Review: Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

BIG SUMMER
Jennifer Weiner
Publication date: May 5, 2020
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Women's Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Atria Books and NetGalley
4.25 Stars

ADD TO GOODREADS

S Y N O P S I S

Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time—she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media—so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.

Drue was always the one who had everything—except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer. Letting glamorous, seductive Drue back into her life is risky, but it comes with an invitation to spend a weekend in a waterfront Cape Cod mansion. When Drue begs and pleads and dangles the prospect of cute single guys, Daphne finds herself powerless as ever to resist her friend’s siren song.

A sparkling novel about the complexities of female friendship, the pitfalls of living out loud and online, and the resilience of the human heart, Big Summer is a witty, moving story about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

A couple of Jennifer Weiner’s latest releases have been big hits for me (specifically, Who Do You Love and Mrs. Everything) so I was excited to pick up Big Summer. While it’s being touted as this summer’s beach read, it also provided plenty of food for thought.

Daphne is a young woman who has spent much of her life struggling with body image and self-acceptance. As an Instagram influencer, her posts focus on plus-size fashion, fitness and body positivity. Daphne is more than a little surprised when her former frenemy makes an appearance after a six year silence. Drue Cavanaugh was always everything Daphne wasn’t: thin, rich, beautiful, popular. And now she’s asking Daphne to be her maid of honor. The lure of Drue proves too much to resist, and Daphne finds herself in picturesque Cape Cod for the society wedding, telling herself that the exposure will help generate more Instagram followers and sponsors. Things don’t go as planned and Daphne begins to question if she ever really knew Drue at all.

I stopped and asked myself, What did I do wrong? Who am I hurting? Is this what I deserve just for having the nerve to leave my home, to dance and try to have fun? I’m fat. That’s true. But I’m a good person. I’m kind and funny; I’m generous; I try to treat people the way I’d want them to treat me.

Going in I had a certain expectation of the trajectory Big Summer would take, but after a plot twist at the end of Part One, that got turned on its head. Weiner took Big Summer in a direction I never saw coming and she did it so well. At its core, this is Daphne’s story and I loved her journey. I felt such a kinship with this woman. I cheered for her triumphs and felt heartsick when she was knocked down and treated with such cavalier cruelty – from online trolls, supposed friends, and a not-so-well-intentioned family member. Daphne is funny and self-aware and at one point comments to a young friend: even if things don’t get better, you can always make them look good on the internet.

I wanted to go home, away from all these beautiful people who, just by living, made me feel inadequate, at once enormous and small.

And therein lies one of the main themes in Big Summer. Because in addition to self-acceptance, body positivity, and toxic friendships, Weiner also shines a light on the sometimes toxic nature of social media. Whether it’s the anonymity that makes it so easy to spew hate, or the oh-so-perfect (and oh-so-filtered) photos that invite envy and comparison, the pitfalls of social media have Daphne examining its impossible standards – and how to combine her connection to social media while living an authentic life.

Everyone tries to put the best versions of themselves across. To fake it. And when they’re not doing that, they’re sitting behind their screens, passing judgment and feeling superior to whoever they think’s being sexist or racist that day.

I highly recommend Big Summer to anyone who loves a mix of big, juicy beach read with relevant issues and a top notch heroine. Daphne Berg was an absolute gem and the main reason that Big Summer equated to Big Fun.

Disclosure: I received a a complimentary copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

      

#Blogmas2019 Days 28, 29 and 30: Best Book to Make a Movie, Best Swoony Book, The Best of the Best #BestBooksOf2019

Welcome to Blogmas 2019! 

Blogmas is the creation of Sophie @ Beware of the Reader. This is her third year (I think) doing Blogmas and my second year participating. Sophie has provided some great prompts for this month and I'm excited to participate as often as possible. I'll probably be combining days fairly often, like today. If you'd like to participate, be sure to use the hashtags #Blogmas2019 and #BestBooksof2019.

DAY 28: BEST BOOK TO MAKE A MOVIE

   

JOSH & HAZEL'S GUIDE TO NOT DATING

  WATCHING YOU | WILD COUNTRY

Josh & Hazel would make the perfect rom-com movie. I'd go see it! I can imagine Lisa Jewell's Watching You as a kind of quiet, atmospheric thriller. And I've always thought The Others series would translate well to the screen. With the CGI and special effects available now, Wild Country would be epic on the big screen!

DAY 29: BEST SWOONY BOOK

    

SAY YOU STILL LOVE ME | SALVAGED | I WANT YOU BACK

I loved the dual timeline in Say You Still Love Me. Getting to experience Piper and Kyle's first love as teenagers and then reconnecting as adults gave me all the feels. Jay Crownover writes heroes that will do anything for their heroine and Salvaged was no exception. The way Hudson treated Poppy was seriously swoony. And I Want You Back featured one of my favorite tropes (second-chance romance) and seeing Jaxson fight to get his family back was all kinds of swoony goodness.

DAY 30: THE BEST OF THE BEST

    

   

DAISY JONES & THE SIX | THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW

MRS. EVERYTHING | THE RECKLESS OATH WE MADE | LONG SHOT

I give out 5-star rating very rarely. Those five stars aren't just for every book I really enjoyed. Five stars are very those very, very special books. The ones that become instant favorites. The ones that move me in a way unlike anything else. A book that is head and shoulders above the rest. So I was super surprised to find that I had five 5-star reads in 2019! I'm not sure that's ever happened! But all five of these books were remarkable stories and true stand-outs from the year. 

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?

WHAT WAS YOUR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR?

#Blogmas2019 Days 23-27: Best Plot Twist, Best Male Main Character, Best Female Main Character, Best Friend Recommendation, Best Ugly Cry #BestBooksOf2019

Welcome to Blogmas 2019! 

Blogmas is the creation of Sophie @ Beware of the Reader. This is her third year (I think) doing Blogmas and my second year participating. Sophie has provided some great prompts for this month and I'm excited to participate as often as possible. I'll probably be combining days fairly often, like today. If you'd like to participate, be sure to use the hashtags #Blogmas2019 and #BestBooksof2019.

DAY 23: BEST PLOT TWIST

    

VERITY | THE WICKED KING | THE BURNING SHADOW

There were so many twists in Verity that by the time I turned the last page I sat back and wondered what I'd just read. And I still know quite know what I believe really happened. The final twist at the end of The Wicked King floored me. It's easy to forget that while Jude is busy with all her machinations... others are plotting, too. And there several fun/exciting twists and revelations in The Burning Shadow that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could go.

DAY 24: BEST MALE MAIN CHARACTER

    

  

ARCHER HALE | ALEX CLAREMONT-DIAZ

DEAN WALKER | LUC | GENTRY

Each of these characters possessed qualities that made them memorable. Whether it was a pure heart, acerbic wit, willingness to grow and change, or arrogance and humor that hid a softer side, they were all completely unforgettable.

DAY 25: BEST BEST FEMALE MAIN CHARACTER

    

  

DAISY JONES | ANNIKA ROSE | JO

HAZEL BRADFORD | NINA BROWNING

Daisy's impulsiveness, Annika's bravery, Jo's endurance, Hazel's humor, Nina's integrity. These women made me laugh, made me cry, made me cheer, and made me want the very best for them.

DAY 26: BEST FRIEND RECOMMENDATION

LONG SHOT - KENNEDY RYAN

Kennedy Ryan had been on my radar for a while, but it wasn't until Sam and Amber told me I had to read Long Shot that I finally experienced her writing for myself. And what an experience it was.  I remember DM'ing with them as I made my way through the book and then as I sat in the parking lot at the office one morning, finishing it. Long Shot is among my top reads of the year and I'm so glad Sam and Amber recommended it!

DAY 27: BEST UGLY CRY

   

ARCHER'S VOICE | BIRTHDAY

Both Archer's Voice and Birthday had main characters that settled themselves into my heart and had me feeling every painful moment. I wanted to help them, hug them, protect them... and basically make sure nothing and no one ever hurt them again. That kind of connection guaranteed more than one ugly cry.  

HAVE YOU READ ANY OF THESE BOOKS?

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE MALE/FEMALE CHARACTERS OF THE YEAR?

Review: Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

MRS. EVERYTHING
Jennifer Weiner
Publication date: Jun 11, 2019
Genres: Adult Fiction, Women's Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Atria Books and NetGalley



GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

From Jennifer Weiner, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Who Do You Love and In Her Shoes, comes a smart, thoughtful, and timely exploration of two sisters’ lives from the 1950s to the present as they struggle to find their places—and be true to themselves—in a rapidly evolving world. Mrs. Everything is an ambitious, richly textured journey through history—and herstory—as these two sisters navigate a changing America over the course of their lives.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Mrs. Everything is a tale of two sisters, how circumstances fray their bond, and how they come together again. While Jennifer Weiner calls this her most ambitious work, I call it her best.

Sisters Bethie and Jo could not be more different. Bethie is pretty and popular. Jo doesn’t care about clothes or fashion, loves sports, and never seems to earn her mother’s approval. A childhood spent in 1950’s suburban Detroit leads to college in the 60’s and a time of civil rights, protests and experimentation. Their lives take dramatically different paths and their choices shape their lives in unexpected ways.

I was completely captivated by this story. Weiner breathed life into these characters and I felt as if I were experiencing every heartache, every joy, and every turn in the road with Bethie and Jo. From complicated family dynamics, to disordered eating, drug use, sex and marriage, these women struggled to find their way, both separately and apart. I sympathized with Jo who struggled for her mother’s approval and acceptance and who spent years hiding her true self. And my heart ached for Bethie who spent years running from her past.   

They lived through times of tremendous upheaval – the Viet Nam war, civil rights, women’s rights – and the roles of women changed over the years. They were redefining what it meant to be a woman in a changing world, while still being constrained by societal expectations, and with the knowledge that change comes slowly and there were still barriers to overcome. Their choices were so often colored by, and limited to, the options available at that time. They were alternately each other’s strongest supporter and harshest critic, proving that the author understands the complicated relationship shared by sisters.

Spanning more than six decades, Weiner has delivered a powerful story of sisterhood – both familial and that of all women. She strikes the perfect balance of telling Jo and Bethie’s stories while shining a light on the limitations, expectations, tragedies and triumphs of women over the past 60-70 years. Never preachy or political, but instead intensely readable, Mrs. Everything has skyrocketed to one of my favorite reads of 2019.

5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.

WWW Wednesday #52 | May 29, 2019

WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.

Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

  

      

       
Mrs. Everything - Jennifer Weiner

I'm still getting into this ARC for Weiner's latest (I'm at 6%, I think) but I'm already enjoying it. This novel spans decades and decades and follows the lives of two sisters. I'm excited to see where it goes.

Block Shot (Hoops #2) - Kennedy Ryan

While Block Shot doesn't have the same gut-wrenching emotion that Long Shot did, I'm still totally invested. I'm about 85% in and I think I know how things are going to go, but if Long Shot was any indication of Kennedy Ryan's style there could still be plenty of surprises in store.

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout

Storm and Fury was all kinds of fun from start to finish. It was typical Jennifer Armentrout - and I mean that in a good way. When it comes to YA paranormal/fantasy, JLA has a formula and it works. I loved returning to the world from The Dark Elements trilogy and how JLA expanded on it. She kept me guessing on a few important aspects and getting to revisit some old favorites (Layla, Caymen, ROTH! and Bambi!) was absolutely priceless.   

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?

  

 

Red, White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston

I'm not going to rush through Mrs. Everything but I can tell you that just as soon as I turn that last page I am dropping everything and picking up Red, White & Royal Blue! I am crazy-excited for this one!

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

TOP 10 BOOKS OF 2017

I love all the Top 10/Best-Of lists that come with the end of each year. Whether it’s done in categories or just best overall, reading posts with everyone’s favorites makes me positively giddy. But when it comes to choosing my own favorites… gah! I actually love going through everything I read in the past year (thank you, GoodReads, for making that so easy to do!), but narrowing it down to the Top 10, the cream of the crop… it’s tough. There are so many in the “you almost made it” category. And for that reason I’ll be starting with a few (okay, nine) Honorable Mentions. And it’s not cheating because it’s my list and I can make the rules. :)

A List of Cages – Robin Roe

Tell Me Three Things – Julie Buxbaum

Goodnight, Nic – Marley Jacobs

The Sea of Tranquility – Katja Millay

Letters to the Lost – Brigid Kemmerer

Making Faces – Amy Harmon

Bossman – Vi Keeland

We Now Return to Regular Life – Martin Wilson

Unraveling Oliver – Liz Nugent

And now to my Top 10 of 2017. To be honest, 2017 was not the most stellar reading year for me. I started off strong – January alone had two books that made it into my Top 10 – but a most unwelcome reading slump hit in October and decided to make itself at home and stay a while. (To give you an idea, I read only four books in October, just three in November, and have managed only one this month.) Here’s hoping for a much better 2018!

Note: These aren’t necessarily 2017 releases (only six were released in 2017), just my top picks from what I read in 2017.

#10 SUGAR & GOLD – EMMA SCOTT

This beautiful romance with a slight paranormal twist captured my heart. I fell in love with Nikolai and Fiona from the very beginning and wished and hoped for their happy ending. Emma Scott delivered some twists I never saw coming, managed to elicit both smiles and tears, and had me not wanting to put the book down. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

#9 WRITTEN IN RED – ANNE BISHOP

I downloaded the audio version of Written in Red on a whim and was instantly transported into another world, where The Others – shapeshifters, vampires and more – rule. I was hooked from the very start and proceeded to enjoy all five books in the series. Bishop created characters that managed to feel real, despite this being urban fantasy, and I am completely invested in their story. A perfect example that taking a chance of something outside your reading comfort zone can deliver a new favorite.

#8 TRUST – KYLIE SCOTT

Having never read any of Kylie Scott’s adult/new adult novels, I had no idea what to expect when I picked up an ARC of her young adult release. I was totally onboard with Trust from the explosive beginning. With Edie as a main character that was 100% realistic and John as an anti-hero turned hero, a gripping storyline, and truly positive portrayal of a mother-daughter relationship, Trust seemed to contain everything I love in a YA contemporary and delivered it with a cherry on top.

#7 WHO DO YOU LOVE – JENNIFER WEINER

Jennifer Weiner delivered a story that spanned 30 years and still managed to have me wanting more. This was so much more than a second chance romance, but more a tale of two people who overcome their own pasts and oh-so-relatable flaws. Who Do You Love showed in heartbreaking detail what happens when love isn’t always enough. Rachel and Andy’s story was absolutely precious and pulled at every heartstring.

#6 THE UPSIDE OF UNREQUITED – BECKY ALBERTALLI
After the sheer epic-ness of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I admit I was nervous about what Becky Albertalli would serve up next. I shouldn't have worried because in Molly Peskin-Suso Alberrtalli created a protagonist so relatable that I felt like I was seventeen all over again. Add in a precious little cupcake of a love interest ( I ♥ Reid) and it was obvious that Albertalli had struck gold again.

#5 UNTIL IT FADES – K.A. TUCKER
K.A. Tucker took a foray into straight-up romance this year and all I can say is: I want more. Filled with a strong but vulnerable heroine, a swoony and sweet hockey star, an adorable five year old little girl (who wasn't overly precocious and actually sounded like a five year old), and a rich cast of secondary characters, I let myself drown in the feel-good romance and loved every minute.

#4 A COURT OF WINGS AND RUIN – SARAH J MAAS
For someone who isn't a fantasy reader, I fell hard and fast for the ACOTAR series and have anxiously waited for each new release. And A Court of Wings and Ruin did not disappoint. Maybe it didn't quite reach the perfection of ACOMAF, but it still delivered the characters I love, the villains I love to hate, the action and adventure, the surprises, the laughs, the emotion. It was an incredible ride and I loved it.

#3 FAR FROM THE TREE – ROBIN BENWAY
I should have kept track of how many times I was moved to tears while reading Far from the Tree (hint: it was a lot) because Robin Benway probably owes me a box of Kleenex. This story of three teenagers who discover they are biological siblings and the relationships that follow grabbed me by the heart and didn't let go. Grace and Maya and Joaquin came alive for me and I finished their story feeling so happy I'd met them.

#2 ALL THE UGLY AND WONDERFUL THINGS – BRYN GREENWOOD
Equal parts fascinating, disturbing, thought-provoking and heartbreaking, this novel delved into the hearts and minds of characters unlike any I'd read about before. Following Wavy Quinn, the daughter of a meth dealer father and an unstable addict mother, All the Ugly and Wonderful things tells the story of a lonely girl and a lonely man. It tells a story of creating family where there is none. And it tells a story of love, of human agency, and of ultimate acceptance. Truly unforgettable.

#1 FROM SAND AND ASH – AMY HARMON
My first read of 2017 is my favorite read of 2017. I was already a fan of Amy Harmon when I picked this one up but she outdid herself with this novel set in WW II-era Italy. Her writing was so immersive that I felt as if I was living the story. Eva (an Italian Jew) and Angelo (an American Catholic) were lifelong friends whose differences, which seemed not to matter as children, suddenly meant everything now that war was on their doorstep. From Sand and Ash was often difficult to read, showcasing a cruelty that was beyond belief, but it was also a beautiful depiction of love, faith, endurance and hope. This book is the perfect example of why I read.

Have you read any of these?

What's your favorite book of 2017?