Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Over the past several weeks, I've thought a lot about what summer reading means to me. Working from home gave me the luxury of expanding my reading habits and redefining the idea of a summer read. I read some fantastic literary fiction and thought-provoking non-fiction. I was truly becoming a more well-rounded reader. Then this week happened. I went back to work for the first time, and I began the process of readjusting my daily routine. I would get home at the end of the day and be completely exhausted. Add to that the tragic killing of George Floyd and the protesting that followed, and my mental and emotional capacity just couldn't take a heavy read. Enter Jennifer Weiner's latest novel, Big Summer. It is a quick and light read with just enough narrative intrigue and character development to draw your attention away from everything else for a while. In short, exactly the kind of book I needed to read.

Daphne is the kind of character you just can't help but fall in love with. She has struggled with her weight for her entire life. As a child, her grandmother tried to drill healthy eating habits into her, causing self-esteem issues and body dysmorphia that persists to this very day. Being overweight just wasn't acceptable. If you were overweight, you were seen as less than. This translated into all areas of her life, including her friendships. Daphne latched onto Drue Cavanaugh, a rich, skinny girl who used Daphne's loyalty to fit her own needs. Their friendship was never built on an equal fitting, but it served the two girls' needs. Until it didn't. The dissolution of their friendship was inevitable, and the two have not spoken since their falling out.

Six years later, Daphne is living a pretty different life. She still struggles with her weight, but she has embraced it. So much so, in fact, that she's built quite the social media following because of it. Daphne is a bonafide influencer for the plus-size community. Out of the blue, she comes into contact with Drue. Daphne is shocked to learn that Drue is marrying a reality TV star soon, and wants Daphne to be part of the wedding. Daphne is hesitant at first, but Drue promises that she's grown and changed since they last interacted. Finally, Daphne agrees to give their friendship a second chance. Plus a high-profile celebrity wedding can't be bad for the Instagram followers!

The less you know going into Big Summer, the better. Jennifer Weiner fills her book with plenty of twists and turns, each taking the story and characters into unexpected directions. In fact, a twist in the middle of the book turned it from an in-depth character study on friendship and body positivity into a more standard whodunnit. I found this shift to be a bit jarring at first, but the strength of the characters helped carry the change through. Weiner manages to let the book be light and fun while still imbuing it with more thought-provoking commentary on social media, friendship, and body image. I found the mystery aspect to distract from all of this a bit, but I couldn't help but keep reading. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner is summer escapism reading at its finest. As our world continues to challenge us in new ways each day, it is nice to be able to escape into a good book, even if it is only for a few hours.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2020, 24)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 and is filed under ,,,,,,,,. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

26 Responses to “Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner”

  1. You know, when I think of summer reading, I always think of light, fluffy books set in quaint, sunny locations. I don't, however, end up reading a lot of that kind of fiction. I lean more toward mystery/thriller books, no matter what the season. I agree with you, though, that the traditional kind of summer reading would probably really hit the spot right now with all that's going on the world. I'm glad you found something light and entertaining to combat all the ugliness in the world right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love a good mystery/thriller too! In fact, after a light a fluffy read like this one, I'm reading another thriller now.

      Delete
  2. I think it's good to pay attention to everything going on around us, but at a point it becomes overwhelming and I have to change the channel mentally. I could totally obsess over all the current events but that isn't healthy for anyone, so escaping into books is good for the soul. Glad to hear you had a nice few hours of peace with this read.

    I haven't read any of her books, but I like the sound of this one. I don't think anyone should be shamed for not being super thin. I do believe in eating healthy and staying in shape but I don't think the runway model look is usually achieved by healthy habits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There has to be a balance. I'm finding it very vital to my well being to both take in and process everything that is happening and also taking time away from it all to give myself a break. I'll admit, I feel some guilt at the privilege of being able to "escape" from it.

      Delete
  3. I am obsessing over current events and collecting reviews of light and fluffy titles to dive into like you wouldn't believe. i'm so glad this is as good as the blurb sounds!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was the perfect distraction this week.

      Delete
  4. Summer escapism at it's best :D Love it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think we can all use a little bit of an escape right now!

      Delete
  5. Summer escapism is definitely what's needed right now!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Big Summer is a perfect escapist read. I really loved Daphne and it was easy to pull for her successes. I absolutely did not see the twist coming and it threw me for a bit. But once I settled back into the story I was happy with where Werner took it. Glad you enjoyed it, too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah that twist definitely changed the tone of the story, but the strength of Daphne as a character really helped maintain the consistency and kept me invested!

      Delete
  7. It's definitely been a tough week. It's one of the reasons I gravitate towards certain kinds of books. They help me escape for a bit. Sounds like an interesting genre mash up. I have had success with this author, and can't wait to meet Daphne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really think you're going to like this one!

      Delete
  8. Yeah, you had some transition hurdles lately with back to work and the emotional from the national woes. Glad you found a light summer read with a character you could cheer for. I do love some character intrigue like you describe so maybe for me. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a bit uneven, but light enough to be the right fit for the moment.

      Delete
  9. That twist caught me off guard as well. Almost like two stories, but I still thought it was good light listening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was definitely a clear first and second act.

      Delete
  10. Lots of people have been saying that this is a really good book, so I did add it to my very long list. I like that it's not too heavy of a read, making it perfect for a beach or picnic. The tragedy of Mr. Floyd is definitely something that everyone is talking about for sure. Kindness is always free. Hope you are doing well. RO

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had a pretty mixed reaction to it, but I enjoyed it for what it was. I'm always thankful for your kindness :)

      Delete
  11. I've enjoyed this author and have added it to my list :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad that you ended up reading this one (I remember you commenting on my post about it). I was not a fan of the second half, but it was overall still enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That twist definitely took things in an unexpected direction and completely changed what the book was. I can certainly understand not liking that.

      Delete
  13. Sorry things have been a bit stressful for you, but I think most of us can empathize with that! I got this one recently and hope to read it sometime this month or next.

    Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a bit of a mixed bag, but light and fun is always good!

      Delete

Powered by Blogger.