Review: The Breakaway

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

Well, here’s one that will test the tolerance of the conservative right, whilst it feeds the hopes of those left of center. Author Jennifer Weiner has managed to craft a beguiling tale of romance and nestled it in an excoriation of societal norms in terms of body image, the expectations of women and the acceptance of behaviors in men that would not be accepted if they were exhibited by those of the opposite sex.

Abby Stern is a plus size woman in her mid thirties, still searching for herself and her direction. Her entire life is clouded by feelings of inadequacy related to her weight, and the lens through which she views the world is one full of skepticism and self doubt. Where she experiences freedom from the chains that bind her is on the seat of a bicycle, where she rides like the wind and is able to sometimes forget and often reflect.

Abby agrees to help her friend, Lizzie, and lead a group biking excursion through NY when the scheduled leader backs out. Abby sees it as a way to escape making immediate, life-altering decisions regarding moving in with her current boyfriend, and she embraces the opportunity with cautious optimism. When she meets the riders she will lead, however, Abby is shocked to discover that one of them is Sebastian, the guy with whom she had a prior one-night stand—a man who had rocked her to the core, made her feel beautiful and left her with memories she could recall when she needed a boost. That she left before he woke the next morning was an act of self preservation—a way to avoid the walk of shame that she was certain would be seen free of the “beer goggles” Sebastian has most certainly worn the night before. Her “fat girl” hurt runs deep. As they navigate the long trail to Niagara Falls, Abby navigates the pitfalls of both facing the man she was sure she’d never see again and forcing herself to take an introspective, unfettered view of her life.

Again, Weiner’s liberal values are definitely front and center here as she squares off as a pro-choice feminist. I enjoyed every page, but the agenda was not only evident, it was “in your face” and crystal clear. Four stars for a job well done and a story well told. Conservatives beware!

View all my reviews