The Breakaway

Something isn’t right in Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern’s life. She can feel it. But what? She has an apartment, works gig jobs, is in a bicycling club, has a boyfriend (Mark) that she met while they were kids at a weight-loss camp, and is happy in her own skin. So why does she feel that something isn’t right. For starters, she can’t stop thinking about Sebastian, a man she had a one-night stand with before she reconnected with Mark. When she is talked into leading a bicycle trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she is shocked when her mother as well as Sebastian, her one-night stand who she can’t stop thinking about, are in her group.

Jennifer Weiner writes books that deal with many issues and this book was no exception. In this book she has included body positivity, being healthy, mother/daughter relationships, romantic relationships, one night stands, choice, and exercise.

This book is told through several POV chapters with the most POV being from Abby and Sebastian. Both characters are flawed and have things they individually need to work on. This book is a romance and I always say romance books are a journey. Many of the characters go on journeys in this book. From making choices, to revealing secrets, to biking, to reflection.

As with her other books, I thought this was well written and enjoyable. I enjoyed how Abby was confident and poised even if she didn’t feel it on the inside. The issues she experienced were realistic and felt authentic, but I wished they would have been fleshed out even more. I enjoyed the discussion she had with her mother. I thought Weiner nicely showed how perceptions can shape how we feel and act. That what we think and see, might not be the full story.

For me, this would make a nice beach read. It does deal with important issues but not at any deep level. There are a nice number of bikers in the group and readers get to know some of the things a few bikers are dealing with in their lives. But was this necessary in terms of the story. I get what Weiner was trying to do but sometimes less is more. That way, other themes could be fleshed out more, in my opinion.

Well written and enjoyable.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.