Jennifer Weiner is a popular author I have read in the past. This book about Abby shows her love of cycling and trying to figure out her life.
I thought it was a good read, but it was a lot going on.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

The opening prologue was really a sweet way to introduce Abby. I'm normally annoyed by prologues or left wishing we were told that story instead, but I did really enjoy this one.

Abby herself is likeable, and I was definitely rooting for her to find love and figure out her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

Thirty-four-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. She’s got good friends, her bike, and her bike club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry her childhood sweetheart, Mark, whom she met as a young teenager at a weight loss camp. Mark is arguably the perfect boyfriend- loving, kind, and attentive---and and he's a doctor. Mark is ready to move their relationship to the next level and have Abby move in with him, but a one-night stand a few years earlier with Sebastian, a playboy from Brooklyn, has left her with doubts about Mark being "the one".

When Abby is offered the chance to lead a 2 week bike trip on New York's Empire Trail she decides time and space from Mark are just what she needs to sort out her feelings. The bike trip consists of 14 different characters of varying age groups and backgrounds, including Abby's mom (a last minute surprise) and Sebastian. Some of these characters are very well fleshed out and others are mentioned so infrequently that I found myself saying, "who?" when they would come up again.

There were a lot of plotlines, perhaps too many. I didn't really like Morgan's plotline. I feel like that could have been a whole book by itself and having it stuck in here just seemed weird and like it didn't really do it justice. There was also a bit of preachiness and too much social/political commentary attached to this storyline for my liking.

I also felt like Lily and Eileen's backgrounds were just a little too neatly tied up. Everything was just a little too convenient for me.

I liked Abby and Sebastian as characters and I felt like they were both believable and nuanced. I liked reading about a plus sized girl who was comfortable and fit and happy. It's refreshing.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, despite a few criticisms. There are definitely a few triggering topics in it so readers should be aware of that and do more research before diving in. Thanks @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I run hot and cold with Weiner. This was on the colder side. It's not a BAD book exactly, just predict and a bit trite. Light quick read, but I'm used to Weiner creating more developed characters
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors. I call her my "Philly woman," since I grew up in Philly and love reading about the places she describes in her books. The Breakaway seems to mirror Ms. Weiner's most recent adventure - cycling, alone and in groups. Her love of cycling is obvious in the pages of her latest book and fun to read. The story is also about Abby, a thirty-something woman, trying to figure out life, trying to figure out whether or not to move in with her loving but boring boyfriend and finding temptation with another man. Some of my favorite Jennifer Weiner books involve some of the more serious issues in life - In Her Shoes, Mrs. Everything. The Breakaway does address some serious issues but is, for the most part, just a pleasurable read - something to enjoy when life itself is too heavy or busy to want to dive right into issues. A great getaway of a read.

I enjoy Jennifer Weiner's books and The Breakaway was no exception! I found the main character, Abby, likable and the story was fun and lighthearted. A perfect beach read or vacation read and while it was all leading towards a more predictable ending, it was still satisfying when it happened. It touched on some relatable topics and family dynamics, but it never felt too dark. After some serious, heavy books, I am always appreciative of Jennifer Weiner and her style of writing.

I was very excited to read this book and have loved everything by this author but I admit this one was a bit of a disappointment.
The story of Abby's life struggles with men, with her weight and body image, with her mother and with her career was rather trite and predictable. It lagged for me in the middle and I had to put it down and take a break before finishing.
Not Weiner's finest work I found The Breakaway to be a bit trite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Glad I got a chance to read this early. Interesting setting. Got a little boring at times. Will be very popular, but it's not as good as her older books. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

As a long time Jennifer Weiner fan - I can say this book does not disappoint. This is a wonderful book that explores current culture issues while weaving in relationship issues and growth. Another excellent read - thank you NetGalley and publisher for this opportunity to read this delightful book.

"The Breakaway" is an enjoyable read from Jennifer Weiner with a likable main character who goes through ups and downs while looking for love and struggling with body image issues. Fans of the author will love this! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved Abby and her journey in this book! It’s so rare that a plus character is shown from a perspective of love, she was such a fun and interesting character.
The book was a fast read, and all of the relationship dynamics between all of the different characters kept me hooked.

I really enjoyed this romantic story! It fit the mold of a rom-com in a comforting way and I enjoyed the various plots and characters. It's perfect for a quick, feel-good read.

This may be my favorite Jennifer Weiner book I have read in years. The premise was unlike most romantic comedy books. The book explores what happens when your only one-night stand reappears in your life two years later. From fat camp romances to weeks long bike trips, this book entertained through the bumps in the road and flat tires. There was a complexity to this novel that romcoms often lack. I’m not sure everybody doesn’t already want to read a book with Jennifer Weiner’s name on it, but if you are one of the few who is unsure, I recommend this book!

Abby is a thirty something woman in a relationship with Mark. Mark was Abby's first boyfriend. They met as teenagers when away at fat camp and were able to reconnect as adults. Mark seems perfect, he is kind and hardworking- a doctor and he has worked hard to keep off the weight that plagued him during his teen years. Mark is looking for commitment and would like for them to move in together. Abby is feeling stressed by this decision and agrees to lead a bike tour from NYC to Niagra Falls, hoping to figure things out while she is away.

It is a surprise to both when one of the tour members is Sebastian a one-night stand from several years ago. On one hand this was an entertaining and interesting read, but while being entertaining it was able to tackle several topics such as body image, mother/daughter relationships and abortion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I love Jennifer but this one didn’t do it for me. I really enjoyed aspects of the novel
But some subplots were just too much for leisure reading including teen abortion and “himbo” behavior.

The Breakaway
By Jennifer Weiner
Atria
Pub Date: August 29, 2023
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Chic Lit
This novel was disappointing to me. I found this book to be predictable and superficial
It’s the story of Abby Stern, overweight and unhappy. Trigger: abortion
This is the second Weiner book I have tried and I know many love her books, but for me it’s a miss
2+

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book from one of my favorite authors! This tells the story of Abby, a single/about to be married young woman who is questioning some things in her life. She has struggled with her weight her whole life, and she finally has Mr Perfect to marry..but is he Mr Perfect for Abby? Or is she settling because of her weight? I loved so many things about this story...the main character having body image issues, the bike riding, and of course the romance between Abby and her one night stand Sebastian. I also enjoyed the tense mother/daughter relationship. This is a fun, touching, well written adventure.

This is classic Jennifer Weiner (and if you have read other Weiner books, you know what I mean), but better. In this story she gives the reader a variety of characters. Yes, there are the late 20s early 30s main characters, but then she offers a teen story and a surprising twist on oldsters. It made a nice variety and "something for everyone". The plot, against the background of a bike excursion had a nice variety of drama and humor which as the characters were pedaling through New York kept the reader turning those pages (or swiping that screen. I am always excited by a new Jennifer Weiner book and this one does not disappoint!

I adore Weiner's books so was excited for this one. Even though it bogged down a little in the middle, I ended up really enjoying it! Abby's life has been a whirlwind of disappointments with her weight, men, and family. But now she's a leader of a biking group that travels to exciting places as she meets new people and leaves boyfriend, Mark behind. But of course an old 1-night-stand man, Sebastian is on this trip so things get dicey as they encounter all sorts of minor disasters--from the weather to moral dilemmas! But Abby navigates her life as well as she can and shows us perseverance wins!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thoroughly enjoyable, especially knowing the author's penchant for bike riding and struggles with her own body image, I imagine much of Abby was modeled after her own personal experiences. Jennifer Weiner rides above the rest once again!