Mrs. Everything was such a lovely surprise. We follow two sisters – Jo and Bethie – throughout the span of their lives. This book covers decades – from the 1950s to present day. We are there to witness Jo and Bethie grow up, go to college, navigate friendships and romantic relationships, and ultimately figure out who they want to be.
The sisters take opposite paths – Jo, the rebel, becomes a wife and mother. Bethie, the “good girl,” ends up on a meandering journey through life, complete with heavy drug use and a lost sense of self.
In the background, we get snippets of how Sarah, Jo and Bethie’s mother, navigated her own path. Sarah clings to tradition, and becomes something of an introvert after the passing of her husband. Her relationship with her daughters is complex and sad.
And the men in this book? Most are pretty awful, but a few are good.
It’s actually incredible how much Jennifer Weiner was able to cram into this book. Maybe it’s a little exaggerated, but the story is good, the characters are memorable, and there’s a lot of emotion tucked into every page.
Content warning: sexual abuse/assault, rape, homophobia, disordered eating, drug use, death of a parent, abortion, cancer.
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