My goodness there is a lot of family drama happening in these books. I realize that it’s a fictionalized family, so obviously the drama is going to be a little outside of the ordinary, but literally every family member is hiding a giant, life-changing secret—so many that the plot seems too unbelievable to be real. A family with this many secrets, even with the best of intentions, could not possibly be functional.

That being said, Weiner always brings such life to her characters that you feel like you know them. There were lots of perspectives in this book (probably around 7 POVS) and despite not getting a ton of time with every character, I knew what made them tick and felt like I was somehow part of this crazy family. And despite the length of this book, which took me longer than usual to finish, it didn’t feel like it dragged on at all.

There were two parts that bothered me—and both of these I will not touch in a spoilery way—but the fact that the house was personified was strange to me, though I understand why Weiner did it, and one of the major “truth bombs” that was supposed to be revealed that weekend never got out. We got a resolution about it, sure, but why bother to make it a central part of someone’s story if we’re not going to see it through to the end…

Even though I didn’t love this as much as some of her other work, the characters alone are worth reading and getting to know—just make sure you have many hours to put aside, because it’s a long one.

3.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

When Ruby and Gabe announce that they have set a date for their wedding, Sarah is thoroughly surprised but smiles as a good stepmother should. It will be held at her childhood summer home on Cape Cod. Eli apparently has little to say. The dependable, handsome endodontist - who would normally have an opinion regarding his only daughter getting married at 22 - can barely pay attention to the conversation. Gabe is lovely and has spent a year during the pandemic living with the Danhausers in Brooklyn while he and Ruby finished college online. But Gabe resembles a sweet overenthusiastic puppy with little direction and zero skills unlike Ruby who has always been a determined, focused student. Sarah cannot understand how Eli has changed over the past year. It’s clear they were all getting on each others nerves during quarantine but she and their two young boys have forged ahead while everything Eli does grates on her very last nerve. Wondering whether her husband is having a midlife crisis, an affair or both - Sarah is at her wits end to save their marriage as she plans Ruby’s. Out at the beach Sarah is constantly reminded of the power of first love, the loss of her father and conflicting childhood memories of her own mother. The Cape Cod home, with its big beating heart is at the very center of the Danhausers lives. Three generations face many of life’s difficult decisions and reveal the untold secrets that challenge the true meaning of family. Drama with a dash of humor at its best, another winner by Jennifer Weiner. Available May 10, 2022.

Always a delight to read Jennifer Weiner. She writes the kind of books that cause me to postpone whatever looming chore is hounding me, or to race to an appointment because I thought I could read just a little more before leaving. I found myself waking in the night, and deciding to read just a little more... not because there was a rush to finish, but because I found myself enjoying spending time with this family.

In The Summer Place, we find a real family with a fair share of secrets and dysfunction. The mistakes and secrets are human, normal and relatable. While not as compelling as some of Weiner's other recent work, still fully enjoyable and timely.

Read the acknowledgements.

Jennifer Weiner does it again!

The best way I can describe The Summer Place is family drama on steroids. Centered on the Weinberg-Levy family who summers on Cape Cod, the book jumps from character to character, each of whom has a BIG SECRET. The upcoming wedding of Ruby, the adult stepdaughter of Sarah, is the core event around which the book revolves, but the real magic is learning about the characters and their backstories. Throughout the book are interstitials told from the Cape Cod house's perspective, where the house animates to worry about the dysfunctional family that it has known and loved for generations. And yes, there is a connection to the last Cape Cod book, which is a fun Easter Egg for die-hard Weiner fans. (Wait, are we Wein-hards?).

At first, I was a bit nervous that this book was just going to be too much. The POV of the house struck me as odd at the beginning, and there are a couple of plot divets (not really holes but just...bumps that I felt didn't make a ton of sense) that bothered me in the early chapters. But those were quickly blown to smithereens once I really settled in and let this wild, topsy turvy book take me on its insane ride without resistance. I really feel like this is one of the wildest stories Weiner has ever written and I love how she still manages to surprise me after many years of devouring her books.

I really loved how the book dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. I am one of those people who enjoys reading fiction set during this awful time period. I guess I just am a glutton for punishment. But it was really interesting how Weiner dealt with the minutiae of having to be in forced proximity to one's family during a pandemic. I can literally hear Eli's orthopedic flip flops going up and down the stairs...

I also loved Sarah and Ruby's relationship, which was a really sweet and realistic portrayal of a stepmom/stepchild relationship. But the character who fascinated me the most was Annette, even though we don't see her very much. Annette is someone who left her child when that child was a baby and I thought Weiner's exploration of a character who is an ineffectual mother was honest, empathetic, and nuanced. Bravo.

This book publishes in May, just in time for beach reading season. Have a blast--I definitely did!

With a house as the central character, Weiner's latest offering returns readers to the Cape for another binge-worthy summer read.

Through multiple points of view, THE SUMMER PLACE explodes with its soapy secrets and exceptional characterizations. The multi-generational family is dynamic and complicated—Weiner is a master at creating authentic, witty, self-depreciating characters. And Shakespeare fans will love the nod to A Midsummer Night Dream.

Riveting and unputdownable, THE SUMMER PLACE is a testament to family, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner is a book that follows a family of 3 generations that goes back and forth between the past and the present. The present day time frame occurs during the different phases of Covid, which touches on how the initial quarantine and close quarters impacts this family which contributes to how things unfold. At center stage, the book is about the wedding of 22 year old Ruby which will take place at her step-grandmothers lovely Cape Cod beach home. You’ll get to read about a variety of characters and how the choices they’ve made in the past and the present impacts themselves and the family they love. It’s a solid story, far fetched at times for sure, but hey it’s a story about family drama. Sometimes the juicier the better when it comes to fiction. It does get a little convoluted at times with so many characters and their stories and perspectives on events. But nothing that significantly interrupts the continuity of the book. I feel like the characters were decently fleshed out. I was rooting for them, but I enjoyed some more than others….looking at you Eli. Most of the family’s issues could’ve been solved with a little thing called communication, but this family clearly lacks that skill set.

I enjoyed this book. It was a fast read. Decently well paced. I’d recommend it to my friends who enjoy this author and this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors.This book was wonderful full of characters that come alive secrets ,involvements from the past and present.Multilayered full of surprises.I really enjoyed involving myself in their lives their world.#netgalley #atria

Jennifer Weiner does it again! This is an absolutely captivating story about family and the relationships we have within it. All of the characterization felt extremely strong and I was immediately drawn in. I highly recommend this book.

This book was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I was engaged enough that it kept me reading on to see how all of the various situations would play out, but on the other hand it felt like it was trying to do too much, like it was running in too many directions. I think it could have been more engrossing and less scattered if it cut down on its elements (be they narrative structure flare, plot points, etc) by 20%. For example, the book is divided into 3 sections (which as far as I can tell only served to indicate jumps forward in time), but at the beginning of each is a short piece from the perspective of the house. I found that forced, hokey, and strange. It didn't add anything to the book, but it took me out of the story because it felt so out of place.

I think the book was fundamentally trying to explore some of the complex relational and family dynamics that emerged or were exacerbated by COVID and the social isolation that it caused. Some of the observations and emotions felt valid and realistic, others felt comically exaggerated to the point that some key plot points weren't actually believable. The book also moves between so may people's perspectives that there's a loss in continuity. The changes in narrator felt like a crutch for illuminating pieces of the story that could have been elucidated (or cut) in other ways for greater impact.

I say all of this realizing that a lot of people will probably really like this book. It conjures emotions that will make people feel seen, it describes a pandemic experience that is relatable, it explores dynamics that people will be drawn towards. For me, though, it was trying to do too many things and did none of them with finesse or subtlety. It may also have been a bit too soon for me to read pandemic fiction--if you're not ready to look at stories of the pandemic (albeit not tragic ones, generally a fairly glossy version) then hold off on this.

Another perfect beach book from Jennifer Weiner. It made me crave long summers in Cape Cod, lobster rolls, and sugary malasadas. What did give me pause, and not for long because the book was so satisfying, was all the coincidences. Not everything happens that way so many times and so many ways. I still loved the book despite that flaw.

The Summer Place was exactly what the doctor ordered!

Jennifer Weiner delivered yet another novel/high brow beach read! The characters in this book were developed enough to allow the reader to relate to and evolve with the story line, complex enough to draw the reader in for the duration of the story line, while easy enough to understand their role in the story lines.

I found myself wondering how on earth Weiner was going to "land the plane" at the end of the book, however most of the loose ends were tied up as the book was completed, I would be interested to know if the author plans for a continuation of the plot as there were enough unresolved story lines to allow for an additional book/series and I'm curious to see how/if she progresses Sarah's indiscretions that seemed slightly unresolved at the end of the book.....hopefully intentionally!

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced readers copy of this book! All opinions expressed are authentic and my own.

This was a most delightful story! It is a great family drama, with secrets, betrayals, lots of love and forgiveness. The characters are real with real flaws and looking for their place in the world and in their family. My favorite part is discovering that the house, the summer place, had thoughts of its own. It does not want its owner to sell, it wants the place kept as is, for all the future family to use. Simply a beautiful story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Sarah Danhauser’s stepdaughter Ruby announces her engagement everyone is shocked. She and her fiancé lived at her house during the pandemic and think they are ready for marriage. She wants to get married at Sarah’s family beach house much to the delight of Sarah’s mom. She is excited to bring together Sarah and her brother Sam and their families. Every adult family member is keeping secrets that is dividing them. Can this wedding bring everyone together or drive everyone apart!

I am a Jennifer Weiner fan, I've read every book
I was excited to read this ARC,

I truly enjoyed this book....
I was immediately in this story, I did not want to stop reading for bed or work or eating,
reading while I got dressed and brushed teeth, because I could not stop

I love the interludes with the house
(you need to read book to understand this)

I completely recommend this book

Another stunning novel by the talented Jennifer Weiner! I look forward to each and every release and The Summer Place was no exception. The depth and dimension of all the characters was outstanding! So many details and back stories, I loved it. Now take all of these characters and put them in one Cape Cod house and their secrets and scandalous drama bubble over! Excellent read and highly recommend.

I love Jennifer Weiner books. I am never disappointed with the stories she presents. I thoroughly enjoyed how many voices we got to hear in this story, including the house. I loved how the past was shown to have impacts in the futures of the characters, and I enjoyed that each character was relatable to reality. These were not perfect characters, their flaws and imperfections were shown to the readers. The ending was different, not expected, but was something that could be seen happening at some time in some family.
I recommend to any reader who loves a good beach read.

When twenty-two year old Ruby announces her engagement, her parents are shocked. The wedding venue has even been picked out—her grandma’s beach house in Cape Cod, which is booked for a wedding 3 months away! The event brings together Ruby’s mother Annette—who abandoned her as a child. And if that’s not enough drama, it seems that her father is hiding a secret of his own. As the family begins to come together for this big event, it seems that nearly every character has a secret that they are keeping until the wedding. With all the twists and turns of this plot, it will be an event to remember!

I loved The Summer Place, and found it to be the perfect beach read. The characters were interesting, like able, and well-developed. The author also did an excellent job weaving in a variety of challenging situations that the characters had to overcome. The book should have come with a mascara alert on the cover, however—it was hard not to feel the pain and struggle along with the characters in a couple places in the book. There were definitely some fun highs and lows. Overall it was a really good read, and I’m already looking forward to her next book.

The Summer Place

There are several family members to keep track of … mom, daughter, son, son in law, step granddaughter and her fiance; each of whom have alternating chapters devoted to them. What seems to be the common denominator is … cheating on one’s significant other … and experiencing stereotypical Jewish guilt. Plus, good Lord, there are coincidences galore. I could almost picture the author secretly laughing to herself as she came up with each preposterous situation. So, that being said, I didn’t hate it, but didn’t love it either.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for offering me the opportunity to read and review.

Another great read by Jennifer Weiner! This is a novel about a family who are all keeping secrets from each other. It touches on the pandemic and how it changed their relationships, which I thought was insightful.

Jennifer Weiner does it again! Another compelling story that I couldn't put down until I found out the exact fate of the Danhauser family.

Sarah Danhauser's 22 year old stepdaughter, Ruby, is engaged! Sarah is not excited, Her husband, Eli, has a secret that he refuses to reveal, and life gets more and more complicated as the wedding date approaches. Charming and realistic characters lead the way in this family dramedy. I'll admit some of it seems a BIT unrealistic, but who cares? It's a great book written by a tried and true author, and it will bring you joy. Highly recommend