I was so excited about the premise of this book. I'm from Philadelphia, and I love to read books that highlight all of the amazing things about the city. I enjoyed the setting of the book, but I didn't like much else about it.

The story was at times very heavy, and other times, I feel like nothing happened. There were multiple viewpoints and perspectives that made it hard to keep track of everyone. I think that there were too many characters too.

I can't enjoy a book that has cheating in it. Once that happens, the book becomes something that I can't support. I wasn't rooting for anyone in this book, except for Mark. Justice for Mark! He was treated so poorly by Abby, and I felt so bad for him.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I was hesitant to request this book because I haven’t really cared for the author’s last couple of books, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one as it felt more like some of her earlier work to me. I liked Abby as a main character. She definitely wasn’t perfect and made some questionable decisions, but that made her more relatable. I also appreciated that it wasn’t all perfectly wrapped up at the end. When I saw the epilogue, I was like “oh here goes the typical fast forward to them reunited, married, and pregnant!”, but that wasn’t the case and I’m grateful for that. Overall, I think Weiner is back for me!

#NetGalleyARC Weiner always writes characters who are relatable, realistic, and the ones you want to be your best friend, and Abby, the MC, fits this tradition perfectly. A great story about the friend, the one who feels like they don't deserve to be loved, the plus-sized woman who accepts what she THINKS she deserves instead of what she really deserves. This was a great end-of-the-summer read, perfect for Weiner fans and those who love a great realistic fiction story.

Abby lives in Philadelphia, is 33, and kind of stuck. She has jobs, but not a career. Her apartment is more like a dorm room than home sweet home. She has a relationship with a guy who is great on paper but doesn’t light her fire. She is mostly at peace with her plus size body but struggles with her mother who is not. She belongs to a cycling club that she enjoys, and one day she is asked to lead a bike trip through New York. She agrees to do it despite her misgivings and uncertainty that she can lead. The group on the trip is made up of people of all ages, from teens to seniors. One familiar face is Sebastian, a man Abby had a fantastic and memorable one night stand with two years earlier. Sebastian is very happy to see her, but Abby wants to keep her distance. Can Sebastian win her over? Another familiar face is… her mother. Why is she there and what does she want?

I really enjoyed this book. I thought Abby was a great character. She made me think a lot about body positivity and even challenged some of my own thoughts and feelings, and struggles with my own body. Sebastian was very charming and I pictured him as Kevin from This Is Us (this happens a lot, I have no idea why!) I really loved the backdrop of New York for the trip, and some of the places they stopped such as Seneca Falls.

What really made me love this book was the story of Morgan, a teen girl with religious parents. Morgan has a secret and needs someone to help her. I loved how everyone rallied around Morgan to solve her problem. It was definitely an extra story in this book that wasn’t necessary to tell Abby’s story but necessary because of the times we live in. Kudos to Jennifer Weiner for covering it and being so specific about the details and potential ramifications.

This was a mostly warm-hearted book. There are secrets and misunderstandings, but I especially loved how Abby’s story evolved after the trip was over. Keeping it spoiler free and leaving it at that!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Jennifer Weiner is back and better than ever in this fiercely feminist, body positive book about learning to love yourself just as you are!!

I enjoyed this latest women's fiction/romance from a fav author so, so much!!! The breakaway features Abby, a fat Jewish woman in her early 30s who has grown up knowing her mother hates her size and was constantly trying to get her to lose weight, even sending her to fat camp in the summers.

The only place Abby ever felt free was on a bicycle and its still one of her greatest joys. When the opportunity to lead a cycling road trip arises, Abby reluctantly steps up finding a newfound confidence as she makes new friends, is reunited with her one night stand and is forced to reconcile with her mother who decides to join the trip too.

This book does tackle some heavy topics from male slut-shaming, fatmisia, teen pregnancy and abortion, alcoholism and mental health but it is also a beautiful story of friendship, love, vulnerability and forgiveness.

Great on audio narrated by a full cast and highly recommended for fans of books like Chantel Guerton's Two for the road. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and Simon and Schuster Audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Really 2 1/2 stars. I just looked back at my review of Weiner's previous book, and lo and behold, my review of this one is going to be almost the same! I loved Weiner's earlier books - they were relatable stories, semi-romance novels, and each one had deeper story lines than your average rom com. But her past few books are just not the same - too many characters and too many of-the-moment issues that I worry won't age well. It's kind of like having harvest gold carpet in your home - you'll always know when the house was built. Based on the issues Weiner brings up in this book, we'll always know it was written in the 2020s. Abby, a plus-size avid biker takes the lead on a two-week bike trip through New York. We meet Mark, whom she met at camp when they were teenagers and with whom she's reconnected. The other love interest is Sebastian, a rider on the trip, who had a one-night stand with Abby a few years previously. There are also two older couples traveling together and a mom/teenage daughter storyline that didn't seem particularly necessary. There's also a steamy bedroom scene at the beginning of the book that was offputting, to say the least - it's not what I'd expect from one of her books. When I reviewed Weiner's last book, I decided I'd give her another chance, but this might be my last one of her books. Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Ms. Weiner for the ARC of this title

4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this one! The main character, Abby, showed such growth throughout the book. I liked the whole cast of characters and enjoyed all of their individual plot lines. This is a quick read, especially if you're already a fan of the author.

My first Jennifer Weiner book was her memoir. Reading it gave an appreciation for all her novels and understanding of why she writes plus size women's fiction. And it's all phenomenal.

The Breakaway is another one of Weiner's works of art.

Abby Stern has struggled with her weight her whole life, but she always had her bike. When Breakaway contacts Abby to lead a bike tour from Manhattan to Niagra Falls, she hesitantly agrees. Abby must navigate being a bike leader, the dynamics of her group, and what she wants for her future over the next two weeks on the road.

I loved The Breakaway for the realness and honesty of the characters. Abby struggles with her weight, her mother is constantly nagging her about her weight, Abby is COMFORTABLE with where she is in life. But sometimes comfortable isn't what we want. Abby's personal transformation after the bike tour has nothing to do with her body or body image, it has everything to do with her as a person.

Personal thoughts: Weiner had a mother-daughter subplot that I did not think was necessary for the story. While the theme to this subplot is important, I didn't feel it added much to the story. If you were going to keep there, at least add more info and interaction with the other members of the bike tour. One couple barely made an appearance, though they were part of the bike group.

All women should read Jennifer Weiner's books, but The Breakaway is one to DEFINITELY READ. It goes beyond fitting into a skinny world. It's about taking your passion and using it to help others find and pursue their passions as well.

Likable characters and a cute premise (it made me wish I’d ridden a bike more recently than 1996!), but it just wasn’t as strong a story as I’ve come to expect from Jennifer Weiner.

I enjoyed this new book by Weiner more than I have her past few. It was a good story and an interesting read because od the heavy topics she covered within the story. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This started strong and flailed toward the end for me. I liked Abby and the premise, and while the side story felt important, it also felt randomly thrown in and hardly resolved. We get a few chapters from POVs of Morgan and Lily and then they just …stop? The abrupt ending of the bike trip also was unsatisfying along with the final conflict of Eileen and Abby. This felt rushed and long at the same time.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a longtime fan of Jennifer Weiner. I’ve been reading her books for years and I look forward to every new release. This one was no different. Jennifer Weiner is great at tackling body image, motherhood, womanhood, love, and more. I feel like they’re handled well with a lot of laughter. This book was no different. I had an extra soft spot for this book because the main character is a cyclist. I have just gotten into cycling this year and it’s truly become an escape for me. Oh and I loved the ending!

I LOVED this book! Jennifer Weiner provides so much character depth and I think she accurately described life as a body positive, feminist millennial. I was drawn to this book because of its cycling premise but the budding romance and other character dilemmas kept me engaged. The setting provided a nice backdrop and I liked how it varied the time periods and point of views.

#FirstLine ~ Are you ready?

Weiner’s warmhearted storytelling skillfully explores themes of love, family, friendship, and the power of self-discovery. “The Breakaway” is a compelling novel that showcases the transformative nature of travel, the complexities of relationships, and the importance of finding one’s own path in life.

I always enjoy Jennifer Weiner's books, especially when the setting is in my hometown of Philly. It's satisfying when the great attractions are mentioned in such a good light. The main character is leading a bike tour from NYC to Niagara Falls, during which we get to know the stories of the cyclists. Even though I'm not a cyclist, she made me so interested in the sport. This was a very quick reading book. Weiner deals with many subjects, including body image, family disfunction, relationships, and the empowerment of women. As with her past books, some of the subjects are very touchy in nature. While some people, myself included, don't necessarily agree with how she dealt with some of these subjects, it is important that we all have open minds and respect other's opinions. I've seen a few reviews of this book that were downright rude on both sides of the spectrum. I will continue to support and read Ms. Weiner's books, as she is a great storyteller.
Many thanks to Atria books and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Weiner does it again! The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner is a compassionate and dynamic new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and a life-changing journey.
Weiner has blended phenomenal characters to make this an exceptional read.
Most readers can relate to the characters in her books, whether they have experienced the same things or not, the characters are real and relatable and the descriptive nature of her writing gives you the scenery where the characters live vividly in your mind and on the pages.
I adored Abby. I loved her as a person and she made this story so enjoyable.
I liked the mother-daughter relationship. I think some readers can connect to also.
I found all aspects of the book Interesting and very entertaining.
This book was thought provoking, exciting, fun and one of my favorites!
A compelling read where strangers become friends, hidden truths come to light and Abby is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself, her mother, and the nature of love.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book's plot is lighter than her previous works, though it covers some heavier topics. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the cycling theme, but it was an easy read. Just not what I was expecting.

I always know when I pick up a book by the author that it’ll be an enjoyable read, I truly just love her style and appreciate how she explores various topics in a way that feels important yet not heavy handed. While Abby is the main character here there are several switching viewpoints that brought some dimension to the story. I know next to nothing about cycling but I appreciated learning about it here especially as it’s importance to Abby us revealed along the way. The body positivity and acceptance piece here was well done and I think many people, especially women will relate to at least some piece of it. If you like books about friendships, love and relationships, and family alongside some hot button topics this was great.

I devoured this book in a day- Weiner is an auto-read for me, so it was a delight to get this ARC. The dual perspectives and subject matter were both great. The characters are very well developed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I always like Jennifer Weiner's novels and "The Breakaway" is no different! The main character, Abby, is in a relationship with a man she has known since being a teenager. He is wanting them to move in together, but Abby is having some reservations that she is keeping to herself. Then she receives the opportunity to lead a bike trip and takes it to have time to figure things out. This novel has romance, conflict, family & love.