In Her Shoes

It's hard to imagine two sisters more different than 30-year-old Rose Feller and her 28-year-old sister, Maggie. But as both embark on a journey of self-discovery, they learn they have more in common than they ever realized. Karen Ziemba's effortless narration of these two distinct characters aids in making this witty and poignant audiobook all the more realistic. There are moments that her thoughtful pacing causes a scene to drag, but this is forgivable, considering the excellent quality of her reading overall. IN HER SHOES is a fine audiobook for Weiner fans, as well as anyone who knows the struggle of stepping out from behind a sibling's shadow. R.A.P. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Starred review from August 26, 2002
Weiner, whose debut novel Good in Bed
was an instant bestseller, is back with another exuberantly confident offering. Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Fuller relies on her looks and size zero body to flirt her way through life while working dozens of dead-end jobs and dreaming of stardom. At the other end of the spectrum is her older, larger sister, Rose, who relies on her intelligence and is an accomplished attorney at a large Philadelphia firm. The only things that these two seem to have in common is their shared history, a loathing for their "stepmonster," Sydelle, size six feet and a passion for luxurious shoes. When Maggie is evicted from her apartment and loses yet another job, Rose takes her in and tries to endure her closet raids and endless insults. But her patience abruptly ends when Maggie crosses a line so sacred that Rose kicks Maggie out and all but terminates their relationship ("Her sister was like a fucking Weebel, thought. She'd wobble, she'd screw up, she'd steal your shoes... but she'd absolutely never fall down"). The sisters go on with their lives and Maggie discovers that she has a brain and a will to learn, while Rose learns to loosen up a bit and finds that there is more to life than work. The two sisters also get to know their maternal grandmother, Ella Hirsch, who they haven't seen since their mother's funeral more than 20 years ago. With Ella's love and support, Maggie reaches out to Rose and the two begin to repair their relationship. In the end, these three remarkable women learn that they are stronger than they thought they were, that family ties are worth preserving, and that there are perks to sharing the same shoe size. Weiner, a marvelously natural storyteller, blends humor and heartbreak to create an irresistible novel. Agent, Joanna Pulcini.(Oct.)Forecast:This sweet sophomore effort should land Weiner on bestseller lists again—she more than proves that she has staying power. Note to fans: Cannie Shapiro, heroine of
Good in Bed , makes a cameo appearance. Fourteen-city author tour.