As much as I wanted to love this story, it wasn’t my favorite Jennifer Weiner book. I have always enjoyed her books, and while this one still had the interwoven stories of women. And the struggles they face from early childhood, to teenagers, to young women, to adults.. this one left me feeling a little lacking. Although Daisy & Diana’s stories are vastly different with a common thread that brings them together, it felt a little disjointed at times. However, the theme of understanding, forgiveness, and retribution.. to right a grievous wrong inflicted echoed in my heart.

Brilliant. I love Jennifer Weiner’s writing style she does something special. Such a good book. I love how many twists and turns there are that keep the reader guessing!

Jennifer Weiner’s latest novel, That Summer, had me thinking about it for awhile after finishing it. It is a tale that starts off with the promise of a young teenage girl getting to experience a little bit of freedom for the summer as a nanny on Cape Cod. There is a plot twist to the book and it is hard to share the Daisy/Diana stories without giving too much away. I enjoyed the way the story was crafted, and yet the way Diana handled her own story made me very conflicted. I also found it troubling in the way that the people around Diana seemed to not stop her from trying to resolve her own inner demons/struggles.

That Summer is definitely a great book for a book club and further discussion, even introspection!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Similar to Jennifer Weiner’s last book Big Summer, That Summer appears like a fluffy beach read if you’re judging the book by it’s cover. Inside, you’ll be surprised to find a deeper book with the intricacies of female friendships, mystery, and love. Be sure to pick up this book for your next vacation. It will not disappoint.

Thank you to Jennifer Weiner, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

That Summer is billed as a beach read but I would say if you are looking for an easy read to take on your summer vacation this isn't it. There is a heavy story line here that sadly most women can probably relate to on some level. I enjoyed the friendship between the two Dianas as well as Beatrice's perspective. It was a well put together and written book. I am hoping that in Jennifer Weiner's next book we see these characters again!

I always like Jennifer Weiner. This story was well-told, but there were so many places where I had to suspend disbelief. I feel like the ending was a bit rushed and unrealistic. I would have loved to have seen more interaction or information about Daisy's relationship with her mother and brother.

This is the PERFECT book for Summer. Or for the Beach. Or for anything. Haha. Jennifer Weiner has always been a favorite of mine. Her writing is top notch while also being easy reading. Also, her characters are always relatable and enjoyable to read about. That Summer's pacing was excellent. I could not put it down which makes it an absolute gem of a novel for the Summer.

This book is an intricate web, it took some time for me to get into and then I couldn’t put it down. The story is not a light read it premises is about a rape. She weaves the characters together beautifully with some twists and turns.

On Jennifer Weiner's tiktok, she posted a very funny video about a talk show she had taped where the other books the host was talking about were "fun" and the next " The Devil Wears Prada". But then she felt she had to warn her audience that Jennifer's book deals with very heavy subject, as if that were a bad thing. I want my books to deal with heavy subjects. And this one does it in a fabulous way. I could not put it down.

I had read Good in Bed many years ago and loved it but had not picked up a Weiner book since until Mrs. Everything. I don't even know why. She writes about women in a real and honest way and I love that. She will be an automatic buy for me from now on.

I have to say Jennifer Weiner continues to surprise me. Book one in her Cape Cod trilogy (Big Summer) was super thriller-ish and I loved it - but holy unexpected! Now, you may think this one is a light beach read... but my friends, you would be very wrong.

That Summer dives into #MeToo head on, as the main character comes face to face with her past and a sexual assault that occurred years ago. She serendipitously meets someone who may or may not be connected to the assault - who is in desperate need to confront some truths she’s been avoiding as well.

This one was deep, it was thoughtful and current, but it's also a very generous balance of heavy and light with enough mystery to keep you flipping through pages... and in true JW style - you won't want to put it down until you've reached the very end.

I love books by Jennifer Weiner and That Summer was so well done. It was a tough read and I couldn’t put it down. Part mystery, part family drama, I am going to be thinking about this one for awhile. A 5 Star read for sure!

Certain authors come to mind when the phrase “summer reads” is heard. Jennifer Weiner is one of those authors. That Summer is a quick, easy summer read, but that doesn’t mean it’s light or fluffy. Weiner tackles relevant, timely subject matter in this book. I did find parts of it to be a little predictable but overall it was a solid entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner touched on a range of topics including sexual assault, relationships, identity and trauma. Told in different narratives, you pieced together what happened back when Diana was 15 years old and the ripple effect it had. Weiner dealt with a difficult subject matter in a beautiful way. My only critique was that the ending felt a bit rushed and I didn't feel like we got resolution for Diana.

Her books are always some of my favorites and this one is no different. Jennifer Weiner has a talent for making you love the characters even when flawed.

I enjoyed it, but you need to know that this book is A LOT. It is a heavier read - it isn’t your typical beach book that I would expect from Jennifer Weiner. I’m not sure if this is a spoiler or not, so be warned: the book opens with the sexual assault of a high schooler. I do think that Jennifer Weiner did a great job with telling Diana’s story, and I’m definitely glad I read the book. I listened to the audiobook version of this, and it was really well done.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC!

I was not a fan of this one but perhaps it’s just me.

I thought it was entirely too long. The material was extremely heavy and it was absolutely not what I expected from the way it was marketed. I loved the author’s last book, and was very excited to read this one. I’d say about halfway through, I realized I was not going to rate this more than 3-stars. I know some really loved it, and the story structure and writing was good, however due to the book’s heavy themes and excessive length, I lost interest quickly.

3-stars because some of these thoughts are just personal preferences.

Thank you to #netgalley and @Atriabooks for an advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars

This is a story about an unspeakable act, revenge, and unlikely friendships.

Two women with the same initials and only a period separates their email addresses. What seems to be a coincidence that leads to a friendship is not all that it seems.

I went into this book blind, and I am glad I did. For that reason, I am going to be sparse with the details. The element of not knowing how these two women connected had me intrigued and turning the pages, but it took me until I reached the 25% mark to connect with the characters. Once I hit this part of the book, I couldn’t put it down. All becomes clear early on, but how things will play out is a bit of a mystery.

The narrative alternates between Daisy and Diana, but there are a few additional POV's mixed in. Both are struggling with their identities and finding their voices, but for very different reasons. The timeline also alternates between the past and the present, leading to a heartbreaking revelation.

Overall, I felt like Weiner tried to pack in a few too many characters and storylines. Because of the cover and title, I thought I was getting a mindless beach read, but the content is heavy and centers around a sexual assault. I also found the ending a bit anticlimactic and a little too easy for such a complicated and horrific situation.

At the same time, I grew to love both Diana and Daisy’s characters, and Weiner always knows how to reel me in. While this book isn't perfect, it is worth reading, especially to see an unlikely friendship transform into a powerful force capable of healing and enacting change.

Trigger warning: sexual assault

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. . That Summer tells the story of trauma and revenge and the unlikely friendships that develop because of it. It was a slow start, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they connected with one another. The cover of the book is deceiving as I thought this was a summer beach read, but the content is heavy and centers around sexual assault and how it effects the lives of all those involved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story and did not expect the twist. Jennifer Weiner has always been one of my favorite authors and her books just keep getting better!

Jennifer Weiner is one of my go-to authors for Women's Fiction. This reminded me of why! I was hooked from the beginning and was honestly sad that it ended because I liked it so much!