MRS. EVERYTHING: A NOVEL
Atria Books
Jennifer Weiner
When change takes place, are you doing it or is something outside of you that is doing this? We're introduced to Jo and Bethie Kaufman who grew up in 1950s Detroit with a life that definitely had the foundation of potential. Jo navigated life as a bookish tomboy who believes that life should be fair. Bethie is the classic good girl who is feminine and pretty. Although she aspires to have a traditional life, she also has those star qualities that could take her to the next level.
Life has a funny way of changing things up as we watch the evolution of these girls with free love, Vietnam, Woodstock and women's lib taking place among their own traumas and tragedies.
These events create a bit of a switch up with Bethie being up for any adventure, embacing the counterculture and able to do anything as long as she doesn't have to settle down. Jo has become a proper mother in Connecticut and witness the change around her without having to participate.
Both sisters realize that the life that they are living isn't what they want and that their paths or dreams weren't what they envisioned them to be.