Read this book. This was the great escape I needed to read. Don’t read too many reviews as this book has probably one of the greatest plot twists of all time. I couldn’t put it down and stayed up way to late reading. I was worried at first that it was too over-hyped on the internet, but I was wrong. It is SO good! In the story Daphne Berg, self proclaimed “Big Girl” spokesperson and rising social media influencer, is asked by her ex-best friend Drue Cavanaugh to be her bridesmaid in the summer wedding of the year on Cape Cod. In the months leading up to the big day Daphne questions her worth next to this girl she has always idolized, but after the biggest plot twist of all time she begins to question the spectacle surrounding the rich and beautiful people around her. This is a delicious story about friendship, success, social media, body image, forgiveness, and true love.

Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of BIG SUMMER.

Summer welcomes a new novel by Jennifer Weiner and once again we're off to Cape Cod. BIG SUMMER (Atria) tackles some heavy issues Weiner is know to take on: body image, female relationships and eventually adds up to a fun novel for summer. BIG SUMMER includes the new must have character in a novel - a social media influencer. Unlike many influencers, Weiner's is a strong, smart woman with something to say.

This was a great beach read. It was layered with so many elements which all came together to produce a terrific story. It deals with body image, friendships, social media and so much more.
Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Big Summer seemed like it would be the perfect book for reading under the strain of quarantine. It started out fun and light with an enterprising young woman, Daphne Berg, on her way up through her success as a growing influencer on social media. I liked this character, but then she took a shift that throe me. Dafne was approached by Drue, her childhood best friend, and asked to be the maid-of-honor in Drue's wedding. What bothered me about this was that Weiner made clear how awful Drue had been to Dafne as a teen and young adult. Her "friendship" did not fall short of bullying, and yet, Dafne agreed to Drue's request. At that point, I lost respect for Dafne as a character, but continued on.

Letting go of Drue's decision to let herself back into Drue's life, I continued on and for a time, the Big Summer became just the sort of fun I was looking for. Then, it took a turn that I never expected and that made the book fall off the rails for me. I''m usually a big fan of Jennifer Weiner, loving last year's Mrs. Everything, but Big Summer just wasn't the book for me.

I'm sure I've read a Jennifer Weiner book before, but if this is what she's writing now, I'll pass. Way too long of a book that was high of female "fluff", and low on plot. Way too many things going on, a book that was too many pages, a couple of friends that were SO dramatic and over the top that I rolled my eyes most of the time. I finished it, because I guess I kept hoping that it would get better, but it didn't. This will be however a HUGE summer read, for maybe people that like to read fluff on the beach.
Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book for an honest review.

I was able to read this, courtesy of netgalley. In true Jennifer Weiner form, Big Summer kept me spellbound. Twists, turns, and a lead character that is fabulous are enough to make this one a great beach read or an entertaining way to spend a day. What keeps this from being trite or formulaic? The wistfulness that comes from old friendships and dealing with the people who knew you before you knew who you were. Good stuff!

Review of Big Summer by @jenniferweinerwrites
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This is hands down my favorite Jennifer Weiner novel.
Here is what I will say: the book is about Daphne (an influencer), friendships, and accepting oneself. All friends and family members within the story are well developed and I love Darshi.
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I was nestled into the story, questioning a choice Daphne made and suddenly the story is all cattywampus in the absolute best of ways! I did not see these twists! And I will not ruin anything. Just grab this one, I love it!
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I can’t thank @atriabooks @netgalley enough for the ARC. Thank you so much!!!
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#bigsummer #jenniferweiner #netgalley #atriabooks #kindlepaperwhite #advancedreaderscopy

I enjoyed this book very much, although I was not expecting the turn it took halfway through. Very culturally relevant with positive messages about social media presence and body image.

Big Summer - Jennifer Weiner

4 / 5 Stars

** Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and of course, Jennifer Weiner for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Boy, I loved this book so much. From the beginning, the cover reminded me of sunshine and summer - obviously, with that name! Especially with the world’s current state, I dream of the beach. So let's get into it.

Big Summer focuses on Daphne Berg and Drue Cavanaugh and what happens when their friendship resurfaces. I don’t want to give too much away and advise you to read the book over reading the reviews on Goodreads. Jennifer Weiner has done it again with a book that I devoured. I’ve always been a fan of her work so when this novel arrived I knew I would enjoy it.

Jennifer works her incredible magic we have come to know through an entertaining plot, well-developed characters, and excellent writing. This time around, she has focused on topics such as Fat-Shaming, Dangers of Social media, the line between friends and enemies, and when it blurs and what happens when your past enters your present - especially when you have changed.

The deep dive into female friendships is something that drew me to this book. I have enjoyed reading this style this past year and learning more about what makes gendered relationships either unbreakably strong or paper-thin weak.

This page-turner, with the mix of serious topics and romance, is exactly what I wanted to read. I look forward to more from Weiner in the future.

Truly one of the best books this year! Absolutely loved it and will be recommending to everyone. It is the perfect book to read during summertime about friends falling apart and then falling back together again.

I will preface this review with the knowledge that I know I am in the minority of people that did not like this book, but I DID NOT LIKE THIS BOOK.

1st: the beginning; why? Why do we have this little snippet to suck us in only to stop there? I can see where the author tried to tie it back in, but it was not done well and made the beginning seem pointless. I wanted more of that story and less of the main story.

2nd: The main character was bitter about being fat, but did nothing to change that. She has a very unhealthy relationship with food and an unhealthy outlook on life. She assumes everyone is looking at her and thinking about her size, when more than likely most people don't care/don't notice her. If she's that concerned with it, which she obviously is, change your habits!

3rd: The "mystery" angle--I don't really even know where to start with this one. The ending was so far-fetched. The quest they go on to find the killer was ridiculous and very unbelievable and UNNECESSARY! In what world would you thinking googling "DRUE" and "CHEATING" would yield the results they were looking for? Wow.

4th: The social media angle was so obnoxious to me. I would be pissed to be spending time with someone that constantly had to update her phone for her "followers". I really almost couldn't read this book because the Instagram aspect was so annoying. I do not worship at the alter of "influencers" on social media, so this probably wasn't the book for me. HOWEVER, after Mrs. Everything last year, I assumed J. Weiner could do no wrong.

This book read almost like a YA because of all the petty Instagram and insecurity issues. This book also showcased one of my biggest problems with social media: everyone pretends they have it all together, and people fall for it and judge their own lives using those standards. The poor girl that wrote asking "How do I be brave like you?" is 100% a real girl, somewhere, judging her life based off of a stupid Instagram post thinking she doesn't measure up. I WISH PEOPLE REALIZED THAT IT. IS. NOT. REAL. The redeeming quality of this book was the answer given to this question. We're all pretending to be brave until we actually are.

I will absolutely pick up J. W's next book because her track record is solid. This was just not for me.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I received a reviewer copy of Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner from the publisher Atria Books from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Big Summer follows Daphne, a plus size instagram influencer, who is suddenly contacted by her best friend Drue after years of being out of touch. Drue shows up begging Daphne to be in her wedding party. The book traces their friendship through the years where we learn that Drue is kind of famous for screwing people over but we also see a gentler side who is long neglected and desperate for her father's love. The two friends are reunited and then something happens that changes everything forever

What I Loved: I have wanted to read a Jennifer Weiner book ever since I read her memoir which is honestly excellent. This book kind of reminded me of Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews that was released last year except and this is an important difference, Big Summer has a plus sized protagonist and that makes me love it more. It is refreshing to hear a woman struggling with her confidence and expressing fears that we all have but also being shown as desirable and successful. I love the representation and I love that this summer read has a mystery to it.

What I didn’t like so much: It kind of feels like there isn't a lot of story lines that get tied up and those that get tied up are tied up to neatly. I think that this is the nature of having a murder mystery.

Who Should Read It: People who love beach stories. People who like light mysteries. People who like books that have plus size representation.

General Summary: Two friends are brought together for one's wedding and things will never be the same.

This book brought out how a person can be different with different people. And who is to say that both aren't the true version of that person. Past memories keep a strong hold on our emotions and can blind us to the truth. We see what we want to see or believe. And long-held secrets can be very dangerous. A person can try so hard to be what she/he thinks they need to be in order to get love. And what that makes a person do can hurt another; watch out for the backlash.

After growing up as the "fat girl," Daphne is now a plus-size social-influenzer, finally beginning to make a nice living from it. She's just made a deal with a clothing designer for all sizes to post on Instagram. She's loving life....until Drue reappears. Drue was her "best friend" since sixth grade until the night she intentionally embarrassed Daphne in a bar. Drue wants Daphne's friendship back......she wants her to be a bridesmaid at her upcoming wedding. Against better judgment, Daphne agrees. Has anything really changed about Drue? Someone must not think so as Drue is killed on her wedding day.

Wow, what a read. There’s so much to love about Jennifer Weiner’s latest novel, Big Summer, that I hardly know where to even begin. It has everything I’ve come to love and expect from a Jennifer Weiner novel, but then so much more!

The protagonist, Daphne Berg, is such a wonderful character and I loved her from the moment we meet her. She’s smart, resourceful, warm and witty, big-hearted, and she also has a great relationship with her parents, especially her dad, which is always lovely to see. Daphne has had a life-long struggle with her weight and with her self-image. She has had to contend with bullying, fat shaming, and learning the very hard lesson that sometimes people who you think are your friends really aren’t. Instead of letting these bad experiences crush her, Daphne takes control of her life and spins those negatives into a very successful business venture for herself as a plus size social media influencer. Her Instagram account has gained thousands of followers who tune in to watch Daphne embrace her body as it is and encourage others to do the same. I just loved Daphne’s resiliency in this situation and that she creates this community that’s not only a career for herself, but it also helps others who are struggling to love themselves and their bodies.

Something else I really enjoyed about Big Summer is Weiner’s exploration of what I think is such a relevant theme and that’s forgiveness. One of the story’s many layers focuses on Daphne’s relationship with childhood best friend, rich girl Drue Cavanaugh. Drue was spoiled and a quintessential mean girl, best known for befriending kids and then promptly discarding them once she lost interest. She left a trail of hurt and embarrassed classmates in her wake, including Daphne. No matter how cruel Drue is to Daphne, she keeps coming back for more, until they finally have a huge falling out. That fall out is what ultimately led to Daphne’s social media career and she has never looked back…until years later when Drue unexpectedly shows up, apologizing profusely and begging for forgiveness and for Daphne to be in her wedding. Daphne is torn – there’s a part of her that wants to tell Drue off all over again because she’s so toxic, but then there’s the other part of her that remembers the good times they had and who wants to believe Drue has changed. Weiner does an incredible job of exploring the complexities of their relationship and especially of letting us inside Daphne’s head to see just how conflicted she is. It all felt authentic and their relationship is one I could see many people finding very relatable.

The wonderful characters and the relationship complexities were definitely what I was expecting when I started reading Big Summer. What I didn’t expect and what really took the story to a whole new level was a huge plot twist that happens about the halfway point of the novel. I can’t even talk about it without spoilers, but it had me running back to the synopsis to see if I had missed something because it threw me for such a loop. That’s not a criticism though because as much as I loved learning about Daphne and her relationship with Drue, the surprise plot twist added a layer of mystery to the story that had me flying through the second half of Big Summer. I was desperate to find out what exactly happened and who was responsible.

I’m going to leave it at that, but suffice it to say, I absolutely loved Big Summer. It’s Jennifer Weiner at her best with wonderful characters and relationships, but also with a mystery twist that makes it unlike any of Weiner’s books I’ve read so far. If you’re a Jennifer Weiner fan, you’re going to love it and I also think you’ll love it if you’re a fan of mysteries.

Rising influencer Daphne finds her old best friend Drue back in her life 6 years after the event that launched Daphne's social media presence and ended their friendship. The last thing Daphne expects is for Drue to ask her to be the maid-of-honor in her upcoming wedding. Despite all of the baggage between them, Daphne can't resist hoping that Drue is really different now, as well as the chance to be a part of one of the "it" events of the summer.

I've had trouble pinning down my exact thoughts on this book, but overall it was a wild and fun ride. At times I struggled reading about Daphne and Drue's "friendship" because it reminded me of a toxic friend I used to have, but I thought that there were a lot of important topics covered - body image, toxic friends, social media - it felt very current and fresh, but not like it was trying too hard to be current and fresh. It almost felt like Part One was a different book than the rest of the book and that was something I kept coming back to. While I saw how it all came together it still felt kind of strange to me. I found the story a bit predictable at times but at the same time I finished this in just about a day; it's super bingeable and to me that's a testament to Weiner's great writing. I'd probably give this more like 3.75 stars, but rounded up to 4.

4/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy!

One of the things I love most about Jennifer Weiner's writing is her ability to create an unforgettable main character. In Big Summer we meet Daphne, an Instagram influencer who has come a long way from her struggles with body image and self worth in high school (no thanks to a not very nice "friend" whom we meet later) and is still working through the perception she has of herself now. I loved seeing this side of a female character. It was eye opening for me in a lot of ways and also made me root for her all the harder!

Go into this one as blind as possible- the twist makes it all the more addictive to read and hard to put down! Definitely the perfect summer poolside read!

It took me a little bit to get into this book. It still never really picked up for me. I didn't care for the characters or the plot. The ending (won't spoil) was a little unpredictable. I felt some things were super unrealistic. Like all of a sudden this big girl finds this super hot guy who is good in bed and he wants to be with her at just the right time she needs a man in her life? Yeah. That never happens. Come on. You can do better Jennifer Weiner!

Part coming of age story, part adventures in love, part mystery. Big Summer has been one of those books that has stayed with me since I read it, and in fact, I’ve thought about this book and the strong protagonist so much that I’ve bumped my original 4 star rating to 5 stars.

There are a few twists in the story, so I think it’s best to read this one going in without knowing too much, but I highly recommend Big Summer, and I just love the way Jennifer Weiner writes about such powerful characters and well developed plots.

*thank you Atria for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own

This story was so unexpected. The first half is chick-lit but the second half is 100% a mystery. It is a unique read but you should definitely know what you’re in for. Daphe is a plus-sized blogger that is estranged from her childhood friend, Drue, a wealthy, beautiful mean girl. After Drue realizes she’s had no one to stand by her side on her wedding day, she invited Daphe back in her life. While the story is about Daphne finding comfort in her own skin and recognizing the value of her body just the way it is, it is also a whodunit following a surprise twist at the wedding. I did enjoy it and thought it was well done but I just wish I knew what I was picking up.

This is a smart and thoughtful read that deftly balances moments of weight with some welcome levity, proving that Jennifer Weiner is a great writer who deserves every bit (and more!) of the critical acclaim she's received.

Big Summer will be a big hit and it deserves to be because it's fast-paced and big hearted and has so much to say while being entertaining. It's no small feat, but Jennifer Weiner pulls it off so effortlessly! Loved Big Summer a lot, and it is very highly recommended.