I always enjoy Jennifer Weiner novels. Weiner is masterful at weaving together stories with the perfect mix of contemporary issues, mystery, and family ties. That Summer does all of this, tackling the heavy issues of sexual assault and white male privilege. The two main protagonists, Diana and Daisy, embark on their own journeys to self-healing in a way that I found well-written and satisfying. I also loved Beatrice as a character! My only critique is that it was a little slow towards the middle, but by Part 4 I had forgiven the pacing issues for a story that I could not put down.

I'm a huge Jennifer Weiner fan so I was excited to read this one. It covered some heavier subject matter which I found surprising, but it wasn't bad. I felt the first half of the book was a little slow and I had trouble following along keeping up with the characters. But overall, I really enjoyed this book.

I’ve been a big fan of JW’s previous novels so I was excited to pick this one up. It wasn’t really what I was expecting, but it was still enjoyable and thought provoking. It was deeper and a bit darker than the previous novels I’ve read from her so it’s difficult to truly rate with a normal star rating. I was sucked in from start to finish so I think that speaks to the novel’s entertainment factor but when heavy topics like rape are involved, I have a difficult time rating. All in
All, I enjoyed the novel and I would recommend it with a strong reminder/trigger warning for sexual abuse/rape. Thank you atria and Netgalley for my free review copy.

Sadly, this one wasn't for me. I heard some mixed reviews on the book and that made me hesitate to start it, and when I finally did, my heart just wasn't in it. I do think it could be someone else's cup of tea andI might give it another chance down the road, but for now I'm just gonna set it aside!

This book was not what I expected, I was expecting a light summer read but this went deeper than that and I enjoyed it. The book took on some deeper subject matter regarding sexual assault and what I would consider the " good ole boys club". I believe there are so many woman who have gone through what Diana went through and that it was a good way to bring it to light and also the way boys were (are) sometimes raised with the attitude that causes the issue in the first place. Good job Jennifer for tackling such a strong topic.

A great choice for a beach day!

*spoiler alert*

For some reason I thought this was going to be more of a thriller. I’m not sure why - but it just seemed like someone should have been murdered 🤷🏼‍♀️… I kept being disappointed when it wasn’t happening 😂. Maybe I need to read a thriller next. Anyway, it was still a solid summer read that also took on some meaty topics such as date rape, toxic masculinity, the #metoo movement, etc.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I'm a fan of Jennifer Weiner and always look forward to her books. This story though was a bit of a stretch for me. Daisy and Diana, strangers to one another, have e-mail addresses that are different by only one character. Daisy accidentally receives a message meant for Diana, and somehow from that, they form a friendship. They're both experiencing dissatisfaction with their lives. Chapters alternate between their points of view as the past eventually catches up with the present. It didn't go the direction I expected and I found the ending to be somewhat dissatisfying. TRIGGER WARNING: THIS BOOK DEALS WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT.

That Summer was not a typical light summer read that I was used to reading by Jennifer Weiner. The book delved into much more serious matters. Despite this the book was still well written and enjoyable.

The link between past and present, the truth that was hidden until now… this book has so many twists and turns!

What I wouldn't give to step into someone else's life for just a little bit to have a reprieve from my daily grind! Daisy is my new hero!!

THAT SUMMER is the perfect book to let the reader escape into someone else's world for a little bit. Weiner consistently delivers smart, funny, and heartfelt books. This one is no different.

Synopsis: Daisy has started receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. While Daisy’s driving carpools, Diana is chairing meetings. While Daisy’s making dinner, Diana’s making plans to reorganize corporations. Diana’s glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy’s simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?
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This book looks like a beach read from the cover, and while parts of it do take place near a coastal town, I would not consider it a light read at all—this book tackles some HARD topics, including rape.
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This story shared some themes with a recent news story, and many reviews have accused Weiner of being partisan or politically motivated. That said, I do not agree with those reviews. This is (unfortunately) a scenario that many women have experienced, and the insinuation that women who talk about their rape are being “political” or have a particular agenda is extremely dangerous.
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I thought Weiner did a good job examining how rape and sexual assault don’t only affect the victim and the perpetrator, but their entire circles as well—children, spouses, parents, friends, and extended family members are all affected as well (to differing degrees).
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Ultimately, I thought that this book tackled a very important and timely issue with reverence and nuance. I did find some of the twists and turns slightly improbable, but ultimately this was a work of fiction and I was happy to suspend some disbelief in order to go along for the ride.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (out of 5 stars)

3.5
An interesting read with a plot that keeps one turning the pages, That Summer explores interesting material. How long are we responsible for actions of our youth? What is the moral/social obligation of an individual who made poor (even criminal) choices as a teenager? I enjoyed the subject and the female characters who were thoughtful and well created. However, I did not like the simplistic portrayal of Hal and other male characters. After a marriage of so many years, there would be countless happy and rewarding memories - the fact that Daisy (and Weiner) just focus and show the negatives (sharing just a few positive memories) seemed very simplistic and weakened the novel. I would have preferred to see some conflicting emotions in Hal (which I believe would be the case) given his love for Beatrice and Daisy. The role and behavior of Danny (Daisy's brother), also did not seem as well developed as it could be. This was a strong and readable novel but could have been better.

Jennifer Weiner once again returns to the shores of Cape Cod in her new novel. Last summer I read her novel Big Summer, which was also set on the Cape.

In this novel, we meet two women, Diana and Daisy, who first connect via an email sent to the wrong email address. Their email addresses have only one punctuation mark difference. The two women connect and meet up. Daisy is somewhat unsatisfied with her life in the Philadelphia suburbs and sees the older Diana as a having more exciting life as a business consultant. The two women strike up a friendship. But we learn, as pages go by that there is more that connects them than just their email addresses.

This is a another novel that speaks to the #metoo movement and how it has impacted the lives of everyday people. It talks about how a sexual assault can change the direction of a woman's life and always lingers in her mind. This was a very readable novel that was a bit heavier and more complex than standard "chick-lit" fare. I loved all the Cape Cod references. :)

This was a great book, well written and I enjoyed the story and character iine.

thank you for the advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

Jennifer Weiner, tho predictable, writes great books - lots of action, believable characters and scenarios that pull the reader in. Will definitely read more of her books.

That summer is the perfect beach read! I was immediately invested in the characters and the plot, and I love Jennifer Weiner’s writing overall (and she just keeps getting better).

I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner and have read almost everything she's published.
That Summer, while not a sequel, is connected to Big Summer. So if you read that one as well, you'll see some familiar characters.
The story follows two women who are connected by their initials and email addresses. They form an unlikely friendship and as the story progresses, they find out just how much they have in common.
This one has some twists and lots of secrets, so I won't spoil it, but definitely give this one a read if you're a fellow Jennifer Weiner fan, or just a fan of contemporary fiction.
Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Unfortunately, this didn’t work well for me. The storyline was not linear and was extremely confusing, as there was back and forth in time, but not presented clearly. So, what I thought was happening simultaneously was not at all.

Several of the characters were not fully developed, the daughter Beatrice, the brother, even Hal the husband. He was more of a caricature in this story, one-sided. Near the end we get a chapter for him, but it would have been a stronger book if his view was expanded. Or was the intention to portray him as this caricature?
There was subterfuge on character of Diane, which was never fully explained why. At first, I thought she was a con-person, or out to blackmail. Why this a major part of the story was, and still is, baffling.

Despite these faults the story I kept reading to find out how it would resolve and honestly, it wasn’t all that satisfying. The book felt like a good draft, but needed work, like the writing was rushed or something hurriedly done with. I am basing my review off a finished product, as I ended up listening to the audiobook. Thank you for the advance review copy, it is much appreciated.

Jennifer Weiner is the queen of summer reading and THAT SUMMER did not disappoint! Characters with depth, a story line that will make you think and want to discuss with your best book club friends, all set in the prettiest location. I love how Weiner weaves a story that is relevant with humor and real life emotions. She's one of my favorite writers and her books bring me joy. THAT SUMMER really hit the mark with its story and cast of characters. Five stars!