I must admit, I was skeptical. Oh yet another chick lit author I thought to myself. It has been awhile since I have read anything other than textbooks or fashion industry-related materials.

But, with Jennifer Weiner’s Best Friends Forever, (Simon & Schuster, 2009) I was pleasantly surprised. And even more surprised, when I realized that I started and finished the book on a west-to-east coast plane ride. That has not happened in a long long time!

Best Friends Forever is really about the lasting bonds of friendship that we form when we are young; imperfect families that we belong to whether we like it or not and how we learn to adjust because our family is a part of us; coping with the betrayal of a childhood best friend; and finally, the journey to acceptance of your family, your best friend and yourself.  Oh, there is this little black cat that Addie, the heroine, feeds at the back door every now and then.  You guessed it, we were sold!  The most touching story down to its smallest details, you will love reading Best Friends Forever.

Here’s the greatest thing I found out about Ms. Weiner’s novels. Her heroines are plus size awesome, smart, talented, sexy women.

As Ms. Weiner said in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily in the July 27 issue,  “Fifty-percent of women in America wear size 14 or bigger, but if you read bestsellers, it’s like those women don’t really exist. I wanted plus-size women to be the heroes, not the goofy sidekicks,” Weiner says. But entertainment, not activism, is her top priority. “I don’t want people thinking, ‘Ugh, a message book.’ But I want the idea that your worth does not reside in your jean size to be in everything I do,” she says.

So, quick! Before summer’s over—Go and read Best Friends Forever and call your best friend and tell her to read it too!  It is the latest novel by Jennifer Weiner.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am off to order more of this author’s novels and to call my best friend.