Good in Bed

This is a story that many of us have experienced. The reality of it pulled me in. When I was in middle school, a boy I had “dated” made copies of a very personal letter I had written him. He and his buddy then handed the letter out to everyone. Classmates mockingly read the letter out loud to me. How mortifying. I feel you, Cannie Shapiro.

I also love this story because Cannie hits it off with a starlet who turns into a close friend. Who doesn’t want a famous bff? As Cannie pushed to find her way through the… show more.

Since I was old enough to say “cake,” I’ve been plagued by weight issues. Enter Cannie Shapiro, the protagonist, a Jewish, overweight journalist with low self-esteem and daddy issues, who has been publicly humiliated by her ex.

Though more about coming into one’s own and learning self-love and acceptance than an actual romantic relationship, I had to include this book because the impetus for Cannie’s growth is ultimately the result of her ex’s betrayal.

Though Cannie cuts loose differently than I chose to when my first marriage ended, I could still understand her desire to go bold. At the center… show more.

Added to the difficulties of being good enough for your partner, add weight issues and you have my favourite writing recipe for my own books, which is why I chose this story where columnist Candace Shapiro deals with her ex-boyfriend publicly humiliating her in his column called Good In Bed.

He exposes her frailties and through every article about her she comes to grips with her own faults, including her ‘solidly built body’. Ok, she needs to lose weight. So she joins a programme, a sort of Overeaters Anonymous, and meets Peter, the doctor in charge. He is confident… show more.

Good in Bed is an ideal feminist beach read. It’s fun and easy to read—like candy—while giving the reader bigger things to think about. I love when a book satisfies my desire to be entertained while also giving me elements that I continue to think about years later. And of course, I love female heroines who learn to save themselves.