There is always that one summer, caught in amber. The air is different, you see it different . You feel everything. You believe without question. You are fearless every day. The summer in question here , a young girl at the threshold of becoming without looking back. A tale of two Diana’s each with her own reason for life as she knows it now. Each with own reason to reach out to the other after a series of emails. As adults each has made concessions to that moment that forever shadowed their life to this point. Ah the difference a summer makes.

Another great story from Jennifer Weiner. Her characters are so likable! The story is relatable and you really feel like you know these people and want them to be happy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

This one was a bit up and down for me. At first, had a bit of a struggle with both lead characters with the same name and the flip flop in timeline but I got that sorted easy enough. From then on, I got to rather like the characters and was getting into their stories. I wish I didn’t figure out the connection between their stories so soon. It killed the intrigue which I had been enjoying.

The ARC itself needed some final editing with spelling errors and such but I’m sure that will get picked up by those who do that for a living.

This is my favorite Weiner novel that I’ve read in a while. I got pulled in quickly and really enjoyed it!

Daisy and Diana have email addresses that are different only by a period, so Daisy often gets Diana’s emails. When Diana sends her one to apologize, it sparks off an email correspondence that leads to a friendship. But the women are both keeping their own secrets, and they might not be quite as much of strangers as they believe.

This book covers some tough themes - sexual assault and rape, particularly. I definitely think it’s worth knowing that going in, but for me, the payoff is worth it. I liked the characters, the storyline, the shifting POV. Definitely recommend this one!

Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors. Her books always feel relevant and timely. I always think of her books as a fluffy beach read, and this was not what I was expecting. I was hooked on the story from the start. If you are looking for a thought provoking book, look no further. I think this will be a great book club book with lots of discussion.

I have loved every book that I've read from Jennifer Weiner and this was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and wished that I would have had time to read it sooner than I did. This story has a twist and tackles a hard topic. I loved all the characters and they came to life right off the pages. The story is told in two timelines , which is a style I love as it always encourages me to keep reading to see what happens. Definitely pick up this thought provoking book and put it on your summer reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #ThatSummer #NetGalley

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review. Here is a link to my post

https://www.instagram.com/p/COs8EPqLj2_/

Knowing there will be a list for an author I enjoy always makes me haunt the NetGalley site to discover if the forthcoming book will be offered. I am always extremely happy when it is and most of the time, I get my wish and I "read it before I can buy it," as I did with this one.

And, of course, there is always a long list of hold requests for Jennifer Weiner. She has established herself as an author who blends women's stories with current news headlines, as she does once again in this novel.

I love the Cape Cod setting. I was disturbed by the storyline at times because it's so sad that sexual assault has been 'normalized' by some as 'boys being boys' which is utterly ridiculous. Rape ruins lives, as it does with this character and her response will certainly resonate with many readers.

I really enjoyed the beginning and middle of this book. I think the build up was suspenseful and engaging. I was so invested and the only reason I've given this book three stars is because the ending was such a let down for me. The characters are developed so well, there's an incredible overlap between the main characters, and through multiple perspectives, we see so much of the inner turmoils and thought processes of these characters. But the end is so abrupt. There's no real resolution or closure. The relationship fall out that I was the most eager to see was not shown [ father daughter ]

A timely story for now. The characters were relatable, easy to like, especially the daughter. The way that Daisy finally realized she needed to do what was right for herself was very well written. A good summer read for book clubs.

This book was much harder for me to get through than a normal Jennifer Weiner book. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't a #metoo story. Don't get me wrong, this was beautifully written, but it was raw and difficult to read. I think that was the point, and I'd question anyone who didn't find this a difficult, yet important read. I loved the way it prominently showed two sides: the survivor and the unsuspecting wife. I think there were so many more survivors in this story than just one.
I don't know... I'm having trouble putting my thoughts into words. I've read a lot of books similar to this one, but there was something about the voices that struck me differently. Seeing the effect the rape had on all parties, even years and years down the line, was eye-opening. I do have one complaint, however. I feel like Beatrice's storyline was just left. We get this insight into her life at school, but then... nothing. None of it is followed up on. We get a weird little epilogue at the end, but it's not revealing. I'm sure that was intentional, but it wasn't my cup of tea for that particular arc.
I also wanted more to happen... but I also think Weiner didn't have such a happy ending because that's not real life. Justice isn't always served the way it should be, and That Summer was a true testament to that. I think it'll take me a few days to digest this story. Not my favorite of hers, but still one I'm happy I read.

I really enjoyed this one! Jennifer Weiner really knows how to suck the reader in and keep you turning the pages, and the book is well-paced. It went in an unexpected direction, and I enjoyed the surprise of that. I think this a great summer read with substance, and feels very current.

Another great summer read by Jennifer Weiner! Last summer at this time I was raving about 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 and now I am here to share my thoughts on 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳.⁣
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This is a story about two Diana’s who meet when an email goes to one of them but was meant for the other. They end up befriending each other and decide to meet in person. May sound like the perfect way to make friends but many times things are not as they may seem.⁣
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There are so many wonderful aspects of this book. It will pull you right in and may even break your heart. I think it is best if I leave you here because you really need to read this for yourself.⁣

Daisy and Diana do not know one another, but they are about to. When Daisy mistakenly receives emails meant for Diana and they decide to meet, they become fast friends. In an alternate timeline, we meet a young Daisy who is recovering from an unknown trauma by taking care of a family friend’s house on the Cape. These timelines will intersect in a way that readers will never see coming.
The follow-up to Big Summer (but can be read as a stand-alone) is a moving story of friendship, recovery, and love.

Weiner has written another fantastic book that is both timely and entertaining. Weiner is a very talented writer whose books are always way more complex and thought provoking than their pleasing covers would have you guess. Always un- put-downable, Weiner excels at "women's fiction" but really it is just FICTION.

That Summer without giving anything away, deals with abuse, rape and sexual assault and the effect it has on everyone, not just the survivor. The raw emotions and traumatic events moved me to tears. Weiner wrote with a power but still a sensitivity that I appreciated. She handled two different characters and even two different timelines that came together in the end in such a clever way. Although I did figure out what was happening, it did not take away from enjoying the book. I will recommend this title to all the patrons looking for a great read.

In That Summer we meet two women, both named Diana, who are seemingly connected because they share first names. Both are engaging characters and lead interesting lives. Their lives intersect through a mix up in their emails. That’s where twists and turns take the story in new and somewhat unexpected directions centering on two serious and timely themes. In that regard, this is not your typical summer beach read.

Overall, I enjoyed the stories of these women as they share their pasts and a developing friendship told in two timelines. I found the first half a bit difficult to follow. As the connections between the characters became a bit clearer, the plot tightened up. The pace and way the underlying themes were handled were both uneven for me. Although this was not my favorite of the books I’ve read by Jennifer Weiner, I appreciated the stories of the two Dianas and found the book thought-provoking.



FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

That Summer by Jennifer Weiner is so much more than a beach read. I love Weiner's books because there is an entertainment value as well as a greater message. That Summer follows Daisy Shoemaker's seemingly idyllic marriage and her 'not-so-chance' encounter with Diana Starling. The story travels from the 1980s to 2019 and explores the "boys club" of private schools as well as the #metoo movement. While a traumatic event happens on the Cape during the summer, this book is better characterized as Women's Fiction. I enjoyed this book but was surprised by the intense subject matter. Regardless, it is a book to put on your TBR list!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

That Summer
by Jennifer Weiner
Published May 11,2021

If you are looking for a witty, well-written beach read this book is for you! I don't usually pick up this genre of book but I really enjoyed it. Two ladies from different "lives" meet up over an apology and misdirected email... or is it an accident? This book was a quick read and fun!! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
4 stars

Having been a long-time Weiner fan, I went into this book without reading the synopsis after receiving an ARC from @netgalley and @atriabooks. That was probably good, as I might not have read it otherwise. Don’t let the word ‘summer’ in the title fool you into thinking it is a light, summery, beach read!

This book primarily centers around how a rape impacted and shaped the lives of all those directly involved, as well as those affected secondhand. This was not a “fun” book, and the first third was pretty slow, but it did leave me thinking about it days later, while addressing heavy material. It was extremely thought-provoking and will make you question your own ability to forgive, whether or not people can truly change, and how traditional gender-roles can sometimes be toxic. I do think this book is worth reading, but just don’t take it to the beach.

Ms. Weiner has turned into that author who everyone expects fluff from but instead gets a really solid social statement with her intelligent writing and well crafted plots. Many who still consider Ms. Weiner a romance/chick-lit writer will be disappointed when the heavy topics come in to play. Don't let this dissuade you from reading this book! For most of those people who are thinking this will be a great read to enjoy while consuming fruity beverages with little umbrellas, the writing manages that fine balance between those heavy topics and engaging and nuanced characters. Consider it a smart woman's beach read? In this book, the two Diana's brought an almost "sliding door" view of what life was like for young women at the time. How their relationships with each other and those around them play out and the results gave a not perfect but satisfying ending. Maybe that is what makes this a great beach read?