I’ve been reading Jennifer Weiner for years, partly because of her Chicago connections and allusions, and mostly because she knows how to write a good romantic comedy. Best Friends Forever: A Novel (2009) is a somewhat typical take on the “Thelma and Louise on the lam story,” but Weiner’s character development in formerly fat protagonist Addie Downs is superlative. Supporting characters’ portrayals are sometimes uneven and childhood friend Valerie is shallow and reckless to the point of being almost unbelievable. I loved the intricate flashbacks to the girls’ childhoods, however, and they set the reader up for a satisfying end with a twist. Not Weiner’s best work, but certainly a good summer read.