Give me any book by Jennifer Weiner. Her characters are so beautifully developed, I feel like I know these people! I love Daphne! Her friendship with Drue is the basis of this book. No spoilers here, but it does take a sad turn. Her writing is so eloquent and clear! This is the BEST Summer read, or anytime read actually! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing.. Ms. Weiner, keep 'em coming as they say. Your books are wonderful!

Wow! Big Summer was so much more than I thought it would be. It was written like a YA book for a young women that has body image issues. Then it takes a huge turn that I never saw coming and the whole last half I couldn't put it down. It was not as good as Mrs. Everything but it was completely different entertaining!

I really enjoyed this beach read turned mystery. I was pleasantly surprised with the many twists and turns the book threw at me. The main characters were a breath a fresh air, and likeable. It takes a lot for me to be surprised by an ending, but this one definitely took me by surprise. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC.

When rich and gorgeous Drue Cavanaugh asks Daphne Berg, a plus-size Instagram influencer to be her bridesmaid after 6 years of no contact, Daphne is in shock. Drue has always had everything, except the ability to hold on to friends. Daphne on the other hand, despite being fat-shamed in high school, has made a name for herself as an inspiring influencer. ⁣But Daphne, who has never really forgiven Drue for setting her up with a guy in high school as a sympathy move, can’t turn down Drue’s big event, the hottest wedding of the season, on Cape Cod. And maybe, just maybe, Daphne can forgive Drue after all.⁣
⁣
This book is cute and fun, accompanied by a totally unexpected twist. The story makes for a perfect beach read, and while a little Lifetime-y, it is an excellent book for when you can’t get your ocean-fix. ⁣In hindsight, I would have liked more depth from the characters, but then it would lose its glitzy-glam beachy ness. There are a lot of core issues represented among the characters (e.g. racism, body-shaming, internet abuse) and I found that these issues barely touched the surface before being resolved. The book was exciting and fun to read, but I think it lacked the depth that I was craving.⁣

I think because I had read some reviews of this book it ruined some parts for me. It’s best to go into this book blind if you decide to read it. This is probably the hardest review I’ve ever written because I don’t want to spoil the book for you but also want to help you decide whether to read it or not.

I really liked some of the topics this book addressed like how society views women and body dysmorphia. Daphne, the main character, is very relatable and likeable. I love having someone to root for and a main character I can connect with.

The story also addressed the topic of the dangers of social media. This is the second book in a row I read that addresses social media and I’m fascinated by them. As a social media user I am always battling with how much to share and consume via social media.

Am I glad I read it? Yes! Was it entertaining? Yes! However, I had some issues with it mostly in the way some of the characters were written (some things were not consistent). I can see how some people would love this book and also why its not for everyone. This may be the least helpful review I’ve ever written but just wanted to share my thoughts!

Atria Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Big Summer. I was under no obligation to read this book and my opinion is freely given.

Daphne Berg has always lived under the stigma of her weight, despite her parents hard work to the contrary. After an incident involving Drue Cavanaugh, supposedly her best friend since they were children, Daphne decides to take control of her life. As a plus-sized influencer on the internet, Daphne uses her platform to help others while changing herself in the process. When Drue comes around with an apology and an invitation, will Daphne be able to choose what is in her best interests? When the unimaginable happens, how will it change Daphne's life?

After reading the synopsis of the book, I thought Big Summer was going to be the story of a young woman looking inward to change her life. If it were that simple, I actually would have liked it more. The self deprecation gets old fast, as does the overly descriptive passages of the colors of certain fabrics and fashion. The twist, and the subsequent pages that come after, seem like they belong in a different book overall. Additionally, the idea that the main character can do what even the police cannot has been done before and more successfully. Big Summer was a missed opportunity to show the growth of a person, from someone who despises herself to acceptance. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend Big Summer to other readers.

Jennifer Weiner seemingly presents us with a chick-lit story with a relatable and vulnerable main character Daphne. She brings us back to our own high school relationships and experiences and how they've influenced who we have or haven't become in our 20's. This is how the first third of the story goes. But then, the genre switches after the exposition and it turns into a very light attempt of "mystery." This is where Weiner lost me because the rising actions were predictable and all issues were tied up nicely with a shiny bow. Easy read to see who "did it" but unfortunately this isn't one that I would strongly recommend, in fact it's definitely skippable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Jennifer Weiner has masterfully woven together a beach read and a murder mystery and created the perfect summer read. Daphne has always struggled with her body image, and it didn’t help that even her BFF Drew made cutting remarks about her weight. But Daphne is older and wiser now and has extricated Drew from her life after she publicly humiliated her. She is also now a popular plus size Instagram influencer with tons of followers and opportunities. When Drew reaches out and asks Daphne to be her maid of honor Daphne doesn’t know what to do. Hopeful that this is an olive branch Daphne decides to attend the wedding and repair her friendship with Drew. A gorgeous weekend in Cape Cod at the social event of the year and then... BAM everything goes sideways! A lush beach read, a juicy murder mystery, a brilliant book.

Daphne was just a fabulous character! Her struggle with her weight was so authentic. I loved her inner dialogue and even though at times it may have seemed as though she excessively focused on her weight I think unfortunately that is so true of many women. We do get a lot of the backstory between Daphne and Drew, I really loved watching Daphne’s character evolve as a person. She has such a dazzling and dynamic personality and it was nice to see her begin to embrace that. There were a lot of great secondary characters in this book especially Daphne‘s BFF/roommate and her love interest. This was such a fun story that did a really good job touching on a lot of heavy subject matter. Another exceptional summer read from Miss Weiner. The perfect addition to any beach bag!

I was super surprised by this book, in a good way! I love how much self acceptance was championed throughout, and I'm very into any exploration/discussion of the value of social media. It's exciting to see two important topics discussed in tandem like this, especially considering how deeply intertwined these two are. The serious bummer is that I didn’t find myself connecting to the characters as much as I wanted to. and, though there were lots of great twists and turns, the end of the book felt like a bit of a stretch. I wish the set up was weaved throughout the story more instead of being dumped on readers at the end. But overall, this book was a wonderful surprise!

*3.5 stars*

I've always liked Jennifer Weiner's books and her writing style. This was the perfect beach read - taking place mostly on Cape Cod, this novel had a great mix of gorgeous scenery, thrilling twists and turns, & romance. A fast beachy read!

A peek inside what it’s like to be rich and famous. A fun, breezy mystery with somewhat contrived characters and a predictable ending. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Weiner. Many readers will love this tied up, but it was not one of my favorites. I enjoyed the book up to the point where the big twist happened then I lost interest because it seemed contrived. A fun read but not much to think about.

This was such a great book! The ending was a shock for me (and I like to think that I'm a pretty good guesser). I really enjoyed the diversity in the body type of the narrator and in the characters. This book felt so modern and real. I do think the pacing could have been slowed down; the story moved so quickly after Part 3 began. Overall, this is such a perfect beach/airplane/vacation read and I highly recommend!

Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Jennifer Weiner's Big Summer in exchange for an honest review. The book is available now.

Somehow, before Big Summer, I had read only one Jennifer Weiner book, but I’ll definitely be adding her backlist books to my wishlist. This novel contains multitudes: a toxic friendship, important messages about body image, a compelling murder mystery, and lavish descriptions of wealth and privilege.

Daphne Berg’s long-time friendship (since sixth grade!) with Drue Cavanaugh ended on the night her career as an influencer began. Drue had set up Daphne with a guy who mocked her weight and then compounds the offense by repeating his criticism. At that point, Daphne knows she’s done with Drue . . . but not what’s happening next. When a bystander releases the video of Daphne going off on him, her social media presence explodes. Now, anchored by her blog Big Time, Daphne makes a career out of self-acceptance.

Daphne has worked hard to purge what’s toxic from her life in favor of focusing on her burgeoning career, her real friendships, her wonderful parents, and the adorable kids she babysits. Then, years later, Drue forces herself back into Daphne’s life with a bizarre request for Daphne: the glamorous Drue wants her former friend to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Daphne resists at first but eventually gives in to the same magnetic pull that kept her under Daphne’s influence before.

From there, we enter spoiler territory, so I’ll proceed carefully. Drue’s upcoming wedding to a reality tv star means more attention for all involved, and her wealth means that there are ample opportunities for Weiner to set extravagant scenes. Daphne’s skepticism and envy compete as she fights to maintain her autonomy from her former friend. And then, there’s a tragedy and a subsequent mystery that spans the remainder of the book.

I just couldn’t put this book down. Daphne is a likable and empathetic protagonist, someone who is strong and confident but is tempted by self-criticism. I loved her story, I was drawn in by the mystery, and I swooned over the romance (yes, there’s a romance!). Because Weiner is such a great storyteller, these disparate parts are all woven into one, compelling narrative. Big Summer really is a perfect summer read.

Jennifer Weiner always gets such high
praise for her writing and when you read this, you’ll see why. It starts out as a chick lit book with a real girl who is inspiring to the reader. She has a former best friend in Drue, who really hurt her. When Drue is planning her wedding, she begs Daphne’s forgiveness and asks her to be a part of it. Daphne goes through a lot to overcome her hurt to be there for her old friend. While she goes and tries to rebuild their friendship, the easy woman’s fiction of the book quickly changes into a different book! I won’t tell the twist, but trust me, it’s something else that you have to read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3201285513?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Perfect beach read - this one had it all and was totally NOT what I expected. Loved the plus-size heroine so much that I couldn't help but root for her.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Thank you for the opportunity to read it early! I love that the main character was not a thin person. Enjoyed the story too of course. I recommended this book to friends and book club!
Thank again!

4 stars.*

I'm a big Jennifer Weiner fan and when I saw her new release available on NetGalley I lept at the chance to read it and review!

Big Summer is part self-love manual, part friendship story, part love story, part murder mystery.

It is the story of Daphne Berg - a young, plus-sized social media influencer who is reunited with her high-school best frienemy Drue Cavanaugh (who was the source of Daphne's greatest humiliation) when Drue reappears in her life begging Daphne to be a bridesmaid in her upcoming Cape Cod wedding.

Daphne has to deal with the old feelings of shame and hurt, while capitalizing on the high-society event that can bring her followers and greater influence. Daphne meets a handsome stranger at the rehearsal and has a night to remember. When she wakes to discover that Drue was murdered in the room next to her, she realizes not only is she a suspect but most of what she thought she knew about Drue is in question. And where did her handsome stranger disappear to?

A fun, summer beach read! Highly recommended!

Big Summer was one of my favorite reads of 2020 so far. I absolutely loved it! I can’t say too much because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone else - but this book is a mix of rom-com, fiction, drama, with a little mystery tied in. I adore Jennifer Weiner’s books but this one might just be my favorite yet. The PERFECT beach read!

This book was a ROLLER-COASTER. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling even the tiniest bit, but I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing and about halfway through something COMPLETELY shocking happens that left me having to drag my jaw up off of the floor because I didn't see it coming AT ALL. As much as I did LOVE that element and it did make this book super memorable and enjoyable for me, I don't think it would be something that I would call a new favorite. However, I would still definitely recommend it though if you are interested in reading a fun and fast summery contemporary about a fat girl living her best life!

TW: fatphobia, bulimia, restricted eating, adultery

entertaining, page-turning, fun while still being thought-provoking, and TOTALLY not what I was expecting.

My advice: Don't read reviews- be surprised, and if you think it's a little too fluffy- keep reading till around Part II.