Jennifer Weiner is a veteran in the publishing industry she knows how to craft a story, especially when it comes to weaving characters' storylines together. I thought it was a well-plotted novel with a satisfying ending, but it didn't thrill me, or change my life in anyway.

Weiner does a great job as usual of weaving topical conversations into her novels. This book is a must-read for women all alike to whether women are drawn to it for the character dynamics, or the struggles of mental health for women. This book is a narrative and self-help into self-love.

I am such a long-time fan of Jennifer Weiner that I will read anything she writes. I think this might be one of my favorite books of hers in a while. I have enjoyed her last few but this one felt relatable and fun and while it touches on sensitive topics it was all timely. Her characters are always so beautifully flushed out that you feel like you really know these people. Jennifer never disappoints and this one is a must-read for her fans or those looking for a fun romantic adventure (with some side drama). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely flew through this book! This was my first book by Jennifer Weiner and I have made sure to add the rest of her books to my TBR list.

I loved the dynamic between Sebastian and Abby, right from the very beginning. I understand (being a plus size woman) the thought process and how Mark felt safe and how could someone like Sebastian really be interested in her. But, the way that the author described Mark and Abby's relationship you could tell it was out of habit and not love. They didn't really have any common interests and the fact that Mark couldn't really have a relationship with food due to his past obesity problems.

And, not having been on a bike in many years, this book made me want to start biking. I love how the author made it a sense of empowerment for women, that no matter what you always have a way to escape. And what a great way. I know that I need more exercise for sure, lol!

I thought the plot and characters were both well thought out, and even though I didn't like that it took so long for Sebastian and Abby to reconnect at the end I'm just glad they did.

I wish I'd done a bit more research before taking on this book. I do not particularly like romance books, and although this is not as much so as the ones with chest-heaving covers, a relationship was the focus of the book. I could not believe for one moment that the two most problematic people in Abby's life, her mother and a one-night stand (Sebastian) who is etched in her mind are BOTH signed up for a bike tour of upper New York State that Abby is committed to lead. Abby's current boyfriend, Mark, who wants them to move in together, is overshadowed by memories of Sebastian and Abby takes on the bike tour largely as a way to avoid committing to Mark. I also did not like the space given to the perspectives of secondary characters...that could have been left out. Various issues are central, such as being overweight, not having found a career/place in the world yet at age thirty-three, cheating on a partner, etc. This book may do well partly due to Jennifer Weiner's popularity as an author, but it didn't appeal to me.

I’m gonna jump right in on this review—The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner is a good book. It’s a solid 3 stars. It’s the type of story solidly in my wheelhouse—an adventure story, this one a long bike trip from NYC to Niagara Falls. This book could have been amazing for me but it was just alright.

Abby Stern is leading a 2 week bike tour from NYC to Niagara Falls along the Empire Trail. On this tour is a foursome-two couples- The Spoke’n Four; a family of 4; mother/daughter duo, Lily and Morgan; a couple that really has no storyline and aren’t necessary at all, The Landons; friend duo Sebastian and Lincoln; and oh yeah, Abby’s surprise—her mother, Eileen. There were just way too many people on this bike tour to keep up with and that were not needed (they should have stayed home!)

And oh yeah, Sebastian and Abby had a one-night stand two years ago after which she ghosted Sebastian and is now seeing, and maybe moving in with Mark, her childhood “weight loss camp” boyfriend.

There was so much going on in this book! Too many sideline storylines that completely blurred the “romance” between Abby and Sebastian.

I would have liked more bike riding and conversation between characters on the trail.

There were also 2 major plot points that I don’t like at all in my books. One of them was not handled well at all, in my opinion, and could have been done better. I do appreciate that Ms. Weiner attempts to bring current women’s issues into her stories but it was a little heavy handed and awkward.

Now, maybe my view of this book is colored because I have experienced some of the same types of scenarios depicted in this book. Maybe that’s why I didn’t love it so much because I’ve lived it. I prefer my fiction to be more of a window maybe than a mirror.

Overall, this is a good book from one of my favorite authors. It’s not the best one I’ve ever read of hers but you can’t win them all, right?? But I’ll definitely be reading the next book by Ms. Weiner.

Thank you to #netgalley and @atriabooks hit the advanced e-copy of #thebreakaway . This book published Aug 29, 2023 and is available wherever books are sold.

I enjoyed this book so much! this book has romance, family issues, tension about a girl in crisis, and a bicycle trip! I am now eager to sign up for a bicycle trip after reading this book! Enjoyed this book so much! A slump buster!

I was so happy to get this approval, but to be honest it took me like 5 or 6 times to finally get into this one. This was my first Jennifer Weiner book, but I definitely plan on giving her another chance!

I think The Breakaway did a really nice job of tackling some topics that are pertinent in today's society while still weaving a story that entertained and kept the reader immersed. There were places where I felt that the author may have drug the storyline out a bit too long as she dwelt on some topics a bit too long. But that's just my personal opinion.

Our main character, Abby is relatable and definitely someone you want to cheer for. She is living as an overweight woman in a world that definitely judges you by that. Unfortunately for her, even her own mother seemed to always be trying to "fix her." It's something that Abby eventually has enough of and fights back. Unfortunately, as with most people, she's held it in for too long and when she lets it all out, it's brutal and she comes out almost viciously at her mother.

The general premise of the story is that Abby meets Sebastian before she commits to her new beau, Mark. They have a one night stand in a city away from where Abby lives so she never expects to see him again. She proceeds to get serious with Mark. But right as Mark really wants to take that next serious step and have her move in, she starts to get cold feet and is unsure. To give herself time to think about things, she agrees to help a friend out by leading a bike trip. Biking is something Abby loves that she does often to clear her mind. But she's never led a trip for others before. Everything is going smoothly until she realizes her one-night stand, Sebastian is in the group. It leads to more than just reflection for Abby. Now she is face-to-face with a guy that she assumed could never be more than a one-night thing but maybe she was wrong.

Meshed in with the basic storyline are some other storylines with side characters. One of these involves abortion, so if that is a potential trigger for you, please be aware. Personally, I felt that particular storyline was handled honestly and realistically. I could see what the author was trying to do with it.

Overall, even though I felt the book moved slowly in places, I thought it was well-written and handled some tough topics well. This was my first Jennifer Weiner book but it definitely won't be my last,

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

It's been a while since I've read any of Jennifer Weiner's books and ultimately, this one was just okay. There are a lot of characters, many of which lack any development. I also think the author tried to address to many issues within the book with a main one feeling out of place.

Jennifer Weiner does not disappoint- ever!
I really felt this was like a love story but for your mother 💕 because it has all the feelings within it that you do feel about your own mother!
I also know the author recently lost her mother, so this could definitely be where the depth of feeling in this book came from
This book will make you want to call your mom !
I loved the brutal honesty which is a trait I have always loved about this author - she will make you really feel your feelings!
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the ARC copy, amazing!

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this new Jennifer Weiner book. I have been a long time fan of this author and was excited to read her latest book. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as her earlier books. It did have all of the aspects of her books that I usually like - (mostly) great characters, humor and an easy read. I loved the setting of a bike trip and am in awe of anybody who can ride a bike that far!

I can't really say it was predictable because the synopsis hints at what is going to happen, but I felt like some other aspects were too predictable. I liked the main character Abby, but just couldn't get myself to like Sebastian.

I found the depiction of Abby and Mark's marriage interesting, because I do think it's possible to have a comfortable marriage, but not a great marriage - and I liked that she recognizes this and stands up for herself. I know there is some controversy over the abortion in the book. The only problem I had with this storyline was that it kind of dropped off quickly and wasn't visited again until the end of the book.

Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I liked the ending, I just didn't think it was great. I will continue to read anything Jennifer Weiner writes!

I was excited to read this book after reading Mrs. Everything and absolutely loving it. But this one fell short for me.

I felt like there was too much going on, too many conflicts and story lines that I ended up losing interest and getting bored. I didn't think the POV's of the other characters were necessary and didn't add to the story. Also, I have no issue with the author's politics, but they seemed to be so over the top in-your-face and preachy in this book instead of being a complement to the character's personal struggles like in Mrs. Everything.

I also just didn't like any of the characters. I did like how Abby was body confident, but beyond that, I just couldn't connect with her. And I could not sympathize with her emotions towards her boyfriend, and think she ends up treating him horribly.
And cheating...just no.

After a few Jennifer Weiner books that just were not for me, I was surprised by how much I liked this one!

The book starts off with Abby our main character having a one night stand while she is away in NYC. Then fast forward two years where she's reconnected with her camp boyfriend, Mark, and is planning to marry him when her friend asks her to lead a bike trip from New York City to Niagara Falls. Not surprising at all Sebastian, Abby's one night stand ends up on her bike trip and she has to deal with him. Along the way we have the opportunity to hear from several of the bikers on her trip. I really wish that we had heard more of the teenage girls as her story dealt with some relevant current controversial issues, maybe we'll get a novella of her story?!

I loved how this book dug deeper than other Weiner books and she didn't shy away from dealing with some controversial issues. The book talks about Abby's struggle with body image and accepting her plus size self. I love that Abby encourages other girls to ride their bikes and overall just empowers them to be themselves.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Please don’t let the low ratings discourage you from reading this book. Due to the topic of abortion covered in the book reviewers are choosing to give it one star, which is extremely unfair.

I have mixed feelings about his book. I loved how Abby is not your typical main character. She is strong, proud of her body, and smart, I loved watching her find herself and become more confident. At times I found the story a little too repetitive and a lot of loose ends at the end of the book. Not my favorite book by Jennifer Weiner.

I have been a fan of Jennifer Weiner for over 20 years. I love her stories and how she always makes me feel like part of her characters' lives. Her latest novel, The Breakaway, is fabulous from beginning to end!

I haven't been on a bicycle in ages but this novel reminded me of how I used to ride one all the time after I learned how. And it makes me want to relearn and also re-teach my daughter how to ride. (To be determined if that will happen anytime soon, but one can always hope!)

This story had a lot to say about body image and I was there for it. I could totally relate to Abby in that regard. I'm glad it also addressed body shaming and how toxic that can be.

I liked that we got more than just Abby's perspective throughout the novel. The dialogue was genuine and there were some humorous parts too. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing how everyone came together on the trip even though they (mostly) started off as strangers. It was also easy to visualize the characters and settings thanks to Jennifer's great use of detail that didn't take away from the narrative.

Overall, Jennifer's new novel is a winner!

Sadly, I could not come up with casting ideas for this one. However, I had Finn Wittrock in mind for Sebastian the entire time.

Trigger warnings below.

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TW: Abortion, body shaming

I consistently like Jennifer Weiner's writing and this was no exception. She takes on difficult topics with aplomb and heart. The characters are authentic and readers will be rooting for them all. This will appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult and Colleen Hoover.

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books, and Jennifer Weiner for an advance copy of The Breakaway in exchange for an honest review. Alright, I have seen mixed reviews on this one but I am here to say that this was a phenomenal read! This book tackled SO MANY topics that women go through or may have to face at some point in their lives. Abby was a fantastic main character who had to choose what was best for her life and her path rather then follow what the world thought was best for her. I found myself experiencing such a wide variety of emotions while reading this and I truly cant recommend it enough. This is one sale now and I really hope you do yourself a favor and add this one to your library.

Thank you SS Atria Marketing and NetGalley for this book. Abby Stern is 33 and was in NYC and had a one night stand and then went back to her life in Philly. She has a good life, but maybe not a true career, but she is happy and going to marry her childhood camp boyfriend that she reconnected with as an adult. Everything feels safe. Her friend asks her to lead a 5 day bike tour through NY and she agrees, little does she know this one night stand is part of the group and also her mother decided to crash it to spend time with her daughter. Will Abby go the safe route or take a chance with the one night stand? Will she mend her relationship with her mom?

I'm finding it progressively harder to review each new Weiner book. I used to adore her books and couldn't wait until the next one came out. I remember her being one of the few authors I knew I could read and have all the feels including some great humor. I just don't find myself enjoying these reads as I used to. I think she has started to try to for more substance and in doing so is trying to throw too many subjects into the book causing it to be then be too thin on all the different hot button topics.

This one follows Abby a 33 year old who is happy with her life. She has jobs (not a career) a boyfriend who she reconnected with from her childhood and plans to marry who is perfect except he doesn't ride a bike the one thing that makes her happier than anything else. She gets an opportunity to lead a long distance cycling trip and finds herself face to face to a former one night stand and her mother who she has a complicated relationship with.

I had a hard time connecting with the main character and found myself annoyed with her and her actions throughout most of the book which then detracted from the enjoyment of this book. This was a perfectly fine beach read but not one i'll remember down the road.