Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book. The writing just didn't capture my attention. I have tried this author's work in the past, but have come to the conclusion that it is just not for me. I encourage others to give it a read!

Weiner is another one of my go-to authors. I love everything she writes. The Breakaway was another fun ride through acceptance and self-love. Abby is asked to lead a bike trip when the guide has had to back out. She didn't realize that one of the riders happened to be a recent hookup. To make matters worse, her mom shows up unexpectedly to take the bike trip as well. Tensions fly, and feelings heat back up. So much fun. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. 4 stars.

This is an honest review written in exchange for an advanced reader copy from Net galley and Atria books.

I have read many of the books written by Jennifer Weiner and have not been disappointed to date. Her characters are well developed and the descriptions often make me think of how I would like to know them in real life. She uses real life storylines that are easy to follow.

This story focuses on a few main characters and also mentions several satellite characters it’s a modern love story but also so much more. As the main story line developed I felt lucky enough to get a glimmer into some of the lesser important characters stories and I found myself rooting for some more than others..

This book covers themes love, deceit, friendships, mother daughter relationships, and maybe even some cheating. Prepare to be whisked way into the world of a group of strangers , but not to remain strangers for long.

To say I loved this book is not giving it enough praise. Outstanding. The author has done it again!

Do you like to ride bikes? What is the longest distance you have ridden? I loved to ride bikes and used to ride a lot before I got married and had kids. I sadly don’t get to ride as much as I would like to, but hopefully as the kids get older, I will ride more again. I never used to measure the distance of my rides, but The Breakaway has inspired me to take a longer biking trip.

Abby is thirty-three and floating through life. She hasn’t figured out what she wants to do for a permanent job and her apartment looks like she is still a college student. She has reunited with her high school sweetheart and is trying to figure out what she wants to do with life. She loves riding her bike on long bike journeys and helps a friend out by taking the leadership role on a tour that will go from New York City to Niagara Falls. The group is a motley crew of a variety of personalities and age groups. Unfortunately, it also includes Abby’s mother who is very critical of Abby’s weight and a man she had a one-night stand with a couple of years ago. Will she be able to make it through this trip and keep her group on track?

The Breakaway was immensely readable. I took this book on our Labor Day weekend campout, and I couldn’t put it down. I was especially caught up thinking about taking such a bike adventure and was inspired that people of all ages and body types were taking the trip. I like how we get to know the other riders in the group as the book progresses as well.

Weiner is aways great writing about body issues and this book was no exception. Abby was raised by an almond mom who is very critical of what Abby eats and sent her to fat camp repeatedly when she was a teenager. I will admit though of having a “first world problem” moment when reading this book. In a flashback to teenage years, Abby is horrified about being sent to fat camp instead of drama camp in Maine and throws a giant fit about it. I was sad for her about going to fat camp, but I never got to go to any camp because my family couldn’t afford it. I was working in the fields as a teenager when Abby was throwing a fit about not getting to go to Maine. I had a really hard time emphasizing for her and thought she should probably not go to any camp and maybe work in the fields like I did to lose the weight her Mom wanted her too. Kidding aside, I was horrified thinking about how this would really warp a teenager’s body image.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There were things I loved, storylines that I didn’t think worked (ie the romance), but overall, I couldn’t stop reading.

I always enjoy Jennifer Weiner's books. She digs deep with her characters and this one fits the bill.

It's a romance but so much more. And she never shies away from the tough topics. This one had several - weight and body positivity, mental health, a woman's right to choose, family dynamics. And as always it was well done.

I am not a biker, but found that aspect of the story very interesting and appreciated having the POV of the bikers.

I really wanted things to work for Abby and Sebastian. This book was lengthy, but also a quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley and and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed this book! I love the story of the biking tours and it’s destinations. The characters and their stories kept my interest! Entertaining read!

I've read a few books by Jennifer Weiner and they just keep getting better to me. I loved this book because it touched on real-life issues such as weight shaming, serial dating, infidelity, abortion, and mother/daughter conflict, which Weiner handles with professionalism and care.I love when authors show compassion when talking about the hard topics. I found this to be an easy and quick read for me. I would definitely recommend this book!


Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

While I enjoyed the plot of this story, there were elements that I am not a fan of. Without giving spoilers, there were elements of this story that I personally do not agree with morally, and it unfortunately really turned me off from the book. There is a way to incorporate these topics into a story without being heavy handed, and Jennifer missed the mark. I've enjoyed Weiner's books in the past, but this is one I would not read again,and would not recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for free advanced copy.
Although I did enjoy this book, Weiner is a talented author who knows how to propel a story and keep the pages turning, I did have a lot of problems with the overall premise. Fat girl who doesn't deserve the attractive guy, and the only thing she can say about him is that he is attractive. It become too much. The social commentary about weight she was trying to make got lost. I did appreciate the woman's right bent, but it was a little heavy handed. I prefer commentary to be more subtle, even when I agree with it.

Okay I’m just gonna say it, I had a hard time sympathizing with Abby. Maybe it’s my personal history that created the negative bias against their mother daughter relationship or lack thereof. I also think there are a handful of triggers in this book readers should be aware of before jumping in. Yes Jennifer Weiner has historically addressed weight issues in her previous novels but this one didn’t really have the relatable quality.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest personal opinion.

This was a slighly better Jennifer Weiner book than her previous Summer series books. For me, this author really has some awful and unlikeable main characters, so I did not have high expectations for this book. Abby, thank goodness was somewhat endearing, thank goodness, but the plot did and her story did not hold my attention. I am done wreading books by this author.

Ok. Definitely not her best, but also not her worst. Cannot recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jennifer Weiner and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

This book made me want to pick up biking myself! I love seeing representation of empowered, strong and adventurous fat heroines. The journey that the protagonist goes on in her career, her love life, and in her relationship with her mom is compelling and uplifting!

3.5 stars This author always has good stories to share with us and this was a cute story with a message.

Many children, but especially girls, seems to be targeted by parents as too fat. Some really are and need some help, but the mental pressure by parents can do harm to their relationships with their children. In this story Abby and her mom don't seem to agree on anything, even as adults, partly based on the mom's strict dietary rules and the use of a "fat camp" in summer. Abby has other interests that are ignored as she is forced to go to the camp which has more to offer than just diet. It also offers Mark.

Sebastian is the bar pick up who stays in her mind. Mark is the one who wants to be "the one" for her. What should Abby do?

Her biking has always been a lifeline for her as a child and now it becomes a lifeline as an adult, too.

Cute story, good beach read. Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. My honest opinion of this book is offered freely

Jennifer Weiner's latest novel, "The Breakaway," left me with mixed feelings. While there were aspects I liked, the main character, Abby Stern, had moments that made it hard to connect with the story. On one hand, Abby's self-confidence and body positivity were refreshing and empowering, offering a positive representation for plus-sized women. But, she could also come across as self-absorbed and lacked empathy, particularly in her relationship with her mother, Eileen.

Additionally, I didn't quite agree with some of the political aspects woven into the narrative, which added to my dislike of the story. While the book is an okay read it doesn't quite reach the level of her best novels that I really loved.

I’m going to go ahead and put this in writing, mostly to remind myself, that this is the last Jennifer Weiner book I’m going to read. She just keeps writing the same character - the cute, chubby, all-around great girl trying to live her best, body-positive life in a skinnycentric world.
Except, she’s not a great girl. In fact, I found her quite unlikable, starting with how she thought she was basically “settling” for her sweet, loving, considerate, attractive boyfriend, who clearly adored her at whatever size she was, and had no qualms about cheating on him with a super hot guy she met at a bar who she figured was way out of her league.
Even overlooking the unpleasant, judgmental protagonist, the story was predictable and trite.
Thanks to #netgalley and #atriabooks for this #arc of #thebreakaway in exchange for an honest review.

I thought The Breakaway was going to be a nice, light hearted romance story! And while there was romance, there was so much more. Firstly, Abby is a fluffier girl so you learn about all the struggles of dealing with weight issues and a skinny mom. Then there is Sebastian who considers every woman an opportunity to enjoy for an evening but never for longer. And then there were the discussions about parenting, a woman’s right to chose (about ALL aspects of her life, and trying to figure out your life. There are so many great characters! And now I want to go on a bike trip!!

This book has romance but leans heavier into the „women's fiction" genre. Abby, the MC, lives in Philadelphia, she is 33, and kind of stuck and unsure whether to change something or just plod along. She has jobs, but not a fulfilling career - she is basically just managing to pay her rent with odd jobs. Her apartment isn't cared for or nicely put together, it is all a bit random. She has a relationship with Mark who could be great but they don't really share many interests, can she imagine moving in with him? She has a plus size body and has always had one. She is mostly at peace with that but feels antagonized by her mother's „helpful" hints. Cycling is her true love and she is asked to lead a bike trip New York City to Niagara Falls.
Unsure that she can lead the group the trip starts out with a quite heterogeneous group of people. But there are two familiar faces, Sebastian, a man Abby had a fantastic and memorable one night stand with two years earlier. And Abby's mom, Eileen, is this trip doomed from the start ?
The writing is caring, captivating and engaging. The characters are layered, supportive, and endearing. And the plot manages to touch on many important topics family, friendship, self-discovery, happiness, healing, taking chances, growth, romance, passion, body positivity, and the joy and freedom of cycling.
The Breakaway is another charming, timely, thought-provoking tale by Weiner that has everything I've come to know and love about her novels, including a good dose of hope, heart and healing, a kind warm comforting story with a touch of romance on the side.

Review will be posted on 9/22/23

Abby Stern has spent most of her childhood ashamed of how she looks, especially since her fit mother sent her away to a weight loss camp every summer. Abby could never really be the person that her mother wanted her to be and that was ok for Abby because she had the solace of her bike. Abby adores cycling, and fifteen years later has the chance to lead a cycling trip through New York. This is a great opportunity for Abby to clear her head. Also, things have started to get serious with her boyfriend, Mark, and while he seems perfect on paper, something is holding her back from taking the next step. She should like him - he's a Jewish doctor, a former overweight camper at the weight loss camp Abby attended, but he doesn't enjoy cycling and doesn't eat sugar. Just when Abby gears up for a relaxing cycling trip, there are two unexpected participants: her one-night stand from many years ago and her mother! Cue the drama. Abby had a one-night stand with Sebastian, who is perfect and likes her for who she is, except he is a known player and some of his antics have gone viral. As the trip continues, Abby realizes they still have chemistry. Also, the more time she spends with her mom, the more honest they both get about their relationship. Jennifer Weiner's The Breakaway is a quintessential women's fiction and includes many things I enjoyed including a romance, female empowerment, and messages of body positivity.

While I enjoyed Abby's journey both physically and emotionally in The Breakaway, there were some plot holes that I felt could have been fleshed out a bit more, especially between Abby and her mother. On the other hand, Abby's relationship with Sebastian is one of the best parts of the novel, especially if you enjoy a slow burn. I do wish she would have been more honest with Mark though, so if cheating is a trigger for you, be forewarned. I also enjoyed Weiner's overall messages about being in charge of a person's body, women's rights, and positive body image, but at times it got a little preachy. Lastly, I really can't relate to Abby's relationship with food, which at times was a bit unhealthy if you ask me, so I struggled there, mostly because I have dietary restrictions myself, so eating for pleasure isn't always an option. Shaming people who eat healthy is just as bad as making overweight people feel less than, so I had an issue with that aspect of the novel. Also, at some point, I think it's okay to admit that being overweight isn't the healthiest version of yourself, no matter how "strong" you think you are. So, I had a hard time with that aspect of the novel.

The details of the bike trip were superb in The Breakaway. I love how it juxtaposed Abby's emotional journey with her biking journey, as well when it came to figuring out her romantic life and her relationship with her mother. I am not a cyclist, but I could appreciate all the details that go into a trip like this as well as the beautiful New York scenery. Bikers will especially love this aspect of the novel as Weiner, an avid cyclist, truly brought this part of the story to life.

While The Breakaway wasn't my favorite of Weiner's novels, I thought it was a solid novel for fans of women's fiction and a great way to end the summer season. Have you read The Breakaway? Are you a fan of Jennifer Weiner? Let me know in the comments below.

I enjoyed almost everything about Jennifer Weiner's The Breakaway: the unusual premise, the diverse ensemble of flawed individuals, and, of course, Weiner's effortless writing style. The one issue I had with the novel, and I mean the only issue, was the main character's love interests. They irritated me, and my dislike for the characters of Sebastian and Mark only intensified as the story progressed. Fortunately for me, The Breakaway is more than just a love story.

The story follows Abby as she leads her first cycling excursion. To Abby's shock, her former one-night stand, Sebastian, and her mother join the multi-day ride. Abby is forced to deal with a disapproving parent, feelings for someone who isn't her boyfriend, a teenage pregnancy, self-inflicted body shaming, and other issues as she leads the group of unique characters. To put it mildly, The Breakaway is quite a ride (pun intended)!

Jennifer Weiner is always great at creating characters you care about and weaving a story around seemingly unconnected characters. The Breakaway was great from start to finish!