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The Guy Not Taken

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The Guy Not Taken

By: Jennifer Weiner
Narrated by: Mary Catherine Garrison, Jordan Bridges
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About this listen

 This short story collection from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner “shouldn’t be missed” (Entertainment Weekly).

Jennifer Weiner's talent shines like never before in this collection of short stories, following the tender, often hilarious, progress of love and relationships over the course of a lifetime.

We meet Marlie Davidow, home alone with her new baby late one night, when she wanders onto her ex’s online wedding registry and wonders what if she had wound up with the guy not taken. We find Jessica Norton listing her beloved river-view apartment in the hope of winning her broker’s heart. And we follow an unlikely friendship between two very different new mothers, and the choices that bring them together—and pull them apart.

The Guy Not Taken demonstrates Weiner’s amazing ability to find hope and humor, longing and love in the hidden corners of our common experiences.©2006 Jennifer Weiner. All rights reserved.; (P)2006 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved Anthologies & Short Stories Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Short Stories Women's Fiction

Critic reviews

"These stories range from an old lady held hostage to a New Yorker who gives up killer real estate for a guy. Weiner's fans will recognize the kooky-kid-sister sagas, but it's the new territory notably Swim and Dora on the Beach that shouldn't be missed. A-"

-- Entertainment Weekly
"The Guy Not Taken takes Weiner to next level as author...With her latest collection Weiner is proving that the masters of the oft-maligned chick lit genre are voices to be reckoned with. An accessible anthology that takes readers on a ride through divorce, heartbreak, insecurity and what might have been, The Guy Not Taken is a tender, thought-provoking read that puts Weiner on the map as one of her generation's best literary voices."

-- Boston Herald
"The Guy Not Taken showcases a maturing Weiner...In Her Shoes author Jennifer Weiner is resigned to the fact that in some circles she is referred to as the 'Queen of Chick Lit.' But I challenge anyone who says her short-story collection, The Guy Not Taken, isn't serious women's fiction. Not that there's anything wrong with chick lit, but the women in these stories are a far cry from the Manolo-obsessed bubbleheads sometimes found in chick lit novels. These women apply healthy doses of self-doubt, loneliness and misgivings along with their lip gloss and mascara. All the stories in Weiner's collection have that 'Calgon, Take Me Away' quality to which smart women, whose lives are complicated by careers, men, babies, parents and siblings, can relate."

-- USA Today
"These autobiographical stories suggest that Weiner is the kind of wise-cracking pal who makes a great lunch date. In Swim, a woman who left her TV job after her sexy writing partner led her on, then eloped with the show's star, helps a nebbish craft a personal ad. When he says he's picked 'Lonelyguy 78' as his screen name, she blurts, 'Was 'Desperateguy' taken?' Even a coda on the inspiration for the stories is a hoot. The heroines-hooked-on-bad-boys notion wears thin, but fans will savor Weiner's confidential tone and salty wit. [3 out of 4 stars]"

-- People
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Most relevant
The title of this book should be 'The guy not taken and OTHER stories' as only one of the 11 short stories relates to this topic! The first three are about the same woman at different stages in her life, the others are individual.

I think a good short story should bring you in to a moment in time - several of these, however, attempt to span many years which in a 45 minute story just leaves you feeling as if you've missed out on something.

I would recommend listening to a sample of the main narrator first as her accent and voice were hard to bear at times however she makes a good attempt at different voices for different characters.

I downloaded this to listen to on a long plane journey and it failed to hold my attention, however once back home I tried again and I'm glad I did as it filled 8 hours of dog walks and commutes! Give it a go if you like frivolous fiction and books that are easy to pick up and put down again.

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