Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read Big Summer before publication. I've only read 1 other book by Jennifer Weiner (All Fall Down) as I've always categorized her as breezy beach reads or chick lit. Yet neither of the books I've read by her fall into that genre.

The first half of Big Summer plods along a little bit and touches on fat shaming, friendships, class struggles, friendships, social media influencers. Yet at the core of the story is the relationship between the main character of Daphne Berg and and her high school "friend" Drue Cavanaugh.

The second half of Big Summer is mostly mystery and the reader is sent on a cat and mouse chase around Cape Cod, CT, and NYC. My interest was piqued, but as the plot twists piled up, the story lost steam and was a bit unbelievable. It was a fun read though and I'm glad I was given the chance to read another Jennifer Weiner book.

This was a great fun read. I read it during the COVID-19 pandemic and it was the perfect book for that - although I think it would be enjoyable under easier times too. There were a lot of quirky characters, a few unbelievable coincidences but all in all a book I couldn't put down. There's friendship, romance, envy, mystery, etc. All woven together very well.

This book was so much more than I was expecting and it was engaging from the first page until the last. The book focuses around Daphne and Drue, old somewhat-friends from high school that are now suddenly back in each others lives when Drue asks Daphne to be in her wedding.

Daphne has changed since she first knew Drue, she is a successful plus-sized Instagram influencer with way more confidence than she did back then, but for some reason she is drawn back into Drue's world.

But then something horrible happens and Daphne is sent on an adventure that reveals hidden family, secrets, and much more than she was looking for in a Cape Cod wedding.

I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end and the messages it gave about body image and fat-shaming within the confines of the book which was way more than I was expecting.

Daphne has always been a big girl, but when her best friend, Drue, embarrasses her for the last time, she decides to take control of her life and cut Drue out for good. However, after several years with no contact, Drue shows up begging Daphne to be in her wedding. Daphne isn't sure if she can trust Drue again or if Drue is just using her for her "big girl" influencer status and followers on Instagram. In spite of her hesitation, Daphne decides to be the better person and give Drue the benefit of the doubt. After Drue is murdered the night before her wedding, Daphne realizes that she knew and didn't know Drue at all. Jennifer Weiner did another great job with this novel and Daphne is a really likable and relate-able character.

Very enjoyable! Lots of twists and turns, did not go in the direction I thought it would. Main character was extremely likable and compelling.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner is full of heart, mystery, humor and strong women. I loved Daphne and her family and friends and enjoyed their routines, growth, and loyalty. There were little details about their relationships that felt so real and personal.

There were so many different topics covered here, from body image and shaming, to friendship and trust and loyalty. There was loss and grief and yearning, and betrayal and anger. There were also contemporary topics like Instagram, influencers, paternity, and self-creation. Every topic is interesting in itself, but I felt a little inundated with the amount of things we were juggling.

I also felt a lack of connection with the new romance that sprouted, and it just didn't seem as substantial as I'd hope for. And the ending felt a little surreal, but it makes a juicier story. I won't give anything away, but whoa there are twists!

Overall, it was an engrossing read, but it didn't wow me as much as I'd hoped it would. I'd still recommend it for a quick read, but it's definitely not a light and fluffy story! I'd definitely recommend this one for all women who have struggled with self-love or betrayals in their female friendships.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

<i>Big Summer</i> is the latest book from Jennifer Weiner. Daphne Berg is a young woman trying to make a career for herself as a body positive influencer after she went viral for an incident put in motion by her manipulative but charming best friend Drue. When Drue reenters her Daphne's life years later, begging her to be in her upcoming extravagant wedding in Cape Code, Daphne is once again pulled in by Drue's charm and the opportunity to grow her career with beautiful pictures. However, at the wedding things take a very dark turn and Daphne must uncover the Drue's secrets in order to try to understand her childhood friend.

It's very hard to review this book without spoiling it, but I enjoyed it so much. Someone else in reviews on GR said it's the perfect isolation book, and I agree. I lost track of time because I was so hooked on this book. In the past I felt like some of Weiner's books all basically blended together for me, but I really enjoyed this departure for her.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Big Summer needs to be added to your summer reading list. Jennifer Weiner writes a story that will make the reader aware of how we treat others. It is a very modern storyline with fat shaming and social media influencers. She adds a twist that I was not expected.

Sometimes I enjoy Ms. Weiner's writing, sometimes I don't. This time, she struck a home run with me! The build up of the plot centers around fat shaming, loving ourselves at every size, and friends who betray. Then we enter the plot twist section dealing with a death at a wedding and the mysteries that follow!
I found it hard to put this one down, and it will definitely be a fantastic summer read!
Highly recommend!

This book was pretty good, always love Jennifer Weiner's style, The plot definitely took a turn that I wasn't expecting, so I wouldn't say that it's my *favorite* of hers, but still a great summer beach read!

Jennifer Weiner has proved yet again to be such a talented writer and I love that each of her books has been so vastly different. This book was a quick read for me as I was engrossed in the characters and the storyline throughout. It mixed contemporary romance with mystery and thriller genres all in one book.
The main character Daphne is a plus size influencer, meaning she promotes products on her instagram and is proud of her body or so it seems. You get to see the person behind the instagram profile is not always the happy confident person she portrays. Daphne has been insecure of her weight for years and a lot of it had to do with her old friend Drue (the perfect rich popular girl who loves to put others down). Daphne always let Drue treat her badly because she was obsessed with having a friend who was everything she was not. Turns out that Drue, whos parents were never around, wanted the life Daphne had of caring and loving parents who spent loads of time with her. Daphne and Drue had a falling out and Daphne vowed to never speak to her again. However, Drue is getting married and has no one to be in her wedding party and Daphne feels so bad for her she agrees to be the maid of honor. I do not want to give any more away but will say that a tragic situation happens the night before the wedding and the rest of the book is spent figuring out who committed the crime. The book explores also the life of Drue who from social media looks perfect but behind her profile she is depressed and has no friends or family who truly care about her. People on social media are not always what they portray themselves to be.

Jennifer Weiner has an incredible knack for creating relatable characters - for putting feelings every woman has thought at some point in their lives and encapsulating them in her protagonists. In Big Summer, Daphne was relatable on so many levels (breaking down foods into good and bad was one part that immediately comes to mind) - the overweight girl with a gorgeous, wealthy best friend who never truly knows if she is valued or used by that friend, Drue.

Drue & Daphne have had a rocky friendship over the years but as Drue's wedding approaches, she begs Daphne to stand up and be a bridesmaid for her. Reflecting back over their years, we learn quite about the duo's formative years and how they've grown into the people they are. About halfway through Big Summer, the tone of this book changes dramatically and Weiner tackles a new topic - without spoiling, there is not much more I can say, but, I will say, she does so with ease as she expands into new territory.

When Jennifer Weiner releases a new book, I am always excited and never disappointed. Big Summer certainly was a highlight for me in my 2020 reading and I look forward to heading to Cape Cod for a retreat with the author in October!

Another great offering from the queen of the summer beach read, Jennifer Weiner. Our main character has been well developed with a big heart and a great sense of fashion and humour. I loved the development of all the characters and I loved that halfway through we suddenly had a who dunnit on our hands. Kept me entertained during this quarantine and will buy this book for my library for sure.

Big Summer examines the power of friendship, hurt feelings, and what matters most in life. Daphne Berg hasn’t spoken to her friend Drue Cavanaugh since they were in high school together. After Drue humiliated Daphne, Daphne walked away from the friendship and tried to figure out who she was and what she wanted out of life. Years later when Drue reappears in Daphne’s life, Daphne finds herself being forced to rethink her choices and beliefs.
Love, friendship, family, and murder. Big Summer nails it all. Definitely recommended.

*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

3.5 stars

"I would still want to be her friend, because she was everything I wanted to be."

Six years after the fight (and video) that ended their friendship, Drue Cavanaugh comes back into Daphne Berg's life. Drue is as Blonde, skinny and beautiful as ever and she needs something from Daphne. She comes begging forgiveness and for Daphne to be her Maid-of-honor at her wedding. Daphne is shocked, that night besides being incredibly painful was the turning point in her life. She turned her pain and embarrassment into a career and is now a social media influencer. So why her? Why not ask someone else to be in her wedding?

This book started slowly for me. Let me clarify, I enjoyed the beginning with the single woman raising her son on the Cape, but then there is a dramatic shift and the book tells the story of Daphne, Drue and to a small degree, Daphne's roommate and lifelong friend, Dashni as well. After the change is the storyline, it took until the 49 percent mark for me to become fully invested in the book. That is when things became interesting to me. That is when the book which was many things - a book about female friendships, body shamming, self-esteem, the positive and negative aspects of sharing parts of your life on social media, family, accepting yourself, etc., became a whodunit as well. The last part of the book moved very fast for me as I was eager to find out all the questions brought up in this book. The last part of this book saved it for me.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Atria, Netgalley, and Jennifer Weiner for my free copy of Big Summer.

Y’all this is a delightful book. Big Summer centers around a young woman named Daphne Berg, a plus-size influencer and nanny. Daphne is shocked when an old friend, Drue Cavanaugh, waltzes back into her life 6 years after a friendship-ruining fight. Drue asks Daphne to be in her wedding, and Daphne plans to document it via social media while being there for her friend. As the weekend progresses, something quite unexpected happens that sets off a huge chain of events.

I adored how Weiner threw in twist after unexpected twist! NOTHING ended up panning out how I thought it would. It was a truly impressive feat, and it made me remember why I love her writing so much. I wish I could say more, but it would give away several spoilers.

Female insecurities and friendship are a central theme, and are beautifully covered. The book is narrated by Daphne, who has always been insecure about her weight. Weiner gives it the attention and coverage it deserves, and then shows how insecurities can play into female friendships. Daphne and Drue’s friendship is the main one we see the intricacies of, but Daphne and her best friend Darshi’s friendship is also in play. The differences, along with how they are addressed by Darshi and Daphne, make Big Summer seem very real, not just as a made up story. This would make excellent fodder for book clubs and buddy read discussions.

If you enjoy a book full of love, suspicion, and friendship, look no further. I’m so thankful that Jennifer Weiner and Atria were able to move the publication date for Big Summer up to May 5th, because the world needs the brilliant escape that this book is. Don’t miss this one, y’all.

This felt like two books mashed up into one. It started out strong and then it just got silly and I found myself eye rolling a lot. I loved the character of Daphne and I'd love to read another book about her because she has so much potential. I especially want to know what happens with Nick. I appreciate the opportunity to have read this book.

Big Summer focuses on Daphne, a social media influencer, with some insecurities about her weight. We get a look at Daphne’s friendship with Drue, her high school best friend. Drue is your textbook rich, popular girl in high school. After years of estrangement Daphne and Drue reunite during Drue’s wedding weekend on Cape Cod. Big Summer highlights the world of social media influencers, friendships, relationships, insecurities, secrets, and is very relevant to our time.
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What I loved about this book was the sudden twist that I didn’t see coming. The first half of the book is what we are use to from Jennifer Weiner, but the 2nd half suddenly changes and we are now reading a different genre. I don’t want to say what that twist is but I have seen other reviews that tell it. I wish that wasn’t the case because I was so surprised by the twist and I want others to have that same experience. I have read other books that tried the same thing and it was not enjoyable, but Jennifer Weiner does a great job. What I didn’t enjoy was how much concentration was placed on Daphne’s weight. I get that her insecurity about her weight are part of the plot but sometimes it felt like too much. I didn’t need a reminder on what felt like every other page that she was overweight. I get it. This is a good entertaining summer read.

Big Summer is the perfect Summer read. Equal parts mystery and women's fiction, it gives a glimpse into several worlds from the influencer world, to the mega rich all while keeping a mostly down to earth protagonist that is easy to relate to and feels like a long lost friend. I am not one for mysteries ( aside from Sue Grafton novels RIP) but I really enjoyed how Weiner incorporated that element. There were times when I felt like, why are they chasing the "killer", instead of letting the police do its work but their chase added some depth to the story and characters and it didn't overshadow the other part of the story. This is one of those quintessential Beach reads for 2020. I couldn't put it down and finished it within 48 hours, staying up late to get to the end.

Jennifer Weiner does not surprise when it comes to tackling societal issues with irony and satire. Big Summer features Daphne Berg, a New Yorker who is working on establishing herself as an online influencer in fashion for large size women. Daphne lives with her college roommate, Darshi, and life is good. Drue Cavanaugh, an old private school classmate, and friend, shows up and asks for a favor.

Drue is the perfect looking girl Daphne has always adored. Immediately, the sense of danger permeates the story. No good can come from resuming a friendship with Drue. Darshi voices her concern and advises against having anything to do with Drue. She hurt Daphne deeply more than once and still has some power over her. The story's suspense builds from the moment Daphne agrees to be in Drue's wedding.

In the meantime, Daphne continues to wear clothes from a designer, Leel Katoon, who is building her brand for plus size women. Daphne photographs everything she wears and feels confident that she will become a well-known influencer in that particular area of fashion and continue to partner with Leel. She is happier than she has ever been now that she is free from school, where her weight was always an issue for her.

JW is a skillful writer, and while I am not a fan of her constant reference to Daphne's issues with weight, the book turned out to be much more. New characters come into the plot when the location changes to Cape Cod for Drue's wedding. Nothing is as it seems, and quick-fire events spice up the novel. I had to read it through to the end as fast as I could. This novel is sad, exciting, and hopeful. I recommend it as a fast-paced and well-written story!

Thank you to the author, Atria, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this May publication.