I look forward to every book written by Jennifer Weiner. That Summer lived up to my anticipation. Weiner writes about trauma and the impact it has over a lifetime and the far-reaching damage it does. She is an excellent storyteller who makes the reader feel like the characters could be someone they know.

This was such a wonderful take on a serious subject. I really liked the characters, even though they are completely different than I. I enjoyed reading about the scenery/geography, and the food all sounded delicious! The way the story unfolds and the the subject matter is dealt with, is very engaging. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

When two Dianas' similar email addresses cause a mix-up, it all seems like a strange coincidence.... or is it? Touching on the #metoo movement, with elements of Brent Kavanaugh and Stanford rapid Brock Turner's stories, with That Summer author Weiner asks both how would you react if the worst happened to you and also how well do we know the people we love? The book brings up issues of privilege, friendship, marriage, family, teenage identity and more. While the first part of the book that goes back and forth in time was a little choppy, by halfway through I was hooked and finished reading in one evening. This is not a light read, but it is a good book that I recommend.

Jennifer Weiner’s latest book takes the reader back to the Outer Cape where Big Summer took place, in fact there is a quick, fleeting reference to some of the characters and storyline. That Summer is not a sequel, so no need to read Big Summer first.

I was drawn into the story, the drama, and generally liked the characters, albeit empathetic for the paths theirs lives had taken. I loved the details about Daisy’s cooking, Beatrice’s crafting and Diana’s decoupaged oyster shells. The stereotypical prep school boys and their escapades were more cringe worthy and the subject matters were difficult to read at times. It got heavy. My heart went out to both Daisy and Diana throughout.

My daughter had to read Ibsen’s A Doll’s House in her 10th grade English class this year, and having never read it, I joined her. In many ways, That Summer plays out as a modern version of the play with similar #metoo realizations and lessons. Beatrice recognizes it having read the play in 10th grade and mentions it to her mother who then downloads it and reads it straight through in a night. The comparisons that can be drawn between Torvald and Hal and Nora and Daisy are fascinating.

Overall, I recommend this book! It’s worth adding to your beach bag this summer. Just be prepared - it’s not a light read. The writing is good. Thank you to @AtriaBooks and NetGalley for sending me an ARC. That Summer comes out on 5/11.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Genre: women's fiction
Pub date: May 11
Rating: 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Recommend?: Yes - just be aware of the trigger warnings

Daisy Shoemaker and Diana Starling couldn't be more different, but their similar email addresses set them on a path to friendship. Homemaker Daisy's not sure why the glamorous consultant Diana wants to be her friend, but she's excited to spend time with her. However, Diana's not just looking for friendship and cooking lessons - she has ulterior motives yet to be revealed...

Don't judge a book by its cover - this may look like a light beach read, but there's a lot more emotional heft here. This book is placed firmly in the #MeToo era, there is discussion of sexual assault, and Weiner's characters grapple with the consequences of past events and our patriarchal society. I didn’t know this when I started reading, so I wanted to make sure to bring it up in this review so others will be aware.

What I love about Jennifer Weiner's writing is how she explores female friendship and the choices women make over the course of their lives. It's clear that women can't have it all, and Weiner does a great job showing us different paths different women take, and the sacrifices and compromises along the way. This book feels similar in tone to her earlier work Mrs. Everything, so definitely pick it up if you liked that one.

I loved spending time with Daisy and Diana, and I'm sure other readers will feel the same. Daisy's daughter Beatrice was a great addition to the story, bringing a younger point of view to the issues examined. Even though I wouldn't say this is a beach read, it's partially set in Truro on Cape Cod, and Weiner made that town come alive.

I LOVED this book. Jennifer Weiner has always been a favorite author of mine, and once again, she did not disappoint.

I read half of this book in an evening, and then went to bed thinking about it, and finished immediately upon waking the next morning.

Two Dianas are seemingly thrown together in a twist of fate and become friends. Both are battling demons, one from her past and one from her present. They lean on each other and rely on each other to get through life....but neither woman is being entirely truthful with the other.

A great story with an excellent connection, I would recommend this book to anyone.

Trigger warning: there is significant discussion and descriptions of rape.

I always look forward to Jennifer Weiner’s newest book and was so thankful I was granted early access to her latest, Last Summer.
One day Daisy (short for Dianna) gets an email meant from someone else. Down on her luck and just feeling lonely, she replies to the email and forms a friendship with the sender, another Dianna.
Is Dianna really as perfect as she seems?
Was this really a coincidence or does Dianna really have a motive here?
Why is Dianna asking so many questions about Hal, Daisy’s husband?
The book alternates between both women’s point of view and past/present. At first, it was definitely a bit challenging, figuring out who was who, but it all comes together and makes sense fairly quickly.
So you are aware…it does focus heavily on the sensitive subject of the #metoo movement.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s so much more than your typical “beach read”, which is just how I like it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Weiner tackles the difficult aftermath of a sexual assault in her latest novel. Deception, lies and consequences fuel the plot as the main characters grapple with identity and moving forward with their lives. This is not a beach read, but fans of Weiner's sharp prose will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First, I would like to say that Mrs. Everything is one of my favorite reads and I gave it five stars.

This, however, I just couldn't finish. It might be for someone else, but it's not for me. The plot had me bored and I was not invested in the characters or storyline whatsoever. I feel like Weiner had her writing method developed in her prior books and has somewhat deviated from it with her last two books and I'm not quite sure why. This was a letdown for me, but maybe some will enjoy it, I just couldn't find myself caring about anyone in it enough to finish.

2.5 stars.

Jennifer Weiner is one of my auto read authors so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her new novel, That Summer. The story began a little confusing and it took me a few chapters to understand what was happening. Once I caught up, I couldn’t get enough. I love the character Diana. She is a strong woman who struggled in the aftermath of a terrible experience. I loved watching her get her ‘revenge’. This book is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys strong characters overcoming the negative in life.

I am a fan of Jennifer Weiner books and this is her best book yet!.This is a highly suspenseful story of two Dianas who are connected through the events that happened one summer at Cape Cod. This book is not a light beach read but instead delves into past mistakes and forgiveness.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
Publisher - Atria Books
Publish Date- 11 May 2021
Rating - 3.25/5 Stars

***Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and of course, Jennifer Weiner for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.


I have a complex relationship with Jennifer Weiner. I used to adore her books. But I have to say, I feel like her last couple have all been the exact same - down to the title of last summer's and this one! Her plots always seem to follow the same concept - female best friends and I just want more! With that being said, I did like this one more than last year's Big Summer, but this was still not her best.

I am glad the book brought attention to the #MeToo movement, although there was no real resolution of consequences for the abusers. I also felt the twist was very obvious from the beginning! I also found that Daisy’s daughter would not get away with the way she acted in this book in real life.

I do recommend this book, but do realize it is very similar to JW's other books of recent publication. If you want something different, I would say skip.

phone book and I’d happily read every page. “That Summer” is an extremely powerful take on today’s social climate relating to the #metoo movement, generational difference and gender norms.

I really don’t want to go in depth on the synopsis of the book because I think it’s fairly easy to figure out what the plot is once you 2 chapters in so I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I’ll just say that it’s a pretty common trope these days but Wiener makes the story feel fresh and oddly hopeful.

Wiener also gives us 3 of the most amazing female characters: Diana, Daisy and Beatrice. Honestly, if I don’t get a sequel with Beatrice as the main character I will write a letter to the editor because I want to be her when I grow up! Are these women damaged and sometimes unable to see how strong they are? Yes, but aren’t we all like that at times?

Overall, another strong novel from Jennifer Wiener. I might suggest some Trigger Warning language at the beginning of the book but ultimately I think this book is a really important read.

Jennifer Weiner, once again took me by surprise with the level of complexity and topics covered in this book. I think it's the book covers that always make me think I'm going to be reading a light beach read, and in my opinion, this was far from that.

The story follows two women, both named Diana, who meet after one starts accidentally receiving the other's emails. While it seems like a coincidence at the time, the reader learns quickly there is a whole tangle of reasons these two are being brought together.

I loved the sub-stories of Diana's time spent working in a Cape Cod restaurant, and the other Diana's time attempting to parent he, rather eccentric, daughter. With strong themes along with the #metoo movement, this book brought up a lot of important issues for discussion. I did feel like it was a little long toward the end, though the ending itself was satisfying. This would make a great read for a book club discussion and I once again appreciate Weiner diving into such important topics in a readable way.

Thank you to Atria Books for my gifted copy.

That Summer isn’t your typical beach read. It is the summer of 1985. It does start out as the beach with 15 year old Diana offered a dream job as a mother’s helper for a summer on Cape Cod. The summer is idyllic. One afternoon Diana joins her new friends at Great Hollow Beach a hangout for teenagers . Diana meets Poe , a student who graduated from Emlen Academy who is spending the summer in a cottage with friends before they head off to college. Diana was hoping to find love this summer and she thought Poe was the one. The” best night of her life “ turns out to be the biggest mistake of her life.

That Summer is the story of Diana , Daisy and Daisy’s daughter Beatrice.
Daisy appears to have it all yet she can’t sleep. Daisy is the perfect wife and mother. But she was a worrier , she most worries about Beatrice her strong willed feminist daughter who seems to be struggling with school, she worries about her Mother , she worries about 12 year old Lester their beagle / basset hound and last of all her husband Hal. Did he love her? Had he ever loved her ? Was he having an affair?
For 6 months Daisy , who has an email address of DianaS @EarthLink has been receiving emails for Diana.S@Earthlink . We learn that Daisy’s real name is Diana. The other Diana seems to have more fun than Daisy. Daisy writes back to Diana and their friendship begins. Diana is Daisy’s sounding board. As Daisy’s dear deceased friend Hannah once remarked “ for old married ladies like them, making a new friend was the closest they could get to falling in love .”

All is not what it seems though. Who is Diana really? Is she the 15 year old Diana from the beach or is Daisy the Diana from the beach?? The reader does learn at 25% in that Diana is not the successful business women she appears to be . Diana has an agenda and even though Daisy is sweet , young and innocent , Diana is going to hurt her , whether she wanted to or not. It was too late to stop now.
The book continues with the back stories of Daisy and Diana along with their current lives.
As the story continues Daisy gains the strength to reflect on her life and begins to question her life with Hal.

I love that the story ends with Beatrice. She is the strongest character of the book and she was my favorite. More Beatrice please.

4 stars.

I enjoyed the story and I have the audiobook preordered from Audible.

Thank you to Atria Book and Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the advance readers copy of Jennifer Weiner’s upcoming book That Summer for my honest review. It’s out on May 5, 2021.

Jennifer Weiner is one of my auto-read authors and I really enjoyed her latest book, That Summer. Weiner is a masterful writer and is able to cover a heavy topic with grace and poise. As always, the writing is beautiful and the characters are realistic. The story felt very real and authentic. Given everything going on in the world, I think this is a timely release. I don't want to give much more away, but I would recommend this book!

On the surface, Daisy Shoemaker has the perfect life: a doting lawyer husband, a loving daughter, and her own cooking business. But underneath, she's full of doubts. Her husband is distant, her teenage daughter resentful, and her business--just something to keep her "occupied." Daisy's been receiving emails lately, meant for another woman named Diana, Daisy's given name. This Diana, a business consultant, seems glamorous and wealthy. When Diana invites Daisy to lunch, she impulsively says yes. But as the two form a friendship, Daisy starts to wonder if their connection was purely accidental. What exactly does Diana want from Daisy?

"For the last six months, Daisy had been receiving emails that she realized were intended not for her, but for the other Diana."

This is not a light and airy beach read, but a serious book that focuses in on the recent #MeToo topic. Much of the book doesn't even take place on the promised Cape setting. Does that mean it's not worth a read? Not at all. Weiner's constructed a compelling and heartfelt tale, with characters that pull you into the story. It feels a little reminiscent of some other #MeToo stories I've read recently, but I was still glued to the pages, wondering what had happened in Diana's past and how things would turn out for everyone.

There's a bit of a mystery here, but it's not too hard to figure out how everything pieces together. The real focus is the characters. We have Daisy, insecure and struggling in her marriage to Hal, a wealthy and arrogant man more than a decade older than her. It's clear Hal takes Daisy for granted--and that may be letting him off easy. Their daughter, Beatrice, was a favorite of mine: an original teen, with her own unique way of living her life. Beatrice's scenes stood out; she's a character I won't soon easily forget. We also have Daisy's brother, Danny, and his husband Jesse. And then there's the "other" Diana, who worms her way into Daisy's life. Can we trust her? Diana was a memorable character to me as well, along with someone close to her. (I don't want to say much more for spoilers.)

The book is told mainly from Daisy, Diana, and Beatrice's perspectives. It goes back and forth in time. It's a little confusing in the beginning, getting the timeline straight and how all the characters relate. Once I got that down, it was a fast read. Some of it may be a little predictable, but it's in turns sad, heartwarming, and funny. I loved Beatrice, as mentioned, and the dynamic between Daisy and Diana was well-written. Weiner does a good job of exploring how class and privilege relate to sexual assault (a definite trigger warning for rape in this story) and the repercussions of rape across individuals, families, and friends. She focuses, too, on the importance of accepting those you love for who they are, no strings attached.

Overall, I'm quite glad I picked this one up. Despite some of the vague familiarity to other #MeToo books, for the most part, it felt refreshing and interesting. It certainly held my attention and brought to light the important topic of rape and its aftermath. The characters here are well-drawn, and I'll always have a place in my heart for dear Beatrice.

Jennifer Weiner is an automatic read author for me, especially since I've really enjoyed her last few books. I have very mixed feelings about this one though.
Daisy is a suburban wife who is satisfied as long as she doesn't think too much about her life. She is mysteriously contacted by Diana and strikes up a friendship. But Diana has ulterior motives for getting into Daisy's life.
I didn't like this book, although I don't think you're supposed to "like" it. Weiner writes about a heavier topic here and shows a woman looking for her own type of revenge. I admire what she was writing about but I'm not sure I would read this again if I'd known what it was about or if I would ever suggest this book to anyone. Not a total miss but not a light and cheery summer book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

Important, poignant and intense. This novel needs to be read. Loved the characters. Cried laughed cheered and hoped for redemption.

I really enjoyed this one! It felt a little slow at times but I loved how well both daisy and Diana’s perspectives were written. My favorite was Beatrice but the author did a phenomenal job tackling the delicate subject of sexual assault.