I have not always been a fan of Jennifer Weiner. So I approached this book with a certain wariness. However, and it’s a big However…this story just checked off all the boxes. Its warm hearted writing and relationships of Abby rang so true. The pages just kept turning and before I knew it, the story was over but the characters were fresh in my head.
Delightful, fun, and yes some real mother - daughter issues..but a fantastic Summer read and one that will definitely hit the top of all reader’s lists!

I will thank NetGalley and the publisher for tje opportunity; but I really have to give this a DNF. Maybe it’s not the right time for me to pick this book up, or maybe it’s just not hitting me right, but I could not connect with any of tue characters. I was completely bored after the first chapter; but pushed through in hopes it got better. For me, it didn’t. I am a fan of Jennifer Weiners previously reads; but this I just couldn’t get behind. I definitely recommend her as an author though, so not all is lost.

What I liked: The author is not afraid to touch on heavy-hitting subjects like teen pregnancy & pro-choice, Covid-19, body positivity.
What I didn't: Many sporadic character view points and lengthy introspection.

Abby Stern is an avid bicyclist in her 30s. She has a long-term boyfriend, an ok job, and happy with life. However, she wonders if there is more to life. Is her boyfriend really the guy she wants to marry?

A few years earlier, Abby was at her friend's bachelorette party and had her only one-night stand with this guy. It was an amazing night, and she was really into the guy. However, Abby is overweight which leads her to have low self-esteem. She leaves early in the morning before the guy has a chance to regret his decision for taking Abby home. But both Abby and the guy, who's name we find out is Sebastian, can't stop thinking about each other.

Fast forward back to now, and Abby gets talked into leading a bicycle trip through New York. When meeting everyone who will be doing the ride, Abby finds out Sebastian and his friend will also be riding. Abby tries to avoid Sebastian throughout the trip, but they can't seem to stay away from each other. Will Abby end up falling for Sebastian and leaving her boyfriend?

This book started out slow and was difficult to get into at first due to all the talk about poor Abby being overweight, but once the bike trip started, the book picked up and redeemed itself. I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars.

I’ve been a long-time reader of Jennifer Weiner’s work. As always, she tackles common issues facing women, as well as greater issues in today’s American culture. In this book, we follow Abby as she grapples with feelings of imposter syndrome and generally not feeling like she belongs.

While struggling with finding her life’s purpose and direction, her friend approaches her with an opportunity. Out of options and not wanting to let her friend down, Abby is forced to choose to be brave and leads a bike tour from New York City to Niagara Falls.

Weiner has a knack for telling stories through the eyes and inner thoughts of very flawed characters. Just like in real life, these characters often make poor choices and then spend too much time (or, sometimes not enough time) ruminating on the past. In this novel, we witness differing perspectives of a shared human experience, while several uncomfortable subjects from current culture play out in a way that gently explores various angles, especially the mother-daughter dynamic. It takes a specific hand to be able to do this well and this is the storytelling I’ve come to know and love from this author.

I do wish that there was more in the way of scenery along the bike trails, but this is acknowledged several times with variations of there not being all that much to see. As a biker myself, for me there is always something to see. I’d have liked to have seen a character who just got lost in the beauty and awe of nature – someone who slowed everyone down to appreciate the view, with messages of nature conservation.
While this novel does touch on sensitive topics that can be triggering, it is also still a beach read. It is a fast-paced novel that features believable characters struggling with difficult feelings, but also features enough comedy and steaminess to keep it on the lighter side. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Breakway By Jennifer Weiner Book Review
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
Spice: 🌶️/5
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
{Spoiler Free Review}
Abby Stern is a plus size lady who has worked hard to overcome the stigmatism that has came from being plus size. She starts to be at Peace with herself and is on track to a bright future. She has great friends, a great bike/bike club, and has plans to marry a podiatrist who also happens to be her childhood sweetheart, Mark. Mark understands Abby’s struggle with her weight, because he used to be plus size himself. Mark loves Abby and treats her as if she is the only girl in the world, but Abby can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right. Her mind keeps wondering back to one wonderful one night stand she had with a man named Sebastian.
Unfortunately, this was two years ago and Abby will never see Sebastian again. Or will she? Abby is called to lead a bike group, and she is happy to have time away from Mark to think about what she has been feeling. That’s when she sees someone she never thought she would see again, Sebastian. The chemistry and connection is undeniable and lucky for her, he has been thinking about her too.

Whew! This book was incredible. Usually I do not gravitate towards books like this but I was gifted an ARC copy through NetGalley and decided to give it a chance.
I was hooked from the first page. I did not go in to this book with high hopes. I loved the discussion of weight and that the book was not centered around the main character being completely disgusted with herself because of her weight. In my experience, most books about plus size woman, the plus size woman is always talking down about herself from the beginning, and it was refreshing to have a character be at peace with herself but still have the same thoughts we all do! I connected with the main character in so many ways. The thoughts she had, the regrets, and even her mom who reminded me of my own.
I loved all the characters in this book. There was no sections I wanted to skip over, I was engulfed in this book word for word.
The chemistry between Abby and Sebastian were undeniable, and I enjoyed watching their relationship unfold and the conversations they had.
If you enjoy second chance romance, right person wrong time, or even midsize, plus size body positivity books, I highly recommend this book!!

I started this book assuming that I knew what would be coming, your typical rom-com. While yes, this book does exist in the rom-com world, Jennifer Weiner delves deeper than I anticipated with this novel - covering women's rights and body positivity in addition to other relevant topics. A fun and thought provoking read all wrapped up in one!

Abby attended fat camp as a girl. And resented it (and her mother) despite the fact that she did have an okay time there. And who wouldn't? As an adult, she's struggled to not only accept her size, but to help her mother and the rest of the world understand that she has accepted it.

Still, when she meets a gorgeous guy and has a one-night stand, he seems too good to be true. But hey, it's just one night. She doesn't stick around to watch how it plays out (and if the perfect nights' aftermath crashes and burns).

So imagine her surprise when that guy shows up in her very first bike tour. Not only is she engaged to someone else, but her fat shaming mother signs up last minute too. Probably to make sure that the ride is aerobically effective for Abby.

I will say the "chubby girl gets hot guy" narrative is getting a little old for me. But here's the thing, the stigma is still very much alive in the world. So until that goes away, we'll have these stories of angst and misunderstanding. And while I wish we as a society could just dwell on weight slightly less, I know I personally dwell on it too much. So much toxicity to unlearn from our childhoods.

The Breakaway is a fun summer read. Abby is a delightful heroine and the whole thing just gave me all the Chick-lit and Jemima J vibes. Definitely pick this one up for a fun read. And please, let's just normalize beauty and love for people of all sizes already! We weren't all meant to look the same.

I really enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's newest novel The Breakaway. On one level it's a love story about Abby and Sebastian but on another level it's a love story where Abby and Sebastian journey to their more authentic selves. I also appreciated how Weiner weaves the current climate and topics into the book. This is a great read and I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the destination.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommend!

I love her books. I’ve been a long time
Fan. When I go this book, I couldn’t wait to get started. She is a plus size rider and meets an old one night stand. I had to know how the story unfolded between the two points of view.

Jennifer Weiner’s latest novel,“The Breakaway," tells the story of Abby Stern, a thirty-four-year-old woman who embraces her plus-size body and slowly navigates her way to a content and fulfilling life on her own terms. Abby may not have a conventional career or a home that reflects who she feels she is, but her life is far from lacking. Weiner skillfully portrays Abby as a relatable and endearing character who finds joy and contentment in her small circle of friends and her beloved bike in Philadelphia, 

"The Breakaway" also explores the significance of supportive relationships in our lives, as told through alternating chapters from the perspective of other members of the cycling trip Abby leads through Upstate New York. Some of the group begin to serve as pillars of strength and encouragement for their fellow riders, providing readers with another layer of storytelling beyond the main character. Weiner's portrayal of these new friendships, and familial bonds, is written in a very relatable way. Abby reminds readers that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Through hard times in her adolescence (as told through flashbacks) and her adulthood, Abby's story is a testament to the power of wanting more than “good enough” and finding happiness within oneself.

I found "The Breakaway" to be a really fun read from start to finish. The novel flows smoothly, and kept me interested in finding out what would happen next. Abby Stern's journey towards a fulfilling relationship, her strong female friendships, and her desire to live her life on her terms serve as a reminder that true happiness lies in embracing oneself and finding joy in life's simple pleasures.

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

** spoiler alert ** Thank you net galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

I loved this book so so much. I feel like it was written from a very personal place and it really touched on so many issues that so many can relate too. I love how imperfectly perfect Abby was and she really found her match (maybe) in someone who was just as flawed but together they just made sense. I also loved how Abby was being loved and respected by someone who the outside world would see as worthy of love and she made her choice to seek something more, and not just good enough. I will keep these characters with me for a long time.

This book just had too much happening for me - literally. At times, I even felt like I was reading two books at the same time. This was especially hard given the two different plots. The provided summary indicates this is a romance, but there is a secondary plot (given only a passing mention in said summary) that is emotional and a significant part of the story. It was hard for me to go back and forth between the two as a reader. There was also just an overwhelming number of "things" involved with each of the characters. Because of this, none of them truly get the attention they deserve, and they end up being tied up a little too nearly. The complexity in this one came with the breadth of what this book entailed, and I craved more depth. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this August 2023 release in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Weiner is such a great story teller. You become deeply involved in the characters and the story. Love the women coming together to support a young girl. Love that Abby and Sebastian worked on themselves before finding their ways back to each other. Love love!

This book does not disappoint. I can barely ride a bike and yet I wanted to go on a 30 mile bike ride by the end of the book. I loved it

I was surprised to find myself liking this book, which many will categorize as a romance but for me was about women finding solidarity among other women. I liked the fat-and-fit protagonist, the way everyone teams up to help get one character an abortion, the fact that older folks are depicted as active--both on their bikes and in bed--and that, for the most part, the characters are thoughtful, learn from their mistakes, and try to do better. The romance is just a cherry on top, not the entire focus of the protagonist's life, and even with the sweet ending there's no promises made. It's a smart book.

Love Jennifer Weiner and this doesn't disappoint. The story of Abby Stern and her journey (literally on bike) to discovering herself and relationships.

I love how Abby's journey evolves and how she resolves her life, choices and perceptions.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you Net galley for this ARC. Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint this time.
The theme of body image and acceptance of who you are is string in this story. It also involved romance and mothers daughter relationships. A very good read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. I loved it! So many of the themes resonated with me. I too had a mother who looked at being “fat” as a flaw and she was constantly trying to diet and lose weight. It certainly tainted my own viewpoints and self esteem as I grew into a woman. I could identify with the main character so much about so many things. I also really liked the ending! No spoilers.

I was so excited to have been approved for a Jennifer Weiner novel on NetGalley. I admit that I haven't picked up one of her books in quite a while. I really enjoyed getting back into this author. I enjoy her style of writing.