**Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Jennifer Weiner for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

breakaway (noun): a divergence or radical change from something established or long standing

Abby has finally Broken Away from her childhood: growing up overweight with a highly critical mother was far from easy, and she's struggled with her self-worth for most of her life. The one bright spot of going to a weight loss camp as a teen was meeting Mark Medoff, a guy who always saw her just as she was and became Abby's first love. Years later, Abby has found a new path for herself and is a cyclist who loves leading long rides with her cycling club. When she runs into Mark yet again, it feels like fate, and the two end up in a long term relationship. Everything finally SEEMS right...and yet, Abby can't shake the feeling that something is missing. And then there's also that nagging memory of a one night stand she had after a friend's bachelorette party that just won't go away...

Abby's newest adventure has her leading a group down the Empire Trail, from NYC to Niagara Falls, with many scenic New York stops along the way. It seems like the perfect opportunity to mull over her future...until who should show his face? Sebastian, the Casanova from two years ago and that one passionate night. He's on the bike ride with his friend Lincoln, and before Abby can catch her breath, ANOTHER familiar face pops up: Abby's mom Eileen. When Abby learns that Sebastian is a bit of a playboy, however, she feels even MORE conflicted. Why does this man make her forget all about her loving boyfriend at home? Can she reconcile with her mother and heal their strained relationship? And when she is entrusted with one of the other riders' secrets, can she maintain confidence AND keep the whole group together long enough to reach their final destination?

My first encounter with Weiner was several years ago, when I picked up Mrs. Everything and was drawn into the multi-generational tale and the beautifully written characters. That book had depth, emotion, substance, and humor, and I soon added all of Weiner's other books to my TBR without a second thought...but I haven't had a chance to grab another one as of yet. That being said, I'm not sure if Weiner has been on this track for a while now or not, but this book was less a work of literary fiction and was more along the lines of a cookie-cutter, eye-rolling romance.

Much of the book is focused on Abby's weight or other characters discussing or criticizing weight, appearance etc. This would be fine, except I feel Weiner makes a LOT of problematic statements, such as basically stating at one point "diet and exercise don't work." Well. I know everyone's situation and body is different and there are LOTS of factors involved, but I think most people would agree that diet and exercise at least AFFECT weight to some degree. Weiner also implies at times that skinny/skinnier people don't eat ANYTHING unhealthy (or only eat tiny portions of vegetables) or formerly overweight people have ALL had bariatric surgery to be skinny and I just found all of the rhetoric over the top.

It's very possible to eat foods you like and still be a healthy weight, and I think living life at EITHER extreme is what is unhealthy. Rather than focusing her messaging on acceptance of all bodies, it felt like a very 'them vs. us' mentality, which is sort of the opposite of accepting, so that personally rubbed me the wrong way. I've read so many other body positive books that handle this subject beautifully, and I can't say this is one of them.

There are also LOTS of characters and unnecessary story lines just to create extra drama, but they felt more like page-filler than moments for true emotional storytelling. I didn't feel a close bond with anything that was gong on with them, and if a bike ride group didn't require so many people, they honestly could have been eliminated from the book entirely without detracting much from the plot. It's hard to even comment on the personalities of most of these other riders, because we just don't get to know them on a deep level.

And then there's Sebastian. A stereotypical 'love em and leave em' playboy who goes through women like tissues and even gets called out on TikTok...and yet, Abby still finds him irresistible. Weiner spends SO much of the novel trying to make him palatable, but it never worked for me. Growing up with problems at home isn't necessarily an excuse for this sort of behavior, and there was nothing THAT incredible about him, aside from his supposed incredible looks. And that's yet another thing that bothered me...the journey Abby is on is supposedly about acceptance etc., and yet her biggest reason for being so head-over-heels for Sebastian is that he's SO attractive...and was good in bed...once?

🤦‍♀️

As much as I wanted to cheer for Abby, I found myself wishing (even by story's end!) that she would have followed the steps laid out in Kelly Clarkson's "Break Away":

1) make a wish
2) take a chance
3) make a change

(and you all know the fourth one! 😉)

3 stars

Jennifer Weiner is known for her character driven storylines and The Breakaway is no different. It is so much more than a romance, she tackles a lot of tough topics in this one…It’s about loving yourself, mother/daughter dynamics, body positivity, mental health and a woman’s right to choose. Fans of the author will see familiar themes that are in most of her books, but Weiner manages to keep it fresh.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and Atria books for this e-arc.*

I appreciated that this book felt like a more current take on some women’s issues than what I’ve seen in the past. While it did have a heavy emphasis on fatness, it embraced a fat acceptance/HAES philosophy, and questioned the value of bariatric surgery. I also appreciated the nuanced and realistic presentation of abortion. As always it was well written and I enjoyed the characters too. It wasn’t an obsessive must read for me, but it was a quick read with some meat to it and I enjoyed it.

I've loved Jennifer Weiner books for a long time and this one did not disappoint. I took away from this one that you are so lucky to find what you love to do and where for a life career path. Also, you are so lucky if you find the right one to love and spend the rest of your life with.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of the Breakaway in exchange for an honest review, which comes out 08-29-2023.

This book is another great one by Jennifer Weiner!!! Abby is the girl you’re rooting for from the very beginning as she figures out her way in the world while on two wheels. She is lovable and flawed in ways that we all can relate to, which only makes you want her to end up happy in love & in life (especially with her mother!) The story includes the journeys of another family, a mother/daughter duo, two college buddies and Abby’s mother (who she’s not exactly best buddies with) on a long distance bike ride. I really loved reading this book & highly recommend it!!

A very solid effort from Jennifer Weiner. While the bike talk bored me a bit, all else had me totally hooked.

Another hit for Jennifer Weiner! Loved this book! Great end of summer read! Loved the characters and the plot. Read in one sitting!

I’ve been a Jennifer Weiner fan since Good in Bed. Her books are emotional powerhouses that never fail to remind me of the power of self-love, body positivity, and friendship. The Breakaway is the latest to inspire and challenge me. Any real woman can relate to Abby and her feelings, and I love the humor and sensitivity that Jennifer brings to her characters. Thanks so much for the opportunity to review!

This was definitely a fun read and very well written, as always by Jennifer Weiner. Abby is a young woman who decides to lead a bike trip. The plotline that was kind of 'the one that got away' has been done a lot, but it still happens in reality. I liked the scandal that enveloped the male lead, that was an interesting twist. I also liked the mother-daughter plotline except would have preferred that the 'unveiling' happened earlier in the book so you could get to know the mother more fully. The teen sex plotline was very thought-provoking. Glad I read this! I always love Jennifer Weiner books, That Summer is still my favorite!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down! The story is centered around Abby who has struggled with pressure from others about her weight (her mother, her boyfriend) and in the end, it is an empowering story about being valued and seen by others and the complications of mother/daughter relationships. Different chapters introduce us to other characters on a bike trip from NYC to Niagara Falls and I found these stories interesting and heart-felt. I felt a range of emotions in a good way and really empathized with the characters. This book felt very cinematic in its descriptive language and I really enjoyed visualizing the scenes and characters. In fact, when I finished the book I thought "when will this be made into a movie - it would be a fantastic romantic comedy!" I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

I always adore Jennifer Weiner's books and look forward to them each year - rife with relatable characters and Jewish representation, I can always find pieces of myself in Weiner's characters and Abby Stern was no exception. Abby's romantic relationships and relationship with her mother both really resonated with me.

3.5 stars

I love Jennifer Weiner and her characters! In The Breakaway is a realistic fiction/ romance novel set on a two-week bike trip through New York State. Abby is leading this trip as a favor to a friend, but she is self-conscious about the fact that her plus-sizes body does not show how adept she is at riding. Since she was young, she struggled with how the world (and her mother) views her body, and it has seeped into her confidence and the way she handles her relationships. As the book starts, we have a flashback to a one-night-stand with a man Abby is sure she could never be with since he is conventionally gorgeous. Flash to the present and the bike trip, and Abby is in a serious relationship with her first love from fat camp. However, she struggling to understand why she isn’t excited to move in together. Cut to the bike trip and who is one of the cyclists?? Of course, her one-night-stand. Oh, and her mother is there too.

Weiner give us amazing characters with deep thoughts and realistic interactions with their world. I will always read what she puts out! Recommend for fans of Kristan Higgins, One to Watch, and Emily Giffin.

The Breakaway starts steamy and just gets better from there. It is the story of Abby, who is at a crossroads with her boyfriend, when she is asked to lead a 2 week bike trip. During this trip, she runs into the man who was responsible for the chapter 1 steaminess, and she starts to question everything. Is she happy with her perfect, albeit boring, boyfriend? Is he really happy with her?
The book has a few side stories as well and covers important topics such as body image, women's rights, and abortion.
I have loved everything I've read by Jennifer Weiner and this was no exception. This one was so relatable and I loved it so much!
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a big fan of Jennifer Weiner's books for years now and I always love the themes the incorporates in her novels. For instance in this book, body positivity plays a huge role in the novel which many people will resonate with. I also love how Weiner writes her characters. They aren't perfect, they make mistakes and readers can resonate with them wholeheartedly. While I personally don't agree with all the characters choices in this novel, I can respect that its fiction. So I'll be giving this novel a solid 4 stars!

I fell in love with this book from the first chapter! The characters are so wonderful and will live in my heart for a long time. As someone who lives in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area I can attest that Jennifer Weiner did an excellent job capturing the area. I have already recommended this book to so many friends! Such a great uplit book

3.25 stars

I have mixed feelings about The Breakaway. While there were many things I liked about the novel, in some ways it missed the mark. Most of my issues can be traced back to the main character. The story does follow a few other characters along the way but it's a tough read when you find yourself increasingly irritated by basically the star of the show.

Thirty three year old Abby Stern is in her element when she hops on her bicycle and hits the wide open road. She agrees to lead a multi day cycling trip thru New York. Abby is in for quite the surprise as her overly critical mother has joined the trip. As if that wasn't bad enough, Abby learns a one night stand from a few years back, Sebastian, will also be a part of her group. Well, I'm sure this will be totally fun and not at all awkward for Abby.

One of the better aspects of the book is Abby feeling comfortable in her own skin. She's plus size but recognizes health is what matters and the amount of exercise she gets from bicycling means her fitness level is better than most. It was nice having a self-confident character who doesn't let others dictate how she should feel about her body.

With that being said, Abby is self-involved. Yes, she has her kind moments doing stuff for others but there are instances where it's like she doesn't grasp other people have feelings too. Or if she does she more brushes it off without much self-reflection. The second half of the book I really started losing interest in her. Oddly enough it's the mother's backstory that ticked me off the most as it really showcased that apparently Abby has never had any desire to get to know her mother better and who she is as a person. I'm trying to tiptoe around spoilers but what kid isn't at least somewhat curious about their parents and how they grew up? The whole thing was just weird to me and I guess I will leave it at that.

Not my favorite Jennifer Weiner novel but still an okay read.

Something isn't right in Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern's life. She can feel it. But what? She has an apartment, works gig jobs, is in a bicycling club, has a boyfriend (Mark) that she met while they were kids at a weight-loss camp, and is happy in her own skin. So why does she feel that something isn't right. For starters, she can't stop thinking about Sebastian, a man she had a one-night stand with before she reconnected with Mark. When she is talked into leading a bicycle trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she is shocked when her mother as well as Sebastian, her one-night stand who she can't stop thinking about, are in her group.

Jennifer Weiner writes books that deal with many issues and this book was no exception. In this book she has included body positivity, being healthy, mother/daughter relationships, romantic relationships, one night stands, choice, and exercise. A highlight of the book for me was that although Abby was overweight, she was athletic and physically active. She also used an activity that she loved (bicycling) to encourage young girls to be active as well.

This book is told through several POV chapters with the most POV being from Abby and Sebastian. Both characters are flawed and have things they individually need to work on. This book is a romance and I always say romance books are a journey. Many of the characters go on journeys in this book. From making choices, to revealing secrets, to biking, to reflection.


As with her other books, I thought this was well written and enjoyable. I enjoyed how Abby was confident and poised even if she didn't feel it on the inside. The issues she experienced were realistic and felt authentic, but I wished they would have been fleshed out even more. I enjoyed the discussion she had with her mother. I thought Weiner nicely showed how perceptions can shape how we feel and act. That what we think and see, might not be the full story.

For me, this would make a nice beach read. It does deal with important issues but not at any deep level. There are a nice number of bikers in the group and readers get to know some of the things a few bikers are dealing with in their lives. But was this necessary in terms of the story. I get what Weiner was trying to do but sometimes less is more. That way, other themes could be fleshed out more, in my opinion.

Well written and enjoyable. For me the biggest plus of this book is the focus on body positivity and self reflection.

I am glad to see that Jennifer Weiner is back to her chick lit roots with this female empowerment story about a plus-sized woman who finds confidence through leading a multi-day bike trip up the Hudson River and into upstate New York. There's a lot of feminism in this one.

On the less positive side, I didn't love the romance side of this at all, specifically the insta-love, the cheating or the love interest.

I'm glad I picked this book up. At first, I saw it didn't have the highest rating on Goodreads so I was a tad hesitant. This story deals with sensitive and polarizing issues which I think could be one reason that the ratings aren't as high because I thought this book was very good.

Thirty-three year old Abby has been dating Mark for two years. She first met Mark when they were 13 at fat camp. Abby has struggled with her weight and her mother's idea of a healthy weight for years. Mark has just asked Abby to move in with him and something is holding her back. When she gets offered to lead a cycling trip for two weeks, she jumps at the chance! When she gets there she realizes a one- night stand is along for the ride and so is her mother.

I enjoyed the way this all unfolded. Abby wasn't my favorite character but I liked that she was flawed because her issues felt more relatable. This was definitely a character driven plot but I enjoyed all the cycling references and storyline. A slight spoiler but this deals with abortion, which I thought was handled very well and I think we need more books that talk about this subject. Overall, this felt like a somewhat politically charged book that I enjoyed it and how it was all handled. She even touches on Covid some but not in the "we are in a pandemic" way but in the we just went through this big thing and are on the other side now. This book made me want to go pick up my bike now!

Thank you to Simon and Schuester for the free copy for review.

I absolutely loved this book. Not only was it full of interesting characters, but it made me want to get a bike and sign up for an absurdly long bike trip. The heavier topics were dealt with with such care, and while yes, maybe some plot points wrapped up a little too easily, frankly that's what I need in my life right now! This book makes you laugh, makes you swoon, and makes you hope that life can really be like this. And the romance was delicious, too!