Search - Goodnight Nobody

Goodnight Nobody
Larger
Goodnight Nobody
Author: Jennifer Weiner

Book Information
Publisher: Atria
Book Type: Hardcover
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780743470117 - ISBN-10: 0743470117
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 384


Other Versions of this Book: Audio Cassette (Abridged), Audio CD (Abridged)

Book Description:
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner's newest novel tells the story of a young mother's move to a postcard-perfect Connecticut town and the secrets she uncovers there.

For Kate Klein, a semi-accidental mother of three, suburbia's been full of unpleasant surprises. Her once-loving husband is hardly ever home. The super-mommies on the playground routinely snub her. Her days are spent carpooling and enduring endless games of Candy Land, and at night, most of her orgasms are of the do-it-yourself variety.

When a fellow mother is murdered, Kate finds that the unsolved mystery is one of the most interesting things to happen in Upchurch since her neighbors broke ground for a guest house and cracked their septic tank. Even though Kate's husband and the police chief warn her that crime-fighting is a job best left to professionals, she can't let it go.

So Kate launches an unofficial investigation -- from 8:45 to 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when her kids are in nursery school -- with the help of her hilarious best friend, carpet heiress Janie Segal, and Evan McKenna, a former flame she thought she'd left behind in New York City.

As the search for the killer progresses, Kate is drawn deeper into the murdered woman's double life. She discovers the secrets and lies behind Upchurch's placid picket-fence facade -- and the choices and compromises all modern women make as they navigate between independence and obligation, small towns and big cities, being a mother and having a life of one's own.

Engrossing, suspenseful, and laugh-out-loud funny, Goodnight Nobody is another unputdownable, timely tale; an insightful mystery with a great heart and a narrator you'll never forget.

Members who requested this book also requested:

Similar books to this author and title:
The Undomestic GoddessThe Other WomanLittle EarthquakesAmerican Girls About Town


Genres:

Top Member Book Reviews

Ashley M. (MissAsh) - Syracuse, NY wrote on 8/27/2008...

10 member(s) found this review helpful.

I find myself gobbling up all of her books that I can. I'm not too sure why, considering the endings to almost ALL of the books i've read have left me so mad. It seems like they are just unfinished and they leave you wondering "well what happened after?" If you're a fan of her books then you're probably already well aware of the style of her books and their endings. Other than the ending, I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. I'd recommend it, but not without first making someone aware that becoming angry at the end is a definite possibility.

Katie F. (kayters) wrote on 1/7/2007...

10 member(s) found this review helpful.

I thought this was an excellent book. I did not enjoy Weiner's previous book, Good in Bed, but I LOVED this one. I have read other reviews by folks who liked Good in Bed and such that HATED this book. So if you didn't like her previous books, give this one a try. It's definitely a mystery, with some chick/mom lit too. I would love to read more like this from Jennifer Weiner.

Eryn M. (eagereditor) wrote on 10/19/2007...

8 member(s) found this review helpful.

For once chick lit that kept me guessing. It was a lot different than I expected, but that's not a bad thing. The very end was a tad odd I thought, but I still enjoyed it.

Alexis T. (Kyrissaean) wrote on 8/25/2007...

8 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was a different read for me of late. I've read one other Jennifer Weiner book, Good in Bed, and this was good but I liked that one better. This one lacked that zany touch of humor -- feeling like I was bogged down in Kate's life along with her would have been a bit easier with a few more laughs, although that was probably part of what she was getting at.

Overall, good book, but not great. And remind me not to get married, move to Connecticut, have a few kids and become a supermommy while my husband works long hours, becomes dismissive, and forgets how to be good in bed!

My more specific impressions? First, Kate is living the life I think I dread most -- one everyone thinks is perfect from the edges, but once inside you see that Kate is just there for other people to use and ignore. Actually I think it wouldn't be so bad if she were going through it with her husband as opposed to knowing her husband is watching distantly and still can't be bothered... Anyway, very well titled book.

It's also a very slow book, at least in the first half. It picked up a lot past the midway point, once more and more interesting things started to surface and especially after Kitty became more fleshed out as a character, even postmortem. And I caught the little play on the childhood name as compared to the main character's.

There were a few things I'd wish had been more specifically spelled out at the end, but that's just me and my need to know everything that did and will happen!

Chris S. (smallbutfeisty) wrote on 1/8/2006...

6 member(s) found this review helpful.

Weiner's typical formula of overweight woman unhappy with some part of her life has worked for three books. In _Goodnight Nobody_, she sticks with this formula, but also tries something new. It is a mystery of sorts.
The perfect mother is found dead. Her death was not a natural one. So, the community of Upchurch, CT (a whole community of perfect mothers) seeks to protect their families while honoring the deceased.
Kate Klein is not a perfect mother. As the discoverer of the dead body, she feels a connection with the woman who has died and seeks to discover who was responsible for the death.

If this is your first Jennifer Weiner book, you will love it. If you have read several of her books, you will enjoy it, but realize it is not her best book. It's enjoyable for sure, but she has written better stories!

Linda S. (Ladyslott) wrote on 12/14/2005...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner, and find her books very entertaining. That said, I must admit this book was a disappointment.

First to the outline of the book. Kate Klein is a suburban mother of three children under five. Her husband is a workaholic, and she feels left out of the clique of women that she has somewhat befriended in her neighborhood. When Kate finds the body of one of these moms after arriving for a play date, she sees it as an opportunity to break out of her rut. It also leads her to cross paths with a ‘first love’ and begin to question her marriage.

My problems with the book start with Kate, the heroine/protagonist of the book. Although at times I identified with some of her plight, having lived in the suburbs most of my life and recognizing some of the Stepford wives she contends with, I also found her irritating. She claims not to fit in with her group of ‘friends’, but at times she seems rather condescending of their choices in life. She also seems to be rather offhand about her kids, and seems to enjoy herself only when they aren’t around. I don’t think everyone needs to be a perfect mom 24/7, but cook them a meal once in a while, and do some laundry for crying out loud. It was as if trying to distance the character of Kate from the other moms Weiner went a little to far to the other side. The character of Janie, Kate’s best friend was more of a caricature than a real person. Ben and Evan the two men in Kate’s life seemed more like props. The mystery of the book was interesting enough, and had a satisfying enough conclusion; although Kate’s story did not. It seemed deliberately open ended, as if setting up for a sequel. I have come to expect more from Ms Weiner’s books, and hope her next book brings back her more winning style.

Sharon G. (teacup49) wrote on 3/19/2008...

3 member(s) found this review helpful.

This is a very good book, funny reminded me of Compromising Positions (the plot and main character). Couldn't put it down. Highly recommend.

Meagan M. (MissMcIntyre123) wrote on 6/1/2009...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner! This book doesn't let you down at all! If anything, it shows you what a dynamic author she truly is because this if the first book of hers that includes a "murder mystery". And you can't miss her humor and sarcasm - a great book all around!

April K. (aprildsygrl) wrote on 10/11/2008...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

I absolutely love Jennifer Weiner!!! I first picked up "Good in Bed" at a yard sale, and loved it, so I have been on the hunt to pick up more of her books. Her charectors are always believable a highly relateable. This book is awsome as are all the rest of hers I have read. I will not part with my Jennifer Weiner books anytime soon.

Theresa A. (xtambo) wrote on 3/6/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

lisa weiner is awesome--she can really tell a real person's story!


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Elizabeth C. (izzystella) wrote on 8/16/2009...


As always, a good read from a talented, young writer.

Kami W. wrote on 6/27/2009...


Great Read.

Jessica A. wrote on 5/25/2009...



Sheryl R. (grammyreads2) wrote on 4/13/2009...


I like the author's writing style and loved her other 2 books so I gave this one a shot. I still think Good in Bed was her best:)

Jill M. wrote on 10/29/2008...


Great book!

Jeannie H. (HawgWild90) wrote on 8/16/2007...


When a fellow mother is murdered, Kate Klein finds that the unsolved mystery is the most exciting thing to happen in Upchurch, Connecticut, since her neighbors broke the ground for a guesthouse and cracked their septic tank.

Shannon W. (mermaidfairydust) wrote on 9/10/2006...


Very interesting, enjoyable book.

Annie B. (adznsmom) wrote on 8/30/2006...


Very light read, fun, and able to indentify with main character.

Karin M. (karinlm) wrote on 8/16/2006...


Another great book by Jennifer Weiner!

Christine C. (cconradlane) wrote on 7/10/2006...


Another great read by Jennifer Weiner.


Book Wiki
Common Title
Series
Original Publication Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
People/Characters
Real Places
Fictional Places
Important Events
Awards and Honors