This is not the typical kid of book which I would read however I am glad I did.

Definitely gave off Daisy Jones vibes with a really interesting family drama at the heart of it.

Great read

I really enjoyed this. I'm a fan of music driven stories, particularly those that highlight the not so glamorous side of 'fame' alongside complex relationships between siblings, so this worked very well for me.

It took me awhile to become fully invested, but the further into this I read, the more excited I became to find out just what had happened between the two sisters to make them estranged.

As other reviewers have said, I think this would make a great beach read this summer. Equal parts moving and dramatic, The Griffin Sisters shows you the true power of sisterhood and how healing forgiveness can be.

I've been anticipating this book since the first "coming soon" email I received. The synopsis vividly describes the story of two sisters who had the world and by their own actions lost it. The cover pulls your attention and I had to read it!!!!

From the first, readers meet Zoe and Cass, sisters who could not be any more different if they tried and the mother, Janice, who can never decide if their differences are her fault. Though different, we learn that the sisters need each other. In most every thing they do outside their home, Zoe takes care of her little sister, Cass. Then one day when Janice is checking on her daughters before bed, she hears them sing and these sisters will never be the same again. Singing will take them to the recording stages and make them stars, but also change the relationship between the two.
The story unwinds in several flash back and forward while we hear both sisters tell their side of the story. Then a thrid young woman, daughter to one, neice to the other, will stir the sisters' history to add her voice to the harmony found and lost, then found again. Through it all, their stories grow from simple to complex, with the entrance of fame, fortune, and a young man.

The anticipation I felt for this story was repeatedly rewarded with a story that forces readers to choose sids over and over to finally see that there was only one side to this story, it just belonged to both sisters.

I can’t tell you how much l loved this book! Zoe and Cassie; together know as the Griffin Sister; singing superstars. We begin knowing the their band broke up at the height of the their and that the sisters no longer speak. This story is told from both their sides starting from their childhoods and moving through time. Zoe’s daughter Cherry is a key factor of their reunion. This book was absolutely amazing; the ending made me cry!

This is an enjoyable read. It is the story of two sisters, Cassie and Zoe. Cassie has borderline genius musical ability, but is overweight and strugling with self-esteem issues. Zoe is the dominant one - she is beautiful and extrovert. She persuades Cassie to form a group and they have huge success despite Cassie's reluctance to perform. Another member of the band, Russell, who is a talented songwriter and collaborates with Cassie, comes between the two women - Cassie falls in love with him but Zoe seduces him and basically tricks him into marrying her. The group splits up and Cassie goes into hiding. Zoe has a daughter, Cherry, who is also very musical, but her mother discourages her. How this is all resolved is the basis of the plot. It is well written - the characters have flaws and feel well-rounded. The ending is a little disappointing but overall, I would recommend this.

Enjoyable. Reminiscent of Daisy Jones and The Six although less gritty. I liked how the daughter is the centre point of everything past, present, and future.

I enjoyed this for the most part. A bit reminiscent of Daisy Jones and The Six in terms of content but (in my opinion) a lesser version. There was a lot of repetition due to multiple POV’s which grated after a while. Not a bad read overall but could have been better.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
When I started reading this, I thought it would probably be a decent beach read - and it would be, but it’s also got a little something more to it than that.
Whilst not necessarily the most original narrative, and whilst it’s not exactly Daisy Jones & the Six (though what is), this is a decently deep book about both the music business, how women are treated in the public eye, and how people who love each other can sometimes be the ones who cause the most hurt.
Overall an interesting book with a satisfying ending.

I’ve been a fan of Jennifer Weiner’s since reading Good In Bed all the way back in 2002. I was super excited to be approved on NetGalley for an ARC of The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits in exchange for an honest review.

The Griffin Sisters reminded me why I fell in love with this author’s writing all those years ago.

There are three main characters: Cassie, her older sister, Zoe and Zoe’s daughter, Cherry. It starts with Cherry going against her Mom’s wishes and auditioning for a TV singing competition. Cherry wants her mentor on the show to be her aunt Cassie, who she’s never met. Cassie and Zoe had a No. 1 album as the Griffin Sisters in the early 2000s but Cassie’s now a recluse living in Alaska and Zoe’s a housewife in suburban New Jersey.

The story is told in Cassie, Zoe and Cherry’s perspectives then and now. Cassie and Zoe reminded me, superficially at least of Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips from The Mamas & The Papas and Carnie & Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips from Wilson Phillips. It’s easy to root for Cassie because even though it’s her amazing voice and songwriting that sell records, she’s pushed to one side when they’re promoting the album in favour of her more conventionally attractive sister.

From the very beginning, the author has been amazing at writing plus-sized heroines, being very real about the prejudices they face but without turning them into punchlines and Cassie is no different. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to be a plus-sized woman in the public eye and I was horrified to read about Carnie Wilson’s ordeal on the Howard Stern Show.

It took me a while to warm up to Zoe because at first glance, you’d think she had it so much easier than Cassie. In the acknowledgements at the end, the author references Britney Spears' memoir and I could see how Zoe’s experiences in the public eye might have been inspired by Britney, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson. It’s interesting that the scrutiny of the Griffin Sisters is focused solely on Cassie and Zoe and the guys in the band basically get a free pass. Even with the tragic event that leads to the break-up of the band, Zoe acknowledges that she’s got to behave a certain way or she’ll be judged harshly by the media and their fans.

Zoe might be pretty and enjoy all the perks of being famous but she’s put under pressure from their management not to gain any weight and she’s riddled with insecurities about not being as talented as her sister, which isn’t helped by trolls on the Internet and when she’s pushed to the side of the stage. It’s sad because the two sisters have so much in common and yet they’re divided and conquered by the music industry who wants Cassie’s voice but Zoe’s looks.

I really wanted to give it Five Stars but I didn't like the side plot involving Zoe's stepson, Bix.

As a fan of music-driven stories, I approached The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner with the expectation that it might mirror Daisy Jones & The Six. However, that comparison didn’t do this book justice. While both novels explore themes of fame, family, and the music industry, Weiner’s approach is refreshingly different, leaning on a more traditional narrative style rather than the oral history format of Daisy Jones.

The story follows the lives of two sisters, the Griffin sisters, who once made it big in the music world, alongside the journey of Cherry, the daughter of one of the sisters, who is trying to forge her own path in the music industry. The structure, alternating between the perspectives of the sisters and Cherry, offers a deep dive into their individual struggles, desires, and growth over time.

What truly drew me in was the characters. Weiner excels at creating complex, relatable figures, and I found myself genuinely invested in their lives. The dynamics between the sisters, especially as they navigate their fractured relationship and individual paths, were rich and compelling. Cherry’s pursuit of stardom provided an interesting parallel, showing how the next generation faces similar pressures but in a different context.

The pacing of the story was just right — enough drama, emotion, and surprises to keep me hooked, but with moments of reflection and intimacy that made the characters' struggles feel very real. I found it hard to put down and often thought about the characters when I wasn’t reading.

For those looking for a heartfelt and engaging read about family, ambition, and the music industry, this book is definitely worth picking up. While it may not have the same narrative format as Daisy Jones, The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits holds its own with a rich, emotional story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

I would rate this book a solid 4.5 out of 5, and it has definitely piqued my interest in Jennifer Weiner’s other works. Highly recommend!

The Griffin Sisters

The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits tells the story of two sisters in a band in the 00s - Zoe and Cassie. Zoe is, on the surface of it, your typical “pop” princess - she loves the limelight, she’s sent racks of designer clothes and she has men falling at her feet. Cassie on the other hand, is shy, insecure and resents her fame. The sisters couldn’t be more different, and the novel embarks on a Daisy Jones-style tale to uncover why, after a whirlwind year, did the band break up?

The story picks up two decades later; Zoe is a housewife, whizzing round to PTA meetings in her mom mobile, and Cassie is nowhere to be seen. But, Zoe’s teenage daughter, on the quest for fame and fortune is about to unravel the mystery of the Griffin Sisters.

This book is a story of sisterhood, motherhood and first loves, set in a nostalgic pop universe.

As a 30 year old woman who grew up in the 00s - I felt every word of the girls’ insecurities. I would add a slight trigger warning here if you do struggle with body image.

I enjoyed this book, the premise was really strong and I was excited to pick it up based off the blurb. It was slow goings at first; it was about 60% in before I felt compelled to get to the end.

A fun nostalgic beach read with heart!

The story of two sisters who made it big in music and then mysteriously went their separate ways, this has echoes of Daisy Jones and the Six. That applies not just in terms of the subject matter, but also in terms of the general flavour of this story.

What really happened between Cassie and Zoe? And where is Cassie now? Will their fans ever get the answers that they desperately crave?

An easy read and an enjoyable one, this novel is definitely worth your time.

Two sisters, born a little over a year apart.

They're as unalike each other as can be.

Zoe - pretty, outgoing, confident.

Cassie - not.

Their mother Janice secretly resents Cassie, the baby she never wanted.

Zoe secretly resents Cassie, because she misses out on all sorts of things because she has to drag her sullen, silent sister around with her.

Until the day that Zoe wants Cassie to do something for her. Because Cassie owes her.

But Cassie, the naturally talented musician, doesn't want the attention that increasing fame brings...

Brilliant

Whatever happened to the Griffin Sisters?

Twenty years ago the pop group The Griffin Sisters took the US by storm. Their one and only album went gold, they were compared to every music legend out there. Their lyrics were soulful and their lead singer Cassie had a voice to rival Aretha Franklin and every other great singer you can think of.

The Griffin Sisters was the brainchild of Cassie's older sister Zoe. Zoe had the looks, but Cassie had the talent. The record label introduced them to Russell who helped them write the songs that resonated with a generation. Then tragedy struck and the band split.

Twenty years later, Zoe is a suburban housewife in New Jersey who has done everything she can to gloss over her past and Cassie is a recluse living in the wilds of Alaska. But Zoe's eldest child Cherry has the music bug and is determined to pursue her dreams no matter what Zoe says.

Think a mash-up of The Mamas and the Papas and Fleetwood Mac, the drama, the relationships, the raw talent, the devastation.

I really enjoyed this, but I guess I wanted a different ending - not sure what that would look like mind you, but I do.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.