I first discovered Jennifer Weiner's books at the beginning of the pandemic. Finding an author who so casually wrote in Jewish characters and themes meant a lot to me, and her writing style and characters hooked me further.

The Summer Place is a beautiful novel about family, secrets, and the power of a home to bring everyone together. I loved the dimension given to each character and hearing about their own perceptions of themselves and one another, and I was not expecting the amount of twists and turns the book took, though I should expect it by now from a Jennifer Weiner book! I love the subtle callback to That Summer (which in turn had callbacks to Big Summer); the Weiner-verse is a wonderful place to find yourself. In the midst of this cold, Canadian winter, I am grateful for the summer read to transport me to the beach for a while.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the chance to read this, I cannot wait to go out and buy the physical copy in May!

It pains me to give this a 3 star rating because I LOVE everything Jennifer Weiner has been giving us for the past few years especially and I was THRILLED to receive an ARC of this book when I was having an awful week in the middle of winter. That said, this is my least favorite of hers I've read in the last few years, and of this summer series. There was a lot of unbelievability happening, which I could have put aside, but the "all of a sudden" realizations, coincidences and the like just seemed like too much when put all together. Some of the characters felt flat (Ruby) and others cliché (Sarah, Eli) that would have benefited from deeper characterization. I did like the 1 year in to the pandemic timeline, since we're all sitting there right now - it was present but not depressing. It became a bit bungled for more towards the middle and end. I will gladly read everything Weiner puts out in the future because I still love her, and overall, I didn't feel like I wasted my time with this read, and enjoyed reading it.

Light reading, with some kind of unbelievable twists. But I wasn't expecting it to be a very serious novel so that was fine. I don't think it was a memorable book but it was good for entertainment without having to think much.

The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
I’m a longtime fan of Jennifer Weiner, and have watched as her writing has grown more complex and personal over the years. Anyone who follows her knows that 2021 was a very hard year for her. I’m delighted to see that she was able to marshal the emotions that surfaced through her personal trials to create a cast of characters who are vivid, complicated and oh so relatable.
The overriding story is a young couple who’ve decided, shortly after emerging from lockdown, that they want to get married. Technically, the story covers the short time from the announcement of the engagement until the actual date of the wedding. Adding in the backstory, this is a novel that covers generations, and the missteps and mistakes made at each level before the betrothed couple. At one point I had to stop and say, REALLY?? But it works and the way the story loops around to its beginning is nothing short of gymnastics!
I promise you will find at least one character to root for, and if not, you’ll fall for the house. This is a fascinating book of characters and their passions. Great new summer book for Jennifer Weiner fans!

Ruby announces her engagement to her boyfriend Gabe. Ruby's stepmother Sarah feels that this wedding is happening too fast and is worried, but Ruby's stepgrandmother is happy that the whole family will be coming together on Cape Cod for the wedding. In the days leading up to the wedding we meet the different family members and find out their stories. Each family member is dealing with past choices that are affecting the present day. There is a lot of drama and plot twists to keep the reader entertained. I enjoyed the book, but some of the plot seemed too coincidental and every character seemed to be dealing with infidelity.

There are no words to describe how thought-provoking and emotional this story is. It's a story full of life, love and forgiveness. There are many characters in this story; however, each character was well developed. Each has his or her own stories and yet it doesn't take away from the overall plot. In fact, each characters' stories add to the plotline and push it along. It takes a masterful writer such as Jennifer Weiner to write a story this great. As much as there are loads of characters, none were minor characters. Each one holds on their own and yet if one was missing the picture would not be complete. I can see this as a Netflix-limited series. In fact, I would love to see this on screen.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite authors, I was so looking forward to this new book by Jennifer Weiner. In today's climate, it is normal to read books that include the pandemic as part of the plot, but it is nice to escape that part of life inside a book, in my opinion, and wish that it wasn't in this book. Nevertheless, the author doesn't disappoint. I do have a hard time reading about infidelity in a book and this story is full of it, but I will still read the author again.

Jennifer Wiener has given us another winner. This is ultimate beach reading with twists and turns that you won’t see coming.

Fortunate enough to receive an advance reader copy of this, I dove right in and didn’t want to stop reading (and pretty much didn’t; I read this one in mere hours over a snowy weekend). Also, I read this during a personally trying time - my dad died less than two weeks ago and this novel was a lifeline, a happy escape from a bitter and cold start to 2022. Reading is probably my favorite form of self-care and I’ve been doing a lot of it these past few days.

Okay, I’ve had a full day to work out my feelings regarding this one.

I loved it, pure and simple. It was exactly what I needed to read right now, from the house herself down to Lord Farquaad, the corgi (our corgi - each and every character enriched this book and you’re rooting for them all.

The Summer Place is another beautifully conceived and written novel by Jennifer Weiner. I love how her writing has evolved since her first novels, adding so much depth to both the characters and the plot. In this novel we meet Ruby, who has become engaged to her pandemic boyfriend, much to the dismay of her stepmother Sarah. She has already spoken to her grandmother Veronica, who is delighted to host the wedding at her beach home on Cape Cod, for she wants to gather her family together. Sarah, who has raised Ruby since she was young, is having difficulty with the idea that Ruby wants to marry, mainly because she's seeing cracks in her marriage to Eli, Ruby's father. She doesn't know why, but he has become distant, not the doting partner he's always been. As the wedding approaches, things spiral out of control and no one is sure anymore that this marriage will be good for anyone involved.

Ms. Weiner deftly spins this tale until you aren't sure whether you want Ruby to be married, Sarah's marriage to continue and you can't wait to turn to the last page to find out what happens, even to the side players in this drama. The twists at the end of the novel will just floor you! Thank you to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Don't miss it!!!

Kudos to the author. I've never read a book that had so many plot twists that I did not see coming. It was a little slow to start for me, but then it sank its hooks in and I couldn't put it down. I loved all the characters and felt like I was right in the midst of the pages with them.

A Happy Ever After (HEA) though not with the people you expect o partner with.

Eli's 18 yr. old daughter, Ruby, proposes to her Covid-lockdown boyfriend, Gabe, and a wedding is planned for 3 months time - this summer! Ruby's step-grandmother Veronica, aka Ronnie, offers her beach home for the wedding venue as a last family gathering before selling off the old homestead.

All of the characters have a fully formed background making it easy to want to see everyone happy with their lives.

The twists and situations set a fast pace, making this hard to put down.

Another hit by Jennifer Weiner.

Jennifer Weiner hit another home run in my opinion. This book will be an amazing summer (or in my case winter) read. The storyline is extremely well written and the characters are wonderful. This book revolves around a family and a wedding. There are twists and turns and it is just a wonderful read. I highly recommend reading this book!!

Genre: women's fiction
Pub date: 5/10/22
In one sentence: Ruby is planning marry her COVID quarantine boyfriend Gabe, setting up one last eventful weekend at the family beach house.

Cape Cod has a special place in my heart, and I love how Weiner writes the Outer Cape. I enjoyed that the house is another character in the story - her meddling in the story to protect "her people" made me smile. Ruby and Gabe's family members are lovable and quirky, with lots of secrets - and that makes for a fun ride. No spoilers, but there are plenty of surprises on the way to the altar.

In terms of tone, this book is much more comedic than Weiner's previous work That Summer, which was more of drama. The Summer Place s a comedy of errors that gets a little outrageous and silly at times, but it's all in good fun. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists that brought everything together at the end, and I think this is a great fit for your beach bag!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Posted to Goodreads 1/29/22, to be posted to Instagram closer to pub date.

Impossible to put down, Jennifer Weiner's latest family drama set prior to a wedding on Cape Cod delivers. Despite being heavily contrived, the Summer Place manages to engage the reader from beginning to end - the perfect beach read.

Another fabulous beach read from Jennifer Weiner. The Cape Cod vacation setting was just perfection. Pull up a beach chair and settle in!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58532615

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Another unputdownable Jennifer Weiner, this one about a family with life-changing secrets who spend summers on Cape Cod. This one seemed a bit racier than her past few, with some very steamy scenes. I loved reading each character, though at times I found Sarah to be a little cold. I really loved Sam in particular. This book seems to be quite personal to the author, and it was clear while reading that she has as fond memories of the Cape as her characters do. Great read!

I was hoping that this book would make up for last year's That Summer. It didn't. This book needed to be another 50 pages. I felt like the characters that were important weren't fleshed out. What happened to begin unravelling Gabe and Ruby's relationship? Why didn't Rosa have more of a payback for dishonesty? And are we really supposed to believe that Eli was going to let his daughter marry her potential brother? And so what if Sam is gay?
It's 2022! There were some plot holes here that were big enough to drive an 18-wheeler through. It feels like Jennifer Weiner was just trying to rush out a novel. I have been a fan since Good In Bed. This is beneath her talent.

Oh my goodness! Jennifer Weiner knows how to create characters: correction: she knows how to give life to them! Because those multi characters she’s created for this book are absolutely breathing, talking, sulking, screaming, laughing real people! Those embellished, extra detailed, perfectly developed back stories, characteristic attributes give you enough clue what a talented author she is!

This book could be a little long because of impeccably developed, long perspectives of the characters. But this time I honestly didn’t care! I loved each of the flawed characters, their strengths, their weaknesses, their secrets, their resentments, their struggle against being trapped in their own house with their families, getting through Covid-19 months without choking each other!

Sarah; at the age of 40, hurt by her husband’s Eli’s estrangement during pandemic days even though his shortcomings started bugging because of sharing same space in quarantine for a long time, having suspicious her husband is cheating her after 14 years of happy marriage.

22 years old art student Ruby, stepdaughter of Sarah, declares her decision to get marry with her pandemic boyfriend Gabe in three months. That stubborn girl knows her ways to get what she wants, still resents her birth mother’s abandonment when she was just a little baby. Does she have second thoughts about her abrupt decision? Of course she has not she is way too much headstrong to say she made a mistake!

Eli, devoted husband, dentist who truly reminded me of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Abe Weissman ( if this book could be adapted into series, my candidate to play him is definitely Tony Shalhoub) also made a big mistake 23 years ago and now he thinks his mistake will catch him unguarded to ruin everything he’s worked for years by destroying his family.

Ronnie; grandmother at the age 80, widowed, spending days at their beach house in Cape Cod, feeling so exciting for her grand daughter’s wedding to bring the entire family one more time. Once upon a time she was an author whose books were adapted into series at 80’s. Why did she stop? What kind of secrets she’s buried!

Poor Sam, Sarah’s twin brother, who lost his wife, taking care of his stepson Connor also has a big plan that he didn’t share with his family.

Sam was one of my favorite characters, who stays in the middle, always putting others first, changing his lifestyle to harmonize with the people he’s dating. And he was always the one who got dumped! I gave him virtual hugs during my read!

And let’s not forget Rosa, groom’s mother, who dreamt of becoming famous in NY when she was young and gave up her theater career to be mother of Gabe, raised him by herself, becoming a nurse to give him enough opportunity to chase his dreams.

When she hears more about Gabe’s fiancée she realizes her big secret about her past will ruin everything about her son’s future.

The author made me brilliant job to gather those characters at the Cape Cod house which is also the main character of the book, keeping the secrets of its inhabitants and guests for years!

The conclusion was also well wrapped up!

I think this is so far the best work of the author. I feel in love with characterization skills and wished this book never ends!

I’m rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 dysfunctional, scandalous, secretive family stars!

Special thanks to dear Ariele Fredman, Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my truly honest opinions.

Jennifer Weiner has the winning equation. Her books never disappoint, and this one was no exception! This book had me hooked from page one. I consumed it in about one day, and it was so fun to read. Have already recommended to friends!

Anything that Jennifer Weiner writes is going to be a must-read for me, so being sent an ARC of her newest novel The Summer Place was such a gift. And goodness does Weiner deliver in this book! Just a heads up, there are lots of characters to keep up with, but it’s worth it.
It’s midpandemic and everyone is stir crazy and trying to find some sense of normalcy, when Sarah’s step-daughter, Ruby, announces her quick engagement to Gabe. They’ve already decided on a small wedding at the Cape at Sarah’s mom’s home where Sarah spent her summers and had her heart broken for the first time. Sarah’s not thrilled about the wedding and neither is her husband, Eli, who suddenly seems to disappear. His body is present, but the once attentive and engaged partner is a ghost of himself, clearly dealing with a serious struggle. The character list grows to include: Sarah’s mother dealing with current medical concerns and a past she was never honest about, Sam (Sarah’s brother) that’s still trying to figure out who he really is after being thrust into parenthood, Gabe’s mother that did the best she could and an entire slew of additional friends and family.
Jennifer Weiner does something that few authors can master; she tackles heavy subjects (gender fluidity, death, infidelity, parenthood, divorce, etc) in a manner that allows readers to still see the joy and love. The Summer Place was such an accurate portrayal of life - that there is humor to be found in really awful situations and that even when things are good, really really good, most people still second guess their decisions. While I definitely didn’t agree with all the choices the characters made (hello morals deliminas), it made for an incredibly juicy and entertaining read. Pre-order The Summer Place, add it to your TBR because it’s going to be the perfect companion for your summer reading at the beach! An absolute 5 star smashing success.

An incredibly sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.