The Breakaway - Jennifer Weiner

The Breakaway

By Jennifer Weiner

  • Release Date: 2023-08-29
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4
4
From 491 Ratings

Description

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and a life-changing journey.

Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. True, she still has gig jobs instead of a career, and the apartment where she’s lived since college still looks like she’s just moved in. But she’s got good friends, her bike, and her bicycling club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry Mark Medoff, her childhood sweetheart, a man she met at the weight-loss camp that her perpetually dieting mother forced her to attend. Fifteen years after her final summer at Camp Golden Hills, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, it feels like the happy ending she’s always wanted.

Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right...or the memories of one thrilling night she spent with a man named Sebastian two years previously. When Abby gets a last-minute invitation to lead a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she’s happy to have time away from Mark, a chance to reflect and make up her mind.

But things get complicated fast. First, Abby spots a familiar face in the group—Sebastian, the one-night stand she thought she’d never see again. Sebastian is a serial dater who lives a hundred miles away. In spite of their undeniable chemistry, Abby is determined to keep her distance. Then there’s a surprise last-minute addition to the trip: her mother, Eileen, the woman Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities she’s still trying to undo.

Over two weeks and more than seven hundred miles, strangers become friends, hidden truths come to light, a teenage girl with a secret unites the riders in unexpected ways...and Abby is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself, her mother, and the nature of love.

Reviews

  • Another politically correct book…

    1
    By Jemlvr
    Extremely disappointed and not impressed that this author chose to reinforce abortion as acceptable and ok for a 15 year old girl who shouldn’t have been sleeping around in the first place. Shame on you Jennifer Weiner for weaving that politically correct garbage into your book. I won’t be reading anymore of this authors work.
  • Cliche and politically biased

    1
    By despicto2
    So disappointed in this book. I’ve enjoyed her previous books as light and entertaining reads but this one missed the mark. The author was careless in weaving abortion for a minor without parental knowledge into the story along with “woke-isms” that we are all so tired of. I’m sorry to say, I didn’t finish this one.
  • Didn’t get past the sample….

    2
    By cheryl8831
    Unfortunately, I didn’t get past the sample. Gratuitous sex and gross toenails in the first sixty pages? No, thank you. I have enjoyed her books in the past but can’t buy this one.
  • First rate!

    5
    By wyomom2
    Really enjoyed the characters and the story line. Would recommend
  • Fluffy rom com

    1
    By Magskm101
    Will bore anyone older than 27
  • Wrote a book! Take it more serious next time.

    2
    By H.O.G..minors!?!
    This one really felt close to home,despite the betrayal and complete dehumanizing way Ca-..Mark,,is portrayed. It also minimizes the fact we all hurt ppl. And if one person is allowed a mental health/past trauma or Borderline “get out of jail free” card. Then there is no right/wrong only life and death. Life would be fear driven. Wish it wouldve felt more “torne” on picking sides, at least once per chapter I caught myself “omg Hillary lost move on” then Be-Sebastian,,reminds us that girls do still like hunting for their food,loving the cheater who Looks at her just as she sees me-mark.. but finds herself explaining how his feelings and work put in the relationship are sweet and cute if she wasn’t so self obsessed. How did I read what felt like satire,based on a hallmark/lifetime Anti-Man to then almost feeling glad she found someone she had a real connection to, either despite or due to the genuine flags of sex trafficker signs,,respects and admired him more putting sex above everything and everyone with money and fame 2 and 3. Wasted pages for SAtire peppered with mean girls undertones. Kudos You wrote a book though! .
  • Always

    4
    By Queenofbigtime
    Always a sure bet. One of her best
  • The Breakaway

    5
    By Artymusician
    I enjoyed reading this outstanding book!! I loved the realistic characters with all their flaws, yet hopes and dreams of being accepted, loved, and happy. All relationships and families have challenges, but doing the best we can and making compromises for others really does make us happy! Follow your heart and dreams, and don’t settle for boring. Be honest and trustworthy- so glad Eileen and Lily finally came clean with daughters Abby and Morgan. Too bad it took years! Love Abby and Sebastian, as well as other characters regardless of their lifestyle choices, imperfections, and differences.