The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is a tearjerking story about love, life, ambition, tragedy, forgiveness and …sisters. The sisters are Zoe and Cassie. Zoe is a bundle of charm, stage presence and beauty. Cassie is musically gifted. The two become the Griffin Sisters and have one hit after another. Then a tragic event sends Cassie as far away from family and the music business as she can get and turns Zoe into an embittered housewife and mother. Twenty years later, Zoe’s daughter Cherry, who inherited her aunt’s talent, wants a music career of her own and needs help from her mother and aunt. The two have not spoken for decades and it is up to Cherry to reunite them.

Jennifer Weiner is a master storyteller. Zoe and Cherry are well described characters but Cassie will grab your heart. So many things have gone wrong for her you just want to save her. I didn’t want this book to end. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Jennifer Weiner for this ARC.

Jennifer Weiner's latest is a long detailed novel about two teenage sisters from Philadelphia who are launched into a pop music career after being discovered at a local battle of the bands event. Zoe is the fashion-obsessed mediocre singer given a microphone and a tambourine, Cassie is the overweight singer, songwriter, and compose who hides behind her piano. The plot involves an inside look at how grueling the music business is. Cassie and another band member, Russell, work side by side composing songs, but Zoe throws herself at Russell to create photo ops for the covers of magazines. As the band's popularity grows, so does the behind the scenes messiness. After an accident, Cassie relocates in Homer, Alaska while Zoe moves back to New Jersey to raise her daughter--who as a teenager decides she wants to compete in televised singing competitions. The novel spans twenty-four years of Cassie and Zoe's lives and is recommended for YA and adult readers who enjoy popular fiction.

I absolutely loved this one! I tried reading it slower to soak it all in and savor it, but I had to devour it to know how it played out. I loved Cassie from the start, but Zoe and Cherry truly got me to warm up to them. I loved the nostalgic vibes it gave me with the dual timelines of now and the 2000s. I was shocked by some of the twists but loved the mystery along the way and just had to keep reading to figure out how it all played out. Such a beautiful family dynamic that includes messy, raw, hard, honest moments but also the loving, caring moments of forgiveness. This truly moved me! I was so entangled up in the Griffin Sister's drama that I needed it to be sorted and okay, lol. I loved the character development for Cherry, Zoe, and Cassie. It was just brilliant all around. The ending got me teary-eyed. Easily 5 stars!

I received this ARC from NetGalley and William Morrow to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

I'm going to start this review with the end--this is the best ending ever! It made me cry (good tears); I could see it and HEAR it in my head, I absolutely loved the ending--and oh yes the rest of the book too. I know The Breakaway was different than her other novels, but it still had that domestic feel to it. The Griffin Sisters was even more different, yes it did have family--but generations of family, but it was really about three separate women and all three coming of age-some of them older than others (it just took a little longer). The three main characters are so well drawn that I felt I knew them and the back story was so tragic, but only showed how far the two sisters had come at the end. There ware love stories as well--but the best one was (of course) between the two sisters. And I don't want to ruin anything, but the reader can enjoy Wesley the dog--he doesn't die in the end. See, I told you--a perfect ending!

Zoe and Cassie are sisters, close enough in age that they are just a year apart, but ultimately vastly different. Beautiful Zoe has been wanting the limelight forever, yet musically gifted Cassie prefers to be behind the scenes. They eventually become the Griffin Sisters, a pop group that hits the big time. After rocketing to fame after a year, the Griffin Sisters breaks up, and no one ever knows why. Twenty years later, Zoe's biggest achievements are in the house and Cassie is "off the grid". The sisters do not communicate. Cherry, the daughter of Zoe and a wannabe sensation herself, wants to know what happened to the group and develops a mission to find out.

I loved the role that sisterhood played in this book, as well as motherhood. I thought the characters were definitely relatable, as well as some of the issues they faced, like weight, were totally on point. The character development was excellent in this book, which helped with the relatability. What made this story stand out more was the addition of Cherry, the daughter. It just added another layer of development that really rounded out the overall storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read and loved every one of Jennifer Weiner’s books, so I was thrilled to get this ARC from NetGalley (thank you!). Anyone who liked “Daisy Jones and the Six” will LOVE this book; this one is far superior in my opinion. The story of the Griffin Sisters’ rise to fame with all the messy dynamics behind it was super compelling, and following Cherry’s journey added another dimension to the novel. I feel like there is more to tell here, maybe we can hope for a sequel??

Jennifer Weiner has been a favorite author of mine since I first read Good in Bed - I was a young single mother when I read that and related very much to the insecurities of Cannie. I’ve read her works since and they never fail to impress me and give me pieces that I can see myself in.

JW’s characters are so richly written - the reality of them undeniable until you remember that you’re reading fiction (and despite that realism - I still found both Cassie and Cherry to be more elusive than I would have hoped for.).

I couldn’t stop reading The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits; this was a book that I finished over two days, and it’s one that would have been a full five stars but for a few things -
*I’m 51; I grew up in a time when fat kids and neurodivergent kids were treated terribly - I’m neurodivergent myself, and life and people have often seemed like a puzzle I just can’t quite get - but the constant “fat, fat, fat” in the story was over the top grueling and made me feel overwhelmingly bombarded as a reader
*Cherry - a lot of questions about her, her past, etc
*the ending was extremely abrupt and I was hoping for more resolution with family, with much - a lot was left unanswered and I was disappointed not to get those answers


Despite my issues with this, I enjoyed it immensely and it’s a full recommendation from me.


**also, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham? Together??




Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC

In the early 2000’s Cassie and Zoe Griffin find stardom as a rock band called The Griffin Sisters. They experience a meteoric rise to number 1 and then after a tragedy occurs the band breaks up. Zoe goes on to live a normal suburban life while Cassie goes off grid and nobody has any communication with her. 18 years later Zoe’s daughter is attempting to become a singer and is looking for her aunt. Why is Cassie hiding after all this time and will she agree to make a musical comeback?

I love Jennifer Weiner and I think this is one of her best books. I loved all the characters, even Zoe who I thought was not a good person. But she’s well written enough that she is still likeable. I thought the story and character development were excellent and the ending quite satisfying.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and William Morrow Publishing for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date April 8, 2025.

i usually tear through JW’s books and this one just went a little slow for me! it was also a little tough to read re: fat shaming/body hating, which i felt was turned up a notch compared to JW’s other books. not bad, just not for me!

Dang, I wanted to love this book because I’ve only heard great things about Jennifer Weiner’s books. This was just okay for me. It was a really fun plot with a lot of potential— two sisters make it big in the music industry right out of high school, after a Battle of the Bands show. Zoe craves the spotlight and doesn’t have a lot of natural talent, whereas her sister Cassie detests the spotlight but has a lot of natural talent and is musically inclined. The two girls are torn apart by a man and tragedy. I was really bummed by the continual fat-phobic comments and descriptions toward Cassie’s character.

Examples: “a girl even fatter than Cassie”, “summoning her in a register only other fat girls could hear”, “she would have been happy to cede the attention of every fat girl to her sister”, “her feet were small, compared to the rest of her”, “all the boys used to call her a whale- free willy!”, “Cassie flopped down beside him but gently so the bed wouldn’t shake too hard and the bedframe wouldn’t groan”, “How could Russell want to sleep with Cassie when he had her?…it would be like a diner in a restaurant sending a perfectly cooked steak back to the kitchen and requesting roadkill instead… Zoe knew how her sister looks out shaper clothes- Cassie was flabby and squishy. her belly and her breast drooped and even if a guy didn't let himself see her body he wouldn't be able to keep from feeling THAT.”

And that’s just the few I highlighted so I could remember. Zoe seems to have Cassie’s back in any other regard so I’m not sure why we needed to be reminded of Cassie’s weight every other page. It was well established and felt redundant, and didn’t articulate her body image issues. I was able to gather that from the personality descriptions and the way she spoke.

This would have been a higher rated read for me, but the fatphobic vibes were a huge (no pun intended!) buzzkill for me. Great sisterhood story, motherhood, and personal growth otherwise. But man.

I also recognize that this took place in early 00s when women’s diet culture was toxic AF- but I think there’s a way to write history accurately without being offensive:)

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow books for the advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book.

📖 Book Review 📖 Once upon a time I thought the beloved music I grew up would become irrelevant and a relic that my kids rolled their eyes at. But a funny thing happened when I started chaperoning their middle school dances, the music played was the music that was played at my middle school dances and it was like we spoke the same language (almost). Jennifer Weiner has captured this magic of the aughts that has resonated and passed to another generation. The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is a beautiful tale of growing up, growing apart, and trying to find a path to forgiveness and moving forward. An absolutely beautiful book that will strike a heartwarming note with readers!

The Griffin Sisters becomes one of the hottest bands in the early 2000's. Sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg are the founding members but are complete opposites. Cassie is plus-sized, shy, on the spectrum, and super talented. Zoe is skinny, good looking, and not a talented musician. When they both end up involved with the guitar player from the band, disaster ensues and the band breaks up after one album. Present day, Zoe's daughter wants to pursue music and has decided to find her aunt who has been hiding out since the disastrous day the band broke up.

For me this book had the vibes of Daisy Jones mixed with sibling rivalry and family secrets. Won’t give away any of the story but this was about two sisters who couldn’t be more different together in a rock band.
Not a favorite of mine probably due to the music career background. Was just ok for me.

Wow! This was an epic read. I couldn't put it down and was so moved by all the characters. They were all flawed, like we all are and that Mae them all so much more lovable. I could see pieces of myself in each one.

The story flows between the early 2000s and today. The contrast was amazing. We have come so far, but not really.

Oh Jennifer Weiner! Is there another author out there who manages to churn out, year after year, such dependably entertaining and thought-provoking novels? You can always depend on Weiner to tug on your heart strings, make you think, and champion the underdog, and The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits does not disappoint in that regard. Told in alternating timelines of the early 2000's and now, this is the story of 2 singing/performing sisters, and the consequences of their meteoric rise to fame, and the ensuing tragedy. The character of Cherry, Zoe's teenage daughter who drives the present day action is also a joy. If I've got any quibble at all, its that the main make character that causes all the drama and heartache is a bit of a blank slate - I never quite get why Cassie in particular has such strong feelings. But, no matter! The Griffin Sisters is a fun, easy read with a mostly-happy/still room for interpretation ending. Solid, solid 4 stars.

I absolutely loved this unique, creative, engaging, and complex read! While I almost always love this author’s books, this may be my favorite yet. This book follows two timelines, weaving together the story of two sisters of a once world famous band, that in present time are estranged and music less. I love a book with multiple timelines and found this one especially engaging while easy to follow. I loved the sister dynamic, the complex family components, and the underlying musical theme. This is a book to add to your must read list.

Thank you to William Morrow for my gifted review copy.

I have liked all of the Jennifer Weiner books I have read. She writes female friendships well and the plot moved along quickly between two time periods. Zoe and Cassie are sisters who are opposites. Zoe is outgoing, beautiful, and thin and Cassie is talented, fat, and shy. They form a band and become successful because of Cassie's talent, both writing and singing. When writing about Cassie it felt like we were constantly reminded that she was big. Maybe it is my own bias coming in, but I don't need that reminder constantly. The self-hatred and cruelty was hard to read at times. I really enjoyed reading Cherry's parts of the book and enjoyed that the end went different than I thought it was going to go.

Jennifer Weiner created the most darling story with this one. I can not wrap my head around how beautifully done this was. I devoured it! It was just so good!

I have loved almost all of Jennifer Weiner's books, but this for sure is my favorite. The sister and step-child dynamic were top-notch and well written. I felt like I truly understood and sympathized with both Zoe and Cassie. I wish Cherry's name was different, Janice naming her was okay, but the name is not the best. I am glad that Jordan came around at the end, and I wish we would have found out for sure who Cherry's father really is. The book is almost perfect though!

Jennifer Weiner has a permanent spot on my "auto read" author list. Some books are better than others and this one falls into that category. Loved the fictionalized origin story (but with a happier ending) of who I'm assuming is Mama Cass. Highly recommend!