*3.5 stars

This book took me forever to get through, (maybe the final version will be edited down a bit?) but by the end I was ready to be done with these characters.

The sisters relationship was hard to read for a majority of the book. One manipulated and lied to the other. And they spend 20 years estranged because they won’t just have the freaking conversation.

But I did like having a feeling similar to when I read Daisy Jones— I was wishing I could go look up videos and songs from the Griffin Sisters as if they were a real band

Sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were born just a year apart but could not have been more different. Zoe, blessed with charm and beauty, yearned for fame from the moment she could sing into a hairbrush. Cassie was a musical prodigy who never felt at home in her own skin and preferred the safety of the shadows.

On the brink of adulthood in the early 2000s, destiny intervened, catapulting the sisters into the spotlight as the pop sensation the Griffin Sisters, hitting all the touchstones of early aughts fame—SNL, MTV, Rolling Stone magazine—along the way.

But after a whirlwind year in the public eye, the band abruptly broke up.

Two decades later, Zoe’s a housewife; Cassie’s off the grid. The sisters aren’t speaking, and the real reason for the Griffin Sisters’ breakup is still a mystery. Zoe’s teenage daughter, Cherry, who’s determined to be a star in spite of Zoe’s warnings, is on a quest to learn the truth about what happened to the band all those years ago.

As secrets emerge, all three women must face the consequences of their choices: the ones they made and the ones the music industry made for them. Can they forgive each other—and themselves? And will the Griffin Sisters ever make music again?

I'm not generally a super big historical fiction fan, but I had a great time reading this. I absolutely adore stories that follow sisters (The Nightingale, The Vanishing Half), and this one was done extremely well.

Smart and talented sisters Cassie and Zoe are exact opposites. Cassie is an introvert and Zoe is outgoing. The sisters become part of a a pop group called the griffins in the early 2000’s. A tragedy breaks up the band. 20 years later they work their way back to music and each other. The relationships are very believable and they show how family sometimes can be your biggest cheerleader and enemy. I did love the the varying points of view and how it jumps around in time. Very enjoyable read.

This book drew me in quickly, as Jennifer Weiner's books usually do. I loved the focus on music and the mentions of 90s/00s musical influences took me right back to my own listening preferences during that time, which was extra fun. I enjoyed the different settings, both at home and on tour. Weiner's descriptions of local hot spots where the band performed on tour added to the immersive nature of her writing.

While I appreciate Weiner's commitment to body representation in her novels, I feel like Cassie was a bit pigeonholed as a character and we didn't get to delve quite as deeply into everything she had to offer as I (as a reader) wanted. Instead we were often mired in the negative self-talk and body shaming (both by Cassie and, disappointingly, also by her sister) that was so common for teenage girls during that era. I wish Weiner instead had delivered a more nuanced character study of Cassie and her musical gifts and talent. Perhaps it was intentional to help define the era they were growing up in, but it made for some difficult reading at times.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy.

✨ The Vibes ✨
An exploration of what happens when pop stars step away from the spotlight

📖 Read if…
✨ You like stories about the dynamic between sisters
✨ You want to embrace early 2000s nostalgia
✨ You’re OK reading about some uncomfortable topics

I should start by saying I really, really, really wanted to love this one. And there were a lot of things that I really liked, but unfortunately I had some major issues with the story that made this more of a like than a love for me.

There were some positives though! I thought the three perspectives of Cassie, Zoe, and Cherry, set across the past and present timeline was a great way to tell the story, and in the end, the narratives came together seamlessly. The line level writing was really strong as well, and really flowed in a way that made it hard to put the book down. Weiner did a great job of weaving in lots of early aughts nostalgia, and mentions of TRL and different fashion trends really helped to establish the setting, without laying it on too thick. And if the books had just been a sisterly story steeped in that early nostalgia, this would have been a five star read for me.

I understand that the way body image was discussed in the early 2000s is very different from the way that subject is handled today, and I also understand how someone who grew up in the public eye in that era may have internalized a lot of the negativity of the time, but even with that mindset the constant focus on it was excessive. Almost every single time Cass was mentioned – in the past and present timelines – someone was talking about her body and how overweight/ugly/gross she was, and that got old really quick. If there was some larger point to it, or it played a role in character development, I could maybe understand why it was included, but since that wasn’t the case, it just ruined an otherwise enjoyable book.

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is out now. Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy Jennifer Weiner’s books so I was really excited to get a copy of The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits. I love books about musicians and I’m blown away when an author can not only write the main story, but can also write such beautiful, artistic, emotional lyrics, as Weiner has done here.

I always find these kind of stories so sad and melancholic. They had it all – fame and success - until something tore it all apart. It’s so sad when a life trajectory changes so much. It really makes me wistful for those lost years and opportunities.

The one negative for me was Zoe. I just struggled to find anything redeeming about her. She was not a great person, and I didn’t really see a lot of growth in her until the very end. Sometimes you have a visceral negative reaction to a character and that’s how I felt about her.

I think a lot of people will really enjoy this story. It has Daisy Jones and the Six/The Favorites vibes for sure.The writing is really beautiful. There are so many touching elements to it with wonderful characters like Cassie and Cherry. This is also the perfect book to adapt to a movie or TV series.

4.5 Rounded up

I loved this one! It reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved the nostalgia for the early 2000's. I loved the sister storyline. I was hooked wanting to know what would happen.

There are three main characters - Zoe and Cassie, the sisters, and Zoe's daughter Cherry. This book has different POVs and timelines which I thought enriched the story. I loved the family dynamics and I loved the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately I got until 25% with this book when I had to DNF, I’m so sorry. The book did sound very interesting to me. But they kept mentioning how ugly and fat the “ugly” sister was. I get that or had to be mentioned maybe once or twice for context, but I lost count how many times it was mentioned? In the first 25% was a lot. And the fact that her mom didn’t love her as much until she found out she had a gift for music…. And how she wished she had more grace like her sister, because that makes life “easier” for girls. Was a big no for me.

DNF but it's definitely a me problem and not the book. I'm starting to think that stories revolving heavily around sisters just aren't for me (only child) and I have a difficult time connecting deeper with some of the themes.

While this book had SO much potential, I just wasn't invested in any of the characters. The scenes of the Griffin Sisters as stars was rather mundane. I wanted more fun and punch to what should have been such a fun music era. Cassie is constantly being told to us that she was/is indeed "overweight"
", and Zoe was the pretty one.
By the end once the mystery is unfolded, there is redemption, but overall, I just didn't care.
Sad to say, this will be a big hit in 2025, as all of her books are so much fun, but this missed the mark for me.
Special thanks for William Morrow for providing me with an ARC for my honest feedback !

<b>Bookworms, I recently gave a talk about my favorite books of the spring, and this was one of the ten titles I highlighted. I hope you'll check it out if you haven't already!

Jennifer Weiner's newest novel offers a behind-the-scenes peek at the music business, songwriting, and the pressures of fame, layered with complications from clashing sisters, devastating tragedy, and a messy path toward reconciliation.</b>

Cassie and Zoe Greenberg are sisters who have always been opposites. Cassie, a musical prodigy, loved losing herself in and expressing herself through playing and singing, but avoided the limelight. Zoe dreamed of stardom since she was a child and was driven more by fame than the music itself. But Zoe realizes that Cassie is key to any musical future, and she convinces Cassie to join her on stage, beginning their meteoric climb to stardom.

For one year when they're young adults, the sisters reach mindboggling heights of fame as the pop duo The Griffin Sisters--featured in Rolling Stone, performing on Saturday Night Live, and making videos for MTV. Then their run abruptly ended, and for the public, the reasons for their breakup were a mystery.

Twenty years later, Zoe is a housewife and Cassie is a recluse who hasn't spoken to her sister at all. But when Zoe's headstrong daughter Cherry becomes determined to become a star, she digs into the past and forces a confrontation between the estranged sisters at last.

This is a great behind-the-scenes look at the music business, musical creativity and songwriting processes, and body-image pressures on women earning a living by being in the limelight. Griffin Sisters also takes on deep familial conflicts, coping with loss and a devastating blow for future plans, lies and betrayals, and, finally, a messy but hopeful chance for reconciliation.

I received a prepublication edition of this title courtesy of William Morrow and NetGalley.

This didn't feel like a Jennifer Weiner book, which was both good and bad. I was a little disappointed, but I did like the different ideas and storytelling. I will always reach for new Jennifer Weiner, so when I say I was disappointed, it's like being upset that you got chocolate sprinkles instead of rainbow ones. You still got sprinkles, they're still great. I think my sister will love this, and I am excited to gift her the special edition.

To date, I've read and loved everything Jennifer Weiner has written. "The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits" is easily in the top of my list of favorites from her library.

"The. Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits" follows the lives of two sisters Zoe and Cassie in a.dual timeline. Zoe is "The Pretty One" who longs to be famous like her idols Britney Spears and Christina `Aguilera. Cassie is a musical prodigy who would rather fade into the background. A twist of fate and being in the right place at the right time leads the sisters to being discovered by a record label and catapulting to superstardom.

Then tragedy struck and the band broke up. Zoe became a housewife and Cassie seemingly disappeared from existence. That is, until 2 decades later when Zoe's daughter, Cherry, goes on a quest to find her missing aunt to convince her to return to performing and bringing old family secrets out in the open.

Jennifer Weiner continues to write complex characters with complex relationships. Zoe, while frustrating, was not unsympathetic. And, of course, I found myself rooting for underdog Cassie.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of this title.

Intense, incredibly detailed, impeccable writing, immensely emotional, this was such a riveting story. It’s the story of two sisters, one who was ambitious and selfish, the other talented and introverted. Zoe was beautiful where Cassie was overweight and awkward. They became the Griffin sisters, mostly because of Cassie’s incredible talent. And yet Zoe kept manipulating, all with a purpose to stay relevant and necessary to the band. She didn’t realize how her self-serving actions hurt others until a tragedy happens that derails everything they had been working on.

Years later, her daughter, who has inherited Cassie’s talent, wants nothing more but to be a pop artist, just like her mother wanted nearly twenty years ago. However, Zoe constantly denied her permission until Cherry leaves home to pursue her dreams. And when she learns about her aunt, whom Zoe had never mentioned, she decides she’ll ask her aunt to help her. And in so doing, she made secrets come out, and changed the course of all three lives.

The book kept me riveted because it was so interesting. I loved the human perspective of all characters. I perceived that Cassie, although very talented, was slightly autistic. She’s extremely introverted, very wary of the public, uneasy about her appearance. She could only function next to her sister, following her cues. I expected Zoe to be a caretaker of her sister, but later on she used her to achieve her goals. Much later, when Zoe’s life derails, she realized how much of what happened is her fault and she starts to make amends. There’s a lot of misery caused by selfish actions, and lots of caring caused by redemption. I saw in Cherry traits from both her mother and her aunt. And I truly loved how Cassie, meeting her niece for the first time, came to care and wish to help so fast.

I hated Zoe for her selfishness, and later took pity because she opened her eyes and heart, and truly sought redemption. I loved Cassie all the time, she only loved and tried to please, all the time wanting to be invisible. I hated the self-inflicted lonely life that Cassie fabricated for herself, thinking she didn’t deserve any better. I loved that Cherrie, even seeking fame, took the time to understand her aunt and adjust to her needs and make her comfortable.

It felt like the book does a full circle, from the birth of the Griffin Girls to the re-birth of some new present that truly fit all three women. I could only imagine a lovely future full of love and cooperation, and finally, a life with purpose, company, and music for Cassie. I was crying in that final scenes, immensely touched and happy!

Great story telling. Jennifer Weiner tells a very good family saga. A story that was unpeeled as it went along. The author did a very good job giving us different points of view and any good story has different perspectives. Glad I read it and will recommend it.

Having read several Jennifer Weiner books, I looked forward to reading The Griffin Sister’s Greatest Hits! I liked the premise of Zoe and Cassie having been rock stars—a break-up then new interest in them years later. I would normally read a book like this straight through in a day or two. This book took me three weeks as I started and had to stop several times. I could not get over Zoe’s step-son, Russell. His story was a red flag for me that I felt was not needed.

My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for a copy to read and review. The opinions are my own.

How have I never read a book from Jennifer Weiner before?! If there has to be a first, I’m thankful it was this one! Without a doubt this is a five star read!

This book took me back to own high school and college days in the early aughts. For me, it was a beautiful and wonderful time; so taking me back to that time of my life made it easy to connect with the characters.

I was able to read and listen to the book and - oh my word! - the audiobook was absolutely stupendously narrated by Dakota Fanning! She has such a calming, soothing, hypnotic voice that I could listen to all day.

This novel is about wishes and dreams, sisterhood and betrayal, love and loss and so much more!

Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Weiner, William Morrow, and HarperAudio for the opportunity to read and listen to this incredibly touching story in exchange for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this free copy of "The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits."

This book was must-read for me on so many levels and it definitely lived up to the marvelous reviews! (If you haven't seen it, the trailer featuring "The Gift" penned by the group Hello Sister is worth watching.)

The Griffin Sisters were Zoe, the older sister, who always dreamed of being a pop star and Cassie, the younger sister, who had the gorgeous voice and musical talent. Extremely introverted, Cassie would only sing with Zoe.

Twenty years later, Zoe's daughter Cherry secretly leaves home to enter a singing competition and wonders if there's any way she can find out why her mom and aunt stopped singing and talking to each other.

The story is skillfully told in multiple voices: Zoe's, Cassie's, and Cherry's as we follow them from small girls to pop stars to Zoe's wedding to the band's breakup to Cassie's self-exile.

What really happened 20 years ago? Will Cherry be able to track down her aunt Cassie and finally get the story?

This book to me feels like Jennifer Weiner is back. I haven't been a huge fan of her last few books, and even hated one, so when I read the premise of the Griffin Sisters, I was cautiously hopeful. I've really enjoyed other books that have been set in the late 90's/early 2000's pop music scene -- probably because it was such a pivotal time in my own preteen years. I found myself flying through this book, despite my hatred of one of the main characters for her selfish choices. There were parts of this book that were hard to read, as I felt uncomfortable with how blatant the fat phobia was written, but I know this was part of the story that Weiner wanted to convey. Just be prepared for that going into this -- as most of Weiner's books are body positive, this one focused on toxicity in that regard.

There were parts of the ending I found to be a little rushed, but overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I'm glad to see Jennifer Weiner's books hitting good notes for me again. I could see this being turned into a limited series, and I would be very curious to see how it is as an audiobook!

I loved this book so much! It reminded me of Jennifer Weiner's early writings like Good in Bed in terms of the prose and flow of the novel. The complicated relationship between sisters and the man they loved along with family secrets made for an emotional and enjoyable read. Highly recommend!