This is such a great book about empowerment and belief in your abilities. Not looking for love on bike tour love caught up with the two people that needed it in their lives.

It isn't summer without a Jennifer Weiner book and The Breakaway doesn't disappoint! Great themes and a slow burn romance. Enjoyed the PP side story as well.

Another winner from Jennifer Weiner. This one doesn’t have the sharper wit that characterized her early novels like Good In Bed. But like Weiner, her characters have matured with her. Abby is a sweetheart who can’t commit and has no direction. Her life is safe and quiet. So when the one wild moment of her life, suddenly reappears two years later, she is a mess of indecision and unwanted desire. And just when she thought it couldn’t get more complicated, her mother appears. My only criticism would be a little less cycling information and a little more back story between Abby and her mother and her family dynamic. With the multiple voices, it was harder to delve deeper into each of the characters. Morgan in particular feels like an add on with her mother Lily. The book has two mother/daughter storylines but Morgan and Lily feel forced there to move the storyline along sometimes.

I am a fan of Jennifer Weiner from way back. Her most recent books have been hit or miss with me.

This book was a hit with a slight miss.

Once again I find Jennifer Weiner trying too hard to put everything in her book. Several stories and points of view are used here. Here's what I didn't like:

I really wasn't a huge fan of Abby. I know, I know - she is the main character. I get it. But there was just something about her I didn't care for. I loved that she was a cyclist - that part of the book was good. But I also really had a hard time warming up to her.

I didn't care for Morgan and Lily's storyline. Having their POV included in the story detracted from everything else. Once their story was 'over' - we didn't hear anything else from them. They just disappeared from the story and reappeared briefly at the end of the book.

I'm not saying I didn't like their story or how it unfolded, but to me, if the storyline is important enough to give them their own points of view, then that POV should carry through to the end - not just disappear mid-way through the book. Or, perhaps a sequel with their story as the main story along with Abby on a different ride.

I enjoyed reading about the journey and upper New York State. I read this book while on vacation and it was an easy read. Even though it does touch on sensitive topics, I would recommend.

The main character of this book, Abby, a plus size woman in her 30s, is feeling happy enough but necessarily fulfilled. She’s sort of meandering through a series of part time jobs, and although her boyfriend Mark looks great on paper, the thought of moving in with him fills her with dread. She’s an avid cyclist, so when she’s offered the chance to lead a two week bicycle tour, she jumps at the chance to do so. But then one of the participants on the ride, Sebastian, turns out to be a guy she had the one and only one night stand of her life with a few years ago. Oh, and her mother surprises her by showing up off the ride too! The book is told from both Abby and Sebastian’s perspectives, along with occasional perspectives from some of the other people on the tour as well.

I am a longtime fan of Jennifer Weiner - I’ve literally been reading her books for more than 20 years, her books have made my top ten of the year list three times, and I’ve read all of her adult novels and her memoir! So when I got lucky enough to get an e-ARC of this one from the publisher, I couldn’t resist reading it right away even though it doesn’t come out til August 29th! And, I’m happy to say, I really enjoyed it.

If you have read a bunch of Weiner’s books, you’ll definitely see familiar themes in this one - a plus size woman working on self-acceptance, a somewhat fraught mother-daughter relationship, the struggle to feel worthy of love, etc. Abby and Sebastian are definitely both flawed people, but I found myself rooting for them anyway (even though Abby was in a relationship, so warning to those who don’t like cheating storylines). I’m not sure the perspectives of the other characters were really needed, but I enjoyed their stories as well. Not my most favorite of her books, but a solidly enjoyable read.

Every new book this author writes is better than the last one. The Breakaway rounds up interesting characters from all walks of life that are together for a weeks- long bicycle tour. The protagonist leads the tour, but is also surprised when two people she knows happen to be on the tour. This isn’t a book that should be taken at face-value as there are many layers here- the book tackles current topics such as weight issues, body image, abortion, and religion. It also tells the side story of what happens when teenagers are cut off from abortion providers. A great read and the perfect pick after reading Weiner’s short story, Golden Hills, where the same characters collide. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

Abby Stern agrees to lead a bike tour through upstate New York, as a chance to think about her life, and her almost-inevitable upcoming engagement to a man she first met at fat camp as a teen. While Abby is still plus sized, Mark is now half his old size.

On the first day of the trip, Abby is shocked to see one particular rider. Sebastian was her one and only one night stand, and their connection still haunts her. But Sebastian has a bad rep as a serial dater; he's definitely not husband material.

Over the next two weeks, strangers become confidantes, hidden truths come to light, and a teenage girl with a secret will unite all the riders in surprising ways—while all of Abby’s certainties about herself, her mother, and the nature of love are challenged. Highly recommended, #TheBreakaway #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

As a fan of Jennifer Weiner's previous work, I knew this would be a hit...something that gave the reader a little bit of romance, but also unmasked the characters and developed them in such a profound way that left you wanting more.
While the story itself focuses on the bike tour, you are left learning more and more about each of the people on the tour, and what is going on in their own lives...from Abby's own mother, Eileen, to Morgan, the 15-year old girl looking for some guidance. The reader is brought in to the fold, and feels like they are on the bike tour with them.

Jennifer Weiner is a popular author I have read in the past. This book about Abby shows her love of cycling and trying to figure out her life.
I thought it was a good read, but it was a lot going on.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

The opening prologue was really a sweet way to introduce Abby. I'm normally annoyed by prologues or left wishing we were told that story instead, but I did really enjoy this one.

Abby herself is likeable, and I was definitely rooting for her to find love and figure out her life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

Thirty-four-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. She’s got good friends, her bike, and her bike club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry her childhood sweetheart, Mark, whom she met as a young teenager at a weight loss camp. Mark is arguably the perfect boyfriend- loving, kind, and attentive---and and he's a doctor. Mark is ready to move their relationship to the next level and have Abby move in with him, but a one-night stand a few years earlier with Sebastian, a playboy from Brooklyn, has left her with doubts about Mark being "the one".

When Abby is offered the chance to lead a 2 week bike trip on New York's Empire Trail she decides time and space from Mark are just what she needs to sort out her feelings. The bike trip consists of 14 different characters of varying age groups and backgrounds, including Abby's mom (a last minute surprise) and Sebastian. Some of these characters are very well fleshed out and others are mentioned so infrequently that I found myself saying, "who?" when they would come up again.

There were a lot of plotlines, perhaps too many. I didn't really like Morgan's plotline. I feel like that could have been a whole book by itself and having it stuck in here just seemed weird and like it didn't really do it justice. There was also a bit of preachiness and too much social/political commentary attached to this storyline for my liking.

I also felt like Lily and Eileen's backgrounds were just a little too neatly tied up. Everything was just a little too convenient for me.

I liked Abby and Sebastian as characters and I felt like they were both believable and nuanced. I liked reading about a plus sized girl who was comfortable and fit and happy. It's refreshing.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, despite a few criticisms. There are definitely a few triggering topics in it so readers should be aware of that and do more research before diving in. Thanks @netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I run hot and cold with Weiner. This was on the colder side. It's not a BAD book exactly, just predict and a bit trite. Light quick read, but I'm used to Weiner creating more developed characters
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. Jennifer Weiner is one of my favorite authors. I call her my "Philly woman," since I grew up in Philly and love reading about the places she describes in her books. The Breakaway seems to mirror Ms. Weiner's most recent adventure - cycling, alone and in groups. Her love of cycling is obvious in the pages of her latest book and fun to read. The story is also about Abby, a thirty-something woman, trying to figure out life, trying to figure out whether or not to move in with her loving but boring boyfriend and finding temptation with another man. Some of my favorite Jennifer Weiner books involve some of the more serious issues in life - In Her Shoes, Mrs. Everything. The Breakaway does address some serious issues but is, for the most part, just a pleasurable read - something to enjoy when life itself is too heavy or busy to want to dive right into issues. A great getaway of a read.

I enjoy Jennifer Weiner's books and The Breakaway was no exception! I found the main character, Abby, likable and the story was fun and lighthearted. A perfect beach read or vacation read and while it was all leading towards a more predictable ending, it was still satisfying when it happened. It touched on some relatable topics and family dynamics, but it never felt too dark. After some serious, heavy books, I am always appreciative of Jennifer Weiner and her style of writing.

I was very excited to read this book and have loved everything by this author but I admit this one was a bit of a disappointment.
The story of Abby's life struggles with men, with her weight and body image, with her mother and with her career was rather trite and predictable. It lagged for me in the middle and I had to put it down and take a break before finishing.
Not Weiner's finest work I found The Breakaway to be a bit trite.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Glad I got a chance to read this early. Interesting setting. Got a little boring at times. Will be very popular, but it's not as good as her older books. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

As a long time Jennifer Weiner fan - I can say this book does not disappoint. This is a wonderful book that explores current culture issues while weaving in relationship issues and growth. Another excellent read - thank you NetGalley and publisher for this opportunity to read this delightful book.

"The Breakaway" is an enjoyable read from Jennifer Weiner with a likable main character who goes through ups and downs while looking for love and struggling with body image issues. Fans of the author will love this! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved Abby and her journey in this book! It’s so rare that a plus character is shown from a perspective of love, she was such a fun and interesting character.
The book was a fast read, and all of the relationship dynamics between all of the different characters kept me hooked.

I really enjoyed this romantic story! It fit the mold of a rom-com in a comforting way and I enjoyed the various plots and characters. It's perfect for a quick, feel-good read.