I didn’t love this book. I felt like it wasn’t cohesive. Jumping back and forth from 2024 to 2003 and Zoe and Cassie and Cherry. While I’m glad Cassie was in a larger body, I don’t need another story about how the poor bigger girl hates herself and can’t compare to her skinny sis. Enter guy who loves her anyway. I love Jennifer Weiner but this fell flat for me

4 stars

Jennifer Weiner's books typically work for me, and while this is not my favorite from her collection, I still enjoyed it.

Zoe and Cassie are sisters who are extremely close in age, but who are remarkably different from each other in all ways that matter. While Zoe is really beautiful, she has mediocre talent and makes choices throughout this novel that had me consistently wanting to actually punch her in her fictional face. Cassie is socially awkward, withdrawn, and not conventionally attractive, but she is a musical prodigy, and it's her talent that gets the sisters into a really uncreatively named musical act. Zoe's talent is for destruction and mean spiritedness, apparently, so she's the real showstopper when it comes to the action here.

The plot flows between the sisters' musical heyday a couple of decades earlier to the present day, when Zoe's daughter goes on a hunt for the aunt she only just discovered existed. Most elements relating to Zoe's daughter felt a little forced and magical to me, and I'd have loved to see a book centered on just the sisters without the next generation's intervention. She's there for obvious reasons, but those reasons are just too obvious and take away - for me - from the more interesting elements of character development.

Minor gripes aside, this is another winner from this author. I enjoyed it and recommend it to other incoming fans.

This book was fine. The story of sisters Cassie and Zoe had potential to be SO interesting. But it fell flat for me. The characters all seemed one dimensional, including Zoe’s daughter Cherry, who, while the most interesting character, was mostly just slightly annoying. I did like the ending and I always appreciate Jennifer Weiner’s writing but this is no Good in Bed or In Her Shoes or Mrs. Everything.
* *Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this free ebook in exchange for an honest review**

Such a great book. Once I figured out who was who. The chapters going back and forth messed me up at first. But, a truly excellent book about family relationships, and how tough they can be.
Thanks to netgalkey, the publisher and author for the chance to read this ARC.

I usually like Jennifer Weiner’s books, but this was just OK for me. It never really gripped me, and I never was invested in the characters. It just felt blah to me, and I had great expectations for such a fun era. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I really wanted this book to be a 5-star review, but I had a few issues that made me lean more toward 4 stars. The story is compelling - the Grossberg sisters, one with all the talent (Cassie) and one with all the looks (Zoe), rise to super-stardom as The Griffin Sisters band. But just as fast as everything comes together for them, it all falls apart after their first smash-hit album. The writing is excellent and the book is hard to put down, but I thought the descriptions of Cassie's appearance, weight, and anxiety issues were excessive and not handled with enough sensitivity.. In addition, Zoe is one of the most self-centered, dislikable characters I have ever read. The story goes back and forth in time between the present and the late 1990's and early 2000's. There are many complicated family and romantic relationships with unfortunate outcomes. One of the storylines I thought would be pursued was not and that was disappointing. I can't really give more detail about that without including spoilers. Thanks to #netgalley and #WilliamMorrow for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Weiner has done it again with The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits—a novel that is equal parts heartwarming, heartbreaking, and completely unputdownable. This beautifully written story follows two sisters navigating fame, family, and personal struggles, and Weiner masterfully captures the complexities of their relationship with depth and authenticity. I loved the Daisy jones vibes!

The characters are richly developed, making you feel their triumphs and heartbreaks as if they were your own. The themes of sisterhood, body image, self-worth, and the cost of success are woven seamlessly into a narrative that is both compelling and relatable.

Weiner’s signature wit and emotional depth shine throughout, making this book a must-read for fans of women’s fiction and anyone who loves a story about love, resilience, and the bonds that shape us. A true five-star read—I laughed, I cried, and I didn’t want it to end!

I loved this book! This is a lovely story about love. I am a huge fan of the author and this book does not disappoint; but I found myself wanting more from the characters by the end of the book. The middle dragged on a bit because of the lack of redemption in any of their story lines. I don’t think we knew enough about Russel to care about him; and I would’ve liked to have seen more to Cassie than just her being shy and fat. I felt like we got to know more about Zoe at the end when we learn about her time as a young single mom; but no one else really has enough back story to excuse their unlikeable behavior… despite the fact that the book is very long and spans decades.

Although I’ve read and enjoyed other books by Jennifer Weiner, I wasn’t sure going in if I’d like this one. The description made me think it could be a bit sappy. Well, I’m happy to say that I was wrong about that! I found it easy to get invested in the characters and the story, which felt very realistic to me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC and the publisher for a physical copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm always here for a story about sisterhood. The characters immediately step off the page, their emotions palpable (though a few felt farfetched/unrealistic in their characterization). The prose is captivating and immersive, making for an easy read without annoying, exhausting repetition. There are a few too many storylines, though, which can make certain threads difficult to follow (so many timelines, POVs, names!).

I Love The Griffin Sisters!

I laughed. I cried. I was happy, sad, upset, confused. My heart broke. My heart was full. I felt all the feelings and I loved every minute of it.

Jennifer Weiner has a beautiful way of telling a story.

Zoe and Cassie. Two sisters who are so different from each other; one sister always yearning to be in the spotlight, the other hiding from that same spotlight.

The author hones in on the complex relationship between two sisters and shows us how easy it is to view a situation from completely different perspectives. Cassie has gone through life feeling inadequate due to her weight, and similarly, Zoe has felt her own inadequacies because of her beauty where she’s always felt she’s had nothing else to offer but her looks.

The Griffin sisters take us on a journey through fame, music, loss, and secrets. It’s a beautiful story about sisterhood, family, love, and forgiveness.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy of The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits.

This was a compelling story about two estranged sisters and the daughter that reunites them years later. I definitely found myself despising Zoe's selfishness more so that Cassie's flaws, but they are both very flawed yet relatable characters as a whole.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am always up for a Jennifer Weiner book. This was a great read, with characters that really came to life on the page. I think for me the characters shined beautifully when realizing that they lived their lives with deep regret and finding their way back to one another. It was poignant to me that they were brought back together and found a way to each be themselves but a better version of themselves because they are doing what they loved all along and finding a way to be together as a family first. Only someone growing up in the 90's could so accurately depict what music labels did to their young stars and the Griffin Sisters read like a cautionary tale, with a happy ending.

Jennifer Weiner is masterful with relationship and family drama...throw in a little rock and roll and you've got The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits. This book reminded me so much of Daisy Jones and the Six (which I loved). Peeking behind the scenes of anything rock and roll and glitz and glam always gets me - even the mundanity of bus life and packing in and out and hotel after hotel. It's all just a scene I want to know more about, and I loved the way Weiner portrayed the fast rise of the sisters, intertwined with the huge family drama, different timelines, and alternating perspectives. It was a really fun and fast read. The ending - I'm not sure how I feel about it. Conflicted. Not sure what I expected.

I was annoyed it took so long for anyone to think maybe Cassie was autistic or neurodivergent, but then again I know plenty of people my age (Cassie's age!) just learning they're autistic or have ADHD now, so it fits. It just made me so frustrated for her!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book - I'm a huge Jennifer Weiner fan and this one is definitely one of my favorites. I may need to order the deluxe edition - those stenciled edges! Gah!

Great read. Pick it up. Devour it. Maybe sing a little while you're reading.

Excellent novel. A story with two timelines-present and past-of the relationship and music career of two sisters. Zoe when a teen was driven to live in the music limelight of adoring fans and fame. She has no real talent. Cassis is her awkward older sister, music prodigy, talent laden, aggressively shy. The present story is of Zoe’s daughter's desire to have a music career and is very talented. The timelines reflect the events of the past and the consequences of the present struggles.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I used to read Jennifer Weiner books like crazy. I couldn't get enough of them. With that said, this book took me a couple weeks to actually get into. And I really did want to! The story started off great once I got through the first chapter that kept stopping me for some reason. I liked how it flowed and I liked all the characters. But the ending didn't fit for me. I thought that the build of the story would lead to a more dramatic conclusion and when it didn't, I felt deflated. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for this digital ARC.

Jennifer Weiner delivers an engaging and nostalgic novel that captures the highs and lows of fame, sisterhood, and self-discovery. The dynamic between Cassie and Zoe feels authentic, with their contrasting personalities making for a compelling exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and the weight of past decisions. Weiner’s ability to weave in the glitz of early 2000s pop stardom with deep emotional conflicts keeps the story both entertaining and heartfelt.

While the novel shines in its depiction of the music industry’s pressures and the complexities of family bonds, some plot points feel predictable, and the resolution wraps up a bit too neatly. However, the multi-generational perspective, including Cherry’s quest for the truth, adds depth and intrigue. Overall, The Griffin Sisters is a captivating read that balances glamour with genuine emotion, making it a must-read for fans of Weiner’s storytelling. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book! Jennifer Weiner is an automatic go-to author for me. I have read and loved so many of her books. The story of the Griffin sisters, Zoe and Cassie, is a wild ride, complete with life’s ups and downs and everything in between. Highly recommend this book to fans of the author, and to those who will become fans!

This book wrecked me! Oh my goodness. I am around the same age as the Griffin Sisters so I am the target audience. This story could only be told at the early aughts. The world and fame were very different then. There was no such thing as “fatphobia” or “fat acceptance” or “body positivity.” There was just shame. Shame and 2 stores that sold plus size clothes, all that were made for your maiden aunt or for covering your body, cloaking it. We didn’t understand about autism spectrum disorder. There was one way to be acceptable. This is the era of Fat Monica- how dare she want to have sex, or dance… it must be a joke. This is the time at which this book was set. I so related to Cassie. How she saw herself in the world. She locked herself away, felt so separate. It was a brutal portrayal of the reality of this woman, who had such difficulty inhabiting her body, and believing she was enough.



Zoe. Zoe. Zoe. Another utterly real character, who I understood but had such trouble sympathizing with. I don’t know if I forgave her. I was waiting for more of a twist with her and Cherry, but Weiner didn’t fall for the easy way out and made a more authentic choice. As always. When you read a book by Jennifer Weiner, you get complex portraits of women, not caricatures, not tropes. The different ways male behavior was excused in this book mirror the way this behavior continues to be excused. The way women are made to question themselves, “is it really that bad?” “Maybe I’m overreacting?” And Russell, damn. Dealing with men’s body and image issues. What men are allowed to want, versus what they are allowed to show they want, was so clear here. I read some other reviews that want a cleaner ending, more acceptance. But again, for this time, and the way that Cassie internalized everything, this was the best, most realistic ending she could have. Read this if you are 40. Read this if you are 15. Read this if you are ready to laugh, cry, and shut the book in anger. Another great novel from Jennifer Weiner, can’t wait for the next one. Thanks for helping 20 year old me be seen, she never would have guessed 40 something me would feel so loved and happy. Thanks to Net Galley and William Morrow for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. 4.5 stars.

Stardom comes at a price, the Griffin sisters pay the ultimate one ..After twenty years can the daughter bring the sisters back together? a good story , realistic and great characters .