Most women have one: that maddeningly seductive friend who hurt you deeply but whom you nevertheless can’t get out of your mind, your memories or your heart.
In best-selling author Jennifer Weiner’s sprightly new novel "Big Summer" (Atria, 364 pp., ★★★½ out of four), Daphne Berg is a burgeoning New York social media influencer confronted with the painful reappearance of her once-best friend Drue Cavanaugh. Using first-person point of view, our protagonist tells her own story directly, and a good part of the book’s success lies in Daphne’s voice: observant, self-aware and very funny.
“Even if things don’t get better,” Daphne advises a young friend, “you can always make them look good on the internet.” With this credo, and a barrage of freebies, Daphne hustles to make that hashtag life work for her – showcasing products in exchange for posts, and fronting her plus-size figure in body-positive language that draws plenty of online support, as well as the predictable mean-spirited trolling.
Book review: Sara Sligar's debut novel 'Take Me Apart' a dark and absorbing psychological drama
When she was in high school, Daphne struggled to overcome her weight issues despite getting great grades and having friends. When shiny Drue Cavanaugh – a rich Queen Bee – sweeps Daphne into the inner circle, an at first precarious but real friendship begins to take hold. Then a stunning humiliation engineered by Drue sets Daphne on a new trajectory, both personally and professionally.
Six years later, as Daphne is poised for major success as a fashion influencer, Drue reappears: contrite persuasive, and desperately in need of a bridesmaid for her upcoming social-page wedding in Cape Cod. Despite good counsel from her roommate Darshi – who knows well Drue’s potential for harm – Daphne agrees, hoping that sun, sand and the chance to model some new looks will compensate for any bad memories.
On the one hand, she vibes instantly with a cute guy at the rehearsal dinner. On the other, her deep insecurity about her weight threatens as always to isolate her from enjoyment and connection. Weiner is whip-smart about the ways women internalize a constant barrage of body-shaming judgments – call it the thin gaze – and Daphne’s realistic fight to love herself as she is layers the frothy plot with welcome emotional complexity.
Celeb memoirs 2020: What we learned about Val Kilmer, Alicia Keys, Woody Allen and more
Readers may be surprised by what happens halfway through "Big Summer": a hard turn from one genre into another. Some will roll with this new direction and others may wish Weiner had stayed in the lighter world of influencers and frenemies. Still, the risk mostly pays off as the pace picks up and the vividly rendered secondary characters – one of the novel’s strongest aspects – take on new significance.
Sexy and satisfying, "Big Summer" will delight Jennifer Weiner’s many fans and could be just the absorbing take-me-away read so many of us need right now.
"Review" - Google News
May 03, 2020 at 06:06PM
https://ift.tt/3aZG0pM
Review: Jennifer Weiner's sexy, satisfying 'Big Summer' is the perfect quarantine read - USA TODAY
"Review" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2YqLwiz
https://ift.tt/3c9nRHD
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Review: Jennifer Weiner's sexy, satisfying 'Big Summer' is the perfect quarantine read - USA TODAY"
Post a Comment