It took me a little while to settle into The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner. Her books tend to be hit or miss for me, but this one resonated with me just about at the halfway point starting with Part 2. The current storyline takes place post pandemic, so there is a lot of pandemic talk, which I didn't love and I didn't find it to be crucial to the plot in some places. Also, a majority of the story is flashbacks, so I would have liked a little more balance between the present day plot and the flashbacks. It's a chunky 400+ pages, but once I got to Part 2, I devoured the back half of the book. Each chapter is broken up by character, but the many characters are fully developed. It's about 1 big messy family harboring a ton of secrets leading up to the Cape Cod wedding of Ruby and Gabe. They are just out of college and were forced to accelerate their new relationship after cohabitating with Ruby's family in Brooklyn during the pandemic. There is Ruby's estranged mother who abandoned her when she was a baby, Ruby's father who is grappling with his own demons, Ruby's stepmother reuniting with her first love, Ruby's uncle trying to "find himself," and Ruby's grandmother with her own big reveal. 4 solid stars because of the slow start. Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy of this one.

I really enjoy Jennifer Weiner’s books and this was no exception. An absorbing and quick read about family members with lots of secrets. This wasn’t a light and fun read but that’s okay. Another good one from Jennifer Weiner!

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. I decided on three stars because the writing is good and the story is decent. However, this book is super long, and the first twenty-five percent is hard to get through. Many of the characters are either unlikeable or hard to relate to, and the men didn’t seem to be written all the well.

Note: Thank you to Netgalley & publishers for allowing me access to this arc in exchange for an honest review! Please note that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I'm going to preface this review by saying that I'm an existing fan of Jennifer Weiner's books. I've enjoyed her writing and what she can accomplish on a books pages. Hello all the delicious family drama! That is why it utterly pains me to have to write this review. I also can't begin to understand the hard work, love, and dedication that goes into writing a book, so I feel terrible to have to go this direction. But I can't help it, I need to write this review and quite frankly I believe other potential readers of The Summer Place need to know what they're getting into with this one. So I begin...

This book was a major DNF for me. I don't DNF books often. I hold out hope that something will redeem the book for me, but ya'll, I didn't even have an inkling of desire to wait around here. I'm extremely disappointed with where the author went with this story. I'm sorry, but I'm just not going to tolerate a story where infidelity is the name of the game every single character and their mother (quite literally). I'm fine with infidelity being a part of a storyline. But this was so extremely far fetched at times and honestly just gross. It felt like the author ran out of plot ideas and simply decided to just add another unfaithful character to the mix.

With this in part, I found every single character (and there were an obscene amount of them to try to keep track of) unlikable and there just wasn't enough character development to make me want to continue on with them and their lives. They were on the extreme end of selfish and shallow. I quite frankly couldn't have cared less about them, and that makes for a poor reading experience.

Another issue I had with the writing was the pacing. Where in the actual world was the present day storyline!? For being a 400+ page book, there needed to be more than just backstory here.

I'm truly sorry for this rant, but there are just no good things I have to say. I honestly just can't figure out how this book slipped through the publishing cracks. I know Weiner's writing and this was an awfully poor representation of it.

Hard pass. Moving on. Probably going to wash my eyeballs out while I'm at it.

*Take a peek at the positive reviews that are floating around for this book. There could be something that clicks with you and it could turn out to be the right fit for you.*

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner was full of family drama surrounding 22-year old Ruby's upcoming, post-quarantine wedding at the family house on Cape Cod.

With many characters, the beginning of book was hard to keep everyone straight. As the story progressed, I could begin to see how their stories would intersect. I found myself laughing out loud because I could not believe some of the storylines. What I enjoyed about this book is Weiner's multi-generational female relationships and their complexity. This was the first post-Covid book I have read that I was not traumatized. The quarantine was a small part of the story.

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

Jennifer Weiner takes us through post-pandemic life and all the complications that have built up for Sarah Levy-Weinberg and her family in The Summer Place. Unfolding against the backdrop of NYC and Cape Cod we meet a cast of colorful and multigenerational characters; each with their own secrets and struggles. With a wedding for Sarah's young stepdaughter fast approaching (to her pandemic boyfriend no less); family secrets and bad decisions threaten to unravel the ceremony. Told with Weiner's trademark prose and love of both fashion and cooking her longtime readers will be pleased. I enjoyed the novel but the circumstances are a little far-fetched and the decisions each character makes are questionable to say the least, however Weiner is aiming for a sort of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" take which puts the book and plot in a different light. Knowing that after makes more sense for the way things unfold.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Jennifer Weiner is one of my go to writers! Her books are fun, sweet and real. I love how she is inclusive with her main characters and how the drama is something we all may deal with. The Summer Place did not disappoint ( lol really didn’t think it would be). Jennifer filled the pages of this amazing book with crazy fun and cringy twists and turns.

Make sure you have this book in your beach bag and devour it! You will love it!

Ruby has announced her upcoming marriage to her pandemic boyfriend. This throws her family into a tailspin. When the dust settles, lives will never be the same. Can everyone and their relationships survive what is going to happen?

I wasn’t a big fan of how the author wrote this book and almost DNF’d it a couple of times. The author took us down memory lane with all of the characters. If there were two POVs and it jumped from past to present, I would have been fine. But every single character. Nope. By the time the author was able to bring everyone to a single plotline (the wedding), I was struggling.

I wasn’t a fan of the characters either. I know that the author was trying to make them more realistic but having them all cheat (at one point or the other) or make them do stupid things (like sleeping with a guy to get money for an abortion that didn’t happen) was just too much. The only one I liked was Sam, and his arc was excellent.

I also wasn’t a fan of a total recap of the pandemic during the book’s first half. I lived it; I know what happened. I didn’t need it shoved down my throat. But I get why the author did it. She wanted to show how pandemic relationships got serious, and they soured just as fast.

I loved Ronnie. She was feisty, and she intensely disliked the Pond People. Every time I saw those words, I giggled. She also gave up so much for her kids. So much that they didn’t understand or care. So, when she got that news in the middle of the book, my heart sank, and I began a countdown before she told Sarah and Sam.

I also loved Sam. His journey to self-discovery was one of the better storylines. He didn’t cheat, and he loved his wife. He was raising his stepson alone after her death. There was a point in his storyline where I did wonder about him. I wondered if he was asexual until he discovered hobbit fan fiction and then realized something about himself. His journey from then on was one of the best things about this book.

I was not too fond of Sarah. Instead of talking to Eli and asking him what’s up, she chose to go the other path. She ASSUMED that he was cheating on her and used that as the reason to get her apartment. When she hooked back up with Owen, I rolled my eyes. I could see where this was going. But, I wasn’t expecting it to end the way it did. That surprised me.

I was on the fence with Eli. Like Sarah, I didn’t understand why he didn’t call Rosa and ask her what he was assuming of her. I laughed when he had Ari try to lift the toothbrushes and got the wrong one. I could think, “Well, at least he knows for sure about that one.” But, he was so involved with what was going on with him that he didn’t see what was going on with Ruby or Sarah until it was almost too late.

I didn’t blame Rosa for doing what she did when she found out she was pregnant. She had no clue that it would backfire the way it did. I got why she was embarrassed to face Eli. But to read her side of that weekend was a little disappointing. I expected more from her since Eli remembered her as this vibrant, sensual woman.

I liked Gabe, but I wish he had been more open with Ruby about getting married. I get that he was a go-with-the-flow guy, but this was almost too much. He should have told Ruby that he didn’t want to get married and ended it. Then that would have made what happened next much more palatable to me.

Ruby was alright. She was used to getting what she wanted when she wanted it. So, when she wanted to marry Gabe, she went for it. I did feel bad for her when she finally realized she couldn’t marry Gabe. I would have done the same thing if I were in her shoes.

The end of the book was alright. I liked how everyone came together, and I got misty-eyed when the author recapped what had happened in the year since that night.

I would recommend The Summer Place to anyone over 21. There is language, mild violence, and mild sexual situations.

The Summer Place is a trippy, drama-filled book. I grew up watching 80s soap operas, with their improbable, rambling plots, and The Summer Place reminded me a little of that. In the afterward Weiner also says that she thought of this book as farce (not a fan) and a little bit A Midsummer Night’s Dream (my least favorite Shakespeare play). So this book was just not going to be for me. But let’s discuss, so you can see if it might be for you.

As a beach read, The Summer Place could be a great fit for a reader who loves books about family drama. There’s a lot of out-there stuff, but also some really funny and insightful scenes of pandemic and post-pandemic life.

3.60 stars rounded up.
Let me start off by saying that I’m not a fan of inanimate objects as characters like n books. I didn’t care for the start of each part of this book where the house was talking. Just no.

That being said, The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner started great. Eli Danhauser, his wife Sarah, his daughter Ruby, their sons, Miles and Dexter, and Ruby’s boyfriend Gabe, are all quarantined together during the Covid lockdown in New York City. Once the vaccinations are available, and things begin to return to “normal”, Ruby and Gabe get their own apartment and announce that they are getting married. The wedding will be held in Cape Cod at Sarah’s mom’s, Ronnie, who was a famous author in the 1980s, house.

The book is told in alternating storylines-Eli, Sarah, Ruby, Ronnnie, Sam (Sarah’s brother), and Rosa (Gabe’s mom). I enjoyed the first part of the book a lot. I love a good dysfunctional family drama.

Where the book went slightly left to me was after Sarah’s brother, Sam, lost his wife. Sam discovers a side of himself he hadn’t realized before. That storyline just seemed out of character and thrown in to have LGBTQ representation. Then there was the Rosa/Eli storyline. That didn’t do much for me because Ms. Weiner had already told the reader what was the truth, so while there was situational irony happening, it was just a “meh” storyline because we, the reader, knew where it was leading.

The epilogue did wrap things up nicely, though. Overall I enjoyed this book and I will definitely read more by Ms. Weiner (I think I’ve maybe read everything she’s written so definitely plan to continue).

Thank you to #netgalley and #atriabooks for the advanced e-copy of #thesummerplace.

I love Jennifer Weiner books and this one does not disappoint. I always find a character to relate to. Don’t miss this book!

“The Summer Place” is my favorite Jennifer Weiner book in recent years — and I really enjoyed “That Summer” and “Big Summer.”
Thank you to Atria Books for my gifted eARC of “The Summer Place,” which came out 5/10, so you can snag it now.
This one is a family saga that’s alllll about the tea. It’s told from multiple points of view leading up to a wedding at the family home on Cape Cod. Each family member is harboring a wild secret. It is very much a journey through each character, so if that isn’t your thing, I would skip this one. It was slightly reminiscent of Judy Blume’s “Summer Sisters,” so if you love that nostalgic Northeastern summer vibe, you’ll enjoy this one.
From the publisher: “When her 22-year-old stepdaughter announces her engagement to her pandemic boyfriend, Sarah Danhauser is shocked. But the wheels are in motion. Headstrong Ruby has already set a date (just three months away!) and spoken to her beloved safta, Sarah’s mother Veronica, about having the wedding at the family’s beach house in Cape Cod. Sarah might be worried, but Veronica is thrilled to be bringing the family together one last time before putting the big house on the market.”

What a fun and intimate look into this family dynamic! I loved the quirkiness of the house watching in as well. At times it was a little too much going on and I found myself sliding down in my chair waiting for the "stuff" to hit the fam essentially with so many secrets, but that is part of the charm. This family is a true ensemble full of different personalities and the characterization was great!

Jennifer Weiner can bring her characters to colorful life in an enthralling and interweaving plot that never bores the reader. For fans of Marisa de los Santos, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, and Liane Moriarty, each book Jennifer writes elevates her to a new level of appreciation.
In her newest novel, “The Summer Place”, we meet Lonnie, the matriarch over a colorful basket full of family members. Writing with care and respect, Jennifer touches on infidelity, blackmail, alcoholism, and sexuality. She so clearly envisions what a person may go through when they finally realize, after years of failed relationships, that they may actually be attracted to the opposite sex. Her character explained it to me in such a way that the lightbulb finally went off. I went from scratching my head to feeling sincere compassion for people who are experiencing this.
Every character is interesting; the storyline flows, and the setting in Cape Cod is beautiful. She has a twist that I found so easy to believe: the old beach house has feelings and thoughts. Yes, Jennifer can make you feel compassion for the house. That’s some pretty convincing prose.
Yes, this would make a fantastic beach read, but it’s so much more than that. Thank you, Jennifer, for another heartfelt and entertaining novel.
Sincere thanks to Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date was May 10, 2022.

I am a huge fan of Jennifer Weiner and was very excited for her next "beach read". The Summer Place was a great ride through family drama, where everything is being questioned and secrets abound. This is the first book that really addressed life during the pandemic and I found it very well done. The story follows Sarah Danhauser and her extended family. They are all coming together for the wedding of her stepdaughter Ruby, at the family's beach house on Cape Cod, who is marrying her short-term pandemic boyfriend. Everyone has secrets that are threatening to surface and misunderstandings send the family into a tailspin. I really loved that this book started out from the point of view of the house and what it can do to keep the family intact and at the house. This was a very enjoyable read. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. 4 stars

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner is such an interesting read. It has all the things I love about a Beach Read & it had a very original storyline. I shouldn’t be surprised Weiner, has the talent to draw you in one page at a time. Sarah Danhauser is the matriarch of a typical family. But what is different about this family, is that they all have secrets, so deep, they can’t tell each other. Being they live hundreds of miles apart, they have been able to keep their secrets. But an upcoming wedding, after the Covid pandemic, travel bans loosen is likely to spill all the problems and insecurities of each family member. Sarah’s grand daughter calls and asks her if she can have her wedding at the house on the cape. Of course Sarah says yes and starts to prepare the house for the wedding. As she prepares she thinks back on her past & the loves of her life. She thinks of her husband and their marriage and the secrets she had kept. While Sarah is focusing on her and her past, her daughter and son in law are in the same mental space. How could their daughter be getting married. It is too soon and they are so young. Eli reminisces on his past and his ex and his current wife. Sarah, Eli’s wife and Sarah’s daughter is in her own space as well. She is thinking about her past, her step daughters pending engagement and her marriage. Then we learn Ruby’s story and her concerns and her issues. Especially with a mother who left her and a stepmom who cares to much. Over all this was a four star read for me. I love the way Weiner tells her story. I love how she makes Sarah’s house, one of the characters. I had a love hate relationship with the characters and the story at times. But I am glad I stuck it out to see how this one ended. It has some twists and turns I didn’t see coming. At times it felt like it was a little wordy and that their were too many characters.. but that too was worth the wait to get through. It is worth seeing how they all come to terms with the ghosts of the past.. how the wedding plays out and how they all seem to grow up, when they needed to. I want to thank Netgalley & Jennifer Weiner for my copy of The Summer Place. It is always a pleasure to read and review Jennifer Wiener’s work.

I hate to say it since in the past I have read and enjoyed some of Jennifer Weiner's books, but this one I just cannot finish. I don't know if it's the time (as in the turmoil the US has gone through these past few years) or the fact that I am getting older and have less tolerance for certain things. One of those things I have little tolerance for is authors that write editorials or opinion pieces under the guise of fiction. Maybe Weiner's next book needs to be a book on politics or social issues.
Sorry but this one was just not the right book at the right time for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy!

Once again, a fun, and at times, dramatic read from Jennifer Weiner! I have loved her books for years, and they just keep getting better! Difficult circumstances and secrets from the past abound in this novel, and I found myself devouring to find out the end results. I highly recommend!

While I enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's previous two summer themed novels, The Summer Place is my favorite of the three. I loved all the different character narratives and found myself laughing out loud and gasping quite a few times. The story has a wide emotional impact and so many memorable moments. It's definitely just for an adult audience, but I really enjoyed the steam factor.

There were some times where I was able to guess what would happen, but I also loved the little clues that led me to figure things out. And I didn't see these things coming until everything just added up. There was a Modern Family feel to this story. I also loved the Judaism elements throughout. It was interesting seeing the same situation from two different lenses, as well.

I could have done without the house having a personality of its own. That just seemed too bizarre. Also, the age gap between Ronnie and her kids felt too wide (she was 80, while they were 38) for how the timeline was playing out. Did Veronica wait until her forties to have kids? I hope this was something that was clarified or corrected in the final publication. I also wish Ruby had received more than two chapters to tell her side of the story. One aspect that was mentioned in the beginning got dropped and only somewhat mentioned toward the end. However, nothing was actually done with it. Even with all these concerns, I still give five stars to this engaging and heartfelt novel!

The Summer Place is perfect for your beach bag this summer, or to curl up with on a comfy chair!

Movie casting suggestions:
Sarah: Romola Garai
Eli: Jon Favreau
Ronnie: Dyan Cannon
Sam: Max Rhyser
Ruby: Dylan Gelula
Gabe: Joey Pollari
Ari: Sasha Mitchell
Owen: Dylan Bruce
Annette: Amanda Peet
Rosa: Marisol Nichols (adult), Rachel Zegler (young adult)

In my opinion this is Jennifer Weiner at her best!!!!!!! I loved this book and the families in this story. They have alot of drama but they are also just like everyday families. In Jennifer Weiner's signature style you fall in love with her characters and root for them the whole way.