Synopsis: Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were thrust into the spotlight as The Griffin Sisters, a pop duo that defined the aughts. Together, they skyrocketed to the top, gracing MTV, SNL, and the cover of Rolling Stone. Cassie, a musical genius who never felt at ease in her own skin, preferred to stay in the shadows. Zoe, full of confidence and craving fame, lived for the stage. But fame has a price, and after one turbulent year, the band abruptly broke up.
Now, two decades later, the sisters couldn’t be further apart. Zoe is a suburban mom warning her daughter Cherry to avoid the spotlight, while Cassie has disappeared from public life entirely. But when Cherry begins unearthing the truth behind their breathtaking rise and infamous breakup, long-buried secrets surface, forcing all three women to confront their choices, their desires, and their complicated bonds.
With richly developed characters, a nostalgic nod to the pop culture of the 2000s, and a resonant tale of ambition, forgiveness, and family, The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits will captivate readers from the first note to the final encore. Whether you’ve followed Jennifer Weiner for years or are discovering her for the first time, this book is a must-read for music lovers, fans of sisterly dramas, and anyone who cherishes a great story of second chances. (Courtesy of Amazon.)
Jami Denison:
While my own singing career peaked in the sixth grade, I’ve always loved books about singers. The past few years have been a treasure trove for readers like me, with hits such as Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Once More From the Top by Emily Layden. Now the queen bee of women’s fiction Jennifer Weiner has added her own tale to the subgenre. The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits has a lot in common with Daisy Jones, with a narrative that moves among multiple characters and past and present, a band that falls apart after its only (platinum) album, and a daughter with questions about the past. But this book is unabashedly Weiner, with a heavyset heroine trying to make the world see her as something other than a large body.
In New Jersey in the early 2000s, Zoe Grossberg and her sister Cassie couldn’t be less alike. Zoe is thin and pretty and loves being the center of attention. She dreams of stardom as a pop singer. Cassie, only a year younger, is heavy, painfully shy, and only sings with Zoe. But she’s a musical prodigy who could play songs by ear in pre-school. When Zoe begs Cassie to accompany her to a battle of the bands, it’s the beginning of a superstardom—and a rivalry—that neither sister could foresee, one that leads to a 20-year estrangement between the two. Now Zoe’s 18-year-old daughter Cherry, who has Cassie’s talent and Zoe’s dreams of stardom, is a finalist in a popular TV talent show. Can she bring the sisters together in time to win the prize?
Weiner has been writing about larger heroines since her debut, Good in Bed. At the same time, she’s been an open book about her own weight struggles, as well as her crusade for the publishing industry to take her genre seriously. Her books also reflect her Jewish upbringing and practices, a risky stance in the current environment. Like a professional athlete, she leaves everything on the page, and every book is better than the last.
It shows Weiner’s enormous talent that both Zoe and Cassie are highly empathetic, even as different as they are. Zoe seems to have an easy life, with the body and personality that have always been rewarded. But she doesn’t have the talent that Cassie does, and as she sees herself being pushed aside in the band that she put together as Cassie’s voice and songwriting win accolades, she resorts to desperate methods to stay relevant. Is it really imposter syndrome when you have proof that you’re not good enough? I never thought I’d feel sorry for someone as attractive as Zoe, but Weiner makes it happen.
Any reader who’s ever felt like an outsider will feel for Cassie, whose entire life has been about her size. Bullied in school, with only her sister as a friend, she won’t sing without Zoe. But the band’s popularity—and Cassie’s bond with guitar-player/songwriter Russell—pulls Cassie out of her shell. When everything falls apart, she retreats tragically.
Cherry, the third point-of-view character, is the one I had the hardest time connecting with. Angry because her mother squelches her musical dreams and ignores her stepbrother’s harassing glances, Cherry wants to find Cassie, but for her own reasons. She seems more interested in using her aunt for her own fame than in trying to heal a wounded family. Her mother’s mention of Cherry’s vape pens and condoms imply a person more interested in pleasure than artistic achievement. I was worried when Weiner seemed to be leading toward a tidy happy ending for Cherry, and relieved when that didn’t happen.
The plot moves quickly without ever sacrificing character. One element that didn’t work well for me, however, was Weiner’s brief inclusion of sexual harassment issues. When Zoe hints at something in her past, I was expecting something much more horrific than what she eventually revealed. Similarly, Cherry’s issues with her stepbrother should have either been amplified or left out entirely. Both subplots could have been cut without any impact on the main story.
In her author’s note, Weiner says she was influenced by the zeitgeist of the early 2000s, specifically on the attention given to female artists such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson. It was a harsh time for women who dared to have stomachs of any size, and Weiner praised the body positivity movements that came in later decades. But with Ozempic being pushed in every TV and social media ad, how long will it be until we return to those harmful expectations?
Weiner’s characters may have real-life influences, but she has made Zoe, Cassie, and Cherry completely her own. It’s an amazing book, and I hope the Griffin Sisters gets a limited series as impactful as Daisy Jones.
Melissa Amster:
I have been a Jennifer Weiner fan for over 20 years and always enjoy her thoughtful and genuine novels. However, I absolutely LOVED The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits! It was just so powerful and well-told.
Jennifer didn't hold back from exposing the characters' flaws and vulnerabilities. There was a lot of talk about body image and the characters were treated according to how they looked, for the most part. Even so, the one sister who had it going on in the looks department had a lot of insecurities that couldn't be resolved by being "the pretty one." Meanwhile, my heart hurt so much for all the bullying the sister who was overweight received throughout her life. There was this one flashback to an experience she had at camp that I could totally relate to (although my situation didn't have to do with body image).
I felt so emotionally attached to the story and found myself turning pages quickly. I got teary-eyed at one point for sure. It's amazing what the power of music can do! I also loved that there were a lot of Jewish references. The story also focuses a lot on guilt and forgiveness, especially surrounding a tragic situation.
While Jami compared this novel to Daisy Jones, I felt that they were totally different. The only similarity was about the bands' trajectories and all the road trips they went on for their performances. Also, while she didn't feel as much of a connection to Cherry, I found myself caring about her and wanting her to succeed. It also made me glad that I support my kids' dreams and hope they never feel like they have to sneak around to achieve those dreams.
I wish there was a soundtrack to accompany this novel, but I also enjoyed leaving Cassie's voice to my imagination. Still, the songs sounded interesting and like something I would have related to as a teenager.
I definitely recommend picking this one up!
Movie casting suggestions:
Cassie: I can't think of anyone (past or present), so the actress would have to be a newcomer
Zoe (past): The actress would have to be a newcomer, as well
(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)
Thanks to William Morrow for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have THREE copies to give away! How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here.
Giveaway ends April 8th at midnight EST.
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TW: Body shaming, predatory sexual behavior, death of significant other, bullying
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