Ruth Saunders’s dream is about to come true: her script is about to be turned into a sitcom to be aired on a national network. But working with the network, studio and actors is not what she expected, her relationship with the grandmother who raised her is on the rocks, and she’s in love with a man that she thinks will never love her back. Jennifer Weiner is at the top of her game with her tenth novel, The Next Best Thing.
Severely scarred in the accident that killed her parents at the age of 3, Ruthie spent much of her childhood in the hospital, having surgery after surgery in an attempt to return the left side of her face to some semblance of normal. During that time, she and her grandmother watched hours of television, with The Golden Girls as their favorite show. Years later, as Ruth embarks on a career as a writer, she decides to move to Los Angeles and try to make it as a television writer.
Ruth is hired as an assistant on a television show and makes the mistake of falling for one of the writers, getting her heart broken in the process. After quitting the show and wallowing for a while, she starts writing college application essays and personal ads, landing both her grandmother and herself boyfriends. Thanks to help from the owners of a production company — both named Dave — that hires her, Ruth’s script for a sitcom based on her life gets picked up. The process of making a TV show quickly spirals out of Ruth’s control, she finds herself falling for one of the Daves and she loses her grandmother’s respect.
The Next Best Thing switches between the present, starting with Ruth learning if the studio is going to make a pilot from her script, and Ruth’s childhood — the accident, her surgeries, her relationship with her grandmother. Ruth struggles with her values and how much of the show — her baby — she’s willing to sacrifice to make this dream a reality. But through the process she gains valuable experience and loses some of her selfishness and finds that sometimes, dreams are what you make them.
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Nancy loves both television and reading, though it’s hard to do both at the same time. She also blogs at Life With My Boys and Books.
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{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }
LOVE her books! Thanks for the review. I’m a huge fan!!!
My favorite reading time is at the coffee shop across the street from where I live. Love sitting there and reading!
I do most of my reading just before I go to sleep.
at night time after my son has gone to sleep
big fan of jennifers, thanks for the review
I love reading right before bed!
I read right before bed, if I get time!
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early morning before kids get up is the best time for me
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I read before bed when everything is quiet!
Best reading time is the evening.
Just before bed. Relax and read.
I am a HUGe fan of Jennifer Weiner. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of her new book!
For me, the most productive time to read is during my lunch hour. I can shut my office door, ignore all emails and phone calls and just concentrate on my book!
My favorite reading time is on Sunday afternoon when we can relax.
At night when I am giving the dog his pack time.
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I get more of my reading done during the winter months.
It relaxes me to read right before I go to bed. The only trouble if the book is exciting, I can’t put it down!
My most productive time to read is during my lunch break. But I love to read anytime I get a free few minutes!
At night before going to sleep. I can really concentrate then.
My msot productive time to read is when everyone is sleeping and I am tucked in bed with my husband.
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My most productive reading time is at night after everyone ha gone to bed!
I enjoy reading very late in the evening, when our home
is quiet!
Thanks, Cindi
At night before bed…only free time!
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Just before bed.
right before bed, at least for 5 minutes per day
My favorite reading time is before I fall asleep. It’s quiet because the kids are asleep and the hubs is watching “his” programs or playing a game.
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Twitter: TheAngelForever
July 9, 2012 at 9:37 pm
My favorite time to read is before going to bed. Of course, thanks to my Kindle app I find I have a lot of time while waiting for the kids to get out of school. Thanks for the fun
Beth – TheAngelForever recently posted..2012 School Supply List – Grade 4
my most productive reading time come right before bedtime.
Midafternoon
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Whenever I just want to relax and get ready to take a nap.
I do most of my reading at bedtime or in the car (while riding).
On the weekends. I tend to get up before my hubby so I love that time in the morning all by myself to read. My coffee, a good book and no one to disturb me.
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I go to bed extra early just so I can read for awhile before I get sleepy.
Love her books! The best time for to read is either when the kiddos are napping, or sometimes I can get a few minutes of my boys playing nicely together in the backyard and I can grab a book and a lawn chair! Ahhhhhh – love those moments!
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In the morning before the kids get up.
When the children are asleep
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I love to read before bed.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Jennifer Weiner! I usually read at my children’s sports practices.
LOl! unfortunatley, at this point in my life, it is in the bathroom!
On my weekends off from work.
My fave time to read is at night, right before going to bed. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I usually read just before bed or for a little while in the am before i go to work
My most productive reading time is any time that I can fit it in!
I like to read in the bath tub = no interruptions!
I read a few pages in bed at night.
My favorite time to read is in the afternoon.
My favorite reading time is early in the morning while everyone else is still sleeping
I love reading while the kids are playing. I’m a good daytime reader.
imable to get mine done after the baby is in bed at nght, so anytme after 10pm
at the beach
nannypanpan@gmail.com
After the kids are in bed is my reading time.
Right before bed time.
Last thing in the evening before falling asleep.
I read at night.
Before my daughter wakes up!
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I like to read early morning before everybody else is up.
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At night before I go to bed and my kids are finally asleep!
after the kids go to sleep
At night, when everyone else is asleep. I love Jennifer Weiner’s books and would love to read this one!
love to read late at night when everyone is asleep and the house is quiet
At night when everyone is sound asleep! Love the quiet time!
late at night when everyone is asleep
On those nights when you just cannot sleep no matter what.
Reading helps me to relax and take me away into the book.
My best reading time is before I go to bed hopefully i dont stay up to late
in bed at the end of the day
In the evening when it is quiet and I can relax from the day’s activities.
I make sure I take along at least three books whenever we have to go on alomg car trip.
I love to read when there is nothing on TV I what to watch ,,,, and I have to compete for the TV with the two men in my house, (my son, and Hubby) so thats a lot of time to read.
I have 4 kids so the only time i get to read is when they are in school or they are sleeping
At night after everyone else is asleep! No distractions!
right before bed
Right after the kids are asleep, around 9 pm
I like to read before bed once the kids are asleep.
I like to read on the bus during my commute.
Before I go to bed
I love reading in bed, in the car on long trips and on my breaks at work…I just love reading!!
I like to read before I fall asleep.
I love to read right before I head to bed. However, I do not like to read in bed as I always tend to fall asleep.
love reading at night in my bed
vmkids3 at msn dot com
i love to read when traveling on a plane
madamerkf at aol dot com
For me, just before bedtime!
At night when everyone else is in bed
love to read before I go to bed
I like to read a chapter when I wake up in the morning.
I read before bed on my iPad.
right before I go to sleep is my only opportunity
My favorite time to read is right before bed.
My reading time is when everyone is in bed.
Right before bed because my anxiety has subsided from the day
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in the evening after my kids go to bed.
night time after the children go to sleep
On a road trip is best for me
I read before i go to bed
My favorite reading time is just before I go to sleep. In fact, no matter how tired I am I can’t go to sleep without reading at least a couple of pages.
In bed, after it is all quiet.
at night right before bed
My favorite reading time is earling evening, on the porch swing with a cup of coffee.
If the afternoon while my daughter is practicing for swim team
the best time is Before bedtime
my favorite reading time is at night when everyone is in bed.
Right before bed
I like to read before falling asleep.