Jennifer Weiner is a favorite author of mine, and reading The Breakaway shows why. She highlights the complicated relationship of mothers and daughters in a few different ways, as well as a sharp take on the ways women are viewed and valued by society and how that molds our perception of our selves. I thoroughly enjoyed the book!
It was at turns moving and funny, with a well rounded cast of secondary characters.

This was such a cheesy rom com with way too many coincidences. It had several things I took issue with, but I read it in a day and I had fun reading it because it was such a page turner. Half of the problems in book could have been solved if the characters just talked to each other and were honest about their feelings, but that doesn't make for a book with tension, right?

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced reader's copy of this publication.

Jennifer Weiner always authors great books. Easy to follow, simple stories with meaning and enjoyable characters. This one focused on relationships from pasts and how we sometimes fall into the easy way and then shift when new love happens.

I really like Jennifer Weiner. Her last few books have been… a lot. I am glad this one was a bit lighter. While still dealing with current topics. As a fat lady who enjoys biking and has lived within walking distance of the Erie Canal my entire life, this book was written for me!
I was absolutely captured at the first steamy scene and was disappointed when mom showed up on the ride that there wouldn’t be more!
It’s not lost on me that the scenes where a young woman needed access to reproductive health care in and around the “birthplace of women’s rights” because she had lost those rights in her own home state. The conversation between Lily and Eileen about how far we’ve come and how far we have to go resonated.
I liked Abby and Mark together but I knew in the back of my head that she shouldn’t make the safe choice. I enjoyed that the ending didn’t necessarily have the happily ever after typically associated with novels like this.
I did think that it was a little cheesy in the way it hit all the fat positive talking points but if those are new ideas to some readers then I’m glad they were there.
Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend it for fans of romance and women’s

What happens when you are leading a bike tour along the Empire Trail and realize that one man in the group is a man that you shared an incredible night of sex with two years ago? The guy you thought you had a real connection with but left before he woke? What happens when you realize that he is now social media fodder for his many sexual conquests? Further- how can you feel anything for this guy especially when you have the perfect man waiting for you to come home and move in with him? Okay.... maybe the perfect man is not so perfect for you (maybe boring?) and maybe the not so perfect man is just perfect for you? Full of a cast of great characters and written with warmth and depth, "The Breakaway" Will take you on a memorable trip!

I was so excited for this new setting, a scenic bike trip sounds like a great idea. Lost loves reuniting! However the book felt forced on relevant topics and too political for me. Not quite the summer beach read I was hoping for.

Very enjoyable easy read with a valuable lesson about being your true self and valuing that person. Loved the ride through NY State and the interactions between most of the characters.

I request a lot of ARCs from NetGalley. I do not always get my requests approved. Imagine my joy when I got this ARC for a Jennifer Weiner book. I’m a huge fan of this author and have read many of her books. I think the main reason I like Weiner so much is that she focuses on body positivity issues in most of her books. The Breakway was no exception. Our protagonist, the likable Abby, is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life and if she’s really happy with her doctor boyfriend who she’s known since “fat camp” days. While leading a bike tour, Abby is reunited with a hot one night stand from two years ago and things get interesting as she wrestles with career and relationship issues. I loved the romance angle to this story, as well as Abby’s relationship with her mother which felt very realistic. The secondary arc about abortion and pro-choice seemed a little underdeveloped to me. I give this one a solid four stars.

“The Breakaway” by Jennifer Weiner
Genre: Romance/Chicklit
Publisher: Atria Books
Pub. Date: September 12, 2023

I loved the author’s early work. Nowadays, it’s a hit or miss for me. They might have different names, but Weiner’s typical female protagonist, whom we have grown to love over the decades, is in this one too. She is overweight but still healthy, with low self-esteem. She is very bright with a wonderful sense of humor. There will be lots of laugh-out-loud scenes. Here is what is very important in Weiner’s books: the heroine is not accustomed to dating hot guys until she does. A common theme in the author's work is finding your path and learning to believe in yourself. This is great, but the reader knows there will be a happy ending early on. Maybe that is why Weiner’s books are so popular. They are great beach reads.

Thirty-four-year-old Abby Stern is generally at peace with her plus-size body shape. She has her bike, wonderful friends, and a biking club in Philadelphia. She is on track to wed her childhood beau—until she has a one-night stand and meets the man of her dreams. So, she starts stalling her boyfriend, Marc, on making a deeper commitment. To get away and have time to think, Abby agrees to lead a two-week group bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls with both her mother (who does have issues with her plus-size figure, and, “surprise, surprise,” the former one-night stand, are on the bike trip. The novel is about love, family, friendship, secrets, and the power to change your life. The latest Weiner novel is good, but it tries to cover too many relevant topics making them seem crammed into the plot. I guess “The Breakaway” is a “miss” for me, not necessarily for you. This is a quick romantic read with interesting subplots that other readers may enjoy.

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Abby is pretty happy with herself even though she is plus size. But she is not happy with her boyfriend or her mother. Then she is asked to lead a bike trip. She decides to do it thinking it will give her time along the way to decide what to do about her boyfriend. Things get complicated when a member of the group is Sebastian who she had a one night stand with and it seems the attraction is still there.
Really fun read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I tried figuring out what it is that made me enjoy this book so much and I really think it’s the characters! Their relationships, their struggles, their personalities. You were rooting a little for (and sometimes a little against) most people, but in the end the book reminds you most people mean well and it’s a feel good read.

The book centers around Abby, a fat girl who loves to bike ride, who finds herself at a crossroads in her relationship where she’s expected to move in with her boyfriend, perfect Doctor Mark. While contemplating what to do, she ends up leading a group bike tour from NYC to Niagara Falls - and it figures one of the riders is a former hook up, Sebastian. Sure it’s a romance but there’s so much more: lots of parent/child secrets and bonds, self acceptance challenges, abortion, friendship, to name a few. I also loved the Jewish themes sprinkled throughout!

The ending was satisfying and this was the perfect kind of light adventure book for a summer or vacation read.

".. the importance of staking a claim on a boy to go out with (what 'going out with' as tweens at summer camp meant, Abby would eventually learn." This is my generation story. My mother nor daughter understood what it meant for me. This novel tells a beautiful story of finding oneself when the world sees you differently. Of love, wonder, taking a ride, friendship and learning what matters. Its been sometime since I teared up at the end of a book, yet I did here. Abby, Mark, Sebastian, Eileen and all the participants on this ride are characters I won't soon forget! Bike tours, upstate NY, friendship across generations, mother/daughter relationships and choosing what's right for you, at the time you decide were the winners of this novel!

I am a huge Jennifer Weiner fan! I have met her in person and she is as thoughtful and humorous as her writing! I really enjoyed reading The Breakaway! She does such a. great job balancing heavy and light in her voice as well as the topics she writes about. This book is about Abby Stern and her struggles figuring out what she wants and needs from a romantic relationship, her relationship with her mother, and a career path. She leads a group bike trip through New York to Canada which leads her to the beginning of her journey to figuring out these issues and the obstacles that are holding her back. Whether you have enjoyed Jennifer Weiner's previous books, or are looking for an uplifting book about a woman discovering more about her own strength and resilience, I highly recommend this book!

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

Thirty-four year old Abby Stern has found happiness in her life despite uncertain life goals. With gig jobs and a seemingly perpetual college apartment, Abby's true joy lies in her supportive friends, her passion for cycling, and her impending marriage to childhood sweetheart Mark. However, doubts arise when memories of a passionate encounter with a sexy stranger resurface.

When Abby embarks on leading a bike trip, she is surprised to find the sexy stranger, Sebastian, among the participants, challenging her emotions and sparking undeniable chemistry. As the journey unfolds, the many facets of the participants reveal themselves and relationships are tested.

This is the story I've been waiting for from Jennifer Weiner - she intertwines her love of cycling and body positive message into a story of hard choices.

Thank you to Atria, NetGalley and Jennifer Weiner for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Put this on your must read list for 8.29.23!

I always feel so empowered after reading Jennnifer Weiner's novels. This one was no different. I loved the main character and was truly feeling for her and rooting for her. This satisfied all the feels for me and brought up lots of emotions, good and bad. The author always has a way of weaving in current events and issues with her novels. It makes it so relevant. Knowing the author and her love of bike riding, I know she did lots of research and knew what she was talking about with the background of this book. I might just buy a bike!

Having read all of Jennifer Wiener’s books I was looking forward to reading her latest novel. This book did not disappoint. I loved how the author approached the topic of poor image issues in a compassionate and understanding way. The author makes the reader question whether sometimes we don’t always go for what we really want but instead do what feels more safe. The characters were interesting and I found myself relating to a few of them. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.

like so many of jennifer weiner's novels, the breakaway was a highly enjoyable read. I love books that deal with people who aren't perfect. I know that plus size people figure in many of her books, and I appreciate that. It's nice to see that ordinary people of all Sizes and shapes can have happy lives. This book also features an unhappy relationship between the main character and her mother and that was also a very believable situation to read about. Thank you to net galley for an advanced reader copy of this novel I would recommend this to anybody who likes relationship novels that are based in reality.

This was a fun book that cruised along and never had a dull moment. I had no idea that a bike excursion could be so fun. Of course it’s Jennifer Weiner who always writes a fun book to read, I would highly suggest picking this book up that will take you on a fun ride.

Jennifer Weiner is among a handful of authors whose books I read without knowing what they are about. There is something wonderful about sinking your "teeth" into a book by an author you trust and not knowing what it is about. It's like sitting down with an trusted friend who is about to tell you a story and take you on a ride.

Abby ( I just loved, Abby. Can she be my friend?) is only 34 years old. She is dating her childhood boyfriend and they might move in together! Her career isn't exactly up to par with her friends but she's happy. After years of struggling and dieting she is finally at peace with her plus size body. She enjoys cycling. It's her passion and hobby. She is asked to lead a cycling trip and hesitantly agrees to it. Much to her surprise her mom whom she has always had a difficult relationship shows up as does someone from her past.

Over the course of the 2 week cycling trip Abby learns bits and pieces about the other cyclers. Bonds are formed, friendships are formed and life changing decisions are made by characters.

Weiner's writing takes you on the trip with the characters. I could feel and see the scenery. I don't even like riding a bike and suddenly I found myself considering purchasing one and taking up cycling. Abby's story is told in past and present tense. We learn about her weight struggles, being sent to fat camp, meeting her childhood boyfriend at camp at camp and they reconnecting with him later. Abby's tenuous relationship with her mother is relatable.

Be prepared to set some hours aside and find yourself falling in love with another one of Weiner's characters.

Another brilliant read from Jennifer Weiner! Her characters are always written in a way that makes you care about them and their stories, and The Breakaway provides a fresh setting for Weiner's bold storytelling. Highly recommend!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.