I was so excited for a new Jamie Brenner novel, although I have to admit at this point, I'm not quite sure what I would consider a typical Brenner novel. I feel like the few that I've read most recently don't really compare to the first of hers that I read. The Weekend Crashers was a quick and easy read about a knitting retreat held at an inn owned by a wife and her husband who accidentally schedules a bachelor party at the inn for the same weekend. Just as Maggie often references Gilmore Girls, I was definitely picturing a Stars Hollow-esque town while reading this. Brenner's female characters were much more developed than the male counterparts, yet the romantic relationships were fairly central to the plot. Overall, The Weekend Crashers was an enjoyable read but nothing memorable.

3.75 rounded to 4

Tropes: Multiple story lines, knitting retreat, sweet, older MMC, older MFC, mother-daughter-bond.

Review:
This is a sweet women's fic type novel with a romantic element. And I say element because it's all closed-door and even the outcome (when it happens), is left open ended. The mother-daughter bond is very clearly outlined so if you love this trope, go in and have fun.
The older MMC is a sweet dude who's lost his wife and is ready now to move on. Overall this book wasn't high angst or suspense. It was a sweet telling of people moving on and finding love. There's technically three parallel stories running around (Trigger warning, one of them had cheating involved and that left the most bitter taste in my mouth for the remainder of the story!)

Single mother Maggie and her adult daughter Piper have always been close, but with Piper on the verge of getting engaged, Maggie feels they are drifting apart. To reconnect, Maggie books them a weekend getaway at a knitting retreat. However, when they arrive, a bachelor party is in full swing nearby. As tensions rise, buried resentments surface, driving a wedge between mother and daughter.

This book didn’t work for me. I found Maggie’s relationship with Piper to be extremely unhealthy, which made it hard to connect with or like Maggie. I’m also not into knitting, and Piper’s character felt conflicted—she’s an unhappy model who wants to be a vet. Add in the burly men at the bachelor party doing bush sports, and the story felt like a random mix of unrelated elements.

That being said, the characters are quirky, and you definitely feel like you get to know them. I also would love to vacation at the cute little hotel they stayed at in New England. The imagery (think fall colors🍁, hot chocolate cart, and cozy knit sweaters) was fantastic!

This book was such a cozy and heartfelt surprise! The Weekend Crashers is full of humor and emotion, with a totally charming setting. What starts as a peaceful knitting retreat quickly turns into a wild weekend when a bachelor party crashes the scene. The rivalry between the two groups is hilarious and fun. But at its heart, it’s a story about the bond between mothers and daughters. I loved Maggie and Piper’s dynamic, and the way the author uses knitting as a metaphor for healing and second chances. There’s also romantic tension and small town charm to make it perfect for a weekend escape!