Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

Daphne Berg knew at a young age she was bigger than most of the kids her age. She never thought too much about it until one summer when she is introduced to the world of dieting by her paternal Grandmother. Her teenage and college years were full of issues with body image, feeling self-conscious and trying to fit in. When a high school friend, Drue, invites her out during Spring break in her college freshman year, Daphne is determined to dress for a fun night out and not think about her weight. What she doesn’t know is that Drue has set her up for a humiliating experience in a club which is filmed and posted on Youtube. Not wanting to let this moment define her, Daphne embraces this moment, ends her friendship with Drue and begins her career as a plus-size Instagram influencer.

Years later, Daphne is extremely surprised when Drue begs her to be in her wedding party. She claims she has no one else to ask, and wants to mend their relationship. Daphne reluctantly agrees and attends the elaborate, very expensive wedding weekend at Cape Cod.

Weiner excels in the development of our protagonist – a sensitive, young woman trying to develop confidence and positive self-esteem. The success of her social media account, whose readers not only accept her but admire her, has her feeling on top of the world. But it is the experience of the wedding weekend which provides Daphne with the insight and reflection she had been lacking.

The book is engaging, well-written and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book to those who love contemporary fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️?/5 stars.