Book Review: The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner
When Jennifer Weiner announced the plot for her latest novel, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. Weiner is well known in publishing for her exploration of the complicated female relationships we all experience, especially as mothers, daughters, and sisters, and this book examines all that and more against the backdrop of the music industry in the early 2000s.
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.
Growing up in the 1980s and 90s, I was drawn to the female powerhouses in the music industry, from The Bangles, The Go-Gos, to Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Pink, and later on, the fun and upbeat tunes of both Jessica and Ashlee Simpson. You’ll catch inferences to all these artists and more, as well as older bands such as Fleetwood Mac and The Mamas and the Papas, in this novel.
From the book:
“People back then—and probably, people right now—thought that they owned their female stars, that their fandom gave them a say in what they wore, how they looked, who they loved.”
Zoe and Cassie Griffin don’t just head out on the road on their own, they are joined by a band, including lead songwriter and guitarist Russell D’Angelo, setting up the reader for a complicated but predictable love triangle.
The book takes place in present day, as Cherry, the daughter of Zoe, makes her way to California to participate in a popular television talent show, while her mother has absconded to suburban life and Cassie has cut herself off from her former bandmates and the family by living in the remote terrain of Alaska. Weiner then weaves in flashbacks to illustrate how the sisters inked their first record deal and set out on the road, where we soon learn Cassie was the true talent of the two. But Cassie never wanted to be in the spotlight, while that’s all Zoe ever wanted. Cherry believes if she can reunite the two sisters, they will help propel her own musical aspirations forward, but many challenges lie ahead of her. The sisters haven’t spoken since the band broke up.
I did have a few criticisms of the novel, but they are minimal. The story of how Cassie and Zoe are discovered, after singing together live only one time at an open-mic event, is a bit unrealistic. Most artists work for years before getting in front of industry professionals, and even then, they don’t experience immediate success. I took issue with the lightning-speed at which the two sisters were matched with a band and produced a chart-topping album. The younger version of Zoe, self-centered, spoiled, and selfish, is difficult to relate to, but every character must have a redemption arc and hers wouldn’t be possible without that growth.
As a reader, I felt immersed in the time period thanks to Weiner’s references to the popular television shows, celebrities, gossip magazines, and fashion. Although they were popular in the 1990s and not the early aughts, I also couldn’t’ t help but compare Zoe and Cassie to real-life sisters Wendy and Carnie Wilson, who were part of the musical trio Wilson Phillips as well as the daughters of Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson.
I personally believe Weiner has set us up for a follow-up to The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, as the book ends with a few different storylines still left open to more exploration and interpretation.
Many thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy of the book!