That Summer - by Jennifer Weiner

Book Synopsis

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Summer and "undisputed boss of the beach read" (The New York Times) comes another timely and deliciously twisty novel of intrigue, secrets, and the transformative power of female friendship.

Daisy Shoemaker can't sleep. With a thriving cooking business, full schedule of volunteer work, and a beautiful home in the Philadelphia suburbs, she should be content. But her teenage daughter can be a handful, her husband can be distant, her work can feel trivial, and she has lots of acquaintances, but no real friends. Still, Daisy knows she's got it good. So why is she up all night?

While Daisy tries to identify the root of her dissatisfaction, she's also receiving misdirected emails meant for a woman named Diana Starling, whose email address is just one punctuation mark away from her own. While Daisy's driving carpools, Diana is chairing meetings. While Daisy's making dinner, Diana's making plans to reorganize corporations. Diana's glamorous, sophisticated, single-lady life is miles away from Daisy's simpler existence. When an apology leads to an invitation, the two women meet and become friends. But, as they get closer, we learn that their connection was not completely accidental. Who IS this other woman, and what does she want with Daisy?

From the manicured Main Line of Philadelphia to the wild landscape of the Outer Cape, written with Jennifer Weiner's signature wit and sharp observations, That Summer is a "compelling, nuanced novel" (Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post) about surviving our pasts, confronting our futures, and the sustaining bonds of friendship.

Review Quotes

"A page turner about lost opportunities and decades-old secrets."-- "New York Post"

"Weiner has made a major literary career out of writing engrossing popular novels that take women seriously. One of Weiner's signature strengths as a writer is her ability to realistically depict how people change in body and soul...Weiner writes incisively, yet with restraint... That Summer is a compelling, nuanced novel about the long, terrible aftermath of sexual assault and the things that can be stolen from women that can never be fully restored. But, because it's a Jennifer Weiner novel, it's no polemic. It's empowering in its own way. Weiner seems to steadfastly believe in the saving grace of humor, the ability of time to open up possibilities and the strength of female friendship. Me, too."-- "Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post"

"A page-turner. Reflective of the #MeToo movement and the importance of accountability, it's a thought-provoking and timely book."-- "Seattle Book Review"

"Fans will enjoy references to the murder plot of Weiner's previous novel, Big Summer (2020), and sprinklings of Weiner's signature descriptions of food and cooking."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Fun and flirty."-- "PopSugar"

"Jennifer Weiner's beachy books are basically a staple of the season, and this is no exception. This twisty novel about female friendship will make the hours fly by."-- "Good Housekeeping"

"Like many of Weiner's works, the novel explores themes of femininity and motherhood, but it's the book's tackling of the #MeToo movement through more than one complicit character that sets it apart."-- "Shondaland"

"The summer wouldn't be complete without an aptly-titled novel from Jennifer Weiner."-- "Marie Claire"

"This one will solve all your 'I can't get into any book right now' problems."-- "TheSkimm"

"Weiner follows up Big Summer with another emotionally charged drama, this one centered on a #MeToo reckoning. Weiner's writing is infused with evocative depictions... [and her] legions of fans will applaud this emotionally affecting and often surprising story."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Weiner, the undisputed boss of the beach read, is back with another stunner. . . . That Summer incisively examines the way privilege shapes and shields those who wield it, and explores the circuitous path toward justice when healking falls short."-- "New York Times"

"Weiner's storytelling skill is such that she paints an uncompromising, complicated portrait of the insidious dangers of the patriarchy that is also a lot of fun to read. Weiner's latest is a summer banger with a ripped-from-the headlines plot, which is sure to garner lots of attention."-- "Booklist (starred)"

"Your ideal beach read, full of secrets and complicated female friendships."-- "Cosmopolitan"