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 … 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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A surprising turn of events steers this novel from women’s fiction to a murder mystery. It worked though, and I enjoyed Big Summer very much. Jennifer Weiner has created very flawed characters who show us that no one’s life is perfect … it’s only heavily, heavily filtered.
I have found entertainment, creative ideas and community through social media. There is a benefit. However, if you ever view yourself as lacking when compared to others on these platforms, I beg you to unplug. It’s not real and it is certainly not worth a hit to your self-worth. Stay safe, physically and mentally
My favorite quote:
“The trick of the Internet, I had learned, was not being unapologetically yourself or completely unfiltered; it was mastering the trick of appearing that way. It was spiking your posts with just the right amount of real… which meant, of course, that you were never being real at all.”
Loved the way Jennifer Weiner handled topics of social media influencing, relationships among women, body image, and both settings: Cape Cod and NYC. This book was hard to put down with believable character development and twists and turns. It was easy to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the ride.
Plus-size influencer Daphne Berg once had her heart broken after her best friend played a cruel joke on her. When her meltdown at a bar goes viral, it turns Daphne into an Instagram celebrity. Fast forward, and she’s become a popular influencer, living an existence that seems so artificial until reality hits. In the end, this is a book full of heart and redemption.
I would not agree with the reviews as a “great summer read” or “sexy.” Good book, but more tragic than sexy.
Another fun read from Jennifer Weiner. Delving into the world of online influencers, it explores life choices, friendship, betrayal and forgiveness. And has some twists and surprises along the way to keep you turning the pages.
At first, Big Summer feels like a women’s literature. Within the quintessential beach read set in Cape Cod, author Jennifer Weiner adds some social messages. However, a shocking twist in the middle of the book takes the story in a much different direction.
I loved the characters. Daphne, the plus-sized heroine, who has struggled with self-esteem issues her entire life, is absolutely engaging. Her parents are a bit quirky, but loving, kind, and supportive. It takes most of the book for Daphne to realize that they are a treasure that many of her acquaintances envy. Darshi, the roommate and best friend, is my kind of people. She holds no punches, and she is a fiercely loyal friend. Drue, the seemingly confident, wealthy, queen bee presents a persona that everyone envies but few like.
The beginning of the book takes readers through Daphne’s journey toward acceptance and actualization. While her social media posts make her look like she is confident and brave, she continues to have the same doubts of self-worth that she has always had. Evidence of this comes in Daphne’s inability to address a blog question from a teenage girl about being brave. Body shaming, self-image, and the falsity of social media posts weigh heavy in Big Summer. Ms. Weiner warns, as many authors have lately, that all that glitters is not gold on Instagram. Beware of the Trojan horse that is a social media influencer!
I enjoyed the character set up in the first half of the book, but it is in the second half of the book that the action really starts. I don’t want to give away the big twist, but all that set up provides juicy detail to unravel in the latter half of the story. In addition to a fun read, the big takeaways of Big Summer are regarding friendship and envy. I finished the book feeling happy for Daphne’s discovery of just how envious she is and feeling grateful for all that I have in my own life.
4.5 stars
This book was thought provoking, exciting, fun, modern and sexy! It’s women’s fiction and a suspenseful mystery too! It’s like getting a two for one.
Our main character is Daphne Berg who is a plus size social media influencer who has finally after years of being bullied, attacked, shamed and pitied. Daphne’s social media following has grown steadily as he learns to love herself and her body.
A phone call from Drue, one of Daphne’s nemesis, who made high school a living hell, begs Daphne to be a part of her wedding party and the years’ most celebrated wedding to be featured in Vogue. Daphne remembers the trauma but also knows that being in this wedding will increase her social media influence.
What happens next in Cape Cod is what you have to read about. I tried not to read to much about this book so that you can experience for yourself Weiner’s brilliance in unfolding the story to completely change the atmosphere and add that surprising element I found that made this such an enjoyable read.
I found it tedious and the the characters were hard to relate to.
Loved it. I got to read this on Cape Cod where much of it takes place, which definitely added to the fun. She had me guessing the whole time; I had no idea how this was going to turn out. Another awesome read from Jennifer Weiner!
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner was an enjoyable, easy to read story, even though it was not one of my favorites by this author. At times, I found it heart-wrenching as I read about Daphne’s weight loss struggles, the cruelty of her friends, but then I was overwhelmingly on her side and proud of her when she finally stood up and realized she was a good, kind person and that her size didn’t matter. She realized she was what mattered, not how much she weighed and kudos for realizing that. I rated it a four.
Another wonderful book by Jennifer Weiner!
Great beach read.
Big Summer is my first Jennifer Weiner book and I will check into her back list. The story line has to do with a plus sized woman who has always been insecure about her weight and her wealthy, trim “friend”. Their journey ranges from childhood to their adulthood; it is both tragic and painful for our protagonist. Their are moments of humor and fun, but this is an emotional story of leaning to love who you are.
I’m a fan of chick lit and this came with a murder mystery so this was just fun to read. Characters were smart and well developed.
This was a very good book other than the author (whom I’ve never read before) very slightly pushing her political views. Really enjoyed Daphne’s character.
Weak finish. There was all of this big build up and it felt like the reveal and ending were rushed and not nearly as detailed as they should have been. It was an ending, but it was tidied up too quickly. There were a couple of references to overtly liberal concepts that didn’t add anything to the storyline and stuck out like a political jab. Did not live up to the hype from the USAToday review. I’m relieved I only purchased a digital copy and didn’t waste the money on a print copy.
I selected this book because of all the hype on social media about it’s release.
The story is about a woman named Daphne, who is a plus-sized social media influencer. Daphne has struggled with her weight her entire life, until one day, she decides to accept herself as she is and do what’s best for herself.
Daphne’s career is really starting to take off when a frenemy, Drue, from her high school days resurfaces and begs her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. Daphne was hesitant to accept, but Drue seems desperate and told Daphne that she was the only person to ever like Drue for Drue.
At the same time, Daphne gets a very lucrative deal with an up and coming fashion designer that makes beautiful clothing that makes Daphne actually feel good while wearing them. Daphne’s involvement in Drue’s wedding seals the deal with this designer. (spoilers below)
The morning of the wedding, something terrible happens to Drue, and Daphne decides to get to the bottom of it. The mystery surrounding Drue’s death was the best part of the book. I enjoyed the narrative from that point forward. Daphne began to piece together all the years after high school that she missed with Drue and began to learn who Drue was becoming, which was bittersweet in the end.
I thought that parts of this book, including the prolonged beginning of the book outlining the times Daphne was body shamed or let down by Drue a little too much. I felt that maybe Daphne needed a little therapy to get over it all and move on. I enjoyed Daphne coming into her own and recognizing her own blessings in the end.
Fun read. Recommend!
Great read. Surprising twist and turns!
I’ve always liked Jennifer Weiner’s books, and this one didn’t disappoint. It felt realistic to me, I’ve been in a similar situation in my life.