You wanted to see me in your future: THE BREAKAWAY.

The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Abby seems to have it all with her boyfriend, Mark. But she cannot forget the memories of a one-night stand she had with a man called Sebastian two years ago. So imagine her surprise when she reluctantly agrees to lead a bike trip from NYC to Niagara Falls and discovers that Sebastian is one of the group members. Even worse, Abby's nagging mother Eileen shows up as well.

This is a cute, easy read that I enjoyed, even if it doesn't have the full zing of some of Weiner's other works. BREAKAWAY is part romance, but also tries to tackle serious social issues such as abortion and body positivity. I think it does the body positivity piece quite well. Abby has struggled with her weight all her life--she and Mark originally met at weight-loss camp before reuniting years later--and she feels as if her mother has never accepted her for who she is. But even if she's still trying to find her way at times, Abby is tough. A cyclist who can fix a flat or cycle for miles in the rain. She impressed me over and over.

As for covering abortion, the book delves into a serious situation. At times, it seems like it handles this topic a little glibly and not always in-depth enough. Things wrap up awfully easily. But it was good to see the topic being covered at all.

My favorite part of BREAKAWAY was Abby and Sebastian. Their chemistry and relationship was enjoyable. I would have liked more of them honestly. The focus on relationships overall was good--mother/daughters, especially. I also learned a lot about cycling from reading this book.

This is a good read, perhaps a little light on the topics it delves into, but enjoyable nonetheless. 3.75 stars. (I wouldn't mind a follow up on Abby and Sebastian!)

I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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