Mike Greenberg, the king of sports talk radio, has written a debut novel. There are no All-Pro linemen, Hall of Fame pitchers or towering centers in All You Could Ask For. Instead, there are women: Brooke is a happily married, stay-at-home mom of twins in her late 30s who was raised to be a "proper" lady. Samantha, a newlywed in her late 20s, discovers during her honeymoon that her husband is cheating on her. Katherine, a powerful Wall Street businesswoman, is celebrating her 40th birthday and trying to figure out what makes life worth living.
The three are living completely separate lives until a life-changing event crashes down on each of them. Greenberg alternates deftly between each of their perspectives, giving readers a bird's-eye view into their thoughts and rationales. Their voices are authentic and strong.
At times, the prose seems to reflect the characters' internal thoughts, but at other times they seem to be talking directly to the reader. The second-person point of view can feel awkward, though; there's no indication why the character would be aware of the reader. Still, the book takes on a very personal tone that draws the reader into the women's lives.
All You Could Ask For is all you could ask for in a reading experience. Greenberg balances humor with heartbreak. He surprises and inspires; deals out hope and despair. Throw away all your preconceived notions about what "woman's fiction" is supposed to be. Mike Greenberg just broke the mold. --Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts