This is a story about Diane (Daisy) who being an insomniac, ventures upon emails that are not for her but a different Diane. After further correspondence and apologies from the other Diane, they meet and become friends. Diane however has secrets and there is a reason why she becomes “friends” with Diane (Daisy).

It was a little confusing when the book went back in time to give background information of each girl but once I figured which Diane was being discussed, I was fine.

This is not what I would consider a beach read but a story about rape and how someone carries that burden with them throughout their lives, perhaps seeking revenge. I was definitely ok that it wasn’t light and fluffy but had current day issues and how they were dealt with in this story.

It was a great story and I just love Jennifer Weiner’s last few books.

This was such an incredible book!! I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner and this book did not disappoint. It's a beautifully written story about overcoming the past and creating a new future. The perfect summer read!

That Summer is a super fun summer thriller. It took me less than a third of the book to guess what was going to happen, however this didn't take away from the pleasure of the book. Jennifer Weiner is such an engaging writer who clearly loves the characters she creates. I was so happy to go along for the ride, even though I absolutely knew the destination.

This is a difficult book to review. Is it chick lit?, #MeToo ? Summer Beach Read? It was like peeling an onion - each layer made me rub my stinging eyes and put it down. Process that and pick it up again knowing that a really bad, life changing action and experience has just been hinted at. Put it down and pick it up and feel sympathy, then antipathy, then confusion, then incomprehension, then disgust and ultimately abject horror and rage. Oh boy this is one malodorous and offensive onion. No one comes away fresh and clean, the smell and the sting linger.

This book shines a deserving harsh light on the lives of poorly behaved entitled young people who often grow up to be selfish, self-serving and despicable miscreants. It does not flatter those who turn the tired phrase “It was all so long ago.” “Does any of it really matter now?”Now that I have that out of my system I offer praise for a well told story that deals with so many issues of yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is nothing new here - only in the way it is told. Weiner sets a diverse cast of intertwined characters and leaves them to grapple with doubts, fears and ruination as victims of many different types of abuse while offering the chance of healing and reclamation of “self”, a path forward with friendship.

Weighty, important, thought provoking and well worth every minute I want to thank NetGalley and Atria for a copy.

That Summer is another standout by Jennifer Weiner. She delivers a heartfelt story about family, friends and how events and choices shape who we are. That Summer unfolds brilliantly. Getting to know Daisy and Diana – unpacking their pain, walking in their shoes and to some extent comparing their lives was a lesson in human behaviour. The cast of characters all move the story and add interest. The character development spans decades and is spot on.

Weiner effortlessly manages time. Folding in chapters from present and past to build the story. This Summer is not tied up in a neat bow. It’s timely and important message is delivered with honesty and grace. The storyline from beginning to end had me feeling a level of satisfaction rarely achieved. Highly recommend.

Jennifer Weiner's newest book, That Summer, offers an interesting view of the "me too" movement. While not discrediting the effects on the victims, she also broaches how poor decisions may affect the perpetrators and how this all affects families and friends of both. Weiner presents all this in a way that is an enjoyable read on a subject that is not. Unlike some books that are "summer reads", this one will leave you thinking.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner is about the journey toward closure.

Where do I begin with this book? That Summer is not at all what I expected. I keep my reviews spoiler-free but I have to dive more into the plot with this one. For one, the marketing and cover are both so misleading. The cover looks more like a lighter beach read rather than an intense and disturbing story. I can imagine more than half the audience will pick up That Summer and be absolutely shocked at where the story goes. Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, hate speech.

This isn’t just a book about female friendship like the promotion has you to believe. But in fact, the story revolves around the rape of one of the characters and the devastating impact that it left. This isn’t a minor storyline— the title That Summer specifically refers to when the assault happened.

It took me a bit to get into this one. However, once I got halfway into the novel, I thought the story took an engaging turn. There’s a ton that is covered here: consent, white privilege, identity, manipulation, criminal acts, the power of friendship, etc. So it’s definitely one that book clubs will have plenty to discuss.

3 1/2 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read another wonderful Jennifer Weiner book! That Summer was a quick and delightful read, and I really felt connected to Daisy. I did read Big Summer prior to this one but it is not necessary - this is not a sequel, but there is a backstory subtly blended into this book from Big Summer.

Jennifer Weiner gets better with every book she writes! This is the story of two Dianas; both who have had their lives controlled by one man in vastly different ways. The characters are recognizable, and address and illustrate the need for changing attitudes regarding gender roles, consent, and living an authentic life.

Totally enjoyable read that gave me the constant “on the edge of my seat” feeling that something just wasn’t right. And it wasn’t. THAT SUMMER was a terrible summer, with decades long repercussions for friends, spouses, and even a teenage daughter. Favorite character was Beatrice because she was the only one being authentic!

This was my first Jennifer Weiner book. I expected this to be a heartwarming chick lit book, but there was a lot more substance to it than anticipated. Another reviewer mentioned the pretty cover leading her to believe it was an easy beach read (which it wasn’t) and I definitely agree with that. Definitely some potential trigger warnings in this book (#metoo) and it I think that more of a warning on the subject of the book would have been valuable to potential readers-this definitely shouldn’t be marketed as a summer read in my opinion. The first bit of the book was slow for me but once I got into it and understood how the characters connected it was a faster read. The story had a few flaws which I won’t go into at risk of spoiling for other readers and there were several typos/mistakes in the ARC, but a thought provoking book addressing a difficult subject nonetheless. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.

Daisy has it all. A beautiful home, a business she loves, a husband and daughter, but somehow it all just doesn’t fulfill her like it should. When she receives an email sent to her by mistake and the woman who it was meant for responds back to Daisy, she becomes intrigued about her life. Diana appears to lead a glamorous life with no husband or children. She travels all over for work. As they talk more, a friendship forms. But was this by chance meeting truly accidental?

I have read every single one of Jennifer Weiner’s books. I loved her book from last summer called Big Summer and was excited for this one with a similar name. Although set in a similar setting, the books were very different. This book is lighthearted at times but deals with some very serious issues. It’s a book about family issues and how your childhood really affects who you become later on in life. It’s about parenting and friendships and so many other life issues. I loved this book and I will continue to read everything she writes. A great book to read in summer!


#thatsummer #jenniferweiner
Thank you #atriabooks and #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was not what I expected. I expected a summer read, but this book was much deeper. It wasn't that I disliked it, but it was a bit heavier than what I wanted to read right now. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen, but it was sort of anticlimactic. This would not be one that I would ever re-read as I would with other books by Jennifer Weiner.

4.5 out of 5 stars. Jennifer Weiner has done it again with a fun, engaging summer novel!

When there is a mix-up in e-mails between Diana Shoemaker (who now goes by Daisy) and Diana Starling, the two meet decide to meet-up & become immediate friends despite leading very different lives. Is there actually more to this happenstance meet-up than meets the eye?

I really enjoyed this book and it was a perfect light read! Jennifer Weiner is able to develop characters who feel real and weaves an engaging story that keeps you flipping page after page!

Thank you to Jennifer Weiner, Atria Books, and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #ThatSummer

I loved this book. Not the light, fluffy read I was expecting based on the title and cover, but one I couldn't put down nonetheless.

Weiner's take on the #MeToo movement through the lens of two women really was a different take. It showed how actions reverberate through people's lives affecting everyone around them. I loved the female characters and getting to know each of them individually, especially Beatrice, but as it moved through time and perspective, it sometimes became difficult to keep track of what was going on.

The ending was satisfying even if somewhat unresolved...something that is probably authentic for this situation.

4.75 stars
That Summer, by Jennifer Weiner, is an engaging, easily readable, almost conversational type of story. It’s got a casual, accessible, open-style of writing that makes it feel relatable, even if it’s not, and effortless to jump right into the plot.

The story follows two women, Daisy and Diana as they share a link to the past in the most unexpected way, and as their lives converge in the present day. The story utilizes two times lines: Diana’s past, as well as the present day perspectives of Diana, Daisy and Daisy’s daughter, Beatrice.

This plot is built around a critical, relevant and vital topic. It’s handled in a potent, impactful way that not only stirs your emotions, but stays with you long after you’ve closed the book.

Within the novel are delectable and enticing descriptions of food, cultural messages, and strong portrayals of women, personal empowerment and the right to respect. It showcases female friendships, marital struggles, as well as noteworthy examples, and the timely #metoo movement. There is some suspense as well as the drama of teens and the pertinent issues they face. Unfortunately, it also contains some of Weiner’s typical biases and slights that I’ve come to to expect from her stories, along with the unfavorable trope of parents not being honest or forthcoming with their children.

The conclusion is creative and fulfilling, wrapping up an emotional story with gratifying closure. Personally, I didn’t find this story, with its various perspectives, to be confusing at all, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from the prologue to the final page. For me, Jennifer Weiner’s books are always poignant and powerful and a pleasure to read.

That Summer is another book set in Cape Cod, in the area we became familiar with in last year’s Weiner novel, Big Summer. This time we meet two families, one being wealthy, boarding school educated and suburban Philadelphia society entrenched. The other is the created family of Diana, a young woman whose life changed after a traumatic assault when she was young. How the two families intertwine and the tangles along the way create a story you will worry about and test your own thoughts on “#metoo” and money.

Jennifer Weiner continues to grow as a writer, tackling complicated viewpoints and issues and packaging them into contemporary fiction. That this book is being called a beach read illustrates again how beach reads have evolved into important fiction. Complex characters and smooth transitions! Culture clashes and #metoo. Creativity v. Money orientation. A great read!

I think some authors hit a point-more than once if their fans are really, really lucky, where it is like all of the things we enjoyed about their work kick up a notch. For me and Jen Weiner, it was it Mrs. Everything. Last Summer and That Summer continue to tell strong stories about women finding/losing/regaining their power.
This book is perfect for summertime as we have the three things most summer books need-a great setting, food details and an unpredictable plot that keeps you reading!
Daisy Shoemaker has the kind of life women are taught to want, but she is really dealing with a distant teenager and a husband she worries doesn’t spend enough time with her. When she begins emailing the glamorous Diana, a successful New Yorker, Daisy is simply happy to have a new friend. Because this is a Jennifer Weiner novel, there’s layers here.
In That Summer, we are invited into the story of Daisy and Diana, who at first glance only seem to share a similar email address, but the reality is so much more! I feel like this is one of those books that is better the less you know what is going on, but the story takes from Cape Cod to New York to Philly, backwards and forwards and time, and I stayed up late reading to find out what happened.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Jennifer Weiner’s That Summer takes us back to Cape Cod, delivers a whole new experience
I loved reading That Summer by Jennifer Weiner, but I have to admit it was not the book that I expected. As soon as I started reading about the summer in Cape Cod, I thought this book would have a similar feel to her previous novel, Big Summer, which came out last summer and is also set on the same beach town. Although there’s a quick nod to its predecessor, this novel is a completely different experience.

This is where I have to give you a spoiler because I think it’s an important content warning that is not mentioned or even alluded to in the book blurb. At its core, this story is about a sexual assault, and the ripple effect it has for decades to come. I will also add that the story includes a mention of suicide. I would’ve appreciated knowing this before I started reading the book.

Now that we got that out of the way…

That Summer is told from the perspective of three female characters. Daisy, a talented cooking aficionado who has some regrets about dropping out of college and getting married young. Beatrice, her strong-willed and eccentric teenaged daughter. And lastly, Diana, a glamorous city woman who befriends Daisy after they connect as a result of an email typo.

Their emotionally captivating story jumps through time and locations, taking you from the suburbs of Philadelphia to New York City and to Cape Cod, which is the town at the heart of their connection.

Jennifer Weiner’s descriptions of settings, thoughts, and emotions are beautiful and masterful
As fans of Jennifer Weiner will expect, the book is full of charming and detailed descriptions, including mouthwatering culinary creations. It’s also is an ode to the importance of women’s friendships and a journey through the messiness of human relationships.

However, contrary to how others describe it, That Summer by Jennifer Weiner is not a beach read, and I resent it being called that. My experience reading this book was much deeper and meaningful than I would ever expect of a beach read. The story is engaging and heavy, and the characters are complicated and raw.

That Summer is a multiperspective and thoughtful look at the role that men and women are “assigned” in society and the consequences of those dynamics; an acknowledgment that undoubtedly the #MeToo movement has been an encouraging force behind women stepping out of the roles that don’t serve them; and an honest look at how far women still are from reaching gender equality.

That Summer, a companion novel to last summer's Big Summer, is a ode to the #MeToo Movement. It discusses the long-lasting effects that assault, harrassment and abuse can have on a person, more specifically women.

It all begins during the summer of 1985 in Truro, Massachusetts. Fifteen year old Diana is working as a mother's helper for a family friend. Everything is going smoothly until an traumatic encounter with a boy she's been socializing with all summer.

Fast-forward to now. Daisy is a forty-ish wife and mother of a 15 year old daughter. Her life consists of making sure that both of those roles are properly fulfilled, something she thought would give her purposed and her own personal fulfillment. As time goes on, though, she realizes they do not. Second-guessing her decision to leave college to marry the dashing, charming Hal, she wonders what her life could have been had she followed her own dreams, instead of his. On the surface it could be any woman's midlife crisis, but for Daisy it's so much more.

These two women's lives were bound to overlap. They have a common link. Weiner's expert storytelling ability drops hints along the way. It's a fun ride, and I would hate to ruin the journey for the reader by explaining more here. Just know that it's a rollercoaster you want to buy a ticket for!

I started reading Jennifer Weiner's books in my 20s. Good in Bed and In Her Shoes were fun reading at that stage in my life. I'm so thrilled that she and I have aged together, and now - in my 40s - I can still read characters whose life experiences are right on par with my own.

Thank you to the author, Atria Books and Netgalley for an early copy to read and review.