Claiming one’s own excellence in the bedroom is a pretty bold claim to make in a national publication. So is exposing your ex-girlfriends’s weight (and the fact that it’s more than your own).
These are just two of the things revealed in the column “Good in Bed” in the fictional magazine, Moxie, about the afore-mentioned ex-girlfriend and main character of Jennifer Weiner’s novel by the same name.
“Good in Bed” is Weiner’s debut novel, which follows the life of Cannie Shapiro, labeled a “larger woman” by her ex-boyfriend Bruce — the columnist who uses their relationship as fodder for his column in Moxie. Cannie is a 28-year-old reporter living in Philadelphia and struggling with both her weight and recent breakup at the opening of the story.
Cannie’s struggle with her weight began in childhood, and has not ceased. Coupled with innumerable family issues, Cannie has a lot to be bitter about — and it shows. While her sarcastic wit is frequently clever and likable, she sometimes comes off as simply petulant.
After being the focus of an article entitled “Loving a Larger Woman,” Cannie enrolls herself into an experimental weight-loss program, which leads to multiple startling developments. It is in this program that she meets Dr. Krushelevansky, just one of the many quirky and delightful characters in this novel. Dr. K, or Peter as he later comes to be known, is an incredibly understanding man who takes a special interest in Cannie and breaks the life-changing news (spoiler alert) that she is pregnant.
This very unplanned pregnancy sends Cannie’s life into a tailspin, but also leads her to discover how important and loyal her friends and family really are. Her life takes a series of dramatic ups and downs, some almost unbelievable in their extremity, but fascinating to read about nonetheless.
By mere happenstance, as part of her entertainment reporting duties, Cannie happens to meet famous actress Maxi Ryder and they strike up an instant and unlikely friendship. Maxi is a warm, undeniably lovable character with the means to change Cannie’s life completely — which she does, in both direct and indirect ways.
When Maxi finagles a deal for Cannie’s screenplay to be produced with Maxi as the star, Cannie flies to Hollywood to stay with Maxi for an unexpected extended visit, and it is there that the pure escapism portion begins.
Cannie’s tale to this point has been, while not miserable, certainly fraught with troubles as she agonizes over her breakup in a way any woman who has been heartbroken can relate to, which is only complicated by the fact that the father of her baby will not speak to her. Add to this her family problems (“Daddy issues that run deeper than the Grand Canyon”), her never-ending body issues and Cannie’s never-ending supply of clever quips start to veer towards just plain cynical.
However, things start to look up when Cannie travels to the land of the rich and the famous, with a free passport in the form of Maxi. It is impossible not to be happy for Cannie when she finally catches. She meets famous actors, gets a makeover worthy of any socialite and settles into Maxi’s beautiful beachfront home.
But with every high must come a low, and Cannie’s hits hard when she arrives back in Philadelphia. Suffice it to say that Bruce re-enters her life like a harsh slap of reality, and sends her life into an even wilder turmoil than before. Her struggle out of this black hole is heartbreaking, but her rise back to happiness is written with the requisite supporting cast of all great women’s literature.
Weiner’s voice is relatable and engaging in her creation of Cannie, a truly unique leading lady who just can’t be kept down. This novel was surprising in all the right places, and written with such a sharp, smart humor that anyone who’s ever tried to navigate their way through singledom, life crises, a more-than-slightly dysfunctional family and big dreams will laugh and cry right along with every twist.