I love everything Jennifer Weiner writes and The Breakaway was no exception. I thought this was going to be a cute love story about a bike trip but it was so much more. Weiner has embraced biking the last year or so and of course she would write about that. But I underestimated her. Yes this book is about Abby who leads a bike tour around New York state and the eclectic group of people that tour with her. But it is also the story of Abby's family and growing up. It's about body image, mothers and daughters (and son's), about a woman's right to make choices for her body, about love, about not settling, and friendship. Another masterpiece by a master writer,

Reading this book was one of the highlights of my memorial day weekend. This book is both ground breakingly modern and quite reminiscent of the first Weiner book I read - Good in Bed.

I typically like Jennifer Weiner books...in this one, This one was a DNF for me.

Abby is in her mid thirties, and is dating the first person she kissed back in fat camp. She feels safe with him, and knows that her mother likes the security he provides, such as being a doctor (podiatrist) and having a good apartment. She doesn't have a permanent job, takes dog walking gigs and has started and stopped school a few times.

She ends up leading a two week bike trip. in which she unexpectedly runs into a previous one night stand-Sebastian. Sebastian is a ladies man, who sleeps around and likes it, except that he could never get Abby out of his mind, and had no way to contact her.

This ends up turning into one of those cheesy romance novels that I am not a fan of. Others may like it, but it was a no for me.

I absolutely adored this book! I'm a longtime fan of Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes is top tier to me) and this was no different. First, I loved the main character. I was a little nervous it was be lifetime level once I read through the way the male love interest was introduced, but once the side by side storylines of the bike trippers started to trickle in, I realized there was a lot more to this story than your standard romantic comedy. A lovely way to spend an afternoon.

4 stars

Well, this is my fifth book by this author, and as I hoped and expected, I really enjoyed this newest installment, too!

Abby, the m.c., is an incredibly likeable woman in her mid-thirties, and she is dealing with a lot of issues that will be relatable to especially but not exclusively women readers. These include but are not limited to accepting her body, dealing with a mother who actively does NOT accept her body, working through past trauma, figuring out her career path (she's working a lot of odd jobs to stay afloat but not particularly loving any of them), and determining what the heck is up with her love life. To that last point, when readers meet Abby, she's on the brink of having an extremely memorable night (just one, though) with a fella called Sebastian, and she's also about to get serious with Mark, her childhood sweetheart who has just reemerged via a meet (again) cute. There's a running theme of choosing between what feels safe and what feels amazing in this book, especially as this is tied to what Abby feels like she deserves, and this will be another relatable connection for many readers.

Thanks to a fantastic secondary character, Abby gets the chance to lead a cycling trip (cycling is a central part of Abby's identity but not one she gets to explore much professionally prior to this opportunity). The majority of the book encompasses this trip, the characters who join Abby on it, and - finally - how Abby and her life change as a result. The entire journey is engaging because as readers get to know Abby better over time, we learn exactly how deserving of a win she really is.

There is one aspect of this book that I wish had been further fleshed out, and this is a subplot that happens on the ride. I hate spoilers, so this will have to be an IYKYK situation, but here are my thoughts on it: (1) I'm thrilled this content is included because it is super important. This is a book in many ways that focuses on contemporary women's issues, and few come anywhere close to being this essential. (2) It's not a fully developed subplot, and this drove me absolutely wild. The resolution is too quick and easy. Way more importantly, the attempt to come full circle with it later is lacking. Since Abby is the focal point, anyone else who gets airtime should really building her storyline. While there's a brief attempt to make that connection, I found myself disappointed in exactly how fleeting that tie was.

Jennifer Weiner remains on my you-write-I-queue-instantly list, and I am already excited to see what this author produces next!

I like Jennifer Weiner - but I didn't love this book as much as I typically like her work!

There was a lot going on with storylines and current hot topics and narratives. Some of the references (west elm caleb, etc) would probably go over most people's heads. Overall sweet romance and did enjoy the ending - but I don't think this book was for me.

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner Couldn't relate to Abby she was not a very likeable character. She treated her mother and boyfriend shabbily. The graphic, explicit sex scene was way too much and it kept getting referenced . I did Breakaway and DNF, definately not my type of book.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Jennifer Wiener’s stories. Good In Bed is still my favorite and generally the standard by which I rate all the others. This had all the hallmarks of a traditional Weiner book—relatable and endearing characters, family dynamics (often dramatics), and journeys of self-discovery. What took this somewhat off-kilter for me was the choice to pack it full of politically correct cautionary tales. Just as in real life, some of it made me uncomfortable in a climate where you can’t choose to disagree without being labeled as being on the wrong side of every topic. It’s not that I think politics doesn’t belong in books, it’s more that stories suffer when too many controversial topics are blended at once (I’m looking at you Sex In The City reboot). For me, it seems like a story arc loses steam by falling into a matter of fact statement of canned rhetoric, without offering something different or thought-provoking like the energy of differing perspective. Still, overall a great story as Weiner continues to question our illusions of need vs expectations, and what are the stories we tell ourselves that form our reality. If you’re a Weiner fan, this one should hit all the right notes as a solid read.

The Breakaway is the perfect summer romance. When Abby Stern, an avid bicyclist and dogwalker agrees to lead a two week bicycle tour from New York City to Canada as a favor to a friend, her life is never the same!

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner is a quick read, that delicately tackles many topics. When 34-year-old Abby is tasked with leading a bike trip over the two weeks that follows she finds more than just scenery and miles await her. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the various storylines that all entangle to tell one great story. The characters were likable, and the writing was easy to follow and flowed, making The Breakaway a great getaway. While there are some heavy topics entwined I enjoyed how Weiner handled them and their importance in today's societal climate.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner was such a fun read. The main character, Abby, is leading a bike ride through New York when she realizes both her one-night-stand and her mom are on the trip. The bike ride proceeds with several mishaps and the revealing of family secrets. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I read this book in one day and it was very hard to put down. Bravo Jennifer Weiner!

Thirty-four year old Philadelphian Abby Stern is happy doing the things she loves….riding her bike, walking dogs and dating Mark, her once teenage camp crush. She’s mostly comfortable with her plus size though her controlling Mom Eileen, hasn’t let her forget about it since childhood. In New York for a bachelorette party, Abby meets handsome Sebastian at a bar and does something she’s never done before, embarks on a one night fling. Months later, Abby is asked to lead a cycling tour from NYC to Niagara Falls where she meets a cast of characters as her riders, including the man that she spent one glorious night with.

I really wanted to love this book and parts of it I did. But that became the problem, there were just too many parts, or rather plot lines with the various characters. Ms. Weiner tackled so many important topics in this novel but between giving backstory to each one while creating the tension and resolution each deserved, it was a little too much for this reader.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date: August 29, 2023

An overweight 34 year old, a one night stand, and an obsessive mother who wants her daughter to lose weight. Then along comes an opportunity to lead a group bike trip. So, she takes up that opportunity to bike from New York City to Niagara Falls...still having memories of that one night stand, but also trying to make up her mind about her current boyfriend. Yes she is still remembering that sexual encounter that happened two years prior. After reading that "episode' I'll probably remember too, just how long I don't know. I wasn't exactly impressed with this book, but I took a chance to read something different since I'm usually into HF. My thanks to NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I recently read a book that truly touched my heart. It's hard to describe, but I could feel the author's voice in the main character, Abby. I later found out that Jennifer Weiner, the author of this book, is an avid bike rider herself. No wonder the descriptions of Abby's biking experiences were so vivid and authentic.

This book covers a lot of sensitive topics, including Planned Parenthood and body image, but it does so in a respectful and eloquent manner. The love story between Abby and Sebastian is not a fairy tale, but a realistic portrayal of the struggles that many couples face. It's not easy to overcome our own insecurities, let alone the judgments of others.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. Like many of Weiner's stories, it's a must-read. In fact, I hope that someone out there has started a girls' riding club inspired by this book!

I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Weiner's novel, "The Breakaway," proved to be a remarkable literary experience. The narrative revolves around Abby, the protagonist, as she grapples with issues surrounding her identity, weight, and relationships. Alongside her is Sebastan, a love interest who struggles with long term commitment in his own journey through life. As Abby embarks on leading an adventurous bike trip, we are introduced to an array of compelling characters who add layers of complexity to the overarching story. Immensely captivating, this book left me thoroughly engrossed, and I find myself longing to discover the present whereabouts of these intriguing individuals!

Oof this hit home in so many ways, y’all. If you have a difficult relationship with your mother, with food, with ideas of abortion or experiences therein, just be forewarned that, even though the most basic plot follows a romantic relationship, you’re gonna get more than just that in this book. Abby made me fall back into my own childhood, Elaine made me enraged, Sebastian made me want to hug and slap him, and Morgan made me cry for all the girls I know and have known and have been.

I loved it. It was so poignent, so well done, that I’m going to be recommending this to everyone I know.

Be warned: there are active depictions of abortion and cheating.

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schusters for this arc!

Part rom-com, part road trip/finding oneself internal drama, The Breakaway is the kind of elevated, authentic women's literature we deserve. This is giving modern Nora Ephron, checking every box without being on-the-nose. Some readers may find Abby's fixation with her body to be overdone, but I really appreciated reading about a character whose life is seen through the lens of her body. It feels like Weiner has truly captured what it is to live as a woman, or at least how I've experienced womanhood, where nearly every memory is recalled through the filter of one's corporeal form. There is no separation; good days or bad days are determined based on how one feels about their bodies, relationships are forged or damaged based on what is (or isn't) said or felt about one's body, romance is built around acceptance and a fear of never being accepted again, and, most upsettingly, one's self value is so often based on the number on the scale. Abby's obsession is frustrating because of its pervasiveness, but also precisely because it is so relatable, and it is a frustration the reader likely experiences with her own bodily obsession.
Abby's arc in the book is not about weight loss, nor is it to go from self-loathing fat woman, to body positive. Instead, we get the sense that her weight will always be part of her identity, but that there are other parts of her life that, if nurtured, can provide meaning and validation (and, equally important, those 'other parts' do not hinge on male or maternal approval or love).

Another summer read by Jennifer Weiner ,I was drawn in by her writing the characters their story.A combination of drama,romance.laughter a wonderful read perfect to enjoy during the lazy days of summer.#netgalley #atria

One of my favorite authors of all time. Jennifer Weiner always writes likeable characters that are funny and feels like a treat to get to know. Always a great summer read. I couldn't put it down!

I have read most of Jennifer Weiner's books and the last few have been hit or miss for me. This one was not a hit, but not a miss either. It was a quick read and I kept at it to see how the story ended between Abby, Mark and Sebastian. I agree with other reviewers that the storyline had a lot of big themes. The storyline between Lily and Morgan was disappointing, as when we reached the end of the events, Lily's story was exactly the same as her daughter's dilemma. Exactly. And then their story just disappeared. All in all, not a bad read, but it leaves me wondering if it time to move on from books by this author. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.