Friday, May 23, 2014

Review: Then Came You

Then Came You
By Jennifer Weiner
Atria Books July 2011
336 pages
From the library

Then Came You

People say that motherhood changes a woman forever. Sometimes that change takes different forms - Jules sells her eggs to a fertility clinic, Annie becomes a surrogate, and India hopes to finally have a happy family. But happy endings don't come easily for everyone. When India's stepdaughter Bettina hires a private investigator to look into India's past, the hopes of all four women could come crashing down. 

Weiner writes from the point of view of four very different women. Jules is a young woman whose life has been thrown into shambles by her father's addiction. She tries to blend in with her Princeton classmates, but her pretty face and good grades can't disguise her desperation for a stable home life. Annie is a young mother of two whose husband is barely making enough money to pay the bills. India is living in the lap of luxury as the trophy wife of a wealthy older husband. She is the scorn of her stepdaughter Bettina, who cannot understand what her father sees in India. Unfortunately, these characters often feel like stereotypes. I was especially frustrated by India. She seemed like such a cliche of the gold digger and when we finally get some of her background story, it feels an information dump and much too late to redeem the rest of her story.

That being said, there are some positives about this book. There are several moments of genuine emotion as the women navigate love and family. One of my favorite bonds in this story is the one between Annie and India. While it is perhaps normal for a woman to take an interest in the surrogate carrying her child and pay for her expenses, India and Annie really become friends. India sees how Annie is struggling with her husband and their inability to pay the bills. She hires a cleaning lady for her, takes Annie on a vacation, and lends a listening ear when Annie needs to vent. In return, India feels like she has actually met someone who cares about her, and not just about her fortune.

Then Came You is an engaging read. The action moves quickly and it is a well-written book. I just found myself wanting more. I wanted characters who seemed like they could be real people. And I suppose, as someone who recently had her second child, I wanted Weiner to really tap into the awe and wonder of parenthood. Unfortunately, I think there are other books that will resonate better with readers living through the pain and joy of parenting. 

10 comments:

  1. Although it appears to have it downsides, this book does sound like it'll be an interesting read - I'll keep my eye out for it!

    You may not want another book to do with parenting and such so soon after this one, however if you was looking for a book that deals with parenthood and all that it entails I'd recommend The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain. I recently finished this book myself and found it to be very emotionally impacting, especially as a (new) mother. To be honest, there were a few cliché 'teenage' scenes, however the book as a whole was a really great read and covered more than just motherhood - friendship, love, loss, mystery.

    :-)
    Bits & Bobs

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    1. I find Jennifer Weiner's books to be enjoyable. I just don't adore them the way I love some other stories.

      I actually read that one a few years ago! I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

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  2. Great review! I agree that it's an engaging read. I like to read books by Philly area authors, and so it was one of the first books I wrote about on my blog.

    In that post, I focused on discussing the legal landscape of surrogacy in Pennsylvania. As for the book, this is what I thought: "The four women tell their stories in first person past tense, and their observations and tones are highly similar. I would have preferred a third person omniscient narrator with a single voice, giving the author an opportunity to differentiate the unique personalities of the four women through dialogue. Otherwise, the story is appealing, the writing is good, it and strikes many of the same themes as Jennifer Weiner’s earlier works."

    I really think Weiner's best book is Good In Bed, but the rest aren't bad (not that I've read them all).

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    1. I love the idea of reading local authors. I will have to remember to keep my eyes open for NJ writers! :)

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  3. I have read a few by this author and read this one a couple of years ago. Not my favorite, but hey, Ms. Weiner's always a decent read and good distraction. Thanks for the review.

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    1. I think that's what I struggled with while writing this review! It's a fine book and I think it's difficult to find that line that is good without being amazing.

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  4. I've read just one book by this author. This is a new one for me. Thanks for the review.

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  5. It's too bad the women in this book felt like stereotypes because I love books where diverse women are portrayed well! I just read a book called Vintage by Susan Gloss which you might also like since I think she did a really good job with that :)

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation! I will look that book up . :)

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