This new Jennifer Weiner novel reminded me of the style of Good in Bed, which is my all time favorite book of hers. The first half of the book is somewhat different than the second half. This seems to bother some readers, but I didn't mind. It was different than what I expected, but I enjoyed it.

This book! I loved Daphne. The main character is a plus-size Instagram influencer. She exudes confidence. She is who all women want to be, comfortable in her own skin. I loved her so much. This story was fun, it filled me with love for Jennifer Weiner, the author. I've met her 3 times and she IS Daphne. Her story was funny with a dramatic twist that sent out the message, love who you are, the "perfect people" on social media are not
'perfect" no one is. You have blessings that you overlook everyday that someone else would love to have. I got the message loud and clear, Daphne. Thanks for the reminder.

This book would make a great beach read. Hard to put down, you want to keep reading to discover what is going to happen next. The main character, Daphne Berg is an Instagram influencer. Always a plus size, this has been the wrath of her life growing up. When she starts in a new private school ( as a scholarship student), she thinks her life will change forever when she is befriended by Drue, the most popular and prettiest girl in school. However things turn to worse as they go through high school.
This book blends chick-lit, mystery and drama in one. While I am personally not a chick-lit lover, I did really enjoy the mystery in this book. You will be quite surprised by the ending! Definitely something to add to your summer reading list.

I love Jennifer Weiner's books and this one was totally different from all her rest so far. Murder mystery, mean girls, fat girls, Internet influencers, rich kids, Cape Cod, weddings, etc.

Kept my interest that's for sure with all that was going on and all the characters and everything coming together at the end finally.

Can't wait to see what's next from one of my favorite authors.

Big Summer has got to have a Lifetime movie deal in the works. This book has it all — a rich and popular “mean girl” whose life isn’t as perfect as it seems, a friend of said mean girl who doesn’t come from that life and is dazzled enough to ignore mistreatment by her “friend.” Love, revenge, twists and turns, reunions and deep dives into dark pasts. It’s quite a read! The pacing of the book did leave me a little dizzy, though. Through all of part one (which makes up half the novel) I was bobbing along at a good pace reading about the Daphne learning self-love and getting mildly Insta-famous, living her best life until her ex-BFF saunters into her life begging for a rekindling. Then, BAM. Parts two and three are full of questions, surprises and plot twists that had me thinking of the TV series “Snapped.” With the pace of the story picking up and the number of pages quickly running out, I was desperate for answers and couldn’t put it down. Overall, a great read!

Give me any book by Jennifer Weiner. Her characters are so beautifully developed, I feel like I know these people! I love Daphne! Her friendship with Drue is the basis of this book. No spoilers here, but it does take a sad turn. Her writing is so eloquent and clear! This is the BEST Summer read, or anytime read actually! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing.. Ms. Weiner, keep 'em coming as they say. Your books are wonderful!

Wow! Big Summer was so much more than I thought it would be. It was written like a YA book for a young women that has body image issues. Then it takes a huge turn that I never saw coming and the whole last half I couldn't put it down. It was not as good as Mrs. Everything but it was completely different entertaining!

I really enjoyed this beach read turned mystery. I was pleasantly surprised with the many twists and turns the book threw at me. The main characters were a breath a fresh air, and likeable. It takes a lot for me to be surprised by an ending, but this one definitely took me by surprise. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC.

When rich and gorgeous Drue Cavanaugh asks Daphne Berg, a plus-size Instagram influencer to be her bridesmaid after 6 years of no contact, Daphne is in shock. Drue has always had everything, except the ability to hold on to friends. Daphne on the other hand, despite being fat-shamed in high school, has made a name for herself as an inspiring influencer. ⁣But Daphne, who has never really forgiven Drue for setting her up with a guy in high school as a sympathy move, can’t turn down Drue’s big event, the hottest wedding of the season, on Cape Cod. And maybe, just maybe, Daphne can forgive Drue after all.⁣
⁣
This book is cute and fun, accompanied by a totally unexpected twist. The story makes for a perfect beach read, and while a little Lifetime-y, it is an excellent book for when you can’t get your ocean-fix. ⁣In hindsight, I would have liked more depth from the characters, but then it would lose its glitzy-glam beachy ness. There are a lot of core issues represented among the characters (e.g. racism, body-shaming, internet abuse) and I found that these issues barely touched the surface before being resolved. The book was exciting and fun to read, but I think it lacked the depth that I was craving.⁣

I think because I had read some reviews of this book it ruined some parts for me. It’s best to go into this book blind if you decide to read it. This is probably the hardest review I’ve ever written because I don’t want to spoil the book for you but also want to help you decide whether to read it or not.

I really liked some of the topics this book addressed like how society views women and body dysmorphia. Daphne, the main character, is very relatable and likeable. I love having someone to root for and a main character I can connect with.

The story also addressed the topic of the dangers of social media. This is the second book in a row I read that addresses social media and I’m fascinated by them. As a social media user I am always battling with how much to share and consume via social media.

Am I glad I read it? Yes! Was it entertaining? Yes! However, I had some issues with it mostly in the way some of the characters were written (some things were not consistent). I can see how some people would love this book and also why its not for everyone. This may be the least helpful review I’ve ever written but just wanted to share my thoughts!

Atria Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Big Summer. I was under no obligation to read this book and my opinion is freely given.

Daphne Berg has always lived under the stigma of her weight, despite her parents hard work to the contrary. After an incident involving Drue Cavanaugh, supposedly her best friend since they were children, Daphne decides to take control of her life. As a plus-sized influencer on the internet, Daphne uses her platform to help others while changing herself in the process. When Drue comes around with an apology and an invitation, will Daphne be able to choose what is in her best interests? When the unimaginable happens, how will it change Daphne's life?

After reading the synopsis of the book, I thought Big Summer was going to be the story of a young woman looking inward to change her life. If it were that simple, I actually would have liked it more. The self deprecation gets old fast, as does the overly descriptive passages of the colors of certain fabrics and fashion. The twist, and the subsequent pages that come after, seem like they belong in a different book overall. Additionally, the idea that the main character can do what even the police cannot has been done before and more successfully. Big Summer was a missed opportunity to show the growth of a person, from someone who despises herself to acceptance. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend Big Summer to other readers.

Jennifer Weiner seemingly presents us with a chick-lit story with a relatable and vulnerable main character Daphne. She brings us back to our own high school relationships and experiences and how they've influenced who we have or haven't become in our 20's. This is how the first third of the story goes. But then, the genre switches after the exposition and it turns into a very light attempt of "mystery." This is where Weiner lost me because the rising actions were predictable and all issues were tied up nicely with a shiny bow. Easy read to see who "did it" but unfortunately this isn't one that I would strongly recommend, in fact it's definitely skippable.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Jennifer Weiner has masterfully woven together a beach read and a murder mystery and created the perfect summer read. Daphne has always struggled with her body image, and it didn’t help that even her BFF Drew made cutting remarks about her weight. But Daphne is older and wiser now and has extricated Drew from her life after she publicly humiliated her. She is also now a popular plus size Instagram influencer with tons of followers and opportunities. When Drew reaches out and asks Daphne to be her maid of honor Daphne doesn’t know what to do. Hopeful that this is an olive branch Daphne decides to attend the wedding and repair her friendship with Drew. A gorgeous weekend in Cape Cod at the social event of the year and then... BAM everything goes sideways! A lush beach read, a juicy murder mystery, a brilliant book.

Daphne was just a fabulous character! Her struggle with her weight was so authentic. I loved her inner dialogue and even though at times it may have seemed as though she excessively focused on her weight I think unfortunately that is so true of many women. We do get a lot of the backstory between Daphne and Drew, I really loved watching Daphne’s character evolve as a person. She has such a dazzling and dynamic personality and it was nice to see her begin to embrace that. There were a lot of great secondary characters in this book especially Daphne‘s BFF/roommate and her love interest. This was such a fun story that did a really good job touching on a lot of heavy subject matter. Another exceptional summer read from Miss Weiner. The perfect addition to any beach bag!

I was super surprised by this book, in a good way! I love how much self acceptance was championed throughout, and I'm very into any exploration/discussion of the value of social media. It's exciting to see two important topics discussed in tandem like this, especially considering how deeply intertwined these two are. The serious bummer is that I didn’t find myself connecting to the characters as much as I wanted to. and, though there were lots of great twists and turns, the end of the book felt like a bit of a stretch. I wish the set up was weaved throughout the story more instead of being dumped on readers at the end. But overall, this book was a wonderful surprise!

*3.5 stars*

I've always liked Jennifer Weiner's books and her writing style. This was the perfect beach read - taking place mostly on Cape Cod, this novel had a great mix of gorgeous scenery, thrilling twists and turns, & romance. A fast beachy read!

A peek inside what it’s like to be rich and famous. A fun, breezy mystery with somewhat contrived characters and a predictable ending. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Weiner. Many readers will love this tied up, but it was not one of my favorites. I enjoyed the book up to the point where the big twist happened then I lost interest because it seemed contrived. A fun read but not much to think about.

This was such a great book! The ending was a shock for me (and I like to think that I'm a pretty good guesser). I really enjoyed the diversity in the body type of the narrator and in the characters. This book felt so modern and real. I do think the pacing could have been slowed down; the story moved so quickly after Part 3 began. Overall, this is such a perfect beach/airplane/vacation read and I highly recommend!

Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Jennifer Weiner's Big Summer in exchange for an honest review. The book is available now.

Somehow, before Big Summer, I had read only one Jennifer Weiner book, but I’ll definitely be adding her backlist books to my wishlist. This novel contains multitudes: a toxic friendship, important messages about body image, a compelling murder mystery, and lavish descriptions of wealth and privilege.

Daphne Berg’s long-time friendship (since sixth grade!) with Drue Cavanaugh ended on the night her career as an influencer began. Drue had set up Daphne with a guy who mocked her weight and then compounds the offense by repeating his criticism. At that point, Daphne knows she’s done with Drue . . . but not what’s happening next. When a bystander releases the video of Daphne going off on him, her social media presence explodes. Now, anchored by her blog Big Time, Daphne makes a career out of self-acceptance.

Daphne has worked hard to purge what’s toxic from her life in favor of focusing on her burgeoning career, her real friendships, her wonderful parents, and the adorable kids she babysits. Then, years later, Drue forces herself back into Daphne’s life with a bizarre request for Daphne: the glamorous Drue wants her former friend to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Daphne resists at first but eventually gives in to the same magnetic pull that kept her under Daphne’s influence before.

From there, we enter spoiler territory, so I’ll proceed carefully. Drue’s upcoming wedding to a reality tv star means more attention for all involved, and her wealth means that there are ample opportunities for Weiner to set extravagant scenes. Daphne’s skepticism and envy compete as she fights to maintain her autonomy from her former friend. And then, there’s a tragedy and a subsequent mystery that spans the remainder of the book.

I just couldn’t put this book down. Daphne is a likable and empathetic protagonist, someone who is strong and confident but is tempted by self-criticism. I loved her story, I was drawn in by the mystery, and I swooned over the romance (yes, there’s a romance!). Because Weiner is such a great storyteller, these disparate parts are all woven into one, compelling narrative. Big Summer really is a perfect summer read.

Jennifer Weiner always gets such high
praise for her writing and when you read this, you’ll see why. It starts out as a chick lit book with a real girl who is inspiring to the reader. She has a former best friend in Drue, who really hurt her. When Drue is planning her wedding, she begs Daphne’s forgiveness and asks her to be a part of it. Daphne goes through a lot to overcome her hurt to be there for her old friend. While she goes and tries to rebuild their friendship, the easy woman’s fiction of the book quickly changes into a different book! I won’t tell the twist, but trust me, it’s something else that you have to read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3201285513?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Perfect beach read - this one had it all and was totally NOT what I expected. Loved the plus-size heroine so much that I couldn't help but root for her.