putting the pedal to the mettle

Abby Stern is 33 and doesn’t have much direction. She has an apartment filled with stacks of books and piles of laundry. She works gig jobs. She feels lost and insecure, in part because of her weight. Abby grew up with a weight problem and spent years getting stared at, talked about, and told is both subtle and obvious ways that she wouldn’t be beautiful unless she lost weight.

But Abby does have a boyfriend who adores her, a doctor named Mark who she had first met as a teenager at summer camp. They reconnected as adults, and it’s been almost two years since they have been together. And as Mark pointed out, Abby’s lease is almost up. He suggests they move in together. It should be an easy question to answer. But Abby isn’t certain. And fortunately, her phone dings.

It’s her friend Lizzie with a problem. Lizzie works at a company called Breakaway, where they put together travel packages for bicyclists. And there is a two-week trip that begins in Manhattan and goes all the way to Niagara Falls, and the ride leader had to drop out at the last minute. Lizzie knew that Abby loved to ride and had lead some single-day trips, and everyone else she’d asked had turned her down. Abby was nervous about the idea of leading a ride that long on her own. But two weeks of riding, where she could think about what she wanted, where she could make a decision about her relationship with Mark, sounded like a dream. And the paycheck was significantly more than what she usually made. Abby took the job.

It’s not until Abby showed up and met her riders in person that she realizes what she’s in for. They include two older couples, a family of four, a mother and daughter, and a couple of single guys, one of whom Abby knew from a drunken bachelorette night in New York. Sebastian had been a one-night stand, but he’d made her feel like she was genuinely special. She had never forgotten that night and was stunned to find herself standing in front of him as the ride leader. And then Abby finds out about the last-minute addition to the trip, her mother.

As the two weeks go by, mile by mile, day by day, secrets are revealed as the riders get closer. Abby finds herself attracted to Sebastian, even after all that time, and knowing he’s a serial dater who probably doesn’t want to settle down. She finds herself struggling to find common ground with her mother, who had always encouraged Abby to be healthier, even sending her to fat camp when she was a teenager. But mostly, Abby finds a strength within herself, to be brave, to be true to herself, and to follow her passion as she helps those around her on their own journeys.

The Breakaway is the latest novel by beloved and best-selling author Jennifer Weiner. It’s the story of one woman’s search to find her true value in a world that emphasizes skinniness over health, marriage over autonomy, and appearances over honesty. Honestly, I don’t know a woman, or maybe even a human, who hasn’t struggled with these issues in their own lives.

If you follow Weiner on social media, you can see how passionate she is about cycling. Sometimes she will even plan cycling trips alongside her book signings and appearances, sharing her joy in riding with her readers. When I saw what this book was about, I was so happy to see that she had combined her love of biking with her skill at storytelling, sharing her own stories of riding folded into the lives of her characters. To me, this book felt pretty personal, like she was once again bravely putting herself on the page so that we could all share some of her joys and her sorrows.

I think any woman who has had to deal with labels like plus-sized, queen-sized, full-figured, chubby, chunky, curvy, Rubenesque, or who has been told how pretty we would be if we just lost weight could find themselves in the voice and experience of Abby. It can be a cold world if you’re not a size 4, and we can all use some of Abby’s understanding and her courage. I recommend this book to anyone who needs some encouragement to love themselves, find their voice, or chase after their passion. It’s got that heart-warming good vibe to it, offering comfort and clarity for individuals or for reading groups.

Egalleys for The Breakaway were provided by Atria Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.