I liked this, but didn’t love it. It’s fine - just maybe a little basic. The Planned Parenthood plotline felt kind of shoehorned in there. And everything was too neatly resolved at the end. So, meh.

This is a very solid novel by Jennifer Weiner. Our main character Abby is overweight, but she's also extremely active as a bike rider. Abby is engaged to her doctor boyfriend, and her history with him goes all the way back to fat camp together as a kid. Two years ago, right before she became official with her doctor boyfriend, she had a one night stand with Sebastian.

When Abby is called in at the last minute to lead a bike trip, of course her one night stand Sebastian is on the trip. Eek! What I really liked is that we learn a few people's stories/perspectives on the trip that were very impactful.

1. This novel does have an abortion plotline. I know that plotline isn't for everyone, so I think it's worth calling out and not dancing around it. I thought this plotline was handled very well. It's not really skippable if you're just hoping to skip it because it is very much threaded through the novel.

2. I really loved how mother/daughter relationships were handled in this book. In the end, both mother/daughter relationships features were essentially handled in the same way despite being different topics.

3. I really liked how the book handled weight. Abby is more active than the vast majority of people. Just because she bikes hundreds of miles per week doesn't mean that she has to be 100 pounds.

In my romance novels, I do like nuance, particularly in the male characters. Mark's big downside that is stated over and over is that he doesn't ride a bike. I suppose the real issue is that he's not willing to learn a bike for even short trips to make his fiance happy, but it comes across as simplistic. Sebastian, the one night stand, has had hundreds of partners, but we are supposed to believe that Abby, who he didn't even really talk with before jumping into bed with her, is SO different from all the other women. I'd have to say my biggest problem with the novel is the men.

Overall, I found this novel very propulsive and a great summer read. The characters were interesting, and I really enjoyed the camaraderie that these folks had over the course of a bike trip. It weaves in contemporary issues and everlasting issues (mother/daughter relationships) in a seamless way.

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

I have been late to the game with reading Jennifer Weiner's books, I think this is only my 3rd & with her most recent books, so I am not sure what her earlier books are like. I quite like her style, a little humor without being silly, some romance & some serious topics thrown in.

Abby is what I guess we would call a full figured woman, has struggled with her weight since childhood, but mostly has struggled with other people's perception of her weight. She is also an avid bicyclist & has a steady boyfriend.

I can't say too much as I personally don't like very detailed reviews, which could include spoilers. But of the things I listed above, each of those items are included in this book, along with a group bike trek across NYS.

I really loved Abby & how she was within herself, no matter what other people thought she was & decided on who she was strictly based on her physical appearance.

I guess my one complaint was that a few things tied up a little too fast & tidy but overall an enjoyable story.

This was an adorable and fun read. I enjoyed reading about all the relationships, new and old. Along with current issues and how they effect relationships. There were some nice scenic descriptions too. Overall, this book was delicious! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This started out slow for me, but then became compulsively readable. There were a few things that didn’t work for me, but overall I ended up really enjoying it.

Abby has been dating a handsome doctor who doesn’t mind that she’s a bigger woman, even if he does sometimes toss her leftovers away before she was done with them. No, the sex isn’t as great as the one-night stand she had with a handsome stranger two years ago, and no, her career is definitely not where it should be, but basically life is going well for her. She’s healthy and loves cycling, she just also doesn’t mind carbohydrates. When she’s asked to fill in at the last minute to lead a cycling tour, she agrees, and is dismayed to learn about a couple of the folks on the trip she’ll be guiding. One of them is the one-night stand she had two years ago.

This is told mostly from Abby’s perspective, but also from some other of the cyclists on the trip. I sometimes found their stories more compelling than hers, but in the end I found it a satisfying and timely read.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, WHICH RELEASES AUGUST 29, 2023.

Weiner is FINALLY back in her groove. So glad to be reading what brought me to her in the first place after a few disappointments. This book seemed much more thoughtfully wand well thought out than anything I’ve read from her in a while. Love the self-empowered feminist main character!

I absolutely loved this!! What a great take down of diet culture and the difficulties that come with body neutrality and acceptance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of The Breakaway (release date 8/29/23). This was a wonderful summer read from one of my favorite authors!

Abby Stern feels stuck - by temporary jobs, a boyfriend who wants to get married, and pressure from her mother to lose weight. When she receives the opportunity to lead a group cycling retreat, Abby jumps at the chance. As an avid rider, it sounds like the perfect escape, and time to think about whether she wants to continue life with her boyfriend Mark. At the start of the trip, she is shocked to see someone from her past - a one-night stand that she hasn't forgotten about!

As someone who hardly rides bikes, I loved learning more about cycling through this book - the trip through New York sounded amazing! Though the story included a small jab at runners, which I laughed at and felt slightly offended from! The romantic tension between Abby and Sebastian was exciting, and I was hoping she would get rid of Mark and have some fun with Sebastian. The mother-daughter relationships were heartwarming once each character opened up, and I enjoyed the depiction of several family relationships. There were several more political hot topics included throughout, which I'm sure some will take offense to, though I did not. I enjoyed this one a lot!

This was a good read, I just wanted a little more from the ending. Overall I would recommend this to friends. I enjoyed learning more about the bike tours! And it was great to have a thirty something protagonist who doesn't have her life planned out.

We are told from the plot summary that 34-year-old Abby Stern is in "a happy place" with her life, however, this book is an examination of why she actually isn't as happy as she would like to be, or as she pretends to be to herself. She is offered the chance to lead a 2 week bike tour from NYC all the way along the Empire Trail to Niagara Falls, responsible for ensuring the patrons of the bike tour follow the route, and safety guidelines set forth by the tour company. On the tour just so happens to be a man she had a one night stand with 2 years ago, Sebastian, and her mother, Eileen, surprising her by joining the tour so that they can spend time together.
The book actually opens with the events of the evening that Abby and Sebastian met and hooked up, and it is the only spicy scene in the book, but it honestly surprised me how quickly the author jumped right into it, as it felt a bit different than her normal writing style. I am a longtime fan of Jennifer Weiner. I'm not opposed to a bit of spice in my books, and it made sense as an opener to the book, since the main plot of the book is exploring how Abby and Sebastian navigate crossing paths once again, and in fact we're presented with alternating narratives from both Abby and Sebastian, as well as chapters from the perspective of other people on the bike tour. There is a complicating event involving a young teenage girl and her mother on the tour that felt well done, and authentically handled.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this exploration of what it means to be happy, and fulfilled, in one's life. The writing was well done, and the plot moved quickly and kept my interest all throughout the book.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

If you have never experienced a Jennifer Weiner book, you are missing out! In The Breakaway, Abby is 34 year old woman struggling to find her place in life. She feels like she is living a young adult life not the life of a 34 year old. Her boyfriend, Mark, has his life together but is it worth it? On a whim, she accepts a job taking a group of people on a bicycle tour through upstate New York to Niagara Falls. Her favorite place to be in is riding her bicycle. Surely being the leader of the group is no different, right?! That depends on who you are leading.
I have been following and reading everything Jennifer Weiner has written since Good In Bed, her debut. I love her writing and her take on everyday life. Her characters are far from perfect and are so loveable. The Breakaway goes back and forth between the past and the present time but it flows nicely and is easy to differentiate where you are. Weiner's writing is perfect and so enjoyable. I read this book in two days! I will always read anything Weiner publishes and will always recommend her writing to others. Special thanks to Jennifer Weiner, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Super engaging, bingeable, and enjoyable! I really enjoyed the alternating POVs and how we got to really get to know the biking group, while Abby and Sebastian remained the main characters - Weiner did a great job of really keeping the attention on them while exploring the whole group dynamics. The writing was great, and I think Weiner did a fantastic job of tackling so many important issues. I didn't think the cheating part needed to be included, and I really don't like cheating in books. I get that is what the book kind of builds too, but still it wasn't needed. Overall, I will recommend it.

I was gifted an eARC of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Abby was extremely relatable in her struggles and feelings. As a thirty something, it is such a time of finding one’s true self and Abby’s character embodies this. I loved that Jennifer Weiner focused on more than Abby’s story though. She included real life issues that are often overlooked or not discussed. I do wish that we were able to delve a little further into each of the characters stories though as I felt that they could be further developed to make the story that much better.

I really enjoyed this story. It flowed well and though there were a few characters it was easy to understand what was going on. I liked how the chapters alternates between characters. I also liked how each character brought their own story to the bike ride, and seeing their story unfold as the bike ride progressed.

Thank you @goodreads for this giveaway book win.

I’m a big fan of Jennifer Weiner and have read all of her novels. I was surprisingly disappointed with her latest offering.

Abby is a plus size woman and avid cyclist, as is Jennifer Weiner. I’m sure the author has used her experiences as inspiration for this story.

Abby is foundering in her life goals and feeling conflicted about Mark, her boyfriend of 2 years’ invitation to move in together. She therefore, jumps at her friend’s invitation to lead a last minute cycling trip, hoping the time away will bring some much needed clarity.

Abby is horrified to learn that her mother, Eileen signed up for the trip. Their relationship has been shaky ever since her mother forced her to go to weight loss camp as a teen. Abby also cannot believe that Sebastian, a man she had a steamy one night stand with two years ago, is also a participant.

The bike ride has suddenly gotten a lot more complicated….

***SPOILERS

My main problem with the book was the unlike-ability of Abby. I wanted to embrace this book, hoping it would be an ode to empowerment and body positivity. Abby actually listing a reason she might need to break up with Mark as “he doesn’t eat sugar” seems to negate that message. Mark, having had gastric bypass surgery, is dedicated to more restrictive eating than Abby.

Abby cheating on Mark on the bike trip with Sebastian also was offensive to me. She reiterates a lot in the novel about how Mark has loved her as she is for years-this seems to be a horrible way to treat him.

There is also a subplot about a mother and daughter on the trip. The 15 year old daughter is trying to get an abortion without her mom’s knowledge and turns to participants on the bike trip for help. I have appreciated that Jennifer Weiner has embraced darker subjects in her books, including sexual assault and the COVID pandemic. However, this seemed to be way out of place and the makings of a different novel. I also feel it further detracted from the Abby/Sebastian storyline which in my opinion, warranted further exploration.

I will continue to seek out her novels but his one was a definite miss for me.

A woman with an unsettled future leads a biking trip with a group that includes her mother and an old boyfriend. This makes for an interesting trip.

I received this ARC a few weeks ago but saved it for summer vacation. I have read a newly released Jennifer Weiner at the start of every summer for a few years now, and I was so happy to receive this ARC to kick off summer with a great read. And then I gobbled it all up in one day!

Weiner's writing is always heartwarming, and her characters are people I wish I knew in real life. This novel, The Breakaway, is full of heart, romance, and finding yourself. I love Weiner's approach to health at every size and how she cuts down diet culture. I hope the message is received in the world that all bodies are good bodies. I hope that Abby's struggles with diet culture and growing up as a fat girl will resonate with readers and help build empathy. Reading about a fat girl who exercises for the joy of movement is a hell of a refreshing read. And reading about her finding herself and love is the icing on the cake.

This book tackles many women's issues, and I look forward to sharing it with readers in my life. I think that the multi-generational approach to these issues in the book is a great way to showcase how we grow and learn.

As always, I loved this Jennifer Weiner book and look forward to buying a hard copy for my ELA 12 classroom.

My review of The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner is thanks to an ARC from #NetGalley.

I always know Jennifer Weiner's books will be a hit with me and The Breakaway is no exception. I love how the author channeled her passion for cycling to create a fantastic feminist novel. The focus on abortion, women's rights and girl power is a home run in my book. Abby's struggles with confidence, self-love and finding her way in the world feel authentic and important. Despite her questionable choices along the way, I still rooted for her to find her to keep riding to find her true path.

Jennifer Weiner was one of my favorite authors many years ago. I thought she did a really good job with this one. She tells the story of Abby, a 30 something single woman that has had a difficult relationship with her mother. She has always felt that she was a disappointment to her mother, as she had a weight problem and her mother had the perfect figure. She was sent to a fat camp as a child and met a boy named Mark there that was the only boy that had ever made her feel beautiful and worthwhile. Now, she's struggling to figure out what she wants to do with her life. The thing that she loves to do is ride her bike. It has given her freedom since she was a child. A friend asks her to lead a bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, and she takes the job. She has reconnected with Mark and he wants to marry her, but she's just not that into him. This will give her a chance to get away and think about what she wants to do. When she meets with the people that are signed up for the trip, she runs into Sebastian, a man that she had a brief fling with. He's on the trip. So is her mother. Things get very complicated while they take their ride and I appreciated the stories of the different people that were on the trip as well as Abby's story. Weiner does a good job of describing the mother/daughter relationship and the miscommunications that can develop. I recommend this book to Weiner fans as well as for anyone looking for an easy read that explores relationships in the present day. I would like to thank SS Atria Marketing and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Fun and Immensely Satisfying Ride

SUMMARY
Abby Stern, 34, is completely happy with who she is. Despite not having a full-time job, having a messy apartment, and carrying too much weight, she is really happy. She has good friends, her bike, her Philadelphia bike club, and she is at peace with her lifelong battle with weight. Her boyfriend, Mark, loves her just the way she is too!

Mark and Abby met at a weight-loss camp when they were children. They reconnected a few years ago and have been together ever since. Mark is now a podiatrist and half the size he used to be. He adores Abby, despite their differences in weight, tidiness, exercise, and healthy eating. Mark has asked Abby to move in together, but Abby can’t help but think something is missing. She just isn’t sure.

Now Abby is nervously leading a 750 miles Bicycle Tour on the Empire State Trail from New York City to Niagara Falls with a dozen riders. And just to make things interesting, two of those riders are known to her. One is her unwelcome, uninvited, and supercritical mother, and the other is Sebastian, a man she had an incredible fling with over two years ago on a girls’ weekend. She never saw him again until now. Isn’t this just going to be a fun ride!


Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.
-Albert Einstein.


REVIEW

THE BREAKAWAY is a perfect title for this charming book, in both the context of the bicycle tour and in defining Abby’s life itself. It has romance and high drama written all over it, and the final pages will have you cheering. The read is fun and immensely satisfying. One of life’s pleasures is to read a book simply for enjoyment. This book is enjoyable.

Author Jenifer Weiner’s writing is expertly crafted and cleverly layered, with many issues that Abby must handle on the bike tour. The book touches on real-life issues such as weight shaming, serial dating, infidelity, abortion, and mother/daughter conflict, which Weiner handles with professionalism and care.

Abby’s character was delightfully real. She is realistic about who she is, her present lifestyle, and her uncertainty about her future. She is nervous about being responsible for the people on this 750-mile bike ride, but she is confident in her abilities to take on the challenge. I enjoyed getting to know such a self-assured and composed woman. When faced with controversy or danger, Abby was always the poised and cool-headed ride leader.

Weiner is a graduate of Princeton and the bestselling author of 21 books which most recently include: The Summer Place (2022), That Summer (2021), and Big Summer (2020). Jennifer lives with her family in Philadelphia.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


I do not wish [women] to have power over men: but over themselves.
– Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Women


Publisher Simon & Schuster
Published August 29, 2023
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com