Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. I kind of felt like this was almost two books in one. It starts off with Daphne, who is an influencer and how she had gotten started in the business and why she is doing what she is doing. Then a mystery pops up in the middle of the book. I was a little thrown off at first but actually really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Weiner and was very excited to be given the opportunity to read this early. A good start of the summer read!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It did not influence my review in any way.

The book started with a prologue that only slightly relates to the rest of the book. This part should either be removed from the story or emphasized a bit more throughout. I did not even remember that it was there and that it had anything to do with the story until I read a review that mentioned it. I went back to re-read it and can't really see the need for it.

The first half of the book is a basic chick lit book about Daphne, a plus-sized girl who is an Instagram Influencer. She has recently reunited with a high school friend who did her wrong. I was just starting to get bored with all the references to social media and comments about Daphne being fat when there was a big twist. I did not expect it at all, so it was a big shocker. I'm glad the description of the book did not mention this part because I enjoyed the shock. The book abruptly switched to a mystery which I thought greatly improved the story. It was light and fun and I really enjoyed it. This was an ARC so there were several typos and errors that I'm sure will be fixed in the final edition. Overall it was a fun book. If you like Jennifer Weiner, I think you will enjoy this one.

This book, Big Summer, was totally different than I thought. I have all of Jennifer Weiner’s books and this one is the most different from the others. First of all, she integrates mystery with humor and also women’s fiction. Her characters build slowly with a lot of backstory bringing the story to present day. At first I thought maybe some of the backstory wasn’t necessary however, as the story progressed I saw how pertinent it was to each aspect of the storyline. That is Jennifer’s style though. All things are necessary to bring her story full circle.

Daphne is a plus size influencer on the social media platform. Daphne is fun-loving and kindhearted and had a loving household growing up. She has a best friend, Darshini (Darshi) and a friend from high school, Drue, who was her frenemy.. There is a lot of history between the three.. Daphne is contacted by Drue and asked to be in her expensive, over-the-top wedding which is a surprise to Daphne since their history dictates that Drue would never stoop so low as to ask Daphne to be a part of anything in her life these days. Darshi always has Daphne’s back even when Daphne doesn’t want to listen to Darshi.

The story has many ups and downs, happy and sad moments for all characters. Let’s just say there are no dull moments in this story. Daphne is so in tune with herself. She works on herself always and uses self talk to get through agonizing moments. I wanted to find her when the story was finished and befriend her. She tells herself, “Name five things you can see” in order to bring herself back to the moment by diverting her attention and to not get lost in emotion. I learned from Daphne as if she really existed.

Big Summer provides insight into many things human beings encounter throughout life such as love, friendship, bullying, forgiveness, acceptance, tolerance, and the human condition. One of my favorites.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Inc., Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was so excited to receive this preview of Big Summer from NetGalley. I couldn't put this novel down as it covered several big topics, friendships, betrayal, body image, women empowerment, and of course a murder mystery.

The book walks through the lives of Daphne, a plus-size influencer, and Drue a beautiful, rich, seemingly has it all woman. Daphane and Drue were friends in high school, but after Drue's cruel actions they drifted apart. All was fine until Drue begs Daphane to be part of her wedding.

This was excellent and I hope everyone has a chance to read such an entertaining book this summer!

Jennifer Weiner has done it again. I read Good in Bed and In Her Shoes they were first published. After those two books her writing styled changed to “mom” books which weren’t to my liking. I loved Mrs. Everything. It’s wasn’t chick lit and it was women’s fiction which surprisingly was characterized as “historical fiction “,
Back to Big Summer. Weiner is back to her chick lit roots. I can picture Cannie from Good in Bed time jumping; swapping her newspaper job in 2002 for blogs and Instagram in the year 2018. . Daphne Berg is plus sized , she has felt ostracized her entire life. Who hasn’t felt that way before??
Daphne’s Internet presence years earlier when Ia video of her fight with a very bad date appears on YouTube . Daphne embraces her new found fame with a rewrite of her biography on her YouTube channel as fierce fat girl and adds the hashtag #sorrynotsorry and #asiam.
Daphne reconnects with her former BFF . Drue who wants /needs Daphne to be a bridesmaid at her very public wedding on Cape Cod. Daphne agrees and it’s off to Cape Cod. Along the way Daphne finds romance. Who is this mystery man ??
Part way through the novels turns to a murder mystery tale with Daphne trying to solve the murder.
I enjoyed Big Summer. It’s out in May. It will be a perfect beach read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the review copy.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon and Schuster for personally emailing me with an invite to read this book! I was really looking forward to it and based on the synopsis it seemed like it would be like Jennifer Weiner’s other books.

The book seemed to be like two different books in one. The first half was what I’d usually expect and I was really enjoying the Daphne character and her Instagram presence and her relationships, etc.

However there is a change of course abruptly in the book and it doesn’t seem to fit and it doesn’t seem necessary. I really wish this would’ve been like Jennifer Weiner’s other books. The first part was great. The second part to ending- not so much.

The promise of a Jennifer Weiner novel is like a visit with a charming storyteller in a perfectly appointed, amazingly comfortable room with very few distractions. As a reader, I have a fairly good idea what I will receive in terms of a story but I also know that I will enjoy every minute of the tale. So it is with BIG SUMMER, Weiner’s newest and most up-to-the-moment tale with a heroine steeped in Instagram and moving up the Influencer scale with her ever-increasing number of Followers. Yes, she is still a Weiner heroine, plus-sized and grappling with her self-worth in a skinny-centric world. But as readers we love this set-up and can’t wait for the size zeros to get their just desserts, ahem. Weiner has built in a mystery and it occurs mid-way through the book and our heroine wanders into detective mode. This novel is a joy and sure to please Weiner’s many fans. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. I cannot day enough how much I loved this book. I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner, and I think this might be my favorite book I’ve read if her’s.

The story centers around Daphne, who has suffered from body image issues her whole life, which I could definitely identify with. She has sass, and humor, and such a self awareness while still being vulnerable, that I couldn’t help but wish she was part of my friend group.

The imagery of Cape Cod is making me want to book a vacation there this summer. I loved that there is a mystery but it doesn’t take over the book. For me, the book was still more about Daphne’s experiences rather than all about the mystery.

I couldn’t wait to finish it to see how it wrapped but, but I wish it didn’t end.

I’m a big Jennifer Weiner fan. This is the perfect beach read !! Definitely pick this up if you need something light that you can devour.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I'm a Jennifer Weiner fan and Big Summer did not disappoint. I loved the characters and the mystery (which I did NOT see coming at all) and the way Drue was never immortalized. I did find a few typos and at times the transitions between times/settings were a bit off for me (it took a very, very long time for the prologue to become relevant to the story) and some bits were a bit corny but I liked this book a lot. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Beautifully written, heartfelt story of Daphne Berg. Daphne is a plus sized Instagram influencer who has experienced body shamming and discrimination through out her life. When Drue, a former “friend” comes back into Daphnes life, she must decide if she should let her back in and agree to be part of her fancy Cape Cod wedding. Ms. Weiner is the only author that has made me reread her books right after I have finished them because the characters feel like friends that I am not ready to say goodbye to yet. Excellent story of the important things in life. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The main character, Daphne, was endearing and funny, which is typical for Jennifer Weiner books. I did think it was a little implausible that Daphne would jump back into Drue’s life and wedding plans after only a few moments of conversation.

I did appreciate the murder mystery that came along halfway through the book. This made it a much more interesting read. I also didn't guess who the killer was, which is always a bonus.

I also enjoyed the commentary about social media and the picture Weiner painted of Daphne’s family and how lucky she was to have them.

All in all, this book was a great offering from Weiner and I will be recommending it!

Oh Jennifer Weiner! You did it again and I think you have top all your other works! I loved this book!! This is definitely topping my year so far as one of my favorites and it definitely is my favorite Jennifer Weiner book to date. Weiner had me guessing from the prologue, I thought this was going to be a totally different kind of book. and then again after part 1, I was blindsided again. But in the best way possible! So well written!
You meet Christina in the prologue and you kinda forget about her until she comes back into the back story later in the book. Then Part 1, You meet Daphne and Drue. Two "best friends" from their school years and the planning of Drue's wedding. Trust me when i say this book is so much more than the description on the book. I don't want to give too much away and spoil anyone else's read.
Definitely a 5 star read from Weiner! I will be recommending this book to others and will always be anxious to read Weiners work! She is amazing! Special Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jennifer Weiner for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion
#BigSummer #NetGalley

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pub. Date: May 19, 2020

Vacation primes us for the pleasure of reading light books with plots that are not too heavy or thought provoking. Usually, the reader just wants to unwind in the sun, the sand, and a story. Beach books are at their best when read on a beach, which is where this reviewer read “Big Summer.” There are two timelines in the novel, 1994 and 2018. They do not intertwine. The prologue takes place in 1994, located on Cape Cod. We meet Christina Killian, an unmarried pregnant woman. With no financial resources, she goes to live year-round in her family’s seasonal summer cottage. She has a son and they both thrive while living on the peninsula. When the boy is four-years-old, the prologue is over and the story takes a completely different turn. Christina is out of the plot. This is a shame because her story had the makings of a good beach read.

The bulk of the story takes place in 2018 and told in the first person. The protagonist, Daphne Berg, is a plus-sized likable young woman with low self-esteem. The story begins when she is in the 8th grade and continues until she is in her mid-twenties. Her best friend, Drue Cavanaugh, is the opposite of her. Drue is the epitome of the character from the movie “Mean Girls.” You will wonder if you accidentally picked up a YA novel. The plot is mix-matched and all over the place. You will read about; school bullying with a strong emphasis on fat shaming, the pros, and cons of today’s 24/7social media culture. Throw in a rather dull romance that morphs into a completely unbelievable murder mystery.

The reader comes back to the beach when Daphne is in Drue’s Cape Cod, over-the-top rich, wedding. This is fun to read. Think of the TV shows, “The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Or any episode of, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” This is also when the story turns into a chick-lit murder mystery. Besides, when we finally learn what happened to Christina. Publishers put out beach books in piles for the summer. You may want to add “Big Summer” to your beach read list, but not on the top of your pile.

This book was a complete surprise and I loved it.
I received an email inviting me to read it (thanks Atria Books and Simon & Schuster!) and, if it wasn't for this invite, I wouldn't have read this book because I thought it was not "my cup of tea".
I am not going to describe the plot, but it is a nice story, I loved the characters and how the author developed them, I really liked how Jennifer Weiner described the ups and downs of Daphne and Drue friendship, it was very realistic.
Only one negative thing I think there are few anachronisms about social media use.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Daphne is a plus-size influencer, with an emphasis on the plus-size. Weiner always has a plus-size heroine in her books, but focused on it too much here. I felt like I'd read the words before. This also suffers from a lack of focus, like it isn't sure what kind of book it wants to be.

But it's interesting seeing what it's like to be an influencer. The message about social media couldn't be more timely.

And I'm still not convinced about Drue's true self. Would she really have been able to fall in love with someone so unattractive (and not make him over‽) and do all these genuine, do-gooder things yet come across as the same bitchy self other times? Perhaps it would have been more plausible had we seen more of Drue's hidden personality.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Wow! I really enjoyed this new story by Jennifer Weiner. Her writing has always proven to be good and stories well written, but throwing in a twist of a mystery made this one even more enjoyable! Definitely recommend this to any one.

When Daphne gets paid a visit from her high school best friend/mean girl, Drue, it’s almost impossible for Daphne to not get pulled back into Drue’s world where she does everything in her power to get Drue to accept her. With a complicated history that has since propelled Daphne to Instagram fame, she must make a decision: Should she join Drue for a big summer on the Cape and be her bridesmaid, or leave the past behind her? And when she makes the decision, she gets way more than she bargained for as she finds love in unsuspecting places, finds a crime scene when she’s not looking for it, and uncovers secrets of the past that she thought she had all figured out.

Usually after i gobble up a read I'm ready to leave my review. However. #BigSummer #jenniferweiner #simonandschuster #danatrocker I needed to take a pause. #THISISNOTABADREVIEW Forgive me if I'm wrong (also please correct me) #autoimmunediseases #brainfog I was absolutely captivated from the first page. The introduction is wonderful. But. Then we jump and you meet #Daphne. She is every woman who looks down on themselves. You craves to be #thin #popularandpretty. She was me. Her voice in her head was my voice. You can't help but to become emotionally involved with her. Half-way thru you are going to feel a slap in the face. Shocked. You are going to wonder #wtfjusthappened. This book is amazing. All of Jennifer Weiners books are amazing. I wasn't disappointed in this read. The story line or the characters. I felt them in my soul. And the ending. Whoa. Talk about I didn't see that coming 😂 I highly recommend getting your hands on this book as soon as you are able ❤️ I had the privilege to receive an #arc thanks to Dana and #Netgalley #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #readingismydrugofchoice📚🗞📕📘

Glad she's back! I have loved all of this author's books except her last one. Maybe it was me and I should try again. This was fun, yet suspenseful, with some romance thrown in. Very enjoyable read.