The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner

Women’s Fiction
Plus Sized FMC
Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin
Estranged Mother Who Shows Up
Cycling Trip
Fairy Tale Romance (Childhood Sweethearts)
Mid 30’s & No Career Path
Buy the book HERE

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Start Date: August 30, 2024
End Date: September 15, 2024

When I first started reading 10+ years ago, I LOVED all of Jennifer Weiner’s books, so I figured, let’s try a newer book of hers!

This book follows Abby, mid thirties and not in any hurry to take control of her life - her friends are all getting married nd having kids, have good jobs, and she’s just on the gig-track to survive (although, she mentions she’s a dog walker, so of COURSE I’m following, except we make a full time living of it). She’s engaged to her childhood sweetheart from fat camp, although, he’s lost the weight and kept it off. Abby… has not. But Mark is a doctor, has been with her through all her highs and lows, so it’s comfortable. But… Abby can’t help but feel like there’s got to be more to life.

Last minute change up on her schedule and she’s leading a cycling group in the midwest for 2 weeks and runs into someone she NEVER expected to see again. And sure, let’s add her mom to the mix (who MARK invited, mind you!) All in all, this is a recipe for disaster, while Abby is trying to figure her life out. 2 weeks away from Mark to reflect, this stranger coming into her life AGAIN (which she never expected), and let’s add her overbearing mother. Put in a few more characters from the trip for context, and NOW we’ve got a story!

While I wasn’t into this book as some of the others by her, it was still a good read - although I though it started slow. The second half really picked up though, once Abby started figuring things out… and I was NOT expecting the epilogue. All in all, a solid 4 from me. If you’re into stories with women trying to figure out their life, breaking away from what the “normal” and seeing where life takes them, then you’ve found your next read.