It was an easy beach read for me, but I found it entirely too didactic. There were too many themes and it felt overtly preachy. I have no problem with a book with a lesson, but it just felt heavy handed. I did enjoy it overall, but not my favourite read of the year.

I started this book assuming it was just about Abby and Sebastian. Instead there were a few chapters told from other viewpoints too.

Without giving too much away, I can understand why the author chose to write the book this way, but I didn’t love it.

For the first half of the book, I was skipping paragraphs. There was too much bike-talk. Around halfway through, it picked up and I enjoyed it more.

Overall, it was okay. Not one that I loved or hated, just okay. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Jennifer Weiner for the opportunity to read this advanced ebook!

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner always fools me. I pick up her books expecting a light frivolous read, and always end up getting much more.

Abby, in her early thirties, is content with her boyfriend Mark, her college era apartment, and collection of odd jobs. Filling in for a friend on one of these jobs, she ends up leading a group on a bike trip from New York to Niagara.

The group consists mostly of people she doesn’t know, but much to her dismay her mother joins the group, as does Mr Perfect her out of character one night stand.

We join the gang on their 750 mile trek through a variety of topics including abortion, empowerment, addiction, body image, shaming, polyamory, family relations, etc. The author handles these sometimes controversial conversations in a thoughtful and accepting way.

If you like more recent Jennifer Weiner books, you’ll like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for an opportunity to read this ARC.
IG post on August 15.

3.5 ⭐️

When Abby Stern was younger, her mom made her go to weight loss camp. Which is where she met Mark Medoff, the man who she is with now. Although Abby never lost weight, Mark did, and he’s half the weight he was before and a doctor.

Abby feels like something is missing with her relationship with Mark. She decides to take a last minute invitation to lead a bike tour, where she stumbles upon Sebastian who was her one night stand a few years prior.

This book was a slow burn all throughout. The storyline was great, but I felt it just didn’t hold my interest and it took me way longer to read this than I anticipated. Some chapters were a lot longer than others.

This was my first novel by Jennifer Weiner. I still think I’ll read more of her books, just when I want to have a longer read.


Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a DRC. The Breakaway is available August 29.

This is the first Jennifer Weiner book I've read and I loved it.

The Breakaway is the story of Abby, a young curvy girl who is a bit lost. She has a boyfriend that loves her but she doesn't feel fully committed to the relationship. She works odd jobs and doesn't really have a goal in life. Her friend suddenly asks her to lead a biking trip across NY state and she reluctantly signs up to help. Abby soon learns that she loves biking more than anything, she meets interesting people in her crew and even rekindles with a lost love.

The Breakaway has many side stories, including mother-daughter relationships, teen pregnancy scares, and even a quad relationship. I was invested in every story.

I loved how Abby learned so much about herself along the way and how the story developed. Jennifer Weiner didn't sugarcoat or write an unrealistic happy ending.

I highly recommend picking up this book on Aug 29th!

** Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing the ARC for this book.

I was given the opportunity to read an ARC, in exchange for a review on this book.

Abbey Stern is still trying to figure out parts of her life. She works part-time at a doggy daycare and hasn't decided what she wants to do when she grows up, never mind the fact that she is in her thirties. What she does know is that she has the most fabulous, supportive, and loving boyfriend, Mark. Mark was her first kiss at an overnight camp many years ago.

Abbey has an opportunity to lead a cycling trip, which sounds like a lot of fun since she is passionate about cycling. Cycling is something she does frequently and loves to use as her refuge from stress.

This book was a quick read, and I was able to get through it in a few days. I enjoyed reading the complicated dynamic that Abbey had with her mother; it is something that I can relate to. I appreciated the main character's journey to self-esteem and self-acceptance.

I enjoyed reading this book and had a few chuckles along the way. I don't know many women who are avid cyclists, so it was fun to read about someone's passion.

As the novel opens, we meet Thirty year old Abby who has made peace with her plus sized body and is happy
Ily beginning a relationship with her long ago camp love, Mark. However, at a bachelorette party in the city, Abby meets Sebastian who shows her a passion she has never felt before.
As the book fast towards a couple of years, Abby is pushed to lead her first bike trip. Abby immediately recognizes one of her partisans. Sebastian. Abby Is forced to decide whether good enough is actually good enough.
As if this story isn’t good enough, there are several background stories that keep the reader interested and engaged the whole way through. Very well done.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

The Breakaway is an entertaining read that has you cheering on Abby as she tries to get her life together at age 33.

Abby just works odd jobs and when her boyfriend proposes she isn't quite sure that's what she wants.

When given the opportunity to lead a cycling trip she jumps at it.

Who is on the bike ride: none other than Sebastian a handsome man that Abby had a brief fling with.

Abby is a delightful character that you cheer on, cry with and cant help but love.

Highly recommend The Breakaway for sheer entertainment value. Clear your schedule and settle in for a great read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books for satisfying read.

My first book by this author, and happy to say it won’t be my last.
I liked how she wrote an entertaining story that had some depth, love, romance and explored meaningful friendships.
She also tackles some important current issues pertaining to women’s rights.
Good summer reading!
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review

Book Review
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

Tropes
Second chance romance
Body positivity/dieting/body dysmorphia
Childhood trauma
Feminism, women’s rights
Family relationships
Passion projects
Travel

Thoughts
- complex emotional issues and self healing from childhood trauma
- Both MC have to work on themselves before they can be together
- journey of self growth and learning
- right time and place ; ppl come into your life for a reason/season
- Follow your passion

Overall
A great summer read …. Gets you from point A to point B… a road trip from an ending to a beginning

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschusterca for the eARC in return for an honest opinion. Opinions expressed are my own.

The Breakaway is a beach read that will have you yearning to hop on a bike and get cycling…….maybe just not the 40+ miles/day that the characters in the book travelled. True to Jennifer Weiner’s style, there’s lots of very descriptive writing.
Self image & body shaming, female empowerment (including prochoice) and family/relationship dynamics all play a role in this quick read. I liked it.
Thank You to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Jennifer Weiner for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC.

This book was a bit different to what I am used to reading; however, it was a nice book. It was nice and mellow and it was fun following the adventure of the main character.

Three and a half stars

A feminist look at love, empowerment and body image, which has admirable intentions and several thoughtful and appealing elements but did not completely hit the mark for me overall.

Abby is a plus-sized woman who has been treated shamefully by her mother (and likely others) since childhood. This part of the story was handled with great sensitivity and was easily my favorite part of the book. Unsurprisingly, Abby grows into a conflicted woman, - one who is floundering and unhappy at thirty-one years-old. To make any progress, she must find a path to reshape her beliefs around her own self-worth and lovability, and build a new and successful life-plan in the process. When Abby, an avid cyclist, is presented an opportunity to lead an intensive fourteen-day bike tour across upstate NY, she may have just found the vehicle to kick-start her life-transformation.

Without giving the plot away, Abby’s journey is fraught with emotional upheaval, as she comes to terms with who and what she really (as in deep down and in her heart), wants in her life. Along the way, through various plot complications, Abby may or may not also succeed in reconciling with her mother, as she slowly works on building the confidence to lead others, and discovers a passion for helping to support female empowerment.

Throughout the developing storyline, it was difficult for this reader to find Abby totally likable, (particularly in light of her treatment of her long-term love interest) or her rapid-fire connection authentic or appealing. However, given the number of rave reviews online, it’s clear that the opinions expressed here by this reader are in the minority.

A great big thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.