Weiner writes good popular fiction. This book isn't stellar--it's a mix of romance, mystery, beach read, coming of age and doesn't fully succeed at any of the genres. But it's an engaging read, if you ignore some of the credibility stretching facts--that suddenly a love interest appears, that a long lost frenemie would reach out, etc. Weiner struggles with body image issues and so do her protagonists. In this case, the resolutions were all a bit to easy, and not quite believable.
Better quality popular fiction, but not her best.

When mean girl, Drue, shows up years later begging a Daphne to be in her wedding, Drue seems to have changed. Has she, or is this a setup? When things go wrong, everyone is a suspect. Big Summer, by Jennifer Weiner, was a bit difficult to get into because of the switching back and forth in the story. Once I got to know the characters and who went with what part, it was a quick and interesting read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was fantastic! Really enjoyed it and will definitely handsell this titles soon as my store opens back up!

This is the first book I’ve read of Jennifer’s in quite some time, and this book reminded me how much I enjoy her writing and I need to go back and read her other books.
The only thing that turned me off about the book was how cruel Drue was - although that was the personality this character was portraying. I typically don’t like reading about characters who are cruel to others.
But overall, I really enjoyed this story and the message of how far someone will go for a person they care about.

Weiner again pens an enjoyable read, this time placed in the world of social media influencers. She realistically sets the story in NYC and Cape Cod, providing great sensory descriptions of both locations. I also admired how she captured the complex love-hate pull found in female relationships. From the first pages (or rather, paragraphs), I was invested in the relatable protagonist, Daphne.

This was a fun novel, and the plot twist which happened was quite unexpected. The last half of the book did test the limits of my belief, but it was still intriguing enough to go along for the ride. What really kept me turning the pages was the richly drawn and intricate web of friends at the heart of the story: Daphne, Darshi, and Drue.

Overall, a fun beach read with fanciful plotting that heart-wrenchingly recreates the intricacies of female friendship.

OMGolly do I love Daphne! I suspect more of us than will admit it will identify with her struggles with body perception and self appreciation. Daphne, luckily, has a supportive mom and dad (love love love her dad) and a real friend in Darshi. She's channeled a horrible night out with her frenemy Drue into a successful influencer career (she also watches two terrific - well, Ian is a treat-kids). So much so that a designer reaches out and makes clothes just for her, which comes in really handy when Drue, who she hasn't had contact with in years, turns up and asks her to be in her wedding. There are more sides to Drue than even Daphne knows. And what a wedding weekend it is! I so wished I could have seen that party on the beach. This terrific read is both a mystery and a story of story of how women treat one another. There's a murder, a love affair, and lots of secrets which come slowly spooling out. No spoilers! I didn't guess the solution so many props to Weiner. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was the perfect quarantine read- or any time read. The characters are smart, relatable, funny, and complex. There's great storytelling and it made me smile. Highly recommend.

As a long time fan of Jennifer Weiner, this book did not disappoint. A murder mystery, "complicated" friendships and a little hot sexy time makes this the perfect beach read (or quarantine escape). Ms. Weiner has an uncanny way of creating believable female characters that are layered and interesting, but at the same time feel like someone you'd love to hang out with. I highly recommend this latest novel.
***I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.***

Daphne wanted to be Drue's best friend for the majority of her school years. Daphne soaked up any attention Drue gave her only to be burned time and time again. After being setting up and overhearing a "date" without her knowledge and and hearing her worst fears that she wouldn't be good enough for another guy is the straw that ends their friendship. She has moved on from that humiliating night and has become a social influencer for plus size woman. Daphne is shocked when Drue drops back into her wife with news of her upcoming wedding and hopes that Daphne will become one of her bridesmaids.

This book started out slowly for me. It begins by telling back stories of some of the characters without you realizing that it will be important until later on. However, there are many topics that are discussed within this book that I appreciated seeing.: friendship, self-esteem, body shaming, social media, forgiveness. My best advice is to stick with the book. It does pick up and when it does that is when it becomes great.

This was not one of my favorites of Jennifer Wiener's. I felt like that the story was rushed and parts of it were not cohesive, I usually love Wiener, but this was not one of her best (in my opinion).

This book concentrates on two estranged friends, influencers in a modern world who reunite due to an upcoming wedding. I was fascinated by the Instagram world of these savvy influencers. I knew what the word meant but had no idea of the ins and outs of the lifestyle. Daphne and Drue come from very different upbringings and their friendship is unique and convenient. I was thrown for a loop with the surprising murder mystery midway. It was a welcomed addition as it ratcheted up the suspense. I blew through this book and wondered if the reunion of the girls was a master plan for something more sinister. The skillful Weiner wraps up efficiently and has written an irresistible story of friendship and forgiveness.

*will post in additional online venues at publication

I could not put this book down once I got to the murder mystery part. I truly was not expecting this from Jennifer Weiner. I love her for including plus sized characters and how real our experiences are. A wonderful, summer, page turner for sure! I have been talking this up to all my friends.

Last year’s MRS. EVERYTHING was a #bookstagrammademedoit (that I ended up absolutely loving), so when I saw Jennifer Weiner had a new book out this year, I needed zero convincing to pick it up! I really enjoyed this and think Weiner has officially become an auto-read author for me.

Daphne is such a wonderful, strong, relatable protagonist. I loved the first half of the novel that focused on the tentative rekindling of her friendship with Drue, who seems like your typical privileged “mean girl” type but ends up coming across as way more complex and interesting than that in the end. It’s a situation that felt very real to me (I certainly have those high school friends who would evoke similar feelings to Daphne’s if I were to suddenly reconnect with them), and I thought Weiner let the story unfold perfectly.

Things take a pretty dramatic turn in the second half, which I ultimately just didn’t love as much, but it’s still a super fun read that I would easily recommend to anyone who has enjoyed Weiner’s previous novels.

I think I may be in the minority here and we shall see when it officially releases on May 5th but this book was meh for me.

There was SO much happening: fat shaming, social media, privledge, friendships, family, a mystery, and romance. It was just all too much and all over the place. As a result I wasn’t invested in the romance or mystery aspect and it kinda fell flat.

I think people who are looking for a fun soapy beach read will like this but I needed a little more depth.

Daphne, who has a big heart for everyone except herself and Drue, the rich, beautiful, but ruthless mean girl have always had a somewhat rocky friendship. A knock down, drag out fight six years ago however, effectively ended the relationship. Fast forward to present day and the two have still yet to come in contact, until Drue calls with an interesting request. Turns out being the mean girl doesn't net you many close friends and she is in desperate need of a maid of honor for her upcoming nuptials. So desperate in fact that she is willing to pay. As Drue is rich and marrying a reality TV star, this is the sure to be the wedding of the summer. Daphne knows as a social media influencer this would be a great move for her career however accepting this invitation also means opening herself up to fresh hurt from an old wound. Drue knows Daphne's weaknesses however and successfully lures Daphne back into her world however things take a decidedly wild turn and the duo is in for a wild ride.
Weiner is a pro at creating "every woman" characters much like Daphne, who successfully encapsulate the thoughts, fears, and insecurities of women everywhere and distilling it down into one highly relatable main character. The gorgeous Massachusetts coastline setting of this one was a much needed reprieve from being housebound and is the closest this reader will ever get to a beach adjacent mansion. The story itself was light but covered some tough topics such a body acceptance and the dark side of social media, giving it some depth. The tone of the story changed dramatically in part two, leading the main duo into a mystery no one saw coming. With a light hearted, but hard hitting storyline, Big Summer successfully blended a multitude of genres, including women's fiction, chic lit, and mystery, into a highly enjoyable summer read.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Summer-Novel-Jennifer-Weiner-ebook/dp/B07Z43JXYH/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=big+summer+by+jennifer+weiner&qid=1588015123&sr=8-1lie
You cannot imagine my excitement when I was approved for a Jennifer Weiner book! She is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of seventeen novels! Good in Bed was her first novel published in 2001. I thought it was a Red Dress Ink at the time, which it was not, but the book did not disappoint. I was heavily into those books back in the early 2000s. This is only the 5th book that I have read by her, but I have loved every one of her books and cannot wait to finish telling you about this one and subsequently read her next novel. I just finished Mrs. Everything and loved that as well!
We begin this novel hearing about Drew and her struggle with being “fat”. We then learn about her nemesis in school and I am thinking this book is Mean Girls, Clueless meets Plus size, but as superficial as this book begins, boy does this book get mystery heavy about 50% in. We learn the ins and outs of the Instafamous world. I had no idea that you can actually pimp out your event and have so many sponsorships for each item. I know some people did it, but every book is actually based on some part of reality. Can you imagine being poor and still living the life of luxury? I have seen WWE Superstars get birthday parties and stuff completely sponsored by companies, but a wedding? THREE DRESSES for a wedding!!! Can you imagine ????? This book is filled with betrayal, a knockoff Bachelor situation, fall from money, Weight Watchers, illegitimate children, unknowing siblings, scandal, and more. What could more could you ask from a book? Jennifer does not disappoint and sent me OMGing into the other room. It took me more than a day to read this one, as I was flipping out too much, but I was looking for places to hide in my house while trying to read. I succeeded in escaping the forever hunger cries from my son for a little while. My suggestion to you is sit and read this book- you will not be bored anymore, but plan on reading the entire day into the night on this one, depending on how fast you read.
This book starts in 1994 with Christina on the cape after all the tourists had gone home. She had asked her Daddy for the cottage when she told him she was pregnant and wanting to raise her baby on her own. Christina would raise Aiden without his father, a man married to another woman. We are then fast forwarded to 2018 to a coffee shop where Daphne is looking to be hired as the exclusive face and figure of Leef Fashion. She quickly lands the job after trying on clothes in a coffee shop bathroom, sounds a little humiliating and in this uncertain time, using any bathroom other than my own is kind of ew right now. We learn so much about Daphne, her relationship with Drue, her pseudo best friend, her life, or the life that Drue thinks is happening. This book contains so much! Daphne has some duties as maid of honor that she didn’t even sign up for post wedding. Who would have thought maid of honor would turn into investigator? Crimes committed, influencers galor, abortions to cover up affairs. WOOOH. I cannot say any more, otherwise I will be spoil city! I loved this book!! WOAH BABY!

I've enjoyed books by Jennifer Weiner since high school and always look to their arrival. When Atria Books and Netgalley gave me a chance to read her new one early I was ecstatic. Alas, this one really missed the mark for me. I found the characters to be extremely shallow. Drue and Daphne were both equally infuriating with their actions and I didn't find either character redeeming. There is a twist at the end of Part One that I found surprising but I thought everything after that twist was lackluster. The story didn't always jive well for my reading tastes. I'm all for authors trying new things but for me this book hit the mark. I'd like to see Weiner try something again with this twist that would feel more fulfilling than this endeavor did.

Big Summer by jennifer Weiner was one of my favorite books I've read this year! It has such a great, inclusive message. I could not put it down. I read this during quarantine, and with so many emotions running wild, it was the perfect thing to look forward to and to put positive thoughts in my head.

I gave this book five stars, and recommended it to everyone I know.

Jennifer Weiner brings readers another entertaining read to kick off the summer! Set in both New York and Cape Cod, Weiner brings together mean girls, high profile careers, romance, a bit of the past and a big wedding weekend that is anything but forgettable.

When Daphne Berg starts being contacted by her old friend, Drue, she is reluctant to revisit the friendship. Drue was one of those people that can be toxic, so being her friend was loaded with pitfalls. But this time, Drue insists she has changed and begs Daphne to be a member of her wedding party.

Daphne, being soft-hearted, relents and the wedding festivities soon begin. With everything all picked out, Daphne cautiously heads off to Cape Cod for the big weekend. Up until this point, I was thinking the story might be one that I would forget about soon after reading. However, once the weekend gets under way, an event happens that turns the whole story another direction!

I must say, Weiner definitely grabbed my attention at about the midway point and I flew through the remainder of the book. I like fiction, but throw in a bit of a mystery and I’m hooked. This is great for summer reading!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

Jennifer Weiner’s latest book, Big Summer, is women’s fiction at its finest. This time around, Weiner manages to blend her signature wit and charm with a mystery to be solved. Friendship, family and tons of drama fill the pages of this highly entertaining read. With a loveable protagonist and a story that aims to please, Big Summer is the perfect springtime read! Here we go!

Daphne Berg and Drue Cavanaugh were best friends growing up. Drue was the sophisticated wealthy one, while Daphne was the scholarship student at their private high school. After a huge fight and humiliating video that went viral, the two girls went their separate ways. Six years later, Daphne is making her mark as a plus sized Instagram influencer. She is shocked when she receives a phone call from her old friend Drue, begging her to be a bridesmaid in her upcoming society wedding on Cape Cod. After much deliberation, Daphne takes on the role of maid of honor. While the two girls get reacquainted, Daphne reexamines their friendship and how it went awry. The story takes a big turn the night before Drue’s big day. With secrets unraveling and family drama coming to a head, Daphne’s maid of honor duties take on a whole new meaning.

Weiner’s Big Summer did not disappoint. I really enjoyed how her coming of age drama managed to capture contemporary themes of body shaming, social media, self-love and forgiveness. Weiner blended these issues into her story in a way that allows readers to not only empathize with the different characters in the book, but also relate to them on a personal level. I was pleasantly surprised half way through her book when she switched gears and threw a mysterious twist into the mix. A chick-lit and mystery combined...who would have thought that this combo of genres would work so well? Guess what...it absolutely did. Throw in an ocean breeze and a warm Cape Cod summer night, and I am a very happy reader. Once again, Weiner’s book had me glued to my couch completely enthralled. I hope you have the same experience.

I’m not going to lie, I almost stopped reading this book. I’m so glad I decided to stick with it because I ended up really liking it! This book explores friendship, social media, and a murder! I really enjoyed the twists and turns to solving the murder and it was not predictable at all.

I’m always excited for summer and a new Jennifer Weiner book. This one did not disappoint.