Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Daphne Berg is a twenty-three year old emerging curvy girl influencer living her best life in New York City, building her social media platform to empower the everyday woman, and working as a part time babysitter for two adorable kids in a swanky NYC neighborhood.

As a young woman who doesn’t fit conventional beauty standards, Daphne has had to endure her fair share of trolling online, as well as IRL. From childhood to adulthood, Daphne has weighed (both literally and figuratively) the merits of her own happiness against the expectations of the people in her life. From her own grandmother to her childhood best friend, it’s been an uphill battle to feel unconditionally accepted. But Daphne’s finally coming into her own.

And then her estranged former BFF Drue, who burned her in the most painful way, bursts back into her life and beseeches Daphne to not only attend her wedding but to be the maid of honor. Daphne feels herself getting sucked right back into her pushover role, Drue’s charismatic and infectious presence muddling her rationality. Drue, being a cunning manipulator extraordinaire, promises Daphne both social media notoriety AND a significant payout. All Daphne has to do is show up and play the part of dotting best friend.

But nothing is that easy in the land of the Cape Cod WASP. Daphne once again finds herself immersed in the presence of ostentatious old money, with a new smattering of young, reality TV socialites joining the fray. As she helps Drue get ready for her big day, Daphne begins to notice the weathering at the edges of Drue’s real life. From her emotionally abusive absentee father to her sycophantic “friends,” Drue isn’t leading the perfectly effortless and polished life she portrays. If anything, it seems lonely and painful.

Resolved to help Drue in anyway she can, Daphne plays her role of MOH perfectly, even consoling Drue the night before her wedding after an especially embarrassing public row with her father.

When all has settled down, and after a night of beautiful seaside festivities, including fabulous seafood, delicious drinks, and an especially steamy encounter with a sexy wedding guest, Daphne wakes up the morning of the wedding convinced her old friend will be able to pull through, as she always has.

In order to figure out this twist, you’re going to have to read the book for yourself. There is literally no way to not give you a huge chunk of the story if I continue on (even though I’m DYING TO TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK!)

This story was very different from Jennifer Weiner’s book, Mrs. Everything. Mrs. Everything was more of a contemporary family drama, where Big Summer is still contemporary, but with a mystery and multiple plot twists. When the first plot twist occurred, I WAS NOT PREPARED. To go from reading a very sexy scene to THAT?? 180° turn. That’s all I can say.

I liked Daphne a lot. The reader gets a good sense of who Daphne is as a person through her family and friends while being shown clips of her life as a child and how different events shaped the path she chooses to take.

For example, she and her father would go on little excursions together each Sunday during her childhood with the goal of trying a new eatery every week, with culinary offerings from different countries. Daphne would research the country, her father would choose the menu, and afterwards they would go to a quiet cafe and read for the afternoon. How freaking adorable is that?? You just want to give Daphne’s dad a big, squishy bear hug. The reader also gets glimpses of painful moments, such as Daphne’s summer with her fat-shaming grandma and the moment that catapulted Daphne into embracing her body and taking to social media with a vengeance.

This is also a story about the complexity of people and their friendships. I won’t say Drue is an especially likable character. But the reader might develop some sympathy for her as her own family’s secretes emerge. Daphne’s ability to be empathetic and loyal to her old friend are admirable. She reflects the kind of understanding and kindness that readers revere, and leaves the reader feeling hopeful about people’s ability to heal and grow.

Click for your copy!👌🏽

Another fantastic read from Jennifer Weiner 😍

Happy & healthy reading!

Lexi💜