Shoe Fetish 1 is the quintessential girlfriend book and what made it stand out was the thoughtful way Sharon Bennett and Beatrice Moore explained the importance of shoes in a woman’s life. This is the story of Bethany, Carmen and The Letter, three friends who grew up in 1970s Texas and have reunited for, what else, a high school reunion! But before the formal reunion, these ladies reunite and get reacquainted with the friends whom time and distance have conspired to keep apart more than they would like. We learn a lot about the people and events that have shaped each of the women, and I loved the fact that they weren’t all completely damaged, though each is carefully layered and fleshed out.

When it comes to books about lifelong friends, I am a sucker and Sharon Bennett and Beatrice Moore have done a fantastic job of having the women living in the now while reminiscing about the best—and worst—parts of their childhood. It’s an easy stereotype to think women sit around and complain about their men, their lives and their weight, but Shoe Fetish 1 is a book for women and therefore takes it deeper. There were times the writing felt off, like the voice dropped, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. The beautiful friendship these women share was the best part of Shoe Fetish 1 and I think watching them try to change their lives, and their fates, was both inspiring and deeply entertaining.

It’s near impossible to read and review Shoe Fetish 1 by Sharon Bennett and Beatrice Moore and be objective: you will either love it or hate it. If you’re a woman who loves shoes, the title alone will compel you to pick up the book. But let me warn you: Shoe Fetish 1 is not about what you think it will be. At the risk of sounding sexist, Shoe Fetish 1 is really a woman’s book…and an ideal book club choice at that. It’s not just women’s love of shoes that will get ladies really talking about and relating to the three key females in this book; Carmen, Beth and TheLetter. These three schoolgirl friends reunite after 20 years and, bit by bit, readers hear about what they went through, suffered, endured and survived, especially at the hands of the men they encountered along the way.

All three have become successful in their various careers, but when it comes to men, all three have had very different journeys toward finding the man that, well, like a shoe, really fits and feels good. And therein lies the true meaning behind the title, Shoe Fetish 1. You see, the authors maintain that “like shoes, men exude many styles and personalities; and like shoes, they do not all fit! Shoes also have no brains; nor do most men…” Oh boy! See why I say this is really a woman’s book? The menfolk in this book take a bit of a beating, especially from Carmen who is desperately afraid to trust any man. But interestingly enough, it is a man, Beth’s husband, who helps Carmen see why she’s had so much trouble finding a shoe…er, man…that fits.

Shoe Fetish 1 is simultaneously funny and sad. It’s full of positive and negative outlooks, and it’s up to readers to decide what to give full consideration and what to ignore. Chapters are punctuated by poems and letters and these are welcome breaks as I don’t believe I’ve ever read a book where so many new characters, names and places are introduced in each chapter. But that said, female readers will find themselves recalling their own days of having that one or two close girlfriends who hate each other now and then, but love each other most of the time and stay friends for life. Lucky are such women. To encourage book clubs to select Shoe Fetish 1, the authors have included an excellent set of questions for discussion at the end of the book. This is a really good move. And the chapter titled Shoe Fetish Analogies, which occurs toward the end, is absolutely delightful. It brings home the entire theme of how for women, men are like shoes. For this reviewer, that chapter made Shoe Fetish 1 a read to remember.