I usually love Jennifer Weiner's books, but this one just wasn't...much? The whole narrative going on and on and on about the heroine being fat and how this undermines her - yet she's supposed to be an empowered woman who takes life by the reins. Not the impression I got, and the self-pity that sneaks into this narrative turned me off completely. There were pages and pages describing plus-size clothes which just seemed 'magical' when the heroine puts them on?
Didn't snag me, at any point

This was such a pleasant unexpected surprise! I wasn't exactly sure what I would be getting into when I started this, and while I enjoyed the whole former friends reuniting plot, with its emphasis on accepting oneself after years of trying to fit in, I have to say I really enjoyed the direction it ended up taking, albeit completely different from what I thought it would be. I found Daphne's narrative to be really authentic throughout - the conversations she had with herself felt like ones I, and probably many others, have also had with ourselves, and seeing her anxieties play out on the page provided a sense of catharsis. Daphne's family and her friends, both new and old, were so lovely and I felt happy that she had a great support system around her while finding her own strength. This has definitely made me want to check out more of Weiner's books now!

I found this to be an amazing and interesting read! And the cover is so lovely!! Looking forward to the author's next story!

This was a great summery beach read with a plot you can just get lost in, well written characters an an interesting premise

Definitely not my usual sort of book but it had potential at the start!
The first half had a lot of potential and I was surprised by how much I was enjoying the reading experience. I liked the discussions around social media and body image, but I was disappointed by the drastic change in genre. It's not that I don't enjoy a mystery/thriller, it's more that the quality of the story took a huge U-turn.

It's a shame that the author decided to switch genres halfway through but I think I'm in the minority here as lots of people seem to have loved it!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Loved this! It’s is good paced ,easy read. Well thought out plot, sun , sex and murder…. A great beach read!!

Brilliant story from Jennifer Weiner, who is in my opinion the queen of curvy ladies!

Daphne Berg is an Instagram influencer who is surprised when her old school friend Drue gets in touch to ask her to be a part of her wedding. Drue and Daphne fell out several years below in an incident which eventually launched Daphne’s career.

Their old friendship healing, everything is great until the day of the wedding, when tragedy strikes and Drue is murdered. But who did it? Daphne is left to solve the murder, or potentially find herself in the frame…

Absolutely fabulous read as ever, I found this unputdownable and it left me guessing until the very end. Loved every minute.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I was really disappointed in this novel I am a big fan of Jennifer Weiner, but this novel really missed the mark for me, and I had to push myself to finish it. I felt it was promising at the beginning with an interesting protagonist, but once the plot changed direction and became a murder mystery, I got confused with it and ultimately lost interest. Very disappointing. Thanks to Little, Brown book group UK and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel

I'm not sure about this one, I found it difficult as I didn't really care for the characters and they kept talking about weight. I just found this quite boring and difficult to get into sadly.

I hadn't read the blurb of this book as I wanted to go in blind and I'm glad I did. It was a very different read from what I thought it would be. It is a actually like three very different stories. I could not for the life me work out what the start was all about but then it becomes clear later on. I enjoyed it but felt the last part was a bit rushed.

I LOVED this book! The absolute perfect Summer read, with influencers, friendships examined, past and present meeting up and a murder, what more could you need for a beach trip?

This book was original in writing style, I have never read this author before but enjoyed this book and will read more.
I felt overwhelmingly sad for Daphne at the start, the way she was treated and betrayed by her so called Best Friend was pretty horrible and I rather hated Drue for her nasty behaviour, in the back of my brain it rang a bell from my own teenage years and I literally had a knot in my stomach reading it.
I loved Daphne's progression, her strength, how she came to accept herself and remained unfailingly kind, and oh how I adored her relationship with her wonderful parents, her dog Bingo (Rescues Rock) and her loyal friend Darshi.
(No spoilers) I did find the plotline a tiny bit silly as it unfolded, but I really enjoyed this book and found it ultimately uplifting, a great summer read

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

This is the first book by Jennifer Weiner that I have read. I am not sure why. Perhaps I have just missed this brilliant author.
The story is great. There are lots of impossible characters and improbable settings. This one is definitely for your escapism moments.
We follow a group of ladies that we’re friends at school and now as adults they are no longer in each other’s lives.
What has happened to cause this?
Two of them rekindle their friendship for a wedding and suddenly there’s a murder.
The guests that are left are all suspects. But one doesn’t want to go down for murder, so starts investigating the situation herself.
As I said, it’s not entirely believable but it has bags of charm.
Definitely one for a holiday/ beach read.

Drue Cavanaugh is getting married and asks Daphne Berg to be her maid-of-honour. Daphne is stunned, to say the least as the two haven't spoken in years; six, in fact. They had a terrible argument back then but now Daphne has a flourishing career as an Instagram influencer. Does she really want Drue back in her life?

I don’t want to spoil this book for other readers, so I will say that Big Summer is not what I had been expecting though it was still a thoroughly enjoyable and compelling tale, with some great characters. A story of friendship, self-esteem, positivity and romance along the way. I loved the humour, deception and twists. Very worthwhile.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Little, Brown Book Group via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Wow what a read … keeps you guessing until the end Daphne had finally gotten over the ‘mean girl ‘ bullying she received in high school from her so called best friend Drue . Now happy in her plus size skin she has started to get a good Instagram following and makes a living as an influencer. Out of the blue she receives contact from Drue who wants to build bridges by making Daphne part of her wedding party … her bridesmaid . Unsure if she should accept Daphne puts the past behind and finds herself part of the magnificent affair on Cape Cod … on the first night she meets handsome Nick and then plot thickens . Drue’s body is found by Daphne on the day of her wedding and the finger of suspicion points at many …. Secrets are uncovered and skeletons come out of the closet in this page Turner. I couldn’t put this book down a great read highly recommended

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 favour 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-honour at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.

Without wanting to give too much away, this book morphs very quickly into something else. I fully recommend and fully enjoyed the book, I just feel that any words or reviews may give it away! You are in for a surprise and I found it to be a pleasant one!

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Loved this book! The writing was so engaging, with interesting characters and a great story.
I'd go in blind for sure.
Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

Put this on your Summer 2021 Reading list and hit the Beach . Meet Daphne a plus size influencer struggling to figure out how to fit in. In a world of fake Instagram photos, brands and trends , she realises there is a space for people like her . A place where she can poke fun at our idealised notion of the perfect body the perfect life . After an embarrassing pubic humiliation she finds her voice on line and suddenly she realises she has the power to expose body shaming and embrace who she is. All is going well until her best friend turns up out of blue and reenters her life after years of hurt. Will she remain true to herself or be drawn to her power manipulative former best friend

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc of this book, all opinions expressed here are my own.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner is the second book I have read by this author. I will definitely need to look up more of her work as these books seem to be beach reads brewed with society issues forming enjoyable, but thought provoking reads.

I don’t want to spoil this book for others, so won’t go into details, but it was not the read I expected. A beach read turned mystery is what I found with friendship, body positivity and romance along the way. An enjoyable four star read.

I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I hadn’t read any Jennifer Weiner books before, but friends have recommended her in the past and I liked the blurb. This book had me hooked from the start, with a likeable main character, complex friendships and great descriptions of fashion. Halfway through the book took a turn and I had to race to finish it! I loved the fact that it got behind the scenes of the ‘insta perfect’ world and showed the reality for ‘influencers’. The setting was perfect and the storyline twisted to keep me hooked. I’d definitely recommend this one and I’m off to read her back catalogue!
Thanks so much for the arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.