Daphne Berg is a moderately influential influencer who rose to fame following one of the worst nights of her life, orchestrated by her best friend Drue. After cutting Drue from her life, Daphne is dismayed when Drue shows up at her employer’s home asking her to be in Drue’s wedding as her Maid of Honor. At first reluctant, Daphne agrees to help out an old friend and quickly becomes wrapped up in the glamour of Drue’s perfect existence. At the rehearsal dinner Daphne meets Nick, a handsome, charming man who only has eyes for her but when she wakes up he is gone and Drue is dead. Is Nick responsible? Will Daphne and Drue’s rocky past make Daphne a prime suspect?

Jennifer Weiner’s Big Summer was an easy read but I had a hard time getting invested in the characters or the story. While Big Summer is likely meant to tell the story of a plus sized woman living her life on her own terms, so much time was spent justifying Daphne’s existence that it felt less like a choice on the character’s part to love and accept herself and more of a case of a woman being resigned to her fate. I was not expecting the mystery element of the storyline but I felt like it wrapped up too quickly and too neatly, however, as this is not a thriller the tone and feel of the book remain light making it a great choice for a breezy summer read for fans of Weiner.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a fun, quick read. The first half was fun but repeated a few of the same themes and dragged a bit for me. I enjoyed the plot twist in the second half, and the book grabbed my attention again. Overall a nice beach read and a good escape.

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the arc.

I love Jennifer Weiner. She's been on my "must-read" list since I read Good in Bed so I was honored to receive the e-mail inviting me to read her newest book. Overall, I thought Big Summer was enjoyable, but not my favorite Jennifer Wiener novel. The main character was likeable, the central relationship was well developed, and the social media story line was relevant for the times. The mystery portion of the novel felt unrealistic and kind of cheesy. I will be a good choice for readers looking for a beach read. Special thank you to Net Galley for providing the advance reader copy!

Jennifer Weiner continues to surprise me with her writing. Just like last year’s Mrs. Everything, I went into this book expecting one thing and being completely surprised by what I read! Do not go into this book with expectations of any kind - just enjoy the story! My no-spoiler review is this - this is a story about relationships and what you think you know about family, your friends’ families and appreciating who and what is in your life! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

Jennifer Weiner is a favorite author of mine and she did not disappoint me with this fast read covering many issues such as women's body issues, social media bullying, women's friendships and forgiveness,

Having it turn into a mystery with a twist was a bonus. I highly recommend this book.

This is almost what I’d consider a classic Jennifer Weiner book. And I don’t mean that in a bad way at all. I love how she writes women, relationships, familial ties. This book though, had the addition of being more of our present life especially with social media and it’s impact on society. I loved it. I found myself cringing and laughing and smiling reading it. It is a great read and having spent time on the Cape, I felt it was captured well!

The storyline of Big Summer revolves around friendship, bullying, social media influencers, and body image, with a little romance and a mystery thrown in just to keep it interesting. I loved the characters, even the ones that I hated. This book took me back to high school and those feelings of wanting to fit in, but not knowing where or exactly how.

Daphne was embarrassed in the past by her “friend” Drue. It was at that moment that she claimed her plus size body and moved forward with her life. She has no contact with Drue, she doesn’t even look up her social media. Her life has been fine until six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.

Tragedy strikes the morning of the wedding. Before Daphne knows it she is a murder suspect. She starts to investigate the people that were at the wedding, in the wedding and the people Drue was mean to growing up. She realizes that Drues life was sad and lonely and nothing like people thought it was. Can Daphne give closure and justice?

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner and this book did not disappoint. Loved the characters and storyline!!

I LOVED THIS BOOK! From the very first page, it completely captivated me. The main character was charming and relatable, and while there are deeper themes/lessons to be found in Weiner's exceptional story, what really stood out for me was how much I cared about the characters, the story, the resolution. Kudos to one of my favorite authors on another exceptional novel!

I rec'd this as an advanced copy from the publisher and net galley. I love Jennifer Weiner books, I was excited to receive this copy. I honestly had no idea what it was about and was a little surprised at the "mystery" aspect, but it was a great read. Some tough subjects, very relatable in the world we live in. Loved the main character, especially the relationship she had with her dad. Fast, easy read, you won't be disappointed.

Daphne Berg is a Instagram influencer, she is a big woman who has always struggled with her weight until one night when a girl she thought was her best friend showed her true colors. That night changed Daphne's way of thinking about her weight & life in general. She becomes a successful influence who is confident in her own body and life. Until that old best friend comes back into her life asking her of all things to be her maid of honor at her society wedding. I loved this book just as I have all of Jennifer Weiner's others!!!!!! Love how it explores friendship and mean girls and how they can impact our lives. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my honest review

I was recently invited to read and review Jennifer Weiner’s up coming book, Big Summer. To say I was honored, is an understatement. I’ve been reading Jennifer Weiner’s books since her first one, Good in Bed. I also love that she is a Philadelphia native, so her books are often “close to home”.
Big Summer is a novel about a young woman named Daphne, who back in high school, was betrayed by her best friend, Drue. The incident went viral, making Daphne a social media sensation!! Now six years later, Drue has come back into Daphne’s life, asking her to be a part of her upcoming wedding. See…Drue is the all around “perfect” girl: rich, slender figure, long blonde hair, and center of her social circle. Daphne is quite the opposite: an overweight introvert, trying to find and accept herself in a cruel world. Can Daphne forgive and forget what’s happened in the past between her and Drue???
What started out as general woman’s fiction, quickly takes a turn I never saw coming!! This story about friendship becomes a mystery…all tied into one!! A truly, perfect combination!!! I added bonus: I also learned quite a bit about social media algorithms and influencing through sites like Instagram.
I truly hope that once this pandemic lifts and Jennifer Weiner takes this book on tour, she comes near the Scranton area!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another great story by Jennifer Weiner. I didn't read the blurb or description first. I let myself be totally surprised. I had no idea it would turn into a murder mystery. It is a quick, fun, page-turner that Wiener fans will enjoy. I especially liked the inside look at influencers and their sponsors and business partners.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner 4 stars
Ok, where to begin. I guess I’ll start with this...I love Jennifer Weiner. Mrs. Everything was EVERYTHING!! I have read everything Ms. Weiner has written and was so excited to receive an invitation by the publisher to review an advanced e-copy of Big Summer.
But this book feels like 3 steps backward. The story revolves around Drue Cavanaugh and Daphne Berg, best friends in school who have a falling out that ends their friendship. Drue re-enters Daphne’s life six years later when she needs a friend to stand up with her in her wedding. Drue realizes that she lacks any friends, while Daphne is now an Internet influencer. Daphne reluctantly agrees to attend because, as Daphne’s roommate and friend, Darshi, points out, Drue is Daphne’s kryptonite.
At the wedding, this story goes from women’s literature/chick lit, to romance, to mystery. That, in my opinion, is where this book goes wrong. The characters are shallow and the storyline is a little bit schizophrenic. However, the ending pulls it all together and I really did enjoy the book.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy for an honest opinion! #Netgalley #BigSummer

“I’m not brave all the time. No one is. We’ve all been disappointed; we’ve all had our hearts broken, and we’re all just doing our best. Make sure you have people who love you, the real you, not the instagram you. If you cant be brave, pretend to be brave, and if you cant do that yet, know that you aren’t alone. Everyone you see is struggling. Nobody has it all figured out.”

Daphne and Drue had a very “mean girls” high school best friendship. Drue had it all, and Daphne loved being in her friend group, except for when Drue pushed her to the outside. After a night out, Daphne decides this friendship is not a good one for her. Six years later, Daphne tracks Drue down, with a huge request. To be her maid of honor. Drue has no girlfriends, and is desperate to the point of offering to pay. Daphne gives in, but when a tragedy strikes the night before the wedding, Daphne isn’t sure what to do.

This one is tough. I really struggled between 3.5 or 4 stars. So I’m going with 3.75 but rounded up to 4. While I really enjoyed this book, I felt like I read two different books. The first half was what I would expect from Jennifer Weiner, and the second half was completely different. I thought the look at social media and influencers was very timely and fascinating. I also enjoyed that Weiner dove into some difficult topics such as body image, expectations of women, and especially social media and the trolls that can live there. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I wish it flowed a little better between the first and second half.

Thank you to Atria Books and netgalley for my gifted copy of this book!

Thank you, Jennifer Weiner, for going back to your roots with this fun, summery beach read! After so many misses for me, her new book hits a much higher mark.

However, the plot in itself is a little confusing. The story starts out as a chic-lit romp but suddenly takes a turn into a murder mystery, and from there, it loses some points from me for one basic reason: Why so do many fictional heroines, when caught in the middle of a murder, suddenly become a top-notch investigator and crime-solver? This is why the book lost points from me. Sure, most of it makes sense, but I'm just so done with main characters becoming detectives when faced with the situation.

That being said, the mystery was plausible, as was the execution of it - although I think the prologue could be omitted and still be a decent story.

5⭐️ read!! Kudos to Jennifer Weiner on writing another fantastic book. I loved every page of this great book.I’m beyond grateful for being granted the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of this fabulous book.. #netgalley #simonandschuster #jenniferweiner

I love this author’s novels... this book is a little different than her previous. I think it’s going to be a bestseller when it’s released this summer but it wasn’t my favorite. There’s the familiar beloved everywoman heroine; curvy (I hate the word fat) and sweet. Then it becomes a detective story (there’s a murder!!!) with some Nancy Drew style sleuthing. It got a little cheesy and far-fetched at times but overall an easy read with a tidy ending.

At first glance, I thought this was just another fluffy women's fiction book- and I say that even though I love Jennifer Weiner, and she's been on my "must-read" list for years. However, as I read it, I realized just how many layers there was to it- body positivity and acceptance; the lasting effects of body shaming and bullying; the perils of living a fake life on social media; learning to trust yourself.... I truly appreciated this book, and think it's an important books for women to read. Add in a mystery, romance, and complex family dynamics, and this makes for a highly entertaining and enjoyable book. I was almost sad when it was over.... a must read, 100%, in my opinion.

I am a longtime fan of Jennifer Weiner's and was eagerly awaiting Big Summer and it did not disappoint!

Daphne is everything we wished we were ourselves - confident, brave and bold. She knows she's not a tiny girl but she owns the body she is in and is making waves on Instagram promoting body confidence. No one is more surprised than Daphne when her ex-best friend Drue comes back into her life and begs her to be her Maid of Honor for her upcoming nuptials on Cape Cod.

There is a bit of back-and-forth in timelines as we learn more about the girls history with one another along with learning about the mysterious man Daphne meets during the wedding. It's a great story that is captivating from the first to the last page.

I wish we had got more time with Daphne's parents, they were SUCH gems! Everyone should have parents as wonderful as hers.

Overall this was an engrossing and inspiring read. Hopefully you are also inspired by Daphne to embrace the body you have instead of vying for one you wish you were in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.