Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Big Summer
by Jennifer Weiner
Published May 5th 2020 by Atria Books

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “nothing short of brilliant” (People) Mrs. Everything returns with an unforgettable novel about friendship and forgiveness set during a disastrous wedding on picturesque Cape Cod.

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.

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Review

5 Stars

Daphne Burg has figured out her life since college, she's no longer the sidekick friend that gets pity dates or spends all her time trying to satisfy others. She has a successful, growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer and is leading a life that she loves. Making up with her old best friend, Drue Cavanaugh, was not on her list of things to do, but her wedding is the talk of society and she wants Daphne to be her Maid of Honor. She thinks she's above the gas lighting and manipulation, but when the celebration at the Cape takes a turn Daphne must figure out what matters the most.

I was completely surprised by this book, like many others said the blurb has you go in fairly blind and it was an unexpectedly fun read for me. Jennifer Weiner takes readers on a journey of self exploration, friendship, family, and mystery. It's the perfect women's fiction beach read with just the right amount of suspense to keep you interested. Big Summer is not the chick-lit you fear it might be, this book had everything I want when I'm escaping the world for a bit.

Daphne is such a great character, even if she needed to go through some major personal growth in this novel. I love that she was plus-size, really enjoyed the Instagram influencer side of the story, and her romantic entanglement is quite entertaining. Her inner child comes out and I think Jennifer Weiner did an excellent job of capturing how much your formative years really do shape you and affect you later in life, especially when your former best friend is a woman like Drue. Their interactions felt so authentic, as did all of the secondary characters, I could picture this entire book playing out. Plus, the mystery plot was quite intriguing and totally new from Jennifer Weiner. I don't want to give more away, but you've got to read this book.