Big Summer: A Novel
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Sexy and satisfying, Big Summer is the perfect quarantine read.” —USA TODAY
“The beach read to end all beach reads.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Big fun, and then some. It’s empowering and surprising—a reminder to put down the phone and enjoy each moment for what it is.” —The Washington Post
A deliciously funny, remarkably poignant, and simply unputdownable novel about the power of friendship, the lure of frenemies, and the importance of making peace with yourself through all life’s ups and downs. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good in Bed and Best Friends Forever, Big Summer is the perfect escape with one of the most lovable heroines to come to the page in years.
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 relationships, 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.
“Sexy and satisfying, Big Summer is the perfect quarantine read.” —USA TODAY
“The beach read to end all beach reads.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Big fun, and then some. It’s empowering and surprising—a reminder to put down the phone and enjoy each moment for what it is.” —The Washington Post
A deliciously funny, remarkably poignant, and simply unputdownable novel about the power of friendship, the lure of frenemies, and the importance of making peace with yourself through all life’s ups and downs. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Good in Bed and Best Friends Forever, Big Summer is the perfect escape with one of the most lovable heroines to come to the page in years.
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 relationships, 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.
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Big Summer* is a breezy, genre-blending beach read mixing women's fiction with a surprising mystery twist. Many appreciate Jennifer Weine...
You're going to want this in your beach bag this summer!
The first half of the book is what I would call a typical Jennifer Weiner book...in the very best way. I slipped into her story as gently and easily as I had her first, Good in Bed. I loved that familiar feeling and was excited to be back in her world.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Then... Wham! ...the book went from her normal tale of troubled relationships into a murder mystery! Toxic friendships, hot love scenes, AND a mystery? This is right in my thriller wheelhouse. I had been enjoying the story from the get-go, but now I couldn't put it down. (Is it okay to say that I was a *little* happy that my youngest was sick and just wanted to snuggle on the couch all day, letting me fly through the book?)
I am always quick to recommend a Jennifer Weiner book, but this one will be forcefully pushed into people's hands.
A HUGE Thank You to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me this digital copy to review.
The first half of the book is what I would call a typical Jennifer Weiner book...in the very best way. I slipped into her story as gently and easily as I had her first, Good in Bed. I loved that familiar feeling and was excited to be back in her world.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Then... Wham! ...the book went from her normal tale of troubled relationships into a murder mystery! Toxic friendships, hot love scenes, AND a mystery? This is right in my thriller wheelhouse. I had been enjoying the story from the get-go, but now I couldn't put it down. (Is it okay to say that I was a *little* happy that my youngest was sick and just wanted to snuggle on the couch all day, letting me fly through the book?)
I am always quick to recommend a Jennifer Weiner book, but this one will be forcefully pushed into people's hands.
A HUGE Thank You to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me this digital copy to review.
I really should give this book a 2star review. But could it be that I bumped it up because I wanted it to be over quickly and it did? This was a story of an obese woman who is being taken advantage of by a popular thin rich girl. This obese woman is supposedly 'changed' and loves her body- but this is clearly not the case. Waaaay too much about her insecurities about being fat all throughout the book. OK it was a near DNF book for me, but finally something pseudo-interesting happened about halfway through that I didn't expect (didn't read any blurbs about the book prior). Not sure I'm going to ever pick up a Weiner book again.
3.5 stars. Big Summer is a hard book to review because of spoilers. The latest novel by Jennifer Weiner is one of those books you should probably read without knowing much at all, so I will tread lightly and give you my general thoughts.
I read this one quickly, and I would definitely place it in the "beach read" category. It's much more like Weiner's earlier novels than the successful Mrs. Everything from last year. I was okay with that. While I enjoyed Mrs. Everything, it didn't wow me. I was ready for something more reminiscent of Good in Bed, my first Weiner read, and one I gave five stars to.
I loved the main character Daphne. She's relevant, sassy, inspiring, and not without her flaws, which is what makes a character real for me. What kept me from loving Big Summer was a somewhat weak plot that felt like it needed more editing. There were small things that felt inconsistent with the story and the characters, as well as a prologue that didn't make much sense until much later in the book. But I found myself wishing the prologue would have continued. I almost wanted to hear that story more than the one I got.
But Big Summer does put a much needed spotlight on important issues like fat-shaming and social media, and for that reason, I do hope people will pick it up!
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Atria Books, through Netgalley.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2020 (prompt #15)
I read this one quickly, and I would definitely place it in the "beach read" category. It's much more like Weiner's earlier novels than the successful Mrs. Everything from last year. I was okay with that. While I enjoyed Mrs. Everything, it didn't wow me. I was ready for something more reminiscent of Good in Bed, my first Weiner read, and one I gave five stars to.
I loved the main character Daphne. She's relevant, sassy, inspiring, and not without her flaws, which is what makes a character real for me. What kept me from loving Big Summer was a somewhat weak plot that felt like it needed more editing. There were small things that felt inconsistent with the story and the characters, as well as a prologue that didn't make much sense until much later in the book. But I found myself wishing the prologue would have continued. I almost wanted to hear that story more than the one I got.
But Big Summer does put a much needed spotlight on important issues like fat-shaming and social media, and for that reason, I do hope people will pick it up!
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Atria Books, through Netgalley.
#popsugarreadingchallenge2020 (prompt #15)
I liked it up until part two. The it just went downhill. I actually skimmed the last five or so chapters.
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