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thebookishlibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
An excellent book about body positivity filled with twists and turns! Daphne has been big for her whole life, and whether it was kids in school or her own grandmother, she was teased and made to feel bad about herself because of her weight. Now as an adult, she is an influencer on Instagram and has just landed a new job in the fashion world, tasked with taking photos and promoting the clothes. In addition, Drue Cavanaugh, her frenemy from her school days is getting married and asks Daphne to be her maid of honor after a less than stellar apology for how she treated her back in the day. Will Daphne forgive her and be able to move on?
An excellent book about body positivity filled with twists and turns! Daphne has been big for her whole life, and whether it was kids in school or her own grandmother, she was teased and made to feel bad about herself because of her weight. Now as an adult, she is an influencer on Instagram and has just landed a new job in the fashion world, tasked with taking photos and promoting the clothes. In addition, Drue Cavanaugh, her frenemy from her school days is getting married and asks Daphne to be her maid of honor after a less than stellar apology for how she treated her back in the day. Will Daphne forgive her and be able to move on?
sarahmcgurren13's review against another edition
4.0
I felt like I was getting multiple books wrapped into one without it being over complicated or seeming like it had too many plot points. There were elements of a romance and a thriller, while also being a light and fun summer read.
As always, a book review from me is going to talk about the character development. I really loved all of the main characters and thought each of them were so well described and detailed. Daphne reminded me so much of Bea, the fierce, lovable character from Kate Stayman-London’s, One to Watch. This is a great end-of-summer read that I highly recommend you take on your LDW getaway.
As always, a book review from me is going to talk about the character development. I really loved all of the main characters and thought each of them were so well described and detailed. Daphne reminded me so much of Bea, the fierce, lovable character from Kate Stayman-London’s, One to Watch. This is a great end-of-summer read that I highly recommend you take on your LDW getaway.
burningupasun's review against another edition
4.0
This gets 4 stars for the characters more than the plot. Love me a plus size MC. She's so real and well written and believable. I'd have read nonsense just for her, haha. The mystery was fine. Not a fan of who the villain turned out to be, but... sure.
klbartosik's review against another edition
2.0
This book gave me whiplash. The first half was fine. I appreciated how Weiner includes snippets of Daphne's childhood that describe how little girls are hurt by dieting culture & fat phobia. The nana scenes were very relatable and powerful--the only reason I can give this book 2/5.
But the second half, where it turns into a bizarre mystery, is truly terrible. Like I was hate-reading by the end. Here are some things I noted as I read that grated on me:
- Where was the editor?? 150 pages too long, very repetitive (we GET it, Daphne, you have it so much better than Drue because your parents actually love you, etc.).
- The sex scene is bad. Think "erection bouncing happily in the night air" bad. Breasts tumbling, lapping tongues bad. I cringed my way through.
- Daphne is an asshole and obsessed with image. She describes how tiny her waist looks at her best friend's funeral. She describes a woman crying over her daughter's death by focusing on how the tears magnified the woman's age spots and "tiny wrinkles" as they rolled down her face. She constantly points out how she low-key hated Drue, but then speaks at the funeral and reads some totally unrelated poem after her father tells her that "if you don't have anything good to say, read a poem." No, Daphne, if you have nothing good to say, don't speak at this girl's funeral. She applauded Drue's brother's eulogy because he said that Drue "had a genius for living," interpreting it as a copout that "excused all kinds of material shortcomings." Such a petty comment, Daphne!!! Obviously she didn't achieve everything she set out to achieve if she was murdered at 27 or whatever. And yet Weiner pats Daphne on the back repeatedly for being a good friend that was "interested in Drue's mind, not her money or her status." So disjointed. I think Weiner truly didn't realize that Daphne is just a jerk.
- WHY are Daphne and her friends investigating this murder? Like I get it, later, when the cops think she did it. But even then--get a lawyer. It was so far beyond suspension of disbelief that I was actually angry. Especially when the parents were like "you can use our apartment as your base of operations and I'll make you snacks!" Agree with other reviewers that it felt like Scooby Doo.
- The investigation follows a formula. Daphne & the gang entering a new scene. Weiner describes everything from floor to ceiling in excruciating detail, then everyone's outfits. Then there is a long period of dialogue in which the suspect or informant or whoever tells Daphne everything as she asks pointless questions that wouldn't make sense to ask in real life, but that happen to elicit the exact answer Daphne needs to clue her in on where to go next. Daphne & gang leave to go to said next locale. In the car, she reflects on everything she learned and repeats how much luckier she was than Drue because her family loved her.
- Nick is an incredibly flat character with little development. He comes onto the scene in a blaze of gross sex scene glory and then exits by rescuing Daphne from her demise and then... deciding to move to New York City?
But the second half, where it turns into a bizarre mystery, is truly terrible. Like I was hate-reading by the end. Here are some things I noted as I read that grated on me:
- Where was the editor?? 150 pages too long, very repetitive (we GET it, Daphne, you have it so much better than Drue because your parents actually love you, etc.).
- The sex scene is bad. Think "erection bouncing happily in the night air" bad. Breasts tumbling, lapping tongues bad. I cringed my way through.
- Daphne is an asshole and obsessed with image. She describes how tiny her waist looks at her best friend's funeral. She describes a woman crying over her daughter's death by focusing on how the tears magnified the woman's age spots and "tiny wrinkles" as they rolled down her face. She constantly points out how she low-key hated Drue, but then speaks at the funeral and reads some totally unrelated poem after her father tells her that "if you don't have anything good to say, read a poem." No, Daphne, if you have nothing good to say, don't speak at this girl's funeral. She applauded Drue's brother's eulogy because he said that Drue "had a genius for living," interpreting it as a copout that "excused all kinds of material shortcomings." Such a petty comment, Daphne!!! Obviously she didn't achieve everything she set out to achieve if she was murdered at 27 or whatever. And yet Weiner pats Daphne on the back repeatedly for being a good friend that was "interested in Drue's mind, not her money or her status." So disjointed. I think Weiner truly didn't realize that Daphne is just a jerk.
- WHY are Daphne and her friends investigating this murder? Like I get it, later, when the cops think she did it. But even then--get a lawyer. It was so far beyond suspension of disbelief that I was actually angry. Especially when the parents were like "you can use our apartment as your base of operations and I'll make you snacks!" Agree with other reviewers that it felt like Scooby Doo.
- The investigation follows a formula. Daphne & the gang entering a new scene. Weiner describes everything from floor to ceiling in excruciating detail, then everyone's outfits. Then there is a long period of dialogue in which the suspect or informant or whoever tells Daphne everything as she asks pointless questions that wouldn't make sense to ask in real life, but that happen to elicit the exact answer Daphne needs to clue her in on where to go next. Daphne & gang leave to go to said next locale. In the car, she reflects on everything she learned and repeats how much luckier she was than Drue because her family loved her.
- Nick is an incredibly flat character with little development. He comes onto the scene in a blaze of gross sex scene glory and then exits by rescuing Daphne from her demise and then... deciding to move to New York City?
heidilreads's review against another edition
4.0
A solid 3.75 stars. It's a chick flick above Hallmark.... But in that style.
aejohnson85's review against another edition
4.0
Not what I expected from this book, but nonetheless, I really, really enjoyed it!! I can’t review without spoiling, so all I will say is that I really enjoyed Daphne as a main character. She was relatable and likable - even when I wouldn’t react the way she did, it was easy to see why she would and what her motivations were.
Jennifer Weiner’s books have been misses for me for the most part lately, so I was glad to thoroughly enjoy this one! Almost a five star read for me, except the end wrapped up a little too quickly/neatly. Overall, a great read!
Jennifer Weiner’s books have been misses for me for the most part lately, so I was glad to thoroughly enjoy this one! Almost a five star read for me, except the end wrapped up a little too quickly/neatly. Overall, a great read!
sofi0518's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book.
Although I am considerably older than Daphne, I identified with her in so many ways. Jennifer Weiner has once again created characters that are multi-dimensional - neither all good or all bad. The contemporary theme of the online vs offline lives of the characters in this book was an excellent critique of what we present to the world vs what is real. I was not expecting the turn that the book took but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Another great novel from Weiner. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria/Simon and Schuster for a chance to read this ARC.
Although I am considerably older than Daphne, I identified with her in so many ways. Jennifer Weiner has once again created characters that are multi-dimensional - neither all good or all bad. The contemporary theme of the online vs offline lives of the characters in this book was an excellent critique of what we present to the world vs what is real. I was not expecting the turn that the book took but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Another great novel from Weiner. Looking forward to the next one!
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria/Simon and Schuster for a chance to read this ARC.
cateomalley's review against another edition
2.0
✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨ Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
~ ⭐️ ⭐️
~ ⭐️ ⭐️
bremode's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a bit to get into it, since I wasn’t into what I thought the story was: fat girl trying to find self acceptance. Wow this book took a turn and I loved it. I also really thought the killer was Darshi the whole time. Great little feel good book that felt very relatable.