The Breakaway is my favorite Jennifer Weiner book, hands down. It addresses a wide range of topics, all relevant, from relationships (romantic and not), to abortion to self image. The flashbacks Abby Stern has to her sleepaway camp days are perfect for a summer/early September read. The hint of nostalgia is certainly present.

Abby, who has struggled with weight her whole life, is debating whether or not to move in with her boyfriend Mark. You get the feeling that she feels he is just, “fine.” Her internal struggles might come off as self-absorbed, but are not atypical of someone in their 30s, making it relatable.

The first bike trip Abby is asked to lead comes at fortuitous timing and as a reader, we travel with her through New York to reach the final destination. The only aspect I didn’t love was all of the secondary character POV chapters - they didn’t detract from the story, but not all of them were pertinent.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for my advanced copy.

The Breakaway is an intriguing story filled with many current issues that many readers may have experienced themselves or know someone who has. I enjoyed the characters and the unfolding of this story. Jennifer Weiner always delivers a heartwarming story.

The Breakaway was such a unique story of a life changing bike trip that has a group of riders coming together to help a girl with a secret. Along the way we have a meddling mom, an old flame, an internet scandal, a snarky group of seniors, body positivity, reproductive rights and everything in between!⁣
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I enjoyed this one so much - the friendships that form is the most fun part of the journey, but the drama and steam is quite the bonus!

Weiner always has an eye for what is current in culture. She uses this story of Abby Stern to address a lot of cultural issues including women’s health rights, cyber bullying, slut shaming, fat acceptance, and ageism. Abby holds the three week biking trip through New York together with strength and grace that she doesn’t realize has been there all along. As always there is a mother/daughter sub plot, but this time it flows through several of the participants on the trip. This novel is a great beach read.

When I need a break from my normal thrillers and horror novels, there's no better author to reach for than Jennifer Weiner. I've been reading her books for decades, and The Breakaway is a new favorite.

Abby Stern spent her childhood trying to make herself smaller to fit her mother's expectations. As a 33 year old, she has mostly made peace with her plus size body, but she doesn't have that same peace with her mom. What she does have is a gorgeous doctor boyfriend who she reconnected with after they first met at fat camp, as teens; a bunch of side hustle jobs; and her beloved bicycle. Abby is pretty content. Still, she can't help feeling that something is missing, and she can't stop thinking about Sebastian, a one night stand from a few years ago, who absolutely rocked her world. So imagine Abby's horror when she's asked to lead a nearly 800 mile bike trip and Sebastian is one of the riders. Just when Abby thought it couldn't get any more awkward, her mom rolls up at the last minute, intending on riding alongside Abby for the entire trip! Shenanigans ensue, of course, and Abby learns more about life, love, and herself than she ever bargained for.



One of the things I like best about Weiner's work is the relatability of her characters. I can genuinely empathize with Abby, because I'm a plus size woman who also felt aimless and without direction. Representation does matter! Weiner has a gift, always making me feel seen and deserving of love. I enjoyed this book so much and laughed out loud every few pages. I also may have gotten misty-eyed a time or two. A book that gives me all the feels and some seriously steamy love scenes is a unicorn, indeed. Bravo to Jennifer Weiner! Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to review this advance copy. The Breakaway is available for purchase everywhere you buy books now.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC of Jennifer Weiner’s newest novel, The Breakaway–which publishes today 8/29! Happy Publication Day to this wonderful women’s novel. I love Jennifer Weiner’s writing style so much and have read all of her novels.

I loved main character 33 year old Abby Stern and all the other women who are part of this empowering story. While the story centers on Abby and on the momentous 2 week bike ride she leads for the Breakaway cycling company, we also hear the stories of the other women on the trip. I believe this was my favorite part–I loved that the women were all ages and at different stages of life. There are definitely hard parts in this story (reader know thyself and look up trigger warnings, please), but I loved it even when it was hard. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

Abby Stern has finally made it to a point in her life that she can accept her plus-sized body and be happy with herself. Sure, her career is still a question and her relationship with her childhood fat camp boyfriend is getting more serious than she's ready for, but she still has her bike and the freedom it provides. Even though they grew up in similar fat shaming situations, Abby can't help but feel judged by Mark, who's now half his former size and his diet strictly regimented. When he starts pressuring her to move in with him, she's happy to get a reprieve and time away in the form of a two week bike trip through New York to Niagara Falls. But then who should show up but her mother, who's always pressured her about her weight, and a Sebastian, a one night stand from two years ago that she can't seem to forget.
This book is full of a diverse cast of characters, from the group of elderly bicyclists to a troubled teen with a secret. I thought the bike trip setting of this story was unique and interesting, the alternating chapters between characters kept the story fresh and gave a different perspective, and the scenery descriptions were beautiful. The only thing I didn't like was how often weight and fat shaming were mentioned. Even though Abby claims to have accepted her body size, her perceptions of herself and how she thought other puerile judged her were very negative. Overall, however, I did enjoy the book and will recommend it to others.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you have ever read a Jennifer Weiner novel, you know what to expect....excellence! And....The Breakaway does not disappoint. Weiner combines her knack for masterful storytelling with her love of cycling to bring her audience a five-star read.

I loved this book. It might have been right subjects, right time, but I thought it was wonderful. I always like this author's books, I love the setting of Philadelphia, and her stories are always engaging, but this one? Chef's kiss.

This is the story of Abby, she grew up in Philadelphia, daughter of divorced and remarried parents, jewish, in a relationship with her overnight camp boyfriend, and not really sure where her life is going.

She gets the opportunity to lead a bike trip on the Empire Trail. (GOALS!) And wouldn't you know it, her one and only one night stand shows up and is a biker bro. Oh, and let's not forget that her overbearing mom, Eileen, also decides to join at the last minute.

If you like riding a bike, a bit of a second chance possibility, family drama, or you know, just reading, I highly recommend picking this book up, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to Atria Books and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book.

It took a while for me to get into Abby’s world but once I did, I was hooked. This story touches on important topics such as abortion, weight and how women’s bodies are viewed and talked about. I really connect with Abby’s weight and self love struggles.

An important read that was eye opening for me.

When Abby gets a last-minute invitation to lead a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she's happy to have time away from Mark, her childhood summer sweetheart from fat camp, and get a chance to reflect and make up her mind about things. But things get complicated when Abby spots a familiar face -Sebastian, the one-night stand she thought she'd never see again.

Some positives:
Great writing: Jennifer Weiner is an author I’ve enjoyed many times before
Likable FMC: Abby is mostly good in my book
Body positivity: we love a fit, plus-sized woman leading a cycling adventure for others

Negatives:
I think there was one too many hot topic issues in this one book- Weight loss, body image issues, settling with a partner, uncertainty about career, making decisions about life, relationship issues, mother/daughter strained relationship, among others.. it was just too much.

I liked it, but didn’t love it.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book ahead of publishing!

Caution: spoilers ahead!

Jennifer Weiner's books are always quick reads for me, and this one was no exception. Abby was a well-developed protagonist with complex emotions that this reader could identify with. I was impressed with the female empowerment aspect of the book, especially in this political environment. I think it's important for girls and women to hear that they're more than their weight, that their health and their weight are not one and the same, and that what they weigh shouldn't determine their dating pool. Abby's relationship with her mother was more than meets the eye; I think it is a lesson for us all that we can try to be the best mother we can be, but we are all fallible.

I have such fond memories of reading Jennifer Weiner's debut novel, Good in Bed, many many years ago. It was one of the early novels that sparked my love of reading. I was elated when I was given the opportunity by Atria and NetGalley to read The Breakaway as an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for honest feedback.

Jennifer Weiner was inspired to write The Breakaway during the coronavirus pandemic when she began riding her own bike again. She fell in love with cycling and developed the FMC, Abby, at that point. Abby has a complex relationship with her body and her mother's fat-shaming nature, which she works through via biking. Abby feels her life is mostly, happily on track except the niggling sense of not being completely committed to her boyfriend Mark. In the back of her mind she always maintained a "what if" about a old one-night stand.

I feel like I had an opportunity to really love Abby as a character, but simply couldn't connect with her. She was remarkably selfish and poorly developed. Any time infidelity is a theme with a character that is intended to be likeable, a book will automatically lose a star in the rating. Abby is not someone I'd be friends with in real life due to her poor decisions and willingness to hurt others. The book tackled important issues of body-image, insecurity, love and romance, but overall fell really flat to me.

Generously rounding up to 3 from 2.5 stars

I'm often mixed on Jennifer Weiner books but I really liked this one and even stayed up late last night to finish it. BUT, I really liked it once I decided to just suspend my disbelief on what is a somewhat key factor to the plot -- that of all the hundreds and hundreds of women that infamous player Sebastian has been with over the years, the only woman he has kept thinking and has been hung up on was Abby, the overweight protagonist of The Breakaway. I'm not saying I can't believe he was attracted to her -- she is awesome. Smart, confident, athletic, capable, a bit uncertain about what to do with her professional future, but overall a great woman. I am just saying THE. ONLY. ONE. ONLY? ONE? Really? I don't feel like Weiner included enough explanation for that to make sense with Sebastian's character.

Anyway, once I got past that, I really enjoyed being taken along on this literal journey as Abby leads a group of cyclists on a 2-week trip from Manhattan to Niagara Falls. In addition to the story about Abby's romantic life -- should she stay with safe boyfriend Marc or follow her attraction to Sebastian? -- the book also centers on several different parent/child dynamics, including those between Abby and her mom who surprises Abby by showing up on the trip and between a young teenager and her conservative mother, among others. I appreciate Weiner's treatment of the abortion issue, though it may be a turn-off to some and commend her for presenting it for what it is: a valid, safe option for women confronted with an unwanted pregnancy.

I am sure this will be another Jennifer Weiner bestseller. It will be published just before Labor Day weekend and it would be a good choice for your last read of the summer.

Abby has a good life-a boyfriend who loves her, a job to pay the rent, and a hard earned conviction that regardless of her size, she is fit and content...until her boyfriend suggests they move in together and doubts appear. A long distance bike tour that she leads causes her to seriously ponder her life, especially with one night stand, Sebastian, in the group.
Relationships, doubts, fears, and love travel with the group as they cycle from Manhattan to Niagara Falls. A very engaging novel.
I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The queen of summer beach reads, Jennifer Weiner (favorite author), returns following The Summer Place and That Summer with THE BREAKAWAY —a moving, heartfelt story of friendships, family, secrets, humor, finding your path in life, and a fun cycling journey to self-discovery.

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
—Albert Einstein

Abby Stern, the 33-year-old protagonist, is somewhat lost in her life. Bicycling saved her when she was an overweight child of divorce, forced into attending weight-loss camp every summer by her judgmental mother. Flash-forward 15 years, she is mostly happy. But something is missing.

She is dating Mark, her boyfriend in Philadelphia. They met at a fat camp years ago. Golden Hills a short story. He is a Jewish podiatrist, but there are flaws in their relationship. He does not ride bikes or cycle like she does, and he has lost weight (gastric bypass) and stays on her about her weight constantly.

Philadelphia: It is the summer of 2023, and Abby is nervous and excited about leading a 700-mile bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls.

2021 New York City. Now, there is the hot guy Sebastian, whom Abby meets at a bar, and they have a one-night stand. He loves sex and food, the same as Abby. She does not think she will ever see him again. Not someone she will forget.

Abby is shocked when she discovers Sebastian turns up as a rider on the bike trip! And another shocker: Abby's fat-shaming mother also turns up! She, too, has secrets.

She meets others along the ride with different POVs. We also meet a pregnant teen with highly charged topics, women's bodies and their lack of choices.

WEINER DAZZLES! I loved this book. Anything bike or cycling-related I LOVE! As a cyclist for many years, I can appreciate it. As always, Jennifer delivers a thought-provoking read with THE BREAKAWAY with emotional depth. There is romance; however, the vital parts are those involved in finding your path, self-discovery, and second chances.

I adore Jennifer Weiner, a huge fan, and have read all her books! THE BREAKAWAY is a perfect summer/fall read. Avid cyclists such as myself will devour. I love the cover and the title. #CoverLove

Thanks to Atria for a gifted ARC via NetGalley for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 29, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC! I really wanted to love this book because darn it's about cycling! I love cycling! And I'm an overweight road cyclist. But it fell flat and had too much going on in this book. The main character was not likable at all. But I will still give it a 3 star only because it did have cycling in it and it was based in NY!

I loved this book! I think it tackled a lot of polarizing political issues in such a thoughtful and sensitive way. I appreciate that this book was a joy to read - I couldn't put it down, but I also feel like I learned something and gained valuable insight. I loved the mother-daughter dynamic and how some things are not always shared, but difficult situations can lead to valuable insight.

Jennifer Weiner has been an auto-buy author for me for 20+ years, and as much as I wanted to love 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬, I didn't. I found the main character completely self-absorbed, and while I agree with the stance taken on a politically hot-button issue in the book, the plot line around it felt out of place and preachy.

I'll keep reading everything Weiner writes but I wish I enjoyed her new books as much as I did her older ones.

3.25 stars

Thanks to Atria Books for the copy to review.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy for my free and voluntary review. I will,preface this review with the statement thank am a thriller, suspense novel fan. This book has changed that, and it was so good I read it all in one sitting and stayed up half the night doing so. This is a phenomenally written story with many life themes and lessons included and I absolutely loved it. Even cried a little at the end, but that’s all my spoiler. Currently going to find other books by this author. Highly, highly recommend!