Great summer beach read, Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors and she never misses. The Summer Place will have you laughing, crying, and everything in between.

I normally adore Jennifer Weiners books, so this was a surprising miss for me. The characters were largely unlikeable and I think that was a big part of it for me. There was a lot of back story and it got rather hard for me to keep track of what was going on which hindered my enjoyment as well. Overall I do think others may really like this book!

A lot of the time I like to go into a book blind. So going off the title The Summer Place I assumed this was going to be a fluffy summer romance. It is so much more than that.

It starts off Ruby wanting to marry her boyfriend Gage that she met during the pandemic and she would like the wedding to take place in 3 months at Sarah, her stepmoms family home in Cape Cod. So the entire family head there for the wedding.

A true dysfunctional group that is trying to keep their own personal issues at bay. And u have a bride and groom that may be having second thoughts as the wedding day approaches.

This story is filled with family drama but also love. It definitely kept me entertained.

Jennifer Weiner delivers another engaging, drama-filled summer read with The Summer Place, a novel that explores the complexities of family, long-buried secrets, and the emotional aftermath of the pandemic. Set against the backdrop of a Cape Cod summer home, the story follows a family brought together for a wedding, only for secrets to unravel and force each character to confront their past choices. While some plot points require a suspension of disbelief, Weiner excels at creating relatable, flawed characters whose struggles with love and identity feel authentic.

The novel captures the emotions of post-lockdown life without directly addressing the pandemic, adding depth to the characters’ experiences. The Cape Cod setting is a highlight, transporting readers to breezy shorelines and summer nostalgia. While the drama at times feels overwhelming, it’s balanced by moments of humor and heart, making it an immersive escape.

Though The Summer Place leans into melodrama, it’s exactly the kind of page-turner that makes for a perfect summer read. A huge thank you to Jennifer Weiner, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

DNF. I had a really hard time getting into this one and was never really gripped. I’m not a very motivated character driven reader and I was hoping for a bit more plot to grab me right away.

Aghhh!!
This book had very unlikeable characters. Wildly dysfunctional relationships. AND involved the COVID pandemic??? Not for me.

I enjoy Jennifer Weiner's books because they provide enough soap opera entertainment to keep me flipping the pages to see what new disaster will happen next. When you bring together a large mixed family to celebrate an event.....especially a wedding......you bet there will tears, laughter, hugs, punches and any emotional breakdown under the sun. Weiner is so good at this type of story, I always feel like I'm at a family reunion and all of the cuckoos have come home to roost. There's drama, sure, but in the long run, they're all family so it's going to be okay.

Wow, this was a messy family read!

This is a big family and this story covers them all. Plus it happens in the midst of Covid. There are a few POV and each of them have their own secrets, dramas, and regrets. It was surprising just how many stories overlapped and I almost needed a diagram to remember who was who.

I did this as an audio and it was great, the narrator was absolutely wonderful!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book

Thank you #Netgalley

Another great Jennifer Weiner book, as the title portrays, a great summer read in my opinion. This read follows an extended family and what brings them to the family summer place. Each main character has their own secrets and struggles but put each away to help celebrate and prioritize a family wedding. But hiding these feelings is causing so much distress amongst so many people. Appreciated the small references to quarantine to covid and how it brought them to where they are now.

Jennifer Weiner's The Summer Place is a captivating novel that skillfully weaves together themes of family, love, and self-discovery against the backdrop of a picturesque summer setting. With its engaging characters and heartfelt storytelling, the book delivers a compelling and enjoyable reading experience.

Set in a charming seaside town, the novel follows the lives of a multi-generational family as they navigate personal and relational challenges over the course of a transformative summer. Weiner excels in creating rich, multidimensional characters whose struggles and triumphs feel both relatable and authentic. Each character is given ample space to develop, contributing to a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and deeply satisfying.

The prose is engaging and accessible, with Weiner’s trademark warmth and humor shining through. The novel's setting is vividly depicted, making the summer locale almost a character in its own right. The detailed descriptions and atmospheric tone create a vivid sense of place, enhancing the story’s overall appeal.

One of the book’s notable strengths is its exploration of complex family dynamics and personal growth. Weiner handles these themes with sensitivity and insight, offering readers a thoughtful reflection on the intricacies of familial relationships and individual aspirations. The narrative is well-paced, with a balance of light-hearted moments and deeper, more introspective passages.

However, while The Summer Place is an engaging and enjoyable read, it occasionally ventures into familiar territory with its plot developments. Some elements may feel predictable to seasoned readers of the genre, but Weiner's skillful character development and emotional depth help to elevate the story beyond these conventions.

In summary, The Summer Place is a well-crafted novel that combines a charming setting with a rich exploration of family and personal growth. Jennifer Weiner delivers a heartfelt and entertaining story that is sure to resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven narratives and evocative storytelling. It’s a delightful summer read that offers both warmth and substance.

Jennifer Weiner is always a top author for me to read during the summertime - she always paints a beautiful summer romance that are realistic and inclusive of all. I have loved her "Summer" reads in the past, but this one felt a tad long and dragged slightly. It ended up all coming together and the end of the book tied everything in a bow, but I also struggled to keep track of all of the people and how the characters were connected. I appreciated the Covid-19 lockdown premise, as it was super relatable, and with Weiner's amazing storytelling, this story jumped off the page and was fun to read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I will pretty much read any book by this author as Jennifer Weiner has become a staple in my library. This particular book was a tale of multiple families and their secrets and lies...One main family was large and in charge but there were backstories that involved other families...and some of those came right back into the future. It was almost like a soap opera with so many people...some focusing on each other, some focusing on others...but all story lines involving at least one secret and/or lie.The weird part for me was the house itself...I'm pretty sure I have never read a book where the house itself was a character...and it might have changed me a bit lol...I will say that at times the book felt like it was too long but I think that is more being growing older than the story being too long...

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner is a perfect fit for readers who adore heartwarming, lighthearted stories about family, love, and self-discovery, with a dash of drama and romance, set against the idyllic backdrop of Cape Cod, and are eager to be swept away by a relatable and engaging tale of family secrets, forgiveness, and the power of home.

DNF finally at 53%

It was absolutely a waste of my time. Not only did I find the authors writing cliche and expected, Weiner tries so hard to speak to the "young readers" and instead of being relatable, her writing makes her seem like she's trying too hard. Stick to. what you know.

Thank you NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book but it's been awhile since i've read it. I'm trying to update the books on netgalley that i've read already so I can focus more on the ones that I haven't read. I'm hoping to be better about reviewing books as I read them.

Jennifer Weiner will always be my go-to author in the summer.

It's so nice to sit on the beach and just lose myself in the worlds that Weiner builds. I love and miss those summer worlds of the East Coast and Weiner's books always bring me back there.

The Summer Place was another perfect summer beach read filled with heartwarming and engaging moments and full of family, love, and forgiveness, all set in Cape Cod.

A wonderful escapist read.

“The Summer place” was not for me. Lots of things felt problematic and distracting to me and overall- I just wanted to be reading other things! I hope Jennifer Weiner’s next book makes me forget about this one!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Weiner has done it again! Another perfect beach read, The Summer Place is led by Sarah, whose 22 year old stepdaughter is getting married — and getting married quickly. And weddings tend to bring up family drama, don't they? Weiner masterfully tugs at heartstrings and soothes them in the same beat, once again.

Jennifer Weiner continues to be the queen of the summer read. This one included. It was fine for what it was, family drama, secrets, infidelity.

I really loved this book - Jennifer Weiner is an auto-read author for me. In this book, family relationships and dynamics unfold while a character plans her wedding. Old secrets emerge, individuals find their truth, and the importance of family and belonging are amplified.