"The Summer Place” is a novel with a heart big enough to embrace all of the messy troubles of families. Blended marriages, infidelity, unexpected pregnancies, desertions, weddings, births and deaths. All of this set against the backdrop of a plague year with all of its additional stresses. Weiner’s afterward makes it clear that there was an element of self-therapy in her writing this book, but we are all the beneficiaries. It wasn’t always easy to like the characters in “The Summer Place”, but by the end of the book, it was easy to love them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Jennifer Weiner - 4.5 stars!

When Sarah's stepdaughter, Rudy, announces that she and her pandemic boyfriend, Gabe, are engaged and going to be married in months, she is shocked. Rudy has already spoken to Sarah's mother, Veronica, and the wedding will be held at her summer home on the Cape. But the wedding is only the beginning of the messy lives that will come to light in this complicated family, because everyone has secrets.

Another book you must have in your beach bag to start the summer reading season, this family saga is full of characters exploring their lives and choices. I loved how it was set at the end of the pandemic and showed how all that forced time together brought out the best and worst of us and how we viewed our housemates. This book explores that complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, and motherhood in general. It's also very enlightening and true how we all view the past through different colored lenses. It's about second chances, forgiving, grief and love - all those things that make up a family (even a house!).

The Summer Place
by Jennifer Weiner
Pub Date: May 10, 2022
Atria
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. From “the undisputed boss of the beach read” (The New York Times), The Summer Place is a testament to family in all its messy glory; a story about what we sacrifice and how we forgive.
Unfortunately, this was not a great read for me.
All the characters were unlikable, shallow and selfish...except for the children. The adults (and I use that term loosely) all needed to take a step back and think of someone other than themselves.

This was my first book by this author, and likely my last. This book was not a good fit for me, but many other readers found it delightful.
3 stars

Thank you for the ARC atria books and NetGalley

This is my first time reading a book by Jennifer Weiner. I think the book isn't for me. It is a struggle for me to finish the book because there is too much family drama. The book wants to unfold the dysfunctional dynamics of a family.

The book could be a hit or a miss. And it's up to the readers if they will pursue this.

This is a book that I would offer as just ok. I was really into the story at first and enjoyed that each of the main characters had a storyline until it just would not end. There was just so much extraneous content and detail that should have been edited out. It would have made the book better. The husband Eli was one of the most confusing characters that I have read in some time. There is something in his past that is causing him issues so his personality completely changes and he gets the most annoying flip flops ever in one fell swoop? There was supposed to be something redeemable after he comes clean, however I just wonder what made him such a desirable person in the first place. He was a weak man and just let everyone walk all over him. It was much the same scenario with the brother Sam. It may just be an issue with writing a decent male character. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Thank you @netgaley for a copy of the book. I struggled with the first half of the book. It was really slow and the story was pretty much a lot of people making bad decisions. I switched to audio halfway through and enjoyed it a lot more.

I enjoyed the family dynamics and all the secrets held by each person. The story is told in multiple POV and past and present which drag a bit.

The thing I love the most about most Jennifer Weiner books is that there are so many characters that you can relate too. There is always at least one character that you dislike at the beginning and then find yourself liking in the end. Also, I loved that the lady depicted on the cover is not a stick skinny person but rather someone with a little extra body.

I think the paternity aspect of this book was intriguing to say the least, but to have it play into more than one character in the story may have been a little too much for me. I also have to say, that if I thought that my child was possibly sleeping with possibly a sibling, then I definitely would have had to say something asap instead of keeping that a secret until the end of the book.

I particularly loved the character of Sam and his journey to figure out "what makes him happy". He was a very genuine character in the book and I am happy that in the end, he found his happiness.

I found that in the end - I didn't like the not knowing aspect on if Lee was Sam and Sarah's children or if they each had a different father? That was one loose end that I would have liked to know.

Overall though I did enjoy the read and gave it an overall rating of 4.0

Thank you @Jennifer Weiner for my pre-release copy of this book and for the opportunity to review the book ahead of its debut.

Mixed feelings on this one. The story is unrealistic and to far fetch for this reader. Really every family has secrets and skeletons in their closet, but every character? Seems overboard on that topic. The best part to me was the house and it had a minor role. The saving grace was the end, yes I did cry because I could relate being that I lost my mother to the same disease.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheSummerPlace

I always look forward to Jennifer Weiner's books when they come out - especially this summer series that she's been writing about the last few years. I love that she provides a story that sometimes has some tough but relatable topics while also transporting me to a place I want nothing more than to be vacationing at. I easily read this in one sitting and honestly wanted more. Really looking forward to reading her next one that comes out next year! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this title!

There is a lot of family drama going on in this book! Ruby and her fiance, Gabe, are about to get married at her step-grandmother's house on Cape Cod. But there are so many secrets lurking in the background of the older generations of this family, will they spoil the wedding day?

This book did not hit the mark for me. There was way too much background information and I felt like it was getting bogged down trying to explain every last thing. Plus all the secrets and behavior that led to them was just too much for me. Are people really this terrible? And do they all end up in the same family?

That said, if you are a fan of family drama and enjoy character studies, you will probably love this book. It just wasn't my style. Thanks @netgalley for the ARC!

Adults are the worst. And Jennifer Weiner knows that, and writes the most flawed, realistic adults. Why don't we communicate better? Why do we compound our lies and secrets?

I was distraught through most of this novel. I knew things would work out, but I was so nervous!

Another riveting summer read from Jennifer Weiner!

This is sure to be the "beach read" of the summer. What was supposed to be a joyous family wedding turned to be anything but as mistakes, misunderstandings and secrets are revealed. Although the story kept my attention throughout, I did feel the ending contrived.

The Summer Place by Jen Weiner has been deemed the big summer beach read. At 400 pages it does give you plenty of entertainment for your dollar. It is the quintessential family drama. And boy, is it filled with drama!!

Ms. Weiner’s latest release features a broad cast of characters. All of whom are flawed and deeply affected by the COVID Pandemic. While the 1918 Pandemic was hardly mentioned in fictional works, Ms. Weiner has made sure that none of us will forget CoVID-19. It is no wonder, since the author suffered a great deal of familial loss as a result of the pandemic. One could not expect her to not be affected or that her writing wouldn’t reflect it.

The big cast of characters are seemingly happy for the upcoming nuptials, but in reality they each dread. I tried but failed to find a character that I could get behind and root for. Between the author’s characterizations and her villianizing of the parents, it was difficult to engage in the story.

So many secrets and so much dishonesty make The Summer Place a book that you either love or hate. If you’re into the juicy television dramas, you’ll love all the sordid details and big climax to the story. Kudos to Ms. Weiner for turning her personal lemons into lemonade.

I think by the time I'd read 4 of Jennifer Weiner's books she became an author whose new releases I would read sight unseen without needing to hear a synopsis. As a result, I am often so shocked and entranced by the content of her books because I go in blindly, with no idea of what's coming. This may be her best to date; such an intricately woven story of a bride and groom to be; her dad and stepmom (plus stepmom's own mother and brother); the groom's mother; stepmom's first love; etc. It's actually amazing that for such a large cast of characters I never got confused as to who was who. The story takes place with the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the spring 2020 lockdown behind them, but not too far in the rear view mirror. I love that we are starting to get fiction with the pandemic as the backdrop. Those who read That Summer will find brief mention of Diana and how her narrative overlaps with the Levy-Weinberg family in The Summer Place.

The Summer Place is Jennifer Weiner at her absolute best. This story is about a family with so many moving parts and so many secrets, but, they are relatable at the same time.
After living together at her dad and stepmom’s house for a year in NYC, Ruby and her boyfriend are getting married. One-by-one secrets are revealed which keeps you turning the pages and wondering if the family can stay together.
I do not want to tell anything else about the book because I do not want to ruin it. Jennifer is the queen of the beach read, so it's no surprise this book made it onto our list of Ultimate Beach Reads. If a soap opera was a book, this is it. Beware: remember to reapply your sunscreen if reading outside because the book is un-putdownable!

The New York Times calls Jennifer Weiner @jenniferweinerwrites “The undisputed boss of the beach read.” While I don’t always agree with NYT, this time they’re spot on, and The Summer Place only further reinforces my opinion.

This book is perfection. It’s complex and emotional. Everyone is keeping a secret, and sooner or later they’re all going to be exposed. Told from multiple points of view with details of each character’s life revealed over time, it’s just so easy to become attached to the Levy/Weinberg/Danhauser family.

But, as amazing as Jennifer Weiner is on her own, you know what makes The Summer place even better? The audio version, narrated by Sutton Foster (Younger’s Liza Miller). So, if beach reading isn’t your thing, pop in your earbuds and relax. Pure summer bliss.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review! Link to 5/10/2022 Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdY0v-ZL3S0/

I have mixed thoughts on this book. As with all of Weiners books the characters that she brings life to are impactful, interesting, and engaging, however at times I found there were just too many narrators for me to keep track of everything that was going on. There were no perfect characters which is true to life since there are no perfect people which was frustrating and realistic as there were many times that I wanted characters to do something different.

This book definitely had an engaging storyline, one that kept me wondering how it was all going to work out in the end, but I am not sure that I love where it all ended up. It was a bit jarring for the book to have Covid as such an important plot line, but I do like that it wasn't just a throwaway as it was important to multiple plots of the book.

Overall I did like the book, but it didn't leave a big impact on me or give me everything that I wanted it to.

After quarantining together in her family's home, Ruby and her boyfriend, Gabe decide to get married even though they are only in their early twenties. Even though certain family members might think they are too young to get married, Ruby has always been determined, and when she sets her mind on something she doesn't waiver so none of them try to talk her out of it. When the family gathers at Ruby's step-grandmother's house in Cape Cod for the wedding secrets are revealed and lives are changed.

This is one of Jennifer Weiner's best. It is a tender story about home and family where even the house is a part of the story. It is full of really great characters who although they may not always do the right thing are good at heart. Each member of the family has their own secret and their own things they need to work through and this is what drives the very intricate but fascinating plot at the core of this book. The story is told from multiple points of view which makes it that much easier to care about all the various characters even when they make choices we may not always agree with. All in all, this is a lovely touching book.

I am a long time fan of Jennifer Weiner and have read all of her backlist. I eagerly snatch up her titles any time there is something new. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC The Summer Place that was published May 10. Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. This is not a bad book by any means. Weiner’s writing style is vivid and can easily transport readers within minutes of opening the book. The Summer Place revolves around the pandemic and I think I’m just not ready to read fiction (or nonfiction) about this time period. I also struggled to like these characters and was frustrated with many of their decisions so the book felt long. 3 stars

DNF at a third of the way through.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria Books for my advanced copy of The Summer Place.

This makes me incredibly sad. I really wanted to like this book. I love Jennifer Weiner. I've enjoyed every novel of hers that I've picked up in the past.

I couldn't for the life of me get into the story. I like to multitask while listening to books. ( I purchased the audio) It was hard for me to follow the many POV's while working.
The author deep dives into the many backstories of the characters. I found myself not caring about a single one.

So you have the back stories and the present day timeline and there really wasn't much happening in the present. I personally needed more plot to push through.

Maybe this is my fault. Maybe if I would have stuck with it, it would have gotten better. It just wasn't keeping my attention.

Overall- A miss. I still look forward to reading more by this author. She is very talented. This just wasn't the book for me.