In The Summer Place, author Jennifer Weiner transports the reader to the town of Truro on Cape Cod, that follows a post-Covid family saga and summer of change for a family when drama and a tangled web of secrets are uncovered at the family beach house.

When Sarah and Eli Danhauser's daughter Ruby plans a Post-Covid wedding to live-in boyfriend Gabe Andrews in three months at grandmom Veronica's beach house on Cape Cod, what ensues is a summer of change for the entire family when they deal with complicated individual life issues and long-held secrets, and discover the true meaning of love, friendship, and family.

In The Summer Place, author Jennifer Weiner easily captivates her readers' attention with this beautifully written tale through a seamless and flowing storyline, a wonderful description of a tranquil seaside setting, and characters who draw you into their lives with a strong emotional pull, along with their complexities, flaws and secrets.

The Summer Place is a wonderful story told in the third person alternating narrative that engages the reader to follow along as this summer of change at the family's beach house will bring plenty of drama, long-held secrets, trials and tribulations, life challenges, and family issues for Sarah, Eli and Ruby Danhauser, Ruby's biological mother Annette Morgan, Ruby's boyfriend Gabe Andrews and his mother Rosa, Sarah's mother Veronica and brother Sam Weinberg. The alternating storylines will keep the readers on their toes, but it all culminates in a heartwarming ending that will leave them with a smile on their face. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my favorite charcter was Veronica (Ronnie), I loved reading about her backstory and the wonderful description of her Cape Cod beach house that witnessed so many family changes throughout the years. Families are messy, but it is the family relationship bond that keeps everyone together!

The reader will be kept engaged as this wonderful story unfolds. With a cast of interesting characters, and a richly vivid description of Cape Cod, The Summer Place is a compelling story about love, friendship, family, and second chances in life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-summer-place-by-jennifer-weiner.html

I was disappointed with this book from start to finish. I truly tried to get into it, but it was not what I was hoping for. I have to admit I skimmed most of it.

My issues were several: I didn't like the characters, the story was choppy and lastly, it was slow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

2022
(I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)

It's summer and that means another fabulous book from Jennifer Weiner! This book totally caught me by surprise. I did not expect to fall in love with the fictional Levy/Weinberg/Danhauser clan and I did not want this story to end. The Cape Cod setting was perfect for this funny and moving story of family, loyalty, love and the ties that bind.

There are lots of characters in this sweeping story but all of them are drawn with a warm and caring hand. Family sagas are my jam and along with the serious events, Jennifer Weiner always injects light and funny
observations.

The impact of the pandemic and quarantine are a big part of this book. Sarah and Eli are getting on each other’s nerves just like millions of other couples.

“Just so I understand: you’re terrified that he’s cheating, and you also want him dead?” Sarah considered the contradiction. Then she said, “Yes.”

“Got it,” Marni said, nodding as if that made perfect sense.

Husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, first love and romantic relationships are all examined here. I was completely invested in this family, and even some of the more far-fetched developments actually made perfect sense.

The author has said that she wanted the story to have a feeling somewhere between a Noël Coward farce and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the pairings are driven by otherworldly interference. She also wanted to write about the ways that quarantine exposed the fault lines in relationships and the buried foundations of money and privilege and sacrifice that hold up our lives, whether or not we acknowledge that they’re there. This sums up the themes perfectly.

Everyone has a secret here but the story unfolds in a very entertaining, warm-hearted and sensitive way. If you love a good family drama with a dose of humor, ‘The Summer Place’ is for you. I can't think of a better book to throw in your beach bag.

”It feels like everything’s changing, you know? Everything, all at once.”

I love the settings of Jennifer Weiner's books, and this one didn't disappoint. This one was really good, I loved the characters and the storylines. I did think at one point the storylines got a little cloudy, too many mysteries in one story, but they were still really good. Highly recommend.

Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I think this one was my favorite of the Summer series by Jennifer Weiner. I liked the characters and the story line the best. It felt timely given the inclusion of COVID and quarantines. I enjoyed the dual timelines and various perspectives from the different characters.

The story felt real and while I didn't always agree with the actions of the characters, I understood them.

This was a perfect summer read!

I had never read any books by Jennifer Weiner until Mrs. Everything, so I’m a slightly newer fan. I have not missed any of the new releases since that book! I am a big fan of character driven novels over plot driven novels. If this is your thing, then her books are for you. I absolutely loved this story and the deep dive into each of the characters. They were all “messy” with their secrets but in a relatable way. Such a great summer book.

THE SUMMER PLACE
by Jennifer Weiner

This is my first Jennifer Weiner and it will be my last.

In THE SUMMER PLACE there are several storylines going on, many characters, a couple intersections and a theme connecting everyone and everything that is not for every reader.

It’s set during Covid and although it’s featured it’s not the main focus. It’s about a wedding but when you reading it, you could care less. It’s set during the summer but it could be set any time of the year.

Those are the parameters.

I have never read a Weiner book so I’m not sure what her books are like. I only know this one. And this one is a mess.

A little bit of sensitivity goes a long way and this book should’ve been combed through. There are words used like blubbering to describe a male character crying. I did not appreciate that.

The characters are put in several situations that seem to written to surprise the reader.

Similar to that of a tabloid magazine, if reading about the downfall of others makes your life seem better this book might be for you.

It was not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy!


THE SUMMER PLACE…⭐️

A twisted soap opera that begins when twenty-two-year old Ruby announces she's getting married, shocking her stepmom, Sarah. THE SUMMER PLACE is set during the pandemic and Ruby and Gabe have been living with Sarah and her husband Eli during COVID times. Ruby's step-grandmother, Ronnie, is thrilled to host the wedding at her beach house in Cape Cod... mainly because she's planning to sell it after, something none of the rest of the family knows yet. Also in the mix is Sarah's twin brother, Sam, reeling from the death of his wife and struggling to raise his stepson, Connor.

Whew... this is a wild ride! When I say soap opera, I mean it! There is cheating galore, a ton of misunderstandings, arguments, and so much more! You need to be prepared for drama at every turn and to swallow a bunch of coincidences that bombard this family constantly. There are some really weird family dynamics at play here, everyone.

Honestly, I do not mind a soapy read in the least. Heck, I watched DAYS and PASSIONS in my lifetime! My problem with this one is that it lacked Weiner's usual lyrical and emotive writing. Each chapter was told from a different POV and it felt like a beginner's novel. "First we did this and then I felt that and then this happened and ..." There was none of the passion and beauty I usually see in her work. I kept reading because I needed to find out what was happening with this trainwreck of a family, but I wasn't drawn to the characters or their lives due to the lackluster writing. Sam was my favorite, but even he made some... interesting ... choices.

Still, Weiner gives us a lot of insight into motherhood, marriage, love, loss, and the place of women at various points in society. I had hoped for more here, but it squeezed out a 3-star rating for me (probably with a little favoritism thrown in, because I'm such a Jennifer Weiner fan).

Holy cow what a long long long winded book. The characters were highly unlikable, too much covid talk, too much adultery/cheating in general. I love Jennifer Weiner's books but this is an easy skip - would not recommend to others.

I ABSOLUTELY loved this book! The perfect beach read!!!! Jennifer Weiner can seriously do no wrong. There were so many twists and surprises, and I loved the characters (especially the women!).

I've always been a fan of Jennifer Weiner, and she doesn't disappoint once again. Fun characters, nice detailed story, and a few tears along the way. Quick and easy read,

Follow me on IG, Youtube, & Tik Tok at readwithcupcake for more reviews and bookish content!

Thank you for the ARC from Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my third read from this author and I was VERY excited to dive into it. I loved Big Summer and it made me so excited to read more from her, however, this book and That Summer were both misses from me. If you enjoy soap operas/family drama, then this book is definitely for you! While I also enjoy both, this book just had too many characters for me and at times I got lost in terms of who was who or what was going on. At times the book did feel drawn out and I was able to predict the ending, but I can see a lot of my friends enjoying this book a lot more than I did.

I usually like Weiner's books, but this one fell flat for me. There seemed to be too many relationship problems going on with this family to the point that it was almost unbelievable. Between the potential infidelity on both sides, the questioning uncle, and everything else, too much was going on. The potential paternity issue in Gabe and Ruby's relationship was at a point that I found far-fetched, as well as Eli's sections about it. I actually did not end up finishing this one, and I am unsure if I will at this point.

Every summer I look forward to a long, immersive read by this author and this year is no exception. The Summer Place, at over 400 pages, is populated with many characters and situations that draw the reader in.

There are plans for a wedding. Ruby and Gabe are young but think that this is what they want. They met as students at NYU and spent time living with Ruby’s family during Covid, eventually announcing that they want to have a simple Cape Cod wedding.

Ruby grew up as a strong willed girl and is a strong willed young adult. Her father Eli raised her as a single parent for a number of years. Readers will learn why and what secret he carries. Eli has a second marriage and family when he marries Sarah who had been Ruby’s teacher. They are enjoying a good life as the story begins.

Sarah has her own backstory of dreams deferred or let go. Her mother is a wealthy author. Veronica has been widowed and has some history as well.

Sarah’s twin brother is still finding his way when he is introduced to the story. He has been unlucky in love and uncertain of what he wants from life. He has tended to rely on others for answers.

Gabe, Ruby’s fiance, was raised by a single parent. She, too, has a story. It may surprise you with its plot twist.

What will happen as all of the story lines and characters intersect and interact? Readers will enjoy finding out. Ms Wiener really knows how to tell her story and keep track of everyone.

Enjoy this one if you want an ultimate summer/beach read. You won’t forget this wedding day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this title. All opinions are my own.

Wow. There's a lot going on in this book. I was a bit hesitant going in because I don't have much interest in books with lots of pandemic talk - too soon, too fresh, had enough, no thanks. But I'd read the other loosely connected books in this very loosely connected series, so decided to suck it up because Jennifer Weiner does have a way with words and with spinning an interesting story. And despite some of the things I didn't love about it, I ended up enjoying it. There's a fair amount of pandemic talk - after all, one of the main characters is marrying her Pandemic Boyfriend (thus named because they started dating shortly before Covid and he ends up moving in with her and her family when the quarantine hits New York). We follow several characters through storylines full of secrets and self-discovery. And be prepared for a couple of large (and by large I mean ginormous) coincidences. They're a bit over the top, for me at least, but they also underscore the fact that while sometimes yes, communication can be overrated, at other times a lack of communication leads to misunderstandings and to issues becoming much larger than they need to be.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC ebook!

I liked this one. There were so many layers and drama within this family dynamic. I loved the “beach vibes” and could picture the beautiful beach house and Cape Cod landscape. Just like in Wish You Were Here, I struggled with the covid/post-covid timeline. It still feels too soon. There were also so many characters that some of the storyline got lost. Big topics/situations were introduced during a chapter were then only briefly touched on again near the end. The ending felt a little rushed and also slightly unbelievable. Even with the epilogue, I felt like there were things still unresolved. Overall this was a quick, easy read with lots of drama and a true “summer” feel.

This was not my favorite read from this author. I’ve really enjoyed her other books but this one felt difficult to get into it and the characters were so unlikeable! It was hard to connect with anyone. The relationships were dysfunctional and weird and there were too many issues that felt forced. This one just wasn’t for me.

What a let down.

I was really uncomfortable with the sexual content of this book. While I can accept that infidelity may be an important plot point in a novel, it was constant and frustrating. It was obvious to me that the author tried to insert every possible social issue they could come up with. She clearly tried too hard to be “diverse.”Hints at an incestual relationship is absolutely not okay with me.

Also, what’s up with the title and the synopsis!? This book basically went off script. I feel like her last book did the same. Something is seriously wrong with the marketing of her novels. I can’t even come up with an appropriate audience for this.

Someone told me that this book was like a bad episode of Jerry Springer. This was spot on! While Jerry Springer can be entertaining, it’s pretty obvious that the scenarios are outrageous and unbelievable. Unfortunately, it felt like this novel tried to normalize that type of content.

I do feel like this book had potential. Which is why I’m being generous with 2-stars.

I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you to @atriabooks and #netgalley for my advanced e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Summer Place
By Jennifer Weiner

What a gorgeous mess of a book and I was here for all of it.

This story began with a wedding – this is the impetus of it all.

There is Ruby planning a wedding and setting a date three months away, in her grandmother Veronica’s Summer Place in Cape Cod.
Then there is Sarah, who is Ruby’s step- mom, Eli’s wife, and also Sam’s twin sister, whose stories we will come to know in one very special whirlwind of a summer.

There were so many characters but they all had a huge role to play in the Summer Beach read of the year.
The way the story flowed, and how each of the characters’ individual story lines were presented, was in excellent timing, that it didn’t feel overwhelming at all.
I loved how the story came together beautifully in the end.

The Summer Place really is the perfect Beach Read – it satisfies the craving for that juicy drama we just sometimes crave for.

This was one of my favorite recent Jennifer Weiner books. I generally found the characters reasonably flawed but likeable. This book is the perfect beach read.