
71 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 1,263 reviews
February 18, 2009
Normally I'm a big fan of short stories... and normally I'm a fan of Jane Green. But these stories were just so unsatisfying, with goo short stories there's a quick punchy point made and a satisfying resolution to a conflict. All these stories with the exception of the first story were just quick conflict with no real resolution or sometimes a lame attempt at a resolution. The first story was told over the progression of three interrelated stories and in that sense it should've just been a book all on it's own, and still even with three parts it ends rather lamely. Sure Josie gets married but what about all the daddy issues and everything that her and her siblings have, clearly the issues are present in the last part and what they just ignore them... she just marries and lives happily ever after? bull shit! Disappointing to say the least. Josie the main character of the first story (three parts) is too weak. Actually all the protagonists of every story are weak, you think there's going to be this defining moment where they get so fed up that they'll finally be forced to stand up for themselves... but no they just let people walk all over them. The next character a writer leaves her job because her partner who she gives a BJ to marries someone else, so she leaves and starts a business helping students fill out college applications??? Then there's the lame guy story where the girl is clearly insane and he is just a loser who's jealous of a dog. I'll skip the rest and just speak of the last story where an old woman gets held hostage to two New York teens passing a water gun off as a real gun. They've basically abused her and used up tons of her funds (and clearly she couldn't have that many seeing as she works at an ice cream stand) and yet when she finds out that it's a water gun, it's like... oh these two girls have issues, but I'm going to be nice because they've had a tough life. I hate to be repetitive but BULL SHIT!
April 29, 2015
This is a book of short stories by Jennifer Weiner. I found it depressing and struggled to finish it. Stories involve: your husband doesn't love you anymore. Your boyfriend leaves you after getting what he wants from you. Your child that you desperately yearned for and did IVF for is a total brat that makes your life hell. You think you married the wrong guy. You work in a job you hate and feel like you've wasted your life. Your parents get divorced. Etc. etc.
August 7, 2007
I usually love Jennifer Weiner books but this wasn't my favorite. It's a collection of short stories which almost all revolve around a young woman and her journey. Some of hte stories were good I really like "The Guy not Taken" and "Oranges from Florida" and the one where the girls "kidnap" the senior citizen. Weiner's writing is on target like usual catchy, funny and inviting. I think if you've never read one of her books this isn't the one to start with try "Good in Bed" or "In Her Shoes." But as a fan it's definately worth the read.
May 7, 2011
I know that Weiner is a good writer and storyteller, but I just never got around to picking up another of her books (or seeing that movie with Cameron Diaz) until this weekend, when I gobbled up The Guy Not Taken, a collection of short stories by Weiner.
They're good, and they deal heavily with two main themes: divorce and the difficulties of being a mother to a very young child.
Weiner describes The Mother's Hour as being "as close to a horror story as I'll ever come," a good description of one of the scariest stories I've read in a long time. It's well-written and, like many of the stories, touches on some important issues, in this case ageism and, especially, classism. And motherhood and divorce.
This line, in particular, really resonated with me: She had, she realized, gotten out of the habit of loving him during the first few years of their daughter's life, when every minute of every day was a struggle, and while she'd learned to get along with him, she'd never learned to love him again.
Paul and I have spent a lot of time and money on therapy and on making sure that this doesn't happen with us, but I understand the sentiment oh so very well. It's so easy to focus on just getting through the days, just waiting for bedtime, for a little peace and quiet, for a moment to ourselves, for an end to the battles over diapers and potties and vegetables and indoor voices.
People always say, "It goes by so fast." And we hear, "Just hold on, it will pass." But what they're also really saying is, "Live in these moments. Try to enjoy them, feel them, experience them, share them, don't just endure them. Don't just look ahead to the next thing."
This is it. This is life. And there's no use waiting for it to get better: make a life of this collection of experiences you're living, no matter how difficult it seems. (Although, sometimes, I really do look forward to being able to tell the kids that I'm running out to Borders; please call me on my mobile if anything comes up and they need me.)
They're good, and they deal heavily with two main themes: divorce and the difficulties of being a mother to a very young child.
Weiner describes The Mother's Hour as being "as close to a horror story as I'll ever come," a good description of one of the scariest stories I've read in a long time. It's well-written and, like many of the stories, touches on some important issues, in this case ageism and, especially, classism. And motherhood and divorce.
This line, in particular, really resonated with me: She had, she realized, gotten out of the habit of loving him during the first few years of their daughter's life, when every minute of every day was a struggle, and while she'd learned to get along with him, she'd never learned to love him again.
Paul and I have spent a lot of time and money on therapy and on making sure that this doesn't happen with us, but I understand the sentiment oh so very well. It's so easy to focus on just getting through the days, just waiting for bedtime, for a little peace and quiet, for a moment to ourselves, for an end to the battles over diapers and potties and vegetables and indoor voices.
People always say, "It goes by so fast." And we hear, "Just hold on, it will pass." But what they're also really saying is, "Live in these moments. Try to enjoy them, feel them, experience them, share them, don't just endure them. Don't just look ahead to the next thing."
This is it. This is life. And there's no use waiting for it to get better: make a life of this collection of experiences you're living, no matter how difficult it seems. (Although, sometimes, I really do look forward to being able to tell the kids that I'm running out to Borders; please call me on my mobile if anything comes up and they need me.)
July 12, 2007
Although I flew through the book (very easy reading), the short storylines all seemed to have the same gist. I really did enjoy listening to "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner, but the style of these short stories is extremely reminiscent of that book and each other. The relationships of the main characters did not differ enough to really keep me captivated through to the end of the book.
My scale (since the speed of my reading is directly proportional to how well I like the book):
1 - couldn't get through it
2 - actually got through it but it took months
3 - read to it fairly consistently on the train (took a couple of months)
4 - felt compelled to read while on vacation (and/or took about a month)
5 - read every chance I got (two weeks or less)
My scale (since the speed of my reading is directly proportional to how well I like the book):
1 - couldn't get through it
2 - actually got through it but it took months
3 - read to it fairly consistently on the train (took a couple of months)
4 - felt compelled to read while on vacation (and/or took about a month)
5 - read every chance I got (two weeks or less)
December 17, 2013
Before I get into this review too much, I have to say that I do not enjoy short stories. Personally, I like to see how characters develop & grow, and with short stories you don't get to see that.
That being said, this book was okay. I liked a few of the stories, and some of them I really didn't care for. These weren't all light-hearted, chick lit stories. Some of them dealt with some heavy issues.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys short stories/anthologies, but it will be a while before I pick up another non-novel.....
That being said, this book was okay. I liked a few of the stories, and some of them I really didn't care for. These weren't all light-hearted, chick lit stories. Some of them dealt with some heavy issues.
I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys short stories/anthologies, but it will be a while before I pick up another non-novel.....
August 30, 2024
Rich people have existential crises and then realize they don't actually have that many problems.
December 26, 2019
D is for disappointing. I regret spending what amounts to 7 cents on this at a library bag book sale and I regret reading this. Short stories and I have a fickle relationship, so take this rant with a grain of salt but a huge problem is that these stories end so abruptly and have no closure.
Just Desserts - the wheels fall off the bus as an ordinary family deals with divorce
Travels with Nicki - second story featuring the family from the first story
The Wedding Bed - third story featuring this family
Swim - has some potential to be a novel
Good Men - absurd title and beyond trite
Buyer's Market - 100% filler like when you had a to write a 10 page paper and barely wrote 4 pages
The Guy Not Taken - CHICK LIT AUTHORS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TIME TRAVEL STORIES!
The Mother's Hour - Cheez Whiz story about a mommy and me group and that's kind of insulting to Cheez Whiz
Oranges from Florida - 100% forgettable and I'm really getting tired of this regurgitated slop
Tour of Duty - I would rather drink a spoiled milk, moth balls, and ghost pepper smoothie than continue with this crap
Dora on the Beach - Unless this is a haha gotcha confessional from Jennifer Weiner admitting that this collection is a pile of shit, I don't care to turn any more pages.
Just Desserts - the wheels fall off the bus as an ordinary family deals with divorce
Travels with Nicki - second story featuring the family from the first story
The Wedding Bed - third story featuring this family
Swim - has some potential to be a novel
Good Men - absurd title and beyond trite
Buyer's Market - 100% filler like when you had a to write a 10 page paper and barely wrote 4 pages
The Guy Not Taken - CHICK LIT AUTHORS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TIME TRAVEL STORIES!
The Mother's Hour - Cheez Whiz story about a mommy and me group and that's kind of insulting to Cheez Whiz
Oranges from Florida - 100% forgettable and I'm really getting tired of this regurgitated slop
Tour of Duty - I would rather drink a spoiled milk, moth balls, and ghost pepper smoothie than continue with this crap
Dora on the Beach - Unless this is a haha gotcha confessional from Jennifer Weiner admitting that this collection is a pile of shit, I don't care to turn any more pages.
March 26, 2016
Although the book cover clearly states "stories" I was a bit disappointed when the first story abruptly ended and never returned to those characters.
Josie is the eldest of 3 children which includes her sister Nicki (clearly a narcissist) and her brother Jon. In the beginning of the story, the mother is attempting to deal with the departure of her husband. The children deal with the same loss in a variety of manners: Josie accepts adult responsibilities and worries. Nicki becomes even more gruesome and narcissistic. Jon retreats into his own shell, barely speaking. The father makes no attempt to contact anyone and leaves his family in dire straits. The story reiterates each family members roles through to Josie's wedding. Albeit happy to marry, she daydreams her father's presence, mistaking a homeless man for him.
The story jumps to a writer in California who makes the sad mistake of trusting her writing partner with her emotions, sexually. While the tv show they're writing does well, he elopes with an actress from the show. Devastated, Ruth leaves the show to become a freelance writer, helping well-to-do teenagers wiith their college applications. Through this she meets Caitlyn and assumes she is another spoiled brat. Caitlyn's essay centers around her trip to Paris which reinforces Ruth's perception. After a meeting with Caitlyn, a man approaches Ruth to ask for assistance perfecting his online dating profile. Through casual emails and meetings, the two begin to connect emotionally. During one of their meetings at the mall, Ruth runs into Caitlyn who is spending the day (as she often does) with her brother, a victim of cerebral palsy. Ruth is quick to apologize to Caitlyn for her judgment as she sees the care she provides and advises Caitlyn to write about this element of her life for her essay.
The third set of characters involve men...at a bachelor party. Not my favorite part of the book. The men discuss the unlikelihood of any more of them getting married. Bruce disagrees as he is in love with Cannie but can't stand her dog. So, the threesome decide to make the dog disappear. As Bruce enters Cannie's apartment while she sleeps, he is struck with the notion of proposing...while she sleeps.
Jess is the next victim of love. She accidentally meets a realtor waiting for his client at her apartment building. She inherited the apartment from Aunt Cat, her father's aunt. Aunt Cat willed the apartment to Jess rather than her father as he, too, walked out on his family. He attempts to woo Jess into giving the apartment to him, but she stands firm on her ownership. The guy, Charming Billy, tells Jess his story of woe (he may be fired if he doesn't sell a property) and she enlists him to sell hers or at the very list just list it. Instead, he finds a witch of a client and since jess has fallen for Charming Billy, she signs over the apartment. Because she assumed they would then start a life together (again, emotional sexual involvement) she questions where THEY will live now. Billy breaks the news then that he is not interested in long term. Jess moves to Philly to start over and eventually acquires a large brownstone with her money from the apartment. During the settlement, the realtor makes advances via his business cards and Jess agrees to dinner.
Marlie is unhappy with her life as a mother and wife. She cyber'stalks her ex-boyfriend and in a computer glitch (fantasy) ends up in a life with him instead. She then realizes how much she loves her real husband and baby son and avidly vies ot return to them.
Alice is also a mother and wife and unhappy. Maisy is a spoiled brat and Alice is at her wit's end. She attends Mother's Hour classes where she meets Victoria, a 19 year old mother with whom she bonds despite the numerous piercings, tattoos and multi-colored hair. Alice's husband does not agree with the friendship and allows Alice to believe Victoria may have stolen heirloom earrings. Then, a Mother's Hour associate informs Alice of Eliie's (Victoria's child) mishap which landed her in the hospital. Via gossip, Alice hesitantly believes Victoria may have abused her child. When Alice visits Ellie, Victoria pleads for help in convincing Child Services that she is a good mother who would never harm her child. Alice does so and gains support from other mothers from the group as well. Victoria finally regains custody of her daughter. Years later, still guilt-ridden, Alice locates the earrings in the couch as she is in the process of moving. She throws the earrings into the sewer.
Doug is a newly separated father of 2 girls. In the middle of the night he receives a phone call from a young boy assuming he has dialed the number of the radio station to win a prize. Doug agrees the boy has won: a bag of oranges and a $100 gift card. Doug then agrees to meet the boy at his home the following day with the prizes. The boy's father has left the family and as Doug sits with the boy, the mother arrives home. She is skeptical until Doug explains the radio station story. After she invites him in the house for coffee, he reveals the truth and scares the mother again. After apologizing profusely she again agrees to let him in for coffee.
Josie is the eldest of 3 children which includes her sister Nicki (clearly a narcissist) and her brother Jon. In the beginning of the story, the mother is attempting to deal with the departure of her husband. The children deal with the same loss in a variety of manners: Josie accepts adult responsibilities and worries. Nicki becomes even more gruesome and narcissistic. Jon retreats into his own shell, barely speaking. The father makes no attempt to contact anyone and leaves his family in dire straits. The story reiterates each family members roles through to Josie's wedding. Albeit happy to marry, she daydreams her father's presence, mistaking a homeless man for him.
The story jumps to a writer in California who makes the sad mistake of trusting her writing partner with her emotions, sexually. While the tv show they're writing does well, he elopes with an actress from the show. Devastated, Ruth leaves the show to become a freelance writer, helping well-to-do teenagers wiith their college applications. Through this she meets Caitlyn and assumes she is another spoiled brat. Caitlyn's essay centers around her trip to Paris which reinforces Ruth's perception. After a meeting with Caitlyn, a man approaches Ruth to ask for assistance perfecting his online dating profile. Through casual emails and meetings, the two begin to connect emotionally. During one of their meetings at the mall, Ruth runs into Caitlyn who is spending the day (as she often does) with her brother, a victim of cerebral palsy. Ruth is quick to apologize to Caitlyn for her judgment as she sees the care she provides and advises Caitlyn to write about this element of her life for her essay.
The third set of characters involve men...at a bachelor party. Not my favorite part of the book. The men discuss the unlikelihood of any more of them getting married. Bruce disagrees as he is in love with Cannie but can't stand her dog. So, the threesome decide to make the dog disappear. As Bruce enters Cannie's apartment while she sleeps, he is struck with the notion of proposing...while she sleeps.
Jess is the next victim of love. She accidentally meets a realtor waiting for his client at her apartment building. She inherited the apartment from Aunt Cat, her father's aunt. Aunt Cat willed the apartment to Jess rather than her father as he, too, walked out on his family. He attempts to woo Jess into giving the apartment to him, but she stands firm on her ownership. The guy, Charming Billy, tells Jess his story of woe (he may be fired if he doesn't sell a property) and she enlists him to sell hers or at the very list just list it. Instead, he finds a witch of a client and since jess has fallen for Charming Billy, she signs over the apartment. Because she assumed they would then start a life together (again, emotional sexual involvement) she questions where THEY will live now. Billy breaks the news then that he is not interested in long term. Jess moves to Philly to start over and eventually acquires a large brownstone with her money from the apartment. During the settlement, the realtor makes advances via his business cards and Jess agrees to dinner.
Marlie is unhappy with her life as a mother and wife. She cyber'stalks her ex-boyfriend and in a computer glitch (fantasy) ends up in a life with him instead. She then realizes how much she loves her real husband and baby son and avidly vies ot return to them.
Alice is also a mother and wife and unhappy. Maisy is a spoiled brat and Alice is at her wit's end. She attends Mother's Hour classes where she meets Victoria, a 19 year old mother with whom she bonds despite the numerous piercings, tattoos and multi-colored hair. Alice's husband does not agree with the friendship and allows Alice to believe Victoria may have stolen heirloom earrings. Then, a Mother's Hour associate informs Alice of Eliie's (Victoria's child) mishap which landed her in the hospital. Via gossip, Alice hesitantly believes Victoria may have abused her child. When Alice visits Ellie, Victoria pleads for help in convincing Child Services that she is a good mother who would never harm her child. Alice does so and gains support from other mothers from the group as well. Victoria finally regains custody of her daughter. Years later, still guilt-ridden, Alice locates the earrings in the couch as she is in the process of moving. She throws the earrings into the sewer.
Doug is a newly separated father of 2 girls. In the middle of the night he receives a phone call from a young boy assuming he has dialed the number of the radio station to win a prize. Doug agrees the boy has won: a bag of oranges and a $100 gift card. Doug then agrees to meet the boy at his home the following day with the prizes. The boy's father has left the family and as Doug sits with the boy, the mother arrives home. She is skeptical until Doug explains the radio station story. After she invites him in the house for coffee, he reveals the truth and scares the mother again. After apologizing profusely she again agrees to let him in for coffee.
February 23, 2023
I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but I totally enjoyed these. I just wish each one could be a full novel because the characters are so good that I want to spend more time with them.
March 1, 2012
I've just read the first chapter so far, and if the rest of the short stories are as meaningless and boring as it this one is, I"m in big trouble for a zzzzz book.
A few days later: I'm done the book and I really really disliked it, actually really hated it. The first few chapters lead into the other with the same characters which takes place over years. How I really disliked Nicki! I wanted to punch her (and I'm not a violent person)and yell at her to stop being so mean to everyone and it also bugged me that no one ever stood up to her or challenged her. It just drove me crazy, especially at the speech she makes at her sister's wedding - argh!
The rest of the stories were no better. Every chapter from there were with different people, but felt like they the same character, but with different names and in different (unexciting) circumstances. The main character in every story is pathetic and pitiful, not to mention that each story was predictable. The story, The Buyer's Market especially made me really upset. The main character was especially pathetic. I knew where that relationship was going and ended up skipping over pages. There were even stories that just stopped adruptly and I thought "that's it? that's how it ends?"
Jennifer Weiner's writing has never impressed me with any of her books I've read nor do I feel they are worthly of being published or that she is known as a best sellering author. I think all her books/stories seem so similiar; the main person is walked over, overweight and feel worthless.
A few days later: I'm done the book and I really really disliked it, actually really hated it. The first few chapters lead into the other with the same characters which takes place over years. How I really disliked Nicki! I wanted to punch her (and I'm not a violent person)and yell at her to stop being so mean to everyone and it also bugged me that no one ever stood up to her or challenged her. It just drove me crazy, especially at the speech she makes at her sister's wedding - argh!
The rest of the stories were no better. Every chapter from there were with different people, but felt like they the same character, but with different names and in different (unexciting) circumstances. The main character in every story is pathetic and pitiful, not to mention that each story was predictable. The story, The Buyer's Market especially made me really upset. The main character was especially pathetic. I knew where that relationship was going and ended up skipping over pages. There were even stories that just stopped adruptly and I thought "that's it? that's how it ends?"
Jennifer Weiner's writing has never impressed me with any of her books I've read nor do I feel they are worthly of being published or that she is known as a best sellering author. I think all her books/stories seem so similiar; the main person is walked over, overweight and feel worthless.
July 26, 2012
Well... the story I'm about to tell you is embarrassing, but it happens to me. Often. Like, embarrassingly often.
Every now and then, Jennifer Weiner will write something or do something or say something in an interview that just makes me say -- I should read more of her. And then I do, and hate it. So much of this story is too predictable, with each passing story rehashing the same plot and themes of the ones before it without adding much. They're the same themes in any story you've read of her's, ever. At about 90% of the way through, I was just ready to quit it.
But then I got to the commentary at the end, and was like, this is so smart and makes so much sense. Of course these are some of her earliest, unpublished stories. So you got me again, Weiner.
But wait, why was this book predictable?
Because I read it in August 2007. And this is what I had to say of it then: such a load of crap. weiner is the only chick lit i can bring myself to read and only because jestodd urged me to. but seriously, don't say you read ray bradbury and then write such stupid short stories about the same exact crap.
Every now and then, Jennifer Weiner will write something or do something or say something in an interview that just makes me say -- I should read more of her. And then I do, and hate it. So much of this story is too predictable, with each passing story rehashing the same plot and themes of the ones before it without adding much. They're the same themes in any story you've read of her's, ever. At about 90% of the way through, I was just ready to quit it.
But then I got to the commentary at the end, and was like, this is so smart and makes so much sense. Of course these are some of her earliest, unpublished stories. So you got me again, Weiner.
But wait, why was this book predictable?
Because I read it in August 2007. And this is what I had to say of it then: such a load of crap. weiner is the only chick lit i can bring myself to read and only because jestodd urged me to. but seriously, don't say you read ray bradbury and then write such stupid short stories about the same exact crap.
June 25, 2008
I liked this book. Didn't disklike it, but wasn't as crazy about it as I am about all of Jennifer Weiner's other books. It's a great read for a plane or an "in-between" book where you want to read a collection of short stories. I thought I would connect more with the material, being a single 30+ girl, but I didn't and perhaps that led to a little disappointment as I felt that connection with Weiner's other books, but still enjoyable, still a nice easy, breezy read.
May 14, 2008
I didn't realize when I grabbed it that it was a collection of stories and none of them ever really ended and so it drove me crazy. But it was ok.
August 14, 2013
Normally I enjoy her books, but I was not enthusiastic about this one. I got lost quite a few times. Def not her best!!
September 16, 2015
Not a bad story collection. I did enjoy most of them, but they felt incomplete. The few at the end were not great and I did not understand or connect with the characters.
May 17, 2016
as with most collection of short stories, some of these were fun and enjoyable and some not so much.
April 9, 2019
This was just ok. Her short stories were not as entertaining for me as her novels. Some of these were written when she was quite young and inexperienced as an author and while there are not really any faults with the writting or the stories several of them fell flat.
October 1, 2021
I'm not a huge fan of short stories. I always feel just as I'm getting into the story or feeling something for the characters it's over. This book takes that to a whole new level. The stories here feel incomplete and abrupt. Several seemed to just randomly end. Not a fan.
March 12, 2023
Grading on a curve, but this was actually an excellent collection of Short Stories. And this is coming from me, the hater of short stories!
The stories were sharp, concise, and impactful. They left me wanting more! Highly recommend for short story fans.
The stories were sharp, concise, and impactful. They left me wanting more! Highly recommend for short story fans.
August 11, 2017
I don't usually read short stories but excluding one, they were all interesting and easy for me to get into. I enjoyed this book as a change of pace.
May 12, 2018
First three stories where amazing and the rest was just dog's breakfast.
September 13, 2022
just not a short story person
October 15, 2024
Short stories. Each story was good but left me feeling unfinished. Love the author, just maybe not into short stories.
February 16, 2025
Interesting… wish the short stories were longer, but I think that’s why I bought the book at the time - for the short stories.
February 11, 2020
eh, didnt love this or anything. but i didnt hate it. and some stories were a bit more interesting than others but overall? eh. its not like i would ever reread this.
August 9, 2023
I've read several books by this author and heard her speak here in Johnson County. My first time to read short stories she's written. Read one a day.
September 5, 2009
This is a collection of short stories by Jennifer Weiner. I usually really like Weiner's writing style and her books, I haven't read most of them though and the blurb about one of the stories in this one looked interesting so I got it from the library.
It was an interesting read, there were 11 short stories. The first three, I think it was 3 at least now, followed the same family and one main girl in different stages in her life. Those were interesting, but there was nothing connecting the time between them so separate stories. I don't think they could have stood entirely on their own though, at least the continuation two with out the character development of the first one. That was a family going through the turmoil of the father leaving, they were left in debt and didn't know where he was, the next one was the sisters older and how they were dealing, the final one was the oldest wedding and how they all were still dealing with the abandonment and changing relationships with each other.
The title is based on one, where a young mother finds her ex's wedding registry online. She wonders what it would be like on that path, and for some reason logs into the registry website and she can for some reason. Changes the brides name to hers and the computer crashes, she wakes up in that life and has to consider what she lost in her other life and if she wants to find a way back. That one kinds of ends abruptly and isn't very believable, but was cute for a short story. I think the Me vs Me that I read a year or so ago approaches this subject better. Don't think this one would have been good if it had been much longer than it was. I did feel for the character and did want to help her get back to what she wanted really, and for some reason that made the story frustrating.
There is a short story with an appearance of a character that those familiar with Weiner's other books would recognize, with the main character of Good in Bed 's boyfriend and his friends plan to steal her dog, that boyfriend is an ex by the time of Good in Bed but the readers still know him.
Another one of the stories that really stick in my mind is the one where two girls go to Atlantic City area and they have no money so they kidnap and old lady and have her take them around and pay for things. It does seem harsh, but the relationship that develops and how it is presented is amazing.
What I come out of this book thinking is that Weiner has a great way of developing characters, usually pretty fast, and making us as a reader invested in them. Wanting to know what will happen to them, to fix their problems, be involved with them in some way. Most of these stories wouldn't work as whole books probably, but they were interesting to read and I feel gave me a bit more insight into the writing process authors go through sometimes. Overall, I would say interesting read, but you have to be ready for the short stories and not expect a whole book, arch plot and all.
It was an interesting read, there were 11 short stories. The first three, I think it was 3 at least now, followed the same family and one main girl in different stages in her life. Those were interesting, but there was nothing connecting the time between them so separate stories. I don't think they could have stood entirely on their own though, at least the continuation two with out the character development of the first one. That was a family going through the turmoil of the father leaving, they were left in debt and didn't know where he was, the next one was the sisters older and how they were dealing, the final one was the oldest wedding and how they all were still dealing with the abandonment and changing relationships with each other.
The title is based on one, where a young mother finds her ex's wedding registry online. She wonders what it would be like on that path, and for some reason logs into the registry website and she can for some reason. Changes the brides name to hers and the computer crashes, she wakes up in that life and has to consider what she lost in her other life and if she wants to find a way back. That one kinds of ends abruptly and isn't very believable, but was cute for a short story. I think the Me vs Me that I read a year or so ago approaches this subject better. Don't think this one would have been good if it had been much longer than it was. I did feel for the character and did want to help her get back to what she wanted really, and for some reason that made the story frustrating.
There is a short story with an appearance of a character that those familiar with Weiner's other books would recognize, with the main character of Good in Bed 's boyfriend and his friends plan to steal her dog, that boyfriend is an ex by the time of Good in Bed but the readers still know him.
Another one of the stories that really stick in my mind is the one where two girls go to Atlantic City area and they have no money so they kidnap and old lady and have her take them around and pay for things. It does seem harsh, but the relationship that develops and how it is presented is amazing.
What I come out of this book thinking is that Weiner has a great way of developing characters, usually pretty fast, and making us as a reader invested in them. Wanting to know what will happen to them, to fix their problems, be involved with them in some way. Most of these stories wouldn't work as whole books probably, but they were interesting to read and I feel gave me a bit more insight into the writing process authors go through sometimes. Overall, I would say interesting read, but you have to be ready for the short stories and not expect a whole book, arch plot and all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2024
Some of the stories were good but the majority had such insufferable characters or repetitive plot lines that I was left feeling like “that’s it?”
October 24, 2013
Listened to The Guy Not Taken: Storiesby Jennifer Weiner (Goodreads Author), Mary Catherine Garrison(Reading), Jordan Bridges (Reading. From a teenager coming to terms with her father's disappearance to a widow accepting two young women into her home, Weiner's eleven stories explore those transformative moments in our every day. We meet Marlie Davidow, home alone with her new baby late one Friday night, when she wanders onto her ex's online wedding registry and wonders what if she had wound up with the guy not taken. We stumble onGood in Bed's Bruce Guberman, liquored-up and ready for anything on the night of his best friend's bachelor party, until stealing his girlfriend's tiny rat terrier becomes more complicated than he'd planned. We find Jessica Norton listing her beloved New York City apartment in the hope of winning her broker's heart. And we follow an unlikely friendship between two very different new mothers, and the choices that bring them together -- and pull them apart. I give this book half a star and a 0. A terrible book.
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