Big Summer

A Novel

By: Jennifer Weiner

Narrated by: Danielle Macdonald

An instant New York Times best seller

“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 unpauseable 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 number-one New York Times best-selling 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 an audiobook 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.

©2020 Jennifer Weiner (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

Book is great; narrator is painful to listen to

I love Jennifer Weiner. I pre-ordered this and started it the minute it became available. I’m not even on chapter 7 and I had to write this review because I can’t take it anymore. I spend time thinking of how the narrator has pronounced words and how I’d describe it and where she’s from and then I have no idea what’s happening in the story and have to rewind.
I only took one semester of linguistics 20 years ago but I also had a college roommate from Philly. The accent reminds me of hers, and knowing Weiner is from Pa. I have to wonder if she used a friend or something? I haven’t even looked up the narrator’s name yet but I would be surprised if she has any other credits to her name because the pronunciation is atrocious. Here are some examples: “Written” is “riddin;” “hadn’t” is “hant;” “eaten” is “edin.” As I’m typing she said “haaaverd” when she meant “hovered.” “Nourish” was “nerresh.”
I’ve laughed at reviews like this in the past and always thought I wouldn’t be so petty and rude as to write one bashing a professional who did their best. But it actually is ruining the experience of listening to a book I’m dying to hear. It’s really frustrating and people who find that they’re overly sensitive to such things (I’m apparently a card-carrying member of this club) may want to steer clear of this title. I hate saying that because I so admire Weiner and want her to get paid all the money she deserves for her incredible writing. Maybe for this one title, go buy a copy instead? (I also hate pushing anyone away from audible which I also absolutely love.) I know I sound conflicted- but not about the narration.

Great book !!

Loved it like all Jennifer’s books !!! It’s a suspense / drama , a little different than her previous books , but enjoyed every minute of it !

What is that accent? It certainly ain’t New Yawk!

While I did like the book, if the narrator was going for an authentic NYC accent, she missed it by a million miles. I am a native New Yorker and I can assure you that no one that I grew up with ever spoke like this narrator. It was a painful accent of some sort. “Tooward”, “Midden”, nope, not buying it. And in many parts of the book she was way too overly descriptive of details that really did not need it. In saying these things, I still liked the book. It was a good story. With great turns and twists that I would not have anticipated.

Nice summer read

A big surprise! Wasn’t sure I would enjoy this, but I did

Will read something else by this author

Slow to start but picked up...

I’m glad I stuck with it. The reader sounded young and her annunciations of certain words sounded off to me but I’m sure that’s just a geographical thing. It was hard for me to relate at first but the story did get more interesting and I ended up loving it. I should have known JW wouldn’t disappoint. :)

Narrator

The narrator never pronounced a single t. Written was pronounced wridden. Do not wish to get books by this narrator again.

GREAT ending

This book took me on a journey of mystery, suspense and love, I enjoyed every part and couldn't put it down.

A complete surprise!

This book was such a surprise, yet so honest about social media and what an influence it can be. While nothing like I expected, I devoured this and never wanted it to end!

Wonderful

Everything one wants in a summer read! Great fashion, location, romance, and mystery. I highly recommend adding this to your list.

Just ok,

I really like Jennifer Weiner's writing style and loved her first few books. This one was good, but sometimes the writing was very over-descriptive. And I think she kind of "jumped the shark" at the end. I was happy when I was done listening.