Ms. Weiner is an absolute gem. Every book I've read that has been written by her has been perfect in every way. The characters, the plot, perfect. This book was no exception.

This was a book about the intricacies of female bonds, what happens what that bond is broken, and how to reignite that bond. It truly was an anthem of friendship for females at any stage in life. Any woman that has ever had a major falling out with their best friend will relate to this book - and that is what makes Ms. Weiner a fantastic author. She breathes a certain life into characters that is so difficult to do and they are so darn relatable. It is easy to see her characters as your best friend or co-worker. Just another everyday woman. I won't forget this book for a long time, but I will be impatiently anticipating her next novel! So please don't make us wait too long! ;-)

If you love the Gram and following influencers, this is a fun read that combines owning who you are, forgiveness and even a murder mystery. Weiner has created an interesting cast of characters who are flawed, semi-famous and forced to face who they really are- or were. Great beach read.

Big Summer was exactly what I have come to expect and appreciate from Jennifer Weiner: an excellent, solid read featuring female friendships, that tackles current issues in an accessible manner, with a dash of romance.

Daphne is a body positive, social media influencer with her sights set on making it big. She is happy to have put her prep school past behind her, complete with former frenemy, Drue. When Drue suddenly calls and begs Daphne to be a part of her wedding party, she cannot resist the pull of her former friend's charisma. Steeling herself against Drue's certain back-stabbing, Daphne goes in with eyes wide open and assures her friends and family that she is better prepared now. When the wedding weekend unexpectedly turns deadly, Daphne finds herself embroiled in a quest to find out the truth behind the murder and her friend's not-so-picture-perfect life.

I went into this book blind and the mystery story line was a nice surprise and well done. While at times, I wondered if Daphne was fat shaming herself far too often for someone claiming to be body positive, I do know that fighting against societal norms is anything but simple. I appreciated the honesty and frank behind the scenes look at social media influencing. Big Summer is timely, interesting and fast-paced novel to add to your spring/summer reading list.

Wow! Completely unexpected story from my personal queen of chick lit. Weiner's newest release combines what her readers love best - strong, relatable protagonist - with Scottolinesque plot twists and turns of a whodunnit. I knew I would love Daphne and I did - I was intrigued by her world/job as an influencer, and I could completely relate to her relationship with Drue. My heart alternately ached and cheered as her story progressed and best of all though is the ending. THIS is the Weiner book I didn't know I needed. Thanks so much to #netgalley for the opportunity to preview #BigSummer by @jenniferweiner

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of this book. I love Jennifer Weiner.  Her writing is always fun and completely engaging.  This story was no exception.  It added a twist that I did not see coming but, loved.  The story has a little "more" than some of her other books and it adds to the story. In a world of Instagram and influencers, mean girls and over-the-top weddings, this book asks the question: Can people really change?  This book is coming out in May and is perfect to read on the beach or a virtual beach with some ocean sounds in the background! Thank you so much to Atria for my copy of this book,

Solid 4 to 4 1/2 stars! This will be a perfect summer read! The first half of the book is in her signature quality chic lit style. Daphne is a plus-size social media influencer/part-time nanny in NYC who is drawn back into a toxic friendship when an old high school friend asks her to be in her wedding on the Outer Cape. The book explores deep some complicated topics - body shaming and body positivity, social media appearance vs reality, unhealthy friendships and relationships. I think Jennifer Weiner covers all of them well - especially the mental health impact of social media where there are some excellent passages about how what you see on Instagram is never the whole picture or the only picture. After spending much of her life obsessed with dieting, Daphne has come to a good place and loves her body the way she is now...however, I do think she still has it on her mind constantly. The book maybe spends a little too much time talking about it. We get it - and we love her. The story moves quickly and it is just so good - and then about half way through, something happens that changes the direction of the book - and makes it even more exciting and unputdownable. I loved the ending and all the life lessons on how to be brave and ultimately happy. My favorite character in the book is Daphne’s father. The lunch he made for her on the first day of 6th grade in her new school and their Sunday suppers together - awwww!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my ARC! This book will be out May 19, 2020! It is fantastic.

Jennifer Weiner's latest will not disappoint. . Big Summer combines current elements of many women's lives - IG influencer, weight struggles, weddings and a beach town. These elements put together into a wonderful mystery. I could not put this book down!

I received an advanced copy of this book, from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I think Weiner just gets better & better with every book she writes. Big Summer is a foray into Summer time on Cape Cod, mixed with a little romance, humor, and surprise - a suspicious death. Daphne, is a plus size Instagram influencer who is lovable, funny, and honest. She is a believable character, in that she has grown all ready when the reader meets her, but she is still flawed, and learning as she navigates her journey. Daphne is surprised by her former best friend, and mean girl (former? still? That is the question) Dru. When Daphne is put back into this rich, beautiful, secretive girl's life, it forces her to reevaluate lots of things. Mostly, who would want to hurt Dru? Daphne makes her responsible to figure that out. Join her on this trek, that will make you laugh, cry, hope, and maybe just look different at ways in which you may be lucky.

Readers of modern romance, women's fiction, mystery, and beachy chic-lit will all find something here to ponder.

Big Summer is exactly what I needed right now. Light, fun, yet still filled with meaning. This is Weiner at her best.

Thank you for the opportunity to read the newest ARC from Jennifer Weiner. I always enjoy her books, and the latest read was no different.

Although it was a smidge slow-going at first, the author hit her usual stride and I buckled in, happily. This might not be Ms Weiner's best, this is an intriguing tale that will hold your attention and keep you flipping pages. Enjoy!
Thanks to netgalley & Atria for this opportunity!

This book was a pleasant surprise! I was expecting more of a fluffy beach read but the emphasis on the dangers of social media and fat-shaming were incredibly thought provoking. My main critique is that the first half and second half felt like completely different books. Both were good but I struggled with the sudden switch in plot halfway through. Overall though, I really liked this book.

What a KNOCKOUT!! I absolutely devoured this book in all it's delightfully juicy glory. During a time where our Nation and our World showcases a lot of doom and gloom, Jennifer Weiner brings us a BIG story about a plus size Instagram Influencer and her complicated relationships with her best friends and herself. I loved the characters in Big Summer. Daphne and Drue are two life-long best friends with such a complicated, tumultuous relationship shedding competition, jealousy, love and acceptance.

The book reads like your favorite beach novel. Its fast-paced and hard to put down. While on vacation with your toes in the sand and your favorite ridiculously BIG straw hat on your head, you'll finish this story in no time at all and you'll miss the characters when it's over, especially Daphne. I can't say I've ever read a female character quite like Daphne. Her honesty and the way she described herself, her body image, her insecurities and rise to Instagram stardom will resonate with SO MANY women. She's possibly one of the most relatable female characters I've ever read and while she's not perfect, her imperfections are endearing and also likeable.

In addition to all the women's fiction deliciousness packed into these pages, you'll also find murder and intrigue. A whodunit with a totally surprising ending that I didn't see coming. There's murder, sex, fashion, jealousy, revenge and more. Honestly, what more could you want to slip into your beach bag this year besides BIG SUMMER??

Chick lit...with a mystery--But, even better, a novel which takes a penetrating look at the vagueries, complexities, pitfalls, joys and reward of female friendship. One of Weiner's best.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

The first half of this book dragged for me. Yes, it was uplifting. Yes, it was empowering. But the lengthy descriptions and sometimes unnecessary flash backs made the first half a tiring read.

I read the reviews and tried to keep pushing to the middle of the book where there is a twist. But even then, this didn’t hold my attention well. I am a huge fan of Weiner. I love her voice and her style. But this one was not for me.

2.5 stars rounded up because I will always try to read anything by Jennifer Weiner.

I loved this book! It held my interest all the way through. Definitely made some great points about how people portray their lives on social media and I loved the ending. I thought i had it figured out but it definitely surprised me!

Daphne Berg is a fashionista and Instragram influencer. And although she may not have as many followers as her non-plus sized counterparts, she is lending her voice as an advocate for plus-sized women . She hasn't always meant to be a plus-sized influencer--in fact, she could barely imagine this new life a few years ago. However, an event at a nightclub one night with her friend Drue Cavanaugh changed everything--including their friendship. Daphne gained a voice and a following--and shed an old friend.

Years later she is surprised to find beautiful, successful former childhood friend Drue begging her to join her wedding party. Daphne reluctantly accepts as a chance to reconnect with an old friend, and the amazing Cape Cod wedding will look AMAZING on her Instragram posts, featuring products from new clients in the beautiful Cape Cod beach. She grabs a custom-made maid of honor gown and heads to Cape Cod for the society wedding of the year. And then the unexpected happens, which makes question if she ever really knew Drue at all.

I absolutely loved this book and the heavy themes explored in Big Summer. The wedding and events that follow raise questions about how well Daphne knew her friend and how well any of us really know the people we surround ourselves with. It also explores the world of social media, and the appearances that we so carefully craft online. Big Summer explores body image, and what it takes to go against "societal norms" both in body image, class, and relationships. You'll be thinking about the themes and the characters after you put the book down. This is definitely a book I would pack for the beach!

I received Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner as an ARC from NetGalley. I have read numerous books by Jennifer Weiner and this was one of my favorites. Big Summer is chick lit with some mystery thrown in. Daphne Berg and Drue Cavanaugh were friends in high school until Drue's treatment of Daphne destroys their friendship. Drue was one of the girls who had everything in high school - popular, beautiful, rich and Daphne was a scholarship student at their private school and overweight. Flash forward six years and Daphne has become a plus size influencer on Instagram. Drue is getting married and contacts Daphne to be her maid of honor. Drue has pissed off too many people and has no friends so she runs back to Daphne. The novel tackles the issues of female friendships and social media influencers. An all around fun read.

Daphne is making a name for herself as a plus-size influencer when her ex-best friend reappears. Drue is rich and skinny and seems to have everything except friends to be in her wedding. She wants Daphne to be the maid-of-honor and tries everything to make it an offer that Daphne can't refuse. But can Daphne trust Drue and let go of the past bad treatment? When the wedding takes an unexpected twist Daphne is left questioning everything, including her own judgment? Can she trust anyone or is everyone just pretending for the perfect Instagram?

Jennifer Weiner's novels keep getting better! I read Good in Bed many years ago and have loved all of her subsequent novels, particularly last summer's brilliant Mrs. Everything. Nothing prepared me for Big Summer being her best novel with the most likable heroine yet!

I loved how this book nailed social media, "influencers", body image, and complicated female friendships. The first half was devoted to establishing Daphne and her history with her glittering mean girl frenemy and the second half was purse suspense.

This is the perfect novel to get lost in on a summer day!