May 2020

BIG SUMMER by Jennifer Weiner is a juicy beach read. Again, Jen tackles a theme for which readers turn to her --- the complicated and often fraught nature of female friendship. Here, we have Daphne, a woman who has learned to love her body for what it is, who strives not to cycle back to her high-school self when her friend Drue, the “it” girl, comes back on the scene with an unusual request --- for her to be the maid of honor at her wedding, which is taking place on Cape Cod.

For Daphne, it’s a chance to show off how far she has come; she’s now a social media influencer. The book looks at what that role means against a backdrop where the rich and entitled have gathered for an over-the-top ceremony. But what’s really going on? What’s unfolding this weekend beyond the saying of “I do”? Lots!

This book, a bottle of suntan lotion and a beach towel are a great combo. Don’t forget your umbrella to hide under, or layer on a lot of sunblock. Once you start reading, you will not want to stop.