I haven’t read a novel by Jennifer Weiner for a while, but I felt this one was very different from her previous work. It revolves around two sisters, Zoe, pretty, popular and averagely talented and Cassie, who considers herself unpopular, and ungainly, but who is immensely talented. The novel follows the story of their incredibly popular band and how they come to find themselves twenty years later not making music and completely estranged. The novel was quite good with an interesting premise and I would recommend it as a good light read. Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins William Morrow for an ARC of this novel.

I’m so horribly conflicted when it comes to this book. It’s been like this the whole time I read it so hopefully I can manage to put my thoughts in order to write this review.

So this novel was sort of advertised as being similar to the famous “Daisy Jones and the Six”. I’m not the biggest fan of that book but I do love the idea behind it so reading about the Griffin Sisters sounded fun. And it was…at times. My biggest issue with this book is the structure. I understand why we have present time and flashbacks but I would have preferred a story told chronologically. We start when the sisters are born (I did enjoy the commentary on motherhood in those chapters) and then we get to present time. Doing a bit of a flashforward rather than jumping back and forth. My favourite part of the story was when the band was on tour and we got the love story as well. It was a beautiful depiction of love and accepting someone for who they are instead of allowing society to tell us who to choose. That’s as vague as I can be given this is an ARC review. And that would have happened earlier in the book had we not spent so long in the present time. So to people reading who might not feel connected to the story or the characters, please try to get to halfway through the book. Because that’s where I felt more connected to the story. Still, it took so long and I’m usually super emotional reading books and didn’t feel that way this time. So that lowers the rating for me.

Cassie is a great character to have as a protagonist. We don’t generally have female characters who are as complex as her and I loved and appreciated that. From the very beginning I got the sense that she was on the spectrum and writing that isn’t easy so I applaud the author for doing it well. In my opinion, of course. Plus the commentary about her body size was pretty spot on. It might be hard to read some of the things Cassie was called but what’s the point of sugarcoating? People like her are called all those names. Because those saying those words want to hurt them as much as possible. And it’s understandable that Cassie was extremely insecure and her reactions felt so realistic given her situation. I also love how it was portrayed that finally finding someone who understood her and respected her allowed her to come out of her shell a bit. And how losing that affected her so negatively.
And of course, her presence in a big band had such a positive effect on so many people who, like her, felt they didn’t fit the impossible standards of our society. Things haven’t changed much in the last 20 years in that regard.

The character of Zoe is very interesting as well. She’s a horrible person. But people like her exist so I don’t have an issue with her being portrayed in this way. But it was frustrating to read about how she was a terrible sister, mother, girlfriend, …to the point when it felt like her character could never be redeemed. But I did enjoy how it was added to the story that being what society considers attractive isn’t enough. How she was also insecure and jealous of her sister. But she was still so selfish and hateful. Cassie and Cherry deserved better.
As for Cherry…I understand her role in the book. But again, I would have preferred for a chronological narration which would have removed most of Cherry’s story from the book.

The last part felt a bit rushed. Things got resolved too quickly, even if I find they were resolved in a mostly satisfying way.

So overall, a good read but with some flaws that made it harder for me to get invested in the story.

I enjoyed this book that focuses on a broken relationship between two sisters. The plot was easy and the writing style was definitely reminiscent of Daisy Jones. My first book by this author, however I’d definitely read more in future.

Jennifer Weiner delivers a poignant story of sisterhood, ambition and the cost of fame.

Cassie and Zoe Grossberg’s rise to pop stardom in 2003 was as swift as it was unexpected. Cassie, a prodigy from the age of four, had a rare gift for music but struggled with self-acceptance after years of being bullied for her weight.

Zoe, charming and beautiful, had only modest musical talent, yet she thrived in the spotlight. Together, they became the Griffin Sisters—until their sudden breakup left questions unanswered.

Two decades later, the sisters are estranged, but Zoe’s teenage daughter, Cherry, is determined to carve out her place in the music industry. As she digs into the past, secrets begin to surface, forcing all three women to confront their choices and the industry that shaped them.

Weiner masterfully weaves together past and present, creating a moving exploration of family, identity and the ties that bind. This book blends nostalgia with an emotional exploration of identity, ambition and family bonds. The book captures the highs and lows of fame while asking whether the past can ever truly be rewritten. Fans of music-fuelled dramas and heartfelt family stories will find much to love.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Absolutely brilliant! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending it.

This book definitely has Daisy Jones & The Six vibes but it did fall a bit flat for me. I didn’t feel like I got to know the characters as well as I wanted to; though I did love Cassie and wish I could know more about her.
It was extremely repetitive/frustrating/boring that every single time Cassie was mentioned it was alongside the description of her weight and her being “unattractive”.
When I read Daisy Jones it felt real; like it was a real band. But I didn’t get that with this.
That said I did like how it came together and the ending.

For me, this is a DNF at 34%.
The writing is good, and I found myself intrigued at first, and there a few scenes which had me eager to continue. However, the characters are all so one dimensional. Cassie is fat, Zoe is pretty, Cherry is a spoilt brat who wants her own way. And Janice may aswell not exist, other than to point out that she was a pretty awful mother. The separate chapter P.O.Vs aren't something I particularly like in a book, and so far the chapters all seem to rinse and repeat the same rhetoric as the previous.
I'm sorry I didn't like this book, as I was very interested in the premise, but the execution just isn't there for me.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m a complete sucker for a faux-tobiohraphy, and this one hits the mark. It switches between present day Cherry, desperate to make her mark in the music industry, and the past, where her mother and aunt actually did. A great story, family drama and a satisfying resolution.

I did enjoy this story despite the fact that I didn't have a great deal of empathy for Zoe or her spoilt daughter Cherry! Cassie's story was tragic as was the miscommunication which led to her running away from her life and her talent. I did feel moved by the ending and was invested enough in the characters for that which is always the sign of a good read!

Zoe - a manipulative, condescending, narcissist raises a daughter Cherry who is also a manipulative narcissist. Terrible people who do not deserve any empathy. Cassie the overweight sister - well her weight and size could not have been restated any more than if the theme to Laurel & Hardy had played every time she came into a scene! Only finished the book to see if I could find a shred of understanding for Zoe and Cherry but couldn't muster any.. Would not recommend.

Really enjoyed this - definite vibes of Daisy Jones while also carving its own special niche.

The Griffin Sisters flashed very bright for a short period of time before tragedy struck. Zoe, a born entertainer, was the driving force behind the band. She had the looks and the charisma one would expect in the industry. Cassie had all the talent, but is clearly on the spectrum and never sought fame. Together they complement each other to rise to extreme heights but at what cost to their own close relationship, Years later, when Zoe's daughter starts to seek her own musical journey, she seeks to understand what happened to the band - and her own family's history.

With the world of pop music as a backdrop, the story would always be fascinating and addictive, but add raw talent, sibling rivalry, neuro-diverse personalities, family ties, harassment and its a super compelling melting pot of a read. I loved learning more about the world of music, but also felt the emotional intensity of the situation. Highly recommended.

This was an enjoyable read that i will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Wow! This is a brilliant book! The griffin sisters couldn't be more opposite if they tried and when fame comes calling it's inevitably going to end very badly. Time is a healer though so they say!

3.5 ⭐️

I feel very conflicted about this book. While I enjoyed the premise of it, there were some elements that frustrated me. To start, the constant fatphobia and comparisons between Cassie and Zoe almost made me DNF it as it gets too much to read at some points. There definitely needed to be a trigger warning for struggles with body image at the beginning of the book.

The reveal of the bands' "mystery" breakup felt very anticlimax, along with the ending of the book being predictable. The book does showcase the complex relationships between mothers and daughters with Zoe and Cherry, but I would have liked to have seen more of the struggles in the sisters' relationship that didn't revolve around their looks.

I also found part of the timeline confusing. Weiner included a Rolling Stones article that says the bands' album was turning 25 years old, having been released in 2003. However, Cherry's POV is set in 2024, only 20 years later, and it is frequently mentioned that Zoe hasn't seen Cassie in 20 years. It did feel like the timeline jumped around a lot and some of sections felt repetitive due to the multiple POVS, but eventually you do find out what happened in the years since the group disbanded.

Overall it was a good read and was well written, but it could have given so much more.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

For me this was a slow burner, but it soon picked up pace.
With a dual timeline and told from two perspectives, we learn about Zoe and Cassie, two sisters, one who wants to be famous and the other who wants to be accepted.
It was a real education to learn how difficult it is to break into the music industry, even when you’re naturally talented.
This story made me cry and I loved it!

This is a completely brilliant book. I loved loved loved it and simply couldn’t put it down. The Griffin Sisters are a band and the story flits between present day and when the band were at their height. It’s a story of jealousy, sadness, loneliness and redemption. The sisters themselves are complex characters and I think Cassie would now be considered neurodiverse but then, she was just the odd singer who was supremely talented but couldn’t cope with any kind of celebrity status. I have read Jennifer Weiners work in the past but this I magnificent. Enthralling, emotional and life affirming. Highly recommended.

Set over 2 timelines- present day and the early 2000's we meet sisters Zoe and Cassie. Zoe is beautiful and popular and desperately wants to be famous. Cassie doesn't fit the popstar mould but is a musical prodigy. As a band, they only release one album before their fame implodes.

A great book, exploring the dynamics of family and sisterly love.

The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits, by Jennifer Weiner is a poignant exploration of family dynamics intertwined with the glitz and grime of the music industry. Fans of Daisy Jones and the Six will find this a rewarding read.

The Griffin Sisters band mysteriously break up at the pinnacle of stardom, and sisters Zoe and Cassie ceased all contact with each other. For two decades, Zoe and Cassie have not spoken or seen each other, with Cassie's whereabouts shrouded in mystery.

Through multiple POVs and 2 timelines the author delves into the emotional landscape of both sisters.

Zoe, now a mother to Cherry, who is determined to make her mark in the music business. Cherry’s discovery of her mother’s illustrious musical past sets off a chain of events that compels Zoe to confront the secrets she has long buried.

The unfolding mystery of Cassie’s disappearance and the reasons behind the band's breakup add an intriguing layer to the narrative, keeping readers engaged until the end.

The novel captures the highs and lows of fame and the intricacies of familial ties. The depiction of the music industry’s glamorous yet ruthless nature provides a fascinating backdrop to the sisters' personal struggles.

The novel’s strength lies in its character portrayals, Zoe the extrovert wants nothing more than to be famous, Cassie the introvert was to blend into the background and not be noticed. Then there is Cherry and her relentless quest for answers and her determination to carve out her own path.

While the mystery surrounding Cassie and the band’s breakup is gradually revealed, some readers might find the resolution a bit predictable. However, the depth and the exploration of themes such as forgiveness, perseverance, and the impact of secrets on relationships make this a rewarding read.

Overall, The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits is a captivating story that combines the allure of the music world with the complexities of familial relationships.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I requested this ARC (thanks Netgalley) because of the comparison to Daisy Jones and the Six, which I read years ago and which still resonates. It wasn’t an unfounded comparison; The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits shares a similar musical setting and general vibe, though this novel is perhaps broader and less focused.

I read it in a day and a half, so it clearly wasn’t boring, though I felt it could’ve been shorter with less wistful Alaskan musings: we get it Cassie, you were sad!

What I liked about it most was what it had to say about women, both inside and outside the music industry, and how hard it is for women to forge and maintain an identity entirely on their own terms. Internal misogyny is real, ladies - I found myself judging Cherry (the daughter and niece of the main characters) for being manipulative and ambitious, before reminding myself that similar qualities would be both admired and expected of a man in her situation.

All in all, an enjoyable read.

This was a great generational family drama with a Daisy Jones and the Six music feel at the heart of it. I especially liked the portrayal of the music industry in terms of how it treats women and likes to put them into certain boxes rather than allowing them to be themselves.

I did think it was on the long side, but if you love multi-POV, multi-timeline stories then this one is for you!