Oh my goodness!! I had the absolute privilege of getting an ARC of Jennifer Weiner’s to be published in April 2025 book The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits.

Ah! So good!

This 100% could be adapted to a movie, and I am on the edge of my seat waiting to hear who will be cast as Cassie and Zoe and heartthrob Russell. 🤩

As someone who is similar in age to the sisters, I 100% identify with their teenage selves. Zoe wants to be famous. She lacks the talent, but more than makes up for it with her spirit. Zoe’s younger sister is full of talent, but awkward and self-conscious.

After Zoe’s friends turn their backs on her, Zoe convinces her sister to participate in a Battle of The Bands contest, where a talent scout’s nephew happens to be in attendance, and well, as they say, the rest history. 🤩

Zoe and Cassie are connected with a singer-songwriter as well as others to form the group, The Griffin Sisters.

The Griffin Sisters band immediately starts traveling the country, trying to gain a following by way of radio station gigs. The band works tirelessly and gains a huge following, especially among the average young adult female, thanks to relatable Cassie.

Zoe’s lack of talent causes her to make some questionable decisions in an effort to cement her place within the band. These choices lead, at least partially, to the demise of the band.

As quickly as they rise to the top, they crash.

This story alternates between the early 2000s and 2024 and is told in multiple POVs.

I enjoyed the elements from the early aughts, crop tops and flannels, Brittany Spears. I felt for Zoe, as she endured the “me too” -esque situation with a person of power (because honestly didn’t so many 20-something women in 2004 feel this?!?? Ugh). And current day Zoe - a teenage daughter that doesn’t like her - I feel that too - haha. Life is hard. This book is relatable (except I was never, ever a super star). This book is about resilience. This book is about forgiveness. This book is gooooood.

This book was so good, I did not want to put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another thoroughly enjoyable book by Jennifer Weiner. Two sisters, one pretty, shallow and not so talented and her sister, a musical prodigy but chubby and not so attractive form a band that becomes very successful. The strain of popularity vs wanting to be accepted are described very well in the book. Lots to discuss if chosen as a book club book.

Very much enjoyed this book, but felt it got a little long in the middle as pacing goes. All three main characters were engaging and the sibling rivalry holds up as a classic storyline. I found the creepy stepson story a bit disturbing - a creepy 5 year old?! Overall a good read and I one I will recommend to readers.

I've read a couple other books by Jennifer Weiner that I really enjoyed, so I was excited when I received an ARC of this book! Based on the excerpt for the book I wasn't expecting to like it as much as her other books, but ended up really enjoying "The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits".

The book follows sisters Zoe and Cassie and the rise and fall of their band, the Griffin Sisters. Zoe is the pretty sister, with a dream of being a famous rockstar and Cassie is a musical protege, but being on the spectrum and insecure about her body image is reluctant to perform. After a little over a year and wild success, their band tragically breaks up and Cassie, blaming herself for what happened moves off the grid, punishing herself, and hiding away from the public eye. The story then follows Cherry, Zoe's daughter, who has her own dream of becoming a star, as she competes in a music competition show and travels to Alaska to track down her estranged aunt.

I loved how the story was told from multiple POVs, bouncing around in time. I felt like it helped me understand the characters and their depth and motivations a lot better. It also kept me interested, wanting to know not just how the present day story would unfold, but also what had happened between the Griffin Sisters 20 years before. As others have mentioned, the book leaned a little heavier on the topic of Cassie's weight than felt necessary with both a lot of negative self-talk, but also continually revisiting the negative thoughts the other characters had about her weight.

Autobus author for me since Good in Bed. An intimate look at a family relationship within the the context of a bestselling band. Emotional and full of depth. Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review: Weiner is a commercial success and I'm sure this book will succeed as well. For me, it was a quick read but the underlying issues with "fat shaming" and the lack of depth and hanging plot issues are problematic. Cassie is a likely neurodiverse large talent and she suffers throughout the book. Her sister Zoe is an attractive, so she is given a pass for morally bankrupt behavior--lying, not protecting her child. The book is about the two sisters who were a one album wonder and Zoe's daughter who looks for her missing/exiled aunt. Weiner has written about her issues with weight but the loathing that directed at the Cassie character is unremitting. The subplots about Zoe's stepson Bix, Cassie's possible neurodivergence, Zoe's marriage are just left unresolved. I felt as thought Weiner's editor gave her a pass for being the queen of chick-lit.

Jennifer Weiner never disappoints, though I found the novel dragged just a bit at times. Reminiscent of Daisy Jones and the Six, the novel follows the sudden stardom of the Griffin Sisters. Zoe who is the front woman without the musical genius of her sister Cassie, who carries the band but hides away from the limelight. There’s just the right mix of soap opera, behind the scenes look at a popular band, and the way it impacts everyone. Recommended for all public libraries.

I loved this book. The three women at the center of the novel are three-dimensional, complex characters, and their voices are compelling. I felt immersed in their world. The song-writing scenes were some of my favorite parts of the book—completely engrossing. Heartily recommend!

I was initially enthralled by the story (mostly because of Cassie) but increasingly found it difficult to stay invested as Zoe is a terrible person. Everyone seemed to be using Cassie with little regard for her humanity and feelings - including Cherry. I think forgiveness is important but it didn’t feel earned. Still, it is an entertaining (albeit frustrating) read. Readers interested in family dramas and potential reconciliations will likely enjoy. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is a story about two sisters who rise to fame quickly after being in a battle of the bands competition . Zoe and Cassie spend years apart after their success ends with a tragedy. They reconnect after Cherry,Cassie’s niece finds out where she is . The nostalgic story of this family keeps you from wanting to put the book down.
This is my first Jennifer Weiner book and it will definitely not be my last. I would definitely recommend putting it on your tbr list.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC of this novel for my honest review;

A novel about a duo or 2 young sisters who are seeking and sheltering from the world of music and fame. Zig zagging back and forth between last and present to discover the event that has led them to live separate lives ans not have spoken for the past 20 years.
Zoe is outgoing, pretty and popular. Her sister Cassie is the opposite, introverted, awkward and socially inept. Zoe has her sights set on bursting in to the music scene, Cassie just wants help to understand what half the world is trying to say. Through a series of moments they find themselves at a small talent show. Zoe begging Cassie, a classically educated musician, to help her out just for one performance. Immediately it becomes apparent Cassie has got that something special. Next thing they know they are swept up in a bidding war in NYC for a label.
They are then introduced to Russell, who Cassie finally find her true self with. Zoe doesn’t like that Cassie is the one with the talent and the one that everyone is clamouring for her attention and begins a plan to make sure she remains an important part of the new group.
Fast forward 20 years and Zoe is a housewife with 3 kids and a step son. Her eldest daughter has a desire for the same thing she did at a young age. But Zoe wants her to have nothing to do with it and refuses her every wish. So she does something rash when she turns 18, she signs up for a reality show and runs away from home.
This was a fun romp through a difficult family history. I wish they had explored the modern notion that Cassie might be on the spectrum more. I also really loathed the constant pointing out that Cassie was the “fat one” jargon, which I know the author was trying to invoke the terrible sentiment of the time, but it just felt over done.

thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this eARC. I have always been a fan of Jennifer Weiner so I was so excited to receive the arc. I loved this story! Fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will love this one! Would love to see a sequel on this one.

Absolutely loved this book! The pace was perfect, the story was perfect. That's Netahlley and to the publisher for the ARC.

Here’s the deal—I predict this book is going to do really well, but it wasn’t a full slam dunk for me. It’s not fully the book’s fault, as I have never completely connected with the “fake band retelling” genre a la Daisy Jones and the Six, which is odd coming from someone who loves music as much as I do. I do think these stories work better on audio so I’d recommend that format when it comes out!

That aside, there’s just A LOT going on. It’s a different sort of story than Weiner has written before, but there are still very grounding pieces of her trademark voice. There’s a plus sized character and commentary on social issues and a Philadelphiia setting. All this was well and good, but there’s so much more to the story that at times, it just felt like too much. Did we need the creepy step brother storyline too? I appreciated each component, but with the huge array of topics covered and the back and forth timeline, at times I just couldn’t keep everything together. I’m guessing this is mostly a me problem and like I said, I think most people are really going to enjoy this story. The sisterhood component was special and I was rooting for Cassie and Cherry and Zoe on and off. I was deeply sad about what broke these sisters apart for so long and slightly frustrated that it all hinged on a huge miscommunication/misunderstanding etc—I just can’t shake that as one of my literary pet peeves.

Also another silly pet peeve is reading about singing talent competitions which I know is so weirdly specific, but it always comes across as a bit cheesy to me and this time was no different.

I finished this satisfied with the conclusion and overall satisfied with the story. Like I mentioned, I have no doubt this book is going to be well received and it will be interesting to see if any of the small criticisms I noted will come up for other people or not. I just struggle with reading books about bands because without music or a melody, reading pretend lyrics just doesn't always do it for me. I do wish I could hear Cassie sing. Maybe the audiobook will do her justice?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

The story of two sisters, a band, and the man they both loved in their own way. What a great story that had me turning pages well past midnight. This is my first book by this author and I was so pleased with the story. The scenes and characters were so well painted with words that I was right there watching every smile, every clothing change, and every song.

I can’t praise this story enough. I was so rooting for every character and outcome that came along made me feel so many different emotions. I highly recommend this book.

I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion of this book.

Thank you, #Partner @williammorrowbooks @harpercollins and @NetGalley, for my #gifted (free) copies.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is my first #jenniferweiner book! Yes, I must have been living under a rock because her writing is incredible, and I've definitely been missing out. I loved this book so much, and it brought me right back to the 2000s. Definitely add this one to your TBR list!

Sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg are only a year apart, but they are total opposites. When they are heard performing one night, they stun the crowd, and then they get the opportunity of a lifetime. They become known as the Griffin Sisters, and they take the world on in a storm. That is until a shocking tragedy breaks the band up, and Cassie and Zoe are no longer on speaking terms. Told through multiple POVs, the main characters and the side characters have such a huge part in this book, and you will be rooting for them the entire way. 4.5 stars!

There's something not quite right here. The book has all the hallmarks of a Weiner book- strong female lead characters, overweight girl does good, family drama- but there's something missing, and that's the deep dive into people's emotions and motives that we've come to expect from Jennifer Weiner. We have two sisters at the heart of the book who make their way into the music industry. Zoe, who has all of the stage presence yet none of the talent, sees her sister Cassie as a golden ticket to stardom. Cassie has incredible talent, yet has to be coaxed onto the stage to perform. Zoe is beautiful, but selfish and vindictive, and that's all we learn about her. Cassie is overweight and unattractive, and that's all we learn about her. There's no depth to either of our main characters, even though Cassie pens emotional anthems for young girls, but we hardly learn anything about her other than she's "fat". Cassie, who we are lead to believe is neurodivergent (undiagnosed) may not be able to express those feelings to others, but other characters could tell us something about her. Like Russell. What did he get to see in her? What did he get to know that we didn't? I don't think his love was based solely on her amazing talent.

I don't buy the ending either. Neither sister develops or grows as a person. Cassie is still hiding herself and Zoe is only interested in Cassie when she needs her help. Zoe tells us she missed her sister and couldn't find her for 20 years, but she must not have looked very hard since a relative had her contact information.

That being said, I still liked the book, but it could have been so much more.

I have long been a fan of Jennifer Weiner's books -- they are always a comfort read for me because her characters always feel so familiar to me. Often that's because they're Jewish women, but mostly it's because they so often feel Less Than in some way -- inadequate, unworthy, unlike others, etc. It's been a while since I last read one of her books, so I was excited to see that a new one is coming out next spring. The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits is, as you would expect from the title, a story about sisters. Zoe, the oldest, always wanted to be a star. Cassie, the youngest, was born with immense musical talent but was always awkward around people and wanted to be invisible. Together, they formed a band that became an overnight sensation in the early 2000s -- and then a tragic incident not only broke apart the band but tore the sisters apart. The book opens 20 years after those events, when Zoe's daughter Cherry, a talented musician herself, decides to leave home to seek fame and fortune and, perhaps, bring her aunt and her mother together again. We learn the story in flashbacks that alternate with Cherry's present-day effort to compete on an American Idol-style reality TV show and find the aunt she's never met and who has been hiding from the world for 20 years. While the novel is largely the story of the band, at its heart, it's the story of family, why and how we hurt those we care the most about, and forgiveness.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital ARC in return for an honest review. This book will be published April 8, 2025.

NetGalley made my holiday wish list complete by gifting me the ARC of Jennifer Weiner's new novel, The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits. It was everything that her loyal readers have come to expect and love, and more....

Zoe is beautiful and (moderately) talented and eager to be a star. Her sister Cassie is a musical wonder but is happier keeping her self-proclaimed overweight and unlovable body out of the spotlight. When the sisters are discovered and their band becomes an immediate success, Zoe basks in the glow of her fame while Cassie struggles to stay in the background.

Russell is their bandmate and the object of both sisters' affections, and his untimely death breaks them apart and leaves them with a laundry list of unanswered questions. When Zoe's oldest daughter Cherry runs away to enter a singing competition, Zoe finally realizes that her life-changing decisions have all been based on the tragedies and mistakes of her past.

This is an absolute must-read for Jennifer Weiner fans and for anyone who loves music, family drama and "the aughts".

I thoroughly enjoyed this family dynamic and it was all very real. Zoe, Cherry and Cassie had great character growth.