If you are looking for a really good book to take to the beach or out to the hammock with a cold iced tea, The Next Best Thing might be exactly the best thing.
This story is spun in the first person, allowing you to know every detail of what is going on in Ruth Saunders’s mind as she navigates Hollywood backstage. After six years of hard work, the sit-com she has developed is picked up by a network but her struggles are far from over.
From petty, childish actors to underhanded and deceptive studio execs, Jennifer Weiner creates a whirlwind of activity and a kaleidoscope of characters that you won’t soon forget. A 70 year old grandmother with a love interest provides a welcome change from the squabbling Hollywood characters.
A little romance, a little stress, and a little suspense – The Next Best Thing is everything summer reading should be. It takes you away from where you are and pulls you into the life of the main character so deeply that you will feel as if you have been BFFs forever and she is pouring out her story over Margaritas at your favorite watering hole.
You get to see Ruth grow into a confident woman with compassion and understanding. She is so real by the end of the book that you may find that you just want to tell her how proud you are to be her friend.
Just read it.
photo credit: Amazon
