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.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and the power of a trip to change your life.
Thirty-four-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. True, she still has gig jobs instead of a career, and the apartment where she’s lived since college still looks like she just moved in. But she’s got good friends, she’s got 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. Abby and Mark met at the weight-loss camp Abby’s perpetually-dieting mother, Eileen, forced her daughter to attend. Fifteen years later, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark and finds out that he still adores her, it feels like fate.
Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right…or the memories of one mind-blowing night spent with a man named Sebastian two years ago. So when Abby gets a last-minute call to lead a group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, she’s happy to have time away from Mark, and a chance to make up her mind.
But on the first day, Abby is shocked when she sees a familiar face in the tour group—Sebastian, the one-night stand she never thought she’d see again. As a serial dater who lives a hundred miles away, Sebastian is far from Mr. Perfect, and Abby is determined to keep her distance, even if their chemistry is undeniable. To make things even worse, there’s a last-minute addition to the trip—Abby’s mother, Eileen, whom Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities she’s still trying to undo.
Over the next two weeks, strangers become confidantes, hidden truths come to light, and a teenage girl with a secret will unite all the riders in surprising ways—while all of Abby’s certainties about herself, her mother, and the nature of love are challenged.

The cover of this book threw me: is it Lombard Street in San Francisco? Is it the yellow brick road? Is it spaghetti ... or worse, intestines??? It will certainly get people to pick it up and check out what the book could possibly be about.
I love how Jennifer Weiner has plus-size women in her books as we are highly underrepresented but I did question how a plus-size woman would just jump up and say sure I will lead a 760-mile bike trip without freaking out the people they are leading...but that would depend on how "plus size" she is and how physically "in shape" she is..fat phobia and hatred is real, people. (I remember "Big Girl" from Danielle Steel where the big girl was a size twelve...when the average size of a woman in North America is a 16! And if I want to really comment on fat phobia, then I will bring up the movie version of Jennifer's "In Her Shoes" where the zaftig Rose was played by Toni Colette and was about a size eight!)
There are an extraordinary number of subplots in this book and I really liked the one with her mom (who decided to surprise her and cycle on the trip with her!!!!) as Abby reminds me a lot of myself, fat and with an eating disorder, but put the possibility of biking aside ... I would personally not make it out of the city but I have not ridden a bike in 35 years! I do question if her boyfriend is the best man for her, but that is such an integral part of the story, I will not delve into it further in this review so I do not spoil it for you, dear reader.
I love Jennifer Weiner and I have a lot of fans of her in my branch so I can see it flying off the shelves...highly recommended.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC. Weiner does it again. I loved this book. For many reasons, the least of which would be the emphasis on women's issues that we are facing today. Highly recommend.

I’m not surprised to read another well written book my Jennifer Weiner. Every books she writer draws you in from the first chapter and your hooked. I loved everything about this story and I can’t wait to read her next story. This will be a hit with many different readers and a perfect beac read.

"The Breakaway" by Jennifer Weiner is a heartwarming and empowering novel about self-discovery, love, and family. Abby Stern, a plus-size woman in her thirties, has finally found happiness with her childhood sweetheart, Mark. However, Abby's doubts about her relationship and the memories of a one-night stand with Sebastian two years ago linger in her mind. When Abby is offered the chance to lead a group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls, she jumps at the opportunity to clear her head. But fate intervenes when she sees Sebastian on the trip, and to make matters worse, her mother, Eileen, unexpectedly joins the group.

As the group travels across the country, Abby discovers hidden truths about herself and her companions, including a teenage girl with a secret. Along the way, she grapples with the insecurities instilled in her by her mother and comes to understand the power of self-love and acceptance. The story is engaging, humorous, and touching, with well-developed characters and an inspiring message.

Weiner's writing is witty and relatable, making readers feel as though they are on the bike trip alongside Abby and her companions. She deftly handles sensitive topics such as body image and mother-daughter relationships, infusing them with humor and grace. Overall, "The Breakaway" is a must-read for anyone looking for a heartwarming and uplifting story about the power of self-discovery and love.

The Breakaway tells the story of Abby Stern, a 30 something woman, who is just trying to get by. She works odd jobs and is in a happy-ish kind of relationship with Mark, whom she met at a fat camp as a young girl. Abby seems confused about what she is supposed to do with her life. Fortunately, she is given the opportunity to spend 2 weeks leading a bike tour throughout New York. She figures it will be a good way to clear her head and figure things out. Unbeknownst to her, one of the cyclists is a man she had a one night stand with, Sebastian. We follow Abby on her journey of self discovery. Abby's mom, Eileen, also joins the trip and Abby is not pleased, as her mom always has something to say about Abby's weight or what she is or is not eating. We meet many other characters that are along for the ride. I wasn't a fan of Eileen. I wanted Abby to have a better support system, thus making her an even stronger character. I also felt that the situation with Morgan seemed a bit too far-fetched.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Weiner, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read The Breakaway.

A hilarious and touching novel about love, family, and bikes. Abby is a relatable and lovable heroine! I could not put this book down!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Jennifer Weiner never, ever disappoints. Her characters are real, human, and totally believable, especially her main characters. This one is Abby Stern, who’s always fought a weight problem, has a mother who was thin and disapproving, and a boyfriend who had gastric bypass surgery, so is thin and mildly disapproving. In New York for a bachelorette party, Abby meets and goes home with Sebastian, who is the embodiment of someone who wouldn’t be attracted to someone like her—only he is. She leaves the next morning without waking him up though, and tries to forget about him.

Abby is fairly directionless in her life, except for her one great passion: cycling. She reluctantly takes a job as a guide for a biking group through upstate New York, mostly for the money, but also to escape from making a decision about moving in with her boyfriend. When she gets there and meets the group, to her great surprise one of the riders is Sebastian, there with his best friend. Also there, much to Abby’s dismay, is her mother, claiming she just wants to spend time with her daughter. Others in the group are interesting but, but it is a young teenager, Morgan, whose story is the most compelling. Morgan needs help, is afraid to go to her mother, and enlists the help of several of the other riders. One of Jennifer Weiner’s strengths as a writer is her ability to showcase women’s support for each other without being either preachy or maudlin.

Abby eventually has to deal with the problem of her boyfriend Mark, her resentment of her mother, and her unresolved feelings for Sebastian. She’s a lot stronger, smarter and more capable than she gives herself credit for, and it is our pleasure to watch her come into her own. This one’s a gem.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Always love Jennifer Weiner! This one was steamy with an alls well that ends well ending. Though the main character made some decisions that I personally would not have, it was fun to read her point of view and learn a bit about long-distance biking. This one seemed a little lighter than a few of her others (aside from one super-heavy storyline).

Abby Stern, the protagonist of Jennifer Weiner's newest novel, The Breakaway, bears several similarities to the author--devoted long-distance bicyclist, Philadelphia hometown, and body weight issues. Abby is 34 and is in a relationship with Mark, whom she met as a young teenager at a weight loss camp. Mark is arguably the perfect boyfriend--loving, kind, and attentive, with a lucrative medical career---and it may be time for them to move in together. But a one-night stand a few years earlier has made a deep impression on Abby, one that Mark has been unable to match and she has been unable to forget.

So Abby agrees to lead a bike tour from NYC to Niagara Falls, hoping to gain some time to figure out, while she's away, whether she really wants to commit to Mark. It's a surprise to both when Sebastian, her one-night stand, turns out to be on her bike tour with his best friend, and he is currently unattached.

There are a number of subplots related to the 14 people whose bike tour Abby is supervising, which keeps things lively. Supporting characters include four seniors whose relationships can be confusing, a teenage girl with a calamitous secret and her mother, Abby's own mother (who secretly signed up for the tour), and a husband and wife with their teenage boys.

Personally, I wasn't a fan of either of the love interests. In particular, Sebastian's erratic behavior and unresolved family issues seemed to continue on way beyond credibility, and Mark was passive-aggressive in his response to some undiscussed differences between his lifestyle and Abby's. I also felt that fat-shaming and other important topics took up too much of the focus of the book. However, I enjoyed reading about the details of a bike tour, and I appreciated the fact that the conclusion didn't try to resolve everything.

My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

When someone asks me who my favorite author is - I say Jennifer Weiner! I will always read her books. I look so forward to her stories. Thanks very much to NetGalley for the ARC of The Breakaway for the purpose of this review.

The book had everything I love about Weiner's writing. The main character and her mom, the fat girl issues and concerns, and a big issue to deal with. Weiner's main character Abby is so relatable. I loved seeing her struggles come to life in the pages of The Breakaway.

Five stars! I always am satisfied with Weiner's books and can't wait for the next!

This book is a 5/5 star read that I really enjoyed. I finished it in one day and didn’t want to put this book down. This book is released August 29,2023. Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and Jennifer Weiner for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

4 stars

I freekin LOVE Jennifer Weiner. Her books are written with so much heart. This one has a MC that is so relatable and a story that touches on a real life topics with a sense of respectful humor. It is a perfect summer/beach read. Or anytime read really. Just real life with good humor.

WHY y'all WHY. I'm literally a fat cyclist who has an eating disorder, who was in a similar relationship to the main character in terms of relationships with her mother. This could've been so good but I had so many issues. The first was that the author tried to do way too much in such a short amount of time. All of the conflicts resolved way too quickly for my liking, and the main character felt very flat. I also did not like the love interests. I also just feel like politically this book wasn't my cup of tea, but I can understand the need for books like this for more liberal feminists. But the ending, and a pronoun joke at the end (?). I was sad and actually kind of upset with some of the themes in this book in terms of being taught to empathize with those who have awful views.

Why has it been so long since I’ve read a book by Ms. Weiner? Thank you Atria Books for giving me the chance to remember how much I love her writing and characters!!! I absolutely fell for Abby and Sebastian and their inevitable togetherness!!

What a fun beach read! Important topics touched on, all while keeping a fun storyline. Highly recommend!