Overexposed

June 21, 2010
The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but the black leather–wearing black sheep of a boisterous Midwestern Jewish clan never figured her best friend would actually leap into her backyard. Photographer Rachel happily trades her suburban Chicago roots—distant doctor dad, meddling mom, doctors-in-training younger brothers, and an extended family of dictatorial elders—for the boho life in New York City, and though she longs to revel in the edgy art world where her idol, Elizabeth—daughter of a famed and famously drunk Life photographer—was raised, Elizabeth can't shed the trappings fast enough for the "normal" life Rachel shuns. The gimmick is clever, but Elizabeth's transformation from art world orphan to suburban yenta seems unlikely at best. Luckily, there's more to this hip tale of yearning than her transformation, and Shapiro (Speed Shrinking) champions the small asides, the stubborn secrets, and the unconditional affection of a big, complicated family to forge a connection with readers.

July 1, 2010
Rachel Solomon is ecstatic to escape her upper-middle-class midwestern Jewish family for bohemian New York City, chasing her dream of becoming a photographer. Her first step, a job at a magazine, becomes complicated when she meets the person shes replacing. Elizabeth Mann is the Waspy daughter of one of Rachels favorite photographers and appears to have everything that Rachel desires: an upcoming photography show, famous family friends, and no Jewish mother who sends her suburban-chic clothing, or pressues her to become a doctor like Rachels father and two brothers. Elizabeth scoffs at everything Rachel loves, yet every break Rachel gets in the business is through Elizabeth. When Elizabeth ends up marrying one of Rachels brothers, Rachel feels bereft. It seems as though her friend is deserting her to become part of Rachels wacky clan, usurping what should be Rachels role in the family. Shapiro expertly captures the elusive aspects of family, friendship, and love in this winning dramedy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)