The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer WeinerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
While I really did like this book a lot, I had several problems with it. It was obvious that Cassie had some autism issues that were never explored, and that led to some frustration on my part since ASD has been understood since the '90s.
Then the bullying and not just by kids her own age. Yes, Cassie was fat, and I think that not exploring better clothing options for her during the shows and videos was a huge problem for me. There were choices out there even during the early 2000's.
As the book's description says, it is about two diametrically different sisters—one peppy and beautiful, the other a prodigy and fat and not beautiful—one who lives by her looks and meager talent, and the other who is talent personified. This is the story of how they got their fame and what came later.
This was a fantastic read, even with the issues I described (if you can get by the word "fat" being used every other page). It will be the perfect beach/book club read. For book clubs, there will be plenty to discuss, believe me!
I learned a lot about the recording industry in the early 2000's.
The characters are well drawn, very fleshed out, and believable. The story is intense, with a good bit of evil intent, although it is balanced out by good intentions later on. Apologies abound, but you are never quite sure if everyone is satisfied by how things finally turned out. I think that the death of one of the band mates/co-writers might have been a tad over the top, but there it is.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/ Macmillan, the author, and NetGalley.
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DESCRIPTION: "One of the most anticipated books of the year, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, a glimmering novel set in the world of pop music about sisters, motherhood, young love, and the dreams we chase.
Sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were born just a year apart but could not have been more different. Zoe, blessed with charm and beauty, yearned for fame from the moment she could sing into a hairbrush. Cassie was a musical prodigy who never felt at home in her own skin and preferred the safety of the shadows.
On the brink of adulthood in the early 2000s, destiny intervened, catapulting the sisters into the spotlight as the pop sensation the Griffin Sisters, hitting all the touchstones of early aughts fame—SNL, MTV, Rolling Stone magazine—along the way.
But after a whirlwind year in the public eye, the band abruptly broke up.
Two decades later, Zoe’s a housewife; Cassie’s off the grid. The sisters aren’t speaking, and the real reason for the Griffin Sisters’ breakup is still a mystery. Zoe’s teenage daughter, Cherry, who’s determined to be a star in spite of Zoe’s warnings, is on a quest to learn the truth about what happened to the band all those years ago.
As secrets emerge, all three women must face the consequences of their choices: the ones they made and the ones the music industry made for them. Can they forgive each other—and themselves? And will the Griffin Sisters ever make music again?"
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